The battlefield was a canvas of carnage, the ground slick with blood, the air heavy with the stench of death. Ethan, a mere 15 years old, stood at the forefront of his soldiers, his sword slicing through the enemy ranks with deadly precision. His eyes seemed to hold a thousand midnights, his movements economical and ruthless.

Finally, he stood over the last man, a grizzled soldier cowering beneath him. Ethan's sword hovered above the man's throat, and he asked, his voice cold and detached, "Life or death?"

The soldier's eyes darted wildly, and he stammered, "L-life."

Ethan's gaze narrowed slightly, but he sheathed his sword and turned to leave. The soldier's eyes flickered with a mix of relief and calculation. In a flash, he snatched a knife from his clothing and lunged at Ethan's back, aiming for his heart

Ethan's reflexes were honed to perfection. He caught the man's wrist, twisting it until the man cried out in pain. Ethan's eyes gleamed with a cold intensity as he whispered, his breath hot against the man's ear, "You are aiming at the wrong place. I don't have a heart. Those who have hearts neither have a life nor victory. If they have anything, then it is death, and that too is humiliating."

With a swift motion, Ethan drew his sword and cut the man's head off in one swing. The head rolled in the dirt, eyes frozen in shock. Ethan's voice was calm and cold as he said, "Open his eyes and take his head to his king. Tell him to see his right eye; he will see the fear of Ethan. And on the left, you will see the helplessness of his king. Raising your head in front of Ethan means losing your head. Or, say this is Ethan's gift."

Ethan's gaze lingered on the head for a moment then swept to the battlefield, his eyes lingering on the carnage before he turned to his soldiers. "Let's move out," he said, his voice firm, his eyes gleaming with a cold intensity that seemed to pierce the very soul.

Watched him with a mixture of awe and fear, their voices rising in unison as they chanted, "Long live King Ethan!" The phrase echoed across the battlefield, a chilling reminder of Ethan's dominance and ruthless power.

The terror of Ethan had started spreading in the air,

The grand assembly hall was filled with representatives from various countries, all united in their determination to bring down Ethan. The air was thick with tension as they debated strategies and plans.

"We must take him down before he conquers us all!" one delegate exclaimed.

"But how?" another asked. "He's ruthless and cunning. We can't underestimate him."

As the discussion continued, the room grew increasingly heated. Every suggestion was met with skepticism and criticism. "You're just trying to further your own agenda," someone would say, or "Your plan is flawed, it won't work."

The delegates couldn't agree on anything, each one convinced that their own plan was the best. The meeting devolved into chaos, with everyone talking over each other and no one willing to listen.

Meanwhile, Ethan was busy conquering country after country, his ruthless tactics and strategic brilliance proving unbeatable. The news of his victories spread like wildfire, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.

As the assembly hall descended into further chaos, one delegate stood up, his voice ringing out across the room. "We're never going to defeat him if we can't even agree on a plan. We're our own worst enemies."

But his words fell on deaf ears, as the bickering and arguing continued. Ethan. on the other hand, was unstoppable, his empire growing.

...****************...

Hello friends 🤗 I had told you earlier that this is my first novel. I hope you will like it. And have a nice day 💗

Now Ethan is 23 years old. After many victories he went to his palace where his uncle Regent was waiting for him to return victorious.

(The regent is his uncle who raised Ethan after his parents death, he taught him fighting and other things, he was the one who made a 15 Year-old Ethan a cruel king)

As Ethan returned from the war, the regent stood at the entrance of the castle, a hint of a smile on his face. "Ah, Ethan, my young protégé," he said, his voice filled with pride. "I see you've returned victorious. Your ruthlessness on the battlefield is a testament to your growing strength as a king."

The regent's eyes gleamed with approval as he surveyed Ethan's battle-worn armor. "You have shown the enemy no mercy, and that is what will earn you the respect of your people and the fear of your enemies. Well done, Ethan. Well done."

(After the Celebration regent called Ethan to his room)

The regent's chamber was dimly lit, with only a few candles casting a warm glow on the luxurious furnishings. Ethan, still basking in the glory of their recent triumph, entered the room with a sense of anticipation.

The regent, seated behind a large wooden desk, gestured for Ethan to take a seat. "Congratulations on your victory," the regent said, their voice measured and calm.

Ethan nodded, their eyes locked on the regent's. "Thank you, Your Honor. I'm honored to have served."

