“The other Gamikos?”

Sasha was surprised by her son's unexpected request, but shortly understood why it came about.

“I see. Darius and Marco probably called you Third.”

Miko nodded.

“Both Darius and Marco were afraid of them. I believe that's the reason why I was spared both those times.”

The first time Miko met Darius he spared him because of his grandfather. The time with Marco was probably the same. Dario most likely didn't want to go to war with his grandfather.

“My grandfather is the one protecting this kingdom, right?”

“Protecting? No, no, no. My father was forced to stay in this kingdom. If it was up to him, he would be in some huge battle right now. The ones protecting the kingdom are the Triad.”

What Sasha said surprised Miko. He thought that his grandfather was most likely the sole protector of the kingdom, but he was wrong.

“First let me clear this up. It's true that you share the same name as my father and brother, but that wasn't my original intention. I originally wanted to name you something different; but when you were born looked so much like them, I couldn't help it.”

“Then what were you going name me?”

“Kimiko, after my mother.”

“Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

Sora, Ace, and Hina burst out laughing.

“T-That would surely fit him!”

Said Sora.

“I-If he had a name like that, no one would believe him if he said he wasn't girl!”

Said Ace.

“I-I'm sorry Mikky, but that name would've suit the current you more.”

Said Hina.

In response to their laughter, Miko-

“You're right. I should remember that when I'm cooking your meals. I hope I don't accidentally drop a box of tacks in the pot while thinking about it.”

“Eh?”

The trio immediately froze and stopped laughing. They were even a bit frighten.

Seeing that satisfied Miko.

“You may continue, Mother.”

Sasha smiled wryly, and continued.

“Anyway, it's true that Gamiko is the true name of my father; but he's known all across the world as something else.”

“Something else?”

Sasha hesitated for a bit, and looked around before speaking.

“Demon Dragon God, Nero.”

“?!”

Sora, Hina, and Ace all were visibly shocked to hear that name. Shocked until the point their hearts stopped for a couple seconds.

Realizing their dismay, Miko turned to them and asked.

“What? You know him?”

“K-Know him?! There almost isn't anyone who haven't heard that name before!”

Hina shouted.

“Nero is considered a legend among legends. It's to the point where he's seen in the same light as a Higher Being. A mythical existence.”

Said Sora.

“Is he really your father?!”

Ace asked.

“Yup. That's him. My daddy.”

Sasha said proudly.

“A mythical existence? What does that mean?”

Kristen asked the same question on Miko's mind.

“It means that his existence is one that can not be comprehended by mortals.”

Answered Ace.

“He's the world first [Tyrant].”

“[Tyrant]? Like what they called Dario?”

Miko asked.

“No. Not like that. The Tyrant we're talking about is worlds apart from the original meaning.”

Hina answered.

“[Tyrant] is a title given to someone with enough power and influence to oppose heaven, hell, and earth. In simpler terms, a [Tyrant] is someone who can directly clash with the Proxy System, and the Higher Beings who created it.”

“What? Oppose the Proxy System? Is that possible?”

Hina nodded.

“When the Proxy System was first introduced, Proxies quickly became the rulers of the world. They became an absolute existence, that couldn't be opposed by normal beings. For example, [XXX Class] is the highest [Class] possible for all living beings; but it's different when a Proxy is involved.”

“What do you mean?”

“What would happen if a normal [XXX Class] fought a [XXX Class] Proxy? The Proxy would win 10 out of 10 times. That was how absolute Proxies were. They were the closest to the Higher Beings, so it's common sense for normal beings in the same class to lose to them.”

Hina then look took a glance at Sasha.

“But your grandfather destroyed this common sense. He became the first Non-Proxy to kill a [XXX Class] Proxy. If that didn't shake the world enough. He went on to kill three more Proxies of the highest class. He kill a Proxy belonging to each of the four sides of the war: God, Demon, Beast, and Human/Hero. He defied the Higher Beings of every race. Thus, opposing the will of heaven, hell, and earth.”

When Miko heard that, one word came to mind when thinking of his grandfather.

Monster.

Hina continued.

“But it didn't end there. Legends have it that after seeing someone opposing their will, Nero was summoned to the Summit Of The Gods.”

