CHAPTER 32: THE SPARK OF WAR
"THEN LET THE WAR BEGIN!" King Task's triumphant cry echoed through the throne room. His command was swift and absolute. "Flower! Send word to the commander at the excavation site immediately. They are to eliminate every Ashura Kingdom soldier, seize all resources, and return to the Ice Kingdom."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Flower replied, turning to dispatch a messenger pigeon before heading back to the palace.
Task then addressed the wounded man beside him. "Morde, we are now officially at war. How do you feel about that? Any apprehension?"
Morde, leaning heavily on his own will, spoke with effort. "Ah, worry not, my King. As long as I stand, we shall not lose."
King Task chuckled. "Good. I like that motivation. Now, go with Flower back to the palace and have your wounds treated."
Morde moved to Flower's side. With a flash, they vanished into a portal, reappearing instantly within the palace halls. As they teleported away, Kai, Po, and the two soldiers arrived at the port.
"Look, Kai. That's Terex's ship," Po stated, pointing at a formidable vessel. "Which means he's likely in the tavern up ahead. Let's move."
They headed straight for the tavern. Inside, chaos reigned. And there, at the central table, sat eight figures. The man in the middle was none other than Captain Terex.
Po allowed a slight smirk. "Hey, Terex, you fool! What have you done this time?"
Terex, slightly inebriated, turned. The moment he saw Po, he leapt from his seat with joy. "POO! My old friend! What brings you here?" He embraced Po, and the rest of the crew surged forward with cheers.
"Hey, Terex, calm down," Po said, disentangling himself. "A friend of mine wants to talk to you. Hear him out."
"Oh? And who might that be?" Terex asked.
Po gestured. "This is Kai."
"Well then, Kai. What do you want from me?" Terex inquired.
Kai spoke calmly. "Captain Terex, I want one thing from you. I want you to be my ally."
Terex paused, then burst into uproarious laughter. "HAHAHAHA! Did you all hear that? He wants to be my ally!" The entire crew joined in, the sound nearly shaking the tavern walls. But Kai remained deathly serious, his expression unflinching.
Terex's laughter slowly died as he recognized Kai's utter sincerity. He turned back to Po, who wore an equally grave face. "Hey… you're serious."
"Does it look like I'm joking?" Kai replied flatly.
"Hey, hey, easy now. I was just messing with you," Terex said, raising his hands placatingly. "Alright, what's the situation?"
"King Swain sent me to form an alliance with you."
"King? Swain? Last I heard, he was the head general. What happened to King Reacherd?"
Kai took a deep breath. "He's dead."
Terex began to laugh again. "HAHAHAHAHA!" At this, the two Nexan soldiers stepped forward angrily, and Terex's crew mirrored them, tensions flaring.
"Calm down!" Terex barked. "I'm laughing because I don't believe it! You expect me to believe a man as strong as Reacherd just died?" He looked to Po for confirmation. "Right?"
But Po's expression was stone. The last trace of a smile vanished from Terex's face. "H-How? How does a man like Reacherd die?"
"He was assassinated," Kai answered.
"Ah… Now it makes sense," Terex muttered. "Alright then. Who's the enemy?"
Kai answered helplessly. "We don't yet kn—"
"Are you mocking me?!" Terex roared. "I don't fight an enemy I don't know! The most dangerous foe is the unknown one—never forget that!"
Kai remained calm. "Don't worry, Terex. By the time we return to Nexan, we will know who the enemy is."
"And how will that happen?" Terex challenged.
One of the soldiers spoke up. "King Swain has ordered the Blood Mage, Vlad, to investigate the assassination. He will uncover the truth soon, likely before we even return."
Terex let out a long sigh of relief. "Oh… If that's the case, then fine. For my old friend Po's sake, I'll help you."
Kai's face lit up. "Then let's return to Nexan without delay."
"You go on ahead," Terex said. "My crew and I will follow by ship. We'll be in the capital in a day or two."
"Understood. We'll be waiting," Kai said. They exited the tavern.
"Let's use the Passage. It will take us directly to Nexan," Po suggested.
"Sounds logical to me," Kai agreed, and they set off for the gateway.
Meanwhile, Morde and Flower had stepped into the palace. "Flower, go swiftly to the communication room," Morde said. "You continue straight ahead to the infirmary. Tell them King Task sent you… and that you have a surprise waiting."
Morde proceeded with curiosity. Flower entered the communication chamber, drew out her communication device—a "Mosh"—and contacted Commander Tamps at the excavation site.
"Flower? What's happened? Why are you calling?" Tamps's voice crackled through.
"Tamps, listen carefully," Flower began, and for three full minutes, she relayed her orders.
"Understood," Tamps replied finally, and the connection severed.
Excavation Site, Ashura-Ice Kingdom Border
After ending the call, Tamps summoned his right-hand man, Rahen.
