As the battlefield became completely changed into chaos, Hero Hinnel, Nicolas, and the dragon, clashed in a gigantic struggle that would decide the fate of the kingdom. Each person fought with all the skill and power at their disposal, their every move driven by a fierce determination to emerge victorious.From where she hid, Lou-ra watched the fight, shocked that Nicolas' presence had summoned Skr'll, the dragon that his brother had kept hidden for thousands of years. It only proved he was the rightful ruler of Demon realm.Hero Hinnel, his golden sword flashing in the air, led the charge against Nicolas and the with unchanging resolve. He sent forth several air slashes towards him, but the dragon tossed it away as if it was nothing.Hero Hinnel clicked his tongue angrily as he tried to look for a blind spot to attack Nicolas. He would go after the dragon later; Nicolas was high priority.He sent more slashes at him but the dragon managed to wipe away several with just a gush of his
Nicolas stood frozen in shock as he watched Skr'll, the majestic dragon fall to the ground, its massive form crumpling in a heap of shattered scales and torn flesh. It's injury was worse than it seemed.Despite the chaos of battle raging around him, Nicolas attention was mainly focused on the fallen creature, his heart heavy with sorrow at the sight of its agony."What have they done to you" Nicolas said as tears gathered in his eyes.With trembling hands, he approached Skr'll to check on if he could do anything to heal it before it ended up dying due to its wounds.His eyes were already filled with tears as he knelt beside it. He could feel the faint pulse of its heartbeat beneath his fingertips, an evidence of its shocking strength and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds."Hang in there buddy, I'll save you" He said.Even as he grieved for the fallen creature, a sense of determination erupted within him. It was a determination to save it from the hands of death, no matter th
As Nicolas, Lou-ra, and the injured dragon, Skr'll, made their escape out of the battlefield which threatened to completely consume all of their strengths, they heaved a sigh of relief. Nicolas had been disappointed at not being able to convince Hero Hinnel of his innocence, but his mind was completely taken over by saving Skr'll. He focused more of his mana into healing her shattered scales and injured flesh.It took a considerate amount of magical energy to heal a dragon and Lou-ra could sense Nicolas' energy getting drained by the second. She put her hand on his shoulder in a bid to tell him to stop before he ended up using up all of his power."My lord, you need to stop" Lou-ra said.Nicolas ignored her as he concentrated on healing Skr'll. He had caused too much destruction for one day and all he wanted was to at least save a life. "I won't stop until she gets better" Nicolas replied.Lou-ra understood why he wanted to save Skr'll, but she was finding it difficult to wrap her h
The journey back to the kingdom was a quiet one for Hero Hinnel and his allies. The memory of their defeat at the hands of Nicolas and Lou-ra weighed heavily on their minds, making it extremely hard for them to even think of anything apart from that.They had managed to save Yuki from certain death, but it seems his life threatening experience didn't do enough to stop him from still being his arrogant self."We're here" Hero Hinnel announced."Home" Leon added."Open the doors already!!" Yuki screamed at the men in charge of the gates.He wanted so desperately to go back to the bosom of his mistress and sink himself into her until the entire world didn't seem to matter anymore."Here goes nothing" Hero Hinnel muttered to himself.As the gates opened and they entered the city, they were greeted by the hustle and bustle of everyday life; the sound of merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the streets, and the lingering sounds of activity from the castle grounds. On seeing t
Nicolas and Lou-ra found themselves surrounded by a group of fierce-looking jungle men, their weapons drawn and pointed directly at them, ready to attack with the slightest provocation.Lou-ra immediately stood in front of Nicolas and took a stance that suggested she was ready to battle with anyone that threatened to get any closer to her master."Lou-ra, stand back" Nicolas said.Lou-ra shook her head vehemently. It was her sworn duty to protect her master no matter what happens. Giving her life for such purpose was a honor."My lord, I will protect you" Lou-ra's eyes scanned the entire vicinity within seconds. It didn't take much time for her to discover a loophole which would be effective in their escape. "I'll hold them off for the time being. Immediately I give a signal, run towards the two separate bushes."The tension in the air was palpable as the warriors shouted at them in a language they did not understand, their faces twisted with anger and suspicion as to what strangers w
Nicolas and Lou-ra found themselves seated in the beautiful dinning room of the jungle king, surrounded by an air of royal splendor. The golden adored walls and cutlery were utterly shocking at how well-versed the jungle men were.The king sat before them on a throne of carved wood and woven vines, his expression solemn yet welcoming as he regarded them with a mixture of reverence and admiration. Never in his life did he imagine he would entertain the Demon Lord."You honor us with your presence, Demon Lord," the king began, his voice showing his admiration to be seated opposite Nicolas."We have long awaited your return. It has been roughly five hundred years since we set our eyes on you and we are happy that you saw us as worthy subjects enough to get a visit from you."Nicolas exchanged a confused glance with Lou-ra, unsure of how to respond to the king's words. He had never met this man before, and yet he spoke of Nicolas as though they were old friends."I'm happy you welcomed us.
