Hope glimmered in Cyrene’s eyes. Komraad’s unexpected, chaotic appearance was a golden opportunity, and she instantly seized it.

 

She gathered every bit of her energy and confidence, gliding toward Komraad with practiced grace and wrapping her arm securely around his.

 

“There you are, honey! Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you!” She announced with a tone that was perfectly sweet and soft.

 

She delivered the line with such precision, without a single flinch or stutter, that it was utterly convincing.

 

“Huh? The heck are you doing?” Komraad sputtered in confusion.

 

Cyrene tightened her grip on his arm and whispered urgently, “I’ll get you out of this situation, Komraad. Just play along with me.”

 

Komraad, thinking Cyrene was trying to save him from the angry knights, was instantly hopeful and agreed. “Y-yeah, right,” he responded, looking visibly flustered.It was obvious from his red face and awkward movements that acting was not his forte. 

 

The truth… Cyrene was using him to escape her own messy situation.

 

“I apologize for this sudden display of indecency, Your Highness,” Cyrene addressed the King smoothly. “I hope you find it in your heart to forgive him.”

 

“What is the meaning of this?” King Hervis asked. His voice was cold, meaning business.

 

“I’m going to be honest, Your Highness,” Cyrene announced, her voice ringing out through the quiet hall. “The truth is, I came here to deliver the news that there won’t be an arranged marriage any longer. My heart already belongs to this man, and I’ve decided that he’s the one I’m going to marry. Right, honey?” Her sweet tone made the unbelievable announcement sound completely genuine, stunning everyone in the room.

 

Komraad was completely caught off guard, but he remembered her plea to play along. “Ha-Ha! Y-yes,” he managed to respond, still looking visibly uncomfortable.

 

A confused murmur spread across the room. Some found the sudden revelation absurd and insulting to the King, while others found the brazen display romantic. Reactions were mixed, but the final decision rested entirely with the King.

 

King Hervis had been amused moments before, but Cyrene’s declaration made his demeanor shift instantly. He rose slowly from his seat, his gaze serious and intense.

 

“Hmm… What makes this man a better fit for you than me?” He challenged.

 

Cyrene took a deep breath and responded with confidence and finesse. “Because just like you, he is also a chosen one.”

 

“Y-yeah, what she said!” Komraad quickly followed up.

 

Cyrene’s heart pounded. She was terrified her quick lie wouldn't work and would only worsen the situation. She was afraid King Hervis would see through her act, a mistake that could cost her, Komraad, and her entire clan everything. All she could do was pray everything would work out.

 

The onlookers expected the King to erupt in fury over the blatant disrespect, but they were shocked by the opposite reaction.

 

Instead of fury, King Hervis burst into laughter. “How amusing! Never have I thought that a woman would have the guts to reject me. I applaud your bravery.”

 

Cyrene was flooded with relief. Her plan had worked! “Thank you for understanding, Your Highness,” she said happily.

 

“Don’t celebrate yet, princess,” King Hervis warned, his smile turning sharp. He gracefully returned to his seat and took another sip of wine. “I will only allow you to back out of our marriage if your man manages to defeat me in a battle.”

 

Cyrene’s relief instantly evaporated into shock. She thought her plan was solid, but it had catastrophically escalated. She never imagined things would lead to a fight. She didn't want Komraad to suffer for her freedom, but it was too late. Once the King made up his mind, there was no stopping him.

 

Guilt surged through her. She almost confessed the entire lie to King Hervis, hoping to take the punishment alone and spare Komraad. She was about to reveal the truth when the situation twisted yet again.

 

Komraad, having no idea who King Hervis truly was, didn't feel fear, he felt a rush of adrenaline. He stepped forward, a smirk spreading across his face as he responded excitedly. “Hell yeah! I accept your challenge!”

 

Cyrene was horrified by Komraad’s sudden commitment. She knew no choice would end well for them, and she tried to stop him. “Please, Komraad, you don’t have to do this,” she said worriedly.

 

“Don’t worry! I’ve been wanting to release some anger and punch someone in the face this whole time!” Komraad responded, completely pumped.

 

King Hervis smirked again, genuinely pleased. “That’s what I like to hear. I’ll give you all the time you need to prepare. Just make sure to give me a good time.”

 

Komraad’s eyes were blazing with determination. “I’ll make sure to beat your ass!”

