Two Years After the War
Two years had passed since the war that nearly tore Elysium apart.
In those two years, everything changed.
Elysium grew stronger than ever before. The people—once reckless with their gifted powers—had finally learned control. Order replaced chaos. Discipline replaced fear. The capital stood taller, brighter, alive with confidence.
Leadership shifted as well.
Lxn, after decades of service, retired from both command and battlefield. Viviette rose as the Third-in-Command, her calm intellect steadying the army, while Cameron—brilliant and unpredictable—took the Fourth seat, supplying weapons, tools, and his dangerously strong homemade alcohol.
And Noa—
Noa had not stopped moving forward.
The Duel of Warlords
Steel clashed against flesh-enhanced strikes as dust exploded into the air.
Noa rushed forward, his fists glowing faintly as he launched a brutal melee assault. Each strike landed with crushing force—yet Hatrood parried every blow, his sword dancing with impossible precision, flames spiraling along the blade.
Hatrood spun, slashing in a wide arc. Fire tore across the ground.
Noa took the hit—skin burning, bones cracking—only to regenerate seconds later. He gritted his teeth and charged again, faster this time.
The battle shook the training grounds.
Finally, both fighters skidded backward, breathing heavily.
Silence.
A draw.
Noa slammed his fist into the dirt.
"Damn it! Again a draw."
Hatrood laughed softly, resting his sword on his shoulder.
"Well, it seems you've gotten stronger than me."
Noa snorted.
"Fuck no. You're still gonna be ranked higher than me. I know it."
Hatrood smirked.
"Well… the rankings will decide that."
As if summoned by fate, a soldier came sprinting through the capital, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"The leaderboard has been updated! The leaderboard has been updated!"
Noa exhaled slowly.
"Seems like it's time."
The Leaderboard
The central plaza was packed. Soldiers, civilians, commanders—everyone stared at the masive wooden board carved with names.
The final rankings burned into place:
1.Amity
2.Midnight
3.Felix
4.Kyutaro
5.Thar
6.Hatrood
7.Noa
8.Lunnaux
9.Vipul
10.Zephio
Noa crossed his arms.
"Told you. You're stronger than me."
Hatrood gave a small nod.
"I guess so."
Footsteps approached.
Thar's deep voice broke the crowd's murmur.
"Congratulations. Both of you."
Vipul laughed loudly.
"Ha! I told you I'd be on the leaderboard one day—and I finally did it!"
"Yeah, yeah," Noa replied dryly.
Zephio stepped closer, smiling.
"Noa… thanks for helping me master my water technique."
"No worries," Noa said. "You earned it."
The Announcement
The plaza quieted as Amity stepped onto the stage.
His presence alone commanded silence.
"Today," Amity announced, "I declare the appointment of new warlords."
The crowd leaned forward.
"The top seven strongest on the leaderboard will now officially bear the title."
Noa froze.
That meant—
His name echoed in his mind.
Cheers erupted.
Zephio punched the air.
"Told you! Congratulations, Warlord Noa!"
Vipul clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
"Ah, damn it… I guess congratulations."
"Thanks," Noa replied, smirking. "I guess."
Amity raised his hand once more.
"And tonight, we hold a farewell celebration—for Lxn."
The Farewell Party
Music filled the halls. Laughter echoed off marble walls. Soldiers danced without armor for the first time in years.
Cameron moved between tables, serving dangerously strong drinks with a proud grin.
Noa stood among his friends, relaxed—until Amity gestured for him to follow.
They slipped away into a quiet corridor, torchlight flickering against stone.
"So," Noa said carefully, "what is it, my lord?"
Amity hesitated.
"Well… there's something I need to tell you."
Noa's expression hardened instantly.
"What happened?"
Amity sighed.
"I don't know how long I have left."
Noa's heart dropped.
"What… what are you saying?"
"I have a rare disease," Amity continued calmly. "It began after I awakened my light powers. I didn't notice it the first year—but the second year, symptoms appeared. Viviette has been keeping me alive."
Noa clenched his fists.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry."
"We will always be here for you," Noa said firmly.
Amity smiled faintly.
"I know."
Then his expression darkened.
"There's trouble in the west."
"Disappearing people," Noa said slowly.
"Yes. Entire villages destroyed overnight. Even stationed armies can't stop it."
Noa swallowed.
"What do we do?"
"I'm sending you and Thar to investigate."
Noa nodded without hesitation.
"I'm ready."
"You'll have a team—Lunnaux, Zephio, Vipul, and others."
"I won't fail."
Amity paused.
"One last thing… I was never truly an only child."
Noa frowned.
"What?"
"My brother—Aristal. An archer. Born with a scar on his nose."
"What happened to him?"
Amity's voice lowered.
"He killed our father. I killed him… and threw his body from a cliff."
Before Noa could respond, Amity collapsed to one knee, coughing blood.
Noa caught him instantly.
"What's happening?!"
"It's the disease," Amity said weakly, wiping his mouth. "I'll be fine."
Applause echoed from the hall.
"Lxn's speech," Amity said. "Let's not miss it."
Departure
The next morning, the gates of Elysium opened.
Horses stamped the ground. Armor clinked. Weapons gleamed.
Noa adjusted his cloak and looked ahead. Thar mounted beside him, silent but focused. Lunnaux checked supplies. Zephio steadied his water flask. Vipul grinned, excitement barely contained.
Beyond the walls lay the western lands—
Burned villages.
Missing people.
And something watching from the dark.
Noa tightened his grip on the reins.
"This mission," he said quietly, "will change everything."
And with that, they rode forward—
toward a fate none of them yet understood.