At the gates of Alnuum, the battle had reached its climax. The remaining forces of Nannu were gathering in a desperate defensive line, as Set advanced with relentless haste. Despite all the courage of the defenders, Set's crimson eyes shone like death beacons, and his gaze was fixed on only one target: King Relon.
Relon, mounted on his horse, maintained composure as he observed the battlefield. His counselors and generals around him murmured apprehensively, but the king knew the true danger was in the solitary figure advancing toward him. He firmly held the Wavebringer, his ancestral spear, and wore the Leviathan armor, holy relics of the Aquarion family. He was prepared to face the crimson-eyed demon once more, but a shadow of doubt still lingered in his mind. Set was no ordinary enemy; he was a living legend, a nightmare in human form.
When Set finally drew near enough that all could see the wild intensity of his eyes, Nannu's brave warriors realized he aimed directly for the king. Several soldiers tried to bar his advance, but Set cut them down with brutal efficiency. There was no hesitation or fury in his strikes; he was a killing machine, driven by a cold, impersonal determination. The soldiers' bodies fell like leaves in the wind, and the silence following their death only increased the tension.
Relon clenched his fists upon realizing Set was rapidly approaching. He was about to advance for the confrontation when he was stopped by Arthan, who stood before him. Arthan, wearing the legendary Dragonscale armor inherited from his father, took the lead. Without a word, he leapt with incredible might, landing directly in Set's trajectory.
When Arthan struck the ground with his immense strength, a large fissure formed, interrupting Set's advance for a moment. Set, firmly grasping his dirk, eyed Arthan with his crimson eyes glittering. "Do you wish to die so much for a weak king?" asked Set, without any emotion in his voice.
Arthan, determined and resolute, firmly rebutted: "My king is not weak. He faced and defeated Avarice and will rebuild this country!" The conviction in his voice echoed across the battlefield, bringing a moment of hope to Nannu's soldiers watching. Set, recognizing Arthan's courage and devotion, raised his dirk in a sign of respect. "Very well," he said, with an undercurrent of somber respect. "Let us fight."
Arthan knew he faced a formidable opponent. Set was fast, precise, and his attacks almost impossible to predict. Knowing this, Arthan activated his special abilities: 'Dragon Claws' and 'Dragon Armor'. His arms and legs glowed with a golden aura as his scaly armor became even more resilient. He launched into attack with surprising speed, delivering powerful blows towards Set.
Set, however, was a master of evasion. Even with Arthan's enhanced speed, Set evaded with precise, graceful movements, making it seem he was dancing between attacks. With each evasion, Set countered with his dirk, but to his surprise, blows that would normally pierce any armor were absorbed by Arthan's reinforced corslet. The Dragon Armor was legendary for its durability, and now, with Arthan's activated powers, it became almost impenetrable.
The combat continued, a spectacle of technique and strength. Arthan advanced with overwhelming attacks, his Dragon Claws tearing through the air and leaving deep marks in the ground around Set. In turn, Set remained untouched, moving with an agility seeming to defy physics itself. The fight was a clash between the fury of the dragon and the precision of an unbeatable blade.
Still, tension began surfacing on Set's face. He realized that despite his speed and technique, penetrating Arthan's defense would be more difficult than imagined. The dragon's blood warrior was not just withstanding, but forcing Set into a more defensive posture than he was accustomed to. Every exchanged blow generated a shockwave that reverberated against the walls, causing soldiers around to tremble at the intensity of the confrontation.
Feeling the combat evenly matched, Arthan decided to give his all. With a fierce roar, he focused all his power into the Dragon Claws and delivered a vertical blow, aiming directly for Set's heart. The strike was so fast and powerful that the air around seemed to vibrate. Set, sensing impending doom, used all his speed to evade, but Arthan's blade passed close enough to rip part of his armor.
Set looked at the tear in his armor, and for the first time, his crimson eyes shone with something more than coldness - there was a glint of excitement. In that moment, he recognized that Arthan was no mere obstacle but a worthy adversary. The grim smile returned to his lips, and he murmured to himself: "Finally, someone who can offer a bit of challenge."
But even with the temporary advantage, Arthan knew he was at a long-term disadvantage. Set was relentless, and though Arthan's armor was resilient, he could feel the physical weariness beginning to affect him. The battle was still far from over, and Alnuum's future hung in the balance with every exchanged blow.
