Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1232  A Rebel, Not A Hero

After the big battle, Lucian and Princess Nera started working together as leaders. They decided to split the kingdom into two parts. Lucian took charge of the west side, and Nera took charge of the east side. They both agreed to share control of Yalenia, the capital city, where they also built a new palace.

In the days following the battle, the people of Yalenia worked hard to fix the city. The new palace was built where the old tower used to be. This tower had fallen down for reasons no one knew. The new palace was bigger and looked different because it mixed styles from both the east and west parts of the kingdom.

People in the city were busy rebuilding their homes and shops. There was a lot of construction everywhere, and the city started to look new again. The workers built new roads and cleaned up all the mess from the battle. Everyone helped out, and there was a feeling of hope and excitement in the air.

Lucian and Nera made sure everyone who needed help got it. They set up places where people could get food, water, and medical care if they were hurt. They also made sure there were guards to keep everyone safe while the city was being fixed.

Even though some people were not sure about having two rulers, they saw that both Lucian and Nera were working hard for the good of the city. Lucian looked after the city's safety and kept in touch with the soldiers. Nera made sure there were enough schools and that the markets had everything people needed.

Soon, the city of Yalenia became a busy and happy place again. People were going about their daily lives, children were playing in the new parks, and shops were open with lots of things to sell. The city was full of life, and everyone started to feel good about the future.

Inside the grand hall of the new palace, the vast windows poured daylight onto the gleaming marble floors. Arthur, Lucian, and Nera stood around a large map spread out on a table, discussing the kingdom's future amidst external threats. The palace itself was a fortress of unity, blending the aesthetics of both the eastern and western territories of Yalen.

Lucian pointed to the Vernia Kingdom on the map. "I'll go to Vernia," he declared. "They've been too quiet since our battle. I need to ensure they understand that Yalen remains strong and united under our rule."

Nera nodded, tracing her finger towards the south, stopping at the Anerk Kingdom. "And I'll handle Anerk. They've always respected our culture and trade. I'll strengthen those bonds and ensure they see the advantage in supporting us rather than opposing."

Arthur, who had been watching the scene from the window in leisure, turned to face them, a calm smile on his face. "You both have your plans set. Remember, I'm here to protect the Yalen you both will build," he said, his voice carrying a reassuring strength that eased the slight tension in the room.

Both rulers expressed their gratitude for Arthur's support, acknowledging the stability his presence provided. As the discussion was about to turn towards domestic policies, Arthur's expression shifted slightly, signaling a change in the conversation's direction.

"There's something else you both need to prepare for," Arthur began, his gaze serious. "A great calamity is approaching. Alka and Earth will soon merge, and this event will spill both worlds into each other. Monsters will roam freely in our lands, and the influence of the Nameless will drive many to madness."

Lucian and Nera were immediately alarmed, their strategic minds firing with questions. "How can we prevent this? What are the signs? How much time do we have?" they bombarded Arthur, concern evident in their voices.

Arthur raised a hand, signaling them to calm down. "You can't stop it, but you can prepare. Each city in our kingdom must build stabilizing arrays. These will help keep our cities intact and protect our people from the worst effects of the merge."

Nera's determination flared. "We must find a way to stop this catastrophe altogether," she insisted, her brow furrowed in resolve.

Arthur grinned at her passion and determination, then shook his head gently. "Nera, Lucian, I want you to understand something crucial—I am the one who seeks to unite these worlds. It's a dangerous path, yes, but it's necessary. The merge will bring chaos, but also new opportunities and strengths. We will face it together, and we will overcome."

Nera's brow furrowed as she absorbed Arthur's startling revelation. "Why? Why do you insist on merging these worlds? What drives you to take such a risk?" she asked, her voice tinged with both concern and disbelief.

Arthur turned away from them, looking into the far distance through the palace's grand windows. The room fell into a tense silence, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the bustling city. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and tinged with melancholy. "I'm doing it to save someone I love," he confessed. "I know it sounds selfish, and perhaps it is, but I am prepared to face the consequences."

