Rim spread his hand wide.
A dark green suit began forming from his right arm, spreading across his body like glowing veins. The suit pulsed with dark green light, and from his back, it extended outward—shaped like the wings of a great bird.
A weapon formed in his hand.
It was small—three rotating blades attached together like a spinning disc, each edge flickering with small flames.
Rim threw the spinner into the air.
"Graaama…!" he roared.
Flames burst from the spinning weapon, forming bird-like beasts. Each had sharp beaks and blazing wings, with the spinning disc embedded in their heads.
"Hundred Fire Slices…"
A divine circle formed behind Rim.
Then another.
And another.
Within a second, a hundred glowing circles appeared, merging together into one massive, radiant ring.
Rim pointed toward the emperor.
From the circle, countless sharp flames shot forward, tearing through the air. The fiery birds followed with a thunderous roar.
All the attacks surged toward the emperor at once—
—and shattered the wall behind him with a massive explosion.
Outside, in the garden, the wounded royal stared in shock.
"What the hell is happening…?"
Everything struck the emperor.
Dust and debris filled the air.
As the dust slowly cleared—
Rim froze.
"Huh…?"
The emperor was still standing there.
He hadn't moved an inch.
Only a small flame flickered on his right shoulder.
The emperor tilted his head slightly, glancing at Rim. Then, with a calm breath, he blew the flame away.
He loosened his grip on his sword, spun it once, and tightened it again.
A red shockwave pulsed along the blade.
Rim's eyes widened in shock.
He blinked—
And when he opened them, the emperor was already in front of him, mid-swing.
Meanwhile—
The king hurried through a dark corridor with two guards.
They reached a lit chamber—the entrance to an escape passage. Torches burned along both walls, casting flickering light.
The king walked with heavy, angry steps, his teeth clenched.
Suddenly—
They heard rapid footsteps approaching from behind.
The guards raised their weapons, ready to strike.
A figure rushed into the light.
They attacked—
—but stopped at the last second as the man collapsed.
"N-No… it's me…"
It was the guard sent to find General Gin.
He struggled to breathe.
"Your Majesty…"
"What happened?" the king demanded.
"Majesty… someone killed General Gin."
The king's eyes widened.
"What… what are you saying?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"He… he was sliced down…"
Before the words could sink in—
A loud crack echoed above them.
The wall began to split.
The king and guards stepped back.
With a thunderous crash, the wall collapsed.
Dust filled the air.
The king coughed, struggling to see—
Then slowly looked up.
Rim lay on the ground.
The emperor's sword was buried in his chest.
The emperor knelt over him.
Rim's green armor faded away.
His eyes searched weakly—
—and found the king.
"I'm… sorry… Enri…"
The emperor pulled the sword free.
Blood spilled from Rim's body.
His eyes went still.
Rim died.
The king stood frozen.
The emperor rose to his feet.
The three remaining guards charged him.
But the emperor moved effortlessly—dodging every strike, cutting them down one by one.
Still, the king didn't move.
He only stared at Rim's lifeless eyes.
The final guard fell beside him.
Only then did the king snap back to reality.
He looked around—
Blood.
Bodies.
Silence.
The emperor flicked his blade, scattering blood across the walls—and onto the king's face.
The king's breath grew heavy.
He could hear his own heartbeat.
He met the emperor's cold, emotionless gaze.
"You bastard… what are you staring at?"
"Did you think I would run from you?"
He let out a bitter breath.
"No… I know even if I run, you'll kill me."
"But before that… listen carefully."
"You're all going to die."
A twisted smile spread across his face.
"Now I understand… why you're doing this."
"You know what's coming in two years, don't you?"
He raised his eyebrows, laughing.
"When that happens… when he makes his move… all of you will die."
"He'll change the world."
The emperor paused for a moment.
Then slowly stepped closer.
The king burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… then you all… you're all going to die…!"
The laughter echoed through the chamber.
Then—
A single slash.
The emperor cut his throat.
Blood sprayed across the wall.
The king collapsed to his knees—
—and fell.
The emperor turned and walked toward the dark stairs.
At the chamber entrance, royal bodies lay scattered in pools of blood.
He stepped over them and entered the palace hall.
Then—
He stopped.
A figure stood in the shadows.
A double-edged scythe gleamed in the light—one side clean, the other dripping with blood.
The emperor approached slowly.
"I told you I would handle it cleanly… why didn't you listen?"
He paused briefly.
Then continued walking.
"Hmm… as stubborn as ever."
Oleander ascended the stairs.
(The emperor—Oleander, or Olean for short.)
The musicians from the dining hall were coming down.
They froze in fear upon seeing him.
Oleander didn't even glance at them.
He walked past.
They sighed in relief and continued downward—
Only to stop again.
Another man stood before them.
He had spiky black hair and wore the same red royal suit.
His scythe dripped with blood.
"Oh… you're the musicians who filled the palace with such sweet music."
"I really liked it."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But why do you all look so scared?"
"Ah… right. I forgot to clean the blood."
He smiled.
"No need to be afraid."
His voice was calm.
"You saw everything that happened here… didn't you?"
The musicians nodded nervously.
He frowned slightly.
"What's this? Nod properly—yes or no."
They nodded clearly.
"Hmm…"
One of them stepped forward, trembling.
"P-Please… spare us. We won't tell anyone."
The man walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No… you will tell everyone what happened here. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes… yes…"
He smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Good. Now go."
They quickly ran away.
Outside, the wounded royal entered the palace.
The musicians saw him—but ignored him and fled.
He stepped inside—
And froze.
A man stood before him with a scythe.
"Hey… what are you doing here?"
The man turned.
"You… I know you. You're General Vanda Orchid, right? The emperor's general."
The royal looked at the fallen bodies and shouted in horror.
"What are you doing?! Why are you killing us?!"
"If this is because we gained freedom… then why did you give it to us in the first place?!"
Vanda Orchid stepped closer and stopped in front of him.
"What's your name?"
"Huh…?"
"Answer me."
"I'm… Macnav."
"Hmm… Macnav."
"You asked why we're doing this, right?"
"It's not because you gained freedom. We have our own reasons—and you don't need to know them."
He looked directly into his eyes.
"Now listen carefully."
"I'll give you two choices… and your life depends on it."
"The first—"
"I will make you the king."
Macnav's eyes widened.
"Huh…?"