“What?!”

‘Oi, Tiamat. Is that true?’

(Yeah, it's true. The whole summit was in an uproar after Nero killed four Proxies. I remember the flustered faces of everyone. Especially, Zeus. His Proxy was the last one to be killed. I laughed so hard that I was crying.)

Miko could hear Tiamat laughing in his mind.

Sasha-

“My father said that when he was summoned there, some of the Higher Beings wanted to kill him; but others protected him, saying that he should be rewarded for his feats. In the end, the latter side won; and he was granted the title of [Tyrant]. They then sent him back to this world, where he found himself standing in front of a giant golden monument in the shape of a book. When he looked up he saw one name written on it, his; and beside it the title “He Who Brings Forth Destruction Upon The World”. That was his official title as a [Tyrant], written on the [Tyrant’s Monument]”

Miko couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not only was his grandfather summoned to a place where it's very existence was doubt, but he was also bestowed a title by the same beings he opposed.

A true Tyrant.

“But if you're father is that Nero then, doesn't that mean that you're brother is Nova.”

Hina asked.

“That's right. Gamiko Dragna Jr, more commonly known as Celestial Emperor, Nova; who is also a Tyrant.”

“T-That's one impressive family you have there, Mikky.”

“I see why Darius and the king didn't want a war.”

“I wouldn't want a war with them to either. Your branch must be the strongest in the kingdom.”

Said the trio, with pale faces.

“Actually, the Secundus branch that Dario belongs to, doesn't lose in power to the Primus Branch. They have several [XXX Classes] in their branches. It's the same for the Flameheart Clan and the Saevio Clan. Otherwise, they couldn't have possessed the power they have now.”

Everyone was shocked again. They never expected that so many people of the highest [Class] were inside this small kingdom.

But something didn't make sense.

“If we have so many powerful people, why is the kingdom so small and considered weak?”

Miko asked.

“I don't know myself. I was never interested in politics. But I think it's because no one was interested in enlarging the kingdom. Because of that, most of the kingdom's most powerful people aren't here. They're traveling the world trying to make a name for themselves, or enjoying battles all over the world. They'll only return when they feel like it or call upon.”

“So we have powerful people, but everyone is too busy accomplishing their own goals, and it resulted in the kingdom's decline?”

“That's about it. If it wasn't for the fact that the elders held them back, my father and brother wouldn't be here either.”

Miko thought it was similar to brain drain in third world countries. Highly-trained and skilled persons leave their birth countries, in order to find success in a place with more opportunities.

But in this case, the moment someone becomes skill enough, they'll leave the kingdom in search of competition to make them stronger.

Since Miko himself planned to leave the kingdom eventually, he could understand those that left.

“So ambition is ruining the country? That's quite ironic.”

Miko started to understand why Dario put the country on lockdown, but he still wouldn't have done it.

“I'll deal with this dying country another time. I'm more interested in what kind of persons are Nero and Nova.”

Hearing Miko's question made everyone else devoted all their attentions to Sasha. They all wanted to know about the father and son duo, who opposed the laws of the world.

Sasha felt a bit pressured by their eager looks, and started to recall her father’s and brother’s personalities and characters. And then spoke with a straight face.

“They're enemies of women world wide.”

“Huh?”

That was the last thing Miko and others expected to hear.

“Lechers, adulterers, skirt chasers, womanizer, perverts, playboys. I can go on and on.”

“….I take it that they really like women.”

“That's an understatement!”

Miko was taken about by his mother’s sudden scornful tone.

“Do you know how many children my father has? Eight! And do you how wives he had those eight with? Four! Do you know how many wives he has?”

Miko was too amazed to answer, so Sasha continued.

“Seven that I know of! You think that my brother would try to be different from his father, but no! That lecher is actually trying to compete with him. He has wives in the Saevio Clan, and the Flameheart Clan; as well as wives and children outside the kingdom! I've literally lost count how many women they've left in tears! They're the worst!”

Everyone at the table went silence for a while. When they asked to hear about the first Tyrant and his son, they didn't expect to get a daughter’s rant about her father's and brother’s polygamous lifestyle.

Realizing that, Sasha calm down and apologized.

