Far away from the heart of the Ausha Empire, under a sky smeared with streaks of red and black, a carriage tore through the wilderness. The wheels clattered against uneven ground, the horses galloping as though they carried the weight of destiny. Lucy, her hands trembling but firm on the reins, drove the carriage with a desperation born of love and despair.
Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision, but she didn't dare slow down. Not even for a moment. Behind her, the echoes of battle seemed to haunt the air—the clash of steel, the cries of men. She bit her lip, choking back a sob.
Kaylor's last words rang in her ears like a haunting melody.
"Honey, I have three greatest treasures. One of them is you. The second is our daughters. And the third is my king, Leo Gemini." His voice had been calm, even as the knights surrounded them. "I'm blessed to have had you as my wife. Even if the afterlife sends me to hell, I'll have no regrets because, in this life, I was gifted with the three greatest treasures."
Lucy's hands tightened on the reins, her knuckles white as snow.
"Please, take care of our daughters," Kaylor had said, his voice cracking for the first time. "Tell them I love them more than myself. Tell them their father was a fool—a failure—who won't get to see them grow up."
The memory of his warm, calloused hands pushing the horses to run flashed in her mind.
"Now go. Don't think about me for a second. Don't look back."
And then he had turned, sword in hand, his back straight, facing the twenty-one holy knights alone.
Lucy had wanted to scream, to fight, to throw herself at him and beg him not to do this. But the carriage had lurched forward, and her world had spun away, leaving only his silhouette against the rising dawn, his figure growing smaller and smaller until it vanished.
Now, the sound of the horses' hooves thundered louder than her sobs. The wind whipped at her hair, stinging her cheeks already raw from tears. Her daughters were inside the carriage, huddled together, their small hands clutching each other, their wide eyes brimming with fear.
Lucy's heart ached. "I'm sorry, my loves," she whispered under her breath. "Your father… your brave, foolish father…"
She couldn't bring herself to finish the thought. Her daughters needed her now, and there was no room for despair. Not yet.
The carriage hit a bump, jolting violently. Lucy gritted her teeth and urged the horses faster. The weight of her husband's sacrifice pressed heavy on her soul, but she wouldn't let it be in vain.
Ahead, the road stretched endlessly, disappearing into the unknown. Behind, the world burned. But in Lucy's heart, there was only one promise: She would survive, for her daughters, for Kaylor's memory, for the treasure he had entrusted to her.
Within the royal castle, chaos reigned. Smoke, fire, and blood painted the once-glorious halls of the Empire. The echoes of clashing steel reverberated alongside the desperate cries of the few loyalists who still stood. Amid it all, Leo Gemini, the legendary emperor, knelt heavily wounded, his breath ragged, his strength ebbing away like sand slipping through an hourglass.
Beside him, Charlotte—his most trusted general and friend—stood defiant despite his battered frame. Blood dripped from his wounds, and his hands trembled as he gripped his blade. His voice, hoarse and filled with anguish, roared at the traitorous council knights who had turned against their king.
"How dare you!" Charlotte screamed, slicing through the neck of yet another enemy who dared approach. His stance faltered, but his determination burned brighter than ever.
Leo's vision blurred, but through the haze, he could see Thomas in the distance. The man who had betrayed him, now being healed by Makima, the very healer who had once tended to Leo's own wounds.
And then came Miasha. Her approach was slow, deliberate, as if each step were a dagger stabbing deeper into Leo's heart. Her face, once that of a dear friend and sister-figure, now bore a cold, unrecognizable expression.
"Why, Miasha?" Leo croaked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you do this to me?"
Miasha stopped, tilting her head with a cold smile. "It's for the good, Leo. For the gods' sake. Let me help you end this misery."
Her words hit him harder than any physical wound ever could. For the first time in his life, tears welled in his eyes, streaming down his bloodied face. But even in his pain, he didn't falter. He moved to attack, his willpower stronger than his failing body.
Charlotte, however, intervened, placing a trembling hand on Leo's shoulder. "Your Majesty," he said softly, his voice laced with exhaustion and sorrow. "This might be our last stand. We expected betrayal, but not like this. Let me take this fight."
