Chapter 112: STRENGTH
Scene: The battlefield is littered with the bodies of fallen warriors, and the air is thick with the scent of ash and blood. Zarek stands victorious, his demonic power still crackling around him as he surveys the destruction he has wrought. The King of the South Nation, Alden, lies dead, and the heroes are beaten and battered. Zarek's next move is clear—to eliminate any remaining threats that could oppose him. Across the field, Commander Thalanor, now the new King of the South Nation, cradles the unconscious body of his son, Eren.
Narrator: With King Alden gone, Zarek's mission of destruction is almost complete. His power reigns supreme on the battlefield, and he turns his attention to the remaining warriors who stand in his way. The new king, Thalanor, kneels beside his son, Eren, his heart filled with both grief and desperation. But as a father, and now a king, he knows that he cannot give up.
Thalanor, his armor battered and bloodied, looks down at Eren, his son's face pale and bruised. Tears form in his eyes, but he forces himself to stay composed. Gently, he strokes Eren's hair, his voice trembling as he tries to wake him.
Thalanor: (softly) Eren… wake up, son. I need you. Do you remember when we used to hunt together? How you always caught the biggest game…? Your mother would laugh when we brought it home. We ate together as a family, remember?
He tightens his grip on Eren's hand, his voice growing more desperate.
Thalanor: (pleading) Please, Eren… don't leave me. We need you. I need you.
But Eren remains still, his body unresponsive. Thalanor's heart aches as he watches his son lie unconscious, and he feels the weight of his new responsibility as king pressing down on him.
Suddenly, Zarek flies overhead, his eyes locking onto Thalanor and the still form of Eren. He lands with a thud, the ground cracking beneath him. His purple eyes glow with demonic energy as he approaches Thalanor with a cold smile.
Zarek: (coldly) Surrender, Thalanor. You've seen the end. There's no hope left for the South Nation.
Thalanor, still kneeling beside his son, slowly stands, his eyes hardening with resolve. He knows this may be his final stand, but as the new king, he cannot back down. He draws his sword, the weight of his duty filling him with determination.
Thalanor: (quietly) I will not surrender, Zarek. As the new King of the South Nation, I will fight to the end.
Zarek smirks, amused by Thalanor's defiance.
Zarek: (mocking) Foolish. Do you really think you can stop me?
Without another word, Thalanor charges forward, his sword moving with incredible speed. His blade gleams with mana as he strikes at Zarek, managing to land a deep cut across Zarek's chest. Blood spills from the wound, and Zarek's eyes narrow with annoyance.
Zarek: (angrily) You're starting to irritate me.
Zarek counters, attacking with a flurry of strikes. The two clash violently, the sound of steel ringing out as their swords meet in a deadly dance. Thalanor is skilled, using every ounce of his training and experience to keep up with Zarek's brutal assault. But it's clear that Zarek's demonic power is overwhelming. Thalanor is slowly pushed back, struggling to keep his footing.
Just as Zarek is about to land a devastating blow, Thalanor steps back and calls upon his secret sword technique. He grips his blade tightly and shouts with all his might.
Thalanor: (shouting) Kenjutsu: Third Movement—Mirror Cut!
Thalanor's blade glows with bright energy, and suddenly, multiple illusions of swords appear around Zarek, each one cutting toward him in perfect synchronization. Zarek tries to dodge, moving with lightning speed, but one of the swords strikes him, slicing into his side.
Zarek: (growling) Clever… but not clever enough.
Zarek snarls and charges at Thalanor, his demonic power flaring. He is ready to deliver the final blow, his fist glowing with dark energy. Just as his strike is about to connect, a blur of motion appears between him and Thalanor.
Commander Elara, her arm infused with Flame Mana, blocks Zarek's attack with a burst of fire. The flames roar around her, her eyes filled with determination as she pushes Zarek back.
Elara: (fiercely) You'll have to go through me first!
With a quick counterattack, Elara unleashes a fiery burst, throwing Zarek back across the battlefield. Zarek skids to a halt, his face twisted in shock. He didn't expect anyone to still have this much fight left.
Zarek: (shocked) You…
But before Elara can press her advantage, Zarek moves with blinding speed. He dodges her next attack and delivers a crushing blow to her gut, sending her flying across the battlefield. She crashes into the ground, blood spilling from her mouth as she struggles to breathe, paralyzed and unable to move.
