The tide of battle had turned. All attacks on the Star Eater were nullified—it was as if hope itself had vanished. The people stood frozen, despair etched into their faces. Moments ago, they brimmed with determination. But now? Now, it felt like reality had spoken: hope was a lie.


    "Damn it, what should I do now?" the King muttered through clenched teeth.


    "Think. What else can you do now?"


    He tried to expand his vision using magic, hoping for answers—but the moment his gaze collided with the Star Eater’s shield, he was struck down, consciousness faltering.


    "How did it adapt so quickly? What is it? Where did it come from? What does it want from Utopia?" Questions raced through his mind, unanswered.


    While he stood dazed, the Star Eater reached the edge of the atmosphere. It raised its arms, and from the palms, grotesque eyes opened, casting beams of unnatural light across Utopia. Madness followed. Not just insanity—transformation. The people morphed into humanoid monsters, tearing through everything in a frenzy of chaos.


    Utopia became a blood-drenched nightmare. Screams, wild laughter, the scent of blood in the air—heaven was gone. Only hell remained.


    "Impossible…" The King stared blankly. "Is everything truly over? All our work, our unity—lost?"


    He dropped his sword. He stared into the Star Eater’s eye and was immediately drawn into an illusion.


    But unlike before, this illusion wasn’t a void of darkness. He found himself in a lush green garden beneath a radiant blue sky—a false paradise, a twisted Eden.


    "I see," the King laughed bitterly. "So this is how you control us. You give us what we crave—an illusion of peace in a dying world. How ironic."


    A figure emerged from behind him.


    "So this is what you desire, my son." said the voice.


    The King turned sharply.


    Standing there was his father—the former King of Atlantis. A man of wisdom, strength, and courage… everything the current King believed he lacked.


    "I never thought I’d see you again… old man," he said coldly.


    "I don’t know if I’m real, or just a projection," his father said calmly, smiling. "But does it matter? This is what you’ve always wanted."


    "Not entirely," the King replied softly, looking away. "Something’s missing."


    His father seemed surprised. The son who was once reckless now spoke with depth. As a father, he felt pride.


    "You’ve grown so much… even though you look my age now."


    "Shut up, old man," the King grumbled. "At least I’m better looking. And I have family that I love.”


    Suddenly, realization struck. He scanned the illusion urgently.


    "What are you looking for?" his father asked.


    "I get it now," the King muttered. "This illusion shows what we desire most. But it made a mistake."


    His father furrowed his brow, but after a moment, understanding dawned.


    "So you’ve figured it out. You were worthy of the crown."


    He stepped forward, arms open. But a flash of steel ended the moment—a sword pierced his chest.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "What is this…?"


    "What else? I’m killing you, impostor."


    "Why are you so sure I’m not real?"


    "Because what I truly want is my family—not you. You only cared about power and never your children. A man like you wouldn’t be here, not unless it was a lie."


    The King’s voice trembled with rage. "You’re not worthy to lecture me."


    "Wait—"


    The King’s sword slashed again, splitting the figure in two. It dissolved into black liquid.


    "Heh… you really have surpassed me," the illusion muttered as it faded. "I was a successful king… but a failed father. You, who always doubted yourself… now stand tall to protect your family. I’m proud."


    Only a puddle of black fluid remained.


    "Thank you, anyway," the King whispered, bowing.


    He raised his sword, slashed through the illusion, and shattered the false paradise. He opened his eyes—back to reality. A world in pain, but still alive.


    He stood again. He would protect his people, no matter the cost.


    And he wasn’t alone. All across the kingdoms, people snapped out of their illusions and began fighting back, helping each other suppress the maddened victims.


    Seeing this, the King’s resolve hardened. If the people hadn’t given up—then neither could he.


    He picked up his sword and stood tall.


    "If you’ve got guts, come at me, you bastard!"


    The Star Eater moved closer.


    "Wake up—"


    But before he finished, a deafening roar shook the land. A massive shadow soared past him, followed by many more, blasting winds across the battlefield.


    When the dust settled, the King saw it—the true form of the Dragon King. A colossal dragon, larger than a kingdom, leading his people into battle.


    "What are you doing?!" the King shouted.


    "What else? Let it see our power!" the Dragon King bellowed.


    Flames erupted from his body—flames born from his very life force. His people, too, ignited with their own life flames, slowly disappearing into the fire. But their flames merged with the Dragon King’s, making him even greater—taller than a mountain, an inferno incarnate.


    "Wait—there might be another way! We still have—"


    But it was too late. The Dragon King charged, burning bright like a sun, crashing into the Star Eater’s limbs and piercing through them.


    The King finally understood.


    “To all survivors! Aim your cannons and missiles at its arms—clear the path for Dragon King!”


    The survivors responded quickly, unleashing a torrent of firepower. Limbs collapsed, the path was cleared.


    But now, another obstacle remained—its shield.


    Suddenly, a wind surged, forming a massive arrow.


    “This power belongs to the Elf King” the King murmured.


    “Let’s show it our might!” the Elf King shouted.


    The wind arrow spun violently, accelerating until it became invisible to the naked eye—then shot forward, striking the shield. Cracks formed—but it still held.


    “Damn it! Not enough!” the Elf King cursed.


    “Then let me finish it!” the Dragon King roared.


    He charged behind the arrow and punched it with full force—shattering the shield. Then he barreled forward, straight toward the Star Eater’s gaping maw.


    “DIE!!!”


    The flames erupted even greater, burning like the sun itself. The moment he entered the creature’s mouth, a divine explosion erupted—an inferno that erased the Star Eater’s face.


    The King stood silently.


    “…Thank you, Dragon King.”


    The creature’s death beam faded. The Abyssal Breaker fired again, pushing it back. The Star Eater screamed silently, writhing, but still refused to die. It hurled itself toward Utopia once more.


    “Persistent monster…” the King growled.


    “Energy remaining: 10%.”


    “Damn it, we’re almost there!”


    But everyone was still busy fighting the monsters around them. Abyssal Breaker was running dry.


    Far away, hidden in the ruins of Atlantis Palace, a shadowy figure watched everything.


    “…More than I expected,” the figure whispered. “Let me help you.”


    He raised his hand—dark energy flowing toward Abyssal Breaker.


    “I’ll show you what hope means.”


    Back on the battlefield…


    “Energy at 5%…”


    The light from the cannon dimmed.


    “I’ll use my own magic to fuel it!” the King shouted.


    But just before he could act—a new voice echoed from the machine.


    “Energy rising—10%, 20%… 100%! Surpassing maximum threshold!”


    “What the hell…?” The King stared in disbelief. “The gods… did they answer us?”


    “ABYSSAL BREAKER—FULL POWER!”


    A massive explosion erupted. The cannon’s shockwave split the ground, destroying barriers across the land. All of Utopia could now hear it.


    Two massive beams twisted together into one colossal force—bright as divine wrath—blasting toward the Star Eater.


    Star Eater in desperation tried to create a shield again to block it—but it was futile.


    The beam The beam pierced through the shield and engulfed its body in a torrent of light, tearing it apart, ripping its flesh into particles of nothingness.


    As soon as the light fades away... only flickering spots of light remain in space.


    The Star Eater was no more.


    Abyssal Breaker, broken and cracked, slumped off its mountain—but even as it fell, its gun remained pointed skyward as if to prove its unyielding will.


    "It’s really over… The Star Eater has finally been defeated. So good… so peaceful…" The King couldn''t hold back his tears.


    "We won"


    He raised his sword high and shouted along with everyone''s cheers the sky was now clear and shining all over Utopia.