The Dragon King charged forward without hesitation.
The Hydras, roused by his movement, let out wild roars and charged as well—but they were no match. The Dragon King tore through them mid-flight, using his body to rip and burn them apart.
He grabbed and incinerated any that came near, then hurled their flaming bodies straight at Pride.
Faced with a barrage of burning Hydras, Pride could only block them with his tails before swallowing them whole.
"Is that all you can do?" he asked coldly.
"Not even close," the Dragon King roared back.
He drove his fist deep into the ground, grabbing hold with all his might. Cracks spread outward like spiderwebs until he heaved up a massive chunk of earth, engulfed it in fire, and hurled it like a meteor toward Pride—rushing close behind it.
Pride responded by roaring, unleashing a shockwave that shattered the fiery boulder mid-air. Then, with a swing of his tails, he sent the fragments hurtling back at the Dragon King.
Unfazed, the Dragon King smashed through each incoming chunk with his fists, advancing steadily. The broken rocks crashed down like a meteor shower, crushing the Hydras below—and heading straight for the Leaders.
"The hell?! Did he forget we're still here?!" the Dwarf King bellowed.
They dodged as best they could, but the Elf King quickly directed the guardian to raise a massive wind barrier, deflecting the falling debris toward the Hydras.
Without pause, he sent the guardian charging forward, scattering Hydras in its path.
As it neared Warth, wind wrapped around the guardian's arm, forming a spiraling drill.
It drove the wind drill straight into Warth's body, colliding with rocks and shattering them.
But the destruction couldn't keep up with the regeneration. The debris reformed faster than they could be broken.
"The recovery speed is insane," the Elf King muttered, unnerved.
Then a chill ran down his spine—one of Warth's eyes opened before him, staring.
Claws burst from the ground, clamping around the guardian. The Elf King tried reinforcing the armor with wind, but it wasn't enough—the crushing force cracked it.
"Damn it…"
"Release the guardian—now!" the Spirit Queen shouted as she charged forward.
More claws rose up, and Hydras swooped in to block her path.
"Hey, need some help here—!"
Stone giants and sea beasts surged forward, clearing the way for her.
"Need some momentum!" the Phantom King called.
A Phatom warrior grabbed the peacock Spirit, gained speed, and hurled it across the battlefield toward the Elf King.
As the Spirit Queen closed in, the Elf King released the guardian. The claws closed in on him instantly—but the peacock Spirit spread its vibrant tail, unleashing a burst of rainbow-colored beams that scattered the claws.
It swallowed the Elf King, then spread its wings to shield itself. With a mighty push, it soared into the sky.
Warth's eyes tracked their escape. More eyes opened, firing beams of light.
The peacock cloaked its wings in dense magic, blocking beam after beam. But there were too many—the wings were pierced again and again.
"This is really bad," the Spirit Queen growled. "We need another plan."
"Let me help," said the Elf King, placing a hand on her shoulder.
He closed his eyes, raising his hand.
"I didn't think I'd need this"
And then the Elf King began to mutter the spell.
"Blood and Flesh… Fire and Steel… War and Death…"
"Wait—are you trying to—?" The Spirit Queen's voice shook.
"There's no other choice. And if we'll be reborn to fight alongside the King… why not let them enjoy it?" he said coldly.
"You're insane… you think they'll help us?"
"Do you have a better idea?" he asked.
"…No… I don't."
"Then I'll continue."
His voice echoed across the battlefield, wrapped in fire and fury.
"With this body, I offer it…"
His veins bulged, skin paled, blood poured from his eyes and ears.
"Elf King—!"
He raised a hand to silence her, then stepped off the peacock Spirit and plunged downward—through the rain of light.
Warth opened its massive jaws, swallowing him whole.
Inside the darkness, death loomed.
"This sucks... I just got revived and now I'm dying again…" he muttered. "Whatever. I'll leave the rest to you."
