chapter 56

The onlookers stood frozen, helpless, as Serenity raised her sword to behead Ruri. "Stop!" Xxv roared, his voice raw with desperation.

But before the blade could strike, Serenity froze, shock flickering across her face. Clutching her head, she seemed to recall something critical. "Tch, I didn't expect this. You're too bold, human," she hissed, her tone laced with fury and dread.

Without warning, she sprinted toward the giant tombstone, leaping into its magic circle. "Damn you, human! I'll kill you!" she snarled. Her undead army followed, vanishing into the circle.

The Eskapa soldiers and Sandata stared in disbelief, the silence deafening. For nearly a minute, no one spoke, reeling from the unprecedented retreat. They had no clue why Serenity fled, but Ruri and Xxv were safe—for now—as her forces abandoned the floor.

"What happened? Why did they leave?" a soldier stammered.

"Are they retreating?" another asked.

Reports flooded in: the undead were withdrawing across all floors, returning to their magic circles. "What's Serenity planning? Why pull back her forces?" Kyroz wondered aloud.

"I don't care!" Pyun snapped. "Find a way to get inside the tower and save our people!"

As chaos erupted, a soldier's voice crackled over the comms. "Commander Yuki, we have a message from a soldier—it's for Commander Ruri."

"Patch it through," Yuki ordered.

The soldier's voice, ragged and gasping, came through. "Commander Ruri, we succeeded… we got the human to the first floor. But… we won't make it back. The undead are swarming, blocking the exits. Forgive us, Lady Ruri. Thank you… for everything."

Screams of battle echoed in the background before the signal cut out. Pyun demanded visuals of the first floor, but the soldiers apologized—their equipment there was destroyed, leaving no insight into the events below.

"Does this mean Serenity went to the first floor with her minions?" Yuki mused, piecing it together. She realized Nathaniel's plan might be working, though they didn't know how. A spark of hope flickered, but Pyun wasn't convinced.

"This isn't time to celebrate," she growled. "We haven't saved anyone, and do you really think that human can do anything against Serenity's true body?"

"Maybe," Kyroz said cautiously. "It's better than nothing, right?"

---

Meanwhile, on the first floor, Nathaniel stood alone amidst a sea of undead, clutching the sleeping form of Serenity's true body. Around him lay the lifeless bodies of Ruri's soldiers, who had sacrificed themselves to get him there. Steps away stood the Serenity who had fought Ruri and Xxv, her eyes blazing with rage.

"You insolent human!" she roared.

"Stay back!" Nathaniel warned, gripping Serenity's true body, his hand poised to remove her crown. "One step closer, and you'll regret it."

"You'll pay dearly if you go through with this," she spat, trembling with fury.

Nathaniel laughed, undaunted. "I'm not afraid of your threats." He revealed he knew the secret of her crimson item: it bound her soul to her undead body. Removing the crown would release her soul, killing her permanently.

Serenity's eyes burned with disbelief and fury. A mere human had outmaneuvered her. Sensing her intent to reclaim her body, Nathaniel urged her to stay calm and listen. "I know you're plotting to take this body back, but you can't—not when I know the limits of your power."

Silence fell as Serenity fought to compose herself. "Did you learn my weakness through your foresight?" she asked, her voice tight.

Nathaniel smirked. "Not just the future. I know your past and who you truly are."

"What do you mean?" she demanded.

"I could end you right now by pulling this crown," he said. "But I want to make a deal."

Serenity laughed, mocking his audacity to negotiate with a warlord. "A deal? With me?"

"Not with Warlord Serenity," he replied. "With Penelope."

Her laughter died, her old name striking a chord. She lowered her fishing rod, sighing. "Fine, I surrender. What do you want, boy?"

"In one year, you'll die at the hands of the tenth warlord. That's your fate. I want to help you change it."

