The Strongest With Nothing Left

Li stepped forward, his purple eyes burning with a deadly glare as he unsheathed his katana once again. His voice boomed with authority something no one had ever expected from him.

"EVERYONE STILL ALIVE REGROUP ON ME!!" he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the burning camp. "I'LL COVER YOU ALL!! MOVE NOW!!"

The remaining soldiers, wounded and demoralized, heard his command. For a split second, they hesitated but when they saw Li Vrak standing tall, his blade dripping with demon blood, his aura menacing yet protective they moved.

"R-REGROUP!! GET TO HIM!!" one of the captains shouted. "LIVING NIGHTMARE IS PROTECTING US!! MOVE YOUR ASSES!!"

"GO!!" another soldier yelled, grabbing his injured comrade and rushing towards Li.

Demons lurking in the shadows noticed the regrouping, and without hesitation, they charged.

"THEY'RE TRYING TO REGROUP!! KILL THEM ALL!!"

But Li took a step forward his presence alone radiating pure killing intent. "You won't."

The first demon lunged toward a wounded soldier but before it could get close…

In an instant Li appeared, his katana cleaving the demon in half. "Stay behind me." he ordered the soldier coldly, not even sparing the demon a second glance.

"C-CAPTAIN!!" another soldier carrying his injured friend gasped as a demon rushed them. "WE'RE GONNA DIE—"

But again — Li was faster.

Li stepped forward, his piercing purple eyes locked onto the incoming demons. Without a word, he unsheathed his katana, the blade glimmering in the blood-drenched air. He didn't shout. He didn't give orders. Instead he simply moved.

In a blink, one of the demons lunging toward the injured soldier was cleaved in half. Li didn't even spare it a glance. He simply turned his attention to the next one.

The soldiers, still stunned by the chaos around them, couldn't believe what they were witnessing. "H-he's actually protecting us…" one of them stammered, his voice cracking in disbelief. "T-the Living Nightmare… is protecting us…"

Another demon charged but before it could reach them, Li was already there. His blade sliced clean through the demon's neck. Blood sprayed, but Li's face remained blank his eyes solely fixed on the enemies ahead.

"Hurry up…" Venkur coughed, clutching his wound. "G-get behind him!!"

The soldiers, still dazed, stumbled toward Li, gathering behind him like lost sheep. Li said nothing he simply cut down any demon that approached, his face void of emotion… but his actions spoke volumes.

A massive demon, towering over the others, spotted the soldiers and roared. "DIE!!" it lunged forward, aiming directly at the group.

Li simply moved again

The towering demon's torso split in half, its massive body crashing to the ground with a deafening thud.

"I-I can't believe this…" one soldier stammered. "He's…"

"He's actually trying to protect us…"

But Li didn't respond. He only stepped forward again his katana dripping with black blood. His mind was clear.

Suddenly a large crimson magic circle formed in the sky, and from it emerged a wave of high-ranking demons. Their malevolent aura was suffocating, and the soldiers immediately despaired.

"T-they're too many…" one soldier trembled. "We're gonna die…"

But Li simply stabbed his katana into the ground, his gaze locked onto the incoming force. Without looking back, he simply gestured his head toward the group. "Stay."

The soldiers froze.

No words — but they understood what he meant.

"B-but there's too many…"

Li slowly raised his katana, his gaze as lifeless as ever but his actions were screaming his intentions.

The demons charged.

And so did Li.

He was a blur cutting through demon after demon, their blood splattering like rain. Some demons attempted to bypass him and target the soldiers but Li was always there. Silent. Lethal.

"I-I can't believe this…" one soldier whimpered, his voice cracking. "H-he's actually fighting for us…"

"T-this is the Living Nightmare… protecting us…"

Li never responded. He didn't need to. His blade, now painted entirely in blood, did all the talking.

Time passed and the once chaotic battlefield now lay silent.

Corpses of demons littered the ground, their blood soaking the soil beneath them. The once overwhelming demonic wave annihilated. And standing alone in the center of it all… was Li Vrak. His katana, now completely bathed in black blood, dripped with the aftermath of his slaughter.

The remaining soldiers — battered, injured, and shaken — could only stare in disbelief.

"H-he did it…" one soldier stammered, his voice cracking. "He actually… killed them all…"

Li stood there — his body still, his breathing calm, and his purple eyes void of any emotion as he flicked his katana, splattering the remaining demon blood off the blade. Without a word, he simply sheathed it back.

"H-he just… cleared the entire wave by himself…" another soldier mumbled, tears welling up in his eyes. "T-the Living Nightmare protected us…"

Li, ignoring their words, turned his gaze toward Venkur. The general was on one knee, heavily injured but still conscious. With a calm yet indifferent tone, Li finally spoke. "You're still alive…"

"Heh…" Venkur weakly laughed, wincing in pain. "Yeah… thanks to you."

Li walked towards him, not sparing a single glance at the corpses behind him. "How many casualties?" he asked, his tone still lifeless.

Venkur looked down, his face grim. "…12 dead, 27 heavily injured…" he muttered. "If you weren't here, we all would've been wiped out."

