(ECHO)

King Lipyang sat at his ornate wooden desk, carved with intricate patterns of vines and leaves, the soft glow of candlelight flickering in the dimly lit room. The night had settled deeply outside, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and distant hoot of an owl breaking the silence. The room was filled with the scent of old books and polished wood.

He worked while occasionally gazing at the Axinite stone in front of him, its once brilliant surface now appearing somewhat dull. He stared at the stone for a long time, lost in thought. Initially, he had been overjoyed when he acquired the stone, but now a sense of unease crept over him whenever he looked at it.

Suddenly, he felt a faint tremor and heard a distant rumbling. It was very subtle but still noticeable. King Lipyang's brow furrowed, his heart quickening with concern. The tremor seemed to resonate through the very foundation of the palace.

Someone knocked on the door of King Lipyang's study, the sharp sound breaking the tense silence. His ever-loyal soldier, clad in armor and with a look of urgency, entered the room hastily.

"Did you hear that rumbling? Just like in the prophecy. Our kingdom will doom with the same disaster." said King Lipyang, his voice tinged with fear and frustration. His usually composed demeanor was replaced with visible anxiety, his hands gripping the edge of the desk.

The soldier nodded, his face pale with worry. "Yes, Your Majesty. The ground beneath us is unsettled. We must take action immediately to avoid the unnessacary things happen."

King Lipyang's eyes returned to the Axinite stone, now feeling like a heavy weight in the room. His initial joy was now overshadowed by dread. He could see the reflection of his own troubled expression in its polished surface. The prophecy he had dismissed for so long now seemed to be unfolding before his eyes. He wondered if the stone, once a symbol of hope, was now a harbinger of doom.

Seeing King Lipyang constantly gazing at the Axinite stone, the soldier decided to try offering a solution, even though he knew he might anger the king. He knelt before the king, his heart pounding with anxiety.

"Your Majesty, forgive me. I need to ask you something. Did Prince Kairav really kill the Meloidee? I feel something is off about the situation from a week ago. My instincts strongly tell me that the person or friend Princess Tulip brought was a messenger with something very important to tell you."

"Impossible, Icechander. I know Kairav and Tulip very well. Kairav would never lie. And Tulip is easily influenced," replied King Lipyang, a mix of frustration and doubt crossing his face.

"But Your Majesty," Icechander continued hesitantly, "I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but most of the problems in Apokarpa have actually been solved by Princess Tulip. I have seen it with my own eyes. She hides behind the shadows of other princes. But it's up to you whether you believe me or not. I also heard that you plan to marry her off to Nefentes, the Minister of State Resources? Is it true? Why, Your Majesty? It seems this decision is being made in haste."

King Lipyang's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise and contemplation in his eyes. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the tension in the room. The king leaned back in his chair, the weight of Icechander's words settling heavily on him.

He thought back to the past weeks, to the moments when Tulip's actions had indeed seemed unusually decisive and effective. Could he have been wrong about her all this time? And what of Kairav, the trusted prince who now stood accused of such a heinous act? Doubts began to creep into his mind, gnawing at his certainty.

"Explain more, Icechander," King Lipyang said, his voice softer now, filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What do you mean by most problems being solved by Princess Tulip? And why do you think there is something urgent she wanted to convey?"

Icechander took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Your Majesty, I have seen Princess Tulip work tirelessly behind the scenes. Whenever a crisis arose, she was there, finding solutions and guiding others, though she let her brothers take the credit. She is far more capable and perceptive than she appears. As for the messenger, I felt a sense of urgency and sincerity in his demeanor. I believe he was trying to warn us or share vital information, something that could have significant implications for our kingdom."

The room fell silent, the gravity of the situation pressing down on both men. King Lipyang's mind raced with possibilities, his gaze drifting once more to the Axinite stone. What if the very foundation of his beliefs was flawed? What if the stone's dimming brilliance was a sign of the turmoil within his kingdom and his heart?

