The Hero Who Wasn't:Lord of Kingdoms

Arion's shout wasn't just an order—it was an explosion of pure fear. The elite team froze in place, their shock rooting them to the ground.

"My Lord, what is it?" Robert began, trying to understand this sudden command.

"Did you sense something we can't see?" Selene added, her eyes glittering with a cold, analytical light.

But they didn't need an answer.

Because the answer came to them.

From deep within the mine, a sound echoed forth. It wasn't loud at first—more like a faint chuckle, a sticky whisper, the scraping of fingernails across the stone of an ancient grave. A sound that seeped directly into their minds, bypassing their ears.

"Hehehe… what's this? How can this be? I saw weak little rats crawl into my lair… and then… suddenly one of the rats realized I was here? Impossible! Oho, does he have some legendary sense that warns him of his death or something? Even if so… this is so very interesting! A tiny human who might not even breathe right in my presence… actually sensed me?? Even the mightiest humans can only guess my location from my voice—but you? You actually knew I was here! Hahahahaha! Delightful!"

With each word, the air's pressure grew unbearably heavy. It wasn't normal weight—it was an existential burden, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on their shoulders, crushing their bodies and souls alike.

"Kh–!"

Robert, the iron-clad knight, spat blood. His steel armor groaned under the weight, his knees buckling slightly.

For the others, it was far worse. Leo's ears and eyes bled as crimson lines spread across his pale face. Selene collapsed onto one knee, blood dripping from her nose, the frost shield she had summoned shattering into glassy shards.

But Arion suffered the worst.

He felt his skin splitting. Thin red cracks appeared on his arms and face, like a porcelain doll about to shatter. The pain dwarfed anything he'd ever known—even Malakai's skin-peeling seemed like tickling in comparison to this agony.

Pure terror wrapped around him. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. He wanted to run, but his body was frozen under the crushing pressure.

At the brink of losing consciousness, something strange happened.

Ding~

> [Skill: Body Memory (B) – Forced Activation!]

[Your body remembers extreme pain and shock. Neural pathways adapt to bypass paralysis. Limited movement and thought restored.]

It wasn't healing. It was brutal adaptation to pain. Arion could think again, if only in broken pieces. His mind, sharpened by thousands of hours facing raid bosses in games, did only one thing when confronted by an unbeatable enemy: gather information.

With effort beyond reason, he activated Observer's Gaze.

> [Target Info: ???]

Level: ???

HP: ???

Mana: ???

Skills: ???

Titles: [Supreme Ghoul Emperor]

"Emperor…?"

He needed no more details. This entity was on a level entirely beyond normal existence.

"Run!" Arion screamed with the last strength left in his lungs.

His team tried to obey. But Leo, physically the weakest, let out a horrifying scream.

CRAAACK!

The sound of shattering bones echoed clearly. His legs had broken under the immense pressure.

"Aaaahhh! Lord! H-help me! My legs! My legs are broken!"

The situation only worsened. Selene fully collapsed, her delicate body cracking like Arion's, blood seeping from every pore.

Only Robert remained standing a few seconds longer. He turned, eyes full of despair and resolve. He heard his leader's final command.

Arion's voice was ragged, choked with blood: "T–… ake… th–em…"

Robert understood. In his mind, his legendary commander had ordered him to save the weaker members. He didn't hesitate. He grabbed the unconscious Leo and the broken Selene and began staggering desperately toward the mine's entrance, his massive frame reeling with every step.

This wasn't what Arion had meant. He'd been trying to scream: "Take ME and run!"

Deep in the darkness, the Ghoul Emperor chuckled softly. He watched the two knights flee—but his "interesting rat" stayed behind. "Oh? A sacrifice? Or arrogance? You sacrifice yourself to save your companions? Such a noble, dull gesture."

The Emperor respected that choice. "Very well, brave little human. I shall grant your companions a chance to flee. You and I… we have plenty of time."

He did nothing—just waited, letting Robert vanish down the corridor.

But the truth was different. Arion hadn't stayed by choice. The moment Robert began to run, Arion's body gave out completely. His skin split everywhere, as if thousands of invisible knives were cutting him open. He collapsed like a shredded doll, his consciousness slipping away.

KRRROOOOOOM!

At that moment, the fragile mine ceiling finally gave in to the Emperor's overwhelming presence. The entrance caved in completely in a storm of rock and dust, sealing the exit and separating Robert from his commander.

By luck—or perhaps misfortune—the collapse opened cracks in the ground around Arion. His mangled, broken body rolled and fell into one of those crevices, vanishing into the lower darkness.

In the silence that followed the collapse, the Emperor's echoing voice lingered in the sealed mine, speaking to himself—or perhaps to the shadows.

"Hmm… he's gone. What a pity."

"No matter. His scent… is now part of this place."

"When you awaken, my little rat… come find me. The game has only just begun."

---

Chapter 1: The Lone Knight's Journey

KRRROOOOOOM!

The sound of the collapsing entrance was the last thing Robert heard before silence swallowed everything. He didn't dare look back. He knew exactly what he'd see: nothing but a wall of stone and dust where his commander had stood moments ago.

"Lord Arion…" he whispered bitterly, his iron heart tightening. He had sacrificed himself. He had faced that indescribable horror to buy them a chance to live.

His body screamed in pain, the "Emperor's" presence had nearly crushed his bones. On his right shoulder, Leo's unconscious body felt heavy as stone. In his left arm, he held Selene, who was barely breathing. Their lives were his responsibility now. It was the last order he'd received.

He looked ahead. The path back was the same as the way in: the cursed Whispering Marshes and the jagged, perilous valley. Any sane adventurer would look for a longer, safer route. But Robert didn't think like an adventurer. He thought like a soldier obeying his commander's last order. "He chose this path because it was the fastest. There must have been wisdom in that choice. I will trust his judgment to the end."

With a heart heavy with grief—and resolve forged from steel—Robert pressed on.