The Scarlet King's body began to crumble away like drifting sand. As he scattered, he spoke with surprising cheer.
"Today I was lucky. My remains and what was left of my soul could only be preserved inside these desert temples and special spaces. I've stumbled through a thousand muddled years."
"I wanted to die, yet I was not ready. I wanted release, but to come out would mean my final extinction."
"All those wasted centuries made me feel like a coward. But to be able to fight one last, glorious battle before I go—what a way to die without regret."
Idris waved the remark away and sheathed his blade slowly. He scanned the dunes and the gathered people, then looked back at the Scarlet King.
"You lost here today. That will hurt your old followers' hearts. News of this will spread quickly."
"You understand that, but you don't seem to care," Idris added.
"Hahaha—of course," the Scarlet King replied. "That's exactly the effect I wanted."
By now the Scarlet King's feet had already thinned into grains of wind-blown sand—his last spark of soul truly on its final countdown. But he seemed utterly unconcerned. He looked calm, almost relieved, and spoke to Idris.
"I made plenty of mistakes for my people. My failings once brought forbidden pollution into this world. I had meant to step down and atone for it long ago. Yet after a thousand years, I heard rumors of you."
"You are more fit than I ever was to be king of this desert—of all Sumeru—of this new age. I expected our duel to draw a crowd; that's precisely as it should be. You proved your strength before everyone and beat me. The position belongs to you, and so does the glory."
"And now… it's time to honor my promise."
With those words, a golden sigil detached from the Scarlet King and floated into Idris's palm. Idris felt the weight of knowledge emanating from that seal—so much stored inside that even Nahida would be tempted. Among its contents were forbidden studies the Scarlet King had once pursued.
This was useful. Idris had little fear of taboo knowledge—he had the World Tree's protection. Beyond the records, the seal gave him the exact locations of the vast treasures the Scarlet King had promised in his old desert kingdom. With those coordinates, Idris could send forces at once and unearth the wealth.
The seal was a generous gift. But the Scarlet King had one more major present.
"This is my war-plate," he said. "Since you beat me and shattered my remnant, the armor has no owner now. You lack a suit of armor that fits—take it. As bearer of my sigil, you are the rightful recipient. I can't think of anyone more suited."
The Scarlet King's armor disassembled into streams of light and poured into Idris, including the golden holy spear that had been thrown earlier. Idris felt the new equipment slot itself into the back of his mind; at a thought it could rearm him.
With the armor gone, the Scarlet King's form was revealed in full: sand. His once-proud torso was already granular; grit crawled across his chest. Still, he talked, describing the gifts.
"You have a Grass Vision, but with my sigil and this god-plate you'll sense Geo power as well. Wear the armor and you can, without cost, use both elements."
Idris liked the sound of that. Gaining Geo control this way—by defeating and inheriting—meant mastery would be deep rather than cheap. He'd long held an opinion that easy, unconditional access to many elements made one wide but shallow; Traveler's example proved that. This Geo power, earned and inherited, would be different.
Accepting so many favors made Idris grin inwardly. He was proud, and taking too much gratitude meant owing something in return.
"You're spoiling me," he said. "Are you grooming me to be your heir? I won't be indebted."
The Scarlet King, using what remained of his voice, replied earnestly.
"I know I was a poor sovereign. In chasing knowledge, I lost myself and brought forbidden things upon this land. But leaves and dry sand brought me the tale of you… I truly believe you can surpass me."
"I trust you can do what I could not—break through the old seals of this world and lead people to new wisdom. Become the true ruler of this sky!"
"Flower Goddess… I come to you."
Those were the Scarlet King's last words. His face dissolved into yellow dust and scattered across the heavens; the final strand of his soul vanished from the world. From now on there would be no god called the Scarlet King—no trace of his remnant to be found.
Idris felt no great sorrow. The Scarlet King had been a worthy opponent: he fought wholeheartedly and spoke honorably in defeat. Idris instead focused on trying on the war-plate.
A thought, and the golden desert plate slid onto him. He immediately felt a surge of Geo control—vast, unfamiliar power he'd only just begun to handle. He wouldn't show it off yet; today was the first day of wielding it.
But the real change was among the crowd. Thousands of desert folk began to kneel in the sand. Their devotion now bent toward the man in the golden plate—Idris, the rightful inheritor of the desert crown.
Nahida watched, pleased. "Now Idris will be the one true king over these sands," she said. "He bested Akhmar, the Scarlet King. His name and strength are rising fast."
She couldn't hide her joy—many of the great sages were now on their side, and that gave her comfort.
Nahida also understood why the former Tree Monarch had refused to attend. The Tree Monarch and the Scarlet King had once been friends; watching two fierce equals clash was painful. Better to avoid seeing friends wound one another.
Ying and Paimon exchanged surprised smiles—their hope had been that Idris would win, though none expected to witness so true a god-war, even if one combatant was human in flesh.
After donning the god-plate, Idris quietly removed it, fluttered his wings, and landed beside Nahida.
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