the reluctant prince of rebirth

Rein wiped the sweat off his brow as he finished another grueling set of exercises. For two weeks now, he'd been training with the knights, building strength and endurance.

While his young body wasn't yet capable of great feats, he was pushing himself harder than he ever had in his previous life. The knights had started to respect him after seeing his determination, offering him tips and encouragement.

As he caught his breath, Captain Garen, the commander of the knights, strode into the training ground, his expression unusually tense.

"Emergency meeting! Everyone, to the royal chamber!" he barked, his voice carrying an edge of urgency.

The knights immediately dropped what they were doing and prepared to move. Rein, curious, ran up to the captain.

"

Captain, what's going on?" "The First Prince, Marcus, has called an emergency meeting," Garen replied, glancing at Rein with furrowed brows.

"Can I come?" Rein asked, his curiosity burning.

Garen hesitated. "This might not be something a child should see," he said. "From what I've heard, it's... grim."

Before Rein could argue, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Let him come," said Darius, the Second Prince, as he strolled toward them. His imposing frame and confident gait radiated an air of arrogance.

"If he wants to be so nosy, let him witness the harsh reality of our world."

Rein gave Darius a wary glance but chose to remain silent. He followed the knights and Darius to the royal chamber, where dozens of nobles, knights, and other siblings were already gathering.

As they entered, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Everyone fell silent as King Alaric entered the chamber, his imposing figure drawing all attention.

"Rise," the king commanded, taking his seat on the throne. His voice carried authority, but Rein noted a weariness in his tone.

"What is the meaning of this emergency, Marcus?" Alaric asked, his sharp eyes fixed on the First Prince.

Marcus stepped forward, his face a mask of calm confidence. "Father, I bring troubling news from the Holy Kingdom," he began, pulling out a glowing crystal.

"This is a recording of an attack that took place just days ago. A city has fallen, and one of their most powerful warriors, an 8-star Swordmaster, has been slain."

Gasps rippled through the room. "The Holy Kingdom has always had the advantage in defending their territories," a noble murmured.

"How could this happen?" Marcus's eyes gleamed coldly. "The demon who led the attack was none other than Kael'zor, the Blood Reaper."

The king's expression darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "It has been years since we've heard of him."

"The last time was when he fought the Sword Saint," Garen muttered under his breath, standing beside Rein.

Rein perked up at that. "Sword Saint?" he whispered.

"The strongest Swordmaster alive," Garen replied quietly. "Or at least he was. Kael'zor took his arm in their battle five years ago. The Sword Saint is still recovering."

King Alaric sighed heavily. "Play the recording."

Marcus placed the crystal on the table. It glowed brightly, projecting a vivid image into the air. The scene it displayed was chaotic—a battlefield on the edge of a city.

Demonic wolves by the hundreds charged toward a towering wall. The defenders were valiantly firing arrows and launching magical projectiles, cutting down the beasts in droves. For a moment, it seemed the humans might hold their ground.

The magical crystal flickered, and the projection illuminated the royal chamber once more. A hush fell over the crowd as Kael'zor, the Blood Reaper, stepped forward on the battlefield. His crimson armor glimmered with an ominous sheen, his long black hair billowing in the breeze.

His sword, Soulrend, exuded a palpable malice, and his aura suffused the air with dread, forcing some of the defenders to their knees.

Kael'zor's deep voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Bring out your best swordsman," he said, his words carrying both mockery and menace. "Let's make this entertaining. If one of you can cut me, I'll leave this place untouched.

But if you fail…" He gestured toward the demonic wolves behind him, their growls reverberating like thunder.

"You won't live to regret it."

Inside the city gates, the defenders hesitated.

Soldiers exchanged worried glances, while citizens prayed fervently to the gods. Then, five figures emerged from the gates: two Holy Knights clad in gleaming silver armor, and three Swordmasters, each radiating strength.

Leading them was an 8-star Swordmaster, a grizzled veteran with an aura almost as heavy as Kael'zor's. His blade, shining with holy inscriptions, reflected the midday sun.

Kael'zor tilted his head, examining the warriors with a predatory smile. "Well, well, a decent turnout," he said. "Let's see if you're worth my time."

The first to step forward was a 6-star Holy Knight, a burly man wielding a massive shield and a sword glowing with divine energy.

He charged at Kael'zor, bellowing a battle cry that rang out over the battlefield.

Kael'zor didn't even draw Soulrend. Instead, he unsheathed a shorter blade, almost dagger-like, strapped to his side.

"You're not worthy of Soulrend," Kael'zor said, his voice dripping with disdain.