 

Cyrene knew the fight was inevitable now. She grabbed Komraad’s arm to pull him away before he could say anything worse. “Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Please excuse us in the meantime.”

 

“You may leave,” King Hervis responded, waving his hand.

 

Komraad and Cyrene, flanked by her knights, quickly exited the room and headed to the private chambers prepared by the staff. Komraad and Cyrene entered the room while the knights took up guard positions outside the door.

 

Once inside, Cyrene's knees finally gave up, and she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. She sighed deeply, relieved to have escaped King Hervis’s overwhelming presence. After a moment to calm down, she immediately confronted Komraad about his secret.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a chosen one when we met?” She demanded seriously.

 

“Gah! You didn’t tell me you were one as well!” Komraad shot back, looking flustered again.

 

“F-fair enough,” Cyrene conceded.

 

After the short exchange, Cyrene bowed her head and offered a heartfelt apology.

 

“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have included you in my problem. We’re now in this mess because of my stupid lie,” she confessed, tears welling up in her ruby eyes.

 

“Hey, I told you it’s okay. I got this!” Komraad assured her with a confident grin.

 

Komraad’s steady words were enough to help Cyrene find her center. “You’re right, there’s no point in worrying now. What’s done is done. We’ll just have to keep moving forward.”

 

“Yeah! Just trust me! I’ll win in no time, so you won’t have to worry about getting married anymore.”

 

Cyrene was incredibly thankful for Komraad’s optimism, but she knew King Hervis too well to completely relax. “I hope it’s that easy. You probably don’t know anything about your enemy, but you’re literally facing a monster who has wiped out multiple enemies just because they got on his bad side. As far as I know, he’s the strongest chosen one to have ever existed,” she said worriedly.

 

Instead of worrying, Komraad’s excitement level spiked. “I’m even more pumped up now! The satisfaction of beating a strong opponent is sweeter, after all.”

 

Komraad’s sheer positivity was infectious, and Cyrene's worries began to recede. Instead of panicking, she focused on helping him prepare. Cyrene knew a lot of information about King Hervis, and she relayed as much as possible to Komraad so they could strategize an efficient way to win.

 

At the same time, the arena was being prepared by knights and servants.

 

The Colosseum of Amphilia was a massive, circular structure located on the eastern side of the kingdom where towering walls wrapped around it. At the highest point stood the Royal Balcony where the King and nobles watched. The whole structure was King Hervis’s personal, expensive playground.

 

It took hours, but the arena was finally ready. The upcoming battle had been announced across the kingdom, and every resident decided to attend, eager to witness the clash of the two Chosen Ones with their own eyes.

 

King Hervis had finished his own preparations quickly and was already inside the arena, waiting for his opponent. He sat comfortably in the Royal Balcony, so confident he hadn't bothered to change out of his opulent robe.

 

After preparing and eating, Komraad and Cyrene proceeded to the Colosseum. Upon arrival, they were greeted by multiple knights at the entrance.

 

“Good luck out there,” Cyrene said, her voice sincere.

 

Komraad merely nodded in response.

 

Cyrene and her knights then headed up to the Royal Balcony to secure a better, clearer view of the fight.

 

Komraad, meanwhile, was assisted by a Serpentine Knight stationed at the entrance. “Follow me,” the knight instructed.

 

Komraad followed, and the knight led him directly onto the arena floor. He was immediately greeted by an enormous, lively crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. The colosseum was completely packed, and the atmosphere felt like a massive festival.

 

The moment King Hervis saw Komraad, he leaped down from the Royal Balcony and landed gracefully on the stage. His face was alight with excitement. It was the first time he had ever faced another Chosen One. The rush of eliminating thousands of enemies who had opposed him couldn't compare to the thrill of facing someone chosen by a Titan and deemed his equal.

 

Upon landing, King Hervis greeted Komraad with respectful enthusiasm. “Welcome to my arena, Chosen One. I hope you find my playground to your liking.”

 

“Yeah, it’s big enough to be your grave,” Komraad shot back with his characteristic bluntness.

 

King Hervis smirked. “Ha-ha! I like your enthusiasm! I hope you don’t disappoint me in the end,” he answered, his voice laced with pride.

 

“Enough chit-chat! Let’s fight already!” Komraad taunted.

 

Following the short exchange, a knight approached King Hervis and handed him a spear. Its head was a long, narrow prismanium blade, held in place by an emerald crystal collar carved with lightning bolts and swirling clouds.

