Macnov's eyes widened, and he froze in shock.
"What are you looking at? I'm not finished. The choice is simple—you can either become the king of this kingdom and obey us… or fight me and die like your fellows."
After Vanda Orchid finished speaking, Macnov's gaze shifted to the fallen bodies behind him.
Vanda noticed.
"Hey," he said, glancing back briefly before turning again.
"What are you looking at? Are you really going to fight for them? I saw everything that happened in the garden."
"You were the first to jump down and clear the way for them. You didn't even think about whether you would die."
"But after you saved them… did they help you?"
"They didn't care about you. They only cared about themselves."
He stepped closer.
"Listen, Macnov… no one is coming to save you. You have to save yourself."
Macnov remembered.
Lying wounded on the ground…
People saw him—but no one stopped.
They pushed past him and ran.
Macnov closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened them, his gaze had hardened.
"I've decided."
"I'll become the king of this kingdom… and work with you."
Vanda Orchid smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Good… good."
"Then be ready. By tomorrow, you will sit on the throne."
"Enjoy your night."
He turned and began to walk away.
"But I need one answer," Macnov said.
Vanda stopped.
"Why did you suddenly come here… and kill everyone?"
Vanda turned slightly.
"As I said before, you didn't need to know. But since you accepted my offer… I'll tell you this much—This is just a small grudge… between this kingdom… and the emperor."
While Vanda dealt with Macnov—Oleander stood atop the palace.
The dark clouds parted, revealing a full moon.
He closed his eyes and took a breath.
A red thunderbolt struck him—and he vanished.
[Lilac Falls]
Lilac Falls was the largest waterfall in the world, rising high into the sky.
At its peak, the structure resembled two giant hands holding a platform. Water flowed between the "fingers," cascading down in powerful streams.
At the center, a massive palace was built into the mountain, surrounded by a vast field of flowers.
Stars shimmered in the clear sky.
Under the full moon, a red thunderbolt struck the ground near the falls. Dust spread across the area.
When it cleared—Oleander stood there.
He stepped forward.
The palace gates opened on their own.
Inside, glowing flowers lined both sides of the path.
On the right stood a tree with blue luminous blossoms beneath the moonlight. Beside it lay a small grave.
Oleander entered the palace.
With each step he took, mana lights flickered to life.
(Mana lights are lights powered by mana energy.)
There was a people roaming inside the palace with wearing a white coat.
People in white coats moved through the halls. As soon as they saw Oleander, they stopped and stepped aside, clearing a path for him.
He passed a sealed room surrounded by a divine barrier. A sign read:
No Entry.
He continued upstairs.
At the top, two paths diverged—one to the right, another leading to a staircase on the left.
He chose the right path.
At the end, a massive door stood before him.
His red suit dissolved, transforming into a small earring.
Under the light, his face became visible—delicate, almost feminine, with cold, emotionless eyes.
The door creaked open.
Inside—
Darkness.
Oleander stepped in.
The door shut behind him.
Slowly, mana lights illuminated the room.
At the center stood a throne—half bathed in moonlight, half swallowed by shadow.
It was empty.
Oleander turned—
Two chains hung from the wall.
As he stared at them, a faint voice echoed in his mind.
"Olean… I'm really… really…"
He shut his eyes tightly.
Then—
"Oleander…"
A cold, powerful voice echoed from the shadows.
Oleander opened his eyes and turned.
A man sat on the throne.
Half of his body was hidden in shadow; the other half was lit by the moon.
He had long black hair, his body wrapped in flowing white cloth.
He was the emperor of the world—Emperor Onyx.
"Oleander… it's rare for you to come here. Do you have any news that will make me happy?"
Oleander spoke calmly.
"I have something to report. I don't know if it will please you."
"I have eliminated the king of the Kingdom of Jin. A new king will be appointed."
"And—"
Onyx raised his hand.
"Stop."
"I don't care about that."
"You can kill a king or destroy an entire kingdom—it means nothing to me."
"I only want to know one thing."
"Did you find him?"
Oleander blinked.
"No."
Onyx smirked.
"No… huh."
He lifted the cloth covering his right arm.
"Oleander… look at this."
His hand was rotting—flesh decayed, bone exposed.
"This… is the body I am forced to use."
With a sudden motion, he struck his own arm—
It tore off.
He threw it to the ground between them.
Oleander didn't react.
The severed arm vanished—
—and instantly regenerated.
Onyx flexed his restored hand before covering it again.
"This body cannot contain my power."
"Because of that… I cannot do what I truly desire."
"So I trained him."
"I gave him power equal to yours."
"And what did he do?"
"He disappeared… with the help of those pathetic rebels—the Quintet."
His voice grew sharper.
"It has been twenty years."
"And when it happened… one of my generals was here—yet he did nothing."
"Who told them I wasn't in the palace that day?"
He paused.
"Forget that."
"I ordered all of you to find him."
"And after twenty years… you still haven't."
Oleander narrowed his eyes.
"Father—"
Onyx cut him off.
"You are nothing but—"
"Father, listen to me."
Oleander's voice hardened.
"What I'm about to say is more important than that."
Onyx fell silent.
Oleander continued.
"In two years, during the first red moon… the fifth prince of Mamath will obtain the sword Sothim."
Onyx smiled faintly.
"The fifth prince… of Mamath?"
"Do they really believe he can wield it?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"What do you think, Olean?"
Oleander replied calmly.
"They call him a miracle child."
"Then let's see," Onyx said.
"In two years… whether he succeeds or fails…"
"On that day—"
"The Kingdom of Mamath will witness the greatest surprise I have prepared."
His voice darkened.
"That kingdom… is very special to me."
"And for now, Oleander… you've done well."
"Do you have anything more to say?"
"No."
"Good."
Onyx stood up.
"Then we are finished."
He vanished.
A hand appeared on Oleander's shoulder.
The mana lights around him began to shatter—one by one—until only a single light remained.
"Oleander… you've changed."
"You spoke more today."
"I like that."
"When I find him… I will create a new world."
The final light burst.
"And I want you to become the emperor of that world."
Onyx disappeared.
Silence returned.
Oleander looked once more at the chains ,then turned and left the room.
At the same time the other side of the world—The sun shone high in a clear sky.
A narrow path stretched through green fields and tall trees, a gentle breeze flowing through the land.
Two deer played peacefully on the path—Until the ground began to tremble.
They fled.
In the distance—
Seven riders chased a lone horseman, dust rising behind them.