Lying on the ground, the Nameless King stared at the night sky.
Countless stars shimmered above him.
For a brief moment… everything felt quiet.
"…Beautiful."
As he gazed at the sky, the weight inside him seemed to fade.
The battles, the blood, the emptiness—
All of it disappeared, even if only for a few seconds.
Slowly, he stood up, his body still aching.
His eyes drifted toward the ruined village… and then to the fallen elf.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
Without another word, he turned and continued his journey.
From afar, Kotei watched the giant leave.
He had lost.
His soldiers… his people…
Everything had been taken from him.
A quiet rage began to grow inside his chest.
"I will not forget this…"
Blood slipped from his lips as his vision blurred.
"I will become stronger… no matter what it takes."
Before losing consciousness, he clenched his jaw, holding onto that single thought.
Not long after, Regina arrived in a noble carriage.
The moment she stepped into the battlefield, her heart sank.
The silence was heavy.
Broken structures, wounded soldiers, and scattered bodies filled her vision.
Each step forward made her breathing more unstable.
"K… Kotei…?"
Her voice trembled.
Then she saw him.
"No… this… this can't be…"
Her knees gave in, and she collapsed, tears falling freely as they stained the ground beneath her.
Darian, the carriage driver, rushed to Kotei's side.
Carefully, he checked his pulse.
A faint heartbeat.
He exhaled in relief.
"Lady Regina," he called gently.
She looked at him, her vision blurred by tears.
"He's alive."
For a moment, she couldn't believe it.
Then, slowly… the tension in her chest eased.
Darian carried Kotei back to the carriage, while Regina followed, still shaken.
As they left, Darian glanced once more at the battlefield.
"Giants… are they all like this?"
"…Monsters capable of this much destruction?"
He sighed quietly.
"I just hope… Sir Kotei doesn't lose himself chasing power."
Deep within the elven forest, the Nameless King walked alone.
The forest was peaceful.
Trees glowed faintly with mana, their leaves shimmering in soft colors.
Animals moved freely, undisturbed.
"…This place feels different."
For a moment, it was hard to believe that conflict even existed in this world.
Days passed.
More villages fell.
His blade was stained once again.
But something had changed.
There was no excitement this time.
No thrill.
Even surrounded by beauty… his expression remained empty.
"That battle…"
He turned his head slightly, recalling the elf.
"…was different."
The wind brushed past him.
"I'll go back."
A few days later, he returned to the battlefield.
The blood had dried.
The air carried a faint, unpleasant smell.
Yet, he showed no reaction.
Without hesitation, he walked forward.
Reaching the edge of the continent, he stopped.
He looked back one last time.
At everything he had left behind.
A small smile appeared.
Then—
He jumped.
The ground trembled as he disappeared into the distance.
Far away, Kotei suddenly woke up.
His breathing was uneven.
A sharp pain spread across his chest.
Beside him, Regina slept quietly, still holding his hand.
A weak smile formed on his face.
"…I'm alive."
But the pain grew stronger.
His body trembled slightly.
"My mana core…?"
It was evolving.
A painful but necessary process.
Most avoided it.
But Kotei didn't.
He endured it in silence.
His body soaked in sweat, his breathing unsteady—
Until suddenly…
It stopped.
He exhaled slowly.
Something felt different.
Stronger.
His mana… had increased.
"So this is… growth."
A faint light returned to his eyes.
Gently, he moved Regina to a more comfortable position and left the room.
The corridor was dark.
With a small spell, he illuminated the path ahead.
Even with his new strength…
He wasn't satisfied.
Soon, he reached the training room.
Placing his hand on the testing wall—
He began.
Elsewhere…
The Nameless King landed once more.
An undead giant stood before him.
Without hesitation—
He moved.
A single strike was enough.
Then another.
And another.
More enemies appeared—
But none could stop him.
Until—
He reached the throne.
The King of Death sat silently, observing.
With a simple gesture, the undead advanced.
The Nameless King cut through them, step by step.
In moments—
He stood before the throne.
He attacked.
But suddenly—
An overwhelming force stopped him.
His body was thrown back.
The King of Death let out a quiet laugh.
"…Still lacking."
The Nameless King rose again.
Without hesitation, he charged forward.
"Raw power alone is not enough."
The King of Death stopped him effortlessly.
"You lack control."
"You lack refinement."
"You are talent… without direction."
The final blow sent him crashing into the ground.
His vision blurred.
His strength faded.
For the first time—
He felt something unfamiliar.
Frustration.
Darkness slowly consumed his sight.
The King of Death returned to his throne.
"…A diamond in need of shaping."
He closed his eyes.
"I'll deal with him later."
Night fell.
Far away, a ship approached the elven continent.
The atmosphere aboard was heavy.
Silence filled with fear, anger, and uncertainty.
Luis clenched his fists.
"The elven continent…"
"What awaits us there…?"
Beside him, Noa sat quietly.
His gaze empty.
"I couldn't protect them…"
Tears rolled down his face.
When the ship finally arrived…
The humans stepped onto unfamiliar land.
Ashes covered the ground.
The air felt cold.
Then—
Footsteps echoed.
A man approached.
Elegant.
Composed.
Smiling.
"Welcome…"
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"To our continent…"
"To my domain."
He paused.
His smile deepened slightly.
"My name… is Kotei."