Narrator: One by one, the South Nation's strongest are falling. The battle is nearing its end, and Zarek stands on the verge of victory. The heroes are drained, their bodies broken. But deep within the battlefield, Eren's hand twitches, a flicker of life returning to him.
Eren, lying still on the ground, begins to stir. He hears his father's voice in the back of his mind, the words echoing like a distant memory. Slowly, his eyes flutter open. His body is weak, but something inside him—something deep and primal—awakens.
He closes his eyes once more, focusing inward. His mana begins to shift, changing from yellow to a deep, burning red. His elven heritage surges through him, and his body transforms into his Raged High Elf form. But this time, something is different—this time, he can control it.
Eren rises from the ground, his red mana crackling around him like wildfire. His eyes burn with intensity as he looks across the battlefield, seeing his fallen comrades and the devastation Zarek has caused. His gaze locks onto Zarek, who is preparing to finish off Thalanor.
Eren: (calmly) Was it worth it, Zarek?
Zarek turns, his eyes narrowing as he sees Eren standing tall, his red mana glowing fiercely. But before Zarek can respond, Eren vanishes in a blur of speed, using his Spatial Drift ability to teleport behind Zarek. With a powerful kick, Eren sends Zarek flying into the air.
Zarek, caught off guard, quickly regains his composure and meets Eren in the sky. The two clash with incredible speed, their fists colliding with the force of a storm. The air around them crackles with mana as they exchange blows, neither giving an inch.
Eren: (fiercely) This is for everyone you've hurt!
Eren draws his sword, its blade glowing red with his mana. He uses his ability Scarlet Sword, slashing at Zarek with a series of rapid, precise strikes. Zarek grunts in pain as the attacks cut deep into his body, blood staining the air.
Zarek: (furiously) Enough!
Zarek retaliates with a barrage of demonic mana attacks, hurling dark spheres of energy toward Eren. But Eren moves with precision, dodging every attack with his enhanced Spatial Drift ability. He reappears behind Zarek and strikes, his sword piercing Zarek's shoulder.
Eren: (coldly) This is for the South and North Nations.
Summoning all his power, Eren unleashes a Mana Burst—but this time, his mana is a fiery red. The burst of energy is so strong that it begins to draw out Zarek's demon mana, destabilizing it. Zarek's eyes widen in shock as his hair starts to change back to white, and his demon form weakens.
Zarek: (breathing heavily) No… this can't be…
With a final surge of strength, Eren forms his red Liquid Mana into a massive hand. The hand reaches out, grabbing Zarek and slamming him into the ground with immense force. The impact sends shockwaves through the battlefield, and Zarek is left paralyzed, unable to move.
As Zarek lies on the ground, defeated, he stares up at the sky, his body unable to respond. His mind races, filled with doubt and regret. Images of his mother flash before his eyes, and for the first time, Zarek feels the weight of his choices. A single tear rolls down his cheek.
Zarek: (whispering) Maybe… I was wrong…
Narrator: Zarek, the boy who sought a new home for his people, has been defeated—not by death, but by the weight of his own actions. His demon side stripped away, he lies on the battlefield, broken and reflective.
Eren, still in his High Elf form, stumbles toward his allies. He kneels beside Rylan, who lies bloodied and battered on the ground. The weight of the battle shows in Eren's tired eyes, but he knows he cannot rest yet. His red mana flickers around him, still pulsing with power, and he places his hands over Rylan's wounds.
With a deep breath, Eren channels his mana into Rylan, sharing his strength to heal him. The wounds on Rylan's body begin to close, and his shallow breathing becomes steady. Eren's energy flows into his friend, repairing the damage from the brutal battle.
Eren: (softly) You're going to be okay, Rylan. Just hang in there a little longer.
Rylan stirs, his eyes fluttering open as Eren's mana works through him. He looks up at Eren, his vision still blurry from the pain, but he recognizes the familiar glow of his friend's mana.
Rylan: (weakly) Eren… you're… alive…
Eren smiles faintly, his body trembling from exhaustion. The toll of the battle is finally catching up to him, but he doesn't stop. He moves to Asher and Aria, his mana still flickering around him, and he shares a bit of his energy with them as well, helping them regain some of their strength.
