Secundus World.

*Boom!*

Explosions rang out in the snowy plains located the foremost north of the world.

In this place two persons clashed with their swords.

Their swords were skilled and extremely dead.

They were also fast and without a hint of hesitation.

Their blades seemed peerless.

These two were Miko and Rin.

*Boom!*

The two’s blades clashed and repelled each other time and time again.

No matter what trick they used, the other would instantly see through it.

However, the two weren’t equal.

Rin’s blade was swifter, while Miko’s held more momentum and overbearing force.

By the time Miko could complete one swing, Rin was able to complete three. This disrupted Miko’s momentum and made his blade seem dull.

*Boom!*

In the end, Miko was blown back and his sword momentum had completely collapsed.

Rin rushed forward and thrust his sword towards Miko, who now had an opening.

Miko quickly sheathed his sword and awaited the strike to reach him.

He stepped forward when he felt the sword being only a few meters away.

He pulled his sword and slash it forward as fast he could.

The sound of cutting winds resounded in the air.

Rin smiled and still thrust his sword.

The sword and the cutting wind collided and caused an explosive sound.

Rin destroyed the cutting wind, but was forced back a little.

He grinned and charged forward.

“Stop.”

It was then that someone spoke and stopped him.

He looked towards the sky and saw a couple people sitting on some stands.

The one who stopped him was Kirika.

“That’s enough for now. You two can rest.”

She said as she looked down on them.

“How’s Miko’s training coming along?”

Asked Momo, who was next to her.

“He’s doing great. Only two months and he’s already skilled enough to clash with Rin in pure swordsmanship.”

Kirika replied.

“But he was at a disadvantage from beginning to end.”

“True, but he’s still far better than he was during their competition.”

*Boom!*

They heard a different explosion and looked at a different location.

There they saw Kaido fighting Ashur.

The two’s fists collided nonstop as if they were trying to see who could break the other’s fist first.

The two then stepped back and swung their legs at each other’s head.

*Boom!*

Their legs clashed and produced an explosive sound.

“Incredibly. I heard that you were a monster like Miko but this is still shocking.”

Ashur drew his leg back as he spoke.

His leg was seriously bruised.

“Miko was right. You really are strong.”

Kaido replied.

“When it comes to physical prowess, Kaido is in his league. Not even Miko could beat him in physical strength alone.”

Said Jin, who was also on the stands.

“Even so, that Ashur kid is able to compete with him in a straight fist fight. I’m seriously impressed. Then again, he would get crushed if he faced Golden Kaido.”

He smiled.

“Especially its improved version.”

“You’re being creepy again Jin.”

Said Sapphire who was sitting next to him.

“Ah, sorry. Old habit.”

He said while wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“Jin, you’re a weapon specialist, right?”

Luka asked.

“I am.”

She pointed at Rin.

“Can you defeat him in a sword fight?”

Jin shook his head.

“That’s impossible. I can defend myself so that I wouldn’t look pathetic, but that’s it. I can’t defeat him.”

“I see.”

Luka stared at Rin for a while.

“What’s wrong?”

It was then that Chika wrapped her arm around her waist.

Luka flinched when she felt her touch.

“Are you interested in him? That can’t do. You can’t even consider cheating on Miko.”

Chika whispered in her ear.

Luka flew up in fright and Rage.

“Hahahaha. Calm down. I’m only messing with you.”

Chika laughed and said.

“Hey, why is Luka afraid of that girl?”

Bloom asked Hina who was beside her.

“Ah, it goes back to when Miko was in Grim City. Luka was training in the Primus world once and ran into Chika. Chika challenged her to a spar and demolished her.”

“Was it that bad?”

Hina nodded.

“Really bad. She broke Luka in ways I didn’t know a person could get broken.”

Hina shivered when she recalled what she witnessed.

“Why did she do that?”

Bloom couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t know. But from the way she constantly teases Luka, I don’t think she hates her though.”

It was then that a golden light flashed in front of Miko.

From it Bašmu appeared and stood in front of Miko.

“Was is it Bašmu?”

Miko asked.

“A message.”

Bašmu handed Miko a piece of paper from his breast pocket.

When Miko read it his eyes widen.

Immediately after a smile appeared on his face. The smile was so devious that all who saw it immediately thought that Miko had gone insane for a second.

This smile only lasted for a second.

He neatly folded the note and placed it in his pocket.

“Thanks Bašmu.”

Basmu nodded and disappeared into the light.

Miko looked at Kirika and Momo.

“I’m requesting for my training to be put on pause for a while. But don’t worry, I’ll be sure to review everything you’ve thought me.”

“Do what you want.”

Momo immediately answered.

Kirika nodded after seeing Momo’s reaction.

“Going somewhere?”

Luka jumped down and landed in front of him.

Hina and Bloom also appeared around him.

One look and anyone could see that they surrounded him and cut off his escape routes.

Miko laughed when he saw this.

“Don’t worry, I’m not leaving the kingdom. I’m just going to be really busy from now on.”

“What do you mean?”

Luka asked.

“Let’s go and see.”

Miko left the Secundus world and went back to the palace.