Warth's glowing eyes peered from the shadows. Claws emerged, squeezing him tightly.
But he continued.
"Awaken… former rulers… the battlefield calls… rejoice in it again… and—"
The claws crushed him. Only bloodstains remained.
Then—out of the blood—mad voices erupted.
"MAKE THE ENEMY SUFFER—!"
The claws trembled, pushed back by an unseen force.
Outside, the Leaders still fought desperately.
"They keep multiplying—this is worse than a Star Eater!" the Dwarf King cursed, launching missiles and cannons.
The smaller Hydras burned to ash. The larger ones shrugged off the damage and advanced—until they slammed into an invisible wall.
The Deep Sea King hurled his spear, triggering a high-frequency shockwave that stunned the Hydras.
Bloody spears rained down, felling the beasts—but as new ones approached, the fallen rose again to strike.
"I didn't expect you to know that technique," the Deep Sea King said.
"I picked it up recently," the Mermaid Queen replied, flustered.
"Don't believe her," another voice said. "She practiced it to pierce us."
The Deep Sea King looked at her in shock.
"Is that true…?"
"It's in the past! Let's not bring it up again," she said, embarrassed.
"Really…" he sighed.
"Can you two stop flirting mid-battle?" a forest ranger grumbled.
The Spirit Queen descended, bleeding heavily.
"You okay?" the Dwarf King asked. "Where's the Elf King?"
"I'm fine…and he will not come back, tell everyone—prepare."
"Prepare for what?"
"…The return of the dark ages."
The ground trembled. Warth's body cracked, light pouring out from within. With a roar, it was torn apart—shadowy figures burst forth, crushing Hydras with brutal efficiency.
"They're…"
The shadows glared at the Leaders with disdain.
"Are you really our descendants? So weak," one muttered.
"So what?" the Dwarf King retorted. "Better than ancestors who only knew how to kill for fun."
"You've got guts," said the First Dwarf King. "At least that hasn't changed."
"Did you just come here to insult us?"
"We just wanted to see how soft you've gotten in peace."
"Enough. We have bigger problems."
Warth's body reformed, even larger than before. Its wild eyes scanned the battlefield. Light gathered in its mouth—and it fired a devastating beam, annihilating everything in its path.
"This is bad," the Dwarf King whispered.
"I'm not the only one who returned," the First Dwarf King said, nodding toward the shadows.
Former Elf Kings joined forces, raising a colossal shield to block the blast.
Giant arms erupted and gripped Warth's jaws, forcing them shut.
"Feels good to be alive again."
"Focus on the fight."
"They're strong," the underground king whispered.
"Of course—they once ruled Utopia," the Spirit Queen said. "War-mad, but powerful enough to destroy entire land."
"Where are your ancestors?"
"…I am the result of crystallized magical flow, remember?" she said, giving him a sharp look.
"Ah, right… sorry."
"Don't apologize. Focus. It's time to end this."
Warth writhed, eyes firing rays to destroy the arms holding it. It turned its gaze on the Leaders again.
"You dare look at us? Then witness our power."
All the Leaders, joined by their ancestors, began casting powerful magic together—ready to end Warth.
Meanwhile, the Dragon King still struggled to reach Pride.
"Damn it!" he growled.
"What's wrong? Tired?" Pride sneered. "Let me end it."
He unleashed a storm of light beams.
Suddenly, massive forms materialized between them—blocking the blasts.
"What!?" Pride snapped. "No matter how many you summon, it's useless."
"Let's find out," the former Dragon Kings roared.
"You're—!?" the Dragon King gasped.
"What's wrong? Scared?" one of them asked.
"No way!" the Dragon King grinned. "I don't do fear."
He rose to meet them in the sky.
"There's our descendant. Now let's crush that ugly thing."
"You dare call me ugly?! You're dead!"
The two sides clashed in a titanic roar.
Even with their numbers swelling, the enemy's power remained overwhelming.
This… would be the final battle.