(September 13th, 2001. 16 Years Ago.)

LeoDivinus

'It is yet another sleepless night,' I thought to myself.

It has been a few days since the tragedy that took my beloved queen from me and forced me to abandon my son, Prince Zachary. I have not slept in that entire time, and tonight is no different. Countless politicians, presidents, generals, and leaders from all over the world began visiting me the day after the queen's passing, and I have spoken with myriad journalists on the matter. I have asked my retainers to inform anyone tomorrow I prefer to be left alone. A twenty-two-year-old captain by the name of Elizabeth Astralis has come out of her way to support me through this whole ordeal. As a friend of the royal family, she takes her responsibilities seriously. However, she seems to care more about her king than any other thing. In her eyes, she owes me a favor for supporting her through the loss of her older brother, Martin Astralis, who died in a plane crash along with his wife and child.

I stared through the bedroom window at my city, watching the brightly lit buildings and streets with no real goal in mind. The emptiness in my heart was strong enough to make me feel the need for life no longer. I sighed and went to the nearby desk, where I looked at the photo of Queen Zinnia that we took the day Zachary was born. It broke my heart to stare at it for so long, yet I could not put it away. I began shedding my tears at it once more as I struggled to hold them back.

Suddenly, the sound of a crying child struck my ears as it came from the open window. The sounds originated from the royal garden and echoed clearly, like a whispering voice in my ear. I felt my heart racing as I ran outside my room and made my way anxiously to the source of the crying.

"My king!" Captain Astralis shouted as she ran towards me. "Is everything alright?"

"Can't you hear it?" I asked.

"Hear what?"

"The sounds of crying, captain," I responded quickly as I hastened to the sounds.

"I hear nothing, your majesty!"

"What?"

"Are you sure? You have not slept in quite some time, your grace."

"If I were to hallucinate, captain, it would not be today."

The sounds grew louder and louder, the closer we got to the garden. Astralis kept claiming she heard nothing, however, worrying me even more. But when we came closer to the weeping source, the young captain was taken aback by the clear voice, claiming that it was not audible at all until that moment. When we neared the source, I gasped when I saw a basket at a table in the corner. I walked towards it, anticipating to see what my mind has been telling me this whole time. And to my shock, my heart froze at the sight of a newborn infant wrapped in a blanket, crying and shaking due to the cold night air. I also saw a folded letter neatly placed on the infant's chest. Captain Astralis grabbed the letter as I took hold of the little boy and stared at him with admiration and wonder. An infant in a basket appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the night and only I, the sleepless monarch, was able to hear his cries.

"Dearest King LeoDivinus," Astralis started reading. "After centuries of waiting and enduring in hopes of salvation, the day has finally come for the light to shine and the darkness to be banished. I have come to you with the one that is destined to restore the order and safeguard the people. The newborn child in front of you is the prophesied chosen. He has been brought to you on the day of his birth for you to raise and nurture. I beseech you. Take good care of the infant, as he is still but a mortal. The boy, named Justin, is yet to receive the blessing of the dragons. This is a request, not of a goddess, but a caring person. May the light shine upon you. Signed: NeomaFlora."

"By the gods..."

"My king... what shall we do?" The captain asked, with the letter in her hand about to fall.

"This... This is the one..." I spoke.

"It is too dangerous to keep him here, your majesty!"

I sat down on the chair next to me and looked at the baby as he cried in my arms. I began to rock him back and forth, trying to calm him down.  The thought of the infant's family crossed my mind as I stared into his unbelievably divine green eyes. Who they are and what has come to befall them? What does this mean to the future?

"Your majesty..."

"I hear you, captain. I understand. Just let me think."

Without hesitation, the young captain immediately suggested: "I can take care of him. Let me have him, and I will keep him safe."

"No, I cannot do that. That is too great a risk for you, captain. I cannot allow it."

"Your majesty, I'm an Astralis. I can take care of a baby and protect it, please."

"They managed to get inside of here, Elizabeth. They took my wife. I shall not make that mistake again."

I looked at the night sky and watched as shooting stars flew over our heads as I rocked the baby and helped him go to sleep. A simple gaze at the little innocent boy in my arms made me feel an instant connection to him. A love only a father would feel towards his child. But I knew that I cannot let little Justin remain in my arms anymore. It would be a risk far too great for us.

"Astralis, get someone to prepare a car. You and I are going to an orphanage."

