Dawn... Southern Plains of Mehan Mountain
As the first golden rays of dawn touched the towering peaks of Mehan Mountain, the vast rocky plain came alive with tension and anticipation. A cold wind whistled through the cliffs. Across the dry battlefield, two enormous armies stood facing one another. The golden sunlight reflected from countless iron armors, creating thousands of dazzling flashes that stung the eyes like a silent warning of the battle to come.
On one side stood the formidable army of Kankal City. At its forefront, Lith Yakshini, Master Jins, Lily, Snehwal, and Liora hovered silently in the sky. Behind them stretched an endless sea of one hundred thousand soldiers, wrapped in absolute discipline and silence. Every warrior carried the waves of war within his heart~not upon his face, but within his eyes.
On the opposite side, the army of the Chintamani Empire stood as firm and immovable as a mountain itself. Leading that force were two familiar faces~Lela and Arjun.
The moment Lily and Snehwal saw them alive, both of their eyes widened instinctively. For an instant, time itself seemed to freeze. The bitter memories of their previous battle flashed through their minds like lightning.
That day, Lily herself had returned from the very gates of death. Her body had been covered with wounds so deep that she had lacked even the strength to deliver the final blow.
And today. Those same faces. That same mercy... Stood before them once again.
Suddenly, a large portion of the sky darkened without the slightest warning. It was as though someone had poured black ink across the blue heavens. Slowly, a gigantic black vortex began to revolve within that darkness. A chilling and terrifying aura spread from it, causing soldiers from both armies to instinctively take a step backward.
The next moment, a long shadow emerged from the black void. No clear features could be seen upon its face,
Only two crimson eyes that slowly swept across every person present.
King Omas's Shadow Messenger had arrived. Liora's eyes immediately narrowed. Her hand slowly rested upon the hilt of her sword.
She had been entrusted with only one responsibility,
If the Shadow Messenger made even the slightest suspicious move... She would be the first to stop him.
Then, the winds from every direction suddenly began to whirl violently. It was as though invisible powers themselves had gathered within the sky.
Countless particles of crimson and black light spread through the air before gradually converging into a single point.
Slowly... Those particles formed the shape of a magnificent throne.
Black and crimson. Royal. Yet overwhelmingly ominous.
The moment the throne was completed, the surrounding air condensed.
Countless tiny particles fused together, and before everyone's eyes, King Omas's body was reconstructed from those very fragments of wind as he appeared seated upon the throne.
His eyes were calm.
Yet... That very calmness was the most terrifying thing about him.
Then,
A sharp crack echoed across the heavens.
Craaack...!
It was as though the sky itself had shattered apart. From within that massive fracture, a violent storm of crimson and black flowers burst outward.
The flowers danced through the air, scattering across the entire battlefield. Amid that crimson shower... Humbha Yakshini stepped out.
She floated silently in the sky, her robes swaying with the wind.
The crimson and black petals swirling around her made her appear far less like a goddess...
And far more like the sovereign of destruction itself. But the crack in the sky had not yet closed.
Darkness still churned within it. Then, one heavy step emerged.
Another... And then a third. Mascar stepped out from the fractured heavens.
The instant he appeared, the atmosphere became unbearably heavy, as though the very air had lost the will to move.
He slowly raised his head. His gaze locked directly onto Snehwal. Their eyes met. For a few brief moments. The entire battlefield fell into complete silence.
At that very instant, Humbha's expression changed. Her eyes widened in utter disbelief.
The moment she saw Snehwal standing there, something immediately felt wrong. She had clearly sensed the spiritual aura surrounding him.
Her lips trembled involuntarily. She gritted her teeth. "...Fifth Stage?" Her voice was softer than a whisper. "...Impossible..."
Standing beside her, Mascar continued staring at Snehwal for several moments.
For the first time... A trace of caution appeared within his eyes. For a few long moments, both armies simply stared at one another.
The tension in the air had become so dense. That even breathing felt difficult.
Then King Omas rose from his throne. He took two slow steps forward through the air.
His gaze swept across the entire army of Kankal City. A faint smile appeared upon his lips. "So..." His booming voice spread across the entire battlefield.
"You've brought such a massive army."
"What for?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Master Jins also stepped forward.
His voice remained calm. Yet unwavering.
"You've brought an army. So have we."
For a brief instant, their eyes met. Even the wind seemed to stop moving. King Omas slowly clenched his fist.
He closed his eyes for a few moments before taking a deep breath.
Then he spoke, "Very well... just as stated in the letter... today, I shall choose the victor of the battle between Snehwal and Mascar. In the end, only one crown shall rest upon a single head."
He slowly opened his eyes and looked directly at Snehwal. The smile upon his face deepened.
"So tell me, child... Are you prepared to face your destiny?"
Without wasting a single moment. Snehwal stepped forward. At the same time, Mascar also took a step ahead.
Within moments, the two warriors stood face to face in the middle of the sky. Directly above both armies. King Omas calmly returned to his throne.
Lily's fingers had unknowingly tightened into fists. Her breathing had grown noticeably heavier.
Yet... Among everyone present... The one trembling the most was Liora.
Her eyes never left Snehwal~not even for a single heartbeat.
Her heart repeated the same thought over and over again, Today was not merely the beginning of a competition. Today... History was about to write its bloodiest. Its most unforgettable... And its most terrifying chapter.