Foresight Of Impending Chaos

We complied with the King's orders and embarked on the ship, setting off on our journey. As I turned to glance back, I caught sight of the soldiers arriving at the location where the King was, bringing a sense of relief to my mind.

After a brief period of time, the first Kingdom vanished from our sight and we found ourselves entirely surrounded by the vast expanse of the sea. Babu and Lezlie stood in awe, taking in the mesmerizing view of the endless blue waters, while Hiroshi remained seated at the corner of the ship, meticulously tending to his weapons.

The ship's captain approached me and spoke cordially, "It is my honor to see the King's companions off our vessel. If any inconvenience or trouble arises, please do not hesitate to contact me."

I replied with gratitude, "Thank you, Captain. I will definitely keep that in mind."

The captain then made his way towards the helm, while I retreated to the ship's cabin to take a quick nap. As I closed my eyes, I surrendered myself to the tranquility of the sea and the gentle swaying of the ship, gradually drifting into a deep slumber.

When I woke up, I found myself in complete darkness, with no one else around. At first, I struggled to distinguish whether it was a dream or reality, pinching myself to confirm the veracity of my situation. I realized it must be a dream since I could not feel anything.

Feeling helpless, I waited for something to happen, until I heard a sound of breathing echoing through the darkness. Without any other option, I cautiously moved towards the direction of the sound.

To my surprise, I stumbled upon a throne with an enigmatic figure seated on it. Although his face remained shrouded in darkness, I could discern the color and length of his long, lustrous white hair. The man sat motionless, refusing to speak or budge.

Then, with a thick and ominous voice, he said, "For the first time in countless years, someone has successfully brought an end to the rule of one of the epics. And that someone is none other than you."

Stunned by his knowledge, I questioned him in astonishment, "How do you know about my encounter with the first epic? Who are you?"

In a moment of chilling clarity, the menacing figure before me revealed his true nature. "I'm just someone looking for power," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I am just someone who wants this world to be better, just like the old king wanted it to be better."

I was startled to realize that this was the voice I had heard in my dream before I set out on my journey. "I remember this voice," I said, my voice trembling with fear. "What do you want from me? Why do you keep coming into my dreams? Who are you?" I asked one question after another.

"To some, I am a nobody, to others I am the fifth epic, but to others, I am known as the leader of epics. But we're not here to talk about me, Ryuu," he replied, his eyes glinting with an unsettling mix of amusement and menace. "There is more than it looks. And I can feel it in you. Compared to others, you're strong, you're determined. But you got the wrong ideas."

I bristled at his words, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. "I'm not a person who kills people for fun," I retorted, my voice tinged with defiance. "I'm behind my word, even if I die."

"Death is not something to be underestimated," he replied, his voice softening slightly. "A fearless person is not only afraid of death. And fearlessness is yours when you have nothing to lose. Now tell me if you have anything to lose."

I paused, realizing the truth in his words. "Every one of us has something to lose in this world," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "And sometimes you can't bring them back. There is nothing you can do about that. But that is why I am here. I am trying to stop this from happening millions of times more. Even my friends know this. They know that if we can't stop you, everything will come to an end. And even though I will lose my sanity at some points, I have to do this."

Suddenly, the fifth epic demonstrated his terrifying power, clenching his fist and forcing me to my knees without even touching me. "You remind me of someone I knew," he said, his voice now tinged with regret. "Someone strong, someone like you, who thought more of others than of himself, but it caused his death."

But then, in a chilling moment of clarity, the epic's voice rose to a deafening shout. "Don't underestimate me, child," he bellowed, his eyes blazing with fury. "Or I will end all kingdoms with you!"