Kael stood prepared, his body tensing with the anticipation of the final strike. He turned to Mia, his voice calm yet determined.
"Thank you, Mia." His smile was one of genuine warmth, a rare sight in the chaos of battle. "Just a little more, and I'll handle everything from here."
He stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of her.
Taking a deep breath, he channeled his energy and assumed the fighting stance that would unleash his trump card. "Forbidden Art: 100 Years of Peace!"
As the words left his mouth, time seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second. The entire battlefield felt the shockwave of this ancient power. When the flow of time resumed, the protective barrier that surrounded both Kael and Mia vanished, reforming itself around Kael alone. The shield took on the shape of his body, enhancing his durability. Meanwhile, Thomas' Blood Moon Sword—the source of his own immense power—began to falter. The crimson glow that once radiated from it dimmed, turning the mighty weapon into an ordinary blade. The energy that once surged through it now bloomed inside Kael's sword, filling it with an unstoppable force.
Kael laughed, an expression of both relief and triumph. "I did it!" he shouted, his voice reverberating across the battlefield.
"Impossible!" Thomas gasped, as both Mia and Isolde stood frozen in disbelief.
Everyone who witnessed this was astounded.
Mia's thoughts raced. "How? How is this even possible? Just who is he?"
Victor, watching from the sidelines, was equally stunned. "I'll have to have a long conversation with him when this is all over," he mused, unable to look away from the spectacle.
Thomas, on the other hand, was struggling to comprehend what had just occurred. His sword, once the embodiment of his strength, now appeared powerless.
"Thomas... Thomas!" Isolde called to him, her voice snapping him back to reality. He turned toward her, still dazed. "Don't worry," she said softly. "We'll find a way out of this."
Meanwhile, Edwin and Garrick, both injured and lying on the ground, could do nothing but watch the events unfold with their own eyes.
Kael's demeanor shifted, his smile fading as his focus returned to the situation at hand. "Mia," he asked, "do you have any mana left?"
"A little," she replied, exhausted but determined.
"Then could you do one last thing for me? Heal my grandfather. Even a little would help."
Without hesitation, Mia nodded. "Alright, I'll do it."
But Kael raised his hand, his expression softening. "No... Don't do it just because I asked. Do it only if it's what you truly want to do."
A small, gentle smile appeared on Mia's face. "Believe me, I'm doing this because I want to. I'll help you, Kael."
"Thank you," he said, gratitude evident in his voice.
Mia moved swiftly toward Victor, her hands glowing as she began to heal his wounds, stopping the bleeding and alleviating some of his pain.
Victor cast a quick glance toward Isolde, Thomas, and Garrick. "They're all guinea pigs... I'm certain of it now," he thought to himself, his mind swirling with revelations about the twisted experiments of the past.
The Forbidden Art: 100 Years of Peace
Now, let's pause for a moment to delve deeper into the mysterious technique that Kael just used—100 Years of Peace.
This powerful technique wasn't born in the present day. It was developed centuries ago by a man whose name has been lost to history. Known only as the creator of Ancient Magic and numerous sword techniques, this man's initial goal was to help humanity by offering them the means to defend themselves and maintain peace. Unfortunately, the very powers he created were misused, leading to a devastating war that raged across the land.
As the violence escalated, the man became disillusioned with how his creations were being exploited. Saddened by the bloodshed and the misuse of his magic, he devoted the last years of his life to creating a technique that could neutralize all others: 1000 Years of Peace. This technique had the unprecedented ability to absorb all magic within its range, effectively silencing the powers used in warfare. After many years of battle, the man finally used the technique, putting an end to the war and extinguishing Ancient Magic from the world.
However, such immense power came at a great cost. To activate 1000 Years of Peace, the man had to sacrifice his very soul. In addition, the technique drew upon the user's life force, gradually draining them to increase the area of effect. Thus, the Ancient Magic vanished, or so the story goes.
As time passed, one of the man's followers adapted the original technique into a less life-threatening form: 100 Years of Peace. This version didn't require the user's life force but instead harnessed the energy of the absorbed magic itself, making it a cornerstone of modern-day magic.
Kael's mastery of this technique, however, remains a mystery, one that will be explained as his story unfolds.
Isolde's Past:
Let's now shift focus to Isolde and explore the dark history that shaped her.
The current era is one of conflict, where kings seek to expand their dominions by conquering neighboring lands and enslaving common people. The Kingdom of Ivan as we know it didn't exist yet. Instead, it was a fractured land divided into small clans, each led by tribal leaders. Among these was the Van Clan, known for its brutal methods in battle and horrific experiments on human subjects.
Before the Kingdom of Ivan united under its present rule, the current King's father, alongside many influential figures—including Victor—played a key role in unifying the clans to form what is now Eldoria.
In the outer regions, what is now known as Ivan's commoner zone, there existed a notorious clan that reveled in cruelty and human experimentation. It was here that Millie Van, a leading scientist in human experimentation, and her husband, Phillip Van, conducted their grotesque research under the orders of the organization D.A.R.K. (which later came to be Ivan). Phillip Van was not only the second-in-command but also a close confidant of D.A.R.K.'s leader.
Isolde, at the age of seven, was well aware of her parents' involvement in these unethical experiments. She would often sneak into the facility where these experiments were conducted on children. Though horrified by what she saw, Isolde felt powerless, unable to stop the atrocities despite her growing hatred for them.
The experiments themselves were cruel. In one particular batch—the seventh to be precise—there were 26 children involved. By the end, only one had survived. Isolde often visited these children, offering them moments of solace and happiness in an otherwise hellish existence.
But how did she come to know of these experiments? And why did she choose to meet the children?
One day, while wandering the streets of her hometown, Isolde, known and adored by many for being the future head of the Van Clan, happened upon a disturbing scene. She saw a group of men, clad in the royal emblem, forcefully abducting children and murdering their parents if they resisted.
Isolde, confused and disturbed, began following them. She eventually lost sight of them but managed to track their footprints all the way to the secret facility on the outskirts of the city. Hidden in the shadows, she made her way inside through a back entrance, where her discovery would forever change her perspective on the world.