Yaman ran.
He stumbled—again.
His legs buckled beneath him, his breath tearing through his chest like fire. His right arm hung useless, broken, while his left trembled from exhaustion.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
I have to reach him…
The ground cracked beneath his feet, lava glowing through the fractures like the veins of a dying beast. The tremors were growing stronger.
The island… was collapsing.
Far ahead—
Fernando and Zeldaris clashed.
Not with overwhelming magic—
But with raw, brutal force.
Every strike was measured. Every movement calculated. Their bodies were pushed beyond their limits, yet neither allowed the other even a moment to breathe.
This was no longer a battle of power.
It was a battle of timing.
The one who plays their final card last… wins.
💥
Their fists collided.
Shockwaves split the ground apart.
Both men slid back slightly.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes locked.
Not with blind hatred—
But with a cold, bitter respect.
Then—
Zeldaris froze.
His expression changed.
His eyes widened.
"…What?"
He turned sharply toward the volcano.
The flames behind him flickered unevenly.
"…Kur's magic…"
A pause.
"…I can't feel it."
Fernando frowned.
Then—
Something clicked.
His eyes widened.
If Kur is gone…
Then Yaman—
"…He did it."
Zeldaris snarled.
"Impossible!"
"That brat cannot kill Kur!"
His voice dropped, sharper, more controlled.
"No… something happened."
His gaze hardened.
"Kur is not careless. He does not leave enemies alive."
A pause.
"…Your son used a trick."
Fernando smiled.
Not arrogantly.
But with quiet certainty.
"The victorious have no need for excuses."
Zeldaris' aura flared violently.
"Dark King…"
His voice turned cold.
"Before I kill you…"
His eyes gleamed.
"I will make you watch your son die."
💥
They vanished—
And collided again.
The impact shook the entire island.
The tremors intensified.
Lava began to fall like burning rain.
🌋 Mount Agnia — The Noble District
At the highest point of Vulcanus—
Where the wealthy lived.
Palaces stood tall.
Gardens once flawless…
Now abandoned to chaos.
Servants ran through marble halls, carrying crates, jewels, food—anything they could grab.
Nobles shouted orders, their voices filled with panic disguised as authority.
Inside one grand estate—
Lady Amanda stormed through the corridors.
"Faster!"
Her sharp voice cut through the noise.
"The ship leaves in less than an hour! Do you want to die here?!"
She turned rapidly.
"My jewelry?"
"Prepared, my lady!"
"My husband's belongings?"
"Yes!"
"Gabriel's supplies?"
"All packed!"
Amanda exhaled.
"…Good."
Then paused.
Something felt wrong.
"…I forgot something."
She frowned.
Then waved it off.
"It doesn't matter—we're leaving this cursed island anyway."
She turned—
Then froze.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"…My red dress."
"MY RED DRESS!!"
She ran.
Elsewhere in the mansion—
A large door burst open.
A young girl stepped out, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
Long red hair flowed behind her.
Blue eyes half-closed.
Silk pajamas clung loosely to her frame.
"…What is all this noise…?"
She yawned.
Then—
Her stomach growled.
"…I'm hungry."
She walked lazily toward the kitchen, passing servants rushing in panic, some stumbling, others shouting orders.
She blinked slowly.
"…Is this some kind of performance?"
She entered the kitchen.
And stopped.
A small boy sat on a chair.
Gabriel.
Dressed in full noble attire.
Covered in food.
She smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Gabriel."
He looked up.
Smiled.
Waved.
She sat down and began eating.
Then paused.
"…Why are you dressed like that?"
"Ma…ma…"
Her expression shifted.
"…Mother dressed you?"
He nodded.
Silence.
Then—
Realization.
Her eyes widened.
Tears filled them instantly.
"…You were going to leave without me?!"
She stood abruptly.
"YOU WERE GOING ON A TRIP WITHOUT TELLING ME?!"
Her voice trembled.
"Why?! Because of last time?! I didn't mean to run away!"
Gabriel panicked.
And started crying too.
At that moment—
Amanda entered.
Holding her precious red dress.
She rushed forward, picking Gabriel up.
"It's alright—"
Then she saw the girl.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
"IRENE!!!"
"I FORGOT YOU!!"
Silence.
"Go change your clothes! NOW!"
Irene blinked.
"…Why?"
Amanda snapped.
"This is not a trip—we are fleeing!"
"We are going to the Kingdom of Fiore!"
Silence.
Then—
Irene's eyes sparkled.
