9
“Mommy, I want to see the Far North Front.”
Jasper told me the eve of his coming–of–age ceremony.
“I want to witness the border situation with my own eyes.”
I knew who he truly wanted to see, but I didn’t refuse.
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
We set out with a guard escort.
After three days of arduous travel, we finally reached the Far North Fortress.
It was covered in perpetual ice and snow, with an extremely harsh environment.
Yet this very defense line protected the kingdom’s safety.
Commander Jax of the Fortress greeted us warmly.
“Your Majesty, Queen Mother, Your Royal Heir, welcome to the Far North Fortress.”
“I’ve heard there’s a legendary figure here.”
Jasper asked curiously.
“People call him ‘Mad Lion‘?”
Commander Jax’s face turned serious.
“Yes, that lord is indeed a legend.”
“For five years, he has single–handedly guarded the most perilous front line.”
“The demons he’s slain are beyond counting.”
“But he never speaks to anyone, nor does he reveal his identity.”
“We only know he’s a powerful Lion Clan warrior.”
Just then, the alarm suddenly blared.
“Demon horde incoming!”
Soldiers rushed in, reporting frantically.
“The scale this time is unprecedented! Even a Demon Lord has appeared!”
Jasper and I immediately ascended the city walls.
In the distance, a massive, shadowy demon army was drawing near.
Giant demon dragons soared in the sky, while grotesque monsters swarmed across the ground.
“Protect the Queen Mother and the Royal Heir!”
Commander Jax shouted orders.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Just then, a golden figure burst out from the fortress.
The figure was drenched in blood, his face scarred.
But a powerful battle aura radiated from him.
It was Rhys, who had vanished five years ago.
He was completely changed.
His once handsome face was covered in scars, his luxurious clothes replaced by torn battle–worn rags, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle’s.
“It’s the Mad Lion!”
The soldiers cheered excitedly.
“The Mad Lion is fighting!”
Rhys charged alone into the demon army.
The war blade in his hand gleamed coldly, each swing felling several demons.
Blood splattered around him, but he paid it no mind, continuing his brutal fight.
A Demon Lord–level giant dragon swooped down, its target: us on the city wall.
“Watch out!”
Jasper instinctively shielded me.
But he was still too young, utterly incapable of fighting a Demon Lord.
In that critical moment, Rhys, burning his own life force, instantly appeared before us, taking the Demon Lord’s attack head–on with his own
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body.
The giant dragon’s talons ripped open his chest. Blood gushed out like a fountain.
But he gritted his teeth and persevered, severing the giant dragon’s neck with a single strike.
Jasper watched his blood–soaked, fighting figure.
His gaze was complex. That was his blood kin, his father.
For the first time, he felt the profound shock of something called ‘protection‘.
“Father…”
He whispered softly.
Though faint, Rhys heard it.
He glanced back, a flicker of relief in his eyes, then plunged back into the fight.
The battle raged for an entire day.
Rhys, single–handedly, repelled the entire demon army.
But he paid a heavy price. There wasn’t a single unblemished spot on his body, and he had bled almost dry.
After the battle, he collapsed from exhaustion.
Jasper, for the first time, stepped forward voluntarily, kneeling by his side, clumsily tending to his wounds.
“Why… why did you save us?”
Jasper asked softly.
Rhys looked at his son, hot tears welling in his eyes.
“Because… you are my son.”
“Protecting you both is the only thing I can do.”
Jasper’s eyes also reddened.
“I… I always wanted to meet you.”
“To know what kind of person you were.”
“Now I know.”
He gripped Rhys’s hand.
“You are a true warrior.”
I watched from a distance, the ice in my heart finally thawing, just a fraction.
It was my first unspoken acknowledgment of his five years of atonement.
