In the Eastern Region.

A group of monks were heading towards the direction of the Dragna Country. At the head of this group was a muscular light skin man with a bald head who was dressed in monk attire. He had a giant axe on his back, and tribal tattoo on the left side of his face.

This was the infamous Warrior Monk Benkei’s Proxy, Demon Monk Hanzou.

“Hanzou, enemy troops sighted up ahead!”

One of the monks reported, after spotting a small company of troops.

“Hmph.”

Hanzou accelerated and charged forward by himself.

“Enemy sighted!”

The soldiers all saw Hanzou running towards them got ready to engage him.

However, Hanzou suddenly disappeared from their sights.

“Huh?”

The next thing the soldiers knew, their whole world was spinning. After a few seconds they found themselves on the ground with something strange laying near them.

It was what looked like the lower portion of a body. When the men looked down they saw that their lower bodies were missing and their intestines were heaped on the floor.

They all realized that they were cut in half. They died with shocked faces unable to understand their death.

“Troops? What troops?”

Hanzou looked at the monks and said.

“All I see are dead men. This country is filled with dead men.”

He turned his back to them and continued their journey. The monks quickly followed after him.

“Listen, Monks from the Buddhist Alliance. Once I get back your stolen techniques, I expect to be paid on the spot.”

Hanzou spoke as he ran.

“I also want a copy of that scroll to bring back to my country.”

“Of course. Once we get back our Sacred Qi scroll, we promise to grant you a copy.”

One of the monks said.

The Sacred Qi scroll he was referring to was the scroll Miko gave Nen to practice. This scroll was plundered from the Alliance during Augustus time by one of the Dragna generals.

The reason the alliance became involved in this war was to retrieve it back. They joined forces with Hanzou because he was interested in the scroll as well.

The group advanced further into the Dragna territory with Hanzou in the lead.

“?!”

That’s when Hanzou suddenly came to a stop.

“What’s wrong?”

The monks also stopped.

“We’re surrounded.”

The moment Hanzou said that, warriors appeared out of nowhere from all directions and started attacking them.

Hanzou grabbed his axe off his back and swung it around with a shout.

*Boom!*

His axe cut through the enemies attacking him from all angles.

“It’s the Underworld Snakes! The Quintus Branch is on the move!”

Hanzou who was familiar with the militia of the Quintus Branch immediately warned the other monks.

“Scared Palm!”

*Boom!*

The monks who were all warriors immediately started fighting their attackers using Buddhist arts.

“Die!”

Three bulky men attacked Hanzou from above swinging down giant hammers.

“No, you die!”

The muscles in his arm tightened as he poured his strength into it. He then swung his axe upward with a roar.

*Boom!*

The men’s hammers broke and their bodies were ripped in two by the powerful axe. Thinking that his back was open, several soldiers attacked him from behind simultaneously.

“Ohhhhh!”

They thrust their spears and swords planning to skewer Hanzou.

*Shatter!*

However, they soon became horrified when they saw their weapons shatter upon impacting Hanzou’s skin.

Hanzou slowly turned around and faced them.

“I was wondering which mosquito bit me, but it turns out it was something worse than a mosquito.”

He smiled and lifted his axe.

“It was just worms.”

*Boom!*

Hanzou swung his axe down and obliterated the soldiers.

He and the monks quickly entered a deadly melee with the Quintus soldiers. After nearly 10 mins of battle, they were surrounded by the broken corpses of their enemies, most of which was killed by Hanzou personally.

“It’s safe to say that they know that we’re here. Prepare for more intense battles.”

He said.

The monks nodded and they all began charging forward.

Miko who was in the imperial capital watched them from a screen.

“I don’t understand. Why would they charge in by themselves?”

He said without talking his eyes off the monitor.

“I think they’re counting on their comrades to back them up.”

Alec said.

“Hmm….Are they idiots?”

Miko said after thinking for a while.

“No matter how desperate you get to get your hands on something, charging blindly into enemy territory is plain suicide.”

“For normal people yes, but Hanzou has extraordinary durability.”

Andreas said.

“How extraordinary?”

“He should rival Lennox in durability or slightly below him.”

“Oh?”

Miko thought about it.

“I see. He’s Benkei’s Proxy isn’t he? Benkei was famous for his Demon like strength and durability. Legends said that he died standing up after killing well over 300 soldiers.”

“?!”

Everyone in the room was suddenly caught off guard when they looked at Miko.

His body was shrouded in a chaotic aura that screamed madness, as a smile appeared on his face.

This was the first he showed any genuine emotion since Edward died.

“This is a bit interesting. I want to try fighting him.”

The moment he spoke those words he gave off the vibe of a beast spotting his next prey.

“Then again, me going to the front lines isn’t a smart move.”

All the emotions vanished without a trace and the doll-like look returned.

“…..Could it be that his emotions only surface when fighting is involved?”

Kaido suddenly said.

“Since I’m someone who also have trouble showing emotions, I think that’s the case. There might a stimulant that causes his emotions to briefly surface like with me. In my case, it was when Hana was involved.”

He explained.

