Chapter 265: Last Stand of Ozamon

[: 3rd POV :]

Within the last remaining kingdom, the atmosphere inside the royal conference hall had long since become suffocating.

Silence lingered between every breath.

Not because there was nothing left to discuss.

But because every possible solution had already been exhausted.

A massive table occupied the center of the hall.

Upon it rested a detailed map of the Kingdom of Yemia.

The once magnificent kingdom was now covered with countless crimson markings.

Every mark represented a fallen fortress.

Every black line represented a defensive wall that had already collapsed.

Only one golden circle remained.

The Royal Capital.

The very last refuge of the entire planet.

Around the table stood the rulers of every surviving race.

King Reja of Humanity.

Queen Elyria of the High Elves.

King Borin Ironhammer of the Dwarves.

Dragon Queen Seraphina.

King Grom of the Giants.

Spirit Queen Sylphia.

Beast King Ragnar.

Fairy Queen Luminia.

Sea King Nerion of the Merfolk.

Vampire Queen Carmilla.

Once upon a time, each of them ruled flourishing kingdoms, but now…they ruled nothing more than refugees.

No one spoke.

No one even had the strength to raise their heads.

The silence itself carried despair.

Finally…King Reja slammed both hands onto the table.

His tired eyes stared helplessly at the map.

“…There has to be something.”

His voice was hoarse from exhaustion.

“There has to be another way.”

No one answered.

Because everyone knew…

There wasn’t.

Dragon Queen Seraphina slowly closed her eyes.

“My dragons…”

“They are nearly extinct.”

“The young ones cannot even fly anymore.”

“They have exhausted every drop of their dragon essence protecting the skies.”

Queen Elyria lowered her head.

“The Great Tree that protected our homeland…”

“…was devoured.”

Her beautiful emerald eyes were dull.

“Our sacred forests have all disappeared.”

“There are no more elves left to send.”

King Borin clenched his fists tightly.

“The last underground fortress collapsed yesterday.”

“The mountain cities that stood for thousands of years…”

“…are gone.”

His rough voice trembled.

“My people have nowhere left to return.”

Spirit Queen Sylphia smiled bitterly.

“The rivers have become poisoned.”

“The spirits are disappearing.”

“Nature itself is dying.”

Beast King Ragnar struck the table angrily.

“My warriors continue fighting without sleep.”

“But every time one Ututh dies…”

“Ten more replace it.”

“How are we supposed to win a battle like this?”

Fairy Queen Luminia hugged herself quietly.

“Our children are frightened.”

“They no longer ask whether we’ll survive.”

She lowered her gaze.

“They only ask whether dying hurts.”

Those words pierced everyone’s hearts.

Even the usually composed Vampire Queen Carmilla slowly closed her crimson eyes.

“My people survive by consuming blood.”

“But everyone is already starving.”

“There is nothing left.”

Sea King Nerion sighed heavily.

“The oceans are no longer safe.”

“The Ututh have reached even the deepest trenches.”

“There is no sanctuary.”

The room fell silent once again.

Each race…

Each kingdom…

Each civilization…

Had reached its absolute limit.

King Reja slowly raised both hands before grabbing his own hair.

His breathing became uneven.

“…Why…”

His voice shook.

“…Why isn’t there a way…”

His fingers tightened painfully.

“…What am I supposed to do…”

His shoulders trembled.

“I am their king…”

“They entrusted everything to me…”

“They believed I could protect them…”

His breathing became heavier.

“But I can’t.”

“I can’t save anyone.”

Queen Elyria quietly placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You’ve done everything you could.”

King Reja immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“I haven’t.”

“I failed.”

“I watched countless kingdoms fall.”

“I watched countless children lose their parents.”

“I watched heroes die one after another.”

“I promised everyone…”

His voice cracked.

“…that this kingdom would never fall.”

Tears slowly gathered in his eyes.

“But I lied.”

No one corrected him.

Because no one had the strength to.

Suddenly…

*BANG*

The enormous conference doors burst open.

Everyone instinctively turned.

A commander stumbled inside.

His silver armor was completely broken.

Blood covered almost every part of his body.

One of his arms hung limply.

His breathing was frantic.

“Y…Your Majesty…!”

He collapsed onto one knee.

King Reja’s eyes widened.

“What happened?”

The commander’s lips trembled violently.

His face was filled with terror.

“The…the defensive wall…”

He struggled to breathe.

“…has fallen.”

The entire hall froze.

The commander continued.

“The final barrier…”

“…has been breached.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

No one moved.

No one even breathed.

Then…

“The Ututh…”

The commander lowered his head.

“…they’re inside the capital.”

Those words shattered the final hope everyone had been desperately holding onto.

Queen Luminia covered her mouth.

