Mount Drago was razed to the ground, and the fire burnt furiously, blanketing the area with heavy smoke and ashes.
The news came back, confirming what most people already knew—all life was wiped out from Mount Drago.
They could not find any traces of bodies, as the bodies were bombed to pieces and burnt to ashes.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration for Erudia, but it turned out to be a day of mourning too. They mourned for the loss of a great Erudian.
If Levi was in his prime condition, the public would have harbored hope that he might have escaped. However, after the savage battles, he was feeble and could hardly stand up. No one doubted he had used his last bit of strength to erect the banner on the peak. Given that condition, how could he have escaped from the relentless bombing?
The fact, though difficult to accept, was that Crown King had perished on Mount Drago.
Prince William sent out a troop to search the vicinity multiple times, seeking the assurance that Crown King had been eliminated.
There was no sign of Crown King’s body. They found only a fragment of the Dragon Mask and part of the broken Dragon Sword, and they did not manage to retrieve the Dragon Ring. It was a small item, so it was likely pounded into unrecognizable fragments during the bombing.
However, by finding the remains of his mask and sword, they could safely conclude he had been blown up as well.
“He is dead! Crown King is dead!”
The world was in an uproar when they heard Prince William announce that the man who had displayed god-like prowess had succumbed.
The mood in Erudia was especially solemn. It was a major blow to the Erudians.
The Dragonites were in despair, as they knew this was not one of the play-act Levi had conspired with them to put up. What happened at Mount Drago was totally beyond their control, so they could only watch helplessly as the events unfold.
“I regret allowing him to go there!”
“Let’s accept the reality!”
“He was the one and only. Erudia was blessed to have him!”
Over at the Lopez family, the mood was depressing, as it was a double whammy for them. Not only had Erudia lost an outstanding member, but they had also lost a powerful backer.
For reasons unknown to her, Zoey felt exceptionally heavy-hearted, as if there was a huge burden on her chest.
When she heard the news about Crown King, she immediately thought of Levi. The two had left the country at the same time, and she felt there were many suspicious similarities between the two men.
Out of the blue, Forlevia started wailing and screamed, “Daddy is dead! Daddy is dead… But Daddy, you promised me you would come back, and bring me and Mommy home!”
The Lopezes heart sank as they watched Forlevia cry. She had always insisted her daddy was the Crown King, so when Crown King died, to her, that meant her daddy had died too.
To the adults, that was a preposterous association. After all, how could a traitor like Levi be compared to the heroic Crown King?
However, they did not have the heart to shatter the innocent dream of a child. Thus, they consoled her, “Don’t worry, Evie. Your daddy is well and alive, and he will be back soon!”
“That’s right! Your daddy will be back.”
Their efforts were not in vain, as she stopped crying. Then, with wide-eyed innocence, she asked, “Are you sure? Daddy is really alive?”
“Of course! Your daddy is alive and will be back soon.” Zoey held Forlevia in her arms and gently assured her, wiping the tears from her face.
From the far end of the room, Thierry and Judy had to bite their lips to hold back their tears. They wanted to reveal the truth, that Crown King was Levi. They wanted to shout out to the family that Forlevia’s daddy was Erudia’s greatest hero, but he could never come back again.
