The first Loss: an Origin story

*swoosh*

The sound released by the eye-catching swing filled the training terrain. However, no one batted an eye or looked back to find its origins. It was natural, The knights of the palace had spent 12 years hearing that sound day after day, The sword belonged to none other than the crown prince of the Lubana kingdom.

''Your highness, please do not forget to get ready for your coming of age ceremony...''

The owner of the voice was the retainer of the crown prince, tasked with helping him manage and complete his duties. It was unfortunate but the crown prince, who was born with immense combat talent, possessed average intelligence and wisdom. He was more fit to be a knight than a noble, for he swung a sword for the first time when he was 3 and for 12 years he kept doing so. A man with an immense passion for war and battles.

''Salam, did I not tell you to call me by my first name? I might be the crown prince but I am not interested in ruling over a country.''

''Your highness!! you must not say that!! you are hero Kadmus' son and the crown prince of the prideful Lubana kingdom!''

However, as if pretending to not hear him, the boy kept swinging his sword.

''Madra-nim!!!''

a young kid ran towards the boy who was drenched in sweat after his training.

''Eiman!! what's my small cute brother doing here?''

A warm smile appeared on Madra's face, Although he was the crown prince, his little brother who was known for his great knowledge and intelligence was more fit for the position of a king than him. Madra had already decided to renounce his right for the throne to his brother once the time comes.

''Father told me you would be training here so I came to see you!''

Madra laughed whole-heartedly and carried his brother on his shoulders while walking towards the throne room. If his father had sent his little brother then it probably meant that he wanted to meet him personally. As he arrived at the throne room, Madra put down his brother and patted his head before heading in. He calmly kneeled before his father and spoke.

''I heard that you have called for me, Your majesty.''

''Madra.''

''Yes, your majesty.''

Kadmus, Madra's father and the current king of Lubana was the hero who saved Lubana from collapsing and was able to regain the land they had lost to the Saharan's empire after the previous royal bloodline of Lubana was assassinated by Eclipse. It was the reason why he faced no resistance from the people as he became king, For the people of Lubana, Kadmus was a shaft of light.

''You have finally become an adult, although I am not sure You became a fine one.''

''I apologize for my shortcomings, Your majesty.''

Madra had always acted respectfully and talked courteously towards his father. It was because Unlike The king's current wife, who was the daughter of the duke, Madra's mother was a commoner, and the woman Kadmus married before becoming a hero. Siera, Madra's mother, had supported Kadmus with all her power, But in the end, his father abandoned her as soon as he became king. She was then banished a few years later by the current queen after being falsely accused of attempting to assassinate the second prince.

All these events led Madra to build up a deep grudge against his father and the current queen who betrayed his mother, the woman who sacrificed everything so that he can grow up peacefully. Despite this, Madra did not resent his younger brother, quite the opposite actually, he loved his brother more than anything, And wouldn't hesitate to put his life on the line to protect him.

''You are not fit to become king, as such at your coming of age ceremony tonight, I will announce that you will be stripped of your title as the crown prince. However, I will allow you to live in the castle as a commoner.''

Madra clenched his fists, his anger rose and pierced the sky. Although he knew his father never acknowledged him, because he was lacking in intellectual gifts compared to his brother, he never imagined all the efforts, that his mother put in to ensure he does not have to suffer, were gone to waste. But he remained silent, as long as he could quietly train as a knight and be close to his brother he would surely be able to adapt.

''As you wish, Your majesty. I will fulfill my duty as a knight of the great Lubana kingdom.''

''It seems you have inherited the patience and composure of your mother, how condemnable.''

Kadmus laughed mockingly as he watched Madra's obedience and spoke words he would regret. Killing intent filled the room, In particular, it was pointed at the king.

''Do not insult my mother.''

Madra's eyes, which were colder than ice and sharper than a razor, made the king's body shiver.

'What a godsent genius... At the age of 15, he's already this strong...'

The eyes of the knights' captain widened as he felt Madra's control and presence. He had once been tasked with the duty of protecting Madra's mother, although it only lasted 3 years, he considered her an older sister figure. He had trained Madra for years until the current queen and the king ordered him to stop and slowly isolated Madra from the world. In fact, the main reason that the king decided to keep Madra in the palace was to keep an eye on him. If Madra were to get out of the castle and show his prowess in war, the people's doubts would arise and they would revolt in order to crown Madra as a king.

'Queen Siera... I am sorry for not being able to protect him in your stead.'