I got off the seat and took the basket inside the castle, leaving it in the hands of my most trustworthy retainers. When the car arrived, captain Astralis and I alone entered it and drove to a faraway orphanage. I sat in the front seat near the captain as she drove us, the baby safely carried in my hands.

"I've had security beat us there and secure the perimeter while we're driving. Are you sure this is the right call?" Commander Astralis activated the car's heating systems.

"The castle is not safe anymore. If I let this boy stay at your home or anyone else's for that matter, there is a high chance he would not make it a week. What choice do I have left?"

"I guess you're right, your highness." The captain sighed, remembering how it went down not too long ago. I couldn't blame her, she barely survived the attack and was nearly pushed off the roof.

"If we leave him at an orphanage where nobody would even think of looking, he'd have a higher chance of survival. I want that place monitored 24/7 with undercover agents from the secret service. Everything concerning this boy needs to be relayed to me."

"Consider it done."

Soon enough, we arrived at the orphanage. The area appeared to be devoid of life, showing that the operatives deployed here are executing their job perfectly. I knocked on the door and watched as a civilian woman opened for us. From the looks of it, I realized that none of the operatives had contacted the orphanage to inform them of the situation. She was shocked when she realized who I was, but I had no time for pleasantries. I immediately walked inside alongside captain Astralis and disregarded the woman bowing down.

"Y-Y-Your majesty!" She said as she quickly stepped aside. "How may I help you?"

"This infant," Captain astralis spoke. "See him? We want to place him here and have you take care of him."

"I-I-Indeed! As you wish! Follow me, please!" She said as she walked to a room with us directly behind her. We entered the room and watched as she took a seat behind a desk, pulling out a folder.

"May I know the name, your highness?"

"Justin," I said. "His name is Justin."

"A-Any last name, my lord?"

Pausing, I stopped to think of one that would not sound like something that would trace him back to me. But before any name would come up in my head, Elizabeth suggested the name: "Walker."

"That... sounds nice," I replied. I looked at the newborn in my hands and said: "Nice to meet you, Justin Walker."

She wrote down the name and the rest of the details concerning the infant before making us follow her to a nearby infirmary, where she began to check the child's health and report back to us.

"This baby is of extreme importance, and I need you to keep him safe, healthy, and most important of all: Happy. We have deployed operatives around the area, so do not be worried if you ever get into contact with one of them. I also want you to make sure that no one adopts him. When the time comes, I will have him back. Is that clear?" I explained.

"Yes, your majesty. I totally understand. Your child is in safe hands with us here. A-And my condolences. Her... majesty was... a great loss."

"Thank you," I replied. We then left the orphanage and got back inside the car. As I walked away from the child, I felt the emotional weight holding me back from leaving him alone, but there was no denying that it was the right thing to do. 

"Your majesty, don't you think it's more comfortable for you to sit in the back now?" Captain Astralis asked.

"It's fine. Just drive us back."

The drive back to the castle was silent, as neither the captain nor I had any words to say. The grief in Elizabeth's eyes was all too evident. She clearly cared for the child and really wanted him to stay with us, or maybe even herself. I, too, felt attached to the boy in some way. It felt as if the gods were giving me a second chance at being a father, while also bestowing upon me the duties of raising the chosen one. This is all too much to take in all at once.

"Justin, huh..." I broke the silence. "So, that is the chosen one."

"A nice name," Astralis replied. "Wouldn't you say so, your majesty?"

"A nice name, indeed."

"I cannot believe what is happening..."

"Neither can I, to be honest. NeomaFlora, the goddess herself, sends the chosen one, and he is an infant from another world. No parents, no last name, nothing. Is this the beginning of the end?"

"It is a beginning, alright."

"I just hope he'll be safe."

"He will. I will ensure it. I will get some retainers to go undercover as staff members in the orphanage and take extra care of the boy. Meanwhile, you need some rest, your majesty. You've been awake for quite some time."

"I am not sure if I will ever be able to sleep again after tonight."

"Justin will need you to be at the peak of your strength, your highness. You have to rest so that you can be ready for what comes next," She opined.

Just remembering the little infant brought a smile to my face. "Alright. I will try..."

