Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Finnubar looked quietly at the burly giant in front of him. He was taller than most elves, with broad shoulders and muscular body, like the twisted roots of an ancient oak tree, full of a calm and wild power.

The giant was wearing a cloak made of white lion fur, which shone with a silvery-white luster under the light. A lion head hung on his left shoulder with exposed fangs, like a majestic sculpture, symbolizing that he had hunted this ferocious beast with his own hands.

This is no ordinary lion skin, but one that has been treated with magic and will never decay. It is both a proof of glory and a symbol of inheritance.

His body was wrapped in a heavy set of White Lion Guards standard armor. Unlike Asur's exquisite and gorgeous armor, this set of armor had rough lines and was full of the warrior's pragmatism. Under the heavy metal was his battle-hardened body.

In the center of the breastplate, the ancient Kunos rune was etched, flickering with flowing light, which could not only resist the slash of swords, but also weaken the enemy's magic attack. On his solid chest, there was a string of amulets made of white lion fangs, which was not only a symbol of bravery, but also a token of his sacrifice to Kunos, showing his piety to the god of hunting.

The most eye-catching thing is the weapon in his hand - the iconic double-edged battle axe.

The axe's blade was as wide as a shield, gleaming with cold light, and its sharp edge was exposed. The air seemed to be cut open when the axe blade swung lightly. The axe handle was made of Chalus black ironwood, as hard as steel, and could withstand the most violent impact.

The back of the axe was covered with inscriptions, which were the oaths he had sworn, and the words were full of loyalty and honor to the Phoenix King. In addition, there was a sheathed long sword hanging on his waist. Although it was not a magic weapon, it was extremely sharp and was his last barrier in close combat.

The person standing in front of Finnubar was none other than his former rival and good friend, Captain of the White Lion Guard, Kehain Ironsword.

The two looked at each other quietly, and the air seemed to solidify into substance, squeezing every bit of space.

Finnubar's eyes were calm, with a hint of helplessness, while Cohain looked at him with a deep and complex gaze, which contained both blame and a hint of uneasiness, as well as a hint of imperceptible concern, but more of resistance.

They stared at each other for a long time, and finally, Finnubar sighed.

He knew Cohen better than most.

He knew where the scars on Ke Haiyin's body were, and that his voice was sonorous like a soldier, as clear and loud as a bronze horn, enough to penetrate the noise of the battlefield.

In the kingdom of Chrace, Kerhain is the most renowned warrior, and some even call him one of the greatest warriors Ulthuan has ever seen.

He is a revered figure in Lothern, held in awe by the people and whispered by subjects of other kingdoms as they pass by.

He is extremely strong and skilled, and can wield his greataxe with ease.

Every time he swung the giant axe, his movements were violent and precise, swift and graceful, as if he was lifting something light, flowing like water, showing the pure realm that only top-level warriors can have. He was a terrifying killing machine on the battlefield, but every slash was like a perfect dance.

However, this is only part of what Kehain showed. Although he was born in a humble family in a barn in the Chales Mountains, his father was a manor owner and his mother was a local archery champion. There was no trace of the ancient nobility in his family blood.

But he was not a brainless reckless man. On the contrary, he was a man of both literary and martial arts, knowledgeable, and wiser than most people thought. He had read more books than many nobles, and his insights were often more profound than those scholars who spent their entire lives hiding in their study.

He is an elegant man who talks to people less about glory and more about truth. He has a sharp mind and his words are always calm, like a rock that remains as still as a mountain after experiencing countless storms.

This is why he was able to attract Belloda, and he crossed the class and became a lover with Marin. His relationship with Marin lasted until the death of Elardesi, when Marin became the head of the Emerald Sea family. (Same as above)

But he never flaunts his wisdom, rarely shows his thoughts, and even deliberately maintains the image of a "rough warrior". Because he is happy to be seen as a simple veteran, rather than a hidden wise man. He knows that people will always underestimate a seemingly simple person, and this is his weapon.

This was Cohain Ironsword, a man far more dangerous than people imagined, which was one of the reasons why he stood before Finnubar at this moment.

