NOVPUBThe battlefield was silent, save for the faint crackling of the shattered Earth's Heart in the distance.
Lance had to get help from Aelyndra to check on the Titan king. Luckily for them, she had placed a teleportation formation on him in case he wandered off, so they could track him easily. With that, they simply teleported to where his body laid, hundreds of miles away.
Lance stood at the edge of the massive crater where the Titan King had fallen, staring at the almost lifeless body.
The Titan King's once-massive form lay broken and defeated after his condensed form appeared to have been undone, reduced to a barely-recognizable heap of crystalline debris. Its glowing veins flickered weakly, and its obsidian crown, now dull and slightly cracked, rested precariously on what remained of its head.
Lance approached cautiously, walking slowly towards its head. The Titan King's glowing eyes flickered one last time, its voice a mere whisper.
"You… mortals… cannot… endure…"
Without hesitation, Lance delivered the final blow to the fading light of its core, he wasn't that interested in listening to whatever it had to say. Its body collapsed into lifeless rubble, and the obsidian crown detached, landing with a soft clang at Lance's feet.
He bent down, picking up the crown and holding it in his hands. Though its glow was gone, it still radiated an unsettling energy, a lingering remnant of the Titan King's overwhelming power.
With that done, he and Aelyndra returned to meet the rest.
Lance approached Kaelthara, the obsidian crown in hand. She glanced at it briefly, her expression unreadable.
"Here," Lance said, holding it out. "You should take it."
Kaelthara arched an eyebrow. "You think I want that thing?"
Lance shrugged. "You're the strongest here. It makes sense. Besides, isn't this something that should be under strict surveillance by the dragons?"
Kaelthara sighed, taking the crown from him and inspecting it. After a moment, she handed it to elder Thoryx.
"Keep it safe," she said. "And don't let anyone foolish near it."
The elder nodded, carefully storing the crown in a magical container that looked like transparent wood marked with several runic carvings.
As the group prepared to return to the monster kingdom, the dragon elders, Aelyndra, and even Lance couldn't help but glance at Kaelthara with curiosity.
"How did you do it?" the silver-haired elder finally asked, breaking the silence. "You moved so fast we couldn't even see it."
Kaelthara smirked faintly, looking at them with an unbothered expression as though it wasn't a big deal. "When you all finally decide to take training more seriously, you'll eventually find out."
Aelyndra frowned, crossing her arms. "Mother, that's not an answer."
Kaelthara turned to Lance and Aelyndra, her expression suddenly serious. "If you want to know, come train with me. Otherwise, stop asking."
The abruptness of her reply left both Lance and Aelyndra stunned. The others laughed at the sight, while Lance thought deeper.
"Fine," Lance muttered, earning more laughter from the group. "After all, it was no secret that Kaelthara wished to simply lock Lance away and have him keep up his training.
…
In the days and weeks that followed, the coalition forces focused on tending to the wounded and mourning the dead. The toll of the battle was immense, and the losses were deeply felt.
The dwarven king and the elven god-blessed, both of whom had fought valiantly against the Titans, were confirmed dead. Their sacrifices, along with those of countless soldiers and civilians, weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
Mira, who had awoken to a newfound strength during the battle, took charge of the healing efforts. Her magic had grown exponentially, and she tirelessly worked to treat the injured, her hands glowing with a soothing light. She could be said to be on par with the holy maiden of the human empires. Both of them created a rather effective duo, and no one even thought to question the goblin's qualifications.
The days following the fall of the titan king were filled with constant rainfall, as if the heavens themselves wept for the lost souls. Though, perhaps more accurately, it would have been due to all the water Kaelthara had turned into steam.
Her fight against the colossus Titan had unleashed such immense power that it had evaporated half the ocean, erasing all aquatic life within. That alone would take time to balance out.
Across the monster kingdom and beyond, memorials were erected to honor the fallen. Soldiers, leaders, and civilians alike were remembered for their courage and sacrifice.
The leaders of Lance's forces and those of all races oversaw the burial of the casualties, ensuring that each life lost was given proper respect. Ceremonies were held across the land, uniting the races in grief and solidarity.
At the heart of the monster kingdom, Lance delivered a speech to the gathered crowd, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment, lifting everyone's spirit who listened.
…
As the dust settled and the world began to heal, a sense of fragile hope emerged. The battle against the Titans had ended, but the scars it left behind would take time to mend.
The monster kingdom, once an outlier on the fringes of civilization, had become the heart of a world united. Its capital buzzed with activity as races from all corners of the world converged to rebuild, recover, and forge a new future together.
