Chapter 21: Maxim's King's Presence Power
The battle for Yore had raged on for hours, and it was now reaching its most brutal stage. The streets were littered with corpses, the rivers of blood pooling in the cracks of the stone roads.
The defenders of Yore, exhausted and battered, were now on their last line of defense.
The revolutionaries, though severely weakened, pressed forward with sheer desperation, hacking through the barricades, climbing over the bodies of their fallen comrades just to get to the next wave of defenders.
Jeffrey Maxim's army was on the brink of collapse.
And then—a deep war horn echoed across the battlefield.
From the western horizon, a force of 5000 Royal Guards appeared.
A legion of cavalry, their banners of King Fredrik Dimas fluttering under the blood-red sky, their armor polished to a pristine shine.
The ground trembled beneath them.
The revolutionaries, already exhausted and broken, froze at the sight of the charging Royal Guard cavalry.
For the first time, they knew true fear.
The charge was devastating.
The Royal Guards smashed into the rear ranks of the revolutionaries like a hammer of divine punishment.
Some fought back desperately, screaming their defiance, only to be trampled underfoot.Some dropped their weapons, kneeling, hands raised in surrender.Others ran, trying to escape, only to be cut down as arrows rained upon them.
Caught between the forces of Woodsaw and the Royal Guard, the revolutionaries were being crushed.
From atop a high tower, Enzo scanned the battlefield, searching for one man.
Carous Gelheim.
But he was gone.
Carous Gelheim Confronts Jeffrey Maxim
Deep inside the Palace of Yore, Carous Gelheim stormed through the grand hall, his once-proud revolutionary uniform tattered, his body drenched in sweat and blood.
His grip on his sword tightened as he approached the throne chamber.
Jeffrey Maxim stood in the center, calm, composed.
Carous lifted his blade, his breathing ragged. "Your days are over, Maxim."
Jeffrey didn't move.
Instead, he gestured to the large grand window behind him.
"Really?" Jeffrey's voice was calm. "Then why don't you take a look outside?"
Carous, skeptical but curious, took a single glance.
And his heart stopped.
His entire army was being annihilated.
His life's work—his rebellion—was crumbling before his very eyes.
He staggered back, his grip on his sword weakening.
Then—he felt it.
A suffocating, monstrous aura creeping into the air.
The walls cracked. The floor beneath him trembled.
His breathing became shallow. His knees buckled.
He couldn't move.
The room felt like it was collapsing on itself.
And yet—Jeffrey Maxim had not moved.
His eyes bore into Carous like an emperor judging an insect.
The power of Hand of God – King's Presence shackled Carous' very soul.
The revolutionary fell to his knees.
Tears welled in his eyes, his body trembling.
Jeffrey's voice was calm, almost sorrowful.
"I am sorry for your losses, for your suffering. But this... this was never the answer."
Carous lifted his head weakly, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Do you see now the difference between us?"
Jeffrey sighed, stepping forward.
"But power was never my goal. I have never sought to bring suffering to Woodsaw."
Carous could do nothing but bow his head.
His dream was over.
His revolution was finished.
The Revolutionaries Surrender
With Carous defeated and their army crushed, the revolutionaries began to surrender.
Enzo, now leading Woodsaw's forces, ordered his men to secure all prisoners and execute any remaining resistance.
The battle for Yore was won.
Elric and Espada's Unspoken Understanding
Outside the fortress, Elric and Dante's duel raged on.
Dante Viel, breathing heavily, gritted his teeth, feeling the effects of his Time Manipulation.
His stamina was running low.
Elric glanced at Espada.
She was already looking at him.
No words were spoken.
But they both understood.
The Final Strike – Dante Viel Falls
Elric charged recklessly, tendrils of water spiraling around him.
Dante saw the move and thrust his spear forward, impaling Elric's stomach.
Elric grunted in pain but grinned.
Dante realized too late—he was caught.
The water tendrils coiled around Dante's arms, trapping him in place.
His vision spun.
His head felt light.
And then—he saw his own body.
Espada stood behind him, her scimitar dripping with his blood.
His severed head hit the ground.
His body collapsed.
Dante Viel was dead.
Back inside the fortress, Kaiser barely had time to react before Carmela's foot slammed into his ribs.
He was launched backward, smashing through a wooden support beam.
He gasped, blood dripping from his lips.
Carmela slowly walked toward him, smiling.
"Still alive? Good. It would be boring otherwise."
Kaiser focused, gripping his dagger.
Then he vanished—Phantom Step.
The two warriors clashed in a vicious, high-speed duel.
Carmela slashed with her clawed chains.
Kaiser dodged, countered, nearly slicing her throat—only to be met with a crushing knee to the gut.
Then—an opening.
Kaiser ducked, twisted, and slashed—his dagger severing Carmela's left arm.
Blood sprayed as Carmela screamed in fury.
Carmela's Fury – Kaiser Brutally Beaten
Carmela's face twisted into pure rage.
"You little worm!"
She rushed forward, overwhelming Kaiser.
A kick to his knee—he stumbled.A backhand to his jaw—his vision blurred.A downward strike—his body slammed into the ground.
Kaiser coughed blood, barely able to move.
The Last Gamble – Gaze of Alzalel
Carmela stepped closer, savoring the moment.
"I'm just looking for a girl Dante promised me. But these pathetic resistance fighters got in my way."
Kaiser's mind raced.
The same girl I'm supposed to rescue?
Then—he moved.
A dagger plunged into Carmela's chest.
Before she could react, Alzalel's hand gripped her face.
"Gaze into the abyss… and know fear."
Carmela screamed as her mind shattered.
But something worse happened.
Her entity—Rosa, the Red Witch—tried to sever ties.
Alzalel caught it.
And then—he devoured it.
The Red Witch let out a horrifying scream as Alzalel's maw consumed it.
Kaiser stared in horror.
What had he just done?