CHAPTER 75: THE END IS NOW CLOSE

A boy said, "It's just outside town. It appeared recently."

Ari stepped forward. "Can you show us?"

The group followed the child. Silver gave quick orders to the CA members to escort the Royal Army soldiers—both dead and alive—back to headquarters for the council. Gray, Silver, and Jack followed the others to the mysterious pillar.

At the site, the group stared at a massive stone monolith, etched with glowing ancient runes. Ari was already reading the text.

Silver frowned. "I… can't understand these."

Imperial approached. "What does it say?"

Ari replied solemnly, "The end is now close."

Tracey shuddered. "That's ominous."

Dawn took Imperial's notebook and began scanning the transcription. Imperial snatched it back, his face fierce.

"We're friends, but don't take my things without asking."

Everyone noticed the intensity in his eyes.

Tracey nudged Dawn. "Say sorry."

Dawn muttered, "Sorry."

Silver asked, "This pillar… is it related to your journey?"

Imperial nodded. "Yes. This is what we've been searching for across the empires."

Silver raised an eyebrow. "Why did you leave your family for this?"

Imperial looked at the pillar. "Because… I believe this could lead us to a world where all people—high or low—live in peace."

Gray burst out laughing. "You really believe a rock can change the world? Pathetic. The only thing that brings change is power. Whoever's strongest—that's who decides what happens."

Imperial's eyes narrowed. "You think force brings equality?"

Gray scoffed. "Exactly. If I crush every fool who stands above others, they all kneel the same. Equal under my boot."

Imperial replied, voice sharp, "That's not equality. That's domination through fear."

Gray sneered. "Careful, Highness. That royal title might not stay under your ass much longer."

Tension crackled. Everyone backed away.

Gray raised his guns. "Now that you're healed, let's settle this."

Imperial gripped his sword. "Fine. If I lose, I'll admit you're right. But if I win… you accept that strength alone can't change the world."

Ari shouted, "Stop! This isn't worth fighting over!"

Silver held her back. "It's beyond a fight. It's a clash of beliefs."

Jack teleported the others to a safe distance. The children watched quietly, huddled behind Silver.

Silver whispered, "Watch closely. This is how the world's future is shaped."

As Imperial and Gray faced off, swords against guns, past against future, belief against power—another chapter in the war for the world was about to begin.

The battle began.

Imperial charged toward Gray with his sword, lightning crackling at his heels. Gray, ever composed, spun his handguns smoothly and stood unmoving, calm as a still lake.

Then, in a blink, he aimed at Imperial's leg.

A sharp gunfire cracked the air.

But Imperial vanished in a flash of light — Lightning Walk. The bullet missed as Imperial reappeared almost directly in front of Gray.

Imperial brought down his sword, aiming for a clean strike. But just as the blade was about to connect, a ripple of invisible force hurled him back violently.

Gray's Mirror Magic.

Imperial rolled and recovered, panting slightly.

"His defense... It's not going to be an easy task," Imperial muttered. "He's already thinking ten steps ahead. I need to do the same."

Without hesitation, he raised his hand.

"Lightning Magic: Arc Vault!"

A crackling arc of lightning burst forth and raced toward Gray. With a swift jump, Gray dodged — exactly as Imperial had anticipated.

Imperial appeared in front of him again in a blink.

Gray, prepared this time, fired. The bullet hit Imperial's right hand, just above the wrist. Imperial recoiled, sword slipping from his weakened grip.

Imperial narrowed his eyes. "He's reading me too well. I need to prepare for any of his counters... I can't keep playing checkers when he's playing chess."

He took a breath.

"Storm Step — Quad Phase!"

Four versions of Imperial appeared, all charging Gray from different angles. One of them, bleeding from the right hand, was clearly the real one. Gray locked onto him immediately and prepared to fire.

But just as he pulled the trigger, that version vanished.

"Behind me," Gray muttered, turning instantly and firing again.

But the bullet passed through — a clone.

From the front —

"Flashpoint Impact!"

A thunderous strike collided with Gray, sending jolts of electricity through his body. For the first time in the battle, Gray staggered.

Sparks danced around him as he dropped to one knee, muscles twitching.

Imperial walked forward. "Now we're on the same page. You were one step ahead. But now your body... it's slower to respond. Your mind may plan, but your limbs won't obey."

Gray hissed through gritted teeth. "But... I saw you. I was sure it was the real you."

Imperial didn't wait.

With his injured right hand unusable, he struck with his left — an Impact Strike straight to Gray's gut.

Gray doubled over, gasping. He raised his gun and fired in desperation.

Sparks sizzled in the air as Imperial dashed back, narrowly avoiding another shot that tore through the ground where he stood just a second ago.

Gray exhaled slowly, smoke rising from the barrels of his pistols. His expression remained unreadable, but there was a faint crease of focus on his brow.

He vanished—Lightning Walk—then reappeared to Gray's right and hurled a bolt from point-blank range.

Gray twisted mid-dodge, one gun snapping upward and firing.

The bolt missed.

So did the bullet.

Both staggered slightly, off-balance, their tempo disrupted.

Imperial moved first—charging low, zigzagging erratically, lightning flashing with each step. Gray fired again and again, trying to read him, but the patterns kept changing. One shot grazed Imperial's leg, making him wince, but he didn't stop.

He slammed his palm into the ground.

"Lightning Field!"

Arcs of unstable lightning surged outward in a chaotic burst. The stone beneath them cracked, and electricity danced unpredictably, forming a volatile arena around them.

Gray leapt back, then rolled—just in time to avoid a bolt that shattered the wall behind him.

Imperial followed up—throwing his body into an aerial spin kick, lightning coating his leg.

Gray ducked, one gun rising just as Imperial landed. He fired.

Direct hit.

The bullet clipped Imperial's shoulder—spinning him off course. He crashed into the ground with a grunt, rolling across the shattered stone.

Blood dripped from his sleeve. His breath grew heavier.

Gray stood straight again, guns still smoking. "You're fast, but you burn out quick."

Imperial smirked, staggering to his feet. "You're fast... but you're running out of tricks."

Then imperial grabbed his sword with both hands, barely managing to grip with his injured hand, and shouted:

"Lightning Magic: Thunder Clap!"

He dashed forward, lightning bursting around him in every direction.

He swung — a blow aimed to finish it.

And then —

CLANG.

Two swords met his blade, stopping it inches from Gray's neck.

From afar, Silver and Jack gasped.

"He drew them..." Silver whispered. "He really drew his swords."

Tracey blinked. "I always thought those were decorative. I've only ever seen him use guns. He's a shadow assassin — those swords were probably just for execution-style flair."

"No," Silver said firmly. "This... this is the second time in his life he's unsheathed them."

Ari frowned. "What does that mean?"