There he saw a woman and a man kneeling in front of his throne, as of waiting for him.

They were Sola and Yota.

The letter Miko got from Bašmu was from them telling him that they’ve returned.

Even when they sensed him, the two didn’t raise and continued to kneel before the throne with their heads down.

Miko frowned when he saw that.

He slowly walked up to the throne and sat there with a frown.

“I thought you coming back was proof of your success…..”

He rested his head on his fist.

“But from the looks of it, you failed didn’t you?”

The two flinched when they heard that, but still didn’t raise their head or dared to speak.

The two had been ordered by Miko to return to their nations and convince those in charge to side with him and the Dragna nation during what’s to come.

However, just like Miko stated they failed to do so.

“So? What happened?”

Miko asked while looking down on them.

“D-Don, its all because of our incompetence.”

Sola was the first to answer.

However, she did so without looking Miko in the face.

She was truly ashamed and didn’t have the courage to face him.

Miko didn’t reply for a while and only stared at them.

After a while he sighed.

“Come on, get up. Speaking to you two while you’re trembling makes me uncomfortable.”

He said with a gentle voice.

However, the two still didn’t budge.

Luka and the others who were watching this from the sidelines, were a bit confused.

Miko got down from the throne and walked down towards them.

He touched Sola and helped her to her feet.

“Come on, I said stand.”

She slowly stood up but still refused to look Miko in the face.

This caused Miko to become suspicious.

He immediately used his hand and forced her to look at him.

“?!”

It was then that Miko saw it.

On Sola’s face was a horrid scar that looked like it was eroding one side of her face.

“I-I’m sorry, Don. Not only I couldn’t convince them, I’ve even become hideous as well.”

Sola tearfully said.

It was then that Miko realized that she was blinded in one eye as well.

His hand that was holding her face started to tremble.

He composed himself and looked down at Yota who was still kneeling.

“It can’t be.”

He quickly stooped down and lifted his head.

“Hah~.”

He sighed in relief when he saw that Yota looked fine.

“…..Huh?”

He soon realized that something was off.

He could see Yota’s mouth quivering as if he was trying his best to keep it shut.

“They couldn’t have…..”

Miko looked into Yota’s eyes.

“Yota, open your mouth.”

“…….”

Yota didn’t reply.

The others who was watching could feel the tension in the room after Yota refused to obey.

They could tell from Miko’s reaction and Sola’s sobbing that something horrible occurred.

“Yota, are you disobeying my order?”

Miko asked with a stern voice.

Yota still didn’t reply and kept his mouth shut.

“I said open your mouth, dammit!”

Miko angrily roared while subconsciously releasing his demonic aura.

Yota shook his head, and Miko could see tears in the corner of eyes.

“Very well.”

His eyes changed colors.

“I command you, open your mouth.”

He used Rule.

“Hmmm!”

Yota continued to struggle, but he couldn't defy Miko’s Rule.

His mouth slowly opened and revealed the inside to Miko.

“……….”

Miko’s eyes became incredibly cold when he saw inside.

He slowly stood up and staggered back a little bit.

“They cut out your tongue…”

“?!”

When the others heard what Miko said they were naturally shocked.

Yota kneeled and made his forehead on the ground.

“Yim sworry (I’m sorry).”

He finally spoke, but without his tongue it sounded like nothing but gibberish.

“Uim Sworry, Dwon. Wlease korwive me. (I’m sorry, Don. Please forgive me.)”

Miko looked at the kneeling Yota and the crying Sola.

Their smiling faces from when the last saw them flashed in his mind.

It overlapped with their current pitiful selves.

This caused Miko to clenched his teeth and look away from them.

“Why are you the ones apologizing…..”

He mumbled under his breath.

“Take them away, and treat their injuries! Now!”

Miko roared his order.

A few servants appeared and took the two away.

Even while they were being drawn away, Miko could still hear the two apologizing for failing him.

“I should be the one apologizing, you idiots.”

Miko gritted his teeth and said.

He silently sat back on his throne.

The crying faces of Sola and Yota couldn’t leave his mind.

‘If only I had assigned them guards on the trip back, this wouldn’t have happened.’

He thought to himself.

Miko allowed the two to return home by themselves, because he didn’t want to alert those in the kingdom by sending his people.

He also thought that it would’ve made their jobs easier if they did it alone.

However, he was wrong.

Miko was mentally prepared in the case that the kingdoms rejected his offer. However, he didn’t expect that Sola and Yota would be harmed by their own family.

He considered the chance of them getting exiled or imprisoned, but he only realized that he hadn’t even considered the possibility of them dying.

Of course the two didn’t die, but they could’ve and it would’ve been his fault.

It was then Miko realized something.

He never took into account of him losing anyone, in his plans to create an empire.

He immediately started to curse his immaturity and naivety.

No, it wasn’t that he was naïve or immature. It was just that he was too greedy.

And because he was too greedy that thought of losing anyone didn’t occur to him.

When Miko realized this, his anger grew several times more intense.

However, he quickly calmed himself down.

“I’m going to take a walk. No one follow me.”

After saying that, he left the throne room and the palace.