Meanwhile...


    Julius''s POV


    There were only 20 people left on the ind, signaling that the King''s Game was nearing its conclusion. I''d heard of numerous deaths urring, but it didn''t concern me.


    Throughout the duration of the game, I''d stayed hidden, not even bothering to participate. My strategy was simple: let the others thin their own numbers through conflict, then strike when the field was ripe for the taking.


    However, as the number dwindled to just 20, I sensed eyes on me. Gradually, I felt two presences approaching, moving stealthily from above.


    "It''s quite unusual to see someone of your status mingling with themon folk, Your Highness. I must say, I''m rather surprised," remarked a woman, who was being carried by a dark-skinned woman as they descended towards me.


    I was perched atop thergest tree on the ind, my chosen base. Not only did it provide an abundance of food, but it also offered safety from elimination. Not that I was concerned about being eliminated if I stayed below, but conserving energy was key.


    The dark-skinned woman settled onto arge branch of the tree, gently lowering the woman she carried. I recognized the woman immediately—she was themander of the magic knights.


    "Well, well, Commander Lilia," I greeted with a cheerful smile. "What a pleasant surprise. Last time we crossed paths wasst year, on my 18th birthday, if I remember correctly."


    "That''s correct. It''s youring of age, so naturally, I had to be there," she replied with a smile. "Now then, Prince Julius, care to enlighten me on your motives? This isn''t my directive; ites straight from your father. He''s been on edgetely due to your recent actions. He''s practically sweating buckets."


    "Father? I''ve already discussed my ns with him, haven''t I?" I retorted. "Why would I need to repeat myself?"


    "Well, it seems he''s rather anxious. He needs constant reassurance, multiple times over, to put his mind at ease," she exined with a shrug.


    I chuckled mockingly, "Is he that terrified of me snatching his precious throne?"


    "That''s correct," Commander Lilia replied matter-of-factly. As the head of the magic military, she was keenly aware of my father''s state of mind. "That''s why he tasked me with preventing you from winning."


    "Will you stop me?" I inquired.


    Themander simply smiled. "Why would I? I couldn''t care less about the royal family drama or who ends up ruling the kingdom, or even the world, for that matter. All I care about is myself, my position, and all the wealth and privileges thate with it. That''s all I want."


    "Oh?" I eximed. "So you''re suggesting that if I seed, you''d like to retain your position?"


    "Exactly," she confirmed.


    As she spoke, I sensed a subtle energy emanating from her mouth. So she was attempting to influence me with her power, huh? Unfortunately for her, my clothes were equipped with a power dampener, rendering her control ineffective. Nevertheless, I didn''t mind the idea of her remaining as themander. She was cunning and maniptive—qualities I could appreciate in an ally.


    "If you wish to retain your position asmander once I be king, I have no objections," I dered, extending my hand to her.


    "Thank you, Your Highness," she replied gratefully.


    After we released each other''s hands, I inquired, "Is that all you desire?"


    "No," she replied, shaking her head. "There are some pests attempting to undermine both you and me, Your Highness. I could simplymand them with my power, but brainwashed subordinates aren''t exactly reliable for important tasks."


    I could feel her power at work again, attempting to exert its influence over me. However, this woman seemed unaware that there were individuals resistant to her maniption. The Queen, Myrce''s mother, for instance, was immune to her control. Fortunately, my power-dampening attire provided me with a simr safeguard.


    "So, you''re asking me to deal with these pests?" I confirmed. For the time being, I had to agree. I truly desired this woman as an ally.


    "Yes, indeed," she affirmed. "It will be much easier for you to seize the throne under those circumstances."


    "Alright, I''ll go along with your n," I agreed.


    With that settled, we sped hands once more.


    ***


    Robyn''s POV


    The ind was sweltering hot, making me feel like I might keel over from the heat at any moment. I was certain I could get heatstroke from this relentless sun. Unfortunately, our captain, Angelica, was adamant about not allowing us to rest. ording to her, themander might strike at any moment.


