The skies above the Veyris Empire suddenly became distorted.
Stars flickered.
Clouds froze.
Even space itself twisted into strange geometric fractures.
Inside the Imperial Gardens stood Kael Veyris beside Ashvattha and Kaelithra Veylscara.
The peaceful air disappeared instantly.
Five figures emerged from tears in reality.
Their forms shifted constantly, as if existence could not decide what they were.
A voice echoed from all five at once.
We reject your structures.
We reject your narrative.
We reject your reality.
Kael stared quietly.
...You arrived very confidently.
Before Kael moved.
Kaelithra stepped forward.
Her red eyes glowed.
Narrative Manipulation.
Dark symbols spread around the three nearest beings.
Their movements slowed.
Not physically.
their story slowed.
The events around them began refusing to continue.
Ashvattha calmly raised her hand.
Golden roots of light spread through reality itself.
Plot Manipulation.
The roots wrapped around the same three beings.
The "reason" they existed began disappearing.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
Simply becoming irrelevant.
The three figures looked terrified.
Impossible.
Then.
they vanished.
Gone across every reality layer they occupied.
The remaining two turned toward Kael.
You.
Kael looked at them.
No anger.
No effort.
Die.
Silence.
Then both beings collapsed.
No attack.
No energy blast.
No explosion.
Just... over.
Wukong, who had somehow appeared nearby, blinked several times.
Sun Wukong stared.
...That is somehow more terrifying than punching.
But suddenly.
a crimson explosion erupted behind them.
Flames spread across the skies.
A woman rushed forward at immense speed.
Akra appeared.
Her fiery red hair moved wildly around her body.
Large dark dragon horns curved from her head.
Golden eyes burned intensely.
Dark crimson dragon energy covered her.
Without a word.
she attacked Kael.
One strike.
Second strike.
Third strike.
Not one connected.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
...Something is wrong.
Akra's eyes briefly flickered.
Behind her flames.
dark strings moved.
Like control threads.
Kael raised his hand.
Rewrite.
Reality shifted.
The hidden entity controlling her was instantly revealed.
A dark parasite-like force screamed.
NO.
The rewritten structure rejected its existence completely.
The controlling force disappeared.
Akra froze.
The flames around her vanished.
She blinked.
Looked around.
Then looked at Kael.
...You saved me?
Kael nodded.
Someone was controlling you.
Akra stared at him quietly.
Then her expression softened.
May I know your name?
Kael answered calmly.
Kael Veyris.
Akra smiled brightly.
Thank you for saving me.
Kael nodded.
You're welcome.
Then Akra suddenly announced:
I'm going to marry you.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kael:
...What?
Kaelithra slowly turned.
Ashvattha blinked.
Even birds stopped flying.
Akra pointed proudly.
In my dragon clan, if someone saves you from death or disaster, you marry them.
It's tradition.
Kael stared.
...That escalated very fast.
Before anyone responded.
Akra leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Kael blinked.
Again.
From somewhere nearby:
WUKONG: HE GOT HIT WITH DRAGON CULTURE!
Ashvattha covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Kaelithra stared silently.
Then the four of them slowly returned toward the Veyris Empire together.
The sunset stretched across the horizon.
And Kael quietly thought:
...Why does this keep happening?
Far away.
the Empire gates opened.
And somewhere inside the palace.
Ignisia suddenly felt a strange disturbance.
She narrowed her eyes.
...Why do I suddenly feel suspicious?