"Your Majesty, the castle gate has been breached!"
A young soldier rushed in, breath ragged as he delivered the grim report.
"You must evacuate immediately, Your Majesty," one of the generals urged, voice tight with worry. "Our defenses have collapsed. This isn't a battle anymore—it's a massacre."
King Agmar slowly rose from his throne.
There was no fear in his face. Only unwavering resolve.
"As long as I still stand, this kingdom shall not fall."
His voice rang calm yet authoritative, echoing through the grand hall cracked by war and time.
"And if this kingdom is to fall… then so shall my life."
"B-but, Your Majesty—"
A soldier stepped forward, desperate to plead.
But the king raised a hand, silencing all hesitation.
"Those who wish to flee, may go. No one will stop you."
His gaze swept the room, eyes sharp and unwavering.
"But those who choose to stay… prepare to die here—alongside this land."
Outside, the sounds of magical artillery and chaos roared.
Yet not one of them stepped back.
Every soldier dropped to one knee.
Not because of command—but out of honor.
If they were to die, they would die protecting the kingdom they loved.
"Open the vault chamber," the King ordered.
"We'll lure them there. I'll activate the sealing artifact. Let this palace be buried—with us inside."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The soldiers sprang into action.
None turned back.
None looked behind.
Moments later, within the grand but silent royal vault, King Agmar sat once again upon his throne—awaiting his enemies.
They came. Dozens of mercenaries and traitorous nobles, hungry for power and treasure.
"Hahaha! Your Majesty, you're surrounded!" one of the nobles sneered.
"Your head—and all the kingdom's riches—will soon be ours!"
But the King did not move.
"For a traitor like you... don't even dream of it."
He raised his hand.
A red light enveloped the throne.
"Activate the artifact."
Ancient runes glowed from beneath the floor.
The ground trembled.
The royal palace, vault and all, began to sink slowly into the earth—swallowed by darkness.
"All troops, eliminate them."
And they fought.
In the dark, in the destruction.
One by one, the soldiers fell—but none regretted their choice.
Until only King Agmar remained—soaked in blood, but still standing.
"This kingdom… I will protect it… for as long as I live…"
With his final breath, he prayed.
"O Goddess of Death… Lawrencia…
I offer you my soul.
Grant me strength… to guard my kingdom…
Forever."
A black shadow wrapped around his body.
His armor turned pitch black.
His eyes glowed red.
The soul of man inside him vanished—replaced by an undying resolve that defied death itself.
He kept fighting.
Tirelessly.
Endlessly.
Until the world forgot him.
Until time stopped in that place.
And even then… he remained.
Seated upon his crumbling throne.
Guarding the final treasure of his kingdom.
Trapped in an eternity he created himself.
—
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"Your Majesty, you've suffered long enough."
The slow footsteps of Alvarez echoed through the ruin. Dust lingered in the air, thick with silence.
Through the shadows and rubble, he walked forward—calm and steady.
The mercenaries, once consumed by despair, now stood frozen in place.
Even Erica, rising from the bloodstained ground, could only breathe heavily.
System… Analyze Sir Alvarez's status
she whispered in her mind, hoping for some logic amid the chaos.
DING!
[System]
Name: ???
Age: ???
Gender: ???
Lv: ???
Tier: ???
Job: ???
W-What?! Why can't I see anything?
Sweat trickled down her temple.
Seriously—system malfunction, again?!
DING!
[Host level too low]
"Ugh… useless," Erica grumbled under her breath.
"Huh? What?" Clay asked beside her.
"Not talking to you," she replied flatly.
Before he could speak again—
"Everyone, look!"
Haluti's voice cut through the tension.
The Undead Knights, once standing tall with drawn weapons, suddenly froze.
The killing aura around them dissipated—like time had been paused.
Tok!
Agmar's massive blade struck the floor.
Its clang echoed long—like a funeral bell.
The undead made no noise.
No growls.
No roars.
They simply watched.
Their King—fallen ruler, long corrupted by black magic—walked forward.
Each step was heavy. Not because of his armor.
But because of guilt and history eating away at his soul.
He stopped before Alvarez—only a blade's length away.
"Your Majesty," Alvarez spoke, his voice clear and sharp like his sword.
