Because when Wynn was born, there had been a crowd gathered at the door, and Hawk had been as happy as a child. His men had never seen him so joyful before. The moment Hawk held Wynn in his arms, something in him completely changed. As a father, all he wanted was for his son to grow up safe. Looking at his wife in her weakened state, he swore he would protect them both with his life.
The scene returned to the battlefield.
Roland's strike came in a flash, and Hawk took the hit, but his resolve only grew stronger. He would not let these people destroy the Dusk Realm.
Roland hadn't expected him to hold up so well. Just an ordinary A tier plus demon after all. But he had played around long enough. Time to end it.
Roland stamped hard into the ground and launched himself forward in an instant. Both of them charged with unstoppable momentum. Several arcs of sword light cut through the air. Roland landed cleanly. Hawk let out a devastating cry and reverted to his human form.
Hawk understood in an instant. Roland was far beyond him in strength. He had been toying with him from the very start.
A cold glint crossed Roland's eyes. "Still not enough to satisfy me."
The words had barely left his mouth before he raised his sword. "Die."
Then a sharp clash of metal rang out. Roland's expression turned to confusion. Hawk and the others were equally stunned.
It was Wynn.
Hawk shouted at him to get out of there. "You fool. You're no match for him. You've been this reckless your whole life."
Wynn was stung. "Is that really all you think of me? That's your assessment of who I am?"
Hawk was speechless. He was just trying to protect him.
But Wynn had looked up to Hawk more than anyone since he was a child. Every time he talked about his father, his face lit up. A general who led armies into battle. Could anything be cooler than that?
Wynn had always been at the top of his class. Today, he had come in first again. He ran straight to Hawk's study, hoping for just one word of praise.
Hawk simply said, "I see."
Wynn was crushed. He had come in first place.
As a young man, Wynn had taken first place in the military assessment. He was certain this time his father would say something, but the answer was the same as always. Wynn told himself he just hadn't done enough yet.
Before long, Wynn was promoted to lieutenant general, one step away from his father's position. From the courtiers' flattery, he learned he was the youngest lieutenant general in demon history. He was sure this time would be different. Surely his father would say something now, but the answer was the same.
The memories broke something open in him. "No matter what I do, will I never earn your approval?"
Roland watched from the side, thoroughly entertained.
Hawk didn't answer. Instead, he told Wynn to get out. The enemy was too powerful.
But Wynn was beyond reason. "Anyone who dares trample the Dusk Realm deserves to die."
He charged forward before the words had finished leaving his mouth. Hawk reached out to stop him, but it was too late.
"You stubborn kid! You have no idea how dangerous that man is."
Seeing Wynn charge in, Roland's men immediately shifted into a combat stance. A cold light flashed in Wynn's eyes. Moving at blinding speed, Wynn took out the two men at Roland's sides in a single pass.
Roland was genuinely shocked. Even his armor had been sliced to pieces. Hawk and Weston were equally stunned. He had taken out two of the humans' top fighters in one move. The battlefield fell completely silent.
Roland immediately understood that Wynn was nothing like an ordinary demon.
Then Wynn rose into the air on spirit wings, activating his demon king skill. Roland drew his sword in a hurry. One second too slow and it would be over.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured rapidly into Wynn. Hawk stared as if he was looking at a stranger. Had Wynn completely surpassed him?
The S tier Breath of the Demon King was fully charged. Wynn had the humans completely suppressed.
Hawk's mind drifted back to the day Wynn had come to him after taking first place. After Wynn had turned and walked out, Hawk had grinned from ear to ear. "That's my son. Every bit of it came from me."
But Wynn suddenly came back. He had forgotten to take his exam paper. Hawk instantly shifted expressions and put on a grave, fatherly tone.
"Wynn. I gave you that name because I wanted you to live a simple, peaceful life. So why do you have to be so drawn to the military?"
"General. Young Lord Wynn has taken first place in the military assessment."
"See, I always knew the kid had it in him. But none of this is what I had planned for him."
His subordinates were completely lost. Every time Hawk talked about Wynn's progress in the military, his emotions became impossible to read.
Hawk could only bring his troubles to his late wife's grave. "Why did Wynn have to fall in love with the most dangerous path of all? But he really is a genius. First place every time. He's truly our son. I spent so long fighting out there that I forgot to be there for you. Why did you have to leave so soon? I truly don't know how to handle Wynn. He should be able to live his whole life without a single worry."
By now, Wynn had unleashed the Breath of the Demon King. Roland felt a tremendous force bearing down on him. A column of energy blasted forward. Roland took a direct hit.
Wynn hovered in the air and watched in silence. "This is what happens when you trample the Dusk Realm."
Then Hawk's eyes went wide when Wynn's attack cleared. A massive blade wrapped in golden energy appeared before everyone, and Roland stood completely unharmed behind it.
He let out a pleased laugh. "Now that's more like it. Finally, a demon worth the effort."
He was genuinely excited. "Now let's see what you've really got."
He settled into an attack stance, clearly eager to have a proper fight with Wynn.
Hawk's expression changed completely, a look of disbelief spreading across his face. He had seen that weapon in the records. Wynn clearly hadn't sensed the danger.
Hawk was not about to let his son die. He moved to stop him. "That blade—"
He never finished. Roland had already swung it.
Wynn's eyes went wide. The building behind him had been sliced clean in half, like cutting through soft bread, followed by the rumble of it collapsing. Wynn was genuinely shaken.
Silvara and Weston both cried out. "That strike was terrifying. Go check on him."
Wynn was still frozen, because his father was standing in front of him.
"Wynn, your father was wrong. All this time, I forgot to tell you. You are the greatest pride of my life."
Wynn's eyes flooded with tears, because Hawk had already lost an arm. He never imagined his father would go this far for him.
In stark contrast to Wynn's tears, Hawk was smiling. "You are truly the finest warrior I have ever known. You will become the greatest general this world has ever seen. That is why you must live."
Then a barrier rose up around Wynn.
Hawk recognized the weapon in Roland's hand. It came from the abyss of sin. Whoever carried it had slain an SSS tier demon king or above. Even the entire Dusk Realm combined stood no chance against it.
The protection he had given Wynn was something he had been holding in reserve for decades. An absolute defense. Wynn wept harder. The skill was called Fission Vitality Barrier. Everything behind the wall gained ten thousand defense. The cost was the user's life.
Then cracks began to spread across Hawk's face.
He had done it. From the day Wynn was born, he had sworn to spend his life protecting him, and protecting the Dusk Realm.
Just then, Weston rushed from behind and pulled Wynn and Silvara into his arms. He told them to go, not to let Hawk's sacrifice mean nothing.
Roland laughed quietly. "You think I'll just let you walk away? Not a chance."