“Activate the teleportation array!”

When I ran toward the Imperial Palace, the Grand Magician was already gathering the mages and shouting commands.

The screams of the Imperial citizens pierced the air.

The trembling mages approached the summoning circle, knelt, and pressed their hands against the ground.

Someone lifted their head and cried out,

“The teleportation array isn’t fully constructed yet!”

“Then would you rather burn to death?!”

The Grand Magician roared back.

The mages bit their lips and lowered their heads. There was no way to refute that. They began to chant in unison with their heads bowed.

Light rippled across the teleportation circle.

“The next group, don’t just stand there—get ready!”

A bluish flame erased the darkness.

Hekate was already leading the first group that would escape, waiting for the teleportation array to activate. The light of the circle illuminated the faces of the weeping citizens of the Empire.

I could leave this place in her hands.

Once I finished grasping the situation, I turned away. I needed to give orders to the knights to guide each evacuation group through. To control dozens of groups, even the entire order working together wouldn’t be enough.

Once I delivered the command, I would have to run toward the fire.

Having decided that, I dashed out of the palace.

***

Kysis was standing before the flames.

After issuing my orders, I had come running toward the fire, only to find the man who should have remained at the Emperor’s side. My eyes widened.

“Sir Kysis!”

When I grabbed his arm, Kysis snapped his head toward me.

“If I told you to return to the palace, you wouldn’t listen anyway, would you.”

“Is that a question?”

“No.”

I gave a faint smile and drew my sword.

The contamination before my eyes was sliced apart and vanished.

Walking toward the prince, who was holding his sword upright and wiping sweat from between his brows with his forearm, I said quietly,

“It was just a formality.”

I fixed my gaze on the flames.

And with a wretched heart, I watched the buildings consumed by fire. Lives disappearing within, the traces of history turning to ash.

Death cries soaked in agony mingled with the roaring blaze.

Even after all I had endured—hardened to hold on to my sanity in sights like this—watching the world I had tried to protect collapse made something inside me rot away.

It was a place full of things I wanted to protect.

The place where Kyle and Rei, and so many precious people, had spent their days.

“How many evacuation groups have gone?”

At Kysis’s question, I turned my head.

Meeting his violet eyes, I smiled faintly.

“The last one.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

Kysis smirked, then turned away.

His pale-golden hair, nearly silver, fluttered back in the heat-borne wind.

“If we both survive till the end, let’s jump together, hatchling.”

I nodded.

If we survived to the very last moment, we would leap while watching the capital crumble.

If necessary, I would shove Kysis into the teleportation array myself, so at least he would make it through.

May it not end with me being the only one left again.

Praying desperately, I faced the approaching waves of flame.

I felt Kyle and Rei running toward me.

***

My throat burned, my eyes stung.

The capital was nearly gone.

I hadn’t looked back once, so I had no way to know how the evacuations were going. All my focus was on slowing the fire’s advance; there was no room for anything else.

The World Tree’s offspring were rushing in droves to aid the containment, but the fire’s strength was overwhelming.

Soon the blue flames would reach the Imperial Palace.

While retreating backward across the vast capital, we found ourselves standing on the palace steps.

“Yvon.”

I grabbed the arm of the knight panting beside me.

“Go to the teleportation circle.”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s an order.”

When I spoke coldly, Yvon looked at me with wounded eyes.

I looked into his eyes and gave a faint smile.

“You should move now.”

“...Please, let me stay until the end.”

“No.”

I pushed the staggering subordinate back, shoving his shoulder firmly.

He looked barely capable of running all the way to the circle.

I swallowed that concern down my throat and gave another icy command.

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

Yvon bit his lip until blood welled.

Eventually he clenched his teeth and turned away. Feeling his presence recede, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. I was grateful he had obeyed.

Now this really is the end.

Exhaling a long breath, I looked down upon the burning capital below.

The Imperial City was black and quivering under the flames.

“Not a single thing left to remember.”

Rei’s mutter reached my ears.

“I didn’t think we’d have to leave like this.”

At that moment, someone came running from behind.

When I turned toward the hurried footsteps, I saw You, drenched in sweat.

The dried blood clinging to his clothes made my stomach go cold.

Whose blood was it?

“Your Highness.”

And of all things, as soon as he stopped to catch his breath, he used the one title Kysis hated the most.

Probably to draw everyone’s attention—including Kysis’s.

“It’s time to go.”

Kysis turned a cold gaze on the tactician.

Thankfully, he didn’t lose control. He didn’t shout or raise his sword. He merely looked at You with a chilling stare.

You didn’t avert his eyes. He steadied his ragged breathing and met Kysis’s gaze head-on.

The man with the violet eyes moved soon after.

For the first time in hours, he turned his back on the flames.

“Let’s go.”

Those who had been facing the fire turned their bodies.

“There’s nowhere left to hold back the flames.”

