“How long are we gonna stay away from the capital?”

Hall Of Rebirth, Nebulous City. Miko and his apostles were inside one of the recreational rooms.

“We’ll only go there when it’s the right time.”

Miko answered Ace while laying on a sofa.

“And when’s that?”

“After we’ve healed up and prepared ourselves for war.”

“War? Already?”

Sora frowned.

“Life is an endless war, Sora. We might get some breaks but we’ll only stop fighting when we’re 6ft under.”

He sat up and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m the one who’ll do most of the fighting. You guys will be fighting outside enemies and I’ll deal with the ones in the capital.”

He got up.

“Family members will be at each other’s throat pretty soon. This is a battle that I’ll have to be a part of, however, when and how I join it will be the key to victory.”

“And what do you get if you win?”

Miko smirked.

“Everything.”

Dragna City, Royal Palace. Nova was leading his sons down the halls.

“I heard that you two wreak havoc on the Day Continent. Good going.”

“It’s no Night Continent but the Day Continent was really fun.”

Kouta grinned with his hands behind his head.

“But I don’t think anything will be crazier than when everybody comes back. I’m certain fists will be thrown. I want to throw some myself.”

“Are there some people you want to specifically punch or something?”

“I have a long list.”

“My boy.”

Kouta bumped fists with Nova.

“What about you Christensen? Have anybody you want to slug? If you do, you should get it out of your system because everyone will soon be preaching about unity.”

“…If you say so.”

Christensen swung his arm and his fist smashed into Kouta’s face. Kouta fell on his butt and look up at his brother in shock.

“Hahahaha!”

Nova burst out laughing pointing at the shocked Kouta.

“I guess it must’ve been annoying dealing with a brother like that all the—?!”

Nova’s words were cut short by a fist to the chin. He stumbled back with a shocked look on his face.

“Pfft! Hahahaha!”

Kouta burst out laughing.

“Whose the annoying one now, you bastard?!”

“Ch-Christensen? Did I do something to earn your rage?”

Christensen looked at his fists and nodded.

“You’re right. It does feel good.”

He left his brother and father behind with a satisfied look on his face.

“It’s good to see that you’re awake and moving around, Christensen.”

He paused and turned to see someone leaning on a pillar behind him. It was a man dressed in a black and purple military uniform with the insignia of a Seven-Headed Dragon on his chest.

“So you’re back, Al-Shura. If you’re here then I take it that the entire Underworld Snakes Militia has returned.”

“Yup. While you were messing around on the Day Continent I was leading our militia into battle after battle all over the world. I’ve personally stained nearly a hundred proxies in the last decade.”

“A hundred, huh?”

Nova approached Al-Shura with a smile.

“That’s impressive. You might be able to break my record for the most Proxy kills ever at that rate.”

“….Who could ever break that record? I’m not that insane.”

Al-Shura became meek in front of Nova which caused Kouta to laugh.

“Do you want me to crush your voice box, Kouta?”

“Go ahead and try. I haven’t fought the Rampaging Dragon Of the Bloodied Path in a while. That’s a stupid moniker by the way.”

He suddenly felt a cold sensation on his neck.

“Back down, Kouta.”

An azured-haired woman wearing the same military uniform as Al-Shura was holding a blade at Kouta’neck. Even so, he grinned.

“Well, if it isn’t the Rattlesnake of the Desolate Path, Alesia Dragna? Another stupid moniker by the way.”

Kouta’s body emitted electric sparks.

“This is my lucky day, I get to beat both of your asses!”

“Aw, it’s good to see you kids getting along.”

Nova laughed. Christensen watched his brother and cousins getting ready to kill each other and yawned. He leaned on a pillar, slid to the ground, and fell asleep.

“Come on, I’ll beat your ass!”

These chaotic scenes continued in the halls and were all witnessed by a group of three women with identical faces, azure hair, and silver eyes. They wore different colors but they all had stars on their clothing.

“Looks like the rest of the idiots are beginning to gather.”

“This place is gonna get lively.”

“Too lively.”

The women sighed and walked away ignoring the sounds of explosions behind them.

The same time in the royal district. A group arrived headed by a man with braided azure hair, honey-skin, ocean eyes, and dressed in black and gold with a sheathed sword on his waist. He was the man named Rin Dragna.

