“I see. So my mother did such a thing.”

Royal Palace. Miko was sitting in a private room with Momo, Tiamat, Kirika, Alec, and Ravel.

He sat on his bed leaning up against a wall in a lazy manner with Ravel sleeping beside him, while listening to Momo recounting what Sasha did to the envoy Derek.

“You’re sure calm about this.”

Said Tiamat.

“What? Should I be freaking out?”

Miko replied.

“Who in here hasn't committed murder before? Not even this innocent woman beside me hands arent stained with blood.”

He said while gesturing to the sleeping Ravel.

“True, but Aunty was different than usual. In fact, she reminded me a lot of someone."

Said Momo.

“Who?”

“You actually.”

“What?”

“The way she talked, the way she mocked her victim, the way she was able predict my involvement and leave me to clean up her mess, and even the way she stayed completely nonchalant through the whole thing, it all reminded me of you. But I’m not saying that you’re exactly the same-”

“Basically, we look more like parent and child now with our behaviors?”

Miko interrupted.

“Well, I guess you could say that.”

“A child doesn’t necessarily have to be like their parent, vice versa. They can be different, but my mother is acting like me…….”

Miko paused before saying-

“What’s the problem?”

Everyone looked at him strangely when they heard that.

“You do know that you have a fucked up personalty right?”

Momo asked.

“Yeah, but don’t we all?”

“Point taken.”

No one could argue against that, since it was common knowledge that everyone in the Dragna clan were pretty much twisted and downright insane.

‘Even though I said that, this could become problematic. I mean her change must’ve been forced, and most likely caused by Grams. But I doubt this is the change Grams wanted.’

Miko thought to himself.

‘First, I need to figure out why mother chose to become like me. Is it a case where her mental state had reached rock bottom and as a self defense mechanism she created a personality similar to the person closest to her, which is me? Or maybe she thought that I was a good example of strength, and made herself like me to survive?’

Miko instantly thought up several scenarios that could've caused Sasha’s change, but in the end they were speculations.

“For someone who said that there’s no problem, you sure are rocking your brain.”

Said Alec.

“I’m just curious that’s all.”

Miko said.

‘Alright, I’ll check up on her later.’

He pledged in his head.

“Lets change topics.”

Miko suddenly said.

“As you all should know by know, the Aloe Kingdom has declared their intent of colonizing us.”

Everyone nodded.

“Of course, they were tricked by my ploy and walked into a trap, so I have no intention of surrendering to them. In fact, they’re just a stepping stone.”

Miko smirked.

“I’m just going to use them to create a platform, that will allow me to send a message across the continent or maybe the world.”

He then said-

“The Dragna Clan has officially re-entered the battle.”

Everyone had satisfied expressions when they heard that.

In the past, the Dragna clan was a mega-powerhouse that would strike fear into everyone who heard its name. After the fall of Augustus, the clan’s power and prestige had fallen to new lows. It was now time climb their way back to the top.

And they’ll do so by destroying everything that crosses their paths, until the world remembers that wherever the clan walks, they must make way.

“I’ve already planted a troublesome thorn in the side of the Aloe Kingdom, so their destruction is already assured. I chose them as the first milestone because they were the most powerful country close to us. Thus crushing them would show that we prey on the strong, not the weak.”

Miko explained.

“The real challenge begins after we crush them.”

Alec added.

“After we crush the Aloe Kingdom, acting like a weak little lamb waiting for slaughter would be pointless. No one would dare to underestimate us and would come at us with everything they’ve got.”

Said Kirika.

“That’s what I want.”

Miko immediately answered.

“I want to start an intercontinental war that will grab the world’s attention. Countries will fall like flies until only the best of the best remain. That’s the type of war I want. The reason I used such a sly tactic on the Aloe Kingdom is because I could tell from their previous actions that were recorded in the history books, that they looked down on our country and wanted to destroyed it.”

As if he got excited Miko squeezed his fist.

“As such, I will let them taste the wine of despair when they’re defeated by a country they once looked down upon.”

“So it’s an ego thing?”

Said Tia.

Miko shrugged.

“What’s a man without his ego?”

He answered.

“Well, it’s not like the Aloe Kingdom was the only place I planted thorns into, there are others. But by the time they’re found out it will already be too late.”

“You’re as terrifying as always.”

Said Momo.

“Said the woman who taught me war tactics.”

Miko laughed in response.

Well, he already knew most of those tactics he was taught anyway.

“Oh, there’s something I wanted you guys to help me with.”

Miko sprung out of bed and stood in front of them.

“Everyone here should more or less know the what my Deus Malum is like.”

Alec had informed Kirika of the origins of Miko’s Deus Malum after she beat it out of him. Miko didn’t mind since Kirika was one of his masters.

“Well, take a look.”

Miko unbutton his jacket and revealed his naked torso.

“?!”

What everyone saw was really shocking. One half of Miko’s body was covered in pure darkness and couldn’t be seen.

“What happened?”

Momo asked.

“Well, it seems that coming in contact with that Black Coffin in Treasury caused my Deus Malum to go out of control in a way I’ve never seen before.”