Surprisingly, I have been able to sleep for the night. I felt ecstatic when I saw that child sleeping in my arms like a little angel. However, I could not help but break down in bed due to being overwhelmed by the entire situation. Captain Astralis and I decided to keep the secret between us and not tell anyone just yet. I began dedicating a large portion of my time to oversee the child and his life in the orphanage on a daily basis. The operation was very successful, and not a single soul grew suspicious of the orphanage. However, Justin did not get along with the staff, he did not make any friends, and seemed very distraught when no one adopted him. The situation got slightly more complicated when the boy ran away from the orphanage to live a life on his own inside a rundown town named Woodpecker's beak. A place that is known for its criminals and shady activity. I have tried to fix the area and make it safer and more comfortable for people to live in it. Some people did not want that, however, and tried to run the place to the ground and keep it a rotten part of society. I have even shown up there myself a couple of times to check over Justin once. The situation with some local thugs escalated and forced me to fight them off while undercover. My agents began monitoring the place and watched closely as Justin made friends with one of the Miller family's children and a demon girl before that.

"She's probably dangerous, your majesty!" Captain Astralis stated as she tried to stop me from visiting the demon girl, who was named 'Mia' by Justin himself.

"I've faced far more dangerous foes, captain. No need to worry."

I dressed up as a homeless person once again and headed to the location of Mia's apartment. When I arrived there, I spotted her by her lonesome. She was sitting on the ground with her back against a wall. The look on her eyes was that of grief and sorrow. It tore my heart just looking at her. She was evidently malnourished despite Justin's attempts at taking care of her. She was like this ever since the day Justin made contact with her for the first time, giving me a slight hint of what the situation in the underworld must have been like for her. But even with such little information, I knew that it was merely the small tip of a never-ending iceberg. Simple starvation could not be the worst thing that she experienced.

I approached her calmly and sat next to her.

"Hello, child," I greeted.

"Hello," She responded, her voice showing the clear unbelievable hunger.

"I believe you're new here, aren't you?"

"I... I am. But I haven't seen you here, either."

She was bold. Talking to a stranger was the least of her worries. It was obvious to me that if she fears anything, it is not a shady individual. The gut-wrenching look on her face was what worried me. "That's because I come and go. Do you know that this place is dangerous?"

"I do. But I have nowhere else to go," She replied.

"Where are your parents?" I asked her.

"I... I don't have any."

"Are you alone here?" I asked. I began hearing her stomach rumbling, so I pulled out a piece of bread I bought from a store close to her home, pretending to be a homeless man with some lucky money. "Here."

"Is this for me?" She asked.

"Well, you seem hungry. I remember when I was back at your age. I had to scramble for food. Have it." I gave her the bread and watched as she devoured it out of hunger.

"Thank you."

"So, you're alone here, right?" I asked.

"I... I have a friend," She replied before continuing to eat the bread.

"A friend?"

"Y-Yeah... He's a pretty nice boy. I was being harassed by two guys when he helped me."

"Alright, and where does your friend live?"

"Nearby," She answered calmly.

"And why is he not with you?" I asked.

"He is working for a store owner. He gets paid in exchange for helping with the cleaning and sometimes managing items. He brings me food to eat every day after he finishes work."

"And why don't you help him?" I asked.

"Huh?" She said innocently as she looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"If he helped you, shouldn't you return the favor?" That was clearly not what I had in mind when I asked that. I merely felt the need to inquire more about her situation.

"B-But I... I don't know how..."

"Ask him then. If he needs something, help him with it. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Especially when the help is coming from you."

"I... I think you're right! I want to help!"

"I better get going," I said as I got off the ground. "Listen, sweetheart. Look out for one another, okay? If he truly means a lot to you, then you should help each other and survive. It's a harsh world out there. Goodbye."

As soon as I placed some distance between the girl and me, I watched as Justin ran back to her, full of excitement and carrying a grocery bag. He waved at her from a distance and her eyes lit up at the sight of the one friend she made in this world.

"Mia! Mia! You won't believe what I did today! I've met a boy, and we became friends! His name is Alex, and I wanted you to meet him, but he left soon after."

I was skeptical of her at first, but as time went by, I realized that she was drawn for him. Not by a need for food, company, or even prey. She was in love with the little deity. It was later when they grew older and moved that I told her of my time visiting her as a homeless man, much to her shock.

After Justin received his powers and moved to a condominium, Justin began to train with Ethan Silver, his caretaker. Before that, we managed to get him an armor forged to him by the gods. I learned that my time is nearing its end and decided to visit my blood-related son, Zachary, for the first time. I contacted his caretaker and went to visit him the next day.