    Honestly, dying from heatstroke or getting killed by themander felt like two sides of the same coin...


    "Stay vignt, Robyn," she warned me with a growl. "There''s no telling when that woman will turn against us."


    I sighed, feeling exasperated. It seemed like I had sighed countless times today. "Are you really certain she''s out to get us, Captain? I mean, I know themander is intense and a real sadist, but I doubt she''d go so far as to eliminate her own subordinates."


    "You don''t know her at all, Robyn," the Captain retorted. "That woman is far more sinister than you realize."


    There was clearly tension between Captain Angelica and Commander Lilia. It didn''t seem like the Captain''s bitterness stemmed solely from losing hermand position to Commander Lilia. I suspected there was more to their conflict than met the eye.


    Maybe their history was much more deeper than I thought.


    As I pondered this, I nced back at the forest. The surge of powerful auras I had sensed within its depths intrigued me, especially one that seemed particrly menacing. I wondered whose auras they belonged to and what their intentions might be. Unfortunately, I couldn''t investigate further as I was stationed here.


    Three hourster, and I felt like I''d been roasted by the sun. The heat was so intense that I thought I might just melt into a puddle. All I wanted was to dunk my face into some cold water, or better yet, take a refreshing shower. If I weren''t on duty right now, I''d definitely be taking a dip in the ocean...


    As I pondered, a sudden wave of terror washed over me. Something was approaching, and fast.


    "Something''sing!" I eximed.


    The squad immediately snapped to attention as the source of the ominous aura drew nearer. It was a young man, exuding an air of royalty, with a smirk ying on his lips.


    "Hey there," he greeted cheerfully. "Looks like I''ve got everyone gathered. Excellent." With a flourish, he gathered mana and conjured a fireball in his palm—a massive one, evenrger than the Great Fireball spell. This was deadly.


    "I figure it''s best to have you all in one ce for an easy ughter," he remarked casually.


    "Everyone, scatter!"manded the Captain urgently. "That''s Prince Julius. That fireball of his can incinerate an entire city! Run as fast as you can!"


    But it was toote. Prince Julius had alreadypleted the formation of the fireball. With a casual remark of "It''s a shame, but oh well," he hurled it towards us.


    In an instant, we were engulfed by the searing heat, both from the scorching sun and the fiery projectileunched by the Prince.


    ***


    Myrce''s POV


    As we prepared to retreat to our base, a sudden surge of scorching heat swept over me, its fiery tendrils licking at my skin and sending shivers down my spine. With a sense of foreboding, I turned my gaze towards the source, where ominous clouds of smoke billowed into the sky, painted crimson by the raging mes that devoured everything in their path.


    "Julius..." I breathed.


    Without hesitation, I began sprinting towards the inferno, with Johanne at my side.


    "Princess, don''t rush into things," he cautioned.


    "I know," I replied, determination etched on my face.


    We dashed through the dense foliage, the cacophony of our footfalls drowned out by the crackling inferno ahead. As we burst from the oppressive shadows of the forest, a scene of devastation greeted us. Amidst the roaring mes stood my brother, a dark silhouette against the backdrop of chaos and destruction. Hisughter, tinged with madness, echoed through the ind.


    His arms were outstretched, a twisted mockery of triumph as he reveled in the destruction he had wrought. The charred remains of his victimsy scattered around him, their flesh reduced to ash, leaving only skeletal remains behind.


    It was a gruesome sight, one that sent a shiver down my spine. The mes danced in his eyes, reflecting the madness that consumed him. In that moment, he seemed more monster than man, a terrifying force of nature unleashed upon the world.


    "Julius!!!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the crackling mes.


    My brother turned to face me, his grin widening into something sinister. It was a chilling expression, entirely unlike the uneasy smile I was ustomed to seeing on his face. This grin held a darkness that sent a shiver down my spine.


    "Well, well, well, look who''s here," he sneered. "Do you want to join them too, dear sister?"