Fard's sword was coming down to strike Zeno's neck when a hand grabbed the blade. Everyone was stunned. Valkrist, drenched in sweat, looked at the one who had stopped the sword—a mysterious person wearing a hat, their face unclear.
He pushed him away, but instead Valkrist himself staggered back. Even angrier, Valkrist charged forward with a punch. As the punch landed, the mysterious person's hat flew back. At that same moment, Arisa and Veil arrived.
When Arisa saw the mysterious person, she happily shouted:
"Brother, Itsuki!"
When everyone saw Itsuki, they bowed respectfully...
Valkrist stood up. "Son of—"
"Ughhh—"
But with a single slap from Itsuki, he was sent flying, his mouth full of blood.
Ashlor, seeing the scene, angrily rushed toward Itsuki and shouted:
"What are you doing, nephew?! You hit your cousin!"
Soma freed Zeno and stepped down from the execution platform. He stood face to face with his uncle and shouted angrily:
"Do you remember who you're standing against?! I am the crown prince of this land!"
Ashlor tried to protest again.
"You're raising your hand against royal relatives because of a commoner—"
"Kneel!"
Ashlor involuntarily dropped to his knees, so hard that the ground beneath him cracked.
"Ashlor Ashborne, know your place. You stood against the future emperor of the land of Shamrock!"
Ashlor was kneeling under pressure, sweating heavily...
"After the disgrace you caused, you still haven't learned?!?"
"I'll kill you, bastard…!!!!!"
Valkrist ran toward Soma with a dagger, trying to kill him.
"I'll kill— ughhh—"
Grrrrrkh…
But Valkrist was kicked into the ground by Zeno.
"Remember this—he's my opponent… idiot."
Without even looking back, Itsuki continued speaking:
"You'll stay in prison until the emperor arrives!"
His uncle said angrily under the pressure:
"Why should I… go to prison?!"
Itsuki replied seriously and angrily:
"You were executing someone without a trial! That's defying the emperor's laws, and that's no small crime!"
Itsuki looked at Ashlor's men and said:
"Take him and his son together to the palace prison."
"Yes, sir!"
The men pulled Valkrist—unconscious, eyes white—from the stone pavement. They also handcuffed Ashlor and were putting him into a carriage when Soma shouted:
"Take him on foot. He doesn't deserve a carriage!"
The people laughed, and Ashlor's anger doubled.
"I swear one day I'll kill you in misery and disgrace, Itsuki Shamrock… along with your damned father!"
Ashlor and his son passed right by Veil. Veil stood proudly with his sword at his waist. As Ashlor passed him, he shook his head threateningly.
But Veil remained calm...
Itsuki went to Zeno and tried to remove his shackles, but before he could touch them, Zeno crushed them with his bare hands.
Soma's eyes widened.
"You could free yourself?!"
Zeno, his face covered in blood, just smiled...
Soma said again:
"You were about to be killed—why didn't you break them?"
Zeno smiled and said:
"Because I knew you would save me."
Itsuki said in surprise:
"You?"
Suddenly a voice came from behind:
"Are you okay?!"
Itsuki looked back—it was Arisa.
"It's nothing, little sister. I'm fine."
But Arisa ignored him, walked past, and threw herself straight into Zeno's arms.
"I was so worried about you… idiot!"
"Don't worry, I'm fine… just a little hungry."
Itsuki stood there frozen when he saw Veil running toward him.
"Are you okay?!"
Itsuki happily opened his arms.
"Yeah, bro, I'm fine. Don't worry."
But Veil, like Arisa, passed right by him and went straight to Zeno. Itsuki froze like a statue, arms still open.
When Veil reached Zeno, he bowed, closed his eyes, and said:
"Thank you for saving Hina."
When he opened his eyes, he saw a hand.
"Lift your head, my friend."
Veil lifted his head. When he saw Zeno's smiling face, he smiled unconsciously as well. He took Zeno's hand, and both of them said together:
"Forever… always… we'll remain friends."
The people, with tears of joy and happiness, lifted Zeno and Veil onto their shoulders...
The United Kingdom of the Shamrocks:
"The Emperor of the Blood-Iron Kingdom has taken almost the entire country. Half of our forces have been captured or killed!!…"
The emperor quickly and decisively said to his minister:
"Send a request for aid to our allied kingdom—the Shamrocks—as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord."
But before the letter could be sent, someone rushed into the war room, panting.
"My lord!… My lord!… Outside—"
The emperor slammed his fist on the table and said sternly:
"Speak clearly so we can understand."
"Kais Shamrock has arrived! The Blood-Iron Empire has completely retreated—their war minister is dead!!… We've won!"
When those in the room heard the news, they shouted happily:
"Hoorayyyyy!"
The emperor took a deep breath, but moments later the sound of metal boots in the hallway sent chills down everyone's spine.
Clang—
The war room doors opened. Everyone bowed, even the emperor.
"Welcome, my lord!"
But he advanced with the same overwhelming presence, lifted the emperor's head, and said:
"Hold your head high."
The emperor said sorrowfully:
"How can I hold my head high after the humiliation of nearly losing the country?… I don't deserve to be emperor!"
Kais's smile shone in the darkness as he said:
"Don't say that. Look around you… In truth, you won this battle. I only came and delivered the final blow. On the battlefield, I saw how your soldiers were shouting, 'For the homeland… or death!' You should be proud of your people, who are willing to give their lives rather than let the enemy take their land."
The emperor lifted his head proudly, left the room, and stepped onto the balcony.
"Hoooooray!… We love our emperor!"
The people cheered, raising their emperor's spirits. With pride, the emperor swiftly and powerfully drew his sword.
Shiiing—
"As long as I have breath in my body, I will protect and fight for my land and my people… Any enemy who even dares to look at our land the wrong way, I will slaughter."
The people shouted in unison...
"Long live the homeland!!… Long live the homeland!!..."
The emperor quickly returned to the war room, but Kais Shamrock was no longer there. He asked the others where he had gone.
"We don't know, my lord. He vanished suddenly!"
The emperor smiled and said only one word:
"Thank you, brother."