With King Relon watching from afar, firmly holding his spear, and Suzannah recovering her strength for the final battle, the fate of the kingdom rested in the hands of those refusing to yield before the darkness Set represented. The battle was just beginning, and the blood of heroes and demons would wash over sacred Alnuum soil.
Feeling the weight of exhaustion accumulating in his body, Arthan decided to bet everything on a final blow. He focused all his remaining strength and energy and leapt above Set, activating his most powerful ability: "Whirlwind of the Great Blade." Spinning his sword with incomparable speed and force, Arthan created a lethal vortex around himself, cutting through all in its path. The force of the attack kicked up dust and debris, and everyone watching waited anxiously for the result. However, to everyone's surprise, Set blocked every strike with supernatural precision. His body moved like a shadow, evading and stopping Arthan's devastating attacks with an ease seeming inhuman. Arthan's whirlwind dissipated and he retreated panting, shocked by Set's resilience.
From afar, Alister observed the situation and realized this was the best opportunity they would have to attack. He quickly approached King Relon, suggesting that all of Nannu's best warriors join together and attack Set while Arthan still had him occupied. "Set is a monster, he will not stop until he achieves his goals here!" warned Alister. However, Relon refused the idea, claiming it would be dishonorable. "This is no fair fight, Alister," responded Relon. "We cannot win through cowardice."
Alister insisted: "Suzannah is our greatest asset, but she is exhausted from her last magic. Without her, none of us can defeat Set in direct combat!". Despite understanding the danger Set posed, Relon remained resolute. To him, winning unjustly was no worthy victory.
The king's counselors and warriors around were divided. On one hand, Alister's proposal seemed the only sensible option. On the other, their loyalty to the king and his sense of justice prevented them from acting against his orders. Shun, one of the most experienced advisers, approached with a grave expression, saying: "My king, after the fall of Tenai, the country split in two: the Free Peoples Kingdom of Tenai and the Grand Duchy of Saladon. The former was devastated by constant warfare and attacked from all sides, including by our enemies from Volkaron. But the second, Saladon's Duchy, remained untouched. Do you know why?" Relon, curious, simply nodded for Shun to continue. "Because Saladon had a legendary warrior worth more than a thousand soldiers. That warrior is Set. No country dared attack the Duchy since the fall of Tenai because of him."
Relon reflected on these words, but his honor and sense of justice spoke louder. Even facing the indisputable truth of Set's power, he would not yield to a suggestion of mass attack. This only made the warriors more apprehensive, and some, fearing Set's power, decided to abandon the battlefield.
At that moment, even weakened and without mana, Suzannah approached with Sillard's help. Despite her frailty, she could not help but rebuke the king. "You're mad, boy? Don't give me that honor nonsense. I've been alive over 150 years, and it wasn't honor keeping me going. Do you want to live or die with honor?" she said firmly. Relon, unyielding, responded with authority: "Mind your place, witch. I am the king!"
Suzannah, shaking her head in disapproval, muttered in disdain: "You're finally starting to look like your father, boy. Let's hope you at least end like him." Ignoring the king's orders, she commanded all the most powerful warriors to advance on Set. Led by Alister, the warriors moved in unison, disobeying Relon. Only a few remained by the king's side: Gwen, Katara, Clara, Sillar, Lilla and Suzannah herself, who could barely stand.
As the warriors advanced, they saw Arthan was nearly exhausted while Set still seemed undaunted. Nonetheless, they unleashed everything they had against Set. The coordination and strength of their attacks was impressive, and for a moment it seemed they might truly win. Set was forced to evade and block a barrage of blows, receiving minor wounds. However, for every blow he received, he returned with a killing strike, felling some of Nannu's best warriors. Still, something burned within Set, a feeling he had never experienced before. For the first time, he felt the true dread of battle, the uncertainty of victory and the subtle fear of death.
As the battle continued, Set began questioning these new emotions. "Is this the fear of death? Is this what makes people cling to life with all their might? Is this what pushes ordinary men beyond their own limits?" These thoughts awakened an unexpected excitement in Set, and a sickly smile spread on his lips.
Alister, realizing Set was starting to enjoy the fight, decided to use that to his advantage. "Enjoying the battle, Set?" Alister asked, with a malicious smile. "I'd love to face you alone, as Arthan did, but I'm clever enough to know you'd defeat me. So why not bring more fun for you?"
