1 1. All But One Were Dead

Massive wars have taken place on the borders of the two continents. Many corpses were spread on the ground, and the disgusting smell of blood filled the air.

No one survived, and no leader prevailed from either side. The only man still standing was the Golden General, kneeling on the edge of the abysm with his almost lifeless eyes.

He has been there for three days and three nights without eating or sleeping. There was a great sense of guilt in his heart seeing all of his troops die while he was still alive?

His king has entrusted tens of thousands of men into his hands to fight and annihilate enemies. But no one was alive except himself.

He managed to overpower the foe and kill the opposition's Golden General, but was it worth it as neither side survived the war?

No one wins or loses. The existing two nations even suffered huge losses and lost many people.

He should not have let this war happen.

"My lord, my lord. Thank goodness, you are alive!" cried one of his loyal attendants working at his residence.

The attendant got the news that the war between the two nations had ended for the past three days. But there was no victory flag or report of defeat. So all the servants and the king who sent him were anxious.

The Golden General who led the war in the opposing kingdom was gone, while Lord Drake of East was still alive. Doesn't that mean victory was in the hands of the eastern continent?

"Lord Drake, Your Majesty is worried and wants to meet you. Let's head back."

"Back?" his voice sounded hoarse and dry from not drinking for days. "Can I still come back?"

"My lord, what are you talking about? Of course, you can come back. We will celebrate this glorious day and…."

"Glorious day?!" hissed Lord Drake harshly as he gave a sharp glance at his attendant, making the poor old man shudder in fear. "What a glorious day. What a victory. I am the only one left here of the fifty thousand who went to war! Are you still saying this is a glorious day??"

The old man fell to his knees as he spoke in a trembling voice. "But, my lord. You are alive while the other one was dead. You won the war."

Lord Drake's jaw hardened at this.

That's true. The golden general of the Western kingdom, Lord Hawk, had died on the battlefield. But it was not he who killed him, but Lord Hawk's own sister.

Lord Drake closed his eyes with one hand to hide the tears that began to drip.

Not only has he failed to reduce casualties, but he has failed to protect the woman he treasures the most.

Why? Why did he and the woman come from two different nations?

Why did he choose the path to become a Golden General? With his talent and being born as a full energy source, he could have become an immortal being and become a god.

But instead of training cultivation towards immortality, he chose to be the loyal dog of the king of the East.

Will everything be different if he chooses another path?

Whatever it was, it was too late, and he could not change this tragic end.

"I have nothing in this world." he struggled and chose to become a general because he longed to be a hero.

He wished for power because he desired to protect that woman's smile. But now that the woman was gone, what is he living for? "Neither I have face to face the king."

How could he notify the king that only one survived of the fifty thousand men sent to war?

"Tell Your Majesty the western kingdom will not dare to strike for the next few years." Lord Drake was convinced that the foolish king of the west had sent all his troops to the battlefield.

The Eastern Kingdom only sent 50,000 of the 200,000 people to the battlefield, without knowing their opposition sent 100,000 of the 100,000 soldiers.

The palace strategists thought the Western Kingdom would only send half of its troops, so they sent only five war divisions with a total of 50,000 men.

Who would have thought the Western empire besieged them without giving them a chance to escape or ask for help to send more troops.

That was why all 50,000 men of the east died, and if it were not for the ingenuity and quick reaction of Lord Drake, he would not have been able to eliminate all 100,000 troops with his hand.

That was all thanks to the fifth ring awarded by his teacher. If only he did not wear the ring, he himself would lose his head, and the king of the west would use this opportunity to attack the Eastern government.

"I no longer have the privilege to live. It must be my punishment for my arrogancy."

"My lord?" the attendant raised his head and stared wide as he saw his master leap into the abyss. "My lord!!!"

But it's too late. The old man could not reach even a pinch of his master's gold armor. The proud Golden General, often sought and adored by the king and its people, decided to end his life.

This is the best option. That was Lord Drake's thinking in his remaining consciousness.

If he returned to the court and faced the king, no doubt, the king would send him along with other troops to colonize the western continent.

He was weary and did not want to fight. Most importantly, he didn't want to ruin the birthplace of the woman he loved.

He agreed to join this war to protect his kingdom from enemy attacks, not to control, let alone oppress the weak.

If only time could reverse, he would choose a different path. He would find a way to reconcile the two nations and be able to unite to face a stronger enemy.

But will he be given a chance?

Just as he closed his eyes, a soft, sweet voice sounded in his ear.

"Paskha, wake up. Come on, get up. The teacher is calling you."

This sweet melodious voice… a voice he knew very well. Is he dreaming? Or is this the reminisce he will see before he dies?

"PASKHA!!"

Bump!

In an instant, Paskha opened his eyes while rubbing his aching head. He felt like someone had hit his head and wondered who dared to hit the glorious Golden General of east's head!

But what he saw now was so astonishing that he could not say anything.