As Serena's declaration echoed across the battlefield turned ceremony grounds, the lingering shock from her ruthless actions slowly gave way to reality. The initiation was over. The screams, the chaos, the bloodshed, all of it had finally come to an end. What remained were the survivors.
The initial shock from her drastic actions gradually gave way to a sobering reality. The survivors of this brutal initiation were now officially Warlords, their status symbolized by the sudden appearance of gold bands materializing around their arms.
The once-grand plaza now looked more like the aftermath of a war than a ceremonial ground. Cracked stone, scorched terrain, broken weapons, and fallen beasts littered the field.
Healers and attendants moved quickly among the wounded while exhausted participants struggled to remain standing. Some sat silently in disbelief, staring blankly at the devastation around them. Others openly wept for friends they lost, for the terror they had endured, or perhaps simply from relief that they had survived at all.
Serena stood at the center of it all, her towering sword resting against her shoulder as though it weighed nothing. Her gaze swept across the remaining participants, cold yet strangely approving.
"Celebrate. Enjoy the town. Grieve if you must," she declared, her voice carrying effortlessly across the plaza. "In five days' time, at first light, return to this square. Do not be late."
No one questioned her. No one dared.
As she turned and began walking away, the crowd instinctively parted for her. Even exhausted and wounded, people moved aside immediately, unable to withstand the overwhelming aura she naturally carried.
The silence lingered for only a moment before it was shattered by booming laughter.
"NEW BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WELCOME!"
Motar's voice thundered through the plaza like a festival drum. The massive Vanguard member stood atop a pile of shattered debris, laughing loudly as if the brutal initiation had merely been a fun sparring session.
"HAHAHAHA! That's what I'm talking about!" he roared. "Now that was an initiation!"
Some of the participants wanted to strangle the man, but others, despite themselves, laughed nervously. Some even cheered. The tension that had gripped the plaza for hours finally began to crack.
Out of the original seven hundred participants…
Only two hundred and eighty-six remained.
The number was horrifying.
Yet somehow, standing there among the survivors, it also felt triumphant.
Golden light suddenly shimmered across the plaza.
One by one, glowing bands materialized around the arms of every surviving participant. The golden rings formed seamlessly around their forearms before settling into place, warm to the touch.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
"The Warlord bands…" someone whispered.
Haru stared down at his own arm, watching the golden band gleam faintly against his skin. He could feel the subtle pulse of mana flowing through it.
"…So it's real now," he murmured.
Sylvie, standing beside him, held her arm out with a grin, her eyes tearing up. "I can't believe it," she said. "I've dreamed of this day since I was a little girl first learning magic."
Bane folded his arms, his expression calmer than the others, though even he seemed relieved. "Not many can say they endured that type of competition."
Haru laughed weakly. "Yeah, well, I think I aged ten years during it."
"That's normal," Sylvie replied immediately.
"That's not comforting."
The three stood together for a moment, simply absorbing everything that had happened. Around them, groups reunited, celebrated, mourned, or collapsed from exhaustion.
Then Haru glanced toward Bane and noticed him deep in thought.
"So," he asked, "what are you gonna do now?"
Bane became unusually quiet.
"I need to meet with my advisors," he said after a moment. "Now that I have officially become a Warlord… the coronation process can begin."
Haru and Sylvie blinked.
"…The what process?"
Bane looked at them calmly.
"The coronation."
"WHAT??!!!" Haru and Sylvie shouted simultaneously.
Bane chuckled at their reaction. "Yes. In the Algoro Kingdom, there may be many Warlords, but only one of royal blood may ascend the throne." His expression softened slightly. "As of today, I am officially the youngest recognized Warlord in my kingdom's history. Which means… I can now become king."
'He's so cool.'
Haru couldn't help but fangirl.
His greatest achievement was ranking in video games, yet here was this guy about to be King!
Sylvie looked equally stunned. "Wait, so you're literally THE prince? "I thought it was like… a nickname or something!"
Haru rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Honestly, same."
Bane laughed quietly, shaking his head.
"No…I've said that multiple times."
