Two Heads

In Raksa Kingdom

"Yes, my king," Aaron replied firmly, still bowing down, knowing what was going to happen again. Luke was also bowing beside him.

"Gather the allied forces and conquer the Red Dungeon," the king ordered.

Hearing the same command again, Aaron was not shocked this time, but his son Luke was. His eyebrows furrowed as he kept his head bowed.

"As you wish, my king, I will start gathering the allied forces," Aaron replied, still bowing down.

Hearing Aaron's response, both the king and Luke were shocked.

Hmmm… He wasn't shocked after hearing it, the king thought, gazing at Aaron.

Ohhh… Father is so cool. So that's how you reply to a king, huh? Luke thought, hearing his father's quick response without hesitation, despite knowing how dangerous the mission was.

"You may raise your heads," the king commanded, just like before.

Hearing the king's command, both Aaron and Luke raised their heads, looking at the king.

Before the king could say Luke's name, Aaron spoke. "My king, when you said to raise our heads, I assume you meant only me, not Luke, correct?"

Hearing Aaron, the king was confused. Even though he had said both could raise their heads, his arrogance and cruel nature refused to accept that fact.

"Yes, I only meant you, not your son, Luke," the king replied with an arrogant smile, touching the sword in front of him.

Hearing the king's words, Luke quickly bowed down. "Please forgive me, my king, I—"

Thud!

In the blink of an eye, Aaron rapidly turned around, his kick landing on Luke's left arm, sending him flying straight into a pillar.

Boom! Boom!

The kick was so powerful that it first broke Luke's arm, then sent him crashing into the pillar, shattering it before slamming him against the wall behind it. A cloud of dust filled the hall, and the sound echoed through the hallway and even outside. Soldiers who heard the noise were shocked, but none had the courage to enter without the king's order.

After kicking his son, Aaron bowed down in front of the king. "Forgive my son, Luke. He is still young. I will make sure he learns his lesson," Aaron replied.

"Ahh…" Luke groaned, stuck in the broken wall, blood dripping from his mouth. His left arm was completely shattered.

"See, that's why you are my favorite general, Aaron. Because you always understand me. And don't worry, I forgive your son… but not next time, okay?" the king said with a smile.

"I have some urgent matters to attend to. Meet me when the forces are ready," the king added.

"Yes, my king," Aaron replied, still bowing.

"You may go now… and take your son with you," the king ordered, glancing at Luke, who was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"Understood, my king," Aaron said. Raising his head, he walked toward Luke. The king kept his gaze on Aaron, still not fully trusting him. Aaron grabbed Luke's leg and started walking toward the gate, dragging him across the ground.

Seeing Luke being pulled by his leg, his shattered arm dangling lifelessly and leaving a trail of blood on the floor, a monstrous smile appeared on the king's face.

Forgive me, my child, Aaron thought as he grabbed Luke.

The massive gate opened, and Aaron stepped outside, still dragging his son. The soldiers were shocked to see their general treating his own son this way—the son who was now gravely injured.

In the Red Dungeon

"First question: Which direction did you come from?" Kai asked, staring intently at the goblin.

Without wasting time, the goblin moved his head toward the right—the opposite direction from which Kai had come.

"I thought so…" Kai muttered, still gripping the goblin's neck against the pillar.

"Now, last question, and… I'll… let you go if you answer it," Kai said, gazing deeply at the goblin.

Hearing Kai, the goblin stopped struggling, as if he trusted him.

He never lets goblins go alive… After spending seven days with him, I can easily tell that, Arthur thought, watching Kai.

"Here's the last question. If your leader is the Goblin General, turn your head left. Or if your leader is the Goblin King, turn your head right."

Kai's eyes widened as he waited for a specific response. His heartbeat quickened, his cold gaze fixed on the goblin.

This doesn't look right… Arthur thought, noticing Kai's expression.

Arthur instinctively took a step back. The way Kai looked now—he resembled a monster waiting for his prey, a beast thirsting for blood.

Right.

Slash!

The moment the goblin turned his head to the right, Kai swiftly raised his other hand and, with blinding speed, sliced through the goblin's neck.

Swoosh…

Arthur watched as the goblin's head was sent flying toward the ceiling from the sheer force of the slash. He then heard a cracking sound from the pillar that connected to the upper ground where he and Kai were standing.

"What…?" Arthur muttered, looking around.

The pillar that Kai had been holding the goblin against had deep, circular cutting marks.

"Did you… cut the pil—"

Before Arthur could finish his sentence—

Thud!

The entire upper ground they were standing on began collapsing toward the left.

"Ahhh! Have you lost your mind—"

Boom!

As the ground started crashing, Arthur turned toward Kai in disbelief. Knowing what Kai did, Arthur saw Kai standing still, staring at the goblin's corpse as if nothing had happened.

As Arthur yelled, the platform they had been standing on—the place where Arthur was born, the place that Kai thought was their safe area—crashed to the ground. Dust filled the area, spreading rapidly.

Thud…

A massive sound echoed throughout the area, and half of the surroundings were engulfed in dust.

Back in Raksa Kingdom

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Aaron looked down, a hint of sadness visible on his face. Near him, Luke lay unconscious on the bed. It was the same room where they had been getting ready.

"Father…" Luke muttered, slightly opening his eyes.

Hearing Luke's voice, Aaron quickly turned to him. "Sorry I hit you," Aaron said, looking at Luke with a guilty expression.

"So, what was the best possible outcome you saw? The reason you hit me like that?" Luke asked, knowing his father must have used his skill to change the future.

"The king was going to cut off your head," Aaron replied.

"Hahahaha…" Hearing that, Luke laughed.

"I guess then it's time, Father," Luke said, looking at his father with a slight smile.

"I'm not sure if we are ready for that," Aaron replied, looking down with a bit of worry.