Year 1579...
The world was ending.
Not in fire, not in ice—but in a torrent of despair and howling darkness.
The sky bled crimson, and the ground cracked beneath the weight of countless horrors. The once-vast kingdoms of Earth had crumbled one by one, consumed by creatures from the Tower—an obsidian spire that hung above the clouds like the eye of an ancient god. And now, there was only one kingdom left.
Keyos.The final fortress of humanity.
But what remained of it was pitiful—just four warriors, standing atop a shattered citadel, their swords trembling in their blood-soaked hands. Once revered as heroes of the Lion Family, now they stood broken, weary, and on the brink of death.
Their armor was no longer gleaming. It was battered and dented, streaked with ash and gore. Cuts lined their faces; their breath came in ragged gasps. And still, they stood.
The Tower raged above, spitting monsters into the world like rain. But not just ordinary beasts—each one was a boss-level terror, stronger than entire armies. These monsters had devoured nations.
There was no hope left.
Except for one.
The youngest of the four still stood firm, sword in hand, eyes blazing with fury. Jun Lion, heir of the Lion Family, his cloak torn, his body soaked in the blood of enemies and allies alike.
"Why are you dropping your swords?!" Jun roared, his voice echoing across the ruin like thunder. "Are you admitting defeat to these monsters?! Is this what it means to be a Lion?!"
The others said nothing at first.
Then... clang.One by one, their swords hit the ground.
Jun turned, stunned. The last three warriors sank to their knees, their lips curled in faint, broken smiles as they looked up at him.
"We're sorry, young master," said the oldest. His voice was hollow, soaked in regret. "This is as far as we can go. There's no point anymore. Even you know it—we can't win."
Jun's knuckles turned white around his blade. "So what?!" he screamed, veins bulging in his neck. "Even if we lose, we die fighting! That's what it means to be a Lion! We don't run—we never give in to despair!"
The three men smiled softly, eyes gleaming with tears. "We know," one of them whispered. "But..."
They never finished the sentence.
The monsters came like a tide of nightmares.
In a flash, they were upon them.
Ripped. Torn. Devoured.
Jun watched—helpless—as his last brothers-in-arms were torn limb from limb. The sound of their dying screams split the air like thunder. Their blood sprayed the stones beneath his feet.
His heart shattered.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Jun howled, his voice trembling with rage. "How dare you touch them before me! You lowly scum—I'LL WIPE YOUR EXISTENCE OFF THIS EARTH!"
And then—he charged.
Like a demon reborn in wrath.
One swing—five monsters down.
Another—ten.
His movements became a blur of rage and swordlight, soaked in vengeance. He moved like a storm—furious, unrelenting.
Twenty.
Fifty.
A hundred.
A thousand.
Still, he didn't stop.
Even as his body screamed in agony, even as wounds opened all across his frame—he kept going. One kill after another. His sword danced in his hands like a bolt of death, faster than eyes could track.
Ten thousand.
At last, Jun staggered. Blood trickled down from his mouth. His arms shook. His sword felt like a mountain in his grip. Yet still—the Tower raged above, birthing more monsters. As if mocking him.
His legs buckled.
But then—
He stood again.
Eyes burning.
"You think I'll die here like this?!" he roared into the abyss. "Even if I die, I'll drag all of you with me!"
He raised his sword to the sky, lightning crackling from its edge.
"Lion Family Sword Art... Final Form—" he screamed, eyes wide with fury and sorrow.
"LIGHTNING STORM!"
The sky obeyed.
Bolts of divine light split the heavens, raining down in an unstoppable storm. Thunder shattered the sky. The earth split. For a moment—just a moment—the world was light again.
Thousands of monsters were turned to ash.
But the cost...
Jun's body collapsed to one knee.
His breath came shallow.
He looked around the empty battlefield, now littered with corpses and ash. He was alone.
Utterly alone.
"So... this is it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What's the point of being the strongest... if I couldn't protect anyone?"
Tears streamed down his face.
"It was all that bastard's fault... The King of the Handol Kingdom. He... he challenged the final floor for his own honor. He failed. And the world paid the price."
Jun fell to the ground.
"Damn it... What's the point of blaming him now... It's over."
His vision faded.
Darkness took him.
Darkness. Silence.
Then—a voice.
"Jun Lion... son of Kal Lion..."
Jun's eyes fluttered open. But there was no light. Only an endless, cold void.
"Who are you?!" he shouted, startled.
"You'll know... when the time comes," the voice said. It was neither man nor woman. Neither kind nor cruel. "I've chosen you. For your strength... and your will."
Jun narrowed his eyes. "Don't order me around. I'm a Lio—"
"Silence," the voice snapped. "Your pride means nothing here. Be quiet and listen."
Jun grit his teeth. "I don't care who you are. If you want something from me, then—"
"I don't need anything," the voice interrupted with a low chuckle. "But you? You need a second chance. And I'm giving it to you."
"Then speak clearly!" Jun shouted. "What do you want me to—"
"Take it," the voice said.
Jun blinked. "Take wha—"
[DING]
A chime rang in his ears. Suddenly, lines of glowing light appeared before him, weaving into a translucent screen.
[MONARCH SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Jun stepped back, confused. "What the hell is this?"
"You'll see soon enough," the voice said, already fading. "Take care, Jun Lion."
"Hey—wait—!"
[YOU WILL BE SENT TO ANOTHER WORLD IN 5 SECONDS]
Jun stared at the screen, jaw slack. "Are you f*cking kidding me?!"
[5]
[4]
[3]
[2]
[1]
The world vanished.
To be continue...