"Well congrats man, and what about you, Sylvie?" Haru asked. "What're you gonna do?"
Sylvie thought for a moment, her expression softening.
"…I think I wanna spend some time with my sister," she admitted.
"We haven't really talked properly in a while." Then her mischievous grin slowly returned. "After that? Probably cause problems."
"That sounds accurate," Haru replied.
"And you?" Sylvie asked. "What's next for Haru the lightning freak?"
"Arc freak," Haru corrected automatically.
"Whatever."
Haru's expression became thoughtful. The black lakes. The evolving Draeths. King Drago's reaction. None of it had left his mind.
He had come here searching for answers, and if anything, he now had even more questions.
"I need to train," he said honestly. "And I think I'm finally gonna buy a weapon."
Sylvie raised a brow. "You don't already have one?"
Haru scoffed childishly. "Punching things has worked out quite well for your information. Button masher for the win!"
"Button…what? Either way that's not a long-term strategy." Sylvie states, visibly drained from Haru's antics.
Haru looked at her and grinned devilishly
"Well its worked so far."
Bane nodded thoughtfully. "A weapon that can properly channel your abilities would increase your effectiveness significantly. But, it will be pricey. I could lend you some money should you need it."
"Thanks, but I'll be ok." Haru then considered mentioning the absurd amount of money he actually possessed but decided against it. Better to save it for emergencies.
With the world apparently falling apart, having a hidden reserve didn't seem like a bad idea.
Sylvie stretched lazily. "So, what? We just disappear for five days and pretend we're normal people?"
"Seems that way, I do wonder what the penalty is for being late," Bane replied.
Haru looked between them. "Want to meet back here on the fourth day?"
Bane smiled faintly. "I will make time for you both," he said sincerely. "You fought beside me. Shed blood beside me. From this day forward, I, Prince Bane of the Algoro Kingdom, recognize you as my brother and sister in arms."
The seriousness in his tone caught both Haru and Sylvie off guard. Sylvie smiled first.
"…Yeah," she said softly. "I like that."
Haru grinned. "Same here."
Before the moment could settle too deeply, another voice cut in.
"Hold on now," Bingo said, approaching alongside Rose and Mira. "You guys mind if we join this little friendship speech?"
Sylvie laughed for what felt like the first time all day. "Sure. More the merrier."
"Perfect," Mira said. "Because I almost died three separate times with you people. We're basically family now."
"Trauma bonding is real," Haru agreed.
Their laughter echoed lightly across the damaged plaza.
[Inside the castle]
The Vanguard sat assembled in full silence as Mye's final message replayed yet again. Her final moments, her fear, her resolve, her sacrifice, hung heavily over the chamber.
Motar crossed his arms, unusually serious.
"This level of coordination…" he muttered. "That's not normal beast behavior."
The King nodded grimly.
Motar continued. "Even my griffin units are struggling to maintain territory. If these Draeths keep evolving, they could push other high level beasts toward populated regions."
Servious adjusted his glasses slightly. "And if that happens, smaller territories will collapse first."
Kima and Twitch exchanged glances before stepping forward.
"We should lead an expedition," Twitch suggested. "Investigate the lakes directly."
"And eliminate anything we find," Kima added.
King Drago nodded slowly.
"I like that idea," he said. "Do it. Coordinate with the Research Division. Take whatever resources you need."
Then his gaze shifted. "War Master?"
Everyone turned toward Serena.
She remained leaning silently against the wall before finally speaking.
"I'll remain here and oversee the new Warlords, their processing is set to resume in a few days." she said calmly. "But increase patrols around the outer territories immediately." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And that girl… Mye."
The room quieted further.
"Even knowing she would die," Serena continued, "she fulfilled the duty of a Warlord to the very end."
Servious looked genuinely affected by the words.
Serena crossed her arms.
"When I find the mutated Draeth responsible," she said coldly, "I'll personally make sure it regrets surviving."
No one doubted her. As the meeting concluded, one thing became painfully clear that the initiation had not been the beginning of a new era of glory. It had been preparation for war.