The Kings Rides
We all remember—the King's Council of Chiefs were already on the move, following the faint trail left by Kalamari.
But they weren't just after him.
They were following the Circle.
Their first destination: Whoops, a walled kingdom resting along the old highland roads.
Escorting them were fifty B-rank warriors, elite fighters handpicked for this mission alone.
As they rode their horses across the windswept plains, Master Tangi glanced at Lord Veth and asked, "My lord, do you have a picture of this Arcadian we seek?"
Master Xuero, ever the calm observer, added, "I believe we'll know when we see him."
"We should at least ask for a sketch when we get to the Whoops Kingdom," Master Lui said. "We're not far from there now."
Lord Veth remained silent, eyes forward, still watching everything.
A memory flashed in his mind—the child in his vision.
His jaw tensed. He turned his face away from the others, eyes narrowing.
Master Kiora sat at the back of the group, sharpening her double-edged blades with slow, deliberate strokes.
"Yeah," she muttered. "Let's just get on with this. I'm hungry for some action."
The Gates of Whoops
At the edge of the kingdom, a stationary guard spotted the riders through his long-distance binoculars. His heart skipped.
He instantly fired a signal flare—high into the sky.
Inside the walls of Whoops, warriors began moving.
They took position, armed and alert.
But Lord Plato, ruler of Whoops, was already waiting. He had sensed this visit was coming.
As the council and their escort reached the main gates, the guards got their first real glimpse—Lord Veth and the Council of Chiefs.
No hesitation.
They opened the gates.
The huge mechanical barrier—a fortress system of steel gears and enchanted iron—groaned open with a slow, grinding hiss.
No one was harmed. No resistance was offered.
The Kings rode in.
Their horses matched pace in eerie silence. Markets fell quiet. Merchants froze mid-sale. Children were pulled indoors.
Even high-ranked warriors stepped back in fear.
It wasn't just the council's reputation that made them tremble—it was Veth.
The aura he carried seeped into the bones. Heavy. Cold. Unrelenting.
They rode straight through the heart of the city.
To the steps of the palace.
Where Lord Plato waited.
He stood tall, armored in silver-gold plating, his cape fluttering behind him. His jaw was clenched, rage held just beneath the surface.
"What is it you want?" he said, voice sharp. No bow. No greeting.
He was the only ruler who didn't respect Lord Veth.
To him, Veth was a reckless youth—too young to hold such power. Too proud. Too dangerous.
Master Xuero stepped forward.
"We heard you have the Arcadian captive," he said. "Give him to us, and your people will have no reason to regret anything."
Lord Plato's face darkened.
"Is that a threat?" he barked. "Are you all here to stir trouble in my kingdom?"
"If so, then I suggest you turn around—and leave immediately."
Tension tightened in the air.
The guards braced for conflict.
Veth slowly raised his head.
Then locked eyes with Lord Plato.
Silence fell over the courtyard like a storm cloud.
---
With one wave of his hand, Lord Veth exposed a hidden warrior in disguise—lifting him effortlessly by the neck.
Then, without hesitation, he snapped it.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Gasps of horror rose from the crowd. Fear spread like wildfire. Even the strongest warriors flinched.
Veth stepped down from his carriage, his feet never touching the ground. He levitated forward slowly, eyes locked on Lord Plato.
Beside Plato stood his wife—Empress Soren, the second ruler of Whoops.
"You," Veth growled, "of all the masters… are the only one who does not fear me."
Their eyes met. No words. Just heat—rage locked behind unblinking stares.
Neither blinked. Neither bowed.
"I've had you in mind for years," Veth continued coldly. "But today… today is the day you learn fear. And respect."
Plato's fists clenched.
Veth slowly raised his hand and pointed toward Empress Soren. A shadowed aura surged from his palm, snaking toward her. It wrapped around her head like smoke—tightening.
She gasped.
Clutched her throat.
Choked.
The crowd screamed in panic. "Empress Soren!"
