The Great Hall of Velmora
The massive ebony doors creaked open.
Roric Alfred stepped inside.
He wore a suit of midnight blue military finery, but no medals. He didn't need medals. His presence alone was heavier than any armor.
Lined up along the red carpet were the rulers of the world.
The 12 Kings of the Human Alliance.
Roric's eyes swept over them. He analyzed them instantly.
King Luthar Thero of Emberfall(Smirking, radiating SSS-Rank Magic).
King Valen of Veridia(The Forest Heart, now a Vassal State).
King Harlon of Ashen Reach(The Industrial King).
King Arion of Storm-Haven.
King Darius of Ironclad.
King Thorne of Gold-Peak.
King Silas of West-March.
Queen Elara of the Mystic Isles.
King Goran of the Boulderlands.
King Titus of the Crimson Valley.
King Magnus of High-Garden.
And at the end of the hall, sitting on the current throne, was his father, King Cedric Blackwood of Velmora.
Roric walked forward. His footsteps echoed like gunshots.
So the day has come, Roric thought.
He looked around the hall. It was filled with the highest nobles from every nation. But his eyes were searching for something else.
Has she come?
Suddenly, the air on the opposite side of the hall grew heavy. It felt like the oxygen had been replaced by liquid fire.
CREAAAK.
The opposite gates opened.
A woman walked in. Her red hair flowed like blood. Her aura was a visible heat haze that distorted the air around her.
Sasha Wamen. The Strongest Woman.
Every King, every General, every noble turned to look.
King Luthar of Emberfall gave a cruel, satisfied smile.
As expected, Luthar thought. I requested my daughter, and she accepted. The weapon of Emberfall is here.
Roric stopped walking. He looked at Luthar with a death stare that could melt steel. Then, he looked at Sasha.
Sasha looked back. Her eyes were cold, devoid of the warmth they once held.
She walked toward the center of the hall. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, terrified of touching even the edge of her aura.
"So she is here," a noble whispered, trembling behind his fan. "Is the danger really that much? That we need both of them?"
"She is here," another noble muttered. "So yeah. Don't you see? Currently, she is the Strongest. Even stronger than Roric."
"Shhh!" the first noble hissed. "Don't let him hear you! But... it's true. Roric just won't accept it. I heard they were partners once."
Roric turned his head away. He continued walking, ignoring her.
But his mind betrayed him.
FLASHBACK
A sunlit forest. Years ago.
Two children running through the trees. No titles. No wars.
"Roric! Come here!"
Little Sasha, with dirt on her face and a bright smile, pointed at the river.
"Look! It's the fish! Get that one!"
She jumped onto the land, laughing.
Little Roric splashed into the water, soaking his clothes. He dived, his hands grasping for the slippery fish, laughing as he failed.
"I'll get it, Sasha! Just watch!"
END FLASHBACK
Roric gritted his teeth. The memory tasted like ash.
He looked at King Luthar again.
This bastard, Roric thought, his aura flaring for a split second. He did this. He destroyed everything.
Sasha reached a velvet sofa near the front. She sat down, crossing her legs, looking bored.
Suddenly, two figures approached her.
Valerica Talos.
Appearance: Blonde bob cut with black streaks. 175 cm.
Aura: Glowing light claws extended from her fingers.
Akylas Vane.
Appearance: A man with a deep scar across his face. 178 cm.
Aura: Green, toxic energy.
They were SSS-Rank Candidates. Powerful, but ants compared to Sasha.
"Mam," Valerica said, bowing low.
Sasha glanced at them with cold eyes. "Yeah? What is it?"
They both bowed deeply.
The nobles whispered excitedly.
"Look! The Princess is already gaining followers."
"Of course. She is the peak."
"Shut up, both of you," a fat noble sneered nearby, holding a wine glass. "You don't know her teacher. That bastard Maren Walberd."
The noble laughed, drunk on his own arrogance.
"That teacher of theirs... he is the one not allowing the death of Elves. I want to end that race. Those bastards."
The noble smirked.
"I recently killed a female elf myself. She was really amazing. I pulled out her eyeballs while she screamed..."
He started laughing.
Shadow.
A shadow fell over the noble.
Roric was standing behind him.
"What..." Roric whispered. "...are you saying?"
The noble turned around. He saw pitch-black eyes. He saw his own death.
"I... I'm sorry!" the noble shrieked, dropping his glass. "We were talking about Madam Sasha! She is—"
Roric leaned in.
"Speak of that again," Roric said, "and I will pull your spine out through your mouth."
The noble fainted.
Sasha, from her seat, looked away. She didn't acknowledge Roric's defense of their teacher.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
A spotlight hit the center stage.
An announcer walked out. He radiated S-Rank power.
"Hello everyone! And greetings to the Kings of the 12 Kingdoms!"
Lyca Talon (The S-Rank Herald of Veridia) bowed.
"I greet all of you by my heart. Today, we all know why we are here. There is no time to elaborate."
"First, we will commence the Ceremony of Roric Alfred, the SSS+ Rank Knight of Velmora. His father will pass the throne to his son."
