*Bam!*

The flames of war had spread to the entire capital city. The only place that didn’t have any signs of destruction was the district where the royal palace and noble houses resided.

Amelia and Rory was seen in the center of the city cutting through the waves of enemies, stained in blood and sweat.

“Ugh!”

Amelia groaned as she locked swords with a man that was almost was 7ft tall and filled with muscles and scars.

“Damn! What a strong bastard!”

Amelia founded herself being pushed back by the man who was smiling at her.

“Die, heretic!”

At that moment, several soldiers leaped from behind the man and attacked Amelia.

“Don’t get cocky!”

Electricity started dancing around Amelia, and then spread towards the men and electrocute them to death.

She then lifted her hand in the air and lightning bolts shot out of her palm and hit the soldiers around her, stunning them.

“Go meet your god!”

She slammed her palms on the ground and cracks started spread through it before lifting up into the air. The clumps of earth then slammed into each other and squished the soldiers that were on them, stunned.

*Bam!*

Blood rained down from the sky and stained the earth, as Amelia stood up while breathing heavily.

*Bam!*

Suddenly she saw a beam devour a dozens of soldiers in an instant. She looked and saw Rory walking towards her with a smile.

“You seem pretty tired, Elia. Do you wanna take a break and I do the rest?”

He asked while casually firing a blast of anima to blow up another dozen soldiers.

“These guys are tougher than I thought.”

Amelia said.

“Of course. There’s more of them than before and they’re stronger than before, it’s natural for you to be overwhelmed. You’re not at a level where you can win a war by yourself after all.”

Rory replied while firing beams through the heads of his enemies.

“However, I’m fighting with you. If you need a break then say it.”

“I’m fine.”

Amelia held her sword again.

“I’ll use this to get even stronger.”

Rory nodded at her words.

“Very well. But be careful.”

Elsewhere in the city, the third prince Christi and Reina were near the palace in a building that looked abandoned. This was were they had stationed their base for the war.

In the building, members of Boomslang were busily moving up and down sharing information with each other.

“Boss, my prince.”

Suddenly Roc walked up to them.

“I’ve finished collecting all the information that our spies in the military and noble houses have shared with us.”

He said while handing over some stacks of paper to Reina and Christi.

“So all the nobles have deployed their private forces without sparing a single soldier.”

Reina said while going through the papers.

“The strategists that left James have also joined up with the church. Not only that, most of the famous generals as well.”

Said Christi.

“The number of civilians that volunteered are alarming though.”

Roc handed them a different stack of papers.

“These are the names of the significant figures in each force that makes up the army. There’s also information on their roles, past achievements, and number of subordinates.”

He said.

“Impressive. Be sure to thank everyone for me. Also, tell them to withdraw immediately and come back to our side.”

Reina said.

“Yes, Boss.”

Roc then left to do what Reina instructed.

Reina then looked at Christi.

“What should we do now?”

“Let’s review the information in front of us. We’ll then pick out assassination targets.”

Christi replied.

“Sounds good to me.”

Reina replied.

“Rory is using himself as bait so we should be able to to move around freely, but there’s a problem.”

“The church forces?”

Christi nodded.

“As the person that worked as their puppet, I’ve seen an extent of their power as well as how far they’ll go to increase their influence. I don’t think it would be strange if they started bombarding the city and burn everything to the ground regardless of who’s in it.”

He said.

“I agree. If we defeat our country’s own forces, it makes things easier for them when they’ll try to put the country under their control.”

“True, but we have no other choice. There were too many conflicting desires among the three factions for a compromise to be met. That’s why Rory’s plan really is the only way to save the country in the long run.”

He said.

“Whatever the case, I work for you. Just give me the order and I’ll kill whoever you wish. That’s the terms of the contract between us.”

The moment Reina said that, a certain day when the two first meet flashed before their eyes.

One of them was covered in blood and held a dagger in her hand as she glared at the other one who was standing in the rain, and stretching his hand towards her.

“Help me save my country, and I promise you that I will provide a home where you can be safe.”

Reina said.

“Those were the words that you told me. You’ve given me more than I could ever asked for, but I’ve yet to give you anything.”

Christi shook his head.

“You became my first true comrade. That’s more than enough for me.”

He replied.

“That’s why I forbid you from dying in this war. Even if you have to drag yourself on the ground through mud, you must survive.”

He said.

“If I must sacrifice a friend to save this country, I prefer to run away no matter how pathetic it seems.”

“You mustn’t run away. The weight of my life doesn’t compare to that of your country.”

Reina said.

“I’m your tool for slaughter. Until the day you’ve discard me, I will continue to cut the way to the path you desire.”

She said.

Christi frowned when he heard that. However he didn’t reject what she said.

Reina took up a stock of papers and looked through it quickly, before taking out a couple sheets.

“I’m going to take these down.”

The sheets showed the profiles of several generals and nobles who all held an incredible amount of influence in their respective factions.