“Why would the coffin in the Treasure Vault cause such an effect?”

Kirika asked.

“Because the foundation of Deus Malum comes from it. Well, more specifically the curse that it gave Augustus.”

Miko replied.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that the curse was passed down to Augustus descendants. But I don’t know if it’s true though.”

Said Alec.

“It’s true. Even though it’s rare, the curse can be inherited.”

Tia answered.

“At the moment, only two persons in clan inherited the Evil God’s Curse power. Falcon and Karim.”

“Karim? Is that true?”

Miko asked.

“Now that I think about it, Karim did react strangely when he stood in front of the coffin.”

Said Kirika.

“I noticed it too. Although, it’s only for a second.”

Said Alec.

“So does the curse give them some kind of power?”

Miko asked.

“It does. An incredibly sinister power too.”

Tia answered.

“Actually it’s a bit similar to Miko’s Dark Apostle, except for the overwhelmingly dark aura it gives off. But in exchange for that, the user is not only able to wield endless dark techniques, but they can even corrupt a person’s soul and mind and turn them into dark minions. Falcon was even able to erode a person’s soul, completely erasing their existence.”

“Woah. Then Karim can do that as well?”

Tia shook her head.

“From what I can see, Karim doesn’t have any control over his ability. I doubt he even knows that he has it. A sign that a person has achieve complete mastery of the cursed power is that their eyes will become as black as the night permanently.”

“That explains Uncle Falcon’s black eyes.”

Said Momo.

“Well anyway, I need to contain this thing so I’ll be in isolation for a while. But I’ll definitely be back before the Aloe Kingdom returns.”

Said Miko.

“Until then, if nothing unexpected happens I want you guys to handle it.”

“No problem.”

They answered in unison.

Miko did as he said that he would and isolated himself from everyone else. Or that’s what was supposed to happen.

On the second week of him trying to bring Deus Malik under control, Miko received an unexpected visitor.

It was Mayumi.

She came to his room door one night, when there was no one around. She looked around a couple times before knocking.

“Come in.”

She immediately received permission to enter, which surprised her. She looked around again, before pushing open the door and entering.

“Huh?”

When she entered, she was shocked by what she saw.

Sitting crossed leg on the bed was Miko in a mediative pose. However, he was naked. Not a piece of clothing was found on his body.

“……..”

Mayumi stared at him in shock for a while, until Miko opened his eyes.

“What?”

“Um….You’re naked…”

Mayumi pointed out the obvious.

“I know. It’s my room so I have the right to dress how I want in it. Or in this case, don’t wear anything at all.”

Miko answered with a calm tone.

“……..”

Mayumi didn’t know how to answer since it was definitely his room.

“So what is it?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t huh me. I gave strict instructions that I mustn’t be bothered, yet you came knocking on the door.”

Miko stood up shamelessly displaying his nakedness.

“There must be a reason you would ignore my instructions and visit me anyway.”

Mayumi looked down and remained silent as if she was hesitating, before speaking.

“I want to talk about my….former country.”

She looked up and peeked at Miko’s face.

“Eh?”

She saw Miko froze in front of her with his stretched out towards her, and a weird look on his face.

“Oh, so you were troubled about that.”

Miko stepped back and sighed.

“And here I thought that you were coming on to me.”

‘Was he about to strip me?’

Mayumi thought.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t strip you.”

“So you were going to strip me!”

Mayumi shouted with a red face.

“Well, you came to visit a guy’s room late in the night, was being extra cautious to avoid being seen, and didn’t leave when you saw him in his room naked like common sense would tell you to do. What else was I suppose to think other than you wanted to spend the night with me?"

Miko spoke as if he was the one who was wronged.

“Don’t you already have multiple women, who are all far more beautiful than me? Why would you want me too?”

Mayumi asked.

“Do I need a reason to want a woman?”

Miko replied.

“Well, I’ll admit that I’m not crazy about you like I am for the others, but you’re still an attractive woman. So you can’t blame me if my mind wonders a little around you.”

Miko sat on his bed and replied.

“Anyway, I can’t believe that you’re still hung up over your country. You joined me because you wanted to crush it right? Then you should forget it and let it be destroyed.”

“I know I should, but….”

“Well, it’s still your native country I guess. What, do you want me to stop my plans to crush it?”

Mayumi shook her head.

“No. I can’t ask you that. I’m just having mixed feelings now that the time to clash with them head on is near.”

“Well, that’s normal I guess.”

Miko replied.

“Do you want to be removed from this battle?”

“No. I’m sticking through with it to the end.”

“I see.”

Miko flung himself back on the bed.

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do after the war is done?”

Mayumi shook her head.

“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Mayumi took a deep breath and then spoke.

“When I was younger I checked my own future. More specifically, I wanted to know how I would die.”

Miko’s eyes narrowed when he heard that.

“And, what did you see?”

“I used my auto-write ability to write five different futures down, and one of them said….”

“Said what?”

After hesitating, Mayumi finally said-

“At age 17, I will die protecting my master from the hands of a devil.”