There Are No Heroes

6 The Kingdom of Skarvlad is under attack.

King Skarvlad tightened his grip on his sword hilt, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the arrogant figure standing in the middle of the arena. "Ice Hero... What is your purpose here?"

The Ice Hero gave a faint smile, his face exuding a chilling confidence. He took steady steps forward, each footprint leaving behind a gleaming trail of ice. "I just wanted to confirm whether the rumors were true—that you have found a new hero from another world."

Sensing the threat, the palace soldiers began to move, surrounding the mysterious intruder. However, with a single wave of his hand, towering pillars of ice erupted from the ground, trapping them in place.

"Don't bother. I'm not here for war, just a conversation," he said casually, though an unmistakable threat lingered beneath his words.

King Skarvlad remained firm. "What business is it of yours if I meet a new hero? Besides, he has already left."

The Ice Hero chuckled coldly, his laughter as frigid as a winter storm. "Of course, it concerns me. You intend to use him to fight against the existing heroes. Did you think we wouldn't find out?"

Skarvlad lifted his chin defiantly. "You are not heroes. You merely replace old evils with new ones. This world does not need you."

The Ice Hero let out a sharp laugh. "Hahaha... Let's get straight to the point. Your kingdom has defied the sacred heroes. And for that, this kingdom must be destroyed."

He slowly raised his hand, and the air around him turned deathly cold. A thin layer of frost crept across the ground, and sharp ice crystals began forming in midair.

"I will send you to the afterlife."

With a simple flick of his hand, dozens of razor-sharp icicles shot toward King Skarvlad, each tip glinting with lethal intent.

Yet Skarvlad did not retreat. With a battle cry that echoed through the arena, he unsheathed his massive sword, now glowing with magical flames.

"If that is your desire, then I shall show you the might of Skarvlad!"

Ice and fire were about to collide, setting off a cataclysmic explosion that would determine the fate of the kingdom.

---

King Skarvlad took a resolute step forward. "If you wish to destroy my kingdom, you must go through me first!"

The Ice Hero smirked. "That was my intention all along."

With a swift motion, deadly ice shards hurtled toward King Skarvlad. The soldiers shouted in alarm, but their king was ready. He swung his sword, its fiery enchantment radiating intense heat.

"Hyah!"

A wave of flames surged forward, melting the oncoming icicles instantly.

---

The Ice Hero remained unfazed. He snapped his fingers, and the melted ice transformed into vapor, then refroze into even larger, deadlier spikes.

"Look at that—your little fire isn't enough to counter my power," he taunted.

King Skarvlad leaped, attempting to slash at the Ice Hero, but in an instant, the latter vanished into a swirling blizzard, reappearing behind him. With effortless precision, the Ice Hero conjured a massive ice spear and swung it toward Skarvlad.

"You’re quite formidable for a barbarian king, but I doubt you can last much longer," he said mockingly.

Skarvlad barely managed to deflect the attack with his sword, though it was clear he was beginning to struggle.

---

The king gritted his teeth, his sword hand trembling as the flames surrounding his blade started to flicker and dim. He blocked another incoming ice spear, but his movements were noticeably slower. His breath came in heavy gasps.

"Starting to wear out, are you? How about this?" The Ice Hero smirked, his voice as cold as the freezing wind swirling around them.

He hovered in midair, gathering frost into his hands. Within moments, an enormous ice axe materialized, spinning in the air with a menacing hum.

Wung... wung... wung...

Then, with blinding speed, the axe hurtled toward King Skarvlad.

Skarvlad gathered his remaining mana, enveloping his greatsword in magical flames once more. With all his might, he swung his blade to meet the deadly attack.

Whoosh... Swing!

The fiery blade clashed against the ice axe, generating a powerful shockwave that made the ground tremble. King Skarvlad gritted his teeth, struggling against the overwhelming pressure.

"Hmm..." The Ice Hero murmured, his smirk widening. With a simple motion of his hand, he lifted a colossal block of ice from the ground and sent it hurtling straight toward King Skarvlad.

Boom!

The massive chunk of ice struck King Skarvlad’s body, sending him hurtling across the arena until he crashed into the stone wall. Dust billowed into the air, and for a moment, silence hung over the battlefield.

Despite his grievous injuries, King Skarvlad struggled to rise. With the last of his strength, he drove his sword into the ground, using it as support to keep himself from collapsing. His sharp eyes remained locked onto the Ice Hero, unwavering and defiant.

The Ice Hero smirked, his gaze glinting with arrogance. “Still standing? Impressive,” he said mockingly.

From the shadows beneath a broken chair, the royal advisor suddenly emerged, rushing toward the fallen king. He extended his hands, channeling healing magic to mend the worst of Skarvlad’s wounds. “My King, we must escape! There’s no point in fighting a monster like this!”

King Skarvlad turned to his advisor, his expression resolute. “Why are you here? Listen to me. Take Princess Selena and get her to safety.”

“But, Your Majesty—”

Before the advisor could finish his plea, the Ice Hero waved his hand dismissively. “Annoying,” he muttered coldly.

Hundreds of ice spears materialized in an instant, shooting toward them at terrifying speed.

Boom!

A chilling mist engulfed the area as the deadly spears made contact. As the icy fog slowly dispersed, a new presence was revealed—The Rangers. They had formed a magical shield, protecting the king and his advisor from certain death.

The Ice Hero narrowed his eyes, irritation flashing across his face. Before he could launch another attack, a powerful wind arrow and a bolt of crackling lightning energy shot toward him.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rocked the arena. The Rangers stood firm in front of King Skarvlad, determined to shield him at any cost. One of them stepped forward and spoke with unwavering conviction. “Your Majesty, go! Take Princess Selena with you. We will hold off the Ice Hero.”

King Skarvlad hesitated. He knew time was slipping away. “There’s no time! One of you must go and ensure the princess’s safety.”

The Rangers exchanged glances before settling on one of their own—Tiana, the skilled archer. Unspoken understanding passed between them.

“Tiana, you must go,” one of her comrades said firmly.

“But—”

The unwavering determination in the king’s gaze and the silent approval from her comrades left her no room to refuse. With a heavy heart, she nodded and accepted the responsibility.

The advisor and Tiana swiftly made their way toward a hidden passage, using the lingering mist from the explosion as cover to escape unseen.

As the fog finally cleared, the Ice Hero scanned the surroundings, his sharp eyes immediately noticing the change. Though his opponents had grown in number, he was also aware that someone had slipped away.

“Well, well… More of you have joined the fray, but that won’t change the outcome. I see someone has disappeared. No matter—I’ll deal with them later,” he said, his tone calm but laced with menace.

“Don’t you dare turn your attention away! Face us!” King Skarvlad roared.

The Ice Hero let out a cold chuckle. “Very well.”

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a massive ice spear and hurled it toward them.

Boom! Boom!

The Ranger Tank swiftly raised his shield, absorbing the impact of the attack. In the cover of the rising dust, King Skarvlad and a sword-wielding Ranger dashed from opposite sides, launching a pincer attack.

“Hyaaah!” they roared in unison as they leaped toward their foe, weapons poised for a decisive strike.