"I will consider what you have said, Icechander," King Lipyang finally replied, his voice tinged with a newfound resolve.

The soldier nodded.

…

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a cold silver light over the battlefield. The ground trembled with anticipation as Adibahari and Tatai faced each other. The air between them was thick with tension, both warriors aware that this fight would determine more than just their fates.

Tatai had merged with the earth. His skin gleamed with embedded minerals, and his eyes glowed a deep gold. Rocks and boulders floated around him, ready to be commanded at his will. His every movement was accompanied by the grating sound of stone against stone, a testament to his immense power.

Adibahari, a Tias without Astakona, stood before Axinite Antler. He gripped his twin swords tightly, the moonlight reflecting off their sharp blades. His stance was steady, and his eyes burned with unwavering determination. His swords, gifts from his master, were the only things standing between him and certain death.

With a roar, Tatai swung his hand forward, and the ground between them erupted. Sharp stone spikes shot up, aiming to impale Adibahari. He dodged and rolled, narrowly avoiding the deadly attack. The ground beneath his feet was unstable, shifting like sand under Tatai's control.

Tatai raised his hand, and a massive boulder floated before hurtling toward Adibahari with incredible speed. Adibahari swung his sword, slicing the boulder in half, the pieces falling harmlessly to his sides. He felt a surge of relief and gratitude for his master's gift of Astakona-resistant swords. Sweat dripped from his face, his muscles tense from the effort.

"You can't win, Adibahari," taunted Tatai, his voice echoing deeply. "I am the earth itself. You are merely a Tias."

Adibahari did not respond, his eyes focused with intense concentration. He ran forward, closing the distance between them. Tatai stomped the ground, sending a shockwave of rocks and earth toward Adibahari. He leaped into the air, spinning over the attack. The world seemed to slow as he soared, his mind solely focused on the battle ahead.

As he landed, Tatai was already upon him, his fists encased in stone gauntlets. The punches came fast and heavy, each blow capable of crushing bones. Adibahari parried with his swords, the clash of metal against stone ringing out with each strike. He managed to land a few hits, but Tatai's stone armor absorbed most of the damage.

Tatai growled in frustration at Adibahari's agility. He slammed his fist into the ground, causing a large chasm to open beneath Adibahari. Adibahari fell but caught himself with his swords, hanging precariously over the abyss. The depths below seemed to whisper a cold, inevitable end.

Tatai stood above him, grinning with victory. The glint of triumph in his eyes.

"Goodbye, Adibahari." Tatai growled, raising his foot to crush Adibahari.

With determination, Adibahari swung himself up, slicing Tatai's leg with his sword before Tatai realized. The sharp blade found its mark, cutting through the stone and drawing blood. Tatai roared in pain, staggering backward. His control over the earth momentarily faltered, and the ground trembled less violently.

Adibahari seized the opportunity, launching a flurry of attacks. Tatai tried to defend, but the relentless strikes were too much. Adibahari's swords cut deep, finding the weaknesses in Tatai's stone armor. Each strike was precise, driven by years of training and a burning desire for justice.

Desperate, Tatai gathered all his remaining strength, the ground trembling violently. Pillars of stone rose, trapping Adibahari. His swords fell to the ground, clattering against the stone.

Tatai, now kneeling from his bleeding leg, looked at Adibahari with piercing eyes.

"Enough! This is madness. What drives you to kill me when you are just an outsider?"

"Because you are a coward, Axinite Antler. You may be as hard as stone, but you are easy to shatter! You can kill innocent Meloidee children but can't fight against evil. You are supposed to protect the Tias people in Apokarpa, but you let them live in hardship while you indulge in the royal palace under the king's command. You are nothing but a slave!" Adibahari spat in anger, his voice echoing with the intensity of his conviction.

The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the labored breathing of the two warriors, the moon casting its cold light over the scene of their struggle.