Leo stared at him, his heart heavy, unable to find the words. Charlotte turned, facing Miasha with a resolute determination despite his broken body. The clash of their blades was fierce but short-lived. Charlotte, weakened beyond measure, fell to the ground, his body crumpling beside Leo.
The mighty emperor was now alone, surrounded by the corpses of his allies. Priest Harry, who had defected to Leo's side, lay lifeless amidst the carnage. Min Joon, another loyal captain, had fallen moments earlier. Blood soaked the throne room floor, pooling around Leo as he knelt in silence, his sword trembling in his grip.
The enemy hesitated, watching the once-mighty war hero. Even in his broken state, Leo's presence sent shivers down their spines. Whispers broke out among them.
"Is this the end of the strongest human?"
"I want to be the one to cut off his head!"
"No, it's mine!"
Their words reached Leo's ears, but he didn't respond. His mind was numb, his heart shattered beyond repair. All he could do was kneel and wait.
Thomas stepped forward, his wounds barely healed, and his lips curled into a twisted smile. But as he neared, Leo stirred. Summoning every ounce of strength left in his broken body, Leo stood once more. The sight made Thomas pause, his smile faltering.
"You should have stayed down," Thomas sneered, thrusting his sword at Leo.
In a single, defiant swing, Leo shattered Thomas's blade and cleaved through his shoulder. Thomas collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain, screaming like a wounded animal.
But Leo's strength gave out. He collapsed beside Thomas, his body hitting the cold stone floor with a dull thud. Miasha approached, her footsteps echoing in the silent hall. She raised her blade, hesitated for only a moment, then stabbed Leo's lifeless body multiple times to ensure the deed was done.
The throne room erupted in cheers. The council members and Hazara laughed triumphantly, basking in their perceived victory.
Yet as they celebrated, a faint, orange glow began to radiate from Leo's chest. Miasha jumped back instinctively, her expression turning to shock. The laughter ceased. Hazara's eyes widened, his smile fading into panic.
From the glow, a voice echoed in Leo's mind:
*"The system has confirmed your current stage. The system's celestial ring will now return to its origin. As you did not register as a user, the system cannot assist you further. The system wishes you well and hopes we meet again someday."*
Leo's lips moved faintly, his voice barely audible. "System… huh… How did it come to this? When did my loyal friends… my own people… turn against me? Hazara, I will…"
And with that, the mighty emperor Leo Gemini, the war hero, the legendary defender of the realm, died as a brave warrior, his final breath carrying the weight of his shattered dreams.
As silence fell over the room, Charlotte, bloodied and barely alive, staggered to his feet. His legs trembled, but his eyes burned with righteous fury. His gaze fell on Leo's lifeless body, and he knelt beside his fallen king.
Placing his hands on Leo's chest, a radiant light began to glow, brighter and brighter. Hazara's voice rang out in alarm.
"Everyone, run! It's a self-detonation!"
The explosion that followed was catastrophic, obliterating the throne room and the corridor beyond, leaving behind only destruction and the echoes of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice.
The wilderness was filled with tension, the shadows of trees stretching ominously as the sun sank lower. Lucy stood in front of the carriage, gripping her weapon tightly as the bandits mocked her. The crude laughter and vile remarks burned in her ears, but her resolve remained unshaken.
One bandit sneered, twirling a knife. "Oh, look at this! A feisty little milf with a blade. Isn't she just adorable?"
Another chimed in with a grin, "You want us to cut your clothes off, darling? Make it easier for you."
Their leader licked his lips, stepping forward. "Let's not waste time. You're clearly waiting for us."
Lucy raised her weapon, her eyes cold as steel. "You think I'm just a simple lady? Come closer, and you'll find out how wrong you are."
The leader laughed mockingly. "What are you, the legendary Commander Kaylor? A holy hero?"
"No," Lucy said firmly. "But I was a knight of the Ausha Empire. Don't you dare come closer."
For a moment, they faltered, but their laughter soon returned, louder than before. "A knight, she says! Guess what, sweetheart? We were knights once, too."