Thalanor watches from a distance, his heart swelling with pride as he sees his son standing tall, even after everything they've been through. He nods in silent approval, knowing that Eren has truly become the hero the South Nation needs.
Thalanor: (quietly) You've done well, my son.
As the battlefield quiets, the remaining knights, battered but determined, rally around their new king. Thalanor raises his hand, his voice strong and steady as he gives the command.
Thalanor: (commanding) Knights, capture Zarek! Secure him before he can escape.
The knights quickly move to Zarek's fallen form, binding him with chains infused with mana to prevent him from using his powers. Zarek, still paralyzed from the effects of Eren's final attack, doesn't resist. His once fierce and commanding presence is now subdued, his eyes distant as he stares at the sky, lost in his own thoughts.
Zarek's allies, who had been watching the battle from afar, exchange uneasy glances. They had followed Zarek out of loyalty to his vision, but now, seeing him defeated and broken, their resolve falters. One by one, they turn and retreat, abandoning the battlefield and leaving Zarek behind.
Narrator: Zarek's remaining allies, those who had once fought beside him, now see the futility of continuing the battle. They never truly wanted this fight, and in the end, they leave Zarek to his fate.
As the battle winds down, the South Nation's knights begin to gather their wounded and tend to the fallen. The battlefield is eerily quiet now, the chaos replaced by a somber stillness. The war is over, and the South Nation has won, but at a great cost.
Eren, his strength finally spent, collapses to his knees. His High Elf form fades away, his mana returning to normal as he gasps for air. Thalanor rushes to his son's side, kneeling beside him as Eren's body slumps forward in exhaustion.
Thalanor: (softly) Eren… rest now. You've done enough.
Eren looks up at his father, a weak smile on his face before he finally passes out, his body too tired to keep going. Thalanor catches him, holding him close as he strokes his son's hair.
Thalanor: (quietly) You did it, my boy. You saved us all.
Narrator: The battle is over, but the scars of war remain. Zarek has been captured, his dream of creating a new home for his people shattered. And while the South Nation has emerged victorious, they are left to mourn the loss of their king, Alden, whose sacrifice will not be forgotten.
The knights carefully wrap King Alden's remains, their faces solemn as they prepare to carry him back to the South Nation's castle. The once-mighty king who fought for his people until the very end will be honored, even in death.
Zarek, bound and weakened, remains silent as he is taken prisoner. His once burning desire to destroy and conquer has been extinguished, and now, all that remains is the boy who had wanted to create a home for his people. He closes his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to his mother. Silent tears roll down his cheeks as he reflects on everything he has done.
The South Nation's forces, though battered and exhausted, begin the long journey back to the castle. Among them, the heroes—Eren, Rylan, Asher, Aria—are carried back, their bodies in need of rest and healing. The battle may be over, but their journey has not yet ended.
As they return to the South Nation's castle, the medics are already waiting to tend to the wounded. The head nurse, Kimiko, directs the injured knights and heroes to her team, her calm demeanor a source of comfort in the midst of the chaos.
Kimiko: (softly) Bring them inside. We'll take care of them from here.
Eren, Rylan, Asher, and Aria are carefully laid on stretchers, and Kimiko examines them with a keen eye. She knows they've been through more than just a physical battle—their spirits are wounded, too.
Narrator: The South Nation's castle becomes a place of healing, a sanctuary for the wounded heroes and knights who fought so bravely. Nurse Kimiko and her team work tirelessly, patching wounds and mending broken bones, ensuring that those who survived the battle will recover.
The final scene shows Eren, still unconscious, lying in a bed. His chest rises and falls steadily as the red mana flickers faintly around him, a sign that his strength will return in time. Thalanor stands at the door, watching over his son with pride and relief.
As the medics tend to Rylan, Asher, and Aria, Thalanor turns away from the door, walking down the quiet halls of the castle. He knows the battle is over, but the work of rebuilding his nation has only just begun.
Narrator: The battle for the South Nation has ended, but the future is still uncertain. Zarek lies defeated, his dream broken, and the heroes of the South Nation begin their long road to recovery. With King Alden gone, a new era begins under the rule of Thalanor. The scars of war remain, but hope flickers in the hearts of the people.
The chapter ends with the castle bathed in the warm glow of evening light, a symbol of resilience and hope. Though the road ahead is uncertain, the South Nation stands united, ready to rebuild and face whatever comes next.