Regret, sorrow, and anger dominated Taran's, the knight captain's, eyes. He was but a knight, even if he was the captain, he had tried to support Madra from the shadows but when he was found out the queen threatened his family and he had to back off.

The king's smirk irritated Madra, who had left the room without the permission of the king.

*****************************************************************************

The kingdom thrived in the era of Kadmus, who was able to establish a peace treaty with the Saharan empire. The Lubana kingdom that was once continuously engulfed in the flames of war had finally witnessed an era of tranquillity. The capital that was once a gloomy city had dramatically changed.

*SWOOSH*

However there was one thing that didn't change, it was The sound of the swings that the soldiers would hear every day. They had grown much more intense and powerful compared to the past, in addition, it was no longer the sound of sword swings only, but that of a combat technique capable of adapting itself to any weapon that's used.

The man with long black hair sighed and placed the spear he was holding on his shoulder. His body was drenched in sweat, It was the usual daily routine of Madra.

''We greet the general!''

dozens of soldiers lined up next to him and bowed in respect. Despite having lost his title as the crown prince and being demoted to a commoner, Madra's absolute talent proved itself as irrefutable. No matter who opposed him, he continued to grow without a break and quickly rose to the position of general at the age of 23.

''What's the situation on the borders?''

''Still no movement, general... It seems an era of peace has truly befallen us haha.''

The soldier who showed an innocent smile quickly stopped and gulped as he noticed Madra's attitude.

''The Saharan empire is known for its underhanded tricks, don't ever let your guard down.''

''Yes, sir!''

The soldier felt the tension in the air vanish in an instant. Madra patted his shoulder as he opened his mouth.

''you have worked hard, rest for today. I am going to head back to the capital tomorrow, is there any news about the king and the queen?''

''Negative, General. It seems the Saharan empire has strict security to avoid information leaks.''

''hmm...''

Countless worries filled Madra's heart, The king and the queen were invited to a party organized by the Saharan empire as a celebration of the 5th anniversary of the treaty of peace. His brother, Eiman, has been left along with the duke, Eiman's grandfather, as the acting authority until their return.

'I don't care about the king and the queen, but if they die, Eiman will have to carry their responsibilities...It's still too early for him.'

Eiman was 16, which meant he was barely an adult and has not had a lot of experience in managing the kingdom. Although Madra had absolute trust in his brother's talent he also knew the importance of real experience.

''Well, let's worry about that when the time comes.''

He entered his room and fell on his bed. He had to rest well as tomorrow would be the beginning of a long journey, his return to the capital after 8 years of living on the borders as a knight.

In the middle of the night, noises filled the borders' knights' base. Madra, who couldn't help but feel uneasy, got up from his bed and was preparing to check the reasons behind the fuss. But before he could do so, a knight entered the room with a pale face.

''General!! the Saharan empire has declared war and has sent the heads of the king and the queen to us!''

'Damn it! They really choose the worst timing!'

'' Are their signs of advancing troops?''

''Yes... nearly 100,000 soldiers including red knights are believed to be advancing towards the border...''

''What?''

100,000 soldiers? Even for the empire, it was a huge investment just for conquering a small country like Lubana, and the red knights, who were the strongest knights of the empire, usually did not interfere with small wars.

'Is it because of the strong resistance we have shown before? DAMN IT!'

Another young knight who was running out of breath opened the door aggressively.

''The crown prince is leading an army and marching towards the border to fight against the Saharan empire!''

''What?!''

Madra's blood was boiling, if anyone else had heard the news they would be glad, But it was different for him. Even though he trusted his brother more than anyone in the treacherous world he lived in, he also knew his flaws. His brother was a pacifist, a man who wished to lead their kingdom to an era of real peace, For that reason he had spent his life barely swinging a sword and focused on academics instead.

'Why would he come to the battlefield!!?'

Madra's head was in turmoil, However, he didn't need to think much to understand the situation.

'Farid, you bastard!'

Although he was always guarding the border, in order to ensure the safety of his brother, Madra had spies in the intelligence unit of the kingdom. A few weeks ago, he had received news about the Duke of the east, Farid, meeting with someone from the empire. Although they put light surveillance on him, the duke didn't show any suspicious movements since then.

''Making a deal with the empire and betraying the royal family! How dare he hand out our kingdom on a silver platter!''

Due to his agitation, Madra ended up saying his thoughts out loud, this caused the soldiers' faces to turn pale.

''There's a traitor inside the kingdom...?''

''What are we gonna do, we don't stand a chance...''

''Oh...mother...father...ah...ah...''