Humans worked side by side with goblins, elves traded resources with beastkin, and dwarves collaborated with demons to craft tools and weapons for the restoration effort. Barriers of mistrust and prejudice, which had once seemed insurmountable, were dissolving in the wake of their shared victory.
At the center of it all stood Lance.
The leaders of all the races, humans, elves, and dwarves, had gathered in Lance's council chamber to formally recognize his sovereignty.
Aldric, the strongest human king and Lance's ally, was the first to speak. "Lance, your leadership and strength have not only played the most part in saving this world but also united it. There is no one who wouldn't acknowledge you as a sovereign whose might surpasses all others."
Ithil nodded in agreement, now leading his people after most of their sacred home was burnt to the ground, stood and bowed. "Your wisdom and strength have earned the respect of all races. The elves will stand with you in this new era."
The dwarven delegation, though mourning the loss of their king, spoke with conviction. "Your actions have proven your worth. The dwarves recognize you as a leader not just of monsters, but of all peoples. We are forever with you in rebuilding the world in a newer light and might."
Lance, though calm and composed, felt the weight of their words. He had never sought recognition or power under such circumstances, but the moment was undeniable.
"I accept your acknowledgment," Lance said, his voice steady. "But this isn't about me. This is about all of us. Together, we'll rebuild a world where everyone can thrive."
The formal acknowledgment of Lance's sovereignty marked a turning point in history. No longer was his kingdom seen as a threat or an outlier; it was now the center of a united world.
Word of the declaration spread quickly, and soon a formal declaration was held before the eyes of all peoples.
A monument was erected in the heart of the capital, depicting Lance standing alongside representatives of all the major races. The inscription read: "For unity, strength, and a future built together."
…
In the months that followed, the recovery efforts extended beyond the borders of Lance's kingdom. The allied races worked tirelessly to rebuild cities and territories that had been devastated by the Titans.
The dragon elders, however, spent most of their time in the sacred lands, mending the damage done to the Earth's Heart.
…
Following a moment of light celebration through the kingdom, the streets were alive with activity, filled with humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, demons, and countless others.
Behind Lance in his palace, soft laughter broke the silence. Rynne, Aelyndra, Mira, Kaeli, Lia, Rikka and Zarra gathered around a table laden with food, their voices lighthearted as they reminisced about their journey together, though Rikka was quiet for the most part. Having been invited to join in the more private celebration was a bit out of the usual air. Apart from them, a few others were around, but they were seated away doing their own thing.
Lance turned, his eyes softening as he watched them. Each of them had been with him through the trials and battles, standing steadfast by his side. They had all grown stronger, not just in power but in their bonds with one another… though, something about it bothered him softly.
Rynne caught his gaze and grinned, waving him over. "Come on, Lance. You can't just stand there brooding while we're all here celebrating."
Lia smirked, her golden eyes glinting. "She's right. You're not allowed to get lost in your thoughts tonight."
Lance chuckled softly, stepping forward to join them. "Just taking a moment," he said, his tone light.
…
After their time together as everything quieted down, Aelyndra met Lance outside as he watched the city below. From the look in his eyes and his mood, she could guess vaguely what was in his mind.
"You know, Lance. What do you think of our future?" She asked, her tone unusually soft and calm.
Lance was a little taken aback by her question, but giving it more thought, he shrugged his shoulders while looking into the distance at nothing in particular. "I don't know."
Aelyndra walked closer, now standing beside him, both of them looking into the horizons. "You know what I mean, right? All these things, most especially, everyone…" She said, her voice trailing.
Lance caught on to what she was saying immediately, as it had been what had been occupying his thoughts. "Will disappear with time…" he completed.
"… Yes." Aelyndra said, taking in a deep breath. "I've grown fond of everyone here, even though I am a dragon and my case is different. I've always been somewhat prepared of such a future, though, after meeting you all and growing… attached, I wish we could all stay the way we are now for as long as we live… but that isn't realistic, is it?"
"You're right, it isn't." Lance said, sighing deeply.
"Right." Aelyndra leaned into the railing. "As of now, you and I are the only ones who are guaranteed to live past mortal limits, for millennia to come. It is more of a selfish consideration on my part, as I would be sad to lose all of you…"
Lance caught on to what she was saying, turning to meet her unusually soft yet resolute gaze. "Our fates are different, I understand. Cursed or blessed to live through countless generations as the only constant factors through them… certainly won't be easy at all. And yes, I've been thinking of it too, and at the very least, I'd be happy to have you by my side through this journey." Lance said, as both of them looked at each other with satisfied eyes, facing each other for what seemed like a minute.
"If it's you, I'm confident I'll have you by my side always." Aelyndra said, feeling a certain weight falling off her chest.
