Chapter 64 :Stone Plant king
Inside the crater ,a white portal started opening but this portal was different from that used by stone plant soldiers ,its portals look more majestic . From its depths of the portal stepped a towering figure ,the Stone Plant King. His heavy steps cracked the scorched earth beneath him, each stride echoing with authority and rule .
When he emerged fully, his gaze swept across the battlefield. The smell of blood in the air and massive crater that form due to Ank . His eyes, cold and merciless, settled on the broken form of Arthur.He was waiting for this moment.
Arthur lay sprawled on the ground, his chest rising only faintly, his breath shallow and ragged. Every moment seemed like it might be his last.
And not far from him Ank's body. Still. Lifeless. His heartbeat had stopped.
The Stone Plant King tilted his head slightly. For a moment, his expression was unreadable,he was surprised that his total army was destroyed by a single move and surprised that he was used by a boy not by the arthur and a cruel smile crossed his stone carved face.So you were who defeated them not Arthur.
He came here only to see who defeated their plant warrior that he sent one year ago to gather information about the planet and now he got his answer but he was not satisfied with this result.
Now he speaks to Ank dead body ,His voice rumbles like boulders grinding together. "So the boy's heart had stopped."
He stepped closer, looking down at Arthur and Ank. "Well, boy," he muttered to himself, "you have lost your bet to survive twenty four hours."
And now feel the consequences of your loss .
He lifted one of his hands , and the air trembled. With a low roar, he summoned another portal unlike his portal ,this portal was black, and from its depths poured millions of Stone Plant monsters. They crawled,their aura was more dangerous than previous soldiers. Their eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the will of their king.
The ground shook as more and more emerged. The horizon itself seemed to darken.
Then, through the swelling ranks of monsters, four figures stepped forward.
The Stone Plant Commanders.
They were clad in armor that seemed to have grown from their very flesh jagged, thorn covered plates that pulsed faintly like living vines. The armor was not worn, it was fused with them, part of their bodies, making them more like beats . Each carried a weapon that was different from each other.
The stone plant soldiers of the Stone Plant army bowed as the four Commanders took their places beside the king.
And then another portal appeared, same as the stone plant king and from she came,the Stone Plant Queen.
She emerged gracefully from the portal, her gown flowing like woven leaves, her hair a cascade of vines that shimmered with dew. Her beauty was cruel, like a thorned rose captivating, but promising pain. When her eyes found the fallen Ank, she let out a soft laugh.
"Well," she said, her voice melodic yet venomous, "the boy is dead. Now, my king, what will you do?"
The king's expression hardened. His deep voice rolled across the field. "I did not expect this result. For one year, I have awaited this meeting, and now " He gestured at Arthur's barely breathing form. " he has disappointed me."
He turned to his vast army. His voice rose, thundering like an earthquake.
"Prepare yourselves. We will conquer this planet!"
His monsters roared in unison, the sound shaking the skies.
But before the order to march could be given
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the distance, the shockwave rattling the ground. Dust and ash rose in a towering column.
A stone plant scout stumbled forward, kneeling before the king. His bark like skin was cracked, his body scorched.
"King!" he cried out. "The emperor of this continent has discovered your presence. He has launched an attack against us!"
The Stone Plant King narrowed his eyes. For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield. Then his lips twisted into a smile.
"So he dares to challenge me?" His laugh thundered, shaking even his own troops. "Very well. Let him come. Let him see the might of my army. We shall give him a welcome he will never forget."
He turned back toward his soldiers, his expression hard and merciless.
"Bring the old man to the battlefield. Hang him on a wooden rod where their army can see. Let them understand what happens to those who lose against us."
A shudder passed through the ranks of his army. Arthur ,retired hero of SHO, known across the Universe . The king wanted to break not only his body but also the spirit of those who would fight against him.
The queen stepped closer, her eyes glinting like emerald fire. She pointed one slender finger toward Ank's corpse.
"And this one?" she asked softly, almost mockingly. "What do we do with him?"
The king's gaze lingered on the lifeless boy for a long moment. His thoughts were unreadable, hidden behind his granite like face. Finally, he spoke.
"Burn him. Burn him where he lies. Let the flames consume his flesh. His ashes will scatter in the wind , he had already died and I did not want to see his face again.
The queen smiled faintly.
The stone plant king raised his one arm and whole army shouted ,
All Hail King
All Hail King
All Hail king