 

Cyrene immediately recognized it from the Royal Balcony: the ‘Sky Splitter’, the legendary weapon King Hervis was famous for. He wielded it with such finesse that all enemies who faced it never saw another sunrise. Cyrene’s hope plummeted, their chances of winning were now almost zero. 

To her shock, however, King Hervis refused the spear, deciding to fight Komraad with just his bare fists.

 

After the sudden pause, the battle officially began with the booming sound of a gong.

 

The moment the gong struck, Komraad didn't waste any time. He launched himself forward, attacking King Hervis with a kick that carried the weight of a boulder.

 

Komraad was so fast that the crowd barely saw him move, but King Hervis tracked him perfectly and defended against the strike.

 

King Hervis blocked the kick with a single forearm. The sheer force of the blow caused the hardened arena floor to crack instantly.

 

Komraad grunted and tried to leap back to create distance, but King Hervis was already on him.

 

Before Komraad could spring away, King Hervis managed to snatch his foot.

 

King Hervis drove a powerful punch with his free hand, targeting Komraad’s face. The punch was lightning-fast and immensely strong, but Komraad managed to block it with both forearms. The impact created a visible sonic wave and nearly broke Komraad’s arm.

 

Komraad flinched from the blinding pain, but he quickly twisted his body to escape King Hervis’s grip. He jumped back to gain some distance, but before his feet could even touch the ground, King Hervis had closed the gap, forming a destructive fist. Komraad was surprised by his speed, but thankfully, speed was also one of his specialties.

 

Komraad dodged King Hervis’s forward punch by bending his body backward in a sharp arc. Before King Hervis could pull his arm back, Komraad grabbed it and used the momentum to execute a perfect over-the-shoulder flip. The floor shook violently as King Hervis was slammed hard into the stone.

 

Komraad didn't hesitate.

 

He leapt onto King Hervis’s chest, raining down rapid, continuous strikes, palms, elbows, and fists, fast as falling rain. Each hit cracked louder than the last.

 

Amidst the torrent of attacks, King Hervis found a tiny opening and caught one of Komraad's wrists. He twisted it sharply.

 

Komraad cried out as he was violently hurled off the King like a ragdoll. He crashed hard, rolled, but sprang back up, spitting blood and grinning fiercely.

 

“Your punches lack force,” King Hervis rasped, standing up, seemingly unfazed.

 

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Komraad growled back.

 

The two charged at each other again. This time, the fight had a deadly rhythm. Their speed and strength were an ideal match, a chaotic dance. Feet slid, fists flew, knees slammed, and elbows shattered the air between them.

 

But slowly, surely, Komraad’s speed and strength began to fade from exhaustion, while King Hervis remained fresh and strong. A single mistake would cost Komraad the match.

 

Komraad was constantly on edge. Every attack from King Hervis was so heavy it felt like it could shatter his bones or kill him instantly.

 

It didn't take long for Komraad’s body to give out. King Hervis spotted the opening and struck Komraad’s chest with a devastating straight punch. The blow was so powerful that Komraad was launched clear off the stage and slammed straight into the colosseum wall. On impact, his whole body was buried inside the shattered stone, and most of his bones cracked painfully.

 

He fought off the edge of unconsciousness, holding on with sheer will. Though he was spitting blood and his vision spun, he remained outwardly composed. He stood up proudly, pulling himself out of the rubble, and walked back onto the stage as if nothing had happened, ready to fight again.

 

King Hervis smirked and applauded Komraad’s bravery and determination. “I won’t deny it, you are indeed strong, but you are still holding back. If you want to surpass me, then you must be ready to give everything you have.”

 

Komraad knew exactly what the King meant. He had been saving it as a last resort, but if he didn’t use it now, the fight would be over. He wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled, a wild glint in his eyes. “Guess I have no choice.” 

 

Without another word, he tapped into his awakened form.

 

“Dot! ‘Soul Merge’!” he commanded.

 

“Ai Ai, captain!” Dot responded immediately.

 

In an instant, Komraad merged with Dot, transforming into his awakened form. The entire audience erupted in cheers. It was the first time most had ever witnessed a Chosen One’s fully awakened form, none had even seen their own King perform the feat.

 

After witnessing Komraad’s transformation, King Hervis felt a sudden shiver of fear pierce him for the very first time. He immediately felt a rush of pure joy and excitement he’d never experienced in any previous battle.