“S-Sorry about that. It's just that talking about them brought back some childhood stress. I'll now give you a true description without bias.”

Everyone once again focus on Sasha's every word.

“My father and brother are the most carefree persons I know. They don't take anything seriously. They just party with women and drink all day…..That is how you would view them if you didn't know their true natures.”

Sasha's expression became solemn.

“My father is actually a very conniving and manipulative person. He sees those around him as pieces of a larger game for him to have fun, and manipulate these pieces accordingly. It's almost impossible to know what he's truly thinking, because of that you can never tell if he sees you as a person or a tool. He's also very wicked and downright evil. He personally caused the downfall of countless groups and countries, without getting directly involved. He just manipulates the people, and make them slaughter each other. A true warmonger.”

Hearing Sasha's description, everyone pictured Nero to be a heartless monster who they definitely don't want to meet.

Everyone expect Miko.

“Sounds like an interesting guy.”

For some reason, he felt like he and Nero could get along.

“What about your brother, Nova?”

He asked.

“He's basically the same as Daddy. The only difference is while my father is energetic and outgoing, he's more calm and laid back. But they're the same in the end.”

Sasha then looked like she remembered something.

“Nova is also a bit crueler than father. While father will try not get clan members involved in his schemes, Nova won't hesitate to ruin a clan member’s life if it means his plan will succeed. So you should be wary of that.”

“….I see why you left home. It must've been hard living with people like that.”

Said Sora.

In response to that Sasha-

“Actually, they weren't a threat to me. In fact, they were overprotective and showered me with affections everyday.”

“Then why did you leave?”

“Because they were too annoying.”

The trio widen their eyes in shock. Sasha dismissed two notorious Tyrants as being “too annoying”.

“Every morning, my father would barge in my room and wake me up with a hug and kisses on my cheek, while saying ‘Wake up my princess! Daddy's lonely without you’. I loved it at first, but it felt creepy after my 12th birthday.”

Sasha showed a disgusted expression.

“My brother wasn't much better. Anytime he spotted me, he would take out a camera start a photoshoot. If I'm walking he takes a picture, if I'm talking he takes a picture, if I'm sleeping he takes a picture. He takes a picture no matter what I do.”

The image of Nero and Nova was slowly crumbling in everyone's mind.

“I once asked him what he was doing with those pictures. He replied that it was a brother’s duty to record every moment of his adorable little sister’s life. I almost punch him on reflex.”

Sasha looked very annoyed as she recalled her childhood with her father and brother.

“Well, there were benefits.”

She said while sighing. She then looked to Tessa.

“Tessa, your grandfather and uncle are weak to the women of our family; so you'll probably be able to ask them for many things in the future. But you mustn't ask them for anything too outrageous. I heard that my sister Sonia once asked for a rare gem for her birthday. In order to get the gem, my brother stormed into the country of the dead, and battled Hades’ Proxy, Spector, in an attempt to steal it. It was a disaster.

Sasha spoke more sternly.

“Your grandfather and uncle might terrify the world, but they're really idiots on the inside. Okay.”

“Yes, Mama!”

Tessa answered innocently.

And then Miko noticed something.

“Does Nero knows about me and the twins?”

“Of course. Even though I didn't tell them, I bet my life that they know everything about you three. They might be people observing us now, and reporting back to them. They were most likely there when the burglars broke in a while back too. But because my father wanted a reason to separate me from Leon, he probably told them to wait and see what happens. If Leon hadn't shown up when he did, they would have killed the burglars and forcibly brought me back home, saying that it's for my own protection or something.”

Sasha was visibly irritated.

Meanwhile, Miko began looking around on reflex.

“Don't bother. The servants of the Primus Branch are first class assassins. They're impossible to detect. Even with Beastmen senses.”

Miko didn't listen to Sasha and still tried to pick out who were observing him.

That's when Miko underwent a sudden change.

“Ugh?!”

An intense pain ran through his body, and he was forced to lean on the table.

“Miko? What's wrong?”

Seeing him acting strangely, Sasha tried to call out to him.

But that was a mistake.

Miko suddenly turn around, and swung his claws at her face.

“…Huh?”

