It was late in the night, Nova was walking down the palace halls.

There wasn't any specific reason for him to take a walk so late in the night. He just felt bored and wanted to stretch his legs.

“Maybe I should pay Sherry a visit? I mean we are married after all.”

He shook his head.

“We may be married but it's mostly political. Overstepping boundaries would be bad. Especially at a time like this……May be I should ask her to bring Lala here after everything is over?”

He walked down the hall with a pondering expression.

“Hm?”

That's when he saw someone standing in the hall as if waiting for him.

He immediately recognized the person.

“Good night, Nova.”

“Goodnight, Uncle Krow.”

It was Krow Dragna.

“Could it be that Uncle was waiting for me?”

Nova spoke with a businesslike smile on his face.

“Yes, I was.”

Krow realized that and put on a casual smile.

“I see. Then could you tell me what can I do for you?”

“Then let me get to the point.”

Krow wiped the smile from his face and spoke.

“Betray your father and join me.”

“Oh?”

Instead of getting angry or surprised, Nova smiled when he heard what Krow said.

“That's quite the request there, Uncle. But I'm not really sure of what you mean.”

He smiled proactively.

“You said join you, but join you to do what?”

“Cut the carp, Nova. Only an idiot wouldn't realize that something big is about to happen.”

“I've been quite busily lately. You know, my wife is here to visit and all. So please forgive me for my ignorance.”

Krow frowned at Nova’s act, but he still spoke while hiding his anger.

“I'm talking about me forcibly taking the throne from Nero.”

“My! Uncle, you had such grand ambitions?”

Nova spoke with a tone filled with surprise. If you didn't know better you would think that this was his first time hearing this.”

‘This brat!’

This angered Krow greatly.

Seeing that, Nova-

“Now now, Uncle. I was just joking. There's no need get so angry.”

Krow took a breath and calm down before asking-

“So what's your answer?”

Nova smiled.

“Before that, Uncle. Could you tell me, why me? I mean you're an intelligent person otherwise wouldn't have been able to gather enough people to pressure the likes of my father. So I'm dying to know. What makes you believe that I would betray my family, my flesh and blood?”

This time it was Krow’s turn to smile.

“The reason is simple.”

He pointed at him.

“That's because that's the type of person you are. You love chaos and disorder, you love when things don't go the way people expects it. Your title [He Who Plunges The World In Chaos] is perfectly suited to you. You always have a calm outer appearance but in reality you're nothing but a beast. A bigger one than your father.”

Krow remembered the incident 5000 years ago.

2000 enemy soldiers cornered a small platoon of little over 30 Primus warriors in a wasteland 2 days away from their closest allies.

Considering the number they were facing, the Primus warriors should've been wiped out. In fact they practically were, all expect one person.

A 12-year-old Nova.

But that wasn't the most shocking thing.

Nova wasn't just the sole survivor of the Primus warriors, he was the sole survivor of the entire battlefield.

All 2000 enemies were also dead.

The strangeness didn't end there.

When allies finally reached the scene they discovered not 2033 bodies they expected, but nearly 5000 dead bodies.

They were an additional 2000 soldiers of unknown affiliation.

When asked what exactly happened, Nova calmly answered-

“Hm? Ah, they were all annoying so I made them kill each other.”

That was all he said about that incident.

“The others accepted that you didn't want to talk and some even believed that you were confused at the time, but I knew better. I could tell that you were telling the truth.”

“Ah. There was such an incident wasn't there.”

Said Nova.

“That was just the babbling of a child. I'm surprised you took it seriously.”

“Of course I would take it seriously. You're the descendent to that disgusting dragon monster and that half dead wench Hel. There's nothing that you're not capable of.”

After the incident, Krow did his own investigation and found out that the unknown soldiers were archenemies with the soldiers that surrounded Nova and the others.

He found out that they were tipoff by an anonymous informant that their enemies were exhausted and were moving to meet with allies to come and finished them once and for all. They were also given information about where they will be and when will they be most vulnerable.

With a deal so tempting they made their move after to verifying that the information was true.

“You tipped them off and made them kill the soldiers that were targeting you. But if that was all you wouldn't be the only survivor.”

Krow investigated further and found out something shocking.

It wasn't coincidence that the Primus warrior got cornered by the 2000 men. They also receive an anonymous tip about Nova’s platoon location.

“You gathered everyone in one place and made them kill each other just like you said. I don't how did you ended up as the sole survivor, but the fact remains that you sacrificed your clan members to kill 4000 enemies. Someone like that wouldn't hesitate to betray his own family if he's to gain.”

“Oh? And what can you offer me that would be worth betraying my father?”

Krow smiled when he heard that.

“Anything you want. Ask anything of me and it will be your’s. I'm the man who will stand on top of the world. That should be obvious from the monstrous group that I've gathered.”

Krow’s voice was bursting with arrogance and an equal amount of confidence.

“Anything, huh?”

“Anything.”

Nova put on a pondering expression.

“Then….”

The light suddenly left his eyes.

