Flames burned bright atop every watchtower, every high peak, every royal spire across all of Mechrion. Messengers rode day and night, ravens flew in every direction, and word hit every kingdom like rolling thunder—this was no warning, this was the opening shout.
First came the voice of the Dark Knight, heard all at once in every hall, every market square, every throne room, booming like the earth itself had spoken:
“The Fallen Lands are mine. The shadows rise, and the old order ends now. Bow to the Abyss, or be erased from history. This shall be known as the Kingdoms World War—and I shall be the one to see it finished.”
Necrokeep’s gates were barred double at once. Lanardo’s master smiths lit their great forges day and night. Mainland Fusion sealed their archives and workshops. Every ruler waited, hearts pounding, wondering who would answer… and if anyone would dare.
Then came the reply—clear, steady, unshaking, ringing out just as loud:
“I am King Donald Zimmerman of the Monarch Empire. You shall take no more land. You shall make no more victims. We do not bow to conquerors who feed on fear. We will gather every sword, every spell, every brave soul across this realm. We meet your war head on. Kingdoms World War begins today—and we will defend our world until our very last breath.”
Back at the makeshift camp in the Barren Lands, MJ, Liam and Allen stared at the glowing sky in silence. It all clicked into place—why Jamal vanished, why the woods twisted, why strange things kept happening everywhere they went. They weren’t just searching for a friend anymore. They were standing right at the very start of something that would change every single one of their lives forever.
Far away, Alice stood beside the Dark Knight high up in his Spire, watching the fires burn across the horizon. He rested a hand on her shoulder.
“They finally stopped pretending,” he said.
“Good,” Alice answered with a sharp grin. “Now we get to see who truly stands their ground.”