The heavy wooden doors of the Fortress Palace war room closed behind them, but the echoes of the conversation still lingered in the air like thunder rolling through distant mountains.
Kenshin remained standing, hands behind his back, overlooking the endless horizon from the grand balcony.
The leaders had agreed.
The tournament would happen.
And soon.
But the air was thick with another tension — anticipation of the coming battles... and hope for those who would rise to meet destiny.
Moments later, footsteps echoed down the stone corridor.
Todo — loyal right hand of Kenshin and second strongest warrior of the Fortress Clan — entered the chamber, his posture strong, his expression calm and composed.
Behind him followed Dai and Dante.
Dai stood tall, a fire burning in his crimson eyes — a fire fueled by loss, duty, and an unshakable spirit. His messy black hair framed a face still young but hardened by pain.
Beside him, Dante moved with the ease of a born fighter, his presence sharp and lethal. Around his body, faint wisps of purple energy twisted in the air, forming the shapes of blades, shields, and bombs — the living manifestation of his power.
The two young warriors surveyed the grand war room, feeling the weight of countless battles and decisions made within these walls.
Kenshin turned, his heavy gaze settling on them.
"So," he said, voice low and commanding, "you're the ones Todo spoke so highly of."
Dai remained silent, arms crossed, fire radiating off him in an almost visible heatwave.
Dante offered a slight nod, respectful, but completely unshaken.
Kenshin allowed a small, approving smirk.
"Good," he said.
"I prefer action over words anyway."
He gestured for them to join him at a smaller stone table — a space reserved for discussions that would change the course of history.
Once they were seated, Kenshin leaned forward, his piercing eyes locking onto them.
"Todo has told you the basics," Kenshin began. "But it's important you hear it directly from me."
He paused, the room sinking into a heavy silence.
"The world stands at the edge of oblivion."
Dai and Dante tensed, instinctively sensing the gravity of his words.
"The Forsaken Clan — demons disguised as humans — are gathering power. They are not just beasts from the underworld. They are generals of hell itself, soldiers bred in the darkest pits."
Kenshin's gaze sharpened.
"You two have already tasted what this war will be like."
He let the words sink in before continuing.
"You fought Chrollo — a demon soldier from their ranks. And even he was nothing but a pawn compared to the true horrors the Forsaken Clan commands."
Dai's jaw tightened, the memory of that brutal fight flashing through his mind.
Dante clenched his fists beneath the table, his purple energy crackling faintly at the reminder.
Kenshin leaned back slightly.
"Understand this: Chrollo was merely a foot soldier.
The generals — the ones now gathering — make Chrollo look like an insect."
He paused again, making sure neither of them missed the meaning.
"You two represent more than your clans, more than your own personal vengeance. You represent the future of this world."
He straightened, his voice growing louder, filled with a rare, fierce pride.
"In a few days, the strongest young warriors from the Lightning Clan, the Empire Kingdom, the Water Village, and the Fortress Clan will arrive here."
His gaze sharpened.
"There will be a tournament," Kenshin announced.
"One that will determine who among your generation is ready to fight — who will earn the right to stand beside us against the Forsaken."
Todo, who had been silently observing, now spoke up, his tone even but filled with encouragement.
"The champions will be trained personally by Kenshin and the leaders. Only the elite will join the front lines."
Dante leaned back slightly, his purple eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"And if we lose?" he asked, voice blunt.
Kenshin's response was immediate — hard as steel.
"You don't have that option."
The silence that followed was heavy, but it was not filled with fear — it was filled with determination.
Kenshin stood, his shadow falling across the table like a towering mountain.
"Prepare yourselves," he said.
"Because from here on out... the real war begins."
As Dai and Dante exchanged a brief, silent glance — an unspoken agreement to fight with everything they had — the heavy air of the war room began to shift.
Far in the distance, from the open balcony, the faint sounds of life stirred.
Todo turned slightly toward the window, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"They're arriving," he said simply.
Kenshin nodded, a rare glint of anticipation flashing across his face.
From beyond the great mountains and endless forests, caravans, airships, and small battalions could be seen breaking through the mists — each carrying warriors bearing the proud crests of their clans.
The Empire Kingdom's silver banners gleamed in the sun.
The Lightning Clan's lightning-shaped emblems crackled with aura.
The Water Village's deep blue cloaks rippled like waves even without wind.
And Fortress warriors, Kenshin's own bloodline, stood ready at the gates, preparing for the flood of competitors.
This was not just a gathering.
It was the assembling of the strongest young warriors the world had to offer — the next generation who would either save the world... or die trying.
Dai stepped toward the balcony, his fists unconsciously clenching at the sight.
Dante joined him, his purple energy pulsing faintly around his arms.
"Looks like it's starting," Dai said, the fire in his voice barely contained.
Kenshin stood behind them, arms crossed.
"This tournament," he said, "will be more than a test of strength."
He looked down at them, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of battle.
"It will decide who lives... and who is strong enough to change the fate of the world."
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the Fortress Palace, the first war drums sounded in the distance — deep, slow, and ominous.
The tournament had officially begun.
Hey everyone, I've officially released a brand new book titled "King's Bastard Knight". This project has been a dream of mine for years. As a lifelong fan of epic fantasy stories like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings, I've always been fascinated by tales of kingdoms, knights, royal bloodlines, and the brutal realities of war and power. That passion is what fueled this story.
King's Bastard Knight is set in a rich, war-torn world where honor is rare and survival is earned through steel and sacrifice. The story follows Alex, a boy born without a last name—a bastard of no recognized house—who grows up in the shadow of a powerful kingdom. Despite his lowly birth, Alex is drawn into the deadly politics of nobles, ancient rivalries, and hidden legacies. As he rises through the ranks not by privilege, but by skill and sheer will, he discovers secrets about his bloodline that could reshape the entire realm.
The book explores themes of identity, betrayal, power, and destiny, wrapped in a world where kingdoms rise and fall, knights must choose between loyalty and justice, and one young man must carve his place in history through blood and fire.
If you love stories filled with dark politics, sword battles, complex characters, and world-shaking stakes, this is the book for you. I poured my heart into building this universe, and I can't wait for you to experience the journey of Alex—the king's bastard knight.