Indeed, the fire had surrounded the palace.

No one protested. Without a word, we all turned our gaze from the blaze and followed Kysis’s lead. The World Tree’s children and the knights of skill walked in silence.

Not knowing what we were about to witness.

Trying to believe that the people we loved had managed to escape safely.

***

I had never thought everything would go smoothly.

But I hadn’t imagined it would go this wrong, either.

“The first group was annihilated.”

Deltei, her eyes unfocused, stared at the teleportation array soaked in blood.

“The array devoured them.”

“...The next group?”

“Well. They didn’t get shredded between the circles, but they might wander forever between dimensions. The coordinates weren’t properly set.”

“The next after that?”

“The mages who activated the array coughed blood and collapsed. I can’t say they crossed properly.”

“Any group that succeeded?”

“A few in the middle—lucky ones. It only looks like they succeeded.”

A sea of blood.

The scene was horrific. When we arrived at the temple housing the dimensional array, what greeted us were chunks of flesh plastered over the ceiling and walls. Mages lay beside the array, vomiting blood as they died; others lay shriveled and dried out.

They had wrung out the very last drop of life to cast their spells.

Only the final evacuation group and corpses remained.

The citizens who had witnessed all this huddled in corners, trembling uncontrollably. The remaining mages’ eyes were vacant. I knew that expression all too well.

The look of those whose will to live had gone out—a living puppet’s eyes.

By them remained the Emperor and the Grand Magician.

And Grand Duke Jacques.

The prince and princess as well.

“Kysis.”

As ever, the man whose emotions could not be read.

The sovereign of a fallen empire called his son’s name.

Kysis, standing rigid at the temple entrance, lifted his head.

He looked at the Emperor without a word.

“You are now their leader.”

The Emperor did not wait for his reply.

“While we activate the array, you will take the rest and go.”

“What?”

The knights’ voices rose.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor ignored the chorus of pleas.

I assessed the situation with sunken eyes. I understood why they had made that choice. They were the only ones left who could activate the array. The Emperor, the First Prince, and the First Princess. A few mages were still alive, but none had the strength left to cast. Merely breathing was already a miracle for them.

Ah. Kysis could not use magic.

Shamefully, I felt deep relief at that fact.

“You’ve done well holding back the fire.”

The Emperor looked upon the weeping knights and the World Tree’s children and spoke calmly.

“Now, you prepare to escape as well.”

“Your Majesty!”

“We’ll stay with you!”

“What nonsense.”

The chancellor who watched the sobbing soldiers snorted coldly.

“Do you think your staying will change anything?”

“Will you not go, Grand Duke?”

Ignoring the dread twisting in my gut, I asked evenly.

“You can’t use magic, can you?”

The Grand Duke turned his gaze toward me.

White beard like hawthorn blossoms. Upright posture. Always immaculate clothes. He looked as if he’d just stepped out from his office to attend a meeting.

He looked exactly as he always did when telling me to prepare for escort duty before a council.

With his usual crooked smile, he said,

“I have calculations to do.”

“Grand Duke.”

“Can you calculate as precisely as I can?”

He ignored the tremor in my voice.

“Do you even know how to calculate?”

Once again—

My chest twisted in pain.

We’d had a conversation like this once, long ago, when I was young and ignorant of the world’s cruelty. The temple priests had pushed me inside, smiling that same way.

That suffocating smile—a blend of affection and resolve.

I never wanted to see it again.

“The two Knight Commanders will henceforth assist Kysis well.”

At the First Prince’s voice, I lifted my head.

Expressionless—just like his father—the man was tossing his tattered cloak to the ground.

“The youngest is far too inexperienced.”

“Jeffrey.”

“Kysis. Do as you’re told.”

The Princess also bent slightly toward the magic circle and added,

“They’re children who will help you without guile.”

Kysis clenched his teeth.

I pretended not to see his tightly balled fists. Turning my gaze aside, I watched the remaining ones prepare to activate the magic circle.

The heat was drawing closer.

For the first time, the Imperial family knelt before us.

Three royals knelt in front of the great circle.

When they placed their hands on it together, the circle gleamed in graceful light.

“Please, step in.”

Deltei spoke hoarsely to the people huddled in the corner.

“Thank you for waiting until the end.”

The last evacuation group.

Most of them were crying. Their bodies shook as they wept. I walked toward them to prevent any sudden panic. My hand rested on the hilt as I watched the woman in front—short black hair, a cloak drenched in blood—bravely step forward to the circle.

She bowed deeply to the royals before leaping in.

“Do not stop. Keep moving.”

You gave the order.

The people obeyed him. We watched as they disappeared into the dimensional array—falling into the light that illuminated the blood-soaked temple.

After sending them, we ushered Deltei, You, and the World Tree’s children one by one ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) into the circle.

Once all of the World Tree’s children had gone through, we pushed the remaining knights in.