“Do you think that they’re gonna have a huge meeting and that is the reason why they called us here, Rin?”

On his left was a man with short azure hair, a slightly muscular build, and bandages wrapped around his entire body except for his neck and head.

“After everything that happened, I’m sure that’s the case. They also want to strengthen the empire as much as possible. So don’t expect to leave here anytime soon, Nen.”

Nen sighed.

“And the Beast Continent was such a great place to train. It’s filled with countless strong species. Isn’t that right, KC?”

KC had azure hair as well, but he was slimmer than Nen and was shorter too. He had on a pair of gloves that had at least three of the fingers exposed.

“Forget that we were making crazy money working for the guild…..All that money, gone.”

He clenched his fist.

“That bastard Krow ruined my plans for early retirement!”

“The fact that that’s what you’re angry about is proof of your lack of morals.”

Rin sighed. They continued to walk a bit before Rin spotted another group in front of them consisting of two men and a woman.

“Geh, Renatus.”

One of the men stopped and looked back with a frown.

“Who sees someone and say “Geh” without even greeting them?”

“Anyone when they have to greet someone like you.”

The teen named Renatus had the Dragna trademark azure hair but red eyes. He was dressed in a burgundy vest suit with gloves on his hands.

“Have I hurt you in any way, Rin? I feel I’m being mistreated.”

“You didn’t hurt me, I just find you annoying.”

Rin felt a touch on his shoulder and saw Renatus beside him.

“There must be a misunderstanding. How can the great me be so annoying?”

“First of all, you’re too touchy.”

Rin slapped the hand off his shoulder.

“Second, you don’t respect personal space.”

He flicked the handle of his sword and made it hit Renatus in the chest, forcing him to step back.

“Lastly…”

Rin placed his hand on his sword and his hand flickered.

*Bam!*

Carvings appeared in the ground around Renatus. Where he stood, however, was untouched.

“Despite being so strong, you’re a huge slacker.”

“You may call it slacking but I’m merely enjoying life. I wasn’t born with a strong body as a child and is only still alive because of my family’s hard work. So I must live life to the fullest. I can’t waste it on meaningless things like fights or pursuing strength like some meathead.”

Rin placed his hand on his sword again.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Someone came from behind Renatus and forced him to bow his head. It was the woman who was with him.

“Ren didn’t mean any harm, Rin. He’s just an idiot who has no tact. Forgive him, okay?”

Rin looked at the woman. Purple hair with red endings, a bit tall for a girl but was still beautiful. Eyes that were a reddish-brown and a red gem in the middle of her head. He sighed and sheathed his sword.

“Alright. I’ll back down this time, Cait. It isn’t the place or time to fight anyway.”

He glanced at Renatus.

(His father betrayed the clan and left with Krow and was even revealed as an enemy leader…I’m sure he’s under a lot of stress.)

“You’re surprising tamed, huh? Oh, well.”

Renatus lifted his head and turned around and left with Cait and the final man who remained silent the whole time.

“Let’s go, Nen & KC.”

Rin continued his walk as well.

“We should leave before Krul and Ashur arrive and make things even more complicated.”

“I wonder if Miko will come to the meeting too.”

Nen mumbled.

“I want to test my strength against him.”

Miko’s face flashed in Rin’s mind and a smile crept on his face.

“Get in line. We all want a piece of him.”

He grinned.

“Right, Renatus?”

“………..”

Renatus remained silent and continued his walk.

“Didn’t you say you had some stuff to explain?”

Tessa bugged her brother who was examining Ishma and Regis in their sword forms.

“I was going to but I’ve decided to leave it until everything has settled. It’s something that will greatly affect how you view everything as you know. I don’t want to distract you too much.”

Ishma and Regis retook their human forms and were patted on the head by Miko.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you everything real soon.”

“Oh, I’m curious about what you’re talking about.”

“?!”

Miko turned his head and saw someone leaning back in one of the sofas with their legs crossed. Miko’s lips trembling as he spoke their name.

“Uncle Rihan…”

Rihan showed Miko a bright smile and waved.

“Yo, Miko. It’s been some time.”