“Give me your head.”

“…What?”

“Did I stutter? Give me your head.”

Krow grimaced with an ugly expression.

“Have you lost your-”

*Bam!*

Before he could finished talking, a purple spike stabbed towards his throat. He used his hand to quickly block it.

“What's the meaning of this, Nova?!”

Krow roared.

“I should be the one saying that.”

His body started giving off a dangerous aura. It was then that Krow realized that Nova was suppressing his aura from the start.

“First, allow me to clarifying something. It's true that I've sacrificed thousands of clan members, and I love chaos and disorder. But there's one thing I love more than that.”

Krow could feel the palace being pressured by an invincible force.

“My family. I put my family above all. And I'm not talking about the clan. I'm talking about my immediate family.”

The ground started to crack open and the cloudy night skies were now filled with an excessive amount of stars.

“You think I wouldn't hear about it? Huh, Krow?!”

The night sky was lit up with ominous purple stars that seemed to be moving.

“How dare you touch my sisters’ children!”

“That's it. That's what your upset about?”

However, Krow remained in front of Nova’s anger.

“I thought it was something important, but it turns out that to be some insignificant.”

*Boom!*

The top of the palace was suddenly blown off.

“Insignificant? You actually dare to refer to my flesh and blood as insignificant?”

“Of course. Before me everything is insignificant.”

Krow spoke with a matter of fact tone.

“I see.”

It then it happened.

The millions of purple stars turned into truck sized swords. In an instant the world was covered with weapons.

“Then I guess I'll have you die here.”

Immediately after saying that, millions of purple starlight swords rained down on the palace.

“Let's see you try, Brat!”

Krow smiled fearlessly and his was body glowed a golden light.

He lifted his hand and-

“Cut it out, the two of you.”

Raven appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his hand.

At the same time a giant golden fox tail stretched towards the sky and released blue flames towards the swords and blew them away.

“Nova.”

Sherry appeared behind Nova and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I know you're angry. But now is not the time. If you two fight now, you'll end up killing off all your people. So just be patient, ok?”

".........."

Hearing her sweet whisper, Nova withdrew the deadly aura and turned around to leave.

Sherry took one last glance at Krow and walked away with him.

Only Raven and Krow were left in the hall.

“Ill appreciate it if all of you stop trying to destroy this world.”

Said Raven.

“Hmph. This place was created by my father. It won't crumble so easily.”

Saying so, Krow turned around to leave.

“Oh, and Raven. It's best you that you choose your sides wisely in the coming days.”

“I’m the guardian of this place. I'll protect this world from who tries to invade it no matter who invited them.”

“Hmph.”

Raven then watched as Krow disappeared in the night.

He then sighed and spoke to himself.

“These people are hard too deal with, Grandma.”

Saying so, he also disappeared.

The next day.

Miko who was in a bad mood because his sleep was disturbed by loud explosions and a terrifying pressure from the sky, was walking down the palace hall’s in search of Momo.

“Are you going to swimming in lava again, Miko?”

It was then the one who was responsible for his shortage of sleep appeared in front of him.

“Nova or should I call you Uncle?”

“Hmm….Uncle doesn't sound right for some reason. Just call me Nova.”

“Fine.”

Saying that the two started to walk together.

“I heard that you and that walking pile of shit got into a fight last night.”

Said Miko.

“Yeah.”

“Is he stronger than you?”

“Not really. But he would be a pain to fight.”

“Does he have a special ability or something?”

Nova nodded.

“[Ruler’s Contract]. It's the power to borrow the abilities of others as long as they made some kind of mutual agreement with you.”

“There's an ability like that?!”

“Yup. It was original Augustus’ technique, but Krow somehow became able to use it as well.”

Nova then looked at Miko.

“I don't need to tell just how dangerous it is to go against such an ability, right?”

“Of course. With an ability like that Krow most likely possesses a large variety of techniques. Techniques that probably can handle any situation; techniques that are a total mystery to his opponents.”

Nova nodded.

“That's right. Since there's no way to know everyone Krow has every made an agreement with in his 10,000 years lifetime, it’s a large gamble to fight him one on one.”

“But you and the old man still want to fight him, right?”

“Of course.”

An instant answer.

“Miko, you want to kill Krow, right?”

“It's not that I want to, I will kill him.”

“Even though, you can't hope to fight him?”

“Don't worry about that. The chance for me to kill will present itself during the upcoming civil war.”

“Such confidence. And you even know about the war.”

“Only an idiot wouldn't feel the tension around this place. It's also obvious that it's centered around that Krow guy. Considering his allmighty attitude, I'm sure he isn't happy to be under someone's rule, so he must be planning to usurp the throne.”

“Impressive information gathering skills.”

Nova said while laughing.

“Well, since you're already aware of the war this makes things easier.”

The two came to stop. They were standing in front of a building that looked like a container.

“What the hell? I thought that I was walking towards Momo's room. When did I left the palace?”

Said Miko.

He then turned to Nova and frowned.

