Beyond the Boundaries

A tall man, towering over two meters, appeared as though he were forged from steel. His muscles stood out prominently even beneath the white armor he wore, though that armor was no longer pristine, marred by fresh bloodstains—evidence of a battle fought mere minutes ago. His fiery red hair framed his majestic face like dancing flames, and his eyes, sharp as a blade, glinted with an icy gaze that seemed to pierce through hearts. As he entered the room, the very air seemed to grow heavier, filling those present with an ominous sense of approaching danger.

Ryan, who had been standing helplessly against Fai's magic, suddenly felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. His gaze lifted to meet Vargas's, and he gently let go of Lily, as though a crushing weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

In stark contrast, Fai's face transformed into a mask of sheer terror, pale as though he had seen a ghost rise from its grave. His massive body trembled as his mind raced for an escape plan. Internally, he screamed: "Damn it! I was such a fool. How could I forget Vargas was in the palace? That monster... The plan to leak information to the enemy was supposed to get him killed on the battlefield, far from protection. But now... I've summoned my own doom!"

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, struggling to regain his composure, and forced a nervous smile: "Ha... Hello, Mr. Vargas. It seems I got a little carried away in front of our honorable King."

His voice wavered between confusion and flattery, a desperate attempt to salvage the situation. Fai, known for his cunning and quick adaptability, now resembled a snake trying to shed its skin in a futile effort to start anew.

"Mr. Vargas, may I take my leave now? I have a very important meeting this evening."

But Vargas didn't even glance his way. Standing tall and unyielding like a mountain, his piercing gaze remained fixed on King Ryan. In a deep voice, calm yet chilling, Vargas replied: "Leave? Aren't you going to explain your hostile behavior toward the King?"

Fai swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he tried to maintain composure: "I'm sorry, Mr. Vargas! It was just a misunderstanding. I merely cast a simple spell to frighten the King a little. I didn't expect things to escalate. As you know, I'm only a one-star wizard—I lack the power to control my magic when I get excited."

Vargas took a deliberate step forward. Though he said nothing, that single step made Fai instinctively step back in fear. A suffocating pressure filled the room, as if the very air had turned into a blade cutting through lungs. Even Dr. Liu struggled to remain standing under the weight of it.

Vargas's voice cut through the tension like a hammer striking iron: "We are at war, and you dare to assault the King? This is an unforgivable offense."

He raised his hand slowly, each movement heavy with the threat of destruction. Time seemed to freeze, and all eyes locked onto him. But after a moment, he lowered his hand, his decision seemingly made.

"Leave. Just this once. But there will be no second chance."

Fai nodded frantically, his face drenched in cold sweat, as though he had narrowly escaped death itself. He exhaled a sigh of relief and began retreating toward the door, his steps shaky, eager to flee the room.

But before he could leave, a loud, commanding voice broke through the silence: "Stop!"

Everyone froze, turning their attention to King Ryan. Their gazes were filled with a mix of astonishment and admiration. Even Lily, who had been watching closely, couldn't hide her confusion—though relief flickered across her face at seeing Ryan take charge.

Ryan's voice was steady and firm as he spoke: "Mr. Vargas, what is the punishment for anyone who attempts to harm the King?"

Without hesitation, Vargas responded, his tone as cold as ice: "Execution."

Ryan raised his head high, his voice growing louder, carrying the weight of undeniable authority: "Excellent. I, King Ryan Astraeus, declare former Prime Minister Fai executed for his attempt to assassinate the King."

A heavy silence fell over the room, but it was the silence of a momentous shift. All eyes remained fixed on Ryan, who was beginning to radiate the regal authority befitting a king. Vargas allowed a faint smile to touch his lips, as though seeing more in Ryan than he had anticipated.

In that instant, it became clear to everyone that a great change was underway in the Kingdom of Asteria.