"You're my father?!" He asked when we met.

"Yes, Zachary."

"My name is Zack! And you're the king. I'm not a prince!" He stated.

"I have so much to explain to you, my son. Shall we go on a ride?" I asked, pointing at my car.

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "Yes!"

We went on a trip where he and I explored the state and went on a picnic. This was one of the very few times I saw my son express genuine happiness. Other times he would either be angry at me, or I wouldn't be there to see his joy. He was puzzled and confused throughout our trip and grew evermore furious with me by each visit. This year, I got overwhelmed with the task of preparing my boy for the succession that I did not have the time to actually see him at all. Zachary decided that he would 'visit' me instead and caused terror around the city. He terrorized the entire ascension festival with his actions and fought against nearly all of the city's forces on his own, fleeing from some soldiers while fighting others. He managed to enter the citadel, where he wanted me to come down and face him myself. He even defeated Astralis, who became a commander of the glaives four years prior.

"Come out, father!" He shouted. "How many more of your loyal warriors do I have to beat for you to show your sorry face?!"

I began heading to the elevator to descend to him and come face to face with my own son, but guards held me back. "Trust me when I say you don't want me going in there!" Yelled Zack furiously. I watched as Justin dropped down from the sky and fought Zachary. They charged at one another, clashing swords and swinging at one another. Despite Zachary's tremendous skills and fighting prowess, he was no match to Justin and his raw determination. The latter was very understanding of Zachary's situation and demands. He was very forgiving and even invited him to his birthday party, where, for the first time, my son and I have been featured together in a picture in years. Seeing my children finally meet and hang out with each other nearly brought me to tears. Zachary, Justin, and Mia. All three of them bonded nearly instantly. I could see it in Justin's eyes. He liked Zack and wanted to befriend him, and so did Mia. 

Our happiness was quenched not soon after, as the Roman Empire of the sun invaded the next day. The empire sent its massive force of robotic troops into the city and launched a raid at the citadel, where I happened to be along with my advisors and my children. I was made aware of this beforehand and made various preparations to minimize the damage and fight back against the invaders while evacuating the civilians. I watched as Justin jumped down from the roof and began fighting the imperial troops that tried to rappel into buildings. Despite his tremendous power, I still worried about the child and instructed Ethan to assist him in combat. The latter jumped after Justin immediately.

"Okay, now what?" Zachary asked.

"We need to summon the navy! I want as many vessels as possible to engage!" I said as we descended through the stairs down to the throne room. A secret service soldier gave me a tablet where I watched the giant mothership as it launched other enemy vessels towards the city. I then switched to an outside camera feed where Justin and Ethan were fighting off the invaders.

"Zachary, go provide support."

"Right." He ran towards the elevator and used it to descend faster to the lobby and exit the building.

I began making calls to all branches of the military, preparing as many fighter jets, drones, ships, and soldiers as possible. I was also informed that they began attacking many other cities throughout the kingdom, stretching our troops and hampering our efforts at fighting back in the capital. I managed to secure several navy vessels and air force drones and fighter jets, but until the other locations are cleared of enemy threat, we will not be able to receive any more backup. Commander Astralis went to contact her brother, Benjamin Astralis, and request his aid to assist us. Being close friends with the royal family and having his family being present in the city prompted him to immediately send a few android troops to provide support. However, what he provided seemed to be ill capable of tipping the scales. With our forces stretched thin, the empire sending massive hordes of robots, and outside support being insufficient, I could only pray that Justin, Zack, and Mia would find the power to turn the tables. If Zack were to unlock his royal powers' true potential, he would find it much easier to defeat the enemy.

"Your majesty, there's no response," Said commander Astralis after trying three times in a row. "He is no longer answering my calls."

"Then we're on our own. Prepare mages to get ready and get them on as many rooftops as possible. Have them act as support for the artillery and cast dome spells on buildings."

"I'm on it!"

"Evac points are under attack, your majesty!" A soldier spoke.

"Then send in more troops!"

"We are short on soldiers, your highness!" He replied. I had no choice but to contact Ethan and have him Zachary and Justin fight them off.

"Ethan, I need you to head over every evacuation point and assist in the evacuation effort. Take Justin, Zachary, and anyone you can find to assist against the enemy."