The regent leaned forward, their expression serious. "Your victory has brought us to a critical juncture. We must now consider our next steps carefully."

Ethan leaned forward, their interest piqued. "I'm ready to discuss our future plans, Your Honor."

 A large map spread out on a nearby table. The map depicted the world, with several countries marked in red, indicating territories already conquered. More countries were marked with a bold 'X', signifying future targets.

Ethan's eyes widened as they gazed upon the map, his ambition ignited. "This is our plan, Your Honor?" He asked, his voice filled with determination.

* The regent nodded, his eyes gleaming with a similar fervor. "Yes, our ultimate goal is to rule the whole continent. And with your victories, we are one step closer to achieving this dream."

Ethan's gaze lingered on the map, his mind racing with strategies and battles to come. "I'm ready to lead our armies to victory, Your Honor. We'll conquer every last inch of this world."

As they sat down, his trusted advisor, Lord Thomas, approached him discreetly.

"Your Majesty," Lord Thomas whispered, "I've received intel that neighboring countries are planning to collaborate against us. They're scheduled to meet in a month to finalize their strategy."

The king's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "What's the nature of this collaboration?"

"It's unclear, sire, but rumor has it they'll be discussing a joint attack. After the meeting, they'll supposedly store the plans in the Elforia Fort, a heavily guarded fortress."

The king's expression turned determined. "I want you to find out more about these plans. Thomas, our skilled operative, will sneak into the Elforia Fort after the meeting and gather intel."

Ethan, already aware of his mission, began planning his infiltration. He knew the Elforia Fort would be heavily guarded, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

...****************...

Ethan blended in with the crowd in the bustling Elforia market, his eyes scanning the stalls and shops for any information that might lead him to the fort. As he walked, he stumbled upon a sword shop, the sign above the door reading " Elforian Steel."

Out of curiosity, Ethan entered the shop, running his fingers over the finely crafted blades on display. The shopkeeper, noticing his interest, approached him.

"Ah, looking for a new sword, traveler?" the shopkeeper asked, eyeing Ethan's attire.

Ethan nodded, picking up a sword to test its balance. "Yes, I'm looking for something exceptional.

As he browsed the selection, he picked up a sword and tested its sharpness. To his surprise, it wasn't as sharp as he had expected, not even comparable to the knife he carried.

Despite his reservations about the sword's quality, Ethan asked the shopkeeper about the price. The shopkeeper, eager to make a sale, quoted a price and boasted about the sword's capabilities.

The shopkeeper smiled, proud of his craftsmanship. "This one is 156 gold coins. But let me tell you, our swords are the best in all of Elforia. They're so sharp, they can cut the head off... well, even Ethan himself, if he ever dared to step foot in our town."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the shopkeeper's bold claim. He smiled to himself, thinking about the irony of the situation.

 Ethan chuckled, intrigued by the shopkeeper's bold claim. "Oh, really? Ethan, you say? I'm sure he's a formidable foe."

The shopkeeper chuckled, unaware of Ethan's true identity. "Oh, I'm sure he's a formidable foe, but our swords would give him a run for his money."

"I'll take it," Ethan said, paying for the sword and using the opportunity to gather more information from the shopkeeper about the fort's location and defenses.

Ethan leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Can you tell me, where can I find the fort?

The shopkeeper's expression turned serious, and he glanced around the shop nervously. "Ah, the fort is not for the faint of heart. It's heavily guarded, and only authorized personnel are allowed entry."

Ethan sensed the shopkeeper's unease and quickly fabricated a story to deflect any suspicion. "I'm actually here with my uncle, Marcus. He's a friend of the fort's in charge, and he had some urgent matters to attend to. He went to meet him, but I wanted to explore the town, so I couldn't accompany him."

The shopkeeper's expression softened slightly, and he nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, Marcus, yes. I think I've heard of him. He's a dignitary, if I recall."

Ethan smiled, relieved that his story seemed to be working. "Yes, that's him. But I'm not sure where the fort is exactly. Do you think you could help me find my way there?"

The shopkeeper nodded sympathetically. "The fort is located at the northern end of the town.

You can't miss it, really. Just head down the main street and follow the signs."

Ethan nodded, filing away the information.

"Thank you, my friend. You've been most... helpful."

With the sword in hand, Ethan left the shop, his mind focused on his mission to gather intelligence and infiltrate the fort.

...****************...

I know friends you are waiting for forward to the FL entry we will meet her soon in the next chapters.

Have a nice and wonderful day 🤗