“No…”

King Borin slowly closed his eyes.

“So…”

“This is the end.”

The Spirit Queen silently wept.

Dragon Queen Seraphina lowered her head.

The Beast King clenched his fists until blood flowed from his palms.

Even Carmilla’s usually calm expression collapsed.

Outside…

The sound of screaming echoed throughout the city.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Buildings collapsed.

The roars of monsters filled the skies.

Children cried.

Soldiers shouted desperately.

The kingdom had fallen.

King Reja suddenly stood.

His chair crashed onto the floor.

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“No.”

Everyone looked toward him.

He slowly walked toward the exit.

“There are still people outside.”

“They’re still fighting.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

“As long as one citizen remains alive…”

“…I will fight beside them.”

Mana exploded from his body.

Brilliant silver light engulfed him.

Within seconds…

Magnificent silver white armor covered his entire body.

Ancient runes illuminated every plate.

A royal cape flowed behind him.

His sword appeared within his grasp.

The King of Humanity had entered the battlefield.

Queen Elyria smiled sadly.

“You really are hopeless.”

She stood beside him.

Green light surrounded her body.

Elegant emerald armor formed naturally from ancient branches.

A bow made entirely from the Great Tree appeared within her hands.

King Borin laughed loudly.

“Hahaha!”

“If we’re dying…”

“…then let’s die fighting!”

Golden armor covered his muscular body.

A gigantic war hammer slammed onto the ground.

Dragon Queen Seraphina spread magnificent crimson wings behind her.

“If this is the final battle…”

“…then dragons shall not hide.”

One after another…

Every remaining ruler stood.

Beast King Ragnar.

Spirit Queen Sylphia.

Fairy Queen Luminia.

Sea King Nerion.

Vampire Queen Carmilla.

Giant King Grom.

None of them intended to survive.

They simply wished to buy one final moment for their people.

King Reja looked at everyone.

“…Thank you.”

Dragon Queen Seraphina smiled.

“We’ve fought together for years.”

“It would be strange to stop now.”

King Borin raised his hammer.

“Let’s show these monsters why Ozamon stood for so long.”

Everyone nodded.

Then…

Together…

The rulers of the final races stepped outside.

The moment the palace gates opened…

Chaos greeted them.

The capital had become hell itself.

Buildings burned.

The streets overflowed with blood.

Thousands of Ututh rampaged through the city.

Soldiers desperately fought while protecting fleeing civilians.

Everywhere…

People screamed.

“Protect the children!”

“Hold the line!”

“Don’t let them through!”

A knight was torn apart before their eyes.

An elderly mage exhausted his remaining mana before smiling as monsters consumed him.

A mother shielded her daughter with her own body.

The girl screamed until her voice disappeared.

King Reja’s pupils trembled.

“No…”

His sword immediately flashed.

A silver arc instantly cut apart dozens of Ututh.

“Everyone!”

His voice thundered across the battlefield.

“I’m here!”

The soldiers immediately looked up.

“His Majesty!”

“The King!”

Hope briefly returned.

King Reja rushed forward without hesitation.

His sword danced continuously.

Every swing destroyed countless monsters.

Yet…

More appeared.

They never stopped coming.

Queen Elyria released hundreds of emerald arrows.

Each arrow pierced multiple monsters.

King Borin crushed gigantic Ututh beneath his hammer.

Dragon Queen Seraphina descended like a meteor, engulfing the battlefield in dragon fire.

The remaining rulers fought desperately.

But even they began accumulating wounds.

There were simply too many enemies.

A young Beastkin commander smiled weakly toward King Ragnar.

“My King…”

“…I’m sorry.”

Before Ragnar could reach him…

A gigantic Ututh crushed him beneath its claws.

“NO!”

Ragnar roared in anguish.

Nearby…

An elderly elf quietly smiled toward Queen Elyria.

“It…was an honor…”

A spear pierced his chest before he could finish.

Queen Elyria’s tears finally fell.

One after another…

The people they had fought beside for years…

The friends they had laughed with…

The comrades they had trusted…

All fell.

The battlefield became a sea of grief.

Even the rulers could no longer suppress their emotions.

Dragon Queen Seraphina screamed in sorrow after witnessing the last ancient dragon collapse from the sky.

King Borin watched his final royal guard disappear beneath countless monsters.

Spirit Queen Sylphia cried as the last great spirit protecting the capital faded into light.

There was no longer any strategy.

No formations.

No plans.

Only desperation.

Only rage.

Only the desperate desire to protect something.

Even if it meant dying.

The rulers stopped caring about survival.

They charged deeper into the endless tide of Ututh.

If this truly was the end of Ozamon…

Then they would ensure their final battle would never be forgotten.