The stone doors opened with a low groan. Ancient wind rushed out as if exhaling secrets buried for generations. Fakhrul, Zara, Tayeb, and Hridoy stepped in behind Siddik – each looking around in awe.
They had arrived at The Sanctuary, hidden in the cliffs of Spiral Island. Only one man had ever entered here before.
Weapons older than history lined the walls. Swords sharper than anything forged today. A black armor with red insignia stood like a silent sentinel. Scrolls, war suits, glowing maps, and at the highest point of a stone shelf–one book, sealed with the Spiral Crest.
Siddik turned to them.
Siddik: "Sit. Everything you know is just one side of the story. Now you'll know mine."
The four obeyed. A fire crackled in the chamber's center, casting shadows behind the Last King.
Siddik began:
"When my father ruled Spiral Island, my brother was already a warrior. My sisters were trained in diplomacy and deception. But me? I was born last. And I was born… different.
At ten, I was forced into combat under Master Atiq – the most brutal and merciless warrior in Spiral history. He trained us not to fight but to kill, to win. He didn't care about his students. But for some reason, he liked me. Maybe because I was the only one who never cried. He didn't train me as a warrior; he forged a monster. I became fearless, brutal… and just as unkind. Besides, Elian taught me about science, technology, and modern ideas.
After five years of pain, blood, and scars, I finally became the one who could make weapons and also could fight brutal wars. Then again, I was sent to brother Fakhrul to learn modern tactics about battles. He taught me how today's wars are won: with surveillance, manipulation, and silence. He gave me the tools to destroy a country with a phone call."
Fakhrul gave him a silent nod.
Siddik again started:
"At 18, I returned to the island, the rightful heir to the throne. But instead, I said to my father, 'I want to know the world, know about people. I want to learn about things before I lead them.' He agreed. But before I could leave, Elian came to me.
Elian Grovius – the ghost of Spiral Crown. He told me: 'Don't fight us. You were born to lead us. The rightful King of Spiral Crown.' But I denied him. And warned him: 'If you ever raise arms against the people, I'll forget that you are my mentor.' He left in fury.
The Spiral War erupted. We crushed them. My father ordered Elian's death, but I demanded Trial by Combat to save his life. I defeated our warrior. I fought my own people just to save him. That was my mistake.
Then, I went on my world journey with Zaber, Musa, and Sophie. What I saw changed me forever.
Children were dying from hunger while politicians debated budgets. War was created to sell weapons. Corporations were more powerful than governments. I realized: in this world, innocents were born to die. It was designed this way."
He stood and gripped the hilt of a sword beside him, holding like it still remembered blood.
"I came back with ten thousand revenants–warriors once believed dead. I found them broken, defeated, waiting for death. I gave them life again. I gave them a purpose to live. And they gave me something no king had ever truly earned. They were ready to die with just a single nod from me."
He paused.
"I reclaimed the twelve lost regions—once symbols of Spiral Crown's power—now mine. I became Spiral's most deadly and strongest warrior. My father and brother saw it. People called me the King of War. My father named me King. But I declined. I said, 'Brother Hasan is the rightful King for the island. He deserves the throne more than I do.'
That night, my father banished me from the island. Because he knew what I would become. I said, 'I never disobeyed any of your orders. Today I won't do it. But trust me, there is a world outside this island. We have to think about.' He said, 'We don't interfere with international politics. Don't you know about our constitution?' I said, 'Yes, I know. But what about you and my teacher taught me? All of you taught me to help others always, no matter what. The Nobleman, why did he help us from the outside world? Why did he make us the most powerful? Just to eat, sleep, and defend? Father, I will change the face of the world. Just wait and watch.' He was silent to hear this."
Zara gasped slightly. Hridoy leaned forward.
"I left everything behind. Because I knew the truth. I had read every secret Spiral scroll, decoded every myth. I didn't want the throne. I wanted the world to bind in one chain."
He stepped off the chair, walking between the stone pillars.
"I had gone to the world leaders. They laughed. Called me insane. James Smith said, 'You are just a madman. You won't understand the politics. If we work on your idea, what will happen to our international business?' I said, 'The innocents are dying, even children. And you are thinking about your business?' James said, 'Listen, your idea is nonsense. If you don't get out now, we will kill you, too. Now leave.' I said, 'Mr. Smith, today I'm going with empty hands. But in our next meeting, I promise, I will bring your death with me.' I left those rooms with one thing in my heart: I would tear down their games and build something new.
A world that cannot be bought, bribed, or betrayed.
Then, Spiral Crown attacked again. I took the chance to remove my family from the equation. I sent them to Italy with Musa. I told my friend Samia Ahsan, the princess of the neighboring island of ours. And then Darwin to look after them from outside the mansion. I stayed. I fought.
I faked alliances. I knew Spiral's army would betray me; they were finding chances to leave the island. I knew they served me only out of fear. When they saw you stand against me, they thought they could switch sides. I kept a lot of Spiral Crown's people alive. I used them to fight their own leader, Elian. I knew he'd return. So, I made him kill his own.
And when you thought you all were fighting a war for justice, the world was watching a theater of power."
He turned to them.
"You all were pawns. Brave pawns. But pawn nonetheless."
Silence.
Tayeb asked, "Why are you telling us all this now?"
Siddik smiled faintly, "Because the world is in your hands now, too. I may lead it – but you four? You're no longer soldiers. You're pieces of history. I used world chaos to build world unity. Maybe my methods were flawed. But not my dream. I sacrificed love, family, and a crown… to become the man the world fears.
I am not the hero.
I am the weapon."
Zara asked, "And now? Your family is coming back?"
Siddik said, "Yes. My brother Hasan will take the throne. I have written my name in history. I no longer need a crown."
Hridoy said, "Then what do you want?"
Siddik quietly said, "Control."
They froze.
Zara asked, "You'll still rule?"
Siddik walks, "Brother Hasan will be King of Spiral Island. But the world… the world belongs to me. No borders. No rebellions. Just One Order under my hand."
Fakhrul whispered, "And if we try to stop you?"
Siddik calmly said, "Then I'll remind you why even Elian feared me."
Silence.
Siddik again said, "Look, peace doesn't rise from comfort. It demands blood. From today, there'll be no wars, no deaths, no dominions. I expect you'll help me reshape it. We can bring peace, calm, and justice together."
They all went silent. Before them stood not just the leader who saved the world…
…but the one who might one day conquer it.