Chapter 29
John stood still.
But inside his mind—something was shifting.
She knew…
His eyes moved slightly toward the princess.
She knew her kingdom was involved… and yet she said nothing.
A faint discomfort tightened in his chest.
A pause.
She feels… different.
The princess stood tall.
Calm on the surface.
But inside—something had fractured.
They were involved too…
Her gaze lowered for a brief moment.
A rare hesitation slipped through her composure.
Princess (thinking): I cannot expose that here… not now.
Her fingers tightened subtly.
Princess (quietly): "Not yet."
---
Across the hall—
The King of Stonehaven stood rigid.
Humiliation burned through him—raw and unbearable.
His authority had shattered in front of everyone.
King: "This is absurd… all of it!"
But his voice lacked conviction.
Even he could feel it.
No one was listening anymore.
No one believed him.
The nobles avoided his gaze.
The soldiers no longer stood firmly behind him.
Even the air felt… different.
Then—
A sound.
A step.
Slow. Heavy.
From the shattered entrance of the hall.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
A presence returned.
Bkka.
Not broken.
Not defeated.
Different.
A ripple of shock spread instantly.
Whispers exploded.
Nobles: "Isn't that the monster…?"
Bkka stopped at the center of the hall.
His eyes scanned everything.
Then he smiled.
Calm.
Cold.
Unbothered.
Bkka: "Seems like I missed quite the performance."
John's expression sharpened instantly.
John: "You."
Bkka tilted his head slightly.
Bkka: "Of course… have you awakened my long lost self?"
A faint chuckle escaped him.
The hall froze again.
The King of Stonehaven's eyes widened slightly.
Then—
His humiliation twisted into something else.
Fury.
King (internal): He's still alive… good.
A thin smile formed on his lips.
King: "Bkka."
His voice regained authority.
King: "Kill them all."
Silence.
Heavy. Absolute.
Even the air seemed to stop.
Chris blinked.
Chris: "…Did he just say that so casually?"
Marco's eyes narrowed.
Marco: "So that's the decision."
The king stepped forward.
King: "Since I have already been humiliated…"
His voice darkened.
King: "There is no reason to keep order anymore."
A wave of panic spread through the hall.
Nobles stumbled back.
Guards hesitated.
Then—
Bkka smiled.
Wider this time.
Bkka: "Understood."
He slowly loosened his stance.
And for a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The air shifted.
Heat.
Pressure.
Power.
Flames erupted from his body.
Not ordinary fire.
Yellow flames.
Burning without smoke.
Warping the air itself.
Gasps exploded across the hall.
Princess: "What is that?!"
Guinevere: "Impossible…"
John stepped forward slightly.
John: "…So that's his real level."
Bkka raised his head.
His aura expanded violently.
Bkka: "Let's see if you can survive this version of me."
And then—
He moved.
FAST.
Chris reacted instantly.
Chris: "Oh, I like this one!"
He shot forward—
Clashing mid-air with Bkka.
BOOM!
A shockwave shattered nearby pillars.
John followed immediately.
Precise. Controlled.
Marco: "Don't let him control the center!"
Guinevere drew her weapon.
Her expression remained calm—but razor sharp.
Guinevere: "Understood."
She joined the battle instantly.
Bkka laughed mid-fight.
Bkka: "Finally… something worth killing."
Another burst of flames exploded outward.
The hall began to collapse piece by piece.
Nobles fled in panic.
Screams filled the air.
A royal ceremony turned into chaos.
John's eyes narrowed.
John (thinking): He's faster… stronger… and adapting.
Chris grinned through the chaos.
Chris: "This is getting fun!"
Marco shouted:
Marco: "Stay focused! He's evolving mid-fight!"
Bkka's flames intensified again.
His aura grew unstable—
Yet even more dangerous.
Bkka: "Let's raise it further."
The yellow flames deepened.
Heavier.
More violent.
A second phase awakened.
And the Grand Hall—
Collapsed deeper into war.
…CHAPTER 29 ENDS…