"And after that," Lyca's voice turned serious. "All 12 Nations will form an Alliance to find this Unknown Calamity... the monster who made 5.5 billion knights unconscious just by releasing his Aura."
Sasha stood up. She remembered Markil's face.
Roric straightened his coat.
So let's begin this, Roric thought.
"I am inviting," Lyca shouted, "Sir Roric Alfred! The Tyrant of Absolute Might!"
Roric walked up the stairs to the dais. The silence was deafening.
He reached the top and turned to face the world.
"All of you," Roric said. "I am Roric Alfred. As you all know."
Sasha looked at him with a death stare.
"I am going to be the King of this Kingdom. I pledge..."
Roric paused. He looked at the Archbishop holding the crown.
He snatched the crown from the Archbishop's hands.
"Look at this crown."
Roric held it up.
"It is gold. It is supposed to represent authority. But to me..."
He crushed the metal slightly.
"...it is just a piece of metal."
The Kings gasped. King Harlon of Ashen Reach adjusted his monocle in shock. King Valen of Veridia looked down, terrified.
Sasha tightened her fists, her red aura flaring slightly.
"For centuries," Roric continued, his voice booming. "Kings have stood here and promised you Peace. They promised you Prosperity. They promised to be your Shield."
Roric leaned forward.
"They lied."
"Now let me tell you the real thing. They didn't want to protect you. They wanted to protect themselves."
"And I will do that also."
"Peace is a pause between wars. Prosperity is fat for the wolves to eat. And a Shield... is just something you hide behind because you are too weak to strike."
Roric threw the crown into the air and caught it.
"I do not promise you Peace."
"I do not promise you Safety."
"I PROMISE YOU DOMINION."
"If you are weak... do not expect my mercy."
"If you are strong... do not expect my praise."
"In my Kingdom, rank is not given by blood. It is taken by force."
"I am not your father. I am not your guardian."
Roric smiled.
"Prepare your swords. Sharpen your fangs."
"Because I am not just taking this throne..."
"I AM TURNING THIS KINGDOM INTO A WEAPON."
"AND I AM THE HAND THAT SWINGS IT!"
"Long live the King? No... No, no."
Roric spread his arms wide.
"LONG LIVE THE WAR!"
The hall was silent. Shock paralyzed them.
Sasha smiled. It was a smile of pure anger.
Roric turned his back on them. He walked toward the throne.
King Cedric Blackwood stood up, stepping aside for his son.
The Archbishop, an old man in white robes, trembled as he stepped forward again, trying to salvage the ritual.
"By... by the grace of the Gods..." the Archbishop's voice cracked. "I crown thee..."
He reached up to place the crown on Roric's head.
"Stop."
The word wasn't loud. It was absolute.
The Archbishop froze. His heart skipped a beat.
Roric looked at the old man's hands. He looked at the crown. His expression wasn't one of reverence. It was one of mild amusement.
"Do not dare," Roric whispered, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling. "Do not dare put your weak hands above my head."
Roric reached out. He snatched the crown back from the Archbishop's grip with one hand.
He held it up to the light. He spun it on his finger like a toy.
"Look at this," Roric said to the silent crowd. "Gold. Jewels. History."
He scoffed.
"Trash."
"You think this piece of metal makes me a King?"
Roric stepped up to the dais. He didn't sit on the throne yet. He stood before it, towering over everyone.
"A King is not made by a ceremony. A King is not made by a bloodline."
Roric's eyes began to glow with a terrifying, pitch-black aura. The stained glass windows began to vibrate.
"A King is the one who is left standing when the dust settles."
He raised the crown over his head.
"I do not wear this because I need it."
"I wear it to give this gold meaning."
He lowered the crown.
CLICK.
The moment the gold touched his hair...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
It wasn't a sound. It was a physical impact.
Gravity seemed to increase by a hundred times. The marble floor of the cathedral cracked instantly.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Thousands of people—Generals, Veteran Knights, arrogant Nobles—simultaneously hit the floor.
They didn't kneel out of respect. They were crushed to their knees.
Even the strongest A-Rank Generals were gasping for air, sweat pouring down their faces, unable to lift their heads.
The Archbishop fainted.
Roric stood alone amidst the sea of bowed heads.
He walked to the throne and sat down.
He didn't sit elegantly. He sprawled, one leg over the armrest, looking utterly bored.
"Look at you," Roric smiled. A cruel, beautiful smile.
"Speechless."
"Breathless."
"Powerless."
He rested his chin on his hand.
"You aren't kneeling because of tradition, are you?"
"You are kneeling because your bodies recognize a predator."
"Good."
At the front of the hall, only one person remained standing.
Sasha Wamen.
Her knees shook slightly under the pressure, but she refused to bow.
She looked at Roric with a death stare.
She turned around and walked away, her heels clicking on the cracked marble.
As she left, the pressure vanished.
The nobles gasped for air, looking up at their new Monster King in terror.
(Chapter 37 Finsihed)