Kai Lane: Beginning

"So that's it."

They were quickly moving toward the rally point. They had built a grave for Kevin and buried him there. They couldn't bring him with them. As they moved, Jack briefly explained what had happened. Raiya and Toma stood with their heads bowed in sorrow. Emma, however, seemed unmoved. Kai continued to watch her intently. As time went by, he gained more understanding of her situation.

"She just doesn't remember me. She remembers Kevin and the others perfectly, but even after hearing about Kevin's death and seeing his body, it didn't make sense to her. She's definitely stronger than before. At least she's on par with Kronos. It must be related to my hatred."

Even after recovering from Fenrir's Curse, Kronos still possessed the power that his desire to kill gave him. He still had the same power he had when he fought Fury and the others.

However, he was so severely wounded that he couldn't use it. Besides, there were no hunters left on the island.

'And one more problem...'

Emma didn't know Kai, but when she looked at him, her hateful eyes were more intense than those of the others.

Kai shook his head.

'I don't need to care anymore. I'm overthinking.'

They didn't say a word until they reached the plane's deck. When they arrived, their numbers were almost the same as in the city. Around 20 to 25 were missing.

Although they called the vehicles in front of them "airplanes," they were different from airplanes. They were two or three times larger than a plane and had more seats than could be filled. A few of them could hold more than 5,000 people.

Kai and the others boarded the planes in the order they had arranged in Atlantia. A few minor issues arose but were quickly resolved. As hundreds of people quickly filed into the vast plane deck, a beautiful girl with black hair and bright green eyes approached Kai. She had a slightly worried expression on her face. But that only made her beautiful face more alluring.

"Kai, have you seen Ivan? I haven't seen him since Atlantia. He didn't come with us, and I don't know where he is. I'm worried."

Kai raised his eyebrows when he heard that Ivan was missing, but he quickly calmed down. His expression was so strange that Autumn couldn't understand it.

"Get on the plane, Autumn. I know where he is."

Autumn was suspicious and didn't want to go because of Ivan. Eventually, however, she boarded the plane, unable to resist Kai's cold expression.

Soon, everyone was on the plane. They were leaving the island where they had suffered and been trapped, but where they had also grown strong. Many felt their shoulders drop. Some were crying without realizing it. Their tension had eased, and they could finally return home.

Others, however, had their heads completely bowed. They weren't in the mood to think about the future. Why were they so happy about winning? Didn't they realize that? They knew they had won, but how many losses had they endured before this victory? How many losses had they endured before winning? Was this price worth paying to win? If they had had any other choice, they certainly wouldn't have chosen to fight.

At that moment, Kai was looking out at Sky Island. He looked like he was waiting for something. He seemed to be thinking about something. He had been thinking the same thing ever since learning Ivan was missing.

***

Today was the last day in Atlantia. Today was the day they would attack the Hunters in order to return home. Kai had a blank expression on his face, but deep down, he was happy. He hadn't been home in five years and just wanted to sleep in his own bed again. He could join the army. Or better yet, he could get a job somewhere near New Seattle. He could even be in charge of this entire region.

At that moment, a young man with orange hair approached him. He had a smile on his face, but it seemed sad. His face was pale. The faces of the severely wounded in war were pale, too. Kai was one of them. When the young man came to Kai, he looked at him curiously. The young man simply came and sat in the empty seat next to Kai on the bench.

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Ivan spoke up.

"What do you want to do after you get out of here, Kai?"

Kai was completely speechless. He didn't show much emotion, but that wasn't the case. There was excitement. And with that excitement came hope.

Kai told Ivan what was on his mind. He talked about returning home and spending time with his family. He said he wanted to learn about his lineage. He said he wanted to embark on new adventures with Kevin and Jack and marry Emma and have a child. Ivan laughed, sensing Kai's excitement. Kai's dreams were beautiful indeed.

"I can't go with you, Kai."

Ivan interrupted Kai at that moment. Kai said nothing. He continued to stare straight ahead. Ivan was amazed that his face hadn't changed at all despite his excitement. But what he said next was even more shocking.

"What's on your stomach?"

