The crowd was still reeling from the dagger's sudden flight from the stone and into Zane's hand. Whispers and gasps rippled like wildfire, but no one dared move as the noble of House Valen strode forward, his dark cloak billowing behind him, eyes burning with entitlement.
"Hold it right there," the noble called out, voice calm but dripping with menace. "That dagger belongs to me. The king promised it for my service in the last war. You've stolen what's rightfully mine."
Zane's gaze sharpened. He slowly raised the dagger, letting its cold, ancient metal glint under the sun. Without warning, he dropped it on the ground with a heavy thud — the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the tense silence.
The black crown that had hovered above his head—the Heir of the End title—vanished like smoke in the breeze.
The noble's eyes narrowed, stepping forward confidently to snatch the dagger from the ground. But as his fingers brushed the hilt, the dagger suddenly felt like a mountain chained to the earth. He strained, sweat beading on his forehead, but the dagger refused to budge.
"What trickery is this?" he hissed, his composure cracking.
Zane's lips curled into a smirk. "Try your magic then, show me what you've got."
With a furious glare, the noble summoned his mana, weaving it into a bolt of shimmering energy aimed straight at the dagger. But before the spell could connect, the dagger emitted a powerful pulse of shadowy force—a shockwave that slammed into the noble like a physical blow.
He stumbled backward, crashing against the platform's edge and tumbling off with a stunned grunt. The crowd gasped as he disappeared from view below.
Nyx floated beside Zane, clapping slowly with a sly grin. "Oof. Talk about a heavy-duty security system."
Link's voice echoed in Zane's mind, "That was almost too easy. He's gonna be telling that story to his grandkids — if he survives."
Zane crouched and picked up the dagger again, its cold weight settling comfortably in his palm.
The king's gaze locked onto him from his throne, unreadable but sharply focused.
Zane's voice rang clear across the silent plaza. "If anyone else wants to try, the offer stands. But I'm not just some lucky kid who pulls swords out of stones."
He glanced at the noble's still-vanishing figure. "And for my part? I'm not interested in favors or titles. I just want my power back — ."
The crowd's tension finally began to dissolve into murmurs of awe and fear.
Nyx nudged him with a grin. "You're making this too easy. Shouldn't you give them a little more drama?"
Zane smirked, eyes glinting. "Let them come. I'm just getting started."