However, what Finnubar didn't know was that in a certain timeline, after he became the Phoenix King, their relationship was even closer than it is now. As his personal bodyguard and partner, Kehain not only protected him, but also occasionally played chess and chatted with him, who was a bad chess player. Kehain often accompanied him on diplomatic missions, dealing with various nobles, and occasionally took on other tasks, such as going to the Kingdom of Cosqui with Marin to pick up the Tai brothers to Lothern.

Ke Haiyin stayed with him until...

But this is a matter of another timeline after all. Now...

With Daxus's godlike and ghostly operations, it has become unrecognizable.

"My friend, you know I won't do that." Finnubar took a deep breath and finally spoke in a low voice.

Kehain did not answer immediately. He continued to stare at Finnubar with a calm gaze, as if he wanted to see through his eyes and into the depths of his soul.

"Of course, I know."

Finally, he nodded slightly, his voice low and powerful.

"Then why are you standing in the way?" Finnubar narrowed his eyes, tilted his head slightly, and said calmly, "Is this Bel-Hathor's order? Or is it your decision?"

Ke Hain did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, grasped the long sword at his waist, and gently stroked the hilt, as if he was thinking, as if he was preparing to unsheathe the long sword. An invisible pressure filled the air, like the oppressive silence before a storm.

"The order I received is - no one is allowed to enter!" He applied slight force with his knuckles, the hilt of the sword tightened in his palm, and his voice was like the thunder before a storm.

Finnubar didn't say anything, but made the classic movements and expressions of Dacus, first showing a nonchalant expression, then curling his lips. Of course, it didn't end here, it just completed a section, and then spread his hands and shrugged.

After performing a series of simple moves, he turned and left.

At this moment, Finnubar was in the Phoenix Court of Lothern, or more precisely, in front of the gate of the Heavenly Light Spire. There were two Aurora-style stone lions in front of the gate...

No, it’s the White Lion Guards and the boss-like Kehain standing in front of the door.

Ironically, at the time of the End, when Ulthuan needed him most, Finubar sealed himself in this tower, isolated from the world, with solitude as his only companion, and his mind was focused on comprehending the cause of this earth-shaking disaster.

To put it simply: his mentality exploded, his two sons died, and his daughter with Alarielle disappeared. Of course, this may not be the most explosive thing.

What's worse than this is that he seemed to have done a lot during his reign, but also did nothing. Ulthuan and Asur remained the same, without any fundamental changes, and then he had to face the coming of the End of Time.

As time passed and the situation became worse, Tyrion became more and more frustrated. Finally, he could no longer control his anger. He went to the tower angrily and ordered the door to be broken down.

At that time, it was Kosir Lionmane who was guarding the gate, not Kohain Ironsword, who...

At first, Khosir argued politely, but soon gave in when he heard Tyrion's speculations, also seeking answers about Finubar's disappearance.

Finally, the door was opened, not by magic, nor by the Yangyan Sword, but by Cosir's double-headed axe. Driven by his powerful strength, the steel continued to bite into the gradually broken magic locks and thick wood.

It took nearly a day, and by the end he was exhausted, but he would accept no help. With every blow he became more certain that something bad was waiting for him inside, and that his actions were partial atonement for a failure he was not yet sure of.

The door was broken open.

The hinges were twisted by the violent force, and broken wood pieces flew out, cutting through the long-silent darkness like a sharp blade. The wind poured in from the gap, bringing with it the salty sea breeze from outside the tower, but it could not dispel the stench that filled the tower. Finnubar was not difficult to find.

His breath had long since left the tower, replaced by a sickening stench that seeped through the walls and infected the air, unable even to be driven away by the freshest sea breeze.

Tyrion found the Phoenix King in the upper chamber, before the crystal pool where Finubar was said to be able to extend his mind across the entire world.

But now, the king in front of the pool has no thoughts anymore, his soul has long disappeared, leaving behind only a corpse that should not exist today.

He is dead, and has been dead for a long time.

