Laybirth Kingdom, under the bright sun
Jinko sat high upon his tall throne, carved from ancient blackwood and inlaid with some ancient symbols. Flanked by his four most trusted generals, he looked every bit the ruler of a kingdom steeped in history, yet tinged with a dangerous new ambition.
Before him, nearly eight thousand souls filled the sprawling kingdom square, their faces a mix of hope, fear, and curiosity. The air buzzed with murmurs, the tension thick enough to taste.
A whisper rippled through the crowd.
"Is that the king?" a man muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.
A little girl tugged at her mother's sleeve, her voice trembling, "Is that going to be our new king?"
Her mother forced a smile but couldn't hide the worry in her eyes. "Yes, baby. It's "Jinko, son of the late Mr. Peter."
Golden-armored guards stood like living statues at the edge of the crowd, their polished armor gleaming in the sunlight, weapons ready to silence any sign of rebellion. Their presence was a harsh reminder: defiance here was deadly.
Jinko's cold eyes swept across the sea of faces. There was no warmth, only the steel edge of command. Silence stretched, broken only when he finally spoke, his voice ringing clear and unforgiving.
"Hello, my kingdom."
A ripple ran through the crowd before it erupted into a chorus of voices, chanting, "Hello, my great king."
Ryju stood at the edge, heart pounding. What is he planning? The unease gnawed at him.
Jinko raised a hand, silencing them instantly.
"It's good to see you all. But make no mistake—this kingdom belongs to me now. Change is coming. Harsh, but necessary."
The words hung heavy.
"First rule: obedience. Refuse, and execution is swift and merciless."
A shocked murmur swept through the crowd.
"What?"
"No way!"
"He's ruthless," Kaji thought bitterly.
"Second rule: all earnings—half goes to me. Refuse, and my army will kill you on the spot."
Outrage boiled over.
"How am I supposed to feed my children?"
"This is theft!"
"Third rule: my four generals hold absolute power. They can enslave, steal, kill. Their loyalty is only to me."
Rei's face twisted with disgust. What kind of monster is this?
Shun nodded silently. He's harsh.
Jinko motioned, "Generals, introduce yourselves."
A tall woman stepped forward, confidence radiating from her every move. "I'm Saye. Don't let my looks fool you—I kill without hesitation."
Rei thought, Yeah, I'm going for her.
A grinning man beside her said, "I'm Saye's brother. I kill just as fast."
Hiro smirked, arrogance dripping from every word. Stepping forward, a wicked grin curled on his lips. "All you little scaredy-cats," he sneered, eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "I'm Hiro. And yes—I'll kill every single one of you without a second thought. Honestly? I love it. Killing makes me happy."
Kenshiro observed carefully. The cocky one.
Lastly, Que, quiet and calm, said, "I'd rather not kill you… so don't give me a reason."
Kaji thought, These people are pure danger.
Goro wondered, What kind of kingdom is this?
Shun decided silently, I'll watch Que.
Jinko's voice boomed again. "This is a new era, not the weak kingdom of my father, Peter."
The crowd responded with nervous murmurs.
"No."
"This won't last."
"He's evil."
"We're doomed."
The little girl whispered, "Mommy… are we going to die?"
Her mother squeezed her hand, fighting tears. "No, baby. We're strong."
Jinko smiled coldly. "We will be the strongest. We will crush the Twenty Great Villages."
Shock and fear rippled like wildfire.
"But we have peace treaties!"
"They're our allies!"
Jinko's eyes swept over the crowd, his voice cold and unwavering.
"As you all know, one rule remains unchanged—no one leaves this kingdom. Ever. And don't even think about sneaking out."
Rei's heart sank. They're prisoners here.
Shun wondered, Have they ever even seen the world beyond these walls?
Goro clenched his fists, fury rising. This must end.
Jinko raised his hand. "Now, those who agree with my plan, move to the right. Those who oppose, move to the left."
Whispers filled the crowd.
Is this a trick?
Better stay safe.
The little girl asked, "Mommy, which side do we go to?"
Her mother said firmly, "Left. We don't agree."
People slowly split.
Kaji nudged Rei. "We're going right."
Rei nodded slowly. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Ryju led Team One to the right—around six thousand follow. The others, two thousand, moved left.
Jinko grinned. "Not bad. Many are loyal."
From the left, a man's voice trembled. "What now?"
"Stand still," Jinko replied.
Confused whispers.
Jinko spoke to the left crowd, "I want you to enjoy living here. I'll show you how."
The people began whispering.
Maybe he's not so bad.
Some things need changing though.
The little girl asked, "Is that good, Mama?"
Her mother smiled. "Yes, it is."
Suddenly, Jinko's expression darkened.
Then Jinko's eyes darkened like storm clouds. "In hell," he spat.
Ryju's eyes widened. No... what's he planning?
Kaji's jaw tightened. This is going to get worse.
Rei whispered, "They're going to die."
Shun's voice was barely audible. "Do we save them?"
Goro hesitated. "Are you sure we can?"
Kaji raised a hand. "Nobody move."
Jinko smiled and lifted his arm. Beams of light erupted, pointing toward the left crowd.
The little girl screamed, "Mommy, what's happening?!"
Her mother held her tightly. "Close your eyes, baby. Be brave."
Without warning, Jinko slammed his arm down. The beams of light he had summoned blazed across the sky, slicing mercilessly through the crowd gathered on the left. Screams erupted as the deadly rays tore through flesh and bone, leaving chaos in their wake.
People ran, stumbled, fell, but the light hunted them down like predators.
In moments, two thousand were gone.
On the right, faces went pale. Tears flowed freely. Many dropped to their knees in shock.
Ryju's hands clenched into fists, fury burning deep. "I'm going to kill him," he growled, stepping forward.
Kaji grabbed his shoulder. "No! If you act now, we lose everything."
"It doesn't matter," Ryju snapped, eyes aflame.
Kaji shook his head. "More will die if we fight blindly."
Rei pleaded, "Please, Ryju… calm yourself."
Rage flickered in Ryju's eyes, then slowly, painfully, he breathed deep, trying to steady his storm.
"I've got him," Ryju said.
"Good," Kaji said softly. "Be ready."
Jinko's smile remained—cold, calculating. "The show is far from over."
Everyone's faces turned pale—Team One included.
Deep in the forest
Mr. Taka moved silently beneath the canopy, every sense alert.
Shadows shifted.
His hand fell to his sword's hilt.
Come out, he thought.
Five figures stepped forward, clad in torn black shirts emblazoned with skeletal markings and blood-red pants—the Savage Bandits.
One cracked a grin, swinging a chain. "Hey, old man, nice gear. We want it."
Mr. Taka said nothing, standing like an immovable stone.
To Be Continued