The soldiers who overheard that gritted their teeth, their gazes locked onto Li. "He saved us…" one whispered. "The Living Nightmare saved us…"

Li simply turned away. "Patch up the wounded." "W-wait, Living Nightmare!" one soldier finally mustered the courage to speak. "Why… Why did you protect us?"

Li paused. Without turning back, he simply muttered, "I had no reason to let you die."

Li didn't respond but for the briefest moment, his hand slightly trembled. He knew it too.

Arin… Elise… Mia…

"Tch…" he scoffed to himself. "They turned me soft, huh…"

But even as he thought that a faint, almost invisible smile crept onto his face.

As the thick clouds of despair began to fade the once dark, ominous sky slowly cleared up. The warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a gentle golden glow upon the battlefield.

The soldiers, who moments ago were drowning in hopelessness, now found themselves gazing in awe.

And there standing in the center of it all was Li Vrak. His figure, drenched in the blood of his enemies, his tattered clothing fluttering in the gentle breeze, looked as though the heavens themselves were shining upon him.

The sunlight reflected off his pale skin and his piercing purple eyes, causing his figure to appear as if it were glowing. The black blood of the demons splattered across his body only made the sight more surreal. He was no longer just The Living Nightmare. In the eyes of the soldiers he was their savior.

A moment of silence lingered. The soldiers could only stare.

Then… one soldier dropped his weapon. "W-we… we won…" he stuttered.

Another followed. "H-he did it… W-we're alive…*"

Suddenly cheers erupted.

"WE'RE ALIVE!!"

"Living Nightmare SAVED US!!"

"GLORY TO Living Nightmare!!"

Soldiers dropped to their knees, tears of joy streaming down their faces. Some raised their weapons in the air, cheering with their remaining strength. Others simply fell to the ground, overwhelmed by the sheer relief that they survived. 

Li, however did not join their celebration. He simply stood there, his face unchanging, his mind still hollow.

But as he looked around and witnessed the genuine joy in their faces a faint, almost unnoticeable warmth began to bubble in his chest.

"Tch…" Li scoffed under his breath, turning his back on the cheering soldiers. "I'm not a hero…"

But as he took his first step to leave one soldier rushed towards him. "Living Nightmare!!"

Li paused but didn't turn around. "What."

"P-please, let us treat you!!" the soldier begged. "You saved our lives…! We can't just let you leave like this!!"

"He's right!!" another soldier chimed in. "Let us do something for you!!"

"Anything!!"

"You saved our lives!!"

Li slowly turned his gaze back to them, his eyes still lifeless. "I didn't do it for you…" he coldly said. "I just did my job."

The soldiers flinched at his response. Yet… despite his cold words, they couldn't stop cheering for him.

And as the soldiers continued celebrating, General Venkur approached Li, his body still battered but his smile ever-present. "You know…" Venkur chuckled. "You can act cold all you want, but you can't fool me anymore."

Li raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"

"Your face…" Venkur smirked. "You're relieved they survived, aren't you?"

Li froze. His mouth slightly opened but no words came out. Instead, he just clicked his tongue. "Tch… You're imagining things."

Venkur laughed. "Yeah, sure I am. But I gotta admit… seeing you like this… it's kinda refreshing."

Li remained silent but he knew Venkur was right.

As the sunlight continued to shine down on him, the cheering of the soldiers echoing in the air, and the clear sky gracing the aftermath of battle Li Vrak couldn't help but feel something he hadn't felt in years.

…Warmth.

As the surviving soldiers finally returned to the kingdom, their once weary and hollow expressions were now replaced with relief and pride. However the air was still heavy with grief. For every soldier that returned, many did not.

The kingdom's gates opened wide as the people gathered, hoping to see their loved ones. Families desperately searched through the crowds some found their husbands, brothers, and fathers others only found emptiness.

And then came the grim duty.

The fallen soldiers, those who gave their lives on the battlefield, were carefully transported and lined up outside the kingdom walls. Their bodies were covered with cloth, and one by one they were lowered into their graves.

The church bells rang constantly, echoing the sorrow of the entire kingdom. Families wept, wives screamed, children begged for their fathers to come back but the cold reality offered them nothing.

Li Vrak stood in silence, watching as the burials continued. His purple eyes fixated on the rows of fallen soldiers being laid to rest. Despite winning the war, Li felt no satisfaction.

"So many died…" a soldier muttered as he stared at the graves. "Even though we won… was it really worth it…?"

"It was thanks to him…" another soldier said, nodding toward Li Vrak. "If it weren't for him… we'd all be dead."

"Yeah…"

"The Living Nightmare saved us all…"

"We owe our lives to him…"

But Li stood there, his expression as cold as ever. The praise meant nothing to him. All he could think about was the faces of those who didn't make it. And then the celebration began.

The entire kingdom erupted in celebration. Word had spread across the entire country that the demons were defeated and the final battle was won thanks to The Living Nightmare, Li Vrak.

The streets were filled with joyous people. Parades were held. Music filled the air. People from other cities gathered to celebrate the end of the war.

"GLORY TO THE KINGDOM!!"

"THE WAR IS OVER!!"