 

King Hervis blinked, and in that instant, Komraad had vanished. He was too fast. The King had no clue where he might reappear. Before he could even react, Komraad was already right beside him.

 

Komraad’s fist slammed into King Hervis's cheek, causing the King to stumble and nearly fall. Blood splattered from Hervis’s mouth, yet instead of anger, his eyes shone with joy and excitement from the genuine pain.

 

Dizzy from just that single blow, King Hervis barely managed to regain his balance before launching a counter-attack.

 

The two warriors once again exchanged continuous, rapid blows, but this time, King Hervis was the one clearly being pushed to the edge. Komraad’s attacks landed with brutal precision, while King Hervis’s strikes mostly missed their target.

 

Komraad’s punches were now coated in raw aura, and each impact felt like it could shatter an entire island. Yet, despite the devastating force, King Hervis managed to stand his ground, remaining composed.

 

It took a moment longer, but Komraad finally secured the upper hand. Finding the perfect opening, he decided to end the fight instantly with his ultimate attack. He gathered every last bit of his aura into his right fist and unleashed it with everything he had.

 

[Ultimate Aura Manipulation Technique: Force Impact]

 

The crowd went utterly silent. Komraad’s ultimate technique hit the stage, causing the entire floor to shatter instantly. A huge gust of smoke and pulverized stone enveloped the arena, obscuring the outcome of the fight.

 

Worry gripped the onlookers, who feared their King had fallen. But as the thick smoke finally dispersed, the crowd erupted, rising to their feet with thunderous cheers.

 

King Hervis was still standing. Komraad’s punch had never connected.

 

King Hervis had instantly recognized the devastating nature of Komraad’s ultimate move. Even in the face of such overwhelming power, he was thrilled. Matching Komraad’s newfound seriousness, King Hervis finally decided to get serious, too. For the first time since the battle started, he used his magic.

 

[Storm Magic: Boreal's Veil]

 

A thin, transparent wall of wind coated King Hervis's entire body, acting as an invisible shield. Komraad's fist was mere hair's breadth from reaching the King, but the wall of air blocked the final impact.

 

Komraad was frozen in disbelief that his most powerful attack had been stopped so easily. Moments later, the strain of overusing his aura caused him to detransform.

 

Huff Huff

 

Komraad panted heavily, frozen by the shocking failure.

 

King Hervis dispelled his magic, a sharp smirk on his face. “That was a close call. You managed to force me to use my magic, and for that, I applaud you, but it seems this is your limit,” he stated simply.

 

“I-I’m not done yet! I can still fight!” Komraad growled, his voice weak and shaky.

 

“No. This fight is over,” King Hervis declared firmly. He then released his crushing magical presence. The force of it could be felt for miles, overwhelming everyone who experienced it, freezing them completely. “If you value your life, then admit defeat at once,” he demanded.

 

For the first time ever, Komraad felt genuine fear of his enemy. His mind screamed at him to surrender, but his warrior's pride prevented him from humiliating himself.

 

Instead of yielding, Komraad chose to fight, even with his aura completely drained. “I said I ain’t done yet!” He roared with anger. He gathered the last sliver of his strength, preparing to attack again.

 

“I see… so you’ve made your choice,” King Hervis observed.

 

Before Komraad could take a single step, King Hervis decided to end the spectacle. With a sharp snap of his fingers, a colossal lightning bolt tore from the sky and struck Komraad directly. The sheer power instantly reduced the nearby rubble to ash.

 

Komraad’s clothes were incinerated by the strike. His entire body was covered in severe burn marks, yet despite the fatal injuries, he remained standing after receiving the King’s attack head-on.

 

“I’m… not… done… y-yet,” Komraad weakly muttered.

 

King Hervis was genuinely shocked. He had thought his spell would instantly force Komraad to concede, but Komraad’s resolve was unmatched. “Haha! You truly are extraordinary! Fine, if you have a death wish, then I will gladly give it to you,” he declared.

 

King Hervis raised his hand to summon another lightning bolt, ready to finish the fight, when Cyrene suddenly rushed into the arena. She threw her body in front of Komraad, shielding him.

 

“P-please, enough already!” She shouted, tears streaming down her face.

 

“W-what the heck are you doing? G-get out of here!” Komraad muttered weakly from behind her.

 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t watch this any longer! I tried to hold on, but I can’t take it anymore!” Cyrene responded, tears blurring her vision.

