The tide of monsters halts.

Not a claw scrapes, not a fang gnashes. The sea of creatures—beasts, abominations, armored titans—stand utterly still. From the walls of Ironvale, thousands of human eyes stare in disbelief.

Velira grips the battlement, whispering, "Why… why aren't they charging?"

Even Velkain narrows his gaze, his jaw tightening. "It looks like... They're waiting."

Muv frowns. "Waiting for what? A signal?"

Then it happens.

A murmur ripples through the ranks of monsters, like a silent pulse. Heads tilt upward. The soldiers of Ironvale follow their gaze.

At first, only a dark speck hovers in the horizon sky. Then, slowly, impossibly, it grows. The air thrums with an alien hum, deep and resonant, as though the heavens themselves shudder.

"What in the gods' name is that?" one soldier gasps, his voice breaking.

The speck swells into form—vast, titanic. As the morning mist scatters, the truth reveals itself: a floating vessel, so massive its shadow could engulf the entire city. Its hull glitters faintly with runes, each the size of towers, carved in patterns no mortal kingdom has ever seen.

Velira's breath catches in her throat. Her voice trembles, "A… a flying boat?"

The warriors on the wall gape in silence. The Ashedge treasured vessel, pride of their clan, is a mere ant compared to this leviathan in the sky. This is no warship. This is an empire unto itself.

The older scarred Tier 6's lips quiver. "That… that thing could crush cities just by landing…"

From below, Mhazul advances with measured steps, his towering frame gleaming with fresh scars that only sharpen his grandeur. His aura swells, vast and indomitable, pressing upon the battlefield like the weight of the heavens. He raises one clawed hand high, and when he speaks, his voice is deep and resonant, carrying with the gravity of a decree.

"The King has arrived."

At once, the one million monsters collapse to their knees. The thunderous sound of their armor and limbs striking the ground echoes like an earthquake.

Then comes the roar, unified, deafening:

"ALL HAIL KING ALIX!"

The walls of Ironvale tremble under the force of the cry. Dust rains from the stones.

Velira is surprise to hear the name of the king of the monster. "Alix…?!"

She stares down from the battlements, her breath short and uneven. Alix…? The name echoes in her mind, sharp and unbearable.

She shakes her head violently, her fingers digging into the stone. No… it can't be him. The Alix I knew is human. The king of these monsters can only be a monster. And yet—her heart betrays her. It beats faster, harder, as though trying to leap from her chest.

Velkain's brows knit together, his hand tightening around his sword. "This doesn't make sense… why would their king appear here himself? This city isn't worth the risk."

Before anyone can respond, the vessel above groans with a sound like the breaking of mountains. A ripple of light tears open beneath its hull, and from it, a lone figure descends.

The humans gasp as one.

Alix does not fall—he glides, carried by unseen force, each step upon the air deliberate, regal. His presence dominates the heavens. His body shimmers with scales that gleam like deep space, each one catching the light and scattering it like starlight. Between them, faint rivers of energy flow, as if the night sky itself breathes upon his skin.

Yet his face is strikingly human, fair and youthful, marred by nothing but the inhuman perfection that makes the soldiers on the wall forget to breathe. Two horns, curved and majestic, rise from his head like a crown forged by gods. His armor burns with faint radiance, a masterpiece beyond mortal craft—something no human king, no emperor, could ever hope to wear.

Even hardened warriors lower their weapons unconsciously. Awe seeps into their bones, strangling fear with reverence.

One soldier whispers, voice breaking, "He… he looks like a god…"

Another stammers, "That… that can't be a mortal. That's… divinity itself."

Velkain doesn't speak immediately. His sharp eyes follow Alix as the figure lowers, each movement calm, every inch dripping with authority. His soldiers murmur prayers under their breath, some clutching charms, others weeping silently.

Finally, Velkain exhales through his teeth. "This… isn't normal. Kings don't walk to the frontlines. Especially not kings who command a million monsters. Why here? Why now?"

But no answer comes.

Because at that moment, Alix's feet touch the ground.

And all of Ironvale goes silent.

The earth itself seems to bow when Alix lands, his aura rippling across the battlefield like a silent storm. Even the walls of Ironvale groan under the pressure of his presence.

Alix lifts his head, his voice calm yet carrying across the plains as though the world itself amplifies it.

"Long time no see, Ashedge Clan."

Confusion erupts at once. Murmurs sweep through both humans and monsters. Long time no see? The words clang strangely in every ear.

Velkain doesn't hesitate—he shoots upward, halting in the air still dozens of meters away from Alix. His expression is tight, his tone respectful but edged with disbelief.

"What do you mean by 'long time no see'? May I know if His Majesty… has a past with my clan?"

Even in the presence of an enemy, Velkain's voice holds reverence, compelled by something deeper than fear.

Alix chuckles softly, not mocking, but as if meeting an old friend. His eyes gleam faintly as he lifts his hand.

"Velkain. Good to see you again."

Before another word is spoken, his hand brushes across the air. Light ripples, and in the next breath, his monster form is gone. In its place stands a young man—human in appearance—his black hair catching the sun, his face unmistakable to those who knew him.

Gasps tear through the Ashedge warriors. Shock spreads like fire.

Velira's hand flies to her mouth, her knees weak. Her eyes widen until they sting. That face… the same face she once fought side by side, the same human who lifted her clan from the brink of ruin. The boy she had sworn never to forget.

Velkain's body stiffens in midair, his voice low, nearly trembling.

"Are you… truly that boy Alix who helped my clan rise to Rank 5?"

Alix meets his gaze without hesitation.

"Yes... Xansen is living a good life in my kingdom."

The name strikes like a thunderclap. Velkain's eyes flare, his doubt crumbling. Only the real Alix would know that name—Xansen.

Velkain exhales sharply, his shoulders loosening though his eyes remain cautious.

"You didn't… force Xansen to serve you, did you? You didn't scare him into submission?"

Alix laughs lightly, genuine amusement in his voice.

"Haha… I'm not that desperate. No. I gave him knowledge—knowledge to climb higher than he ever dreamed. He chose to work for me. And if you want…" His tone deepens, heavy with promise. "…I can do the same for you."

The Ashedge warriors shift uneasily. The humans on the wall stare in frozen silence, unable to process what they are hearing.

Then Alix spreads his arms, his presence flaring again like an eclipse swallowing the sun.

"The reason I came personally is simple. Because of what happened in my adventure here, I decided to give your clan a place. I will give you and the Ashedge the chance to be part of my kingdom."

The silence is suffocating.

Velkain's chest rises and falls slowly, his fists tightening, his wings trembling faintly. Finally, he lowers his gaze, voice steady but low.

"That… is no small choice. I will return with an answer."

The tension hangs like a drawn blade, every warrior holding their breath, as Velkain stares at the man who is both savior and enemy.

Velira can no longer hold back. She rushes to her father's side the moment he lands back on the wall, her eyes locked on the figure standing on the battlefield.

"Father… is that really him? Is that truly Alix?"

Velkain keeps his gaze forward, his jaw set hard. His voice is low, steady, but heavy with meaning.

"It is. He knows Xansen. And you know… only the three of us ever knew who Xansen was."

Velira's lips part, but no sound escapes. Her chest tightens painfully as her eyes fall once more on Alix, who now stands in his reverted monster form, towering and terrible, yet still bearing the traces of the boy she once knew.

Her throat burns with questions. Why? Why hide? Why become this? Why do you want to destroy us? But her voice falters. No words come.