The Wolf's Oath

The battlefield was eerily silent—not because the war was over, but because everything that once stood in Valoria was gone.

A deep canyon stretched from where Kon stood, reaching as far as the cliffs that lined the Winding Arrow River. The edges of the canyon smoldered, reality itself fraying as Kon's corrupted mana gnawed at the earth. The air hissed, thick with the stench of ozone and ash, and the few surviving structures leaned precariously over the abyss, their shadows stretching like skeletal fingers.

Adam rushed forward, his movements fluid and precise.

He landed beside Trevor, his three-segment staff –Canveri, materializing in his grip.

"Adam!!! Thank goodness you're alive!!!"

Trevor couldn't resist pulling him into a hug, his grip tight, desperate. "I was worried sick!"

Adam patted his back reassuringly. "It's okay. I'm fine."

But Trevor pulled back slightly, searching his face.

"What happened to you?" His voice was quieter, tinged with unease. "I mean... I sensed your mana before, but..."

Adam averted his eyes.

"I don't know, Trevor. But this isn't the time to think about it."

Before Trevor could press the issue—

Kon lunged.

A devastating arc of destruction tore through the canyon, obliterating everything in its path.

Trevor and Adam barely managed to sidestep, clearing out of his range.

Adam tightened his grip on his Canvari.

"Cover me, Trevor."

Trevor glanced at him—there was something unshakably firm about Adam's voice.

He didn't hesitate.

"Elemi: 50% – Öge İkizi!"

A surge of elemental energy crackled through the battlefield—

Four elemental clones materialized, each radiating raw fire, earth, thunder, and water.

They moved in perfect synchrony with Trevor, wielding their false staff as they rushed Kon.

He met their onslaught head-on, parrying between Trevor and his clones in a blur of destruction.

The clones worked to box him in, striking with relentless precision.

The real Trevor moved in, preparing to finish the assault—

But Kon flared his mana, sending a crushing pulse of raw power outward.

Trevor was forced back, the clones disintegrating from the sheer force of the backlash.

However—

That was all the time Adam needed.

"ARCEM: Doğuş…(Genesis)"

A pulse of ethereal blue mana rippled outward.

It wasn't wild—

It wasn't chaotic—

It was calm. Steady. Absolute.

Adam rushed forward, entering Kon's range.

The moment his mana collided with Kon's, a strange phenomenon occurred—

The dark, corrosive aura that surrounded Kon began to dissolve.

Their respective manas canceled each other out.

Kon moved to strike—

But Adam vanished.

"Ghost Step."

In a blur, Adam reappeared behind Kon and brought his three-segment staff down on his back.

The impact sent Kon staggering forward—

But Adam wasn't finished.

"Wake up."

Kon growled, trying to move again, but—

Two massive blue mana hands materialized, pinning him in place.

Kon struggled, his corrupted mana fighting against the construct, but Adam held firm.

Adam stepped forward—

And, with a resounding slap, struck Kon across the face.

"Wake up this instant, Kon Kaplan!!!"

Trevor watched from the sidelines, his expression pained.

Adam's voice shook with fury—but beneath it was something else.

Something desperate.

"How could you allow yourself to fall this low?!"

Kon shuddered, his body trembling.

"Hiding away... giving in to your rage just to escape reality and despair?!"

Adam's grip tightened on his staff.

"The results of your own actions—your own choices—have led to this!"

Adam took another step forward.

"And yet, instead of facing it, you would betray your people by being a coward?! By endangering their lives?!"

Kon's breathing turned ragged. His hands shook.

Adam's eyes burned.

"Your father would turn in his grave with disappointment!!!"

That was it.

That was all it took.

Kon's empty, lifeless eyes suddenly welled with tears.

His body sagged—

And then—

His familiar golden eyes returned.

The dark aura around him shattered, the construct dissolving as he collapsed into Adam's arms.

Kon clutched Adam's coat, his body wracked with sobs.

"I'm sorry!!!"

"I'm so sorry!!!"

"Please forgive me! Forgive me, Adam. Please!!!"

Adam said nothing.

His expression was unreadable as he held Kon close.

Trevor wiped away a quiet tear.

What a relief...

_________________

Observing from Afar...

Darius and the other Lords let out a collective breath of relief.

"He did it." Thrax whispered.

Talonir remained silent, but his posture softened.

Thank Asalan... Kon...

From the Arya of Destruction, the Fısıltı Çivisi emerged—still pulsing with The Shadow's mana.

Adam lifted his gaze to it.

He raised a single hand—his voice calm and final.

"No more evil doing for you, little Icicle... Be de-evilized."

A small sphere of pure mana materialized around the Fısıltı Çivisi.

It pulsed once—

And then, the darkness faded into white.

The cleansed Icicle floated away.

A Slow Clap Echoed Through the Ruins.

"Oh my, oh my!!!"

Trevor reacted instantly, swinging his staff—

A false staff attack shot forward, causing a massive impact—

But nothing was destroyed.

The voice chuckled.

A pink-furred rabbit Tracient stood at a distance, wearing a long hat and his ever-present grin.

"I guess all the Narn Lords are the same. So aggressive."

Trevor gritted his teeth.

In an instant, the remaining Narn Lords gathered, standing side by side with Trevor.

Adam released Kon gently, his form dissipating back to normal.

His legs nearly gave out, but Karadir caught him.

"Careful, Lord Kurt."

Adam nodded faintly."Thank you, Karadir."

His face was unreadable.

Darius stepped forward, his voice firm.

"What else does your master want, Child of Shadow?"

His eyes darkened.

"Speak, for my patience has reached its peak."

Jarik grinned wider.

"Ah! King Darius. It's truly an honor."

He adjusted his hat slightly, as if pleased with himself.

"Such a shame I'm here on official business. Otherwise, I would've loved to get to know you better.'

Darius stayed silent.

Jarik sighed dramatically.

"Anyway, my master humbly requests that the Four Grand Lords..."

A pause.

"...Hand over the Aryas."

Jarik smiled.

"Do that, and ArchenLand will be left alone forever. You will even be allowed to rebuild what you've already lost."

Darius opened his mouth—but no words came out.

A deep sorrow filled his eyes.

Kopa placed a hand on his shoulder.

Darius leaned into the touch—but still, he could not speak.

And then—

Adam spoke.

His voice was like stone.

"Go back and tell your master..."

His blue eyes glowed faintly—tinted with something... deeper.

"...That he has hurt us. Badly. But we live."

His voice was absolute. Unshaken.

"And as long as we live, we will endure."

"And as long as we endure—"

A shadow passed over his face, his aura trembling with something raw, something ancient.**

"—he will never get what he wants."

A cold finality settled in the air.

*"And let him know..."

Adam's eyes darkened.

"...That I personally will be the end of him."

"A pretty speech." Jarik Mocked. " But speeches don't win wars."**

"No," Adam agreed. "It doesn't."

He snapped his fingers.

The purified remnants of the Fısıltı Çivisi coalesced into a dagger of light—a shard of the Shadow's own power, reforged. It shot toward Jarik, grazing his cheek before embedding itself in the pillar behind him.

The rabbit Tracient touched his face, his fingertips coming away stained with blood. "…Interesting."

"Leave," Adam growled. "And tell your master his end comes for him."

"I come for him."