The dried corpse was still wearing the tattered royal robes. The luxurious clothes that once symbolized the majesty of the Phoenix King were now torn apart by some twisted force. The tattered silk was stained with faded blood stains, and the original color was almost invisible. The skin was as pale as wax, and the body was covered with hook-like claw marks, each wound deep to the bone marrow.

This former Phoenix King, this former sage, has not been found months after his death. He died here alone, unknown to anyone.

The magic in the tower froze time at the moment of his death, preventing his body from rotting. Instead, it gradually dried up and weathered, eventually becoming a cold wreckage.

The next day, Finnubar's body was taken to his final resting place.

Shortly thereafter, Tyrion was unanimously elected as the Regent of Ulthuan. The reason why he was called Regent rather than Phoenix King was because the Rule of Asur was there. If his rule continued for another year, he would pass through the Holy Flame of Asuryan and become the twelfth Phoenix King.

As for the rules -

After the death of a Phoenix King, the throne will remain vacant for one year, which will be counted as the last year of the previous Phoenix King's reign. This mourning period provides Asur with ample time to select a new monarch.

As for how Finnubar died...

Time returns to the present.

It is now the year 2095 of the Imperial Calendar.

According to the elven calendar, or more precisely, the Asur calendar—

To be precise, today is X, 592, 4, 92, which is the birthday of Aenarion on the Druch side.

The problem is, Aenarion's birthday is clearly December 12th, and these four sets of numbers don't match...

This is a long story, so to make it short, I’ll talk about it another day, or maybe it’s better not to talk about it at all.

Since the beginning of their history, the elves have recorded time based on the movement of celestial bodies, tracking their movements accurately, and their calendar structure is uniform, simple, and easy to understand.

The calendar is based on the 400-day solar cycle, dividing the year into four seasons, each lasting 100 days. The four regions of Laurentians are named after the four seasons, which cycle through rain, sun, storms, and frost.

The Asur date system starts with the number of the Phoenix King, followed by the year of his reign, the season, and the day of the season.

Therefore, X, 592, 4, 92, is the 592nd day of Frost's Descent in the 92nd year of the reign of Bel-Hathor, the tenth Phoenix King, which is December 12th.

Dacus knew the truth, but could not speak, like the elven gods.

Finnubar did not know the actual situation, but he was an Asur who understood the rules.

So, the timing was just right, it couldn’t be better.

The reason why Finnubar appeared in front of the door of the Spire of Heaven's Light was simply to take a look. He would go in if he could, after all, Bel-Hathor had done him a favor, so if he couldn't go in... of course forget it.

if not?
He was not here to poison someone like Malekith did when he assassinated Bel Shana, and he certainly would not lead his men to storm the Temple of Asuryan like Malekith did.

"Stop." Ke Haiyin said in a low voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Finnubar's eyes sank slightly, but he did not stop and continued to move forward firmly. But the next second, he sighed, turned around and looked at Kehain.

The two of them once again stared at each other in a confrontation.

"I think... you're crazy."

Ke Haiyin's voice was very low, as dull as thunder that was about to explode. His fingers slowly stroked the hilt of the sword, as if he was restraining some impulse. His tone was filled with regret, but more of anger.

"you've changed!"

"I admit it!" Finnubar raised his eyebrows slightly.

Ke Haiyin was stunned.

What followed was an irrepressible rage. His voice could no longer maintain its previous low tone, but roared out with anger.

"you!"

He took a step forward and looked directly into his best friend's eyes, as if trying to find some answers in those wise and tired eyes, but all he saw was cold determination.

"You've ruined everything. Asur is in tatters!"

"We can't afford to lose, you know!"

"But what did you do? What did you do?!"

Finnubar remained calm, his eyes sweeping across the closed door behind Cohain.

"Asur's most elite fleet was destroyed."

These words, spoken lightly, were like a spear that pierced Kehain's heart. He felt his world was falling apart, and his best friend in front of him became extremely unfamiliar.

"They have sunk into the sea, along with those great captains, loyal sailors, and the last glory of Asur." Finnubar's eyes were filled with sadness, but his tone was calm, as if he was just stating a fact. (End of this chapter)