"…Fiore?"
"The kingdom of magic?!"
"Yes! Now go!"
Irene ran.
Laughing.
Excited.
Moments later—
The family gathered outside.
A carriage waited.
Amanda's husband stood beside Captain Harold.
"Hurry," he said. "We must leave now."
"…Where is Irene?"
"I'M HERE!!"
She jumped into the carriage.
Beaming with excitement.
Gabriel clung nervously.
They waited.
"…Where is the Varner family?" Amanda muttered.
Then—
"WHERE IS MY CHAMPAGNE?!"
A fat noble ran toward them in panic.
"I REFUSE TO TRAVEL WITHOUT CHAMPAGNE!"
He tripped.
Fell.
His pants slipped.
His family screamed in embarrassment.
Amanda sighed deeply.
Ragnar facepalmed.
Irene burst into laughter.
Gabriel too.
"…Uncle William never changes…"
The carriage moved.
Toward the port.
⛪ The Church
The people gathered.
Hundreds.
Fear filled the air.
"This is not like before…"
"It feels like the end…"
The priest raised his voice.
"The island is dying."
"We must leave."
"Women, children, and the weak will go first."
A boy rushed in.
"They've taken the port!"
"The gangs control the ship!"
"They're charging money—only the rich can board!"
His voice shook.
"They killed a man… just for trying."
Despair spread.
"Even now… there is class?!"
The priest raised his hand.
"There are boats in the eastern abandoned port."
"Ten brave men will guide you."
"As for us…"
He smiled gently.
"We will stay."
Silence.
Then—
Acceptance.
The plan began.
Merlin stood still.
Looking at the volcano.
Her lips trembled.
Fernando…
Yaman…
Her friend Nicole grabbed her hand.
"Come!"
But Merlin didn't move.
Please…
Be safe.
🌋 Back to the Battlefield
Yaman stumbled forward.
Closer.
Closer—
💥
The ground shook violently.
Lava surged upward.
The sky burned red.
He looked ahead—
And saw them.
His father.
And Zeldaris.
"…Father…"
He forced himself forward.
One last push.
Because the end—
Had already begun.
The ground trembled like a dying heartbeat.
Yaman ran through ash and fire, each step heavier than the last. His vision blurred, not just from exhaustion—but from the tears he refused to let fall.
The air burned his lungs.
The world screamed.
And yet—
He kept running.
Until he saw them.
Two figures.
Standing in the middle of destruction.
"…Father!"
Fernando turned.
For a fraction of a second—just a fraction—
Surprise crossed his face.
"…Yaman?"
Zeldaris' gaze flickered toward the boy.
Then narrowed.
"…You again."
Yaman staggered forward, nearly collapsing, catching himself on one knee before forcing himself up again.
"The volcano—!"
His voice cracked.
"It's erupting! Not later—now! The entire island is going to collapse!"
His chest rose and fell violently.
"We have to leave—now!"
Silence followed.
Not confusion.
Not hesitation.
Something worse.
Fernando looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Not as a warrior.
Not as a king.
But as a father.
At the burns on his face.
At the blood covering his clothes.
At the arm that hung unnaturally at his side.
At the boy who had faced death…
And came back.
Something in Fernando's eyes softened.
Then—
He smiled.
"…I see."
Yaman froze.
Something in that smile—
Terrified him.
"…Father…?"
Fernando turned his gaze toward the volcano.
A pillar of fire tore into the sky.
The ground split further.
Ash fell like black snow.
"…So this is where my story ends."
"No!"
Yaman stepped forward.
Desperate.
"We can still leave! We can go together! I'll fight with you—I won't run!"
His voice broke completely now.
"I'm not leaving you behind!"
Fernando's expression changed.
Not angry.
Not sad.
But firm.
Unshakable.
"…Don't."
The word landed like a blade.
Yaman froze.
Fernando stepped closer.
Each step heavy… but certain.
"…Don't be selfish."
Yaman's eyes widened.
The words struck deeper than any wound.
"I have already lived my life."
Fernando's voice was calm—too calm.
"I've made my choices."
A quiet breath.
"I've done things I'm proud of… and things I regret."
His gaze lifted slightly.
"But now…"
His hand tightened.
"…what matters is how I end it."
Yaman shook his head.
"No… no, that's not—"
"You're still young."
Fernando placed his hand on Yaman's shoulder.
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
"The world ahead of you is vast."
"Cruel."
"Beautiful."
"And far more dangerous than anything here."
Yaman trembled.