Set continued laughing while evading blows and exchanging attacks with the surrounding warriors. The pleasure he felt from battle was almost palpable. However, in a moment of carelessness, immersed in his excitement, Set paused briefly. It was the chance Alister had been waiting for. Seizing the opening, he advanced precisely and, with a quick and decisive strike, drove his short sword into Set's chest.
The battlefield froze. The silence that followed was so profound everyone could hear the sound of the blade piercing Set's body. The demon's crimson eyes widened for a moment, but the sadistic smile never left his face. "So... this is what death feels like?" murmured Set, still smiling as blood spilled from his mouth.
But everyone knew the battle was still not over. Even with the sword embedded in his chest, Set's relentless aura had not dissipated.
Alister felt an inexplicable chill while a dense, shadowy aura began emanating from Set. It was as if the very air around was being corroded by that presence, dense enough to curdle any warrior's blood. The sensation was of pure malice, an oppression so intense it seemed to reach the very spirit. When the short sword was removed from Set's chest, the crimson-eyed warrior remained standing, with a smile distorting his face like the reflection of a tortured, corrupted soul. His wound, deep and fatal to any other, began healing at a frightening speed, leaving Alister slack-jawed, able only to obey a primitive instinct to flee.
"Everyone, get out of here! Now!" Alister screamed as he ran in desperation, not looking back. His cry was as much a warning as a plea. But before he could process what was happening, he saw something impossible: Shun's head, his faithful companion since age twelve, flying before him. Her head spun in the air with a frozen expression of surprise and terror before striking the ground with a dull thud. The shock was so intense Alister's heart almost stopped. His thoughts clouded as the agony of loss struck him fully, nearly bringing him to his knees. "How...?" he thought, since Set had not moved. Terror took hold of everyone around, including Suzannah and even the king, now facing the horror Set had become.
Without anyone noticing, all of Nannu's most powerful warriors lay dead, and no one could understand how it happened. Set seemed in the same place, motionless, like a macabre statue, yet something invisible had reaped their lives in the blink of an eye.
Gwen, a specialist in magic barriers, sensed something was wrong and used a detection spell. When she finally identified what was happening, a cry of terror escaped her lips. "No... it can't be!" She vomited on the ground feeling the pressure of Set's scarlet aura. It was a barrier so dense and perverse it seemed woven from screams and torments of Hell itself. The vibrant aura seemed to boil, on the brink of exploding into pure violence, emitting a horrible sound that frightened them all. The vision of Hell turned Gwen's stomach and sent chills through Suzannah, something she had never experienced in her 150 years of life. "This... is something I didn't even see in the war against Morfrey," Suzannah murmured, a chill running down her spine.
Alister, overtaken by grief over loss and certainty of no return, turned to face Set one last time. His eyes were wet as he held his dagger in his left hand and short sword in his right. He looked to Suzannah and King Relon with a resolute but deeply wounded gaze. "For Nannu!" Alister cried, but in his heart, he whispered a final silent prayer: "For Shun." He then charged at Set, determined to deliver his final blow, knowing this would be his end.
Relon, understanding Alister's sacrifice, raised his spear Wavebringer to the sky, allowing the sunlight to reflect on its blade and illuminate the warrior's path, as a gesture of honor and recognition. It was a silent blessing for a soldier who knew he would not return alive from this charge.
Alister crossed the barrier created by Set, and immediately his body began to be torn by invisible cuts. His skin split open in long gashes as he advanced, each step a battle against excruciating pain. He felt as if thousands of blades were slicing him inside and out, but his determination drove him forward. Arthan, despite exhaustion, strained to return to the king's side, helplessly watching as Alister charged towards certain death.
The pain soon became unbearable for Alister, and he slowed his run until finally beginning to walk, limping and groaning in agony. When he could no longer maintain pace, he fell to his knees, almost without strength. He felt the barrier was disintegrating him from within. With half his head and an arm already tattered, Alister saw with his distorted peripheral vision Shun's head on the ground. A final gasp of pain escaped his lips as he finally succumbed, collapsing silently beside Set's motionless body.
The battlefield fell into a deathly silence, interrupted only by the muffled sound of Alister's final breaths. The barrier around Set continued pulsing, like a malevolent heart beating to the rhythm of its own insanity. The crimson-eyed demon still stood there, untouched, with that perverse smile etched on his face. For the few survivors, that moment was the apex of absolute terror.