Ivan laughed helplessly. He didn't know that Kai was capable of seeing it. Then, he lifted his shirt to reveal a black, spiderweb-like mark on his chest. A strange liquid was spreading from the mark. It appeared to be draining Ivan's life.

Even Kai frowned when he saw it.

"I believe one of the leaders we fought was a great poison master. His poison was so powerful that not even you could save me. This poison was prepared using alchemy. Unless you're a competent alchemist, you can't cure it. The only person on the island who can cure this poison is First Leader Afro. But he wouldn't do such a thing. As you can see, I'll be dead soon."

Kai sighed and returned to his blank expression. He asked,

"So, what are you going to do? It seems Autumn and Monari don't know about this."

Ivan laughed.

"Don't worry. Since I'm dying anyway, I'll die doing something useful. You can live your dreams and be happy too. There won't be anything left to worry about."

But despite these words, excitement or anything else showed on Kai's face. Kai sighed.

"As you said, Ivan, These are just dreams. I know they're unattainable.

After all, I have no intention of returning home either."

***

Deep within the Skylands, at the center of the island, there was a mountain. Because it was located at the center of the island, it held special significance. It was the largest mountain in the Skylands. Beneath the mountain was the place where the Cannibal King had slain the Legendary Leaders.

On top of the mountain sat a young man with orange hair, legs crossed. His face was deathly pale. He was the only person on the island unaffected by the Shadow's Bondage. Kevin had understood what he was about to do and had made a special effort not to affect him. Ivan was grateful for that.

"I think they've left. I guess I have to do what I have to do now."

Ivan was born as the eldest child into a privileged family. Everyone had high expectations of him. He always worked incredibly hard. He laid the groundwork for his career early on. He didn't have many close friends. The children of noble families he met didn't show each other genuine warmth. Therefore, he couldn't call them friends.

Meeting Autumn and Monari was a complete coincidence. They both came from other noble families. He didn't know how he became friends with them. Before he knew it, they had entered the same academy and class. Although their meeting was a mere coincidence, Ivan never regretted it. Not then, not now.

There was a smile on his face. His head was raised to the sky. It was as if he were defying the heavens. As if he were roaring at them. He was rebelling against the heavens under which he was as insignificant as an insect. Even if generations passed, he would never fear. He would always stand tall and defy the heavens. Because he was the king of the forest! He was Ivan the Lion King!

He raised his fist to the sky and opened it. Then, his voice echoed through the Skylands like a roar:

"FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUE! THE COURAGE OF THE LION KING!"

The sky split open to reveal a massive lion's head outlined in lush green. It was enormous, covering the entire Sky Island. Everything happened in seconds. Autumn, Monari, and the other developers couldn't believe their eyes. As the lion's head opened its mouth, the entire ocean shook.

RAAAAAAGGGGGGGRRRRHHH!!!!!!

The giant lion's roar shook the land, and the lion descended from the sky like a meteor. It engulfed Sky Island within seconds, sweeping it beneath the sea.

The ocean was shaking so much that tsunamis were anticipated in some coastal areas. Everyone was shocked by Sky Island sinking into the ocean, but a scream brought them back to their senses.

"Ivan!"

Autumn screamed in pain. The Monari stood next to her, making strange noises. If he fell back and fainted, his expression would make it seem normal to everyone. But he just stood there, not reacting at all. Only his wide-open eyes revealed his condition.

Autumn had fallen to the ground and was crying profusely. Some people rushed to her and tried to help her. Some couldn't understand the fall of Sky Island. Others understood why Ivan had done such a thing.

How much blood would be shed to possess this island? The island had incredibly intense energy, and many kings had died and been buried there during the Second Sky War. There were so many valuable things. It was certain to be a target for the Hunters. The developers would attack to prevent the Hunters from taking it. If such an island never existed, there would be no such problem. That's why Ivan took the island to the depths of the ocean.

Kai was still staring at the island. He didn't look at Autumn or anyone else. His eyes filled with sadness, and his lips parted as he said goodbye to his rival, with whom he had fought so passionately for the last time.

"Sleep well... Ivan..."