Sasha was caught off guard, because of that something inside her took over and a power was released without restraint.

Something black flew out of Sasha's body and blew Miko away.

“Guh?!”

Everything happened so fast that by the Sasha realized what happened, Miko was already a few feet in the air with blood flying out of his mouth.

“Miko?! What have I done?!”

She grew frantic, and looked like she wanted to cry. However, Miko landed and didn't seem to care about the blood on the side of his mouth, and once again tried to attack Sasha.

But he stopped before he could hurt her. He then turned and, moved as far away as possible from the table, with [Ignition Step]. He then began to ran as fast as he could.

“Miko, wait! I didn't mean to!”

Seeing her child run away from her, caused Sasha a lot of anguish. Especially after she almost killed him on reflex.

“Sora, catch Mikky, and prevent him from hurting those around him. Ace and I will come back up soon!”

At Hina’s instructions, Sora activated [3rd Tempo] and raced after Miko.

“What's going on with Big Bro? Why did he suddenly attack Mama?”

The twins and Sasha were in distress, and was confused about what just happened.

“It's the Saevio curse. It's eating away at Mikky’s soul, and causing him to rampage.”

“What?! Why didn't he mention that the curse was eating away at him?!”

“C-Calm down. Mikky mostly have it under control. It's just that he loses control of his body every once in a while.”

“That's not being in control!”

“W-We know. That's why we always stay close to him, and prevent him from harming innocent people when he loses control.”

“Do you think that will always work?!”

Sasha’s shouts of concern were overwhelming Hina.

“A-Anyway, we have to catch up.”

Hina grew her white wings and immediately took to sky with Ace.

“Wait!”

“We'll contact you later, when Mikky is back to normal! Please contact your husband, he might know how to help!”

Hina then disappeared at her top speed, leaving behind a frustrated and worried Sasha.

Meanwhile, Miko who was experiencing a relapse, was moving so fast and skillful that Sora couldn't catch up.

Just like Tiamat had said, Miko could only seal his demon curse for a few months. He first started to experience relapse after the 4th month.

It was one night when everyone was asleep. Miko entered Sora’s room and tried to kill him. If it wasn't for the fact that Sora always activates [Sonar], which collects information around him using sonar waves like a radar, before going to sleep, he would've been severely hurt.

He woke up before Miko could attack, and subdued him. He then chained him up, after seeing that he wasn't acting himself; he then contact Hina and Ace, where they decided to watch over Miko every time he has a relapse, until they find a way to save him.

Back to the present.

Miko left the Commercial District, and entered the Low Class Districts. He was starting to regain control, and was staggeringly walking down the streets.

He was catching the attention of the people around him, but he wasn't in any condition to care about that.

He staggered until he bumped into a boy a little bit older than him.

“Hey, kid. Are you okay?”

The boy held him up, and took he out of the busy street, and leaned him on a wall.

“You look pale. Are you from around here? I've never seen you before.”

Miko looked at the boy’s worried expression, and remained silent.

“I'm going to call for a doctor. Stay here until I come back.”

Saying so, the boy ran off in the opposite direction.

After running for a while, the boy stopped in an alley and looked around him.

When he saw that no one was following him, he grinned and took out a sack filled with coins. He looked over his shoulder again, before opening it.

“Wow, this kid must've been rich! He's loaded with gold coins, they're barely any silver or copper!”

The boy wanted to scream out “Jackpot!”; but before he could, someone fell from the sky and landed in front of him.

It was Miko.

“Wha?!”

The boy was shocked out of his mind. Miko who couldn't even walk straight, fell out of the sky like he was a leaf falling from a tree.

Miko looked at the boy indifferently, and took the sack from him.

He then swung his arm and swat him away like a fly.

The boy slammed into a wall, and groaned out in pain.

Miko walked up to him, and watched as the boy cowered before him.

“I won't kill you, since I know that you're just doing your best to survive. So accept that light hit as punishment. Scram.”

The boy lifted his body and started to unsteadily run away.

“Wait.”

He stopped when he heard Miko's voice.

“I've changed my mind.”

The boy turned around and saw Miko making a cruel grin, with one of his eyes crimson.

“I just thought of something fun.”