Part 3 – Blood of the Fallen King
The claw fell.
Raimer rolled at the last possible second.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the ground where he had lain only a heartbeat before.
Rock fragments tore into his face and arms as he tumbled across the forest floor.
“Argh…!”
His body refused to listen.
His left arm hung limp.
Blood streamed from the deep gashes across his back, staining his white cloak crimson.
His breathing became uneven.
Every breath burned.
The Infernal Stone Bear slowly turned toward him.
Its molten eyes glowed brighter.
It knew its prey could no longer escape.
Raimer reached for his sword.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt—
—but before he could stand, the beast charged.
“I…
can’t…”
The bear’s enormous fist descended.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A massive stone wall erupted from the earth between them.
The punch smashed the barrier into pieces, but it had stopped the attack.
A gruff voice echoed behind him.
“Took you long enough to fall apart.”
Raimer looked over his shoulder.
A stocky dwarf stood firmly behind him, holding a tower shield almost as tall as himself.
His brown beard was tied into thick braids.
“I’m Borin Stonehammer.”
“And if you die now, I’ll have carried this shield here for nothing.”
Before Raimer could answer—
A flash of silver shot through the trees.
An arrow struck the bear’s shoulder.
Another pierced its neck.
The monster roared in fury.
A young elf landed gracefully on a nearby branch, another arrow already drawn.
His emerald eyes remained calm.
“Name’s Elias Windrune.”
He released another arrow.
“I’m not fond of reckless people.”
Three arrows struck the beast’s face.
It stumbled back.
A booming laugh echoed across the clearing.
“Hahaha!”
A towering beastman burst through the bushes, carrying an axe taller than Raimer himself.
“I’m Rogar Ironfang!”
He slammed the axe into the bear’s leg.
The impact shook the ground.
“You picked one ugly monster to fight!”
The bear retaliated instantly.
Its claws struck Rogar square in the chest.
He barely blocked with the axe, sliding several meters backward.
“…Strong…”
Even Rogar’s confident grin faded.
The four of them stood together.
No one spoke.
Each understood the same truth.
They weren’t winning.
They were surviving.
The bear roared again.
Flames escaped its mouth.
“Move!” Elias shouted.
A torrent of fire swept across the clearing.
The trees exploded into flames.
Borin raised his shield.
“Behind me!”
The fire crashed into the shield like a tidal wave.
Cracks spread across the metal.
Blood trickled from Borin’s mouth.
“…It’s…
too much…”
The shield shattered.
The blast threw everyone backward.
Raimer crashed into a burning tree.
His vision blurred.
His wounds reopened.
Blood poured freely from his side.
He could barely hear his companions shouting.
Everything became distant.
Muffled.
Dark.
The Infernal Stone Bear slowly approached once more.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Each footfall sounded like death itself.
It raised both claws.
“This is…
the end…”
Raimer closed his eyes.
His father’s smile flashed through his memories.
His mother’s gentle voice.
The burning castle.
The screams of Fronin.
Then—
Silence.
A familiar voice echoed within the darkness.
“…You disappoint me.”
Raimer slowly opened his eyes.
He stood within an endless black void.
Before him stood an elderly man wearing magnificent white and black royal robes.
His silver hair flowed behind him.
His violet eyes seemed capable of swallowing the stars themselves.
A black crown rested upon his head.
He radiated overwhelming authority.
“You…”
The old man looked down upon him.
“I am King Valerius Ashborn.”
“The last Void King.”
“Your grandfather.”
Raimer fell to one knee.
“So…
you’re real…”
Valerius scoffed.
“You carry my blood.”
“And yet you rely on borrowed light.”
He stepped closer.
The void itself trembled beneath his feet.
“Do you know why our kingdom fell?”
Raimer remained silent.
“Because we feared our own power.”
The old king extended his hand.
Within his palm floated a tiny black flame.
“This…”
“…is Void.”
“It does not forgive.”
“It does not protect.”
“It devours.”
“If you cannot control it…”
“It will consume you before your enemies ever can.”
Raimer looked at the flame.
“…If I refuse?”
Valerius smiled coldly.
“Then wake up.”
“And die.”
Outside—
The bear’s claws descended toward the unconscious Raimer.
Sylvara burst into the clearing, her twin blades flashing.
“RAIMER!”
She intercepted the attack.
The impact sent her skidding across the ground.
Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.
“No…”
She clenched her swords.
“…You’re not dying here.”
The bear roared.
Rogar charged once more.
Borin stood despite his broken shield.
Elias fired every arrow he had left.
Yet nothing stopped the monster.
Inside the void—
Raimer slowly reached toward the black flame.
“…If this power lets me protect the people beside me…”
“…then I’ll bear its curse.”
The flame entered his chest.
His eyes snapped open.
One remained sapphire blue.
The other had turned a deep violet-black.
Dark mist coiled around his injured arm.
The air grew unnaturally cold.
The Infernal Stone Bear stopped.
For the first time…
It hesitated.
King Valerius’ voice echoed one last time.
“Very well, grandson…”
“Show them that the blood of Fronin has not yet faded.”
A thin blade of darkness formed in Raimer’s hand.
Its edge distorted the space around it.
He slowly stood despite his battered body.
Blood continued to drip from his wounds.
His legs trembled.
He could barely breathe.
Yet a calm smile appeared on his face.
Sylvara stared in disbelief.
“…Raimer…
what is that power?”
He didn’t answer.
His gaze never left the monster.
The battle had only just begun.
End of Chapter 3