"Yes, your grace!"

Later, when the group returned, the empire launched another assault on the citadel. As Justin and the rest struggled to fight back the forces, Alex appeared and sacrificed himself to ensure the survival of his friends. I watched helplessly as Justin carried his body inside the citadel and into a room I prepared for him. Justin and Zachary then decided to track down the fourth member and left to the castle to find any leads in the royal library. Mia entered the citadel after clearing the premises of all the imperial soldiers. I was at the time inside Alex's room, holding his hand and allowing my tears to fall on the ground.

"Rest easy, Alex. I... I want to thank you for saving my son. Not just once, but twice. You would have made a great warrior. I hope you find peace in the afterlife. Know that the world is in safe hands... Justin is in safe hands. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you did..."

"Your highness..." Mia spoke as she entered the room. "Can... Can I see him?"

"O-Of course." I watched as she entered the room and collapsed at the end of Alex's bed and cried.

"I... I am very sorry. He was taken from us way too early. You... You should let him rest now... His battle is over." That's when she began to laugh like a psychopath, much to my shock.

"He's gone... He is gone..." She spoke.

"Mia? Are you... alright? What has gone into you?" I asked.

"Who is to blame here, your majesty? Who let him die?!"

"What are you talking about? The empire took his life! No one is at fault here but them!"

When she turned around, I saw something that would haunt my nightmares, Mia went berserk and as a result, her demonic form was unleashed. Her fangs burst out of her mouth and her eyes glowed in a bright shade of red. Then two pairs of horns grew on her head as she laughed like a deranged creature. "Alex meant so much to her that she lost her mind..." I tried running to her, but one screech from her was loud enough to nearly burst my eardrums. I feel on the ground and covered my ears.

She conjured her lance and unleashed her demon armor before walking menacingly towards the window. When I went to check her direction, I realized that she headed towards the castle, intending to harm Justin and Zachary. I immediately informed Ethan and told him to contact the boys, along with the castle staff. A couple of hours later, Justin and Zachary returned with a sane Mia. When I went for the elevator, I saw that someone was ascending with it. I watched as the doors opened, revealing Justin as he carried a golden gauntlet in his hands, meaning their mission was complete. At that moment, a ray of hope shone in Justin's teary eyes. He realized that it was not over for Alex. In fact, it was just the beginning. He walked past me and headed to the room where Alex has been put to rest. He later exited the room and went inside the elevator with me. I placed my hand on his shoulder and said: "I'm proud of you." I proceeded to wipe the tears off of his face.

When we made it into the lobby, Justin did not hesitate to rush into battle to support the soldiers fighting just outside the doors. His rage was unparalleled and his courage was unbreakable. However, even the wrath of the new deity has its limits. Even with the powers of a god on his side, he eventually got overwhelmed by the large numbers of imperial robots. All of a sudden, I heard the sound of the second elevator open the doors, and from it emerged the fourth warrior with the golden glimmering bionic arm and white shining hair. His eyes were golden and his body type was drastically improved and enhanced in comparison to the time he passed through me in Justin's arms. His clothes were fixed and all the blood on him was nowhere to be seen. I was bewildered when I realized that the last member of Justin's group was none other than Alex. Alex himself rose from the dead and walked.

"Alex... You... You are back!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, your majesty. I am now determined. I will fight them all for the sake of my friend... no... for the sake of my brother! Pull back everyone and leave the imperials to me." He walked outside of the citadel and confronted the massive numbers of troops, destroying them with ease alongside his dear friend, Justin. When Ethan saw him, the expression of horror and shock on his face was enough. It was like a ghost walking past him.

"Your majesty! Is that..." Ethan spoke.

"It is, Ethan! That warrior is Alex!" Commander Astralis revealed.

When the entire group left to find Alex's family, the empire attacked a day later at night. They have decided to send in one of their strong warriors to take us out and put an end to us. I was sitting in the throne room when a big armored warrior crashed through the ceiling and began attacking us alongside some of his robotic troops that he brought along with him. I conjured a dome around myself and commander Astralis, but others were not so lucky, I watched as some soldiers got caught by the bullets and fell on the ground.

