The King's words hung in the air, sinking into me.
What do I truly want?
My mind wandered, pulling apart the possibilities.
I could ask for gold, enough to never work another day in my life. Live like the nobles here in Drakenburg, surrounded by silk and wine, where the only battles are fought over land disputes and arranged marriages.
Or maybe land—a fortress of my own, men under my command, a place where no one could tell me what to do.
Or even—hell, why not?—women.
A life of luxury, a life where I never had to lift a sword again.
I had earned that much, hadn't I?
And yet…
None of those answers felt right.
Because deep down, I already knew.
I had always known.
The real answer sat in the back of my mind, whispering, waiting.
Power.
Not wealth. Not comfort.
Strength.
The kind that meant no one could control me.
No one could decide my fate.
No one could ever make me weak again.
But what kind of power?
I already had more than I ever dreamed of.
I could raise the dead, turn them into living weapons.
I could see the future, one second before it happened.
And I was already stronger. Faster. My body no longer burned with exhaustion like it used to—every movement felt sharper, lighter.
All of it, thanks to Eindva.
So what was I still looking for?
I glanced at the King.
He was watching me, patient, unmoving. His fingers absentmindedly brushed against his beard.
And that's when I remembered.
The ring.
The King's Ring.
I had heard the stories, the legends whispered through the ranks of soldiers.
The key to the King's power.
Whoever wore it was said to be untouchable.
Immune to any physical or magical attack.
No blade could pierce their skin.
No spell could harm them.
A shield, absolute and unbreakable.
The ultimate defense.
And if I had that—
I wouldn't just be strong.
I would be invincible.
And that's exactly what I truly desire the most.
So I told him.
I lifted my gaze, met his sharp, knowing eyes, and spoke with absolute certainty.
"Your ring, my majesty."
Silence.
I could already guess the reaction before it even happened.
Dain's fingers twitched against his spear. Kira's grip on her sword tightened—they looked ready to kill me right here and now.
Astrid turned to me, her expression unreadable, but there was something in her eyes—offense? Disbelief?
But the King?
He laughed.
A deep, booming chuckle, echoing through the throne room.
"You really want this, huh?"
He lifted his hand, turning it slightly, letting the ring catch the light.
Then, with deliberate ease, he slid it from his finger.
"Yes, many have sought this ring." He turned it over in his palm, as if weighing its worth. "This is, among a few reasons, why I'm still alive today."
His gaze flicked back to me, measuring.
"Its protection knows no bounds. Whoever wears it is invincible."
He leaned forward, fingers curling over the ring.
"And I am a man of my word."
I held my breath.
"You'll get this ring, Erik."
A pause.
A shift in his tone—lower, heavier.
"However… I have one last thing to ask of you, Hero of Valkenheim."
I swallowed, my grip tightening at my sides.
I knew it wouldn't be easy.
The King leaned back in his throne, his expression turning grave.
"Ever since the Heroes of the Realm vanquished the last demon in this realm," he began, voice steady but weighted with years of responsibility, "our world has remained dangerous."
His sharp eyes scanned the chamber.
"Demons were just one threat." He exhaled slowly. "But there are others. Others that loom over our existence, even here in Valkthara."
He turned his gaze back to me.
"Thanks to you, Erik, we have rid ourselves of one of those threats." His voice didn't hold the same amusement as before—this time, it was genuine.
"The Mother was the source of the Schädelwyrms. With her gone, we have room to breathe. To regroup. To refocus."
A pause.
Then, his fingers drummed against the armrest of his throne.
"Among all the dangers that remain… the greatest to me is the Skarnhaal."
The name sent a quiet chill down my spine.
"A race that should never have existed." The King's tone darkened. "A mix of Orc and Elf—taking the worst and best from both."
I already knew what that meant.
The intelligence of the Elves.
The strength and savagery of the Orcs.
A race with the mind of a strategist and the body of a warlord.
And worse?
"Thankfully, they have remained underground." The King's voice was low now. "Right beneath our feet."
But something in his expression told me that luck was about to run out.
"Among my many spies, I have heard whispers. Talks of them resurfacing."
His fingers curled around the ring still resting in his palm.
"If that happens… it won't just be Valkenheim that falls."
His eyes met mine, cold and unwavering.
"It will be the end of all Valkthara."
The room felt heavier now.
"They are an army of their own." His voice was measured, controlled, but I could hear the weight behind it. "Hundreds of thousands strong. Ruthless. Capable. With their minds and their might combined, they will take whatever they want."
He let the words sink in before he finally asked:
"So tell me, Erik."
A pause.
"Will you kill them for me?"
So this is it.
The one obstacle that separates me from being invincible.
The King's fingers curled around the ring, his gaze unwavering.
"Kill them for me, Erik."
His voice was calm, steady—absolute.
"And I will grant you my word and promise. You will have this ring."
He turned the small band of metal between his fingers, the weight of his words settling into my chest.
"For after their death, I will have no need for protection anymore."
It was a dangerous task.
A suicide mission.
But this was my choice.
This was the request I made.
I wanted to be strong.
I wanted to be powerful.
But more than anything—I wanted to be invincible.
And to do that—
I had to kill the Skarnhaal.
I exhaled slowly, gripping my hands into fists, my voice steady as I met the King's gaze.
"Very well, my King."
A pause.
Then, firmly—
"I'll take your challenge."
The King's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Valkthara owes you their lives. They will pray for you in their sleep."
His voice echoed through the throne room, filling the space between us like an unbreakable pact.
"Get rid of them."
His hand tightened around the ring.
"For you. For me. For Valkenheim."
A final pause.
"For this realm."