Entering the forest, the Nameless King realized that, besides being filled with dead trees, there were almost no animals—only crows.
With every step he took, the stench of rotting flesh grew stronger, filling his nostrils. It bothered him slightly.
Even though he was used to battlefields, this smell still caused discomfort.
After walking for some time through the dead forest, he found the body of a giant sitting against a withered tree. The ground beneath it was stained with dried blood, and its body was covered in countless wounds.
The Nameless King simply stared at the scene with empty eyes.
That being had found its own...
'Peace...'
That was his greatest desire—peace.
After so many battles, after granting that peace to so many...
'Enemies...'
And yet, they had never given him the same.
'Isn't that... a little...'
Unfair.
Yes, to the Nameless King, it was unfair.
He had slain countless warriors—strong and weak alike. He had fought epic battles, honorable ones, and even meaningless ones. But in the end, every battle had the same result.
'After every battle...'
His gaze lowered slightly.
'There is only emptiness... warm blood on my hands...'
'And my blade buried in my enemy.'
The crows watched him.
The wind passed through the forest as the damp ground sank beneath his feet.
"Caw... caw..."
The sound made him turn.
His sword was drawn instantly, his eyes filled with killing intent.
But there was nothing.
Only a fog slowly forming.
He turned back and continued walking.
Soon, rain began to fall.
After walking for some time under the rain, he let out a quiet sigh.
Then—
He heard something.
Footsteps.
Turning quickly, he swung his sword—
Cutting through what seemed to be a tree trunk.
But it wasn't.
It was a corpse.
A giant—now moving.
A dead giant.
A zombie.
Dodging another attack, he swung again, cutting vertically.
His blade sliced through the rain before reaching the creature.
More appeared.
His eyes widened slightly.
He dashed forward, leaving marks on the ground, striking down the approaching figures one after another.
Then—
He saw it.
A throne made of bones.
Sitting upon it was a giant.
Its expression was bored.
It raised its hand—
And all the undead stopped moving.
The Nameless King raised an eyebrow, confused.
'W-what...? Why did they stop?'
The pale giant stood.
Suddenly—
A pressure fell upon him.
The Nameless King dropped to his knees.
'Why... am I trembling?'
His hands shook so much he could barely hold his sword.
"Oho..." a deep, lifeless voice echoed.
"You're not going to pick up your... sword?"
A cold gaze stared at him.
That alone made a chill run down his spine.
His body reacted instinctively.
"You... are afraid, giant?"
Clenching his teeth, veins appearing on his arms, the Nameless King forced himself to move.
He grabbed his sword tightly and swung.
The giant disappeared like a shadow.
Before he could react—
Something grabbed his head.
The pressure increased.
"Ghh—!"
'He's going to crush my head!'
He tried to move, but couldn't.
'I... can't move...'
His breathing grew heavy.
But not from fear.
From excitement.
The excitement of death.
Then—
The pressure stopped.
"You passed my test."
'A test?!'
Everything he had just experienced...
A test?
'Ridiculous.'
And yet—
It excited him.
"You will never surpass me in this state. You are weak... insignificant, Nameless King."
Those words struck his pride deeply.
"How did someone like you kill him? Ridiculous."
'Ridiculous?!'
He had killed the King of Giants.
That was his achievement.
His victory.
Clenching his teeth in frustration, he remained silent.
After a moment, the pale giant spoke again:
"I will grant you a new purpose... false king."
"The king with no name and no purpose... Nameless King."
Those words echoed deeply within him.
'A new purpose...?'
"Do you accept?" the pale giant asked.
Still kneeling in the mud, the Nameless King hesitated.
It was tempting.
But—
Was it trustworthy?
"What will happen if I accept?" he asked.
The giant stared at him.
"I am the King of Death. The one who brings the end to anomalies and monsters. A servant of the gods."
"I will send you on a mission."
The Nameless King listened carefully.
"In that mission, you will destroy villages, cities, and spread destruction across the elven continent."
The Nameless King stood up.
"I accept."
The King of Death nodded and turned away.
"You have two weeks. That will be enough."
"I will send a servant with you."
The Nameless King nodded.
'There's nothing I can do. If I refuse, I die.'
Walking through the rain alongside the undead servant, the Nameless King frowned slightly at the foul smell coming from it.
'...I feel like throwing up.'
Soon, they reached a cliff overlooking a vast ocean.
The undead pointed forward.
"That... is the elven continent."
The Nameless King nodded.
Then he jumped.
The wind roared against his body as he fell through the clouds.
Breathing became difficult.
But then—
A fresh scent reached him.
The ocean.
'...Does water even have a smell?'
He wasn't sure.
After some time, he saw land.
A thin green line.
He crashed down.
A loud impact shook the ground.
Dust rose around him.
Nearby, a villager fell to the ground in fear.
His body trembled uncontrollably, tears running down his face.
The Nameless King stepped forward.
Raising his sword.
The shadow covered the elf's body.
"N-no...!"
The blade fell.
Blood spread across the grass.
Ahead, a village.
Before his arrival, it had been peaceful.
Now—
Fear filled every face.
The Nameless King rested his sword on his shoulder.
'Now... destruction begins.'
In a distant office—
"My lord!"
An elf looked up.
"What is it?"
"A giant has invaded our territory!"
The elf stood up immediately.
"What?!"
"Prepare the troops. I will go as well."
A yellow aura began to surround his body.
'Wait for me... I will make you regret this.'
Back in the village—
The smell of blood filled the air.
The Nameless King walked slowly.
Then—
Something approached.
He swung his sword, cutting through a magical attack.
The green energy dispersed.
'Strange...'
The elf in front of him was shocked.
'He cut magic...?'
The Nameless King moved again.
With a single strike, the elf fell.
Then—
An army arrived.
Around a hundred soldiers.
The Nameless King smiled.
'Come.'
He dashed forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
With one strike—
Half the army fell.
The once green land was stained red.
To him—
It was beautiful.
At the rear—
The Baron watched.
Shock filled his eyes.
He stepped forward.
"Advance!"
The soldiers obeyed.
"YES, BARON KOTEI!"
They charged.
The Nameless King smiled wider.
'Come...'
Then—
A beam of golden light cut through the sky.
Fast.
Blinding.
He blocked it.
Fragments chipped from his bone sword.
His eyes gleamed.
Excitement.
He redirected the attack.
The Baron froze.
"Damn it!"
His own power destroyed his troops.
Drawing his weapon, he mounted his horse and charged.
"GIAAAANT!!!"
Golden energy surrounded him.
The Nameless King raised his sword.
The clash was about to begin.
'You will die...'