Chương 103: Chapter 101: The Beginning of the End

The continent had never witnessed such a sky. Half of heaven burned with golden light. The other half was swallowed by an endless blizzard. Where the two domains collided, lightning split reality itself. Below them... Millions of soldiers stood frozen. Not by fear. By the sheer pressure of two Sovereigns facing each other. On the northern plain stood Emperor Caelum Drakhar, ruler of the Northern Empire.

His white dragon circled high above the battlefield, releasing waves of frost that turned rivers into glaciers within seconds. His Divine Sword, Fimbul, radiated absolute zero. Every breath he took became snow. Every step covered the earth with ice. Across from him... Standing atop the walls of Ayanor... Was Rayan Ashvar. The Last Dharma King. Golden dragon wings spread behind him. The Dharma Dragonblade glowed brighter than the rising sun. The Dragon King's Legacy flowed through every vein in his body.

Behind him stood sixty thousand exhausted soldiers. Before him... Over one million enemies. By every measure... This battle should have ended before it began. Yet no one dared move. Because everyone understood one truth. If either king attacked first... History itself would change. Caelum slowly raised his sword.

"I've heard countless stories about you."

"The prince who awakened the Dharma Astra."

"The heir chosen by Atlas."

"The king who united Heaven and Humanity." He smiled faintly.

"I expected someone older." Rayan answered calmly.

"I expected someone cruel." Caelum chuckled.

"I am." The temperature dropped another ten degrees. Ice spread across the battlefield like living roots.

"Just not without reason." Rayan narrowed his eyes.

"If conquest is your reason..."

"... then I'll stop you." Caelum shook his head.

"You misunderstand." He looked toward the crimson countdown floating in the heavens. 364 Days Remaining"The world has one year left."

"Kings still argue over borders."

"Nobles still fight over taxes."

"Temples still debate prophecy."

"They're blind." He pointed toward the frightened kingdoms beyond the horizon.

"When the Final Eclipse arrives..."

"... only one united empire can save humanity." Cassian folded his arms.

"So your brilliant solution..."

"... is invading everyone?" Caelum looked directly at him.

"Would you rather watch millions die because their kings couldn't agree?" Silence followed. Even Cassian had no immediate answer. Rayan stepped forward.

"A kingdom built on fear..." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"... will never survive." Caelum smiled.

"That's why I came to test you." The Emperor pointed Fimbul toward the sky.

"If you defeat me..."

"I'll kneel."

"If I defeat you..."

"You unite the continent beneath my banner."

"No more pointless wars."

"No more divided nations."

"One ruler."

"One army."

"One chance." The battlefield erupted into whispers. King Dasrath looked toward his son. The old king understood. This duel would decide far more than Ayanor's fate. Atlas appeared between the two armies.

"The Celestial Trial recognizes the challenge." Golden symbols spread across the battlefield. The plains transformed into a gigantic circular arena surrounded by walls of light. Neither army could interfere. Only the two kings remained inside. WORLD SYSTEM King's Duel Initiated Participants • Rayan Ashvar • Caelum Drakhar Conditions Victory by surrender or incapacitation. Outside interference prohibited. * The winner gains the allegiance of the defeated kingdom. The armies watched in complete silence.

One million Frost Soldiers. Sixty thousand Knights of Ayanor. Archons. The World Turtle. Leviathan. Lyra. Kael. Aster. Even the Author observed from beyond reality. Every eye was fixed on the arena. Caelum slowly removed his royal crown. He placed it upon the frozen ground.

"I don't fight as an emperor."

"I fight..."

"... as a man willing to carry humanity's hatred." Rayan looked at him for several moments. Then... He removed his own crown as well.

"I don't fight as a king."

"I fight..."

"... as someone who refuses to let hope disappear." Golden flames erupted around him. The Dharma Dragonblade roared like a celestial dragon. Across the arena... Fimbul released an endless winter. Fire met ice. Hope met resolve. Two rulers. Two visions for the future. Only one could continue the journey toward the Final Eclipse. Atlas raised his hand. His voice echoed across the entire continent. > "Let the Final Season..." > "... begin." The barrier disappeared. Rayan and Caelum vanished simultaneously.

Their swords collided in the center of the arena. BOOOOOOOOOOM!! The explosion split the heavens. And thus began... The War for Humanity's Future. To Be Continue....