Standing over the fallen King of the Wall, Cobel's gaze was cold and unwavering.
The giant king's breath came in ragged hitches, his massive frame barely twitching as the churned waters around them finally began to settle. The forest, which moments ago had roared with the echoes of their clash, fell into a heavy silence—as if the world itself were holding its breath for the end of an era.
Cobel tightened his grip on his sword, his chest heaving. This wasn't just a victory; it was a succession.
With a groan of effort, the King of the Wall forced himself to move, sinking a knee into the waterlogged earth. His blade trembled in his hand, cracks spiderwebbing across the steel like veins of failure.
"So..." he wheezed, lifting his head. "You actually made it this far."
Cobel remained silent. Words were useless now.
With a final, desperate burst of strength, the King lunged. His sword swung down with the full weight of his remaining will, but Cobel simply looked away. The blade slammed into the mud, sending spray and debris flying.
In a blur of motion, Cobel countered. His boot caught the King square under the chin, hurlng him backward into the lake. The water erupted upward in a violent geyser.
For a heartbeat, there was nothing but the ripple of the waves. Then, the surface broke.
The King of the Wall rose once more, drenched and battered, his eyes burning with a stubborn, primal fire. Cobel glanced back. His daughter, Eli, stood frozen at the tree line, her eyes wide with terror.
"Eli!" Cobel barked. "Run! Warn the village!"
She hesitated for a split second, then turned and bolted into the brush. Only then did Cobel turn his full attention back to his opponent.
The King charged, his point aimed straight for Cobel's heart. Cobel let out a slow, steady breath.
"So this is how it ends," he muttered. "A new era always demands blood."
Steel shrieked against steel. The shockwave rattled the very ground beneath them. Then, in a blink, Cobel vanished. The King's eyes went wide.
A voice whispered from directly behind him: "I could end this right now."
A sharp, blinding pain flared through the King as he was sent hurtling into the woods. He smashed through roots and soil before slamming violently against a fallen trunk. He coughed, hacking air back into his lungs, but before he could even attempt to rise, an overwhelming weight pinned him down.
Cobel stood over him, the edge of his blade pressed firmly against the King's shoulder. It was over.
But the King of the Wall gave one last roar. Using every ounce of his fading strength, he shoved Cobel aside and staggered back to his feet. Their swords clashed again, though each strike now carried more exhaustion than rage. Cobel took a heavy blow to the shoulder, his body wrenching under the impact, but he shoved through the pain, driving a knee into the King's ribs.
The King collapsed to his knees. Cobel towered over him.
"Is that it?" Cobel asked, his voice a low growl.
The King let out a weak, wet chuckle. "Even now... you look down on me."
He forced himself up one last time. They lunged.
The King's blade shattered upon impact. The sound echoed through the trees like a final verdict. He knew then; the battle had already chosen its winner.
Cobel raised his sword for the finishing blow—but a desperate, last-ditch counterattack caught him off guard, throwing him backward into the lake.
Moments later, Cobel emerged from the water, blood matting his hair, lungs burning. The King lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close.
"I won't be the King of the Wall anymore," he hissed. He struck. " 'Kingslayer' suits me better."
They broke apart, both men barely able to keep their footing. There was no hatred left, no fury. Only the raw will to endure. They threw themselves at each other one last time.
A final wave of shock shook the forest. A dry, hollow crack rang out.
Both men fell.
Silence reclaimed the woods. Cobel lay still. The Nameless King stood over him, exhausted beyond measure.
"I was once like you," he said softly. "Consumed by the void... believing that strength was everything."
He turned away. One king had fallen. Another had risen. And the world, though unaware, had just changed forever.
The Nameless King, relieved that the carnage was finally over, let his body collapse. His legs gave out and he hit the cold earth, staring up at the darkening sky. His chest labored as a sharp, stabbing pain radiated from his broken arm.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind. Then—a shallow, ragged breath.
Opening his eyes, the former King of the Wall turned his head to see Cobel lying motionless nearby. With agonizing effort, he crawled toward the fallen giant. A faint, bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"I was just like you, boy," he rasped, his voice thick with blood. "The void owned me... just like it owns you now." He coughed, red staining his lips. "You haven't realized it yet... but you will. Years from now."
