VICTORY

King Andrew's remaining troops were beyond exhausted. A full night of sleep couldn't help recover their lost strength, be it physical and mental. Yesterday's mind attack was the last straw, and they wished to give up already.

The King, on the other hand, was clinging on to his last shred of sanity. He knew that after this day, it would be the end of his life. He knew that he couldn't do anything about it. He wanted to live and enjoy the luxuries a King has. But his pride would not let him surrender and become what the people want him to be. He didn't want to forget the feeling of having so many girls in his arms; or how men grovel at his feet, even letting him fuck them, just to get his favor. Oh gods, he couldn't. He just couldn't.

He was now ordering almost all of his knights to jumpstart a volcanic eruption. But they all came dejected, their missions all failures. Some knights say that their magical power couldn't contribute to the power needed for it to happen. Some say that there is something that blocks their magic in penetrating the earth's crust or wherever layers of the planet the magma forms.

He was left with no choice – he has to meet the opponent's forces head-on.

"Knights!" he ordered.

All his two thousand remaining knights assembled in front of him. He looked at the numbers grimly. This was all or nothing for him now.

"This is our last fight! We have to win this. You have to win this! When we all return victorious, I will treat you with all the liquor, money and women you all want!"

The crowd cheered melancholically, all of them realizing that their King was a lost cause. They thought, rather simultaneously, that as soon as they enter the battlefield, they would immediately surrender.

Just then, they felt the King's magic falling on their bodies. It was a warm magic that coursed through their veins, invigorating them for a little bit.

When the magic was gone, the King grinned at them, "I gave you all my blessings, and a silent command that you all have to follow me. When my magic feels something off from you, say a surrender thought, you would all be burned instantly."

The knights all shivered. To hell with surrendering: it was better for them to die in battle than to be burned. At least their families would have something to mourn onto.

And with that in thought, they marched out to meet their demise.

***

General Hiro and Crown Prince Amon were standing in the center of the battlefield with their troops at their backs in formation. They were waiting for the ex-King of Exosha's troops to welcome them in their last battle.

Denaire was flying above them with Zilong. She was watching from above the arrival of their opponent, as well as deflecting any sneak lightning attacks.

A few moments later, Denaire shouted, "Incoming!"

Hiro and Amon immediately faced their troops and commanded to get ready and initiate a defensive formation. Both of them stood at the front with determined faces.

Denaire too flew lower to support them, as well as activating the magic shield around them to prevent any mind attacks. Damien was on standby at the very back in case a mind attack would suddenly happen.

As the first line of the enemies entered their vision, they immediately shouted their battle cries and ran towards the approaching men.

The King, seeing this invigorated spirit of their enemy, was now feeling afraid. He wished to just run away and hide. But then he saw Denaire atop her dragon, and his fury ignited.

He charged lightning bolt after lightning bolt towards the enemies, in which, Denaire immediately deflected.

The King's knights, even if the lightning bolts didn't do much damage, were feeling more pumped up now that they saw their King fighting with them. They slowly suppressed the other side's knights.

Just when they were feeling so strong, a new wave of magic entered their vicinity.

The whole world was succumbed in darkness. They felt their enemies retreat, leaving them in the dark. When their eyes finally adjusted, a bright white light immediately blinded them.

They covered their eyes to save it from being destroyed. As the light died down, they noticed they were unable to move, they felt that something held them and was snaked around their bodies.

The natural light came back, and what they saw after filled them with horror. Because what was holding them in place were a bunch of undead people, complete with their drooling and bloodshot eyes.

They tried to escape their hold, but there were too many holding them in place. Escaping has been proven futile.

Soon, all the knights gave up fighting the undead. They stood there listlessly as if awaiting their execution. Slowly, the undead seeped into their body, draining all of their life force.

The King was flabbergasted at these turn of events that he didn't notice Denaire getting near him.

He just found himself bound by a magical rope, capable of cancelling out his magic.

He then found himself kneeling in front of the bitch Denaire, the love of his life Hiro, and an unknown handsome young man.

He looked at the three of them with contempt.

"You!" he spat at Denaire. "I willingly gave you the position of Queen, and yet here you are staging a coup – the first thing you did when you were proclaimed! The audacity!"

Denaire smiled at him, a rather sickening, sweet smile. "You were just willing to marry me to get back at Hiro! And I do not ever, ever want myself being with you. I feel so damn disgusted every time you touch me, much less give my whole body to you."

She spat at the King's face in return. "I never wanted to be with you. But becoming a Queen has always been a taboo among the kings of Exosha. So I definitely used your stupid offering to get back at you and take revenge of what you did to my beloved Oniro."

The King ground his teeth, unable to refute Denaire's words.

"So," Denaire continued. "What should we do with you?"

She looked at Hiro first, to gain permission. Hiro bowed, letting her decide. Denaire then looked at Amon.

"Amon, I think the Onirons have all the right to decide this idiot's fate."

Amon smiled menacingly. "Of course, we should discuss about him. Why don't we call them all in and commence a public trial."

Denaire smiled back, "Sure."