Madra who noticed his negligence took a deep breath and straightened his posture, he knew that now, more than ever, he had to act as a general and not as a soldier.

''ATTENTION, SOLDIERS!''

the soldiers, whose confidence was trampled over a moment ago, trembled at their general's echoing voice.

''ARE YOU GOING TO STAND HERE AND WAIT FOR THE DAMN EMPIRE TO BRING YOUR HOMELAND TO RUINS? YES?''

The soldiers' eyes shook as they listened to Madra's words, their crumbling hearts regained their strength as they remembered the families and people they had to protect.

'''NO, GENERAL!'''

Madra erased any sign of uneasiness or nervousness on his face, for these people, he was their leader and guide, he could not sacrifice them because of his own turbulent emotions.

''Seal all the gates and prepare for siege defense, elite soldiers and commanders form a defensive wall behind the gates, we need to hold them back as much as possible until reinforcements arrive!''

''What about offense, general?''

''We can not afford to switch to an offensive tactic before the reinforcements arrive, UNDERSTOOD?''

'''Roger, General!!'''

All the soldiers shouted with unwavering trust.

'Red knights... even I might not be able to deal with many of them.'

Madra's head was full of strategies and tactics accumulated through the years of experience and studies he had gone through as a soldier of the border gates. But the red knights were the biggest variables, they were the wild card of the empire, the strongest unit that was said to have power equal to an army of a million when assembled.

'But I need to protect Eiman regardless of the dangers.'

In any war, the safety of the king was the priority, however, that was not the reason Madra wanted to protect Eiman. For him, his brother was the sole hope of this rotting country, he could not afford to lose his brother like his mother.

Madra stood next to the archers who were observing the empire's army that was approaching the border walls at an incredible speed. He turned and faced the rest of the soldiers who were becoming tense.

''TODAY...''

All the soldiers gulped as they heard their general's calm yet oppressing voice.

''...WE FIGHT FOR OUR HOMELAND.''

The soldiers closed their eyes and nodded their heads without speaking a word.

''But more importantly...''

Madra's voice became soft as a warm smile formed on his face.

''...We fight for our loved ones.''

The soldiers who were touched by Madra's words felt tears forming in their eyes.

''SO PROUD SOLDIERS OF LUBANA...''

A serious frown covered Madra's face, the youngest and most powerful general in the history of Lubana, for the soldiers he was a pillar that can be absolutely trusted no matter what.

''...SURVIVE!!!''

The soldiers who were expecting different words were confused by what they heard. However, it didn't take long for them to understand, If they were to fall, so would the kingdom.

'''YES, GENERAL!'''

The empire's army was now merely 2 kilometers away from the walls that separated the 2 clashing countries. Arrows engulfed the sky above the empire's soldiers, akin to a rain of death, it penetrated their armors and the empire's soldiers fell one after the other. Nevertheless, it seemed as if their number didn't decrease, How does the fall of one thousand normal soldiers compare to an army of 100 thousand? it was insignificant. But for the soldiers of Lubana, it was a moment worthy of being prideful of, they were standing against the greatest force on the continent and resisting without faltering or hesitating. Their eyes shone with tremendous courage. But at the end of the day, it was all useless.

*BAM*

The gates of the borders were broken and the empire's army seeped through them, killing everything in their way...No, it would be more accurate to call it a massacre. Lubana's soldiers were overwhelmed by the numbers that rushed at them. Because of the Trained elites equipped with masterfully crafted weapons, their efforts were trampled over and they fell like tropical rain, without any break.

''NO! TARGA!!''

Madra who saw his trusted subordinates and friends be slaughtered before him while he struggled with all his might felt his world collapse all of a sudden.

Death.

It was the only thing that Madra could see and the only future he foresaw for himself and his soldiers.

''So you're the general that Lubana takes pride in? I am honestly disappointed. Well you might have had a better life if you had been born in the empire HAHAHA''

the laughs of the red knights filled his ears, mocking his country, his family, his friends. His soul felt heavy, but he couldn't fall for such temptations. Madra lightly released his broken sword from his hands.

''Please, stop killing them, I will surrender, and you can take my life, but stop killing the soldiers.''

He was a general who swore to protect the empire, but before anything he was their general, he could not let them die in vain, knowing the inevitable conclusion, he decided to choose the best possible path.

''Ho? what a wise general, I expected you to be a musclehead but it looks like you can already see where this is going HAHA.''

''Then...?''

''No can do, our Great emperor ordered us to send every last one of you to the afterlife...Well don't worry, I am sure the men in the empire will take good care of the widows.''