Plato moved—ready to strike—but the Council of Chiefs instantly floated upward, surrounding him with power bristling at their fingertips.
Veth wagged a finger.
"Ah-ah-ah," he said with a smirk. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Plato roared, "Let go of her. Immediately!"
But Veth only stared—tightening the aura's grip. Empress Soren collapsed to her knees, struggling to breathe.
Plato's chest rose and fell rapidly, his fury building.
Veth's voice rose like a blade:
"I'm only going to ask this once. Where… is… the Arcadian?!"
Plato looked at his people—every head bowed in fear and disappointment. His pride cracked.
Then, without warning, he snapped.
With a shout of pure rage, he released a blast of purple aura, striking Veth squarely in the chest—sending him spinning through the air like a meteor.
War had begun.
---
Chaos Unleashed
The Council of Chiefs turned to Plato—shocked, then furious.
"You're dead!" Master Tangi roared.
He launched forward, fist blazing with energy. But before he reached Plato, a B-rank warrior materialized from thin air, intercepting the strike.
BOOM!
The warrior's punch knocked Tangi across the square, protecting his lord.
From the crowd, hidden warriors—dressed as merchants and civilians—exploded into action, attacking the council and their fifty guards.
Steel met steel. Magic tore the air apart.
Plato knelt beside his wife, lifting her gently. "Are you okay, my love?"
Empress Soren rubbed her neck, her breath shallow. "I'm fine," she whispered. "But we must fight. Even if we can't win… I must strike back at Veth for what he did."
The kingdom of Whoops descended into madness.
Veth rose slowly, his face bleeding, his eyes locked on Plato with deadly calm.
He smiled.
The two lords took to the skies.
They clashed mid-air, fists colliding in a shockwave that leveled nearby buildings.
Yet neither flinched.
Their arms locked.
Power surged between them.
Plato gritted his teeth. "I would rather watch this kingdom fall… than let you destroy Arcades a second time."
Veth's grin widened. "Oh, it will fall. And you will watch me destroy Arcades again."
Plato threw a punch.
Veth caught it.
Then slammed a brutal counterpunch into Plato's chest—sending him crashing downward. But Plato flipped mid-air and recovered just before impact.
They launched at each other again, trading blows—punches, spells, elemental blasts. Fists collided with bursts of lightning. Magic scorched the skies.
The city trembled beneath their battle.
---
The Council Strikes
Meanwhile, the Council of Chiefs waged their own bloody war.
Master Tangi—furious—grabbed the warrior who had struck him earlier… and ripped him in half.
Master Xuero carved through opponents like they were paper, his blades moving too fast to follow.
Master Lui fought without killing. She disabled warriors swiftly—breaking limbs, knocking them unconscious—but left no blood behind.
Master Kiora noticed.
She charged in, blades flashing. "Tch. If you're not going to finish them—I will."
She tore through the wounded fighters Lui had
---
More warriors emerged from the shadows, ambushing and cutting down several of the King's soldiers with brutal precision.
But it still wasn't enough to bring down the Council of Chiefs.
Above the chaos, Lord Veth was dominating his battle against Lord Plato. Each strike from Veth was heavier, each spell more devastating.
"Look around you," Veth said coldly, walking slowly toward the defeated ruler. "Why lose your kingdom… for just one Arcadian?"
Lord Plato coughed, crawling backward through shattered stones and ash, the weight of his failure sinking in. Hope seemed distant—until something behind Veth caught his eye.
A golden blur.
Empress Soren.
She soared toward Veth like a meteor, her golden power staff glowing fiercely.
"No…" Plato muttered, a defiant smirk returning to his bruised lips. "I think you should be the one to look around you."
Before Veth could turn—CRACK!
Soren's staff struck him brutally across the skull.
BOOM.
Veth went flying through the air and crashed into a stone wall, shaking the earth with impact.
"I told you I'd get back at you," she growled, then knelt beside her husband and helped him to his feet.
