Chapter 247

Chapter 247

When King Jalen saw the powerful explosion erupt from where Kallistus Kal had been standing, he had thought that it was over. That the [Hero King] had won.

Even still, Jalen had held out hope that someone had survived. Whether it was the SS-ranked elf adventurer, the Elder Dragon, or the Greater Elementals. It didn’t matter who. The King of the Astrad Kingdom hoped that someone would emerge from the blast with enough strength to defeat Kallistus Kal.

And someone did.

But that someone turned out to be someone who Jalen didn’t even know. The strange man who had appeared first out of that portal to face the [Hero King].

He looked like any ordinary man. He had blond hair, and a rough visage. Like he was a priest of sorts, even if he was dressed like he worked at a tavern. And yet, despite his appearance, he proved to be the strongest of them all.

Even stronger than the SS-ranked elf, even stronger than the Elder Dragon, and even stronger than all the Greater Elementals combined. Because that ordinary-looking man took on the [Hero King] alone and won.

And now...

“It’s... over?” King Jalen whispered as he stared at the collapsed body of Kallistus Kal.

For a moment, Jalen held his breath, uncertain whether it was truly over. But there was no regeneration. No return for the [Hero King].

Kallistus Kal lay there, broken. And the ordinary-looking man stood triumphantly next to the [Hero King].

This was a sight that was seen all throughout Astral. Their gazes had all been drawn towards the fighting— realizing that the battle was reaching its climax. Now, they all stared at the outcome in disbelief. In silence. At least, for a long moment.

And then King Jalen snapped out of his stupor. He took a step forward as he stood atop the tallest tower in his palace and raised the flag of his country, bellowing with [A King’s Voice].

“PEOPLE OF THE ASTRAD KINGDOM, WE HAVE WON! THE [HERO KING] IS DEAD!”

His words swept across the city. Then all at once, the citizens of Astral broke out into cheers as the soldiers of the Kingdom of Kal began to throw down their weapons.

—--

“Seriously?” Wyn whispered as he eyed Arthur from afar. “That bartender really did it. I can’t believe this.”

Rowland stepped up next to the [Knight]-lieutenant, nodding approvingly. “I told you, Sir Wyn. What matters most is to have faith.”

Wyn didn’t want to believe it, but he couldn’t deny reality. The [Hero King] was truly defeated. So the [Knight]-lieutenant began to chuckle as he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Only for the echoes of a heavy set of footfalls to rush their way.

The two [Knights] looked up in alarm as a group of soldiers from the Kingdom of Kal made their way up to the palace steps.

Wyn scrambled for his weapon, but Rowland stepped forward and pointed down at the approaching soldiers.

“Give it up!” the [Knight]-Captain bellowed, and the approaching soldiers hesitated. “Surrender now! Your [Hero King] is dead! There is no point in throwing away your life any longer!”

Blinking, Wyn looked towards Rowland. Even though Rowland was unarmed, he still stood fearlessly against the dozen or so soldiers from the Kingdom of Kal. And it seemed like his confidence paid off.

The soldiers paused as a few of them exchanged apprehensive glances. Their leader tried to urge them forward.

“What are you idiots doing?” their leader shouted as he pointed his spear at Rowland. “This is our victory!”

But the soldiers that were with him backed away and shook their heads.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The expression on Kallistus Kal’s face didn’t change. All he displayed was exhaustion— melancholy. He couldn’t even move. He didn’t even blink. But it was evident he wanted to speak.

His lower half of his body disappeared into the wind as his lips twitched. It was like he was mustering up all the strength he had left just to be able to speak. Like he had something he wanted to say. And so, Arthur leaned closer, giving Kallistus Kal a chance to speak his last words.

Only for the [Hero King] broke out into a maniacal laughter.

“You fools,” his voice echoed, twisting the world around him.

“What?” Arthur leapt back, but the [Hero King] didn’t move.

Jax and Grat-ra’zun tensed, readying themselves for battle once again. However, Arthur’s eyes didn’t lie. He knew Kallistus Kal was dying here.

And even the [Hero King] knew that himself. Even still, he continued to cackle.

“Do you truly think you have won here? Even if I die, it matters not. My goals shall be achieved— nay, they are on the precipice of being reached. For you see, I am but a clone of my true self.”

“A clone?” Arthur blinked a few times.

And Jax cursed. “Seriously? We struggled this much against a clone?!”

“So that was how he ambushed me back then...” Grat-ra’zun breathed.

Kallistus Kal continued to laugh as his voice boomed for all to hear. Whether it were the nearby passersby who came to see his death, or those like Melissa who came to mourn him. Even high up in his palace, King Jalen trembled as he listened to the dying voice of the [Hero King] being broadcasted.

“My true self is far away, hidden even from the gaze of the Fal-Deus itself!” Slowly, the wisping flakes of Void Essence that flitted off the dying body of the clone began to twist the sky itself, forming a rift. At the same time, Kallistus Kal’s voice distorted as he finished. “And I shAlL seIzE tHe pOWeR oF ThE VoID TO TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!”

And with those dying words, Kallistus Kal’s body was pulled into the rift, before the rift closed shut.

Then there was silence. At least for a second. Before a susurration washed the city of Astral. Everyone— whether it was a follower of the Kingdom of Kal or a citizen of the Astrad Kingdom— began to discuss what they heard and what they saw.

Jax and Grat-ra’zun both began to frantically discuss what to do next— trying to locate where the true body of the [Hero King] was hiding.

But Arthur didn’t say a word. Instead, he dropped to his knees as his eyes fluttered shut. He heard the echoing voice of the Fal-Deus in the distance.

He recalled the scene of the closing rift— peering into it and sensing what was within.

And the former Lich King knew...

Now, it was all up to Amelia.

—--

And in Wolfwater, far from the battlefield where the clone of Kallistus Kal perished...

I sighed as I sat right outside of my restaurant, staring into distant horizon. I sensed what was going on. I knew the battle was far from over.

And I closed my eyes as I muttered under my breath

“What should I do?”