Madra boiled with rage once again, nonetheless, he knew that he couldn't change anything, and if he couldn't change anything.

''Then I will take out as many of you as I can, you damned BASTARDS!!''

He knew it was the moment to throw away reason and fight with all of what he got. Madra picked up his broken sword and rushed towards the red knights, the wind blew around him as if announcing the arrival of a storm.

''Gale swordsmanship...''

It was a type of swordsmanship that Madra had mastered, a signature sword style of the Lubana kingdom.

''Cutting wind!''

He rushed with all his strength and his broken blade pushed the wind current like a river, it was swordsmanship that used perpetual motions in order to penetrate the gaps in the enemy's defense. The red knight's sword met the broken blade and neutralized the attack, but the strong gusts of wind pushed him back. due to the surprise, he was confused, and using this opportunity, Madra pulled out a dagger that he embedded in the red knight's neck. Blood gushed from the red knight's mouth and it wasn't long before he fell to his death.

''YOU! HOW DARE YOU! USING PETTY TRICKS ON A RED KNIGHT!''

The higher ranking red knight was enraged by Madra's techniques, his comrade was taken by surprise and ended up dying because of trickery. The red knight released the red energy in his armor and weapons and dashed at Madra, swinging his sword with the intention of decapitating him. As if mocking him, Madra let go of the broken sword and dagger and leaned backward, dodging his blade.

''You!!''

However, it wasn't mockery. His enemy was not a swordsman but a warrior, a general, one who had mastered all types of weapons, and a human's first weapon was none other than their body. Madra's leg aimed at the red knight's head, Surprised by the sudden change, the red knight retreated hastily as he remembered his comrade's death.

''unarmed combat...You were not a swordsman?''

A red hue engulfed Madra's body, it was none other than Aura, as he calmed his breathing, he once again rushed towards the soldiers who stood between him and the red knight. With each punch, blood decorated the ground, with each kick, screams resonated to create a song of suffering.

''What the hell are you!?''

The red knights, an elite unit of knights that were said to be able to take down a kingdom's army on their own. However, one of the unreachable red knights was now cowering in fear against an unknown person. The empire's soldiers who couldn't help but shake in fear retreated as they saw that their blades barely pierced the Monsturuous human's body. one Punch, Ten punches, one hundred, one thousand, Madra stopped counting as he fought with all his might, his aura growing ever stronger until he reached the red knight, who had fallen to the ground with fear-struck eyes.

''Stand up, dog of the empire.''

Unsurprisingly, There was no answer, only a man who was slowly stepping back while quivering in fear. With eyes as cold as ice, Madra walked towards the knight, collecting aura in his fist he aimed at his head, a single strike that would bring death to the knight. But there was no noise, no cracking sounds, no scream; Because Madra's fist met the palm that stood between his fist and the knight's head.

''Hm... I guess the emperor wasn't entirely wrong in sending me. How curious...''

A young man with a bored...no, rather a tired face, stared at Madra, it was the same man who had effortlessly blocked his strike.

''G-G-Grandmaster!!''

The strongest person who lived in the empire, grandmaster Zikfrektor. It was the identity of the young man, there was not a single soul in the whole continent who didn't know of his existence, a being whose authority was not lacking in any way compared to the emperor. A wide smile was plastered over the red knight's face.

''Go and continue the conquest.''

''Yes, grandmaster!''

Madra who tried to block the knight's path realized belatedly that he couldn't move, Zikfrector's hand which was placed on his shoulder pinned him in place. It was the first time that Madra had experienced this feeling, fear.

''Don't worry, I won't let them kill you even if the emperor insists, you would make for a great partner. However, the others will need to die, unfortunately.''

It was only instinctual, but Madra knew, he couldn't win against the man standing in front of him. At this moment, a voice filled the battlefield.

''REINFORCEMENTS HAVE ARRIVED, PRINCE EIMAN HAS ARRIVED! WE ARE SAV-''

Before the man could finish his words, his head flew like a projectile, the sword of the red knight, who was rushing towards the crown prince, slashed everything in its way.

''EIMANNNNN!!!''

Madra who couldn't control himself anymore released every ounce of power that he was left inside him and reached out to a sword attached to a soldier's corpse.

''Huh?''

The grandmaster flinched as he felt his hand let off the man's shoulder.

''A legend?...No, he isn't.''

Zikfrector's face turned serious as he looked at the man standing before him, he was a mere soldier who wasn't even a legend but was still able to escape his pressure. Madra grabbed the sword and ran with all his power towards the red knight and Eiman, but the grandmaster appeared yet again, stopping him in a mere instant.

