Chapter 13 — The Final Captain Trial: War Arena
The ground shook as Lare stepped forward.
Raen and Aricus followed behind him, nervous but excited.
Harvis raised his voice so the entire 9th Battalion could hear:
"Cadet Lare has passed the Devil Dungeon…
survived the Survival Trial…
and now faces the final captain trial…"
He pointed ahead.
A circular battlefield, ten times larger than any arena Lare had seen.
Armored statues stood like giants.
Weapons floated in the air.
Magic crackled across the ground.
This place was dangerous even before the fight began.
Harvis spoke:
"Welcome to the War Arena.
Here… you will fight against soldiers, beasts, magicians, and finally—
the War Titan.
Survive everything… and you become a Captain."
Raen shivered. "War Titan?? Why not just call it 'instant death monster'!?"
Aricus calmly replied, "Because 'instant death monster' sounds too friendly."
Lare cracked his neck. "So I just survive this entire arena?"
Harvis stared into his eyes.
"You don't survive this arena…
you conquer it."
---
THE ARENA AWAKENS
As Lare stepped inside the giant circle, runes lit up beneath his feet.
BOOM–BOOM–BOOM!
Walls of magic rose around him.
Lare heard the system.
> R.O.Y.A.L: War Arena Activated
Phase 1: 100 Royal Soldiers
Phase 2: 50 Armored Beasts
Phase 3: 12 War Mages
Final Phase: War Titan
Lare smirked. "Perfect warm-up."
---
PHASE 1 — 100 ROYAL SOLDIERS
The ground trembled as 100 soldiers charged.
Spears. Shields. Swords.
Perfect formation.
Lare took one deep breath.
His eyes sharpened.
He rushed forward—
CLANG!
He blocked the first spear.
SWISH!
He dodged the next.
Then—he spun.
Basic Swordsmanship — Storm Circle Slash
A spinning cut like a cyclone.
Ten soldiers fell instantly.
Raen shouted, "That's my best friend!! Finish them, Lare!"
Aricus nodded. "He's faster now. His supreme body is adapting."
Lare leaped, cut, dodged, and smashed through the formation.
In 3 minutes, the last soldier collapsed.
> R.O.Y.A.L: Phase 1 Clear
Lare exhaled. "That felt good."
---
PHASE 2 — 50 ARMORED BEASTS
A deep roar shook the arena.
Fifty monstrous beasts—covered in iron scales—charged like falling mountains.
Lare's eyes narrowed.
"Okay… tougher."
The first beast slammed its tail.
CRACK!
Lare dodged but the shockwave threw dust everywhere.
From the dust—
Lare dashed forward.
He slid under a beast's legs—
Steel Breaker Punch
BOOOOM!
The beast flew like a broken rock.
Lare jumped on another beast's back, grabbed its horn, and—
Neck Twist — Beast Suppression Style
SNAP.
Raen shouted, "BRO WHO TEACHES YOU THESE TECHNIQUES??"
Lare yelled back while punching another beast, "I DON'T KNOW! THEY JUST COME TO ME!"
Aricus facepalmed. "He learns instantly… like a demon."
Within minutes, all beasts crashed to the ground.
> R.O.Y.A.L: Phase 2 Clear
Lare wiped sweat from his forehead. "That was tiring…"
---
PHASE 3 — 12 WAR MAGES
Twelve mages floated down, cloaked in glowing robes.
Each held a staff.
One mage raised his hand.
"Begin."
Twelve spells fired at once—
Fire Cannon
Lightning Spear
Ice Prison
Wind Scythe
Earth Nail
Dark Flare
Light Burst
Lare's pupils shrank.
"Okay… this is REAL danger."
He ran zigzag, dodging spells.
A lightning spear grazed his arm.
A fire blast scorched the ground behind him.
He gritted his teeth.
"Time to end this."
He shot forward at inhuman speed—
Sword Flash Step
In one move—
He disappeared.
Reappeared behind all twelve.
His blade slashed twelve times in one heartbeat.
SWISH—SWISH—SWISH!
The mages froze.
Their robes tore, staffs broke, and they fell unconscious.
> R.O.Y.A.L: Phase 3 Clear
Lare breathed heavily.
"Final phase… bring it."
---
FINAL PHASE — THE WAR TITAN
The arena turned dark.
The ground split open.
Something enormous rose…
Twenty meters tall.
Muscles like mountains.
Armor like ancient gods.
Eyes burning like molten steel.
WAR TITAN — LVL 200
Raen screamed, "BRO THAT IS NOT A TITAN… THAT IS A WHOLE BUILDING!!"
Aricus whispered, "Even captains fear it…"
Harvis folded his arms. "Now… show me what kind of monster you are, Lare."
---
THE TITAN VS LARE
The Titan roared.
RUMMMMBLE!
The shockwave shattered stones.
Lare dug his feet into the ground.
He grinned.
"Let's dance."
The Titan punched.
A mountain-shaking blow.
Lare rolled aside.
BOOOM!
A crater formed.
Lare jumped onto its arm, running upward—
But the Titan swung.
SWISH!!
Lare got thrown through the air, slammed into a wall.
Blood dripped from his nose.
Raen panicked. "NO! LARE!!"
But Lare stood.
He wiped the blood.
His eyes glowed with pure determination.
"This thing… is fun."
He sprinted.
He slid under its legs, leaped onto its back, stabbed deep—
But the Titan grabbed him and smashed him into the ground.
CRACK!!
Aricus clenched his fists. "Stand up."
And Lare did.
Barely.
