Journey to Become the Zenith

The First Piece Falls

The sun slowly descended beyond the walls of New Fantom City, bathing the city in a crimson glow.

The cheers in the town square gradually settled into hopeful conversations.

For the first time since the undead invasion, people were speaking of tomorrow instead of mourning yesterday.

Children cautiously stepped out from behind their parents.

Merchants reopened damaged stalls.

Knights helped clear broken wagons from the streets.

Life was slowly returning.

...

Standing atop the makeshift platform, Eon looked over the countless citizens.

Only hours ago, these people had been strangers.

Now every pair of eyes carried hope as they looked toward him.

He quietly clenched his fists.

Victor...

You’ve entrusted me with something far greater than a throne.

I can’t fail.

Not after everything Victor had done for him.

Not after everyone who had sacrificed their lives.

He silently vowed that he would become the ruler these people deserved.

...

Nearby, Videl watched Victor from a distance.

Her sapphire-blue eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.

Her heart still wanted to stand beside him.

She loved him more deeply than anyone could imagine.

Yet every decision he made seemed to lead him farther down a path stained with blood.

She remembered his words.

"I believe this is the right thing to do."

She wanted to believe him.

She truly did.

But every time she recalled the grieving families wandering the streets...

Every time she remembered her fallen friends...

The Hero’s heart within her refused to stay silent.

She lowered her gaze.

Please...

Don’t make me choose between the hero I want to become... and the man I love.

...

A short distance away, Max remained where he stood.

He watched Victor speaking calmly with Ramona Redcliffe, Brinda, and the others.

The old knight slowly exhaled.

"The game has already begun..."

One of the academy instructors stepped beside him.

"Sir Max... what will happen now?"

Max answered without taking his eyes off Victor.

"The kingdom will respond."

"The nobles will resist."

"Powerful people hidden throughout Skyfall Kingdom will begin moving."

He paused briefly.

"And at the center of all of it..."

"...stands one young man."

The instructor followed Max’s gaze.

Victor stood calmly beneath the evening sky.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of panic on his face.

It was as if he had expected every consequence from the very beginning.

Max couldn’t help smiling bitterly.

"I only hope..."

"...that when this storm finally ends..."

"...there will still be a kingdom left to protect."

...

Not far away, Victor quietly observed the bustling city.

His golden eyes reflected countless people rebuilding their lives.

His expression remained calm, yet his thoughts moved far ahead of everyone else’s.

The first step is complete.

New Fantom City has been born.

Soon the royal court will hear of today’s events.

Then the real battle will begin.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Not one born from cruelty...

Nor from arrogance...

But from anticipation.

Every obstacle waiting ahead...

Every powerful enemy preparing to move...

Every challenge that sought to stop him...

All of it made his blood stir.

He welcomed them.

Because only by facing powerful opponents could he continue walking toward the peak.

Above him, the evening wind carried away the fading echoes of the citizens’ cheers.

Below, the first lights of New Fantom City began to illuminate the streets.

A new era had quietly taken its first step.

And no one yet realized that the fate of the entire Skyfall Kingdom had already begun to change.

Victor was just about to move on to the next phase of his plan when Brinda hurried toward him. The seductive smile she usually wore had completely disappeared, replaced by an expression of unmistakable worry.

Victor immediately noticed the change.

His golden eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" he asked calmly.

Brinda hesitated for a heartbeat before forcing the words out.

"Gian’s dead!"

Victor froze.

"What happened?!"

The words escaped almost instinctively.

It had been over a month since he had last received any report from Gian. He had expected the assassin to continue observing the situation around Kanal Village in secret.

Now...

He was dead.

A cold realization flashed across Victor’s mind.

I underestimated the Marquis governing my village...

His expression darkened.

Then another thought struck him.

"Wait... how do you know Gian’s dead?"

Without saying another word, Brinda carefully handed him a small wooden package wrapped in dark cloth.

Victor slowly untied the bindings.

The moment he lifted the lid...

Silence fell around them.

Inside lay Gian’s severed head.

His eyes were closed peacefully, but dried blood still stained his hair.

Resting beside it was a folded note.

Victor unfolded it.

Only a single sentence was written across the paper.

"Here’s your pet mouse."

For one brief second...

An overwhelming killing intent erupted from Victor.

The air around him became unbearably heavy.

Everyone nearby instinctively stopped breathing.

Even Brinda felt her heart skip a beat.

The murderous pressure disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Victor slowly closed his eyes before opening them again.

His expression became frighteningly calm.

He looked directly at Brinda.

"Tell me..."

"Who sent this?"

His voice was quiet.

Controlled.

Yet somehow even more terrifying than his earlier outburst.

Brinda unconsciously lowered her head.

"We... don’t know..."

Victor’s fingers tightened around the wooden box.

For a brief moment, it looked as though another explosion of anger would erupt.

Instead...

He exhaled slowly.

"You don’t know?"

His voice remained low.

"We have the entire city under our control."

"We have men stationed at every exit."

"I even placed Lane on patrol while putting you in command."

"And you’re telling me..."

"...you don’t know how the head of a dead assassin entered the city?"

He never raised his voice.

That made every word far heavier.

Brinda felt as though the weight of a mountain had settled onto her shoulders.

Unable to endure the pressure any longer, she immediately dropped to one knee.

She lowered her head until it nearly touched the ground.

"I’m sorry... please forgive me!"

The woman once feared throughout the underworld as the Witch...

The woman countless enemies dreaded to face...

Now trembled before Victor, unable to lift her head.

Victor silently stared at her for several long moments.

His expression remained unreadable.

Then...

A smile slowly spread across his face.

A smile Brinda knew all too well.

Victor suddenly laughed.

"Hahaha..."

His laughter wasn’t born from amusement.

It came from excitement.

Brinda cautiously raised her head.

Victor’s golden eyes were shining with anticipation.

"It would seem..."

"...a new player has joined the game."

His smile widened.

"How exciting."

"I hope he’s strong."

"I hope he can give me the satisfaction of a truly worthy battle."

He gently closed the wooden box containing Gian’s head before looking toward the distant horizon.

"Just after Alibaba..."

"...another powerful enemy appears."

Victor’s smile became almost boyish despite the dangerous glint in his eyes.

"This..."

"...is exhilarating."

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