"WE'RE FREE!!"

"LONG LIVE THE LIVING NIGHTMARE!!"

Statues were being constructed in honor of Li Vrak. People raised banners with his name and image. Everywhere in the kingdom, people sang his praises.

"LI VRAK!!"

"LI VRAK!!"

"LI VRAK!!"

Yet the very man they praised wanted nothing to do with it.

While the kingdom was in full celebration mode, Li Vrak silently slipped away from the crowd, walking toward the royal castle for his final report. Every step he took — he could hear his name being shouted in praise behind him.

But all Li did was scoff.

"Tch… Ridiculous…*" he muttered. "I didn't do it for them…"

But deep down a part of him knew… that wasn't entirely true anymore.

As Li Vrak entered the throne room, his aura still carried the weight of the war. His face, as cold and lifeless as ever, stepped forward to the king his purple eyes dim with exhaustion.

he began his final report. "The demons have been eradicated. Their generals have been slain. The remaining forces have retreated back to their own territory. The war… is finished."

The king, a man who once adventured alongside Li in their younger days, smiled warmly at him. "Hah… You've done it again, Li."

"I only did my job," Li answered bluntly. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

As Li turned around, walking toward the door, the king suddenly spoke up. "Oi, oi, don't just leave like that, you idiot."

Li stopped but didn't turn around. "What is it now, Aldric?" 

"Tch," the king laughed. "Same attitude as always, huh?" He then grinned slyly. "Well, I have something for you… I thought you'd want to see it."

"I don't need rewards," Li scoffed slightly. "My duty was fulfilled."

"Yeah, yeah, I know how you are," Aldric chuckled. "But trust me… you'll like this one."

The king then gestured toward the doors. "Bring them in."

Li, slightly confused, turned his head slightly toward the large throne room doors. "Them?"

The doors creaked open and the moment Li's gaze fell upon who entered… his cold expression froze. His purple eyes widened in shock.

The familiar faces of Arin, Mia, and Elise entered the throne room.

And for the first time in a long while Li Vrak's eyes lit up.

"…Arin…?" he muttered quietly, as if his voice couldn't believe it.

But before Li could even process his thoughts — Arin suddenly rushed toward him, his face beaming with joy. "MASTER!!! I MISSED YOU!!"

"H-Hey wait—!" THUD!!

Arin jumped onto Li, wrapping his arms around him like a little kid, laughing as if he never grew up. "Master!! You're finally back!! I was worried you died or something!!"

"Tch—!" Li stumbled slightly as Arin clung onto him. "Arin—get off me—dammit, you're not a kid anymore!" "Doesn't matter!!" Arin laughed, his face buried in Li's shoulder. "You're finally back!!"

Li gritted his teeth in embarrassment, glancing at the side to see Mia giggling and Elise softly smiling. "Get off me, brat—dammit!!" he tried to shake Arin off, but Arin held on tightly.

"No way!!" Arin grinned. "I missed you way too much!!"

"Tch…" Li sighed, clearly flustered. "You're already seventeen… stop acting like a child…"

"Not until you admit you missed me too!!" Arin snickered.

"I DID NOT."

"Liar!!"

The king, Roland, couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh. "Pfft—AHAHA!! Look at you, Li!! You've changed a lot!!"

"Shut up, Aldric," Li growled. "This brat's too damn clingy."

"Yeah, yeah," Aldric waved his hand dismissively. "But you're smiling, you know that right?"

"I'm not."

"You are."

The entire throne room, including the soldiers, general Venkur, and even the servants, watched in disbelief.

There it was. The Living Nightmare, the coldest man in the kingdom, the emotionless weapon… …was being tackled and hugged like a father by a teenager. And the most shocking thing of all — Li Vrak wasn't pushing him away.

And as Li glared at Aldric, the king simply grinned. "Heh… Seems that kid did more for you than I ever could, huh?"

Li didn't respond. But deep down… he knew Aldric was absolutely right.

As Li stood there, Arin finally let go of him. Li managed a faint smile, but the next moment, his body suddenly gave out. He collapsed to his knees, unconscious. The king's eyes widened in shock. "Li!" he called out, his voice filled with concern. Without hesitation, he turned to his royal medic. "Check on him immediately!"

The medic rushed over, placing his hand on Li's wrist and checking his pulse. After a brief moment, the medic exhaled in relief. "Your Majesty, nothing to worry about… he's just collapsed from pure exhaustion. But…" the medic hesitated for a moment, his brows furrowed, "his body… it's been pushed far beyond its limits. Honestly, it's a miracle he's still holding up like this."

The king's expression softened as he looked at Li's unconscious body. With a firm voice, he commanded, "Take him to the finest chamber and ensure he is taken care of properly. I want him to have the best treatment no exceptions."

The royal guards and medics immediately moved, carefully lifting Li and carrying him away. The king watched with a solemn expression, his mind swirling with concern for his old friend.

As Arin, Mia, and Elise watched from the side, Arin clenched his fists. "Master…" he muttered, guilt creeping into his voice.

The king glanced at Arin before placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, lad. Your master is strong… but even the strongest need rest sometimes."