Nera shook her head, frustration evident in her tone. "Many will die because of this, Arthur. Do you understand that?"

Arthur turned back to face her, a faint smile on his lips. He walked towards Nera, stopping just a foot away from her. "I was never a hero, Nera. I'm a rebel, much like you. I will continue on this path, whether I am loved or hated by the world," he declared firmly.

Nera glared at him, her eyes sharp with disapproval. Before the tension could escalate further, Lucian stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "We're on the same side here. Let's not forget that. We must find a way to mitigate the risks, not deepen the divides."

Arthur exhaled deeply and walked back towards the window, his demeanor softening. "I've sacrificed too much for this world to simply stand by and watch it suffer. But perhaps my approach has been wrong," he mused, looking back at the rulers. "We must challenge ourselves, confront the madness, and defy the gods. That is my true purpose as the embodiment of wrath."

Nera's expression softened as she listened to Arthur's conviction. "I understand what it's like to feel alone," she said quietly. "But bearing the weight of so many lives will burden you with a guilt that no one should have to carry."

Arthur returned to the window sill, sitting and leaning against the frame, his gaze lost in the clouds streaking the sky. "The person I want to save has waited for me for one hundred fifty years. If the world stands in my way, then I will face the world to see her again."

The room fell silent as Lucian and Nera exchanged looks, their minds racing for solutions. They began to discuss plans to mitigate the worst impacts of the calamity, knowing that they needed to prepare their people for what was to come.

Meanwhile, Arthur's thoughts drifted to his imminent return to Runera. Today was December 27th, and his birthday was on the 31st. He had promised to meet Diana on that day. She was still entrapped in the ice within the ruins of Runera, and he planned to use the Isotox to save her. This action, he knew, would inevitably lead to the merging of the two worlds again.

As Arthur contemplated the days ahead, his resolve hardened. No matter the challenges, he was determined to reunite with Diana, even if it meant altering the fabric of reality itself. The rulers of Yalen, meanwhile, were left to devise a strategy that would shield their people from the worst, while grappling with the inevitable changes that Arthur's actions would bring.

Arthur's gaze drifted from the leaders before him to the scene unfolding outside the grand windows of the palace. Below, in the bustling city square, a crowd had gathered, their attention fixed on two unusual figures: Sarohan, the alien monkey, and Whisker, the humanoid cat. The citizens of Yalen admired their exotic appearances and foreign demeanors, a clear sign of the city's growing acceptance of the extraordinary.

Curious, Arthur turned back to Lucian and Nera. "How did you manage to improve my reputation among the people?" he asked, nodding towards the scene below.

Nera responded with a confident smile. "We told them that the enemy of one's enemy is their friend. After the four empyreans attacked Yalen, it became clear that we couldn't afford to make enemies out of everyone."

Lucian chimed in, "We also revealed the past mistakes of the previous king, particularly his abandonment of Kera, which led you to despise him. By showing your reasons, we helped them understand your perspective."

"Moreover," Nera continued, "we explained that when you saw the people protecting me during the attack, it changed your view. You became a guardian of the kingdom rather than its adversary."

Arthur's lips curved into a grin as he absorbed their words. He looked down again at the mingling figures of Sarohan and Whisker with the citizens, pondering the shifts in perception and allegiance. His thoughts wandered to his own journey and destiny. He recalled the tale of his ancestor, Ragnar Netherborne, who was betrayed by those closest to him—those who wished to save magic from his grasp.

Yet, Arthur was different. He was both creation and wrath, a being with the power to change worlds and challenge gods. His path was his own to forge, unbound by the past yet influenced by the deep currents of history and bloodline.

As he watched the citizens of Yalen embrace the unusual and the foreign, Arthur wondered about the road ahead. Would his choices lead him to isolation or to a new era of unity? Could he avoid the betrayals that had marred his lineage, or was such conflict inevitable?

These reflections filled his mind as he stood at the window, his figure casting a long shadow across the intricate marble floor of the palace. The weight of his past and the potential of his future mingled in the soft afternoon light, reminding him that every decision would shape not just his destiny, but that of the entire world.