Before the leader could finish his taunt, Lucy leapt into the air, her blade flashing. In one swift motion, she severed his throat, his mocking grin replaced by shock as he collapsed.
The bandits froze as Lucy moved with precision, cutting down another before they could react. Panic set in.
"She's a monster!" one shouted. "Run!"
Another bandit growled, "To the carriage! See if she has any weaknesses!"
Lucy, preoccupied with cutting down the remaining attackers, turned too late. Her heart dropped as she saw the bandits rushing toward the carriage where her twin daughters were hidden.
But her horror deepened when three holy knights emerged from the trees. Relief briefly washed over her, only to be shattered when the knights ignored her plight. Instead, they approached the bandits and whispered.
"Don't worry," one knight said. "Once you've had your fun with her, hand her over to us."
The bandits exchanged wicked grins and crept toward the carriage. The screams of Lucy's daughters filled the air as they were dragged out, knives pressed against their small throats.
Lucy froze, her weapon trembling in her hands. Tears streamed down her face as the bandits taunted her.
"Listen, lady," one of them said, holding her daughters hostage. "Just give up. We'll have our fun, and you'll get your kids back."
Lucy tightened her grip on her weapon, her heart racing. But before she could make her move, the world around her suddenly shifted.
In an instant, the bright daylight vanished, replaced by an eerie, suffocating darkness. The air grew cold, and a deep voice echoed through the forest.
"Humans," the voice boomed, "are no different from the false gods—greedy and vile. You disgust me. I was content to lie low, to gather my strength, but you've gone too far. Congratulations, you've made my blood boil."
The trees twisted unnaturally, their bark darkening until they resembled skeletal remains. The ground beneath the bandits and knights turned into a tar-like substance, consuming them in seconds. Their screams were short-lived, replaced by an eerie silence.
When the darkness lifted, Lucy blinked in disbelief. All that remained were skeletons wearing the tattered clothes of the bandits and knights. The carriage was untouched, her daughters standing unharmed.
"Mommy!" they cried, running toward her. Lucy dropped her weapon and pulled them into her arms, sobbing with relief.
A shadow rose nearby, taking the form of a woman draped in black, her long purple hair cascading like silk. Her beauty was otherworldly, her presence commanding.
"Are you unharmed?" the woman asked, her voice calm yet filled with power. "I am Nyx. You have nothing to fear—I did this."
Lucy, still holding her daughters, looked up at Nyx. "Thank you… thank you for saving us."
The twins bowed their heads. "Thank you, Aunty!"
Nyx chuckled softly. "No need to call me Aunty. And I didn't do it out of kindness. I need your help."
Lucy hesitated but nodded. "What do you need from us?"
Nyx's eyes softened. "I am unfamiliar with this world. Let me accompany you on your journey. I'll protect you in return."
"Of course," Lucy said, still shaken but grateful. "But we don't even know how to reach the elf kingdom."
Nyx smiled faintly. "We'll figure it out. Don't worry."
As the group prepared to continue their journey, Nyx's gaze fell on the bag in the back of the carriage. Her curiosity piqued, she asked Lucy about it.
Lucy hesitated, avoiding Nyx's gaze. "It's… nothing important."
But Nyx pressed further, her tone gentle yet insistent. "There's someone inside, isn't there?"
Lucy's eyes widened in shock. No human could have known. Reluctantly, she opened the bag, revealing Vaeloria—a fragile figure bound and unconscious.
Nyx knelt, her expression unreadable. "They once did the same to me," she murmured, placing a hand on Vaeloria's forehead.
The air grew still, Nyx's power radiating as she whispered, "Rest now. Your time will come again."
Lucy watched in awe as Nyx's touch seemed to bring peace to the troubled figure. For the first time since their ordeal began, she felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they continued their journey, their fates intertwined with the enigmatic Nyx.
Leo found himself in an endless black void, silence pressing down like a heavy shroud. In front of him floated the familiar orange magical circle, the same one from the battlefield. Its glow pulsed faintly, illuminating the darkness.
He couldn't feel anything—no pain, no warmth, no weight. Just emptiness.