Serenity's confusion deepened. "You plan to join the Eskapa, don't you? I'm their enemy, so why help me?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "I'm not sure myself, but I think you need my help." He clarified he wasn't aligned with any faction, acting only on what he believed was right. Joining the Eskapa was a necessity for survival, not loyalty, as he had no home or means.

He continued, "I don't care about a butcher like you going to hell. But this isn't about Warlord Serenity. It's about Princess Penelope of Askobar—the kind, innocent girl."

Serenity sighed, unmoved. "That princess died long ago. You're facing a warlord now. What can a human offer me, someone who's gained wealth, power, and fame?"

"You have everything Endoryo desires," Nathaniel admitted. "But I can offer what you once dreamed of—a forgotten dream you'll never reclaim if you let this chance slip." He extended his hand. "Will you listen?"

---

Ten minutes later, Eskapa soldiers breached the tower through transportation portals opened by Ruri's surviving team. They rescued the wounded, including Xxv and Ruri. The four Sandata soon arrived at the first floor, but found it empty—no Serenity, no undead, no Nathaniel. They puzzled over why Serenity had fled mid-battle.

"Commander, we detected strong dark magic traces in the northern sector," a soldier reported. "It's likely from a transportation portal leaving the tower."

"They made their own portal inside?" Yuki asked, incredulous.

"It's unheard of," Rei replied, "but she's a warlord. It's not impossible."

Hours later, the Eskapa halted the tournament, returning to their bases to plan their next moves. The next day, news of the tower incident spread across the Eskapa. By the following day, Endoryo reeled as Serenity's name vanished from the list of nine warlords, with no explanation.

Even more shocking, Nathaniel was declared the new ruler of Serenity's thirty-plus territories. Yet, no trace of him surfaced after the event, stirring unrest across the regions.

---

Three days later, Nathaniel sat in a creaking carriage, bouncing along a dusty road. "How long until we reach Galica?" he asked the driver.

"Boy, no matter how many times you ask, it won't speed us up. One more day," the driver replied.

Nathaniel sighed, grumbling about Serenity dragging him to a remote forest. Melon, his companion, emerged from his hood, perching on his head. "You didn't have to make that deal with Serenity or reveal your foresight," she said.

"You think I didn't consider that?" Nathaniel shot back. "I'm just a human. Would they listen to me without proof of my special ability? Painful as it is, I'm an insect to them. Showing my power makes them take me seriously."

Melon sighed, warning him to brace for the consequences. "People think you defeated Serenity. That's why she gave you her territories. You might gain respect, but…"

"Isn't that good?" Nathaniel interrupted. "She handed me her lands, and maybe others will respect me now."

Melon shook her head, explaining Endoryo's ruthless dynamics. Without Serenity's protection, her territories were vulnerable. As a human ruler, Nathaniel faced threats from those eager to seize the lands, potentially sparking wars costing countless lives.

"What? You're joking, right?" Nathaniel said, alarmed.

"I don't care about their lives," Melon clarified. "I'm telling you this because it ties to your mission to prevent war."

She urged him to think carefully, as his actions could cost many lives. Nathaniel grew frustrated. "You're saying their safety is my responsibility now? Serenity just dumped those lands on me! Even if I go there, what can I do?"

"What if I ask the Eskapa for help to protect her nations?" he suggested.

Melon warned, "That'll hasten the Great War. Other warlords won't let the Eskapa expand so easily. They'll move to counter their growing military power, starting a massive conflict."

"But won't the warlords just conquer her lands anyway?" Nathaniel argued.

"Yes, but not as catastrophic as if all warlords join the fray," Melon replied. "You have months before her territories are fully overtaken. Use that time to find a solution."

Nathaniel groaned, overwhelmed by politics and war. Melon reminded him he could ignore it, but his choices had consequences, and he couldn't complain about the fallout of his own actions.

"You're guilting me," he said. "I've got Suwi's imprisonment to deal with. I can't abandon her."

Melon retreated into his hood. "Do as you wish. My job is to help, not stop you."

"This is too complicated," Nathaniel muttered. "Why is this happening to me?"

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