The Painful Battle

A tension-filled and very serious tone resonated within all the soldier's hearts, as the man before them was none other than Lazarus, and he was not in the mood for jokes or games. His eyes reflected fiery rage, and his facial expression resembled that of a ravenous beast. With magnificent speed, he leaped at the 10,000 soldiers, intent on slaughtering them as if they were no more than ordinary citizens.

Before launching his attack, Lazarus spoke with a deadly tone, "You dared to lay hands on my beloved sister, huh? Your good days are finished; don't worry, I won't send you to hell. Instead, I will create hell right here, right now, you cowards," he declared, moving with incredible swiftness, slicing their arms, legs, and heads as if they were loaves of bread and discarding their body parts like refuse.

"The rampage has just begun," he announced, leaping over one soldier's head and decapitating him with his sharp daggers. Witnessing this fierce display, the other soldiers began to flee. One of Lazarus' eyes turned into a red flash; his aura burst forth with all his fury, and he sprinted once more, jumping from one to the next and slaughtering them with a wicked grin on his face. Then he yelled loudly, "Where are you cowards running? Stop this nonsense; you aren't getting rid of me this easily!"

He unleashed his full power, and in the blink of an eye, he once again stood before all the soldiers, proclaiming, "No one is leaving here alive; each and every one of you will die today."

After uttering these words, a massive spark of flame erupted behind all the soldiers, causing those left to move aside. Someone approached Lazarus. A towering soldier donned in a metallic helmet, his right eye glowing with a red flame, rode a horse that had eyes shaped like red eclipses. Lazarus understood that not only humans but other creatures were also under mind control. The sound of hoofbeats closed in, and the soldier was revealed to be their general, Sir Asgard, who, without removing his helmet, did something peculiar: he threw his sword and shield far away and challenged Lazarus to hand-to-hand combat.

Lazarus recognized sign language and understood that those whose minds were manipulated lost their senses, memories, and ability to communicate. With a voice filled with sorrow and regret, Lazarus responded, "I know it's not your fault; you tried to resist, and so did your soldiers." He paused before speaking again in a quieter tone, "Not every tale is destined for a happy ending."

He took another moment and shouted, "This is it for our fated soldiers, and to make it look simple, I will end your life right here!" With a deeply regretful expression, he thought to himself, Never imagined I would find myself fighting against my own people in a life-and-death battle.

Then he leaned toward Asgard, facing him head-on, and declared, "I accept your challenge."

Asgard's eyes showed pain as well, and he nodded seriously. Both stood face-to-face, locking eyes with murderous intent to end each other's lives, their flames flaring like a volcanic eruption, while the atmosphere turned cold and tense once more.

Meanwhile, a few remaining civilians were still combating the natural disasters unleashed by Mikael and Darius. Some shouted in agony due to their wounds, while others were seen caught in a struggle between life and death. A few were crushed by towering buildings, some burned alive, and others were devoured by strange, unnatural creatures. Though some fought back with their limited knowledge of magic and sword mastery, it simply wasn't enough, and others were seen jumping over walls in hopes of escape, only to be found dead.

The sight of corpses scattered outside the walls and within the kingdom was horrifying, appearing more gruesome than a graveyard, accompanied by the loudest screams and cries. A few called for help, but hope had long since vanished; the only fate remaining for them was to be slaughtered and face a painful, disastrous end.

Far out at sea, thousands of large ships advanced, and once again, Lefu gazed at the fog with a chilling smile, for he could see the mist lifting, revealing large flames throughout the land. He could hear the cries of the people from this distance and instructed the ship captain to hurry, saying in a colder tone, "I can't wait to witness their beautiful reactions, and Darius, I have a very special gift for him."

Lazarus and Asgard stood motionless, both aware that this fight would be unlike any they had ever faced before. The ground trembled beneath them as the chaos of war raged around them. Lazarus flexed his fingers, gripping his daggers tightly, while Asgard clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking under the pressure.

Asgard was once a proud and noble warrior, a man Lazarus had respected deeply. But now, the red glow in his eyes confirmed his mind had been enslaved. Despite this, Lazarus could see fragments of his old comrade buried beneath the corruption.

The wind howled, and the flames surrounding them danced violently. Without warning, Asgard charged forward, his movements swift and precise. Lazarus barely had time to react before Asgard's fist came crashing toward him. He dodged just in time, feeling the wind of the attack rush past his face.

The battle began with a flurry of punches and counterattacks. Lazarus ducked and weaved, using his agility to his advantage, while Asgard relied on sheer brute force. Each strike echoed through the battlefield like thunder, the sheer force of their blows sending shockwaves through the ground.

As they fought, Lazarus could feel the weight of his emotions growing heavier. He was fighting not just for revenge, but for justice. He had to put an end to this madness, even if it meant killing a man he once considered a brother.

Suddenly, Asgard caught Lazarus off guard, delivering a powerful punch to his stomach that sent him flying backward. He crashed into the ground, coughing up blood. But he refused to stay down. With a fierce growl, he wiped his mouth and stood once more.

"I will free you from this torment," Lazarus whispered before launching himself at Asgard again.

Their battle continued for what felt like an eternity, neither willing to back down. The sky above them darkened, and the fires burned hotter. Meanwhile, the civilians who had managed to hide were watching from the shadows, hoping—praying—that Lazarus would be their salvation.

Back at sea, Lefu watched eagerly as the destruction unfolded. His lips curled into a smirk as he murmured, "Let the kingdom fall."

The final battle had begun.