 

She then turned to face King Hervis, deciding it was time to confess. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but all of this is my fault. There is nothing between me and Komraad. I only said that because I realized I’m not ready for something as big as marriage. I know what I did is unforgivable, so I will accept any kind of punishment.”

 

Cyrene expected King Hervis to be furious after hearing the confession, but instead, he burst into laughter.

 

“Princess, it was so obvious that even a toddler could tell you were lying,” King Hervis responded, amused.

 

Cyrene's face flushed deep red. “I’m really sorry, Your Highness. I know it’s selfish, but is it still possible to sign the peace treaty even without the marriage?” She asked, her biggest worry being that her kingdom would suffer for her choices. Thankfully, King Hervis proved to be surprisingly reasonable.

 

“Do not worry, I am not interested in marrying you either… I only used the marriage as a facade to meet a fellow Chosen One,” King Hervis revealed. “You see, every battle I’ve ever fought has never given me the satisfaction of earning victory, and I grew bored. What I truly longed for was to be pushed to my limit, and I thought I would only achieve that by facing a fellow Chosen One. I invited you here with the sole purpose of achieving that dream, but the moment he showed up, I knew I’d have much more fun with him.”

 

“T-then, does that mean we’re all good?” Cyrene asked, her eyes wide with hope.

 

“We are. I’m already quite satisfied with the result of my battle with him. He’s the only one who has ever managed to push me this far,” King Hervis responded. 

 

He turned his back and started walking away. “Tell your parents to stop worrying because I have no interest in conquering your kingdom,” he added, waving his hand in farewell.

 

Cyrene was ecstatic that everything had turned out okay. “D-did you hear that, Komraad? This is amazing!” She cheered, jumping for joy.

 

“Y-yeah,” Komraad responded faintly. Half of his motivation for the fight was to free Cyrene from the marriage, so a huge weight was lifted from his chest. However, the frustration of losing still lingered. After a moment of thought, he decided to set his pride aside.

 

“W-wait…” he shouted, halting King Hervis. “I… I admit defeat, but I won’t stop here. I’ll keep challenging you until I surpass you!” He declared, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.

 

King Hervis smirked. “I look forward to it,” he responded before walking out of the arena.

 

After the declaration, Komraad’s body finally collapsed. He fell to the ground, losing consciousness from the severe injuries he had sustained.

 

Days passed after the battle. Komraad finally woke up from his deep slumber.

 

He found himself in a comfortable bed, and Cyrene was sitting patiently beside him.

 

“Teehee, you’re finally awake,” Cyrene chirped.

 

“How long was I out?” Komraad asked, rubbing his head.

 

“You’ve been sleeping for three days now,” Cyrene responded.

 

The first thing Komraad remembered was the fight against King Hervis. He had accepted defeat, but the outcome still frustrated him. He hadn't even managed to make King Hervis use his awakened form. Instead of becoming depressed, Komraad channeled the defeat into fierce motivation to improve and get stronger.

 

He sat up, full of optimism, stretching his arms with a huge grin. “Ugh! I’m so hungry!” He exclaimed.

 

Cyrene was happy to see Komraad completely himself again. “I waited for you to wake up before I went back to my kingdom, but what about you? What’s your plan now? Are you going back to your friends?” She asked.

 

“I think I’ll stay here for a little while. Just until I get stronger and surpass him. Only then will I be able to face my friends again,” Komraad responded with resolute conviction.

 

“Teehee, I wish you the best of luck,” Cyrene said genuinely. She then added with a playful hint of teasing, “You know, I’m not really opposed to the idea of us getting married, what do you think?”

 

Komraad’s face turned bright red. He didn't know how to handle such a subject, as romance had never been his focus. “G-gah! Erm… I-I’m sorry, but there’s someone that I already like,” he confessed awkwardly.

 

Cyrene was momentarily surprised to learn this new detail about Komraad, but instead of feeling sad, she was happy for him. “Teehee, oh well… at least I tried.” She moved closer and teased him relentlessly. “So, who’s the lucky gal?”

 

“G-gah! Leave me alone!” Komraad shouted awkwardly, trying to flee from her friendly interrogation.

 

In the end, things turned out well for both of them. Not only did Komraad find a true friend in the middle of nowhere, but he also encountered two of the remaining Chosen Ones. However, he made one grave mistake: he forgot to tell them about the upcoming great catastrophe.