As a small elite squad under the supervision of the false Demon King, led by General Gonro, entered deeper into the jungle belonging to the indigenous jungle people, their minds were prepared to face whatever their enemies had in store for them.They had been given enough training to be able to defeat ordinary men who lived in the jungle with little or no mana to boast of. It was a wonder why the new Demon lord hasn't tried to take over their lands.While watching his men get to work of clearing a path for them to pass through, Gonro's eyes burned with determination. He used his intelligence to properly instruct his soldiers to fan out and search for their targets, Abron and Skr'll."The traitor Skr'll must be found and brought to justice. Make sure you do whatever you can to capture her alive," Gonro commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. "And as for Abron...he will suffer for his betrayal."The soldiers nodded in understanding, their faces set in cold determination as they set
Gonro's powerful wave of weakening magic swept through the jungle, affecting all within its wide range including Nicolas, Lou-ra, and the jungle king."What was that?" Lou-ra asked as she looked around the room, wondering where such familiar magic had come from.Nicolas shook his head, unable to identify the true direction of the darkness he felt a few seconds ago.They all felt its effects ripple through the air like a dark omen. Unlike the residents of the jungle, Nicolas and Lou-ra remained unaffected, their strength unshaken by the dark forces at work.The jungle king and his men collapse to the ground, weak from whatever attack flew towards them.Nicolas rushed to help him up. He could feel the jungle king wasn't as strong as he had been earlier. Something ominous was at play."There might be a problem. This is unsual" He said.Lou-ra's eyes started to one of the servants who was also affected. She watched as the small girl's skin begin to go pale and peel off."This is more than
The beast's snarling echoed through the jungle as it turned to face Nicholas once more, its eyes glowing with primal hunger. Nicholas's breath came in ragged gasps, the world around him spinning as fatigue and fear gripped him in equal measure. He stumbled backward, his mind scrambling for any solution, any way out. But there was none.The beast lunged again, claws extended, saliva flying from its jaws as it hurtled toward him. Nicholas raised his arms in a futile attempt to defend himself, but he knew it was hopeless. This was the end.Suddenly, a shadow flickered at the corner of his vision, fast and silent. Before Nicholas could comprehend what was happening, a blur of motion slammed into the beast with bone-cracking force. The creature let out a deafening roar as it was knocked off course, crashing into a tree with enough force to shake the ground.Nicholas blinked, his mind struggling to process the scene. The man, his new teacher, stood between him and the beast, his movements
Nicholas stood frozen, every muscle tense, as the figure slowly approached him. The jungle’s oppressive silence seemed to amplify the sound of the stranger’s footsteps, each one deliberate, almost too measured. Nicholas had never seen anyone like this before, and the man’s glowing eyes made his skin crawl. Despite the man’s frail appearance, there was something unsettling in the way he moved, like he wasn’t fully human. "You seek power," the figure repeated, his voice a rasping whisper that seemed to slide through the thick air like smoke.Nicholas swallowed hard, trying to ignore the knot of fear twisting in his gut. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied, his voice rough from exhaustion. He stepped back, his hand instinctively reaching for the sharp stone he had used against the beast earlier.The figure chuckled, a sound that seemed far too deep for someone so gaunt. “Do not play games with me, boy. You wouldn’t have survived this long if you weren’t seeking somet
Nicholas strained against the heavy branch, muscles trembling with exhaustion. The wood groaned and splintered under the pressure, but it still held firm. Below him, the beast circled, blood dripping from the wounds he'd managed to inflict with the rocks. But it wasn’t backing down—it was waiting, eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory intelligence.Nicholas grip tightened around the branch. His body was screaming at him to stop, to rest, but there was no time for that. The beast would not give him a second chance.With a grunt, Nicholas gave the branch another violent shake. It splintered more, cracking like a whip in the still air of the jungle. Below, the beast growled, pacing in tight circles, as if anticipating his next move. Sweat dripped down Nicholas’s forehead, blurring his vision, but he couldn’t afford to stop.The branch finally gave way with a loud crack. For a heart-stopping moment, Nicholas hung in the air, feeling the world tilt as the massive piece of wood began its f
Nicholas blinked, rubbing his eyes, his vision swimming. When he looked again, nobody was there. No footprints, no signs of movement, only the quiet crackling of the fire remained.He staggered, disoriented. His heart was still pounding from the fight, his body bruised and aching, and now his mind was unraveling. Lou-ra’s comforting presence was gone, evaporating into the night like mist.He was alone. The jungle’s oppressive atmosphere closed in on him, the thick air suffocating as it pressed against his lungs. The dark canopy above loomed like a ceiling, shutting him off from the sky, from any sign of hope.Panic clawed at his chest. He fought to suppress it, but the loneliness gnawed at his mind, dragging him into despair.”I have to get up. I have to keep moving."But his body refused to cooperate. Every inch of him ached, a testament to the brutal training he had endured. He hadn’t just been fighting the man he had been fighting against his own fear, his weakness. And now, it was