Ethan then entered the throne room and swiftly moved around with his daggers, killing the robot soldiers before attacking the armored warrior. The adversary was stronger than he anticipated, however, and punched him away. I dematerialized the dome and conjured my sword before rushing to Ethan's aid. I tried to strike the enemy, only for him to block my attack with his big sword. When I got a closer look at his armor, I realized that he is a roman general. A Roman general is a human being and not a robot. This one was outfitted with an imposing armor that makes having soldiers accompany him a waste of resources. With his sheer power, he pushed me away and punched Ethan once again, who tried to lend a helping hand. Commander Astralis conjured her crossbow and fired two shots at his armor, distracting him enough for me to land a blow with my sword.

Ethan managed to dash through the room and hit him with his dagger before attacking him once again with his katana. But as the apt saying goes, lightning does not strike twice. The general managed to stop Ethan's next attack and retaliated with his sword. Ethan tried to block the adversary's move but was overpowered. I rushed to Ethan's aid and used lightning magic to propel the general away from him, however, it did not take him but a second to recover and try to attack us. Elena Astralis arrived at the scene and used a beam blasting spell to hit the general and blast him away from us.

"Are you alright, everyone?" She asked.

"J-Justin and... the others are coming. Your majesty... You have to go," Ethan muttered.

"No. I will not let you fight this man alone."

"He's a Roman general, correct?" Elena asked.

"Indeed. He is far too strong for us to deal with. We need to leave." I grabbed Ethan's arm and helped him up alongside Elizabeth.

"You were holding... back, your... majesty... weren't you?" Ethan laughed as I sighed.

"That was an awesome attack, sis!" the commander praised her sister as we moved with a wounded Ethan.

"I may be just an advisor, but I am an Astralis, am I not?"

"You're great at being both, Elena," Elizabeth responded.

"I... I can't believe that you two are so good that you joined at a young age," Ethan said while trying to get back on his feet.

"I am thirty-six while Elizabeth over here is thirty-eight. We're Astralis, so it's not that hard to imagine us joining at a young age," Elena explained.

"Save it, ladies," I said.

"I apologize, your majesty," Elena said. 

And Elizabeth added: "So do I."

Suddenly, the general emerged and ran towards us. I charged at him and blocked his sword with mine. Elizabeth fired at him with her crossbow while Elena used a healing potion on Ethan. The roman tried to push my sword away, but I managed to overpower him for a split second, allowing commander Astralis to land a significant hit in his chest. He charged at her, but she dodged him, allowing her sister to fire a beam of energy at him once again and send him towards a window. This time, however, he seemed all too prepared for the attack and held his ground. Not seeing any other option, Ethan rushed towards the general and grabbed him before throwing himself alongside the enemy out of the window

"Ethan!" I shouted.

"To the lobby!" Commander Astralis said before we rushed to the elevator and descended to the street where I conjured a lightning bolt and fired it at the general and sent him flying in the opposite direction.

I helped Justin and the others defeat the general and put a stop to his and his army's threat. But before we realized it, the true threat revealed itself as the harbinger of the darkness emerged. He was twice as tall as the outside gates, towering over the general, me and everyone else. He was very imposing that even I felt afraid of him. I took a glance at Justin and knew that the boy is still not strong enough to stand up to the evil incarnate.

"Justin, stand back!" I shouted while rushing to attack the giant warrior that stood in front of us. He conjured a spectral sword and sent it flying in my direction, hitting me in the chest. It did not stab me, however, but propelled me away. It disappeared as soon as it made contact with me. I watched as Justin tried to attack him, only to be hit by a strong kick. Zachary tried to attack him with spectral spears, but the harbinger conjured an arsenal of spectral swords, spears, and other weapons and sent them flying towards him, destroying my son's spears and nullifying his attack while landing a couple of swords next to him. Alex's arms failed even to make the harbinger flinch. Ethan, as well, got defeated with a single strike from the warrior.

Justin tried to attack him once again but failed and got hit with a punch that sent him flying away. When he tried to attack Justin with a spectral sword, I rushed to his aid and blocked the attack that would have otherwise harmed my son. I tried to fight the harbinger against Justin's wishes, knowing that this spells the end of my life. Justin cried and begged for me to move away, but my sons' lives are more important for me than my own. Justin still had a lot to learn and more powers to acquire before being able to fight this monster. I had no other choice than to fight the harbinger of the darkness in his stead. I had to make sure that Justin can live to fight another day. With the strong harbinger finally overpowering me, he stabbed me with his sword.

The last word I heard Justin say was him screaming: "DAD!"

I fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I found myself between my beloved Zinnia and a young Justin. Knowing that it was the end for me, I began walking to my beloved's side. But before I could leave, Justin stopped me and jumped into my arms. I watched as he cried in my hands, knowing it is the end but not wanting to acknowledge it.

"Justin... I can't tell you how much I miss you already. I have yearned for a time where I can sit down beside you and listen to what you want to tell me, but this will have to be enough," I said.

"But... I don't want you to go..." He cried.

"I'm sorry. It's time for me to leave, " I replied. "Please, take care of your family and do what you must do. This world is in your hands, my son."

I set him down and began walking to the light... To my queen... He ran after me, but something was holding him back. I looked back at him with teary eyes one last time before continuing my walk to the afterlife.

"Dad! Please, don't go!" Justin cried.

And finally, my duty to my people, to the world, to Justin, to Zack, to Mia... my duty is complete. I could rest knowing that the world is now in the most capable of hands. I did not want to abandon my children, but the time came for me to lay down my life for them, and that I did with pride.

"He is very adorable," Zinnia spoke, finally hearing her voice after so many years. That alone brought me to tears.

"He is. He will soon save the world."

"You did great, my love," She stated.

"Thank you... I know... I missed you, my queen..." I replied.

"I missed you too. Tell me, what about our son?"

"Zachary is fine. I have left him in the hands of his brother now. They will take care of one another and fight side by side. I just know it."

"He will make a great king, my dear."

"Yes, he will. He will even surpass every other king before him, as well. Including me."

"I am sure he will. Now come with me. It's time for you to rest," She said. I held her hand in mine and walked with her to the light.

As soon as I was gone, I saw the spiral staircase where we found Justin's armor. My part of the etching finally carved itself, completing my journey. With only one piece left, it was evident that Zachary will wear the crown and succeed me as the king.

Before we arrived in the afterlife, we met NeomaFlora. It was the first time that I ever saw her face and it was overwhelming. I felt like nothing but an insect, nay, a dust particle. And she was unbelievably breathtaking, which was expected of a goddess. Despite that, she still managed to defy my expectations. "Thank you, king LeoDivinus. I owe you so much," She said before someone else came. When I looked at the person that appeared, I noticed similarities between him and Alex after he acquired the gauntlet. The man, however, was taller than the boy and more muscular.

"With friends like Alex by his side, Justin will stand tall and fight with no fear to hold him back," The person, who I realized is Orunos himself, spoke as he appeared.

And finally, the last person to appear before us is none other than the man who raised me and made me the man I am today.

"Father?" I asked.

"Son, you have done well. I never expected any less from you, and yet, you have defied my expectations. Well done, king Leon."

Then, I found myself in a green grass field alongside my beloved queen, who appeared exactly as she was in her twenties, the day I met her. "You're... Young..." I trailed off.

My wife giggled and replied: "So are you. This is the afterlife for you." Her arms were wrapped around mine as she rested her head on my right shoulder. I took a gander around me and saw multiple people that I did not recognize and a colossal palace made of white, red, and golden materials. I approached it alongside Zinnia and walked up the stairs. When I reached the top, I was welcomed by someone I did not recognize before but seemed very familiar. He appeared to be as young as Zinnia and the people in the vast fields. The man even wore a royal armor. His brown hair was cut in a short style and bright smile was that of a monarch, and seeing that he wore a royal armor, it was evident to me that he is one of my ancestors.

"Welcome, king LeoDivinus," He said. "Welcome to the afterlife."

"Thank you. Who are you, if you do not mind me asking," I said.

"I am king Demetrius. One of your ancient ancestors. It is an honor to finally meet a fellow king such as yourself!" He said, much to my shock. "To be able to talk to the king who raised the long-awaited god of dragons is an honor I could only have dreamt of. Come inside and let me introduce you to the rest of the kings and queens!"

"What is this place?" I asked.

"This? This is one of the many palaces of the gods. This one, in particular, belongs to your son, Juxtynoktrios," He stated. "He did not build it, of course. But when he became a god, everyone went to work on it. Here, you can do whatever you want, as you are a king of the kingdom of RaynoDrakionis."

"So, this is the afterlife, huh?" I asked.

"Well, only a teeny tiny portion of it, yes. There is a myriad of places to explore. I will leave that to your own time. But for now, let us go meet your ancestors!"