“You bastard. You did something to my senses.”

Nova didn't say anything and stooped down in front of him.

He then slammed his palm on Miko's chest.

Miko as blown back a few meters and landed on his back.

“Ah, sorry. I used as little strength as possible but I still almost killed you.”

Nova said nonchalantly.

“What was that for?!”

Miko sprung up and roared.

“Oh? You're noticeable tougher than a year ago when you came here. Back then that hit would separated your torso from your waist.”

“I said what did you…..Hmm? My magic’s back?”

Miko could feel a nostalgia feeling running through his body. It was the feeling of magic power.

“I've been training my Qigong for so long, I almost thought that I was a Wuxia protagonist.”

It was then he noticed that the volume of his magic had increased greatly.

‘Hmm. Must because I've haven't used it in a long time, even though I trained my body everyday.’

“Today you won't be training with Momo or learning assassination skills from my mother.”

Nova slammed his hand on the building.

“You're going to enter this building and face the demon inside your body and conquer it.”

“What?”

Nova words shocked Miko. They were implying that there was a way to control his curse, and it was inside that building.

“What's this place?”

“The Soul Chamber. It's a chamber built specially for people with a cursed soul like you. When you enter the chamber you'll be face to face with the demon. At that time the chamber doors will be closed and no one can get in or out until you've conquer your demon.”

He took out a ring and gave to Miko.

“This is a storage ring. It contains a year worth of supplies. So you should probably finish up by then.”

Miko took the ring and thought-

‘Wow. A Storage Ring, so cliché.’

“I prefer you finish this before the war begins which should be soon.”

“Define ‘soon’. I'm only 29 mentally and you're 5000, our sense of time are clearly different.”

“18 months the latest.”

“How is that soon? I can get married and start a family in that time. I don't think I'll need that long to conquer that cat.”

“I see. Then good luck.”

Saying so, Nova disappeared.

“Now then. Better get going.”

Miko put on the ring and went to the building's entrance.

He put his hand on the door and was instantly teleported into a white room.

“Oh? It's more spacious than I thought.”

He said with a carefree tone while looking around.

Behind him a crimson fog appeared and from it a giant crimson cat-like monster.

“I'm surprised you appeared before me after so long human.”

Said the demon.

“You must've gotten tired of living.”

“Yo! Long time no see! Have you gain weight?”

Even the demon greeted him with hostility, but Miko greeted him with a friendly tone in returned.

This confused the demon and made him take a closer look at Miko.

“…..You….Who are you?”

“What are you saying? I'm Gamiko Dragna of course. Did you forget the face of the guy whose soul you've been chewing on over so many years?”

Miko's voice was even friendlier.

‘....No. something's different. This feels like that monster that he made seal me…..has there been a change in his soul?’

The demon thought.

“Come on. Take a seat, Beleth.”

The demon widen his eyes when he heard Miko's words.

“You know my true my name?”

“Of course. You called yourself one of the four great kings of hell, and Tiamat confirmed this. In the Lesser Key of Solomon, there's only one demon that either depicted as a cat or accompanied by cats. And that's King Beleth.”

Beleth, one of the 72 demon said to have been conquered by the wise king Solomon. Even among the all the demons that were constrained, he was singled out as a mighty and terrifying demon king with a conquerors aura.

He is depicted either as a black humanoid cat or a conqueror riding a pale horse. This links him as one of the four horsemen that is said to bring forth the end of the world. As he rides the pale horse, he is said to be the one that will spread death and plague across one a quarter of the world.

Beleth is sometime grouped as one of the ten kings of hell and other times as one of the 4 four great kings that rule over all of hell.

Long story short, he was one of the world's most powerful demons.

“I'm surprised though. A demon of your stature was actually slain in the War For Supremacy. You're a cat aren't you? I thought cat had 9 lives.”

Miko said while laughing.

“You!”

Beleth rushed towards Miko and then-

“I said sit, Beleth.”

*Boom!*

Beleth suddenly found himself being pressed to the ground by an unbelievably heavy weight.

“As I thought. This place was designed for me to be the dominant one.”

Miko walked in front of Beleth and sat down.

“Take it easy, King. It was just a joke. Well, you were said to have a short temper.”

The weight suddenly disappeared and Beleth was able to move.

“Why don't you change forms? I'm sure it's more comfortable.”

Beleth frowned.

The room was designed so that Miko would always have the upper advantage, which meant that he can't attack him. But he sensed that Miko couldn't attack him either, otherwise he’ll be forcibly pressed down on the ground as well. He didn't know if Miko realized this though.

After some thought, he decided to change his approach.

He wasn't like he still had his great power or anything. He was just a wisp. He couldn't break out of this place with his current strength.

After debating this, his body was covered with light and he change his appearance.

He was now a handsome yet fierce-looking man with a muscular build, and covered in crimson gold armor.

He also had wild crimson hair and eyes.

“That's better.”

Miko was all smiles when he saw this.

“Now then, King Beleth. How about we a long talk bout our future relationship?”