Chapter 15 – The Council of Kings
The news spread faster than fire in dry grass.
An awakened Hero.A Sacred Saint.A Great Sage.
Before dawn broke, messengers crossed borders, magic mirrors flared to life, and seals long untouched were broken open.
Within the grand hall of neutral territory—an ancient chamber protected by layers of ancient wards—the Council of Kings convened.
Golden thrones lined the circular hall. Kings, queens, and rulers from every major kingdom had gathered, their expressions ranging from curiosity to barely concealed fear.
At the center floated a massive crystal orb, replaying the events from the tournament arena.
Arin standing beneath the falling light.The surge of power.The reaction of the world itself.
The hall fell silent.
The Exiling King's Regret
One king sat rigidly on his throne.
The King of Valemire.
The very man who had once ordered a young boy from another world to be cast out beyond his borders.
His fingers trembled slightly as the image of Kurogane Arin shimmered in the crystal.
"…It's him," he whispered.
Several heads turned.
"You recognize the Hero?" another ruler asked.
The king swallowed.
"We summoned him," he admitted. "From another world. Japan. His ability appeared useless. Incomplete. We believed him a failure."
The room stirred.
"And you exiled him?" a queen demanded coldly.
"Yes," the king said, his voice tight. "I never imagined his power would… awaken later."
The crystal flared again, showing Arin standing calm and unmoving while the air itself bent to his presence.
"That is not a failure's aura," another king muttered. "That is a catalyst."
The Meaning of Awakening
An elderly ruler leaned forward, his crown etched with runes older than most kingdoms.
"When Heroes awaken," he said slowly, "the world responds."
The orb shifted—now showing Elina Frostveil, sacred ice spreading in flawless order.
"A Saint has emerged," the old king continued. "Ice Saint. A class unseen for centuries."
The image changed again—Leon Valen, eyes glowing gold, the structure of magic bending around him.
"And a Great Sage," another ruler finished grimly. "Dai Kenja."
The room grew tense.
"These are not coincidences," said the Queen of Aurelion. "When multiple awakenings occur within the same generation…"
"…It heralds calamity," someone whispered.
The Demon Lord's Shadow
The ancient king closed his eyes.
"The last time this happened," he said, "the Demon Lord rose."
Silence crushed the hall.
"If the Hero awakens," the exiling king said hoarsely, "then the Demon Lord is either already reborn… or soon will be."
A murmur of alarm rippled through the council.
Preparations.Armies.Alliances.
"We must act," a warlord king declared. "Before it's too late."
Another ruler shook his head.
"No," he said. "We must observe first."
Eyes returned to the crystal.
To Arin.
"To exile a Hero," the Queen of Aurelion said coldly, "is to create a force beyond your control."
The exiling king lowered his head.
"I made a mistake," he admitted. "And now… the world will judge it."
A Decision Is Made
The ancient king raised his staff.
"The Hero walks his own path now," he declared. "Not as a pawn of any crown."
The crystal dimmed.
"The Council will prepare," he continued. "But we will not interfere."
For now.
Because somewhere beyond their reach…
A Hero had awakened.A Saint had risen.A Sage had opened his eyes.
And the world had begun to move.