Chapter 117 - 117: Death Of The King / End Of Volume 1.

Blood began to spurt out from the King's mouth he spat out his teeth as Gray had broken them. A smile could be seen on his face as if he was challenging gray to do worse.

Upon seeing it Gray felt even more compelled to keep going.

Gray punched and punched, letting it all out in the process. His anger, his hatred.

His remaining hand was completely broken, but he kept going without stop.

...

When he came to it, the dimension cube had shattered, he was back inside the original cube with everyone.

They all watched as he relentlessly beat the horned one.

Ruby watched with a pained expression. It was her father… But at the same time... That man was no longer the father she once knew.

She covered her ears and clenched her chest trying to convince herself that it was for the best.

As he came back to his senses, Gray stopped before maki n his way over to the dimensional spear which was lying on the deck.

He picked it up and returned back to the king who laid motionless on the floor.

The king stretched his arm out towards Ruby before smiling.

"Lead them well... Ruby... I'm sorry..."

Ruby closed her eyes and hung her head. Tears could be seen flowing down her face despite her trying to hide it.

*Slash!*

The King's head was suddenly sliced off cleanly by the spear. 

[You have slained a Level 6 Horned King.]

[You have received 300 XP!]

[XP Required to Level up: 510/1000]

The dark dimensional cube around them suddenly began to crack, starting from the top.

A bright golden light suddenly burst towards the sky. 

All the fighting which was going on in the naval fleets around seemed to temporarily stop as they looked towards the light.

The horned ones instantly recognises what the light meant.

Their king was slain.

Upon seeing it, the horned ones stopped fighting. 

One by one, they began surrendering. This included the nobles. 

The president and the corps executive who watched from their rooms couldn't believe it.

[Squad King, does that light mean what I think it means?] The president asked through the communication device.

Delta, Cut, Realm and a fourth who had yet to be identified, all confirmed it with their own eyes.

They were standing ahead of the King's fleet.

There they could see, a Gray haired man with a dark spear dispersing from his hand.

He was mounted on top of a decapitated horned one which they could only assume to be the King.

"Yeah, It means exactly what you think it means. The king has been defeated. The horned ones have started to surrender." Replied Delta.

[…Really?! G-Great Job king squad!! Because of you, the USA can finally be saved!] 

"No, it wasn't because of us. Someone beat us to it." She replied.

[By beat you to it, you mean another human defeated the King.]

"Yes… That's exactly the case." Cut replied with a calm demeanour.

-

Gray's figure could be sene, facing the sky above. 

The pattern on his head slowly began to grow and extend out of his head in the form of a crown.

[You have defeated a King.]

[Your Mark Of The King Resonates with The King's soul.]

[Your Mark Of the King Grows, reaching the 2nd Stage.]

A ring suddenly emerged from the mark on Gray's forehead.

The ring fully around his head, linking itself on all sides. 

A pattern grew from the mark on Gray's head, down his body.

A glowing red pattern which resembled ruins. 

He remained still as he stared at the sky.

He tried moving his hand to the pouch to grab the health potion from his pouch but it just wouldn't move.

His whole body was aching.

As he saw the bright blue sky, the shadow which was looming from his face vanished. The mark, ring and ruins also seemed to vanish back into his forehead.

In that instant, he was suddenly stormed by his companions as they leapt at him.

"Gray!!!!" They cried out his name. 

Gray looked down, only to see Violet, Aurora and Ria all in much better health. 

Tears were flowing down their face as they hugged tightly.

"Brother…! Brother..!!" 

Gray could feel his consciousness leaving him from all the pain.

He was pointing at his pouch for them to give him the health potion before the after effects of pause hit him.

But by then it was too late.

Gray suddenly turned his head to the left, before he began to cough out blood.

Now that the mark wasn't active, his body was no longer regenerating the injuries caused by time stop. 

Gray collapsed on to the ground, gesturing them to give him the health potion in his pouch.

"Gray!? It's happening again! He used that move! Lara quick!" Said Aurora.

"Wh-What's happening?!" Ria questioned.

"He's experiencing the aftereffects from using his ability. He should be fine with some healing!" Said Violet. 

She proceeded to hug tightly as Lara cast her healing spell on him. 

"Idiot…" Violet muttered.

"Reckless idiot…" Aurora added with a smile.

"He was reckless and an idiot but… He was really cool…!" Said Ria with a joyful smile. 

The only one who stayed out of it was Ruby.

She had been sitting on her own, her ears covered and her body still trembling.

With the little strength he had gotten from Lara's healing, he drank the healing potion, instantly feeling better before getting up and heading towards her.

"Let me talk to her for a bit…" He muttered.

"I think that's a bad idea… You just killed her father after all." Said Kylo.

"I can't just do nothing.." 

He picked up his severed arm on the way and placed it over where it had been severed before drinking a bit more of the potion.

Severed limb began to reattach itself as a bit of smoke was let off. 

Upon reaching her, they all watched as he kneeled down in front of her.

"I'm sorry. If you're infuriated… Punch me… Stab me… Kick me… Do anything you want to take out your anger on me… After that, let's go save your planet, like you asked of me."

Upon hearing this, Ruby's ear twitched. 

She raised her head, showing her swollen eyes and red nose.

Her eyes sparkled as they opened, a little bit of snot could be seen heading down her nose as she gulped.

She shook her head, before saying. "It's alright… I don't blame you… He deserved it…"

She proceeded to stare him right in the eye with a saddened look before saying.

"Just please help me save them…" 

Upon hearing this, Gray nodded as he extended his hand out towards her. 

"Of course… I'm a man of my word. Princess Ruby. Let's head to your world."

Ruby slowly nodded before taking his hand.