I stood at the edge of the beach, staring out at the horizon. The waves, calm moments ago, were now disrupted by the sight of hundreds of massive military ships slicing through the water. Their dark, ominous forms loomed closer, radiating menace.
A voice broke through the tension. "So, Japan has made it through Round 20 as well."
I turned to see her beside me—a girl whose presence was impossible to ignore. Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, flowing past her shoulders in perfect waves. Her glowing red eyes locked onto the fleet with a sharp, unyielding focus. Dressed in sleek, battle-ready black, she gripped a scythe longer than she was tall—a weapon of black and crimson that seemed to hum with restrained power.
"Yeah," I replied, my voice steady despite the tension hanging in the air. "And they're coming for us with everything they've got."
Her gaze didn't waver as she studied the enemy ships. "It's been a while since we've faced something like this. Think we can take them?"
I glanced back at the crowd behind us—thousands of soldiers, armed with swords, bows, hammers, and spears. Their expressions wavered between anxious and determined as they awaited their orders.
"We don't have a choice," I said simply. "We either win, or we lose everything."
Turning to face the soldiers, I raised my arms. Hundreds of dark orbs materialized around me, pulsing with an ominous energy. Their glow cast flickering shadows across the sand, filling the air with an electric charge.
"This is our first contact with another country," I said, my voice cutting through the air like a blade. "And it's not going to be pretty. Be ready for anything—this could turn into a bloodbath."
With a single motion, I sent the orbs into formation, their crackling energy illuminating the soldiers' faces. A wave of cheers erupted, shattering the silence.
"For the Shadow Ravens!" I shouted, lifting my arms higher.
"Long live the King!" the soldiers roared in unison. Their cries echoed across the beach: "Victory to the Shadow Ravens!" "Strength and honor!" "For the realm!"
I turned back to the sea, the fleet looming larger with every second. My hands clenched at my sides, and my heart pounded with anticipation.
This was it.
Finally, I would meet him.
The real main character of this world.
As the ships drew closer, the weight of what lay ahead settled on me. The clash that was coming would define our future—whether we survived or fell.