Berry walked into his chamber in silence, his armor still stained with dust and regret. He could not lift his eyes to meet anyone—not the guards, not the servants, not even himself in the polished bronze mirror that hung beside his bed.
The kingdom was quiet, but not peaceful. It was the kind of silence that follows fear.
He clenched his fists.
"I failed…" he muttered under his breath.
But deep inside him, something burned—not just shame, but anger… and doubt.
Why did Tyler spare him?
Why did he hesitate?
And why… did JC stop the final blow?
Berry sat heavily on the edge of his bed, replaying the battle in his mind over and over again. Every strike. Every word. Every moment.
Then suddenly—
A knock.
"Enter," Berry said, his voice low.
The door creaked open, and Queen Jane stepped in slowly. Her eyes were still red from weeping, but there was something else in them now… hope.
"Berry," she said softly, "there is something you must know."
Berry looked up, confused.
"What is it, mother?"
She hesitated, then spoke:
"Your father… before he died… he left something for you."
Berry's eyes widened slightly.
"For me?"
She nodded.
"A message… and a weapon."
Berry stood up immediately.
"Where is it?"
Queen Jane motioned for him to follow her.
They walked through the quiet halls of the palace, past guards who bowed their heads respectfully. The torches flickered along the stone walls as they descended into a hidden chamber beneath the throne room—a place Berry had never seen before.
At the center of the chamber stood an ancient chest.
Queen Jane placed her hand on it.
"Your father said you would only open this when you truly understood what it means to be a king… not just a warrior."
Berry swallowed hard.
"I don't think I do."
She looked at him gently.
"Then maybe… this will teach you."
She stepped back.
Berry slowly approached the chest and opened it.
Inside was a sword—but not like any he had seen before. Its blade shimmered faintly, as if it carried a life of its own. Along the hilt were carved words:
"Strength without wisdom destroys. Wisdom without courage fails."
Berry reached out and touched it.
The moment his hand gripped the sword
A surge of energy rushed through him.
Visions flashed in his mind.
His father… standing strong in battle.
The kingdom… burning.
Tyler… not as a monster—but as someone in pain.
And JC… standing between two worlds.
Berry gasped and pulled back slightly.
"What… is this?"
Queen Jane whispered:
"That is the Sword of Morale… passed down through generations. It does not just grant power—it reveals truth."
Berry stared at the blade.
"Truth…"
Suddenly, everything felt different.
This war… wasn't as simple as he thought.
Tyler wasn't just an enemy.
There was something deeper.
Something hidden.
Berry looked up, determination returning to his eyes—stronger than before.
"I'm going back," he said.
Queen Jane's face tightened.
"So soon?"
"Yes," Berry replied firmly. "But not for revenge."
He picked up the sword.
"This time… I will end this war the right way."
Meanwhile…
Far beyond the kingdom walls, Tyler stood alone on a cliff overlooking the burning city.
Behind him, his soldiers waited.
But Tyler was not watching the flames.
He was thinking.
About Berry.
About JC.
About the past he could not escape.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"They still don't understand…" he murmured.
A dark figure stepped out from the shadows behind him.
"You're hesitating again," the figure said.
Tyler didn't turn.
"I don't need your advice."
The figure chuckled.
"But you need my power."
Tyler's eyes darkened.
"Stay out of this."
The figure's voice dropped, cold and dangerous:
"You made a deal, Tyler. And soon… I will collect."
Back in the kingdom, Berry mounted his chariot once more—but this time, he was not driven by anger.
He was driven by purpose.
And somewhere deep inside him—
He knew.
The next battle… would decide everything.