Chapter 19

"At first, I also believed he was my best friend. We were so close that I even considered him my brother... until the day he revealed his true nature," said Grandpa Erwin.

"What do you mean?" asked Aslan, confused.

"Around a hundred years ago, that bastard was given a mission by the Emperor to assist the Kingdom of Valdoria in capturing the strongest fighter alive. Realizing he couldn't handle it, he came to me for help—to carry out the mission the empire had entrusted to him. Out of brotherhood, I agreed to help. After all, the one dubbed 'the strongest of all time' was a heartless criminal who had killed many without mercy."

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Erwin's Flashback

The one known as the strongest was very popular back then. No one knew his name or face, as he always wore a mask and never revealed his rank.

He never showed fear—no matter how strong his opponents were. He once even pulled a knife on a king in his own kingdom over a trivial matter.

People feared him not just because he was powerful, but because he was reckless and impulsive. Some even called him a mad criminal.

At the time, hundreds of thousands of fighters gathered. Other kingdoms secretly sent reinforcements, and five of the top ten strongest warriors also came—just to capture that one man.

Initially, we thought it was excessive. Sure, he was strong, and there were many rumors about him, but deploying that many troops felt like overkill.

When we surrounded him, he shouted. He warned that he would kill anyone who stayed and urged anyone who didn't want to die to leave immediately. The fighters around him just laughed and mocked him, thinking he was afraid and trying to scare people off. I thought the same—it seemed like nonsense.

But we were completely wrong.

As he stood, a red wall appeared, trapping us inside. The wall formed a dome, about four kilometers in diameter.

Then the slaughter began. He tore through the army with terrifying speed. Explosions and screams echoed everywhere. People tried to escape, but the wall was impenetrable. Even we—the five strongest among the top ten—attacked him together, but we still couldn't defeat him. After a full day and night, we were wiped out. Only I remained.

Slowly, he walked toward me, staring coldly through his mask.

"Am I going to die today?" I was terrified. But that fear quickly turned into dread.

"What will happen to my wife and child if I die? My son is only 17 and still weak. Can they survive in this cruel world? Will my enemies attack them?"

I was overwhelmed by worry.

Trembling, I knelt before him. I begged for my life. I ignored my pride—I just bowed and pleaded.

"Please, spare me. I have a wife and child… and many enemies. If I die now, they won't survive." But he didn't respond.

My heart pounded wildly. "How foolish of me… begging for mercy from the very criminal I was sent to capture. This is hopeless," I thought.

Then he spoke.

"Go."

I was shocked by his answer, but I quickly responded, "Thank you. One day, I swear I'll repay your kindness."

Fortunately, he let me go.

The red dome vanished—along with him. Outside, everything was normal. The battle that shook the world inside the dome hadn't affected the outside at all.

I returned home, covered in wounds. But when I reached my city, I was met with a horrifying sight. My entire city had been reduced to rubble. I rushed to my estate, only to find that bastard's soldiers—Peter's men—were already there.

I screamed, demanding to know what had happened. Then that bastard stepped out from among the troops.

"Brother, what happened here? Who did this?" I asked.

"Well, well, well... Who would've thought the great hero survived."

"What do you mean by 'who would've thought'?" I was completely confused.

"The Emperor knew the Valdoria mission would fail. He investigated and concluded that even if the entire Empire joined the assault, the outcome wouldn't change. So he and I sent you there intentionally—to die."

"WHAT THE HELL DID I DO TO DESERVE YOUR BETRAYAL?!"

"Betray you? Hahahaha, what a ridiculous joke. We were never on the same side. I've always wanted to destroy you. But you were useful, so I kept you around. The moment you gained the ability to awaken others' Tors energy, you became a threat. That kind of power would disrupt the world's balance."

"You're afraid commoners would rise up against you?"

"I won't deny it."

"I'm truly disappointed. I saw you as a brother, and this is how you repay me?"

"So what? What are you going to do about it? Look at you—you're covered in wounds. I wouldn't even need a sharpened blade to kill you. You say I disappoint you? Let me give you a parting gift," Peter said, signaling a soldier.

Soon after, two severed heads were thrown to the ground.

My heart shattered instantly. I couldn't breathe when I saw the lifeless heads of my wife and son—separated from their bodies.

Rage consumed me. "I'll kill you, you bastard!" I screamed in fury.

"Kill him," Peter ordered.

All the soldiers charged at me at once.

I fought them alone. Every time I used Tors energy, pain shot through my body—but I didn't care. Eventually, I regained my focus. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't survive in that condition.

I had no choice but to retreat and return when I was stronger. But it wasn't easy. I had to flee into a gray zone—and that's how my story ended up here.

"My arm was destroyed after that. My body never fully recovered. In fact, I've aged faster than I should have. I nearly lost all hope—until you showed up. I'll teach you everything I know until you're strong enough to leave this place… and you'll avenge me in return. Isn't that the best deal?" Grandpa Erwin said after sharing his story.

"Alright. I'll be your student. When will you start teaching me?" asked Aslan.

"Who said you're my student already? Didn't I say if you changed your mind, you'd have to kneel and beg to become my disciple? Hahahaha!" Grandpa Erwin laughed.

To be continued…