The knight swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave through Kael'zor's torso. With a casual flick of his wrist, Kael'zor parried the blow, his smaller blade moving with deadly precision.

He sidestepped the knight's follow-up strike, his movements so fluid it seemed like a dance.

The knight gritted his teeth and unleashed a flurry of strikes, each more desperate than the last. Kael'zor dodged every blow with ease, his expression bored.

"Too slow," he said. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance, his dagger piercing the knight's heart in a single, precise thrust.

The knight staggered back, blood staining his pristine armor, before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Kael'zor wiped the blade on the knight's cloak and looked at the remaining warriors.

"Next?"

A younger Swordmaster stepped forward, his face pale but determined. He charged at Kael'zor, his sword flashing in an intricate pattern meant to confuse and overwhelm.

Kael'zor chuckled, blocking the strikes with minimal effort.

"Your form is decent," he said, almost sounding amused. "But it lacks conviction."

He deflected a particularly strong thrust, spun around, and delivered a devastating slash to the Swordmaster's midsection. The warrior crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

The remaining two knights hesitated, but the 8-star Swordmaster stepped forward, his face grim.

"That's enough," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Kael'zor, I'm your opponent now."

Kael'zor's expression shifted. For the first time, he looked genuinely interested. He sheathed his dagger and drew Soulrend.

The air grew heavy as the blade's dark aura spread across the battlefield.

The weapon seemed to hum with anticipation, its malevolence almost sentient.

"So you're the main course," Kael'zor said, a savage grin spreading across his face.

"Let's see if you can entertain me." The 8-star Swordmaster didn't waste any time. He dashed forward, his blade glowing with holy light, and unleashed a powerful overhead slash.

Kael'zor raised Soulrend to block, the clash of their swords sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

The two combatants moved with blinding speed, their blades colliding in a symphony of steel.

The ground beneath them cracked from the force of their strikes, and sparks flew with every clash.

Kael'zor's movements were graceful yet brutal, his strikes calculated to exploit even the smallest opening.

The Swordmaster, however, held his ground, matching Kael'zor blow for blow.

"You're better than the others," Kael'zor admitted, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "But still…" He sidestepped a thrust and delivered a sweeping slash aimed at the Swordmaster's side.

The veteran parried just in time, but the force of the blow sent him skidding backward.

Kael'zor didn't let up.

He pressed the attack, his strikes growing faster and more relentless. The Swordmaster was forced onto the defensive, his holy blade barely keeping up with Soulrend's onslaught.

"Is this all you have?" Kael'zor taunted. He spun around, delivering a powerful upward slash that the Swordmaster blocked at the last second.

The Swordmaster gritted his teeth, his aura flaring as he channeled his full power into a counterattack.

His blade glowed brighter, and he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last. Kael'zor laughed, genuinely delighted.

"Yes! That's it! Show me your resolve!" The battlefield became a blur of motion as the two warriors clashed.

The Swordmaster managed to land a glancing blow on Kael'zor's shoulder, drawing blood. Kael'zor looked at the wound and grinned. "Not bad," he said.

"But it's not enough." He unleashed a surge of dark energy, forcing the Swordmaster back. Then, with terrifying speed, he closed the distance and delivered a devastating strike.

The Swordmaster barely blocked the blow, but the force shattered his guard, leaving him vulnerable. Kael'zor didn't hesitate.

He swung Soulrend in a horizontal arc, the blade cutting through the Swordmaster's neck with effortless precision.

The crowd in the chamber gasped as the projection showed the Swordmaster's head rolling to the ground.

Kael'zor sheathed his sword and turned to the remaining defenders.

"Pathetic," he said. "I came for a challenge, and this is what you offer me?"

The video ended with the city in flames, demonic wolves tearing through its remains.

The royal chamber was silent. No one dared speak as the weight of what they had just witnessed sank in.

"That monster continues to grow stronger," Marcus said, his voice breaking the silence. "If Kael'zor isn't stopped, he'll destroy everything in his path."

King Alaric's expression was grim. "This cannot be ignored," he said. "Prepare the knights and send word to our allies. We must prepare for the worst."

Rein stood among the crowd, his mind racing. The sheer power and skill Kael'zor had displayed were unlike anything he had ever seen.

This is what I'll have to face someday, he thought, his fists clenching. 

If I want to survive, if I want to protect what matters, I'll need to surpass monsters like him.

The meeting ended, but the image of Kael'zor's victory lingered in everyone's minds, a stark reminder of the threat that loomed over their world.