He raised his mangled arm, preparing a final strike.
"I—" He looked up at the black sky. "I hope you have the same luck I did. That you find happiness." His voice began to fade. "I hope you make it..."
His arm dropped. Cobel closed his eyes and did not move again.
The old King lingered for a few seconds before turning away. Blood flowed freely from his wounds, his body pushed past its breaking point, yet his mind was strangely at peace. Step by step, he limped into the forest, leaving the carnage behind.
Sometime later, frantic footsteps thudded through the undergrowth.
"P-Papa?!"
Eli froze at the sight. Her voice trembled as she looked down at the bloodied figure on the ground. Clara rushed past her, collapsing to her knees beside her husband. The moment she realized the truth, her strength vanished, and she broke into heaving sobs. Eli followed, weeping uncontrollably, unable to reconcile the broken man before her with the father she knew.
Elsewhere, Jay wandered through the dim corridors of the ship. He opened his eyes to find nothing but the dead of night. Stretching his stiff limbs, he looked around.
"...Dad?"
No answer. He sighed. I'll go look for him. Maybe it'll take my mind off things, he thought.
As he walked, he heard muffled sobbing. Rounding a corner, he found a young girl huddling in the shadows.
"What's wrong?" Jay asked gently. "Why are you crying?"
The girl looked up, wiping her eyes. "I... I lost my mom."
"Oh." Jay paused, then nodded. "Then let's go find her together."
"...Okay," she whispered, her voice drained of energy.
They walked side by side.
Back in the forest, the former King of the Wall finally reunited with his family. The moment she saw him, Eli sprinted forward and threw herself into his arms.
"What is it, sweetheart?" he asked, startled. "What happened? Weren't you with your mother?"
"I got separated..."
"Then we'll find her," he said softly, forcing a smile.
Once she calmed down, Eli remembered her companion. She turned to Jay, who stood a short distance away. "Thank you for helping me find my father."
Jay nodded, though a small prickle of disappointment remained—he had hoped to reunite her with her mother.
Poul approached his son shortly after. "You did well," he said, resting a hand on Jay's head. "Helping people like that... I'm proud of you."
Jay hesitated, then looked up. "Dad... do academies really exist?"
"They do."
Jay's eyes sparked.
"But they aren't what you think," Poul continued, his gaze drifting to the sky. "They are places built to forge soldiers. Factories designed to produce the perfect warrior. Every man goes eventually. I went, too."
I'd end up there anyway, Jay thought. Interesting. Maybe that's where I'll find out what I'm actually capable of.
"How old do you have to be to join?" Jay asked.
"Around ten."
Jay's excitement dimmed slightly at the wait.
Days passed. They eventually reached their destination and were processed into a refugee center. Jay spent his days sitting under a tree, reading in silence, while Poul—now enlisted—trained tirelessly.
The other children looked at Jay as if he were an outsider. One day, a girl with purple hair approached him.
"It's you," Jay said, surprised. "The lost girl."
She offered a small smile.
"What's up? Don't tell me you got lost again," he teased, worried she was about to interrupt his book.
"You really think I'd get lost twice?!"
"I wouldn't put it past you."
She scowled. "Idiot." She crouched down next to him. "What are you reading, idiot?"
Did this girl seriously just call me an idiot twice? Jay thought, annoyed.
She laughed. Jay reached out and flicked her forehead.
"Ow! My beautiful forehead!" she whined, her eyes welling up.
Here we go... she's going to run to her parents, Jay thought.
But instead, she lunged at him, swinging her fists. Jay stared in disbelief; for her size, she was surprisingly strong. He flicked her forehead again and gave her a gentle shove to the grass.
They began to bicker loudly, their voices carrying across the camp.
Meanwhile, inside a nearby tent, Poul was mid-drill when someone called his name. He stepped outside, and a letter was pressed into his hand.
"Thank you."
He broke the seal. It was official. He was now a soldier of the army.
Poul smiled... but a sudden, strange emotion swelled in his chest. He couldn't quite name it. A single tear traced a path down his face.