"Prepare the soldiers."
"My lord—please… listen to us." One of the ministers trembled. "We are your council. A war against Velvet is… is a fool—"
He swallowed.
"Sorry, my lord."
"No," Yami growled. "Finish your sentence."
The minister closed his eyes. "It is foolish to go to war with Velvet—the strongest nation in the West and East. And… and with King Rui Yamazaki."
Yami's eyes flashed like burning oil.
"I don't fear Rui," he snarled. "If he interferes, we will crush him as well. They call him the Sword of Three Nations? Good. It's time to break that rusted sword."
He raised his hand toward the horizon.
"I don't care who backs out. I will crumble Yarmuk and Filtine. But before anything… I must remove my greatest obstacle."
His voice dropped into a hiss.
"Rui Yamazaki."
Yami stepped onto higher ground and screamed:
"Prepare the soldiers! By evening, we strike Velvet's Crow Town Base! And by tomorrow—Velvet will fall. No warnings. No negotiations. WAR."
---
Meanwhile, in Velvet
"Rui… I feel something isn't right."
Lucas placed a hand on his chest. "We shouldn't leave for Wandland and Doer just yet. I don't know why, but my heart aches. It screams danger. Can't we stay for four more days?"
"You don't have to come," Rui answered calmly. "Stay here, protect Velvet. I'll return once I'm done.
You know the rule—it's not just custom, but a king's duty. Before agreeing to any treaty, he must personally stamp the Velvet Constitution and collect the other kingdom's stamp.
I have to go."
But Lucas thought, If I don't come… who will protect you?
"I shall accompany you, my lord."
Lucas turned.
"So? And who are you?"
A young man bowed. "I am Caesar, son of Atlas. Minister of the Royal Library and its archives."
Lucas blinked. "Son of Atlas?" A smile tugged his lips. "I've heard tales of him. One of the greatest fighters this world has seen." His smile slowly faded.
"If you're his son, you must be strong. But… even so, I can't allow you to guard King Rui alone. His safety is—"
"Hey, enough," Rui interrupted. "Lucas, it's an order. Stay in Velvet and protect the capital of Mitheren. And…"
He grinned and whispered, "It's time you go talk to your girl."
Lucas's face turned bright red. "H–hey—!"
Rui laughed. "I know, I know. You're upset with her. But this issue of yours? Solve it. It's making you more agitated every day."
Lucas straightened, stubborn.
"You've ordered me to stay—I will obey. But aside from that… a king has no control over a man's feelings."
"Hey, I didn't mea—"
"Alright, King," Lucas said firmly. "You should leave. It's getting dark."
Rui softened.
"Take care of yourself… and of Velvet. I'll be back soon. Very soon."
"I hope so…" Lucas whispered under his breath, fear shaking inside him.
Rui mounted his horse.
"Alright, Wandland," he muttered. "We're coming."
---
On the Road — White River Bridge
Rui and Caesar rode west. Dust rose behind their horses.
"That means…" Caesar gulped.
"Yes." Rui exhaled. "We'll have to cross the White River Bridge."
"B–but, my lord… that bridge is—"
"I know. Jammed by Father Flames."
Caesar's voice trembled.
"Which means any Code holder has only a 50/50 chance of crossing. Father Flames block all Code energy and trap the holder in eternal darkness. It's been twenty years… no one has crossed."
"Correct." Rui nodded. "Though animals can cross. We send our birds and livestock using mind commands controlled by our top Code experts. For reasons unknown, the flames do not affect animals, even though they, too, carry traces of energy inside."
"So… are we still going to cross?"
"I have a plan."
---
At the Bridge
They arrived before the gigantic, eerie structure. The air buzzed faintly.
Caesar swallowed hard. "What now, my lord?"
"Listen carefully." Rui's tone sharpened. "I will enter the bridge first."
"N–no, my lord! That's—"
"LISTEN. It's an order."
Rui took a breath. "When I go in, I can open a gap in the forcefield for exactly six seconds. You must run with everything you have. The bridge isn't long—if you sprint, you can make it."
"B–but—"
"Order."
Caesar clenched his fists, steadying his breath.
Rui stepped forward.
"Now."
Caesar ran.
The bridge twisted, stretching unnaturally, as if trying to keep him inside forever.
"HURRY!" Rui shouted.
Suddenly, skeletal hands and dead human remains began wrapping around Caesar's legs.
Rui's scream snapped him out of terror.
"RUN!"
Caesar burst forward, heart exploding in his chest.
Just as the forcefield reclaimed itself—
FWOOOOOM!
He leapt through.
He collapsed on the other side.
"Caesar! Caesar!" Rui shouted.
"I'm here," caesar said calmly.
Thank the gods… Caesar thought.
But then he froze.
Rui was still inside the crushing field.
"MY KING!" Caesar shouted.
Rui stood still as the force pressed in—then—
CRACK.
Like glass breaking, the forcefield around him shattered.
Rui simply walked through, unharmed.
Caesar's jaw dropped.
"H–how… what… how did you do that?!"
Rui dusted off his shoulders.
"In simple words… I'm the only one who can."
He glanced at Caesar.
"If you hadn't crossed in those six seconds, not even I could have saved you. A normal man lasts ten minutes before the field crushes him. But right now? The force is thirty times stronger. You would've died instantly."
"But how did it not affect you?"
"Listen… I know you have a thousand questions in your head right now.
But just remember this."
He inhaled sharply.
"When I entered, my energy clashed with Father's flames.
That collision shattered the forcefield for a moment—only six seconds.
If you hadn't crossed in those six seconds… even I wouldn't have been able to save you."
His voice lowered.
"Once you're trapped inside, no one can reach you. No one."
A short pause.
"But for some reason… it doesn't affect me."
Caesar slowly nodded, still shaking.
"Let's move," Rui said quietly. "We're close to Wandland now."
The winds grew colder as they continued on the lonely road.
What has Wandland prepared for King Rui?
And what will be Koha's next move now?
No one truly knows. The air itself feels heavy, carrying whispers of something grim approaching. Whatever comes next will not be a moment of triumph, but a shadow creeping over the kingdom's heart. People wait in silence, sensing that the path ahead holds only sorrow—an inevitability that cannot be avoided. Something is coming, and it will be dark… painfully dark....