Time rewinds a little.

“Kenya, hover as high above Valhalla Castle as you can. I’ll send you the signal. When you get it, dive straight into the throne room… and take out my brother.”

“Got it. I’ll be fine.”

“…Yeah.”

Road’s plan was simple.

Lure out Odin and have Kenya take him down.

But drawing out the cautious Odin would be difficult.

“My brother never shows himself unless he’s certain of victory. He always fights from a safe position. That’s why I’m committing all our forces to the battlefield. This is no bluff.”

“If you do that…”

“Yeah, I’ll be left without any guards. My brother knows the full extent of Earthguard’s forces, and there’s no way to fool him on that.”

“So I’ll sacrifice my life to call him out. Make him think I’m at the central command post. He’ll probably bombard it from his floating airship. No chance to escape.”

“But you won’t be there, Road.”

“Right. I’ll be waiting in Valhalla Castle, with a little trick up my sleeve. Once I’m ‘dead’ and central command is wiped out, he’ll definitely take command here in the castle.”

“And then I’ll…”

“Yeah, you’ll…”

…

And now.

“Come on, brother. Check. Can you turn this around?”

Odin looked at the knight and despaired.

Rielbelt did too. And all the other soldiers.

To begin with, KOG was no match for them in the flesh, even armed with mere guns.

And this opponent was the White Knight who had defeated Osiris and become the world’s strongest.

Sword God Sword Silfield—that battle had been witnessed by everyone.

They knew they couldn’t win, even if they stood on their heads.

Odin backed away, trying to flee through the door.

But Kenya wouldn’t allow it.

He hurled his single-handed sword at the door, blocking the passageway.

This chamber had only one door. That made them rats in a trap.

“You can’t escape, brother. It’s over.”

“Why… why?!”

Odin bellowed, still refusing to accept it.

“Brother, surrender. If you do, I’ll spare your life. Though you’ll spend it in chains.”

“Roooooad!!!”

He glared at Road, straining so hard it looked like blood might pour from his eyes.

But Road met his gaze with cold eyes.

“Damn it, damn it! Why? Why can’t I beat you? I’m the older brother! Why can’t I beat my little brother? Why?!”

Odin kept spilling his guts.

Jealousy toward Road—that had always lurked at the bottom of Odin’s heart.

The chess he’d taught him as kids.

At first, it made him happy.

His little brother was getting good; it excited him a bit.

So he’d taught him chess, his favorite and most prized skill.

To play together, to show off as the big brother.

Yet in mere days, Road had surpassed years of his own hard work, as if mocking him.

He’d tasted defeat for the first time, realizing they were on different levels.

And Father doted on Road. The military saw Road as the next emperor, drawn to his charisma.

It stung.

“I should be the one! I should rule the world! So why does everyone follow you?!”

The twisted emotions from his childhood had birthed Odin Earthguard.

And he drew his gun.

Aimed at Road, hands trembling.

“If you weren’t here! If you hadn’t shown up! I would’ve! I would’ve been!! Die!!”

A single bullet flew toward Road.

But Kenya’s divine-speed sword deflected it.

Through the blade, Road’s expression looked faintly sad.

“Why that look? Why do you always look at me like that? Don’t pity me! I’m Odin, the first prince! Damn it, damn it!!!”

Odin sobbed and screamed in frustration.

He fired at Road again and again.

But piercing Kenya’s defense was impossible for him.

“Hah… hah… why…”

He dropped to his knees, head hanging.

“Kenya… sorry, but.”

“Yeah, I got it.”

Kenya raised his sword.

Seeing it, Odin suddenly laughed.

“Heh heh heh, hahaha. Right. I won’t lose. I won’t lose to you.”

Then he pressed the gun to his own forehead.

“This makes it a draw. I didn’t lose to you! Not to you, I didn’t lose!”

Road watched Odin’s bizarre act in silence.

Knowing there was no saving him anymore.

And.

Bang!

With a dry crack, the bullet pierced Odin’s brain.

Blood soaked the floor as he collapsed with a thud.

Road murmured quietly at the sight.

“You must’ve had plenty of people who’d follow you too… brother.”

“Sword, if you ever have any troubles, come to me! I’m your senior, after all!”

“Roger that. I’ll count on you.”

“Haha, though as a senior, I can’t even keep up with you.”

“No, it’s my first time having a senior… so this is what it’s like. Like a big brother you can talk to about anything?”

“Haha, just older, that’s all.”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah!?”

“Goodbye, Rielbelt. Even if it was all an act… I liked you as a senior. If I’d had a big brother… maybe he’d have been like this.”

Kenya knew Rielbelt had betrayed them.

No—he’d been the enemy from the start.

Still, the feelings from half a year together were simply of a kind senior, like a brother.

In the ancient castle echoing with dry gunshots, Odin died. Rielbelt followed suit.

And Road ascended as the world’s ruler.

It was a victory, but one that left a bitter aftertaste.

This was what winning meant. What killing people meant. Kenya understood that.

Yet the memories clawed at his heart, bringing tears.

“Kenya, thank you for everything until now.”

“I didn’t… do anything.”

“…No, you’re wrong. Until today.”

“Huh?”

Kenya couldn’t grasp the meaning of those words.

Road offered no explanation, his voice echoing through the silent throne room.

“Earthguard forces who followed Odin—I’ll let this all go unpunished! Drop your weapons!”

That declaration stripped the morale from Odin’s remaining forces.

They’d only acted under the royal command, as Odin’s subordinates.

Odin’s men surrendered one after another. Road then issued orders via comms to the Earthguard forces holding the front lines.

And to all of Odin’s faction fighting alongside the World Union.

“Odin is dead. To all Earthguard forces—return to Earthguard. That includes those aiding the World Union. I’ll pardon everything.”

The message reached every frozen Earthguard battlefield.

Including the allies’.

“Lord Odin… well done, Lord Road. Hey! We’re heading back! War’s over! Help those idiots! We’re allies now!”

“Roger, Lord Orgord!”

“Lord Road… I don’t know how you pulled it off, but impressive as always. Everyone! We’re pulling out! Tell Odin Lord Road’s men in the World Union too! No need to fight anymore!”

“Roger, Lady Lamia!”

The order went to every Earthguard soldier, friend or foe.

Chaos gripped the battlefields as Odin’s Earthguard troops defected one by one, joining the enemy lines.

And they were all accepted. The power balance was gone.

Byakuren saw it.

“Father! What’s happening?!”

“No idea! The moment Odin announced breaking the alliance, this. He’s dead, but what exactly… we don’t even know if it’s true.”

Genbu, Camille—the entire World Union was in disarray.

“Byakuren! We can’t fight like this! Can’t tell friend from foe! Formations are shot!”

“…Damn it. All forces, retreat! World Union forces, temporary withdrawal!”

The World Union pulled back.

That signaled the end of fighting across all fronts. Everyone returned to their homelands.

Earthguard to Earthguard, World Union forces to World Union HQ in Nakatake.

On this day, the world war concluded.

With Odin’s death.