"Allow me… to end your suffering."
Swosh!
He raised his blade high, as if to strike down the very light.
Agmar pulled back his own sword—ready to fight.
The room fell into silence.
Swos!
Alvarez dashed in a blur—closing the gap in an instant.
Clang!
Steel met steel, the shockwave rippling through the room.
They clashed, pushing against each other.
Agmar staggered.
Swos!
His blade darkened, aura thickening.
He swung—
ZHING—KRAAAAK!
A black crescent wave shot forward.
BOOM!
It exploded against Alvarez's defense.
He fell to one knee, but rose again—eyes glowing blue, sword burning bright.
He charged.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades collided again and again.
The mercenaries could only watch, mouths agape.
Incredible…
Erica thought, stunned.
Where did he come from? Why wasn't he in the Otome game? Was he from a sequel I didn't play…?—Hero, Demon, and Love...?
She bit her lip.
If I'd known I'd reincarnate here, maybe I should've played both…
But now—this was real.
This was no game.
Swish!
Agmar struck horizontally.
Alvarez ducked, slashed upward—
Scrape!
The King's helmet cracked. He staggered back.
His dark aura surged, gathering on his blade.
"This is how it ends, Your Majesty," Alvarez whispered.
His sword glowed. A blue radiance spread across the blade.
It wasn't Alvarez's energy.
The sword itself… was asking to end this.
Swosh!
They clashed once more.
CRAAASSH!
Agmar's blade shattered. A gaping wound split his chest.
He stumbled.
Blood—or something like it—poured from his mouth.
"Your Majesty…"
Alvarez turned slowly.
"You've fought endlessly to protect this kingdom…
Even using cursed power.
You gave your soul… for everything you loved.
You've done your duty as king.
Now, it's time to rest."
He raised his sword high—then thrust it forward.
Jleb!
The blade pierced Agmar's chest.
The dark aura around him faded.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty…" Alvarez whispered.
"Let your honor and treasure be passed to the next generation.
Now rest… in peace."
A soft glow surrounded Agmar's body.
The trapped soul finally found release—rising upward.
Crak!
The King fell.
His summoned soldiers vanished, like dust in the wind.
"…W-we won…!"
One mercenary gasped.
Then came the cheers.
Swords raised. Cries of victory echoed through the ruins.
Behind the throne, a coffin-shaped chest sat—untouched.
Alvarez opened it.
Daniel stepped forward.
"So? What's inside?"
"Just some gold coins… and a few weapon artifacts," Alvarez said calmly.
"Search the surrounding chambers. There may be more."
"Good idea."
Daniel turned.
"All teams, sweep the area! Healers, tend to the wounded!"
"Yes, sir!"
Alvarez lifted something small.
A crimson orb—glowing faintly.
"What's that?" Daniel asked.
"I'm not sure…"
The nearby mages turned. They felt it too.
An intense magical pulse.
"…I've seen it before," Pyra murmured.
"Really?" Alvarez asked, showing her the orb.
"I read about it at the Red Tower," Erica cut in.
Wait. Why is that thing here? Wasn't it supposed to be used by the Black Mage Archbishop…?
That was the item that summoned the Bone Dragon in the game. But we found it first. That means… he won't get it. That's good.
"It's called an Ancient Catalyst," Erica explained. "I read it can be used to craft magical artifacts."
"Is that so? I've never seen that mentioned," Pyra narrowed her eyes.
"Some… hidden texts," Erica muttered, looking away.
"She's always buried in the library. Just trust her," Haluti chimed in.
"She's right," Clay added.
"Hmm… Think it'll sell for much?" Alvarez weighed the orb in his hand.
No—don't sell it. What if it falls into enemy hands?!
"Probably. Might be best to turn it over to the kingdom or a noble house. They'll pay well," Erica answered carefully.
"Good idea. I wonder how much magical energy is in it…"
Erica, curious, reached out to touch the orb—
DING!
[Ancient Catalyst detected]
[System Enhancement Available – Commencing Absorption]
"Eh?!"
She jerked her hand back—but it was too late.
The orb glowed.
Then—
It crumbled.
Disintegrated into dust.
Everyone stared.
A silence fell over the chamber.
Not a word was spoken.