"…Then how can you just stay?!"
Fernando smiled again.
This time—
Gently.
"…Because you'll walk through it."
Silence.
"…Because you're my son."
Yaman's breath hitched.
"One day…"
Fernando continued quietly.
"You'll understand this moment."
His voice softened further.
"When you find someone you can't abandon…"
"…someone who makes you choose."
A faint, almost nostalgic smile.
"…When you build something worth protecting."
Yaman's knees weakened.
"…Now go."
"No—"
"GO, YAMAN!"
The shout echoed across the battlefield.
For a moment—
Even the volcano seemed to pause.
Yaman stood there.
Torn apart.
His heart screamed to stay.
His body refused to move.
But his father's eyes—
Did not waver.
Not even once.
Slowly…
Painfully…
Yaman turned.
And ran.
Zeldaris laughed quietly.
"…Pathetic."
He moved—
Fast.
A blur of killing intent.
"To let prey escape—"
💥
Fernando blocked him.
"I said…"
His voice dropped.
Low.
Deadly.
"…he's leaving."
The two clashed again.
Violence erupting between them.
Behind them—
Yaman ran.
But—
He stopped.
Just once.
He turned.
And saw him.
His father.
Standing alone against a monster.
Still fighting.
Still unbroken.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
Burned away by the heat.
"…Goodbye."
Then—
He ran.
And didn't look back again.
🌋 The World Beyond the Flames
By the time Yaman left the volcanic zone—
The world had changed.
He climbed a ridge—
And froze.
Below him—
The port.
The only ship in Vulcanus.
Clean.
Orderly.
Safe.
Filled with nobles.
They stood in fine clothes.
Calm.
Composed.
As if this were a journey—
Not an escape.
Yaman stared.
Something twisted inside him.
"…They're leaving…"
His jaw tightened.
"…Without everyone else."
He spat on the ground.
Turned away.
And ran.
⛪ The Silence of the City
The capital was empty.
Doors left open.
Homes abandoned mid-life.
A child's toy lay in the middle of the street.
Yaman ran through it like a ghost.
Until—
The church.
The priest turned sharply.
"…Why are you still here, my child?!"
His voice trembled.
"You should have left with the others!"
"…Others?"
The explanation came quickly.
Boats.
The eastern port.
The evacuation.
"…This island will not survive the hour."
Yaman bowed slightly.
"…Thank you."
And ran again.
🌊 The Weight of Survival
The eastern port was chaos.
People pushed.
Cried.
Begged.
Small wooden boats rocked violently in the water.
Too few.
Too fragile.
Men shouted orders.
Trying to keep order.
Failing.
Then—
Yaman saw her.
"…Mom!"
Marlin turned.
Her world stopped.
"YAMAN!"
She ran.
Pulled him into her arms.
"…You're alive…"
Her voice broke.
"…You're really alive…"
"…Where's your father?"
Yaman didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Marlin understood.
A single tear fell.
But she smiled.
"…Then this is enough."
She touched his face.
"…This is enough for me."
Then—
She saw his injuries.
And froze.
"…What happened to you…?"
"…I'll tell you later."
"…We need a boat."
They tried.
Again.
Again.
Again.
No space.
No hope.
Marlin's heart began to break.
Then—
A thought.
"…Harold."
She grabbed Yaman's hand.
"Come."
⚓ The Final Bargain
The main port.
The ship still remained.
"CAPTAIN HAROLD!"
He turned.
"…Marlin?"
He rushed to her.
"…Where is Fernando?"
She pointed.
Toward the fire.
Understanding came.
Heavy.
Silent.
"…I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"…Please."
Her voice trembled.
"…Just one thing."
She pulled Yaman forward.
"…Take him."
Yaman froze.
"This is his son."
"…Fernando's son."
She bowed.
Tears falling freely now.
"Please…"
"Mom—stop—!"
Harold looked at the boy.
Then nodded.
"…Get on the ship."
"…But—"
Marlin cupped his face.
Smiling through tears.
"Your father already said everything."
Yaman's world shattered.
"I'll stay."
Her voice softened.
"I love you."
"…I always will."
"…Now go."
Yaman couldn't breathe.
But he moved.
Step.
By step.
Until—
He boarded.
"SET SAIL!"
The ship moved.
Yaman stood at the front.
Back turned to the island.
He didn't look.
He couldn't.
Behind him—
The world burned.
The sky screamed.
The island died.
And Yaman—
Cried.
Silently.
🌋🔥
—End of Chapter—