Level Up Legacy

Yurirl's words rang with a resonance that cut through the chilling air of the cavern, echoing off the icy walls with a gravity that pulled at Arthur's conscience. He refused to accept Arthur's justifications, his voice heavy with disappointment and a haunting clarity. "Arthur, our fates might be entwined by past battles, but here, your path diverges grievously from righteousness. How can you, in pursuit of personal salvation, justify the potential ruin of worlds?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed, the simmering darkness within him stirred by Yurirl's accusations. "I have taken every precaution," Arthur retorted, his tone laced with a venom born of frustration and pent-up rage. "My plans for merging the worlds are not blind gambles—they are calculated, controlled. I'm not the naive idealist you think me to be. I've crafted safeguards, protections to mitigate the fallout!"

Yurirl, struggling against the pain from his earlier defeat, tried to rise, his every movement a testament to his unwavering resolve. "And what of the lives that hang in the balance, Arthur? Calculations can fail. What then?" His attempt to stand was futile; his body betrayed him, refusing to cooperate with his indomitable spirit.

Seeing his old friend in such a state sparked a flicker of old warmth in Arthur's chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by the urgency of his mission. With a swift motion, more reflexive than considered, Arthur stepped forward and delivered a single, decisive blow. Yurirl's body went limp, the impact rendering him unconscious before he could attempt another futile stand.

Breathing heavily, Arthur stared down at Yurirl's prone form, a mix of regret and resolute determination clouding his features. Turning away, he summoned Whisker with a sharp gesture. The humanoid feline appeared almost instantly, his eyes wide with curiosity and concern.

"Take care of him, Whisker. Keep him safe and out of the way until this is over," Arthur commanded, his voice a low growl that brooked no argument.

Whisker nodded, his tail flicking in agitation as he carefully lifted Yurirl. "As you wish, Arthur. But be wary; the world is not blind to your deeds. There's talk, rumors of gathering forces."

Arthur's jaw tightened at the mention of opposition. "I expected as much. Keep me informed." With a dismissive wave, he turned back to the task at hand, his gaze settling on the massive block of ice that imprisoned Diana. The midnight hour was still some time away, but the weight of the impending moment was palpable.

As Whisker disappeared with Yurirl, Arthur allowed himself a moment of weary solitude. His mind raced with the magnitude of what was to come, every second heavy with the anticipation of both salvation and conflict.

However, before he could gather his thoughts, a sharp, urgent call disrupted the fragile peace. Julia's voice, strained with alarm, broke through the communications rune. "Arthur, we have a dire situation. The entire world, it seems, has turned against Runera. Armies—multiple, from all the known alliances—are marching towards the City of Runes. They mean to stop you, by destruction if necessary." Novel Fire - novelfire.net

Arthur's heart sank, a cold dread settling in his stomach. The world had indeed decided his fate without hearing him out, without understanding the depth of his reasons. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power of his Godslayer Art thrumming through his veins, ready to defend his city, his people, and his heart's sole desire.

"Prepare our defenses, Julia. Mobilize every ally, every rune knight we can spare. This will be our stand," Arthur ordered, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions brewing within. "And Julia... keep the citizens safe, above all. This battle must not claim any more innocents."

As he ended the transmission, Arthur took a deep breath, steeling himself against the chaos that was to come. He knew that the night would be long and fraught with battle. Yet, amidst the turmoil, his resolve remained unshaken. He would fight, not just for Diana, but for a chance at a future where love did not mean sacrifice.

With the world against him, Arthur Netherborne prepared to face the onslaught, a lone figure against the coming storm, his heart both a shield and a beacon as he awaited the decisive hour of midnight.

As the midnight hour drew ever closer, Arthur stood in the cavernous silence, the chill of the ice seeping into his bones. He gazed at Diana, her beauty eternally preserved within her crystal prison. A part of him ached to shatter the ice then and there, to release her from her frozen state before his birthday, as the prophesied time. Yet, another, deeper part of him desired for the world to witness, to intervene—perhaps to prove their unity, even if it was forged in opposition against him. It was a dark wish, rooted in a desire to see his world act as one, even in defiance.

Three hours before the stroke of midnight, the rune communicator buzzed sharply, Julia's voice cutting through the contemplative silence. "Arthur, we've readied our defenses. The armies... they're almost upon us. It's a sight both awe-inspiring and terrifying."

With a heavy heart, Arthur nodded to the empty air, his voice a whisper lost in the wind. "I'll be there soon." He spared Diana one last look, her serene face a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing just beyond the cavern walls. "Wait for me," he murmured before stepping back and summoning the dark energies that would carry him to the city walls.

He appeared atop the walls in a crackle of wrathful black lightning, a dramatic entrance that echoed his turbulent emotions. As he materialized, his presence was immediately felt by all—his army and the citizens of Runera alike. A cheer erupted from the gathered defenders; it was a sound mixed with fear and admiration, rallying around their leader who was both their savior and, potentially, their destroyer.

Arthur's gaze swept across the horizon where, in the fading light, the outlines of countless troops loomed ominously. The moonlight cast long shadows over their ranks, an endless sea of warriors united against him. His heart tightened at the sight, but he forced himself to face it with the stoicism of a leader prepared for war.

As he stood contemplating the approaching threat, Oriole joined him, his usual levity a stark contrast to the grim atmosphere. "Well, if we're to be villains, let's be the ones the world won't soon forget," Oriole joked, though his smile did not reach his eyes.

Velos, the Captain of the Runic Guards, approached next, his armor clinking softly with each step. "My lord," he greeted with a bow. "Runera stands ready to defend you and the future you believe in."

One by one, Arthur's loyal companions assembled on the wall beside him, each a powerful figure in their own right. Whisker, his fur bristling with the static of the charged air; Sarohan the Waiga, his alien features unreadable; Seraphine the Demon, her eyes glowing with a fire born of the underworld; Lian the Tamer, accompanied by his wyvern; Ilia Perli, the Lightning God, his presence crackling with raw energy; Ramiel the Half-Minotaur, his massive form towering over the rest; Koby the One-Armed Mage, his magical energies swirling menacingly; Yuran the Magic Gunman, his weapons loaded with enchanted bullets; Rae the Red Demon, her daggers gleaming ominously; and Alan the Armored Knight, his suit a bastion of indestructible alloy.

Each of them had a story, a reason for standing with Arthur against the world. Their loyalty was forged not out of fear, but a shared vision of a future that could be—should Arthur's gambit succeed.

Arthur turned to face them, his expression resolute. "Tonight, we may be called villains. But remember, we fight for a cause we believe in. Not for conquest, not for power, but for the chance at a miracle—for love, for hope, for the merging of worlds that might yet bring peace."

The group nodded, their faces set in determination. They turned, as one, to face the horizon, where the first torchlights of the advancing armies could be seen flickering like stars come down to earth.

"This night, let no one falter. Let no one say we stood idle when our world called for change," Arthur declared, raising his hand. The air around them thickened with magic, a palpable force of will and power.

As the armies drew nearer, the night air filled with the sounds of marching, the clinking of armor, and the murmur of a thousand voices. The world had indeed united against him.

As he witnessed their unity, Arthur wondered if the world has ever united in such a way against a common enemy. It made him laugh, a booming laughter echoing throughout the world as his followers bore witness.

"Behold their unity against us!" he threw his arms wide, a crazed grin painted on his face. "We terrified the entire world by a single declaration! None of them considered it a joke, but a reality that they shall soon witness!"

His army, guildsmen of Ascent handpicked by Julia, roared in a cheer. But the citizens of Runera seemed worried, and Arthur noticed it too. Thus, he addressed his citizens next.