“Killing then will make it easier for your brothers, and more importantly it will lessen Rory’s burdens.”

She said.

“More importantly?”

Christi suddenly smiled.

“So Rory’s wellbeing is most important for you?”

“He’s just a valuable asset to ensure victory that’s all. It would be a problem if he gets worn out before he fought the true target.”

Reina answered.

“Is that so?”

Christi laughed.

“Why do you look like you don’t believe me?”

Reina asked.

“That’s because I don’t.”

Christi said.

“You don’t realize it, but you always seem to be having when you’re around him.”

“Huh?! What are you talking about? I always want to rip his head off.”

“True, but you don’t normally feel that strongly about anyone. He’s the only one. Oh, and that Amelia girl.”

Said Christi.

“You’re normally all business, but you smile a lot more sense you’ve met them.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing, really.”

Christi picked up some stocks of paper.

“Since you’ve picked your targets, I’ll go assist Rory and Amelia. I’m not okay with total strangers sticking out their necks for a country that I swore to protect.”

He then started to walk away.

“If I see anyone on these sheets, I’ll be sure to get rid of them.”

“Wait. Don’t change the topic!”

Reina shouted.

Christi just laughed and walked away.

“What’s with him?”

Reina grumbled while leaving the opposite direction. Before she left she spoke.

“Everyone, we’re moving out! I’ll assign you all your targets along the way! Christi will be acting separately from us, but worry not and focus on your own tasks!”

“Yes, Boss!”

The entirety of Boomslang then left with Reina, while Christi left in the opposite direction.

When he left the base Christi started to make his way to where the war was the most intense. As he walked he recalled Reina’s angry face and laughed.

“She really is acting more like a girl her age these days.”

He then showed a wry smile.

“Looks like I placed too much pressure on her and made her the brutal assassin she is today.”

As he walked, spoke with himself.

“My lord, look.”

Liam who was watching James and his men fight, was tapped on his shoulder by one of his subordinates. He looked at where they pointed only to see his brother.

“Christi? He’s alone in the open.”

“Will the prince be okay? Or should we help him?”

Asked Harley Brooks.

“No, leave him. If he’s out in the open then that means that he’s truly discarded his image as the shady prince and returned to his roots.”

Said Liam.

“As I thought, Reina will only continue to suppress herself if she stay by my side.”

Christi said as he muttered to himself.

“Maybe it’s time I free her?”

As he continued to walk, the sounds of explosive battles drowned out his voice. He was now heading towards the heart of the battles.

“Hey, is that?”

“The Third Prince?”

“What is that pampered prince doing out here?”

As expected, Christi’s presence drew the attention of those who were familiar with him. Especially his enemies.

“Your Majesty! The third prince’s….!”

James men also called out and pointed Christi out.

“Hm?”

James looked and saw that his brother was strolling through the battlefield like he was on a walk in the park. He was even mumbling to himself absentmindedly.

“Your Majesty, should I go help him?”

Black Bull Omar came up to James and asked him.

James looked at his brother for a bit before looking away, as if ignoring him.

“Leave him and focus on your own task.”

James said.

“But…”

“You know, if you were to ask who could threaten James’s inheriting the crown most people would say me.”

Liam said to his subordinates, while watching his little brother.

“I’m sure that even James himself sees me as the only threat to the throne.”

He saw that some of the enemy forces had recognized Christi and were moving to attacking him.

“However, James doesn’t think so because he believes that Christi is no threat to him.”

“Then Liam isn’t your biggest threat?”

Black Bull asked as he smashed the head of an enemy soldier.

James replied while cutting down everyone in his path.

“No, he is. But that isn’t because Christi is harmless by himself.”

He glanced towards his brother who had yet to spot that several enemy soldiers were moving towards him from all direction.

The soldier quickly surrounded him and all lifted their weapons to kill him.

“Die, Third Prince!”

Neither James nor Liam bat an eye when they saw their brother’s life in danger, unlike their subordinates. As if they practiced it before hand, they spoke in unison-

“That’s because our little brother is a natural born killer.”

At that moment, a red anima erupted from inside of Christi’s body.

“Huh?”

The enemy soldiers all felt like they could see a scorpion stinger stabbing towards them.

*Bam!*

Suddenly all of their heads exploded like water balloons, causing them to stop in their tracks.

“?!”

Everyone who saw what happened were shocked out of their minds, expect for Jame and Liam.

“Christi is a natural born killer, and venomous beast in human clothing.”

Everyone could see five Scorpion tails made of red anima, dancing behind Christi as he continued to walk undisturbed.

Both James and Liam smiled when they saw everyone’s shocked reactions. They turn and spoke in unison once more.

“There’s no way someone like that would want to become king.”

Christi who was oblivious to everyone’s stares clenched his fists and spoke.

“Alright, after this is over, I’ll make Reina go with Rory and see the world. That’s the least I can do to repay her.”