''As I said, it's unfortunate, but they all need to die, how about you wor-''

It was but a mere moment, nonetheless, there was no mistake, Madra had caused Zikfrektor's senses to alert him of danger. Zikfrector reflexively used magic and countered Madra's sword which was aimed at his neck.

''You... what the hell...''

Madra, who took the attack head-on, stood up again and continued running towards the knight.

'Eiman..Eiman...Eiman!!!!''

All types of memories caused Madra's mind to ignore his surroundings, he recalled his young Brother, who always boasted about how he'll be of help to him as the king's advisor, how he praised him and admired him, how he always ran towards him and hugged him.

*BOOM*

Zikfrector's magic hit Madra yet again, his left arm was barely attached to his body now. Nevertheless, he kept running, no pain would compare to the pain of losing his brother. But he noticed that something was off, no matter how much he tried to run he wasn't getting closer. Checking his body, he realized his legs were not moving anymore due to the damage. So he crawled. then his arms were broken. So he used his chest to move. But it was too late, in front of his eyes, the knight's sword pierced his brother's heart.

''NOOOOO, EIMAN....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.''

And his brother fell to the ground, his last resting place, as he was watching, unable to do anything.

''No...no...no.no.no.no.no.no''

As if breaking down his eyes sank and a pool of blood formed around him. He was also losing his life.

'Is that how it ends...'

Tears fell from his eyes, it may have been the first time he ever cried, he thought.

'You will become the best king, brother!'

'You're so powerful, brother!'

'I will stand next to you in the future, Brother!'

He recalled Eiman's words as he was starting to lose his senses, there was no light, only pure darkness.

'I want to kill them...'

His rage was stronger than any desire.

'I WANT TO KILL THEM!!!!'

And burned stronger than Hellfire.

Golden aura engulfed his bloodied body, to the others, he may as well look like a moving corpse.

''THIS!''

Zikfrector's eyes widened as he witnessed Madra standing up again.

''A Transcendent!!''

There was no mistake, that man before him was transcending all his limits right now. All the fighting styles that Madra had ever seen, experienced, heard of, or used, passed through his head, right now he could only move once. One strike, A single strike to end it all, A single swing that brings massacre. against one hundred thousand soldiers standing before him, he needed to end them all, to express his rage, with a single swing. The red knight, whose smile never left his face, rushed towards Madra with the soldiers again.

Right now, for them, he was but a half-dead man with no power left. So he held his sword with every drop of strength he had left and raised it in the air. The grinning red knight released his red energy preparing to thrust his sword into the man's body, But He couldn't move closer, His body was was being pushed back by the aura of the monster-like man that barely had any life left in him.

''What...''

And as he raised all his senses to their peak, he saw the man's, once black, eyes shining bright with a golden color, reminiscent of his aura's color. The man's sword started to move, and as if the world stopped, silence reigned over the battlefield. His blade shone brighter as it kept moving down... Faster...Stronger...Fiercer.And once the man completed the swing, death arrived.

''100 thousand army...''

the battlefield was the canvas and blood was the paint, the blade was the brush and the man was the artist. With the swing he painted, the most beautiful of all paintings. With his sword, he gave birth, to the deadliest strike ever seen.

''Massacre sword.''

And he fell to his knees as not an inch of strength remained in his body. The young tired man placed his palm on Madra's back, his eyes carried a melancholic gaze. In a mere moment, all his injuries were erased as if they were a lie.

'' I am excited to see your future, little kid.''

Said Zikfrector as he vanished into thin air.

It was the day that General Madra died, the day he was reborn, as a king. One who never lost a battle, but lost something much greater than that.

**********************************************************************

The memory faded in the darkness that reigned the world of the man whose eyes, which had remained closed for long, slowly opened. Gazing at the battlefield occupied by millions of soldiers, a sole man stood on the top of the hill, looking down on their very existence, the guardian of Lubana.

''I am the king of Lubana...''

Countless arrows flew towards the man who wore ragged armor. wielding a worn-out sheath in his left hand, and a cracked sword in his right one, his blade pointing towards the sky, in the face of demise he was unfazed.

''...Undefeated King Madra.''

As he swung his sword, his name was swallowed amidst the cries of the enemies. An artwork that was as simple as it could be yet more beautiful than any. As short as it had been, yet more deadly than ever.

''1 million army massacre sword.''

The voices faded to leave only a silent painting striking fear and awe. This was the fate of the one and only, undefeated king.