Breathing rough.
But smiling.
"Okay… let's finish this."
He gathered all his remaining strength.
His muscles glowed.
His supreme body surged.
He rushed—
Final Basic Swordsmanship Technique — Sky Breaker Stab
A straight, perfect thrust.
Fast enough to tear the air apart.
BOOOOM!
Lare's blade pierced the Titan's heart.
The giant staggered…
Then crashed, shaking the entire arena.
Silence.
Then—
> R.O.Y.A.L: FINAL PHASE CLEAR
WAR ARENA COMPLETED
NEW TITLE: ROYAL CAPTAIN
The gates opened.
Harvis stepped forward slowly.
"You did it."
Raen jumped onto Lare hugging him.
"CAPTAIN LARE!! CAPTAIN LARE!!"
Aricus smiled gently.
Harvis placed a hand on Lare's shoulder.
"Lare… from today, you are Captain of the Royal 9th Battalion."
Lare smiled weakly.
"…I'll do my best."
Then he fainted on Raen's head.
Raen shouted, "BRO DON'T USE MY HEAD AS BED!!"
Everyone laughed.
—
Chapter 14 — Lare's First Royal Party
The palace was filled with music, lights, and the loud chatter of nobles. Lare, Raen, and Aricus walked in together — awkwardly.
ARICUS:
"Bro… why so many plates? Do rich people eat ten times?"
RAEN:
"Shut up, don't touch anything. You'll break it."
ARICUS:
"I'm not a monster—"
(accidentally knocks a golden spoon on the floor)
"…Okay maybe a little monster."
Lare laughed.
LARE:
"If the emperor sees this, he'll faint."
They entered the huge royal hall where hundreds of nobles stared at them. Some whispered like snakes.
NOBLE 1:
"That kid is the new captain?"
NOBLE 2:
"He's too young…"
NOBLE 3:
"His father was a criminal—"
Raen snapped.
RAEN:
"Say it again and I'll send you to the hospital."
Lare touched his shoulder.
LARE:
"Forget them. After today, they won't even dare breathe near us."
Aricus nodded proudly.
ARICUS:
"Exactly! If anyone insults you again, call me. I'll 'accidentally' throw food at them."
RAEN:
"Bro that's not how politics works—"
ARICUS:
"It worked in my village."
They all laughed.
---
THE EMPEROR ENTERS
The crowd went silent as the emperor walked in.
Tall. Sharp eyes. Cold aura.
Lare felt something strange the moment their eyes met.
Not just anger.
Something deeper.
Aricus whispered:
ARICUS:
"Bro… this guy looks like he ate a lemon."
Raen elbowed him.
EMPRESS (whispering to Emperor):
"Don't glare at the boy like that. People are watching."
The emperor didn't blink.
---
THE BADGE MOMENT
An announcer shouted:
"Captain Lare of the Seven Sons — step forward!"
Lare walked up the stairs.
Aricus shouted from below:
ARICUS:
"GO LARE! Show them who's boss!"
RAEN:
"Have dignity, idiot!"
As Lare reached the emperor, he kneeled.
The emperor placed the badge on him, but his hands were shaking.
EMPEROR (soft whisper only Lare hears):
"You are the son of that man…
Let us see if you truly deserve this continent."
Lare kept his face calm.
But inside his mind—
LARE (inner voice):
So you want to play tricks with me?
You think I'm stupid?
You think I'll kneel before your cheap threats?
You bloody loser emperor…
Keep watching.
Lare stood.
---
THE EMPEROR'S PUBLIC CHALLENGE
The emperor smiled fakely.
EMPEROR:
"Captain Lare… to prove your worth, you must conquer a region of the Demon Continent."
The hall shook with surprise.
NOBLES:
"What? That's suicide!"
"No one returned alive!"
"Is he punishing the boy?"
Raen couldn't control himself.
RAEN:
"You old—"
Lare held his arm and smiled calmly.
LARE:
"I accept."
Aricus whispered loudly:
ARICUS:
"He accepted!? Bro are you insane!?"
LARE:
"Maybe."
---
AFTER THE PARTY — FUNNY MOMENT
As they walked out:
ARICUS:
"Bro, next time don't smile like that. It scared me more than the emperor."
RAEN:
"You accepted the most dangerous mission ever…"
Lare shrugged.
LARE:
"I can handle it."
ARICUS:
"Okay but if you die, I'll kill you."
RAEN:
"…That doesn't make sense."
ARICUS:
"Nothing makes sense with demons!"
They all laughed again.
---
THE FAREWELL NIGHT
Under the moon, the three friends stood together.
Lare looked at both of them.
LARE:
"I'm going alone."
RAEN:
"No. Absolutely no—"
LARE:
"You both must grow.
We meet after one year.
And when we meet… we will be stronger than everything under heaven."
Raen clenched his fist.
RAEN:
"Fine… but don't disappear like your father."
Aricus wiped imaginary tears.
ARICUS:
"Bro… don't worry. I'll train hard. I'll become so strong that demons will run away crying when they see me."
RAEN:
"You already look like a demon."
ARICUS:
"HEY!"
They placed their hands together.
ALL THREE:
"One year. One promise."
---
THE LONELY ROAD BEGINS
Lare turned, cloak flowing behind him.
ROYAL appeared in his mind:
ROYAL:
> New Quest: Conquer the Demon Continent (Phase 1).
Lare smirked.
LARE (softly):
"Emperor… you think you trapped me.
But you just opened my path."
He stepped into the darkness alone.
And the season ended with the beginning of his greatest journey.