Chapter 1238 Happy Birthday, Arthur

Chapter 1238 Happy Birthday, Arthur

As the looming armies approached, Arthur stood before his citizens of Runera, his figure a bastion against the coming storm. His voice, powerful and clear, carried across the gathered crowd, echoing off the city walls.

"My people," Arthur began, his gaze sweeping over the faces turned toward him, "tonight, we stand on the brink of a tremendous change. I have made a decision, one that has brought the world to our doorstep, not in friendship, but in battle." He paused, the weight of his next words settling in the silent air. "I seek to merge our world with another, to bring forth a new era. This is not for power or glory, but for love—for a heart that has been waiting for me across the centuries."

Murmurs ran through the crowd, mixed with apprehension and awe. "Her name is Diana," Arthur continued, his voice softening. "She has waited for me for one hundred and fifty years, trapped in time, her spirit bound to a fate undeserved. Tonight, I seek to free her, to fulfill a promise made long ago. I know it may seem a selfish cause to risk so much, but I vow to you, as your leader, no harm will come to you as long as you stand as my citizens."

A hush fell over the crowd, then slowly, building from a whisper to a roar, they cheered. They did not cheer for war, but for the passion and conviction of their leader, for the man who had always fought for them.

With renewed vigor, Arthur turned to his assembled companions. "To your posts," he commanded. His followers, a collection of the world's mightiest, dispersed, their spirits ignited by their leader's resolve.

As the battle commenced outside the walls of Runera, the night sky was alight with the arcane and the clashing of steel. Arthur, high atop the battlements, directed his forces with precision, his mind as sharp as the blade he wielded. Hours slipped by, the moon tracing its path across the heavens, as reports came and went, each indicating that Runera's forces held strong.

Minutes before midnight, Arthur turned to Oriole, his old friend and now his second in command. "Take over, Oriole. It's time," he said, a complex mix of dread and anticipation in his voice.

Arthur then descended from the walls, his cape billowing behind him as he entered the underground cavern once again. The echoes of battle dimmed as he stepped into the solemn stillness of Diana's icy prison. His arrival was greeted by the silence of the sacred space, broken only by the faint echo of distant clashes.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the wilted flowers around the cavern bloomed anew, their colors vibrant against the stark white of the ice. Arthur approached the block of ice, his heart heavy with longing and hope. "Diana," he whispered, his breath visible in the cold air, "these years have been an eternity of waiting for both of us. But tonight, that wait ends."

As the clock tower in Runera chimed the arrival of midnight, the sound vibrating through the cavern, the ice around Diana began to crack. The fractures spread like intricate webs, catching the moonlight and shimmering with a spectral beauty.

Suddenly, a radiant artifact emerged from the heart of the ice, spinning slowly, its blue light casting ethereal shadows. It was the Isotox, the key to unlocking Diana's prison. As the ice shattered completely, Diana's figure became visible, her form graceful yet frail as she attempted to stand.

Diana's eyes widened in horror. "Merge worlds?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Arthur, no, that could—"

Arthur pulled her into a tight embrace, cutting off her protest. "I've taken measures, Diana. Measures to ensure it's done safely. Trust me," he pleaded, his voice urgent.

As Diana pulled back to look at him, her expression torn between trust and fear, she began to cough violently, blue and red cracks appearing on her skin as her powers flared uncontrollably. "Arthur, I—"

Without hesitation, Arthur reached for the Isotox, his actions swift as he prepared to use its immense powers to heal her. "This will stabilize your powers once and for all, Diana. Fire will not harm the ice, and ice will not quench the fire," he explained quickly, his voice thick with desperation.

Diana, weak yet resolute, shook her head. "But at what cost, Arthur? Millions could die from such a merging!"

Arthur looked into her eyes, his resolve hardening. "I've made an agreement with Gaia. I'll sacrifice a portion of my own powers to create an artifact that will protect our world," he revealed, his voice steady despite the gravity of his confession. "This artifact will grant powers to those who will protect humanity, ensuring our safety."

Tears filled Diana's eyes as she understood the depth of his sacrifice. "You can't do this to yourself," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"I must," Arthur replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. As her condition deteriorated further, he didn't hesitate; he pressed the Isotox against her skin.

A blinding light exploded within the cavern, the artifact's energy wild and uncontrollable, but Arthur, channeling his golden mana, wrestled it into submission.

As the light faded, Diana lay quiet among the flowers, her skin now clear of the terrifying cracks. The peace of the moment was abruptly shattered by the world outside beginning to tremble—Arthur's plan was unfolding, the worlds beginning to merge.

He carefully placed a now peacefully resting Diana into the bed of flowers. Their petals gently cradled her, a stark contrast to the chaos he was about to confront.

Rising with a heavy heart, Arthur opened a portal, stepping through to meet Gaia. It was time to pay the price for his actions:

The price of his selfishness and the burden of his choices, a burden he was prepared to carry for the chance at a future with Diana, and for the hope of a safer world.