Nicholas's muscles tensed as his mind raced. His body screamed for him to retreat, to flee into the dense jungle, away from the impending confrontation. But something deep inside him resisted. Maybe it was pride, or perhaps the sliver of defiance that refused to bow to fear. Regardless, he knew there was no turning back. The man had laid down the challenge, and to back down now would mean surrendering his spirit entirely.The man continued to stare Nicholas down, a tower of strength and menace, his battle-scarred chest heaving with quiet confidence. He wasn't making idle threats; Nicholas knew that. This world didn't leave room for empty promises. Survival was earned through blood, sweat, and the unwavering will to stand when everything inside screamed to fall."I... I'm ready," Nicholas finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.The man’s lips curled into a feral grin, satisfied with the decision Nicholas had made, even if it was drenched in fear. "Good," he said, his voice l
Nicholas's heart pounded loudly against his ribs. The man's casual dismissal of his plea for an alternative sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over him. A primal urge to flee battled with the knowledge that escape was impossible. This wasn't a test of his fighting prowess; it was a potential death sentence. Nicholas was stuck between pleading for his life or just putting his hands up as a sign to show that he has surrendered. He knew that fighting with this man would mean his imminent death and she was not prepared to die especially when he had to return to Lou-ra."Sir, please," Nicholas pleaded, his voice cracking with a tremor he hated. "There has to be another way. Let me train with something, a log, a…" he cast his eyes around, desperately searching for anything that wouldn't fight back. The man's lips curved into a humorless smile, devoid of warmth. It wouldn't be a mistake to say that she was actually looking forward to this fight.There was something about Nicholas that ju
Nicholas stirred from a restless sleep, shivering beneath the thin blanket he had wrapped over himself the night before.The cave, once a temporary haven, had offered little protection against the bitter cold that had transformed the jungle into a frozen wasteland. His breath emerged in visible puffs, and he rubbed his arms continuously, trying to bring warmth into his limbs.As he emerged from the cave, blinking in the early morning light, Nicholas' eyes registered the significant change in his surroundings. The cold desolation of the previous night had given way once again to a lush, vibrant jungle. Birds chirped cheerfully, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of plans and trees. It always felt unreal how the jungle had reborn itself overnight, shaking off the icy grip that had held it captive. The beauty of it all marveled Nicolas each time he sees it.Standing at the edge of the clearing was the man who had taken Nicholas under his wing, training him for the Armageddon
The birds beneath them let out warning cries and adjusted their flight paths to give Nicolas and the man better positions to defend themselves. Another beast lunged at Nicolas, its talons extended and fangs bared. Before it had time to fully attack Nicolas, it's found itself getting struck in the head in an instant.“Good!” the man shouted. “Keep moving, don’t let them overwhelm you!”Nicolas barely had time to register the man’s words before another beast was upon him.This one was larger, more aggressive. It swooped down with terrifying speed, its claws aiming for Nicolas’s face. He ducked at the last moment, feeling the rush of air as the creature’s talons whistled past his head. He swung his knife upward, catching the beast in its unprotected belly. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly before retreating.All around them, the battle raged. The man moved with a grace and precision that left Nicolas awestruck. His movements were a blur, his weapon flashing in the moonlight as he st
The rush of wind roared in Nicolas' ears as he plummeted through the air, the ground rushing up to meet him at a terrifying speed. His stomach lurched, and he felt sick.This was it; he was about to die. The realization struck him with a cold finality, and every second felt like an eternity. Nicolas closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact.Then, a sharp whistle cut through the chaos, and something massive and powerful surged beneath him. In an instant, strong talons wrapped around his torso, and the sensation of free fall ceased. His eyes flew open, and he gasped as he saw a bird, majestic and enormous, soaring upwards with him in its grasp. The bird’s feathers glimmered in the sunlight.Within moments, Nicolas found himself back in the sky, being lifted toward the man and the first bird. The change from impending death to sudden rescue left him breathless and shaking. As the bird finally leveled out beside the man, Nicolas clung to the feathers, his knuckles white.The m