The days passed slowly in the town of Vardun as Kateku and his companions prepared for their inevitable encounter with Korag. The once serene village was now a staging ground for their growing strength, as they honed their skills and gathered what little information they could about the warlord that loomed over the region.
Kateku spent most of his days in the wild, training the elf girls—Aurelion, Sylfae, Crimsonia, Viridia, and Liliana—in survival tactics and battle strategies. Each of them had their own strengths, and he made sure to refine their abilities while teaching them the lessons he had learned from his own experiences.
The forest became their classroom, the wilds their battlefield. Kateku stood before the group as they practiced setting up traps, hunting, and using the natural environment to their advantage.
"Always stay alert," Kateku instructed as he demonstrated how to camouflage their presence in the dense foliage. "The forest is your friend, but it can turn on you if you're careless."
Crimsonia, her red hair glowing like a flame against the green backdrop of the trees, grumbled. "Can't we just set everything on fire? That'd take care of any enemies."
Kateku smirked. "Fire's useful, but it also draws attention. You don't want every creature in the forest knowing where you are, especially not when you're outnumbered."
Aurelion, ever the attentive student, asked, "What about when we need to fight head-on? Are there tactics for that?"
Kateku nodded. "There's always a way to outthink your enemy. But strength alone won't be enough. You have to use your head. And sometimes, you need to rely on things you've never considered."
As the day came to an end, they gathered around a campfire, the warmth of the flames warding off the chill of the night. Liliana, the youngest of the group, stared up at the stars. "Kateku, can you tell us one of your stories again?"
Kateku leaned back against a tree, his eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. "Alright. Let me tell you about something called 'Dragon Ball.' It's from a world that was full of powerful fighters, stronger than almost anything you've ever seen."
The girls listened intently as he spoke of warriors with incredible strength, who trained to push beyond their limits. He described the battles that shook entire planets and the unrelenting will to grow stronger. As he talked, the girls' imaginations filled with visions of legendary fighters, the likes of which they had never encountered.
Sylfae's calm demeanor broke into a small smile as she asked, "Do you think we could ever become as strong as the people in your stories?"
Kateku chuckled softly. "If you train hard enough, who knows? Maybe one day you'll surpass them."
But even as he told them tales of another world, his mind remained focused on the future. The encounter with Korag was drawing near, and Kateku knew they had to be ready.
A week after their arrival in Vardun, the news finally came.
"Korag is coming!" A messenger burst into the town square, panting and out of breath. "His forces are less than a day's march from here!"
Panic swept through the town like wildfire. The villagers scrambled to hide what little valuables they had or prepared to flee. But Kateku and his group stood firm. They had been waiting for this moment.
"We make our stand here," Kateku declared. "We've trained for this. Now, it's time to show what we're made of."
The elf girls, now stronger and more confident after their time in the forest, gathered around him. Each of them had grown significantly under Kateku's guidance, and their bond as a team had only deepened.
Aurelion stepped forward, her golden hair glinting in the morning sun. "We're with you, Kateku. Whatever happens, we fight together."
Sylfae and Crimsonia nodded in agreement, while Viridia and Liliana readied their weapons.
"We're not running," Crimsonia added with determination. "Not from him, not from anyone."
As the sun began to set, Korag's army appeared on the horizon. The villagers, terrified, either hid in their homes or gathered what little courage they had to fight alongside Kateku and his group.
Korag himself was a sight to behold. Towering over his soldiers, he looked more beast than man. His body was covered in thick armor, his eyes glowing with a feral intensity. His presence alone seemed to make the ground tremble as he approached.
"So, this is where you've decided to make your last stand?" Korag's voice boomed across the battlefield as he stepped forward, glaring at Kateku and his companions.
Kateku remained calm, his eyes locked onto the warlord. "You've taken enough. It's time someone stopped you."
Korag's laughter echoed through the air. "You think you can stop me, boy? I've crushed warriors stronger than you."
"Maybe," Kateku replied, his voice steady. "But you haven't fought me yet."
Without another word, Korag raised his massive axe, and the battle began.
Kateku moved swiftly, using his agility and combat experience to dodge Korag's powerful strikes. The ground shattered beneath each blow, but Kateku remained one step ahead, darting in and out of Korag's range, landing strikes where he could.
Meanwhile, the elf girls fought off the warlord's soldiers with precision and skill. Aurelion's arrows flew with deadly accuracy, while Sylfae used her magic to create barriers and launch elemental attacks. Crimsonia, true to her fiery nature, charged headlong into battle, her sword glowing with power as she cut through enemies.
Viridia and Liliana worked together, using their natural affinity for the forest to trap and confuse the enemy soldiers. Vines sprang from the ground, ensnaring Korag's men, while Liliana's agility allowed her to strike from unexpected angles.
Despite their strength, Korag's forces were relentless. The town was in chaos, with houses burning and villagers fleeing. But Kateku's group held their ground, pushing back the invaders with every ounce of strength they had.
As the battle raged on, Kateku found himself face-to-face with Korag once more. The warlord's armor was dented and bloodied, but his ferocity hadn't waned.
"You're good," Korag growled, wiping blood from his mouth. "But not good enough."
Kateku smirked, his confidence unwavering. "We'll see about that."
With a roar, Korag charged at him, his axe raised high. But this time, Kateku was ready. Channeling all the power he had, he launched a devastating counterattack, sending a surge of energy into Korag's chest.
The warlord stumbled, his eyes widening in disbelief as he fell to his knees.
"It's over," Kateku said coldly, standing over him.
Korag snarled, struggling to stand, but it was no use. With one final strike, Kateku ended the battle, his sword piercing the warlord's heart.
As Korag's lifeless body fell to the ground, the battlefield grew silent. The remaining soldiers, seeing their leader defeated, fled in terror.
The town of Vardun was safe. For now.
Kateku and his companions continued their journey within the southern parts, following Aurelion's lead. She had spoken of a great kingdom—a place once revered as the strongest and most prosperous in the southern lands. But now, it was no more, reduced to ruins by the envious kingdoms from the other parts of the world.
After a day's travel, they finally reached the kingdom's ruins. Crumbled walls and broken towers were all that remained of what had once been a great civilization. The group wandered through the desolation, their footsteps echoing through the eerie silence.
In the center of the ruins, they found two towering statues standing close together. The statues appeared to symbolize a deep bond of friendship, but the wear of time had erased the faces. Judging by the build, it was clear that both were male.
Kateku walked up to the statues, gazing up at them with a distant expression. "I can feel it," he muttered. "The dreams... the hopes... the smiles... they're all gone." His voice echoed in the stillness. "This would have been the greatest kingdom of all time."
Aurelion placed a hand on one of the statues. "It was the envy of the world. The other kingdoms outside the south couldn't tolerate its strength."
Near the base of the statues, Kateku and the group noticed a cluster of flags—symbols of the southern kingdoms that had once been allies of this fallen realm. The Beast Kingdom, the Fire Blaze Kingdom, the Cookie Kingdom, the Grox Kingdom, and the Camman 18 Empire had all flown their banners here, honoring the kingdom that once stood as their friend.
Yet, the flag of the fallen kingdom itself was nowhere to be found.
"They destroyed everything," Sylfae murmured, shaking her head. "Erased its name, its legacy, from history."
Crimsonia clenched her fists, her amber eyes glowing with frustration. "And now, nothing remains but these ruins."
Kateku looked around, then turned his gaze southeast, determination settling in his eyes. "We head southeast next. Whatever happened here, we're going to find out."