The other masters rushed to Veth's aid, lifting him up from the rubble.
The Council of Chiefs stood behind them, weapons drawn, a storm of rage brewing.
Veth wiped the blood from his face… and smiled darkly.
Then, lifting his hand, he summoned a dragon—a monstrous beast forged from swirling black aura and shadows. The creature roared, its wings spread wide over the battlefield, casting a long shadow of dread.
Veth pointed toward Empress Soren.
The dragon responded immediately, and the other masters charged with it—all focused on her.
Plato's eyes widened in shock.
"No... not her..."
He hadn't realized they all wanted her life.
With burning resolve, he and Soren charged together—flames of aura igniting around them.
---
Five vs. Two
The air cracked as they clashed—Lord Plato and Empress Soren fighting side by side against four masters and the monstrous dragon. Though Veth didn't engage directly, his dark creation made it five-on-two.
Empress Soren fought with rage and precision—her speed blinding. Even Master Xuero, known for his reflexes, struggled to keep up.
She dodged effortlessly, countered with power, and struck like lightning.
Lord Plato, in contrast, fought with raw strength. His punches shattered shields. His roars shook the air.
They landed blow after blow, forcing the enemy back.
Master Kiora fell first—struck down by Plato's fiery aura.
Master Xuero soon followed, caught in the arc of Soren's staff and slammed through the bones of a crumbling building.
But the dragon was relentless.
Its shadow overwhelmed them, and through its distraction, Master Tangi landed a crushing blow to Plato's side—sending him crashing to the ground, dazed.
Soren turned to help—but it was a mistake.
Veth saw the opening.
With a flicker, he glitched through space—appearing directly in front of her.
Then—stabbed his fist into her stomach.
Blood poured from her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock.
"No…" she whispered.
He raised her off the ground, still impaled on his arm.
"Lui," Veth commanded coldly. "Finish it."
Master Lui stepped forward, blade in hand.
Empress Soren choked on her own blood, eyes pleading.
"No… no… don't do it…"
Her voice was weak. Broken. But her spirit still burned.
Lui hesitated—then clenched her teeth.
With one clean motion—she severed her head.
The crowd gasped.
Blood sprayed across the stone like paint on a canvas of death.
Lord Plato screamed, "NO!!!"
His eyes glowed bright purple.
The ground trembled as he levitated, aura raging around him like a storm.
"You've gone TOO FAR, Veth!" he shouted. "This is your END!"
Veth simply smiled.
Then unleashed his darkest magic.
The sky twisted. The moon rose in broad daylight. Dark runes pulsed in the air.
He began absorbing Plato's mana—ripping it from his body like smoke.
Plato gasped, weakened, his power drained before he could strike.
He collapsed to the ground in pain, his wife's blood still warm on the soil beside him.
---
The Signature of Conquest
Veth walked toward him slowly.
"Now you have watched your kingdom fall," he said. "Soon, I will find the Arcadian. I will bring doom to him as well."
"And then… I will take my place among the gods."
Plato coughed blood, glaring up. "You… will never… be a god."
Master Tangi stepped forward, ready to finish Plato—but Veth raised a hand.
"No. Let him live," he said. "He still has a kingdom to rule."
Tangi stepped back without a word.
Veth knelt beside the broken lord and whispered into his ear:
"Let this be a lesson—to you, and anyone who thinks they can stop me… from becoming the Overlord."
Plato spat in his face.
Veth did nothing.
He had already won.
He had already read Plato's mind.
"The Arcadian…" he said aloud, "is on his way to the next kingdom."
The Council of Chiefs gathered, stepping into their carriages.
They left behind blood and bone—a broken kingdom—a battlefield soaked in sorrow.
The Kingdom of Whoops had fallen.
The Kings rode with joy in their minds.
To them they have gained a lot, to the Whoops they lost a lot.
Their next stop according to the Circle...
Was Thruans.
---