Someone stepped forward and stood before Rogg.
"Brother... allow me to take your place this time."
Vuuxi.
Calm. Resolute. His eyes shone with an unshakable light.
Rogg looked at him and nodded."I believe in you, Vuuxi."
Then, in front of the entire imperial court and military, Rogg raised his voice:
"Hear me, all of you! Today, I lend Vermithor to Vuuxi—he shall stand as the representative of the Doliex people!"
"He is not merely my substitute. From this day forth, Vuuxi is the Supreme Commander of the Empire and the Official Representative of my Mother's People—the Doliex! He shall replace Thaldrim Covarthis!"
A surge of murmurs exploded across the court.
To some officials, the name Vuuxi might have sounded unfamiliar.But to those who hailed from Smokeland—those who knew the true face of the Dark Legion…
Vuuxi was a legend.A shadow assassin. A general who never showed his face.
And now… he stood wielding Vermithor.
"Prince Todius…" Vuuxi stepped into the center of the arena."I hope you're ready."
"Hah?! Who is it this time, Rogg?! Another shield to hide behind?!"
Todius's voice boomed with fury, his eyes ablaze with fire.
"I challenged you directly! And yet, you always hide behind others! Where is your courage, huh?! Or do you simply have none at all?!"
But Rogg stood firm. Unshaken. His gaze pierced through the thousands watching.
"In this empire," he declared, his voice echoing to the edge of the court,
"I have no enemies. Our real enemy… is coming—and when it arrives, none of you will be able to stand alone. If you cannot accept me as your leader… then how can I ever lead you into the war that's coming to flatten this world?"
"This choice is yours! But know this: I do not stand here for a crown… I stand to be a true leader!"
Silence fell. The air shifted.
Soldiers, nobles, even princes exchanged glances—confused, unable to read the direction of Rogg's words.
Only Robb, Vuuxi, and Josia Aedrin remained composed—for they knew… what was coming.
"Rogg…" Xaverius looked at him, concern deep in his eyes."What do you mean? What's about to happen?"
Rogg met his gaze with unwavering conviction.
"Prince… you'll understand—if you and the rest accept me as the rightful Emperor. I seek no power for blood, or for name, or ambition. I need trust—complete trust. Without it, we will all fall."
The tension was suffocating. Anxiety spread through the crowd.
Rogg's words rang like a prophecy of disaster. Was it war? A coup? Or… something even darker?
The elders, the generals, the people listening from outside the court—held their breath.
They all knew one thing:
Rogg was not bluffing.
"I'll say this once more," Rogg roared, "I will not waste my time for your approval! This throne… this empire… means nothing compared to the millions of lives who don't care who sits upon it!"
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"If any of you still wish to challenge me after this… know that it will no longer be a duel of honor—
It will be a fight to the death. I will show no mercy. I will destroy anyone who stands in my way… who dares to stop me from protecting this world!"
His voice thundered through the court.
It was no mere threat—it was a declaration from someone bearing the weight of humanity on his shoulders.
Now everyone was frozen in place.
This was no longer about the throne.
Rogg wasn't just wielding a trident or claiming a bloodline.He bore the wrath of gods and the duty of men.
And now…
Vuuxi stepped forward. His right hand gripped Vermithor, the legendary axe.
Before him stood Prince Todius, a mighty figure wielding Aegisfang, the ancestral warhammer of the Whiteheaven imperial military.
The wind whispered.The sky held its breath.The earth beneath them braced itself to witness a legendary clash that would shake the foundations of the empire.
"Prepare yourself, Todius," Vuuxi said, calm and cutting like a blade."Today… true strength will speak."
The sky rumbled. The air grew tight.
In the heart of the Whiteheaven royal courtyard, two warriors stood face to face. Still. Silent. Even the soldiers dared not breathe.
Vuuxi, clad in obsidian armor from Smokeland, wielded Vermithor—the twin-blade axe pulsing with the aura of mountains split.
Todius, broad and battle-scarred, clad in silver-white armor, gripped Aegisfang—the heirloom warhammer, its weight said to rival falling stars. His eyes burned—not just with rage, but with honor.
"Ready?" Rogg called from the throne, his voice steady yet trembling with the tension of the duel to come."Time begins now. Just like before. One single candle."
Todius struck first.
Aegisfang swung like a thunderstorm, smashing the stone floor into shards like shattered glass. But Vuuxi dodged—springing into the air with agility defying his heavy armor.
"You're fast… but not fast enough!" Todius shouted, spinning and swinging again from behind.
Vuuxi twisted mid-air and met the blow with Vermithor—CLANG!!Metal collided, echoing like a thunderclap across the court.
The crowd screamed—unable to believe two legendary weapons had just collided.
"Graaaaaahhhh!" Todius leaped—something rare for a man of his size—and aimed his hammer at Vuuxi's chest!
But Vuuxi slid aside and, using a Doliex spinning technique, slashed across Todius's midsection—exposing a gap!
Blood trickled down.
Todius stumbled back."Heh… you managed to wound him…" Magnoli muttered with a grin.
Vuuxi said nothing. His eyes were locked.
His axe now glowed with a chilling blue light—Vermithor had awakened, resonating with a frost aura sharp enough to pierce bone.
Todius growled. "Then I won't hold back either!"
BOOOOM!!
The ground exploded! His hammer released a Shockwave Aegis, a battlefield-crushing force!But Vuuxi launched himself up, landed on the wall, ran across it like a panther—and leapt again toward Todius—spinning in mid-air—
Three full rotations—
—and then brought down Vermithor with all his might onto Aegisfang!
KRAAAAAKK!!
The hammer cracked.
Aegisfang… was broken.
For the first time… a legendary weapon passed down for seven generations… had fallen to an enemy's strike.
The crowd was stunned.
Todius was thrown backward, collapsing at the center of the arena.Blood dripped from his lips. His hands trembled.
Vuuxi walked slowly toward him, axe raised—but stopped before delivering the final blow.
He knelt and extended a hand."You're a true warrior, Prince."
Todius froze. Silent.
Then... he smiled, bitter yet sincere.
"You've won... greatest assassin of Doliex… And this empire… has found the right Emperor."
He let Aegisfang fall to the ground, shattered, and staggered to his feet—then bowed before Rogg.
"You have my word... and my army."
The court erupted in thunderous cheers.
The Dark Legion. The Hollow Creed. The Doliex. The entire Whiteheaven Empire. Even the nobles of the court... rose and applauded.
Rogg stood, hand clenched over his chest. His eyes brimmed with tears.
Vuuxi… Robb… Xaverius… Magnoli—all rose as one.
For a single, resounding moment of honor… and unity.