“So you’re saying that his love ones couldn’t do it, but the thought of fighting is able to move his heart?”

Jin said with some thought.

Hina, Luka, and Bloom all frowned when they heard that.

“How much a battle maniac are you?!”

Momo pointed and roared.

It was obvious she was pissed off.

“What are you talking about?”

Miko asked.

“It’s no good. It doesn’t seem like he realized the change.”

Rin said with a wry smile.

“Anyway, allowing Hanzou to reach the city can’t happen. It would make the citizens lose morale if we were attacked again.”

Miko stood up.

“Who knows Hanzou the best?”

He asked.

“That would be me.”

Andreas stood out and declared.

“He and our Underworld Snakes have clashed countless times across countless battlefields. We’re bitter enemies.”

He said.

“I see. Then the Quintus Branch will handle him.”

“As you wish, Patriarch.”

“I’m not your Patriarch. I’m miko not Augustus.”

Miko said dismissively.

He then looked at Nen.

“Nen, the enemy’s objective is the Sacred Qi scroll that I gave you sometime ago. How far have you’ve reached with it?”

“I’ve been having trouble on a few concepts but I believe I’m advancing at a satisfying rate.”

Nen answered.

“I see. Then you will join Andreas and his militia in dealing with the monks. You’re permitted to use your Gauntlets that I gave you.”

“I can?”

The gauntlet Miko gave Nen was called King Ogre’s Limbs. It was a very powerful and dangerous item. Nen learnt this the hard way almost at the cost of his life. Since then, he decided to only use it in desperate situations.

Miko ordering him to use them was an obvious test to see if Nen was worth him betting on. Nen knew this and put on a serious face.

“I understand. I won’t let you down!”

He declared.

Miko nodded.

‘I should prepare someone to retrieve the Gauntlets and scroll in case he dies. They’re too valuable to lose.’

Miko coldly thought.

“Hm?”

That’s when he sensed something coming from above. He wasn’t the only one, everyone looked up in the air at the same time.

“Brace for impact.”

*BOOM!*

The moment he said that, something burst through the palace and crashed in the middle of the Throne Room. Before they could see what it was, something rushed towards Miko clawing at his neck.

Miko summoned both Regis and Ishma in his hands and slashed them forward.

*BOOM!*

He was blown back after successfully deflecting the attack. He crashed into his throne and broke it.

The attacker leaped at him again.

“Hold it.”

However, Rouge grabbed the claw before it reached Miko. It was when he did that he was able to see that it was a Parasite like monster that looked like a severed arm with claws.

“I wondered why you didn’t show up.”

Rouge crushed the monster in his hand while glaring at the person who sent the attack.

“Dragoness, Touma.”

“Hehehe! I was a bit preoccupied before.”

Touma answered.

“Now I’m more than ready to slaughter you all!”

She released a suppressive and wild aura which covered the entire room.

“Slaughter us?”

Andreas stepped out.

“Don’t get cocky, little lizard.”

He released his aura which easily suppressed Touma’s.

“Just who are you going to slaughtered?”

All of the branch leaders surrounded Touma from all directions.

“You.”

A more sinister and wild aura was released from her body which didn’t lose to Andreas or the other branch leaders.

“Just when I said that getting invaded again mustn't happened….”

Miko stood up and brush himself off.

“You just had to go and do that, huh?”

At that moment, a bolt of lightning appeared in front of him and Skylar appeared out of nowhere.

“Heavenly Demon King.”

“Thunder Emperor.”

The two stared each other down. The first one to make the move was miko. He jumped back and instantly entered God Mode.

*BOOM!*

However, he was immediately pierced with a lightning bolt to the heart. However, Miko suddenly faded into the wind.

Skylar stayed calm and lifted his hand over his head and caught Miko’s blade.

“Mind if I cut in?”

Alec appeared by his side swinging his blood flame sword. Skylar generated lightning in his palm and swung his hand.

*BOOM!*

The clash of lightning and blood flames lit up the room.

Kirika suddenly appeared in front of him thrusting her sword towards his neck. His body flickered and he appeared right behind her. A lightning bolt appeared in his hand which thrust towards her back.

“Switch!”

At that moment, Kirika disappeared and Kouta appeared in her place thrusting out fist coated in lightning.

*BOOM!*

The two lightnings clashed and caused a massive explosion of electricity.

Kouta was blown back, but Christian appeared above Skylar swinging down his staff.

“Lightning Field.”

*BOOM!*

Bursts of lightning erupted everywhere and forced everyone away from Skylar with static running through their bodies.

“Tsk. So they can’t handle him after all.”

Alexus said.

“Not only that, looks like everyone’s here.”

He looked around and saw that Drake and Ezra had also arrived.

“Ahem.”

Skylar coughed to gather everyone’s attention.

“Those of the Dragna Clan, because of certain circumstances. We’ve decided to destroy your imperial capital.”

He stretched out his hand and a gigantic lightning ball appeared above the sky.

“My apologizes.”

*BOOOOOM!*

That day the Imperial Capital of Dragna Empire was destroyed by enemy troops.