Sovereign of the Forgotten Era

Azreal responded in a matter-of-fact tone, "You see, King of Rune County or whatever your land is called… I've come to kill you and become the new ruler of this country."

The king's expression darkened.

The king was taken aback by Azreal's proclamation. His face twisted in fury as he roared, his voice booming across the capital.

"You dare defy the king of this country? Your punishment is death!"

Raising his hand, he unleashed a torrent of energy—a brilliant blue beam that crackled with power. The sheer force of it distorted the air, tearing through space itself. The protective barrier around the capital trembled as the attack surged toward Azreal.

The moment it struck him, a deafening explosion rippled across the sky. The impact sent shockwaves through the capital, causing buildings to shake. Citizens watching from below erupted into cheers, convinced that their king had vanquished the intruder.

The king smirked, feeling the thrill of victory. "Hmph, that should—" His words caught in his throat.

As the dust settled, a figure emerged. Azreal stood there, completely unscathed. His black and blue robes fluttered in the wind, his golden eyes gleaming with indifference. He casually dusted off his shoulder, unfazed.

"That was it?" he said, disappointment evident in his tone. "How pathetic."

The king's face darkened. Snarling, he unleashed another barrage of attacks, each one stronger than the last.

BOOM!

BAM!

BOOOOOOM!

Explosions filled the sky, shaking the entire city. The barrier protecting the capital began to crack, bit by bit. The king gritted his teeth, pouring more power into his attacks. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he realized something terrifying—Azreal wasn't even fighting back.

Azreal was simply observing.

"Fascinating," Azreal muttered. He had finally understood the purpose of the blue barrier. It wasn't just a shield—it was a massive energy collector. It absorbed energy from the surroundings, feeding power to the tower at the city's center.

"A clever system," he admitted. "Using surrounding Origin Core Energy as a power source... impressive."

But he had seen enough. His golden eyes flickered as he spoke again.

"You're weak, King. This is getting boring. Time to end this."

Without hesitation, Azreal moved.

In an instant, he vanished—slipping through the barrier as if it didn't exist.

The king's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible!" He had been trapped inside this barrier before. Not even he could pass through it while it was active. So how did Azreal...?

Then, a chilling realization struck him—Azreal was now inside the tower.

A mocking voice echoed through the grand chamber.

"Nice place you've got here, Your Majesty," Azreal said as he admired the architecture. His gaze landed on a glowing core embedded in the tower's walls.

"Ah, so this is the source of the barrier's power all the surrounding power is gathering here " he mused. "Interesting."

The king's body tensed. His last bit of hope lay in this tower. Inside the barrier, he was the strongest. Here, he was invincible!

A triumphant grin spread across his face. "You've sealed your fate, fool!"

The king gathered every ounce of energy he had left, along with the power of the tower itself. The entire structure trembled, cracks forming in the walls as he prepared one final, devastating attack.

He lunged.

A single punch—powered by all his strength—tore through the air, causing space itself to distort. The sheer force behind it could level entire cities.

But just before it could land, a single word rang out.

"Stop."

The world obeyed.

Time itself seemed to freeze. The king's fist hovered mid-air, unmoving. His eyes widened in horror as he realized he couldn't move a muscle.

Behind Azreal, four dark blades materialized, gleaming ominously. With a simple motion, they shot forward—piercing through the king's limbs, pinning him against the tower's walls.

The king roared in agony, struggling with all his might. But the swords didn't budge.

Azreal stepped closer, his voice calm. "Any last words, Your Majesty?"

Despite the pain, the king let out a dry chuckle. His lips curled into a grin.

"You think killing a king is that easy?"

At that moment, a deep, ancient voice echoed from beneath the castle.

The ground trembled. The air grew heavy. A figure emerged—his presence overwhelming.

Azreal's eyes narrowed.

The spectators below gasped in utter disbelief.

"T-The first king... The Rune Master... but he died over 150 years ago!"

A suffocating aura filled the battlefield. The true battle was only just beginning.