"Your orders, sir?" Rahen asked, stepping close.
Tamps spoke only two words. "We begin."
Throughout the dig site, Ice Kingdom soldiers continued working as if nothing had changed. Rahen quietly gathered a select group and relayed the plan in hushed tones. "Understood, sir," they whispered back.
Tamps walked with deliberate calm toward the command tent of the Ashura forces. Five guards at the entrance moved to block him. In a blur of motion, Tamps slit all five throats before they could react. They crumpled to the ground.
Before the surrounding Ashura soldiers could comprehend the betrayal, Ice Kingdom warriors were upon them, attacking with ruthless efficiency.
Tamps entered the tent. Inside, Commander Hawsk stood ready, his body tense. "I always knew there was treachery in you, Tamps," Hawsk snarled. "But I never thought you'd go this far!" His fist became encased in swirling sand as he launched his attack.
Tamps drew his massive mace. A single skill activated: "True Ice Mace." The weapon, forged from enchanted ice, glowed, compressed with immense power, and swung forward to meet Hawsk's sandy fist.
The collision was catastrophic. The tent exploded into shreds around them, but that was not the main event. The moment Hawsk pulled his fist back, a creeping frost began to spread from his hand, rapidly encasing his entire arm, then his torso, and finally his whole body in solid ice.
His final shock came as his freezing eyes saw the aftermath: his entire battalion had been ruthlessly slaughtered. His last words were a frozen whisper, "Tamps… one day… you will know defeat…" before he became a perfect statue of ice.
Tamps turned. "Rahen. Inform Commander Flower our work here is done."
"As you command, sir."
As Flower walked back to her own tent, she called a soldier over. "You left one survivor to tell the tale, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am," the soldier confirmed.
"Good. Now, gather every last resource. We return to the Ice Kingdom. The war has begun, and the world stands on the brink of change."
Nexan Capital
Kai and his group emerged from the Passage into the capital. The two soldiers immediately stepped forward. "Make way! We must speak with King Swain at once!" they demanded of the palace gate guards.
"On what matter?" a guard asked.
"This is a secret mission. We cannot disclose it," the soldiers replied in unison.
One guard hurried inside, returning five minutes later. "You may enter."
The group marched through the grand halls, reaching the imposing main doors of the throne room in another five minutes. The doors swung open.
In the center of the magnificent hall, seated upon his majestic throne, was King Swain. Before him stood Amper, the man of iron body.
"Amper, you know your task," Swain stated. "Go to Hortex. Inform the World Government that we are no longer under their dominion. They already know of King Reacherd's death, so inform them the treaty is void. Do not delay."
"At your command, my King," Amper said, bowing before exiting.
Swain rose the moment he saw Kai and Po. "So, you've returned. And Terex?"
"He follows by ship. He will be here within a day or two," Kai reported.
"Good," Swain murmured. Then, turning to Po, a genuine smile appeared. "It's been too long." In an instant, the two old friends embraced like brothers.
"You did well to recruit him," Swain said to Kai, clapping Po's shoulder. "He is truly powerful."
"I sent him to you for that very purpose—to strengthen you," Po admitted.
Kai looked at Po, astonished. "You knew I was coming?"
"Of course I did, Kai," Po replied with a grin. "Do you think you could have bested me so easily otherwise? Swain and I have been allies all along. The real mission was to empower you and to secure Terex's allegiance. And it succeeded. You are stronger, and Terex is now on our side. We are ready for any war."
King Swain's expression turned deadly serious. He clasped his hands behind his back. "Soon, we will discover who killed King Reacherd, and that is when the true war will beg—"
A frantic, rapid knocking cut him off.
"Enter!" Swain barked.
The doors burst open. A panicked soldier and the pale, urgent Blood Mage Vlad rushed in.
"What is it? What's this haste? Speak!" Swain demanded.
"My King!" "Your Majesty!" they spoke over each other.
"One at a time! Which of you should I listen to?"
The soldier blurted out, "My King! A battle has erupted at the excavation site shared by Ashura and the Ice Kingdom! All Ashura soldiers have been slaughtered!"
"WHAT?! How is this possible? Who would dare? Who did this?!"
"S-sir… it was the Ice Kingdom. They killed them all."
King Swain's eyes widened in shock. Po whispered to Kai, "I've never seen him so stunned."
Vlad stepped forward, his voice grave. "Your orders, my King? Unless… unless the Ice Kingdom was also behind the assassination of King Reacherd?"
Vlad swallowed hard. "Y-yes, my King. I have examined the blood evidence in exhaustive detail. A ice-based technique was undoubtedly used."
A profound, seething rage overtook King Swain. The gauntlet on his left hand began to overflow with a violent, crimson energy. His roar of fury shook the very foundations of the throne room.
"KIIIIING TAAAASSSKKKK!"