“I’ll be the last one in.”

“No.”

I flatly refused Nori’s words.

“Don’t overstep your place.”

Nori clenched his teeth like Yvon before him.

He was even more stubborn than Yvon had been. Even after I snapped at him, he stayed beside me, refusing to move.

Stupidly stubborn fool.

Strictly speaking, it should be Rei, Kyle, and me who stayed to the end.

With a sigh of resignation, I prepared to shove him away.

Then the temple shook.

Boom!

“Ah.”

We all turned toward the entrance at once—and every one of us uttered a short curse.

“Shit.”

A dragon.

The same kind that had guarded the World Tree.

But this one was far larger—and far angrier. It clearly had no intention of forgiving those who had caused this ruin.

If I had faced it that day, I wouldn’t have survived.

And there was no guarantee I would now.

Could things get any more tangled?

“Commander!”

“Go.”

As the dragon’s tail struck the temple, I shoved Nori into the magic circle.

Kyle and Rei leapt to protect the royals and the chancellor.

While Kysis turned, meeting the dragon head-on, Kyle and I shouted at the same time,

“Jump!”

Don’t be stupid—don’t hesitate, just jump!

Dozens of subordinates still hadn’t entered the circle.

The dragon, maddened by the loss of the World Tree, was terrifyingly strong. Kysis and I charged together, but the situation worsened fast. Spears shattered, the ceiling collapsed. The dragon’s massive tail swept through the survivors. I felt it strike one of the soldiers dead.

Fool.

If you hadn’t hesitated, you could’ve lived.

Ah.

Now even the floor’s collapsing.

“Rei! Kyle!”

Clearing debris, I called out to my comrades guarding the royals and the chancellor, still maintaining the magic circle without a tremor.

“Jump down!”

“What about you!”

“I’ll follow—just go!”

If the floor collapsed, the circle would vanish.

Watching the widening crack beneath us, I slashed through the dragon’s flames. My voice was urgent.

“Now!”

Kyle grabbed Rei and threw him.

With a shouted curse, Rei disappeared into the light. One by one, the remaining soldiers vanished into the circle.

Only the royals, the chancellor, and Kyle remained—those who rightly should have been the last to stay.

Kyle, looking down at the circle, raised his head toward me.

Black hair tossed by magical ripples. Golden eyes gleaming in the white light.

Even without words, I knew what he meant.

Heavy duty. Defiance. The will to live.

“Let’s go.”

Kyle leapt.

At that moment, the dragon roared.

“Sir Kysis!”

I turned to grab the prince.

“Hurry—”

Whnnn!

A blade flashed past.

The impact of the strike threw me backward. My lower body slid and fell into the circle. I cried out, gripping the unbroken edge of the floor with my hands—and then I saw something I had never imagined.

A wave of power unfurled from his sword, slicing the dragon.

A bluish surge—tearing apart the beast’s claws as it struck the ground. Scales split, blood exploded.

The dragon’s scream of agony pierced my ears.

“Huh.”

Behind me, the Grand Duke let out a low whistle.

“So that aura truly isn’t just legend.”

The floor began to crumble completely.

I tilted my head back to look at Kysis.

The knight who had defended the circle from the dragon’s attack now gazed down at me with serene calm.

“Sir Kysis.”

I reached out my hand, my voice breaking.

I couldn’t fall through like this.

“Kysis, if you jump now, it’s not too late!”

“No. Someone has to enter the destination after everyone’s through. You didn’t memorize the sequence, did you?”

“Then I’ll guard the chancellor—just jump!”

“You’re the leader now.”

Kysis looked down at me and smiled.

It was the same smile he’d shown when I’d cut my hair.

That infamous, beautiful, and chilling smile.

The smile of one unafraid of death.

“Hildebert. Whatever happens, make the choices that save as many as you can.”

“Kysis.”

“Save as many of my people as possible.”

“Kysis!”

“I’m counting on you.”

Boom!

The dragon, writhing in pain, beat its wings and loomed behind him.

But Kysis didn’t look back. His platinum hair fluttered in the wind the dragon made, and his violet eyes curved gently.

A radiant smile.

“I’m sorry for burdening you with this weight.”

Please...

“But you’ll make the right choice, my hatchling.”

Please—!

Kwaaang!

There was an impact.

I never saw what exactly it was.

All I knew was that it sent me falling into the magic circle.

I hadn’t caught Kysis’s hand. I hadn’t stopped him from turning back to face the dragon.

Once again, I failed to protect what I should have protected.

As the collapsing floor gave way, I fell out of the world—leaving behind everything I had to protect.

“I’m sorry, Hildebert.”

That was his final words.

***

“And so I—”

I do not regret crossing over to Earth.

All those sacrifices.

All that effort.

All that will—poured into that crossing.

How could I ever regret setting foot on Earth?

How could I—

The one who bears his final command—ever dare to?