Palace of Yunara
Inside the royal palace, the night remained quiet.
King Leon and his younger brother Lucien were still speaking, their voices low as they discussed the unfolding chaos in Yunara.
Suddenly—
The palace doors burst open.
A soldier rushed inside, breathing heavily. His armor clattered as he ran across the polished floor. Sweat covered his face, and terror was written in his eyes.
He fell to one knee before the throne.
"My lord… we have bad news."
Leon slowly turned his head.
The room seemed to grow colder.
"What is it?"
The soldier swallowed hard.
"Raikaro… he escaped."
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then Leon's expression twisted.
Rage flooded his eyes like wildfire.
"How?" he growled.
"A black smoke appeared on the stage. It covered the entire area. When it cleared… he was gone."
The soldier lowered his head further.
"It was the Min clan's doing."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Leon moved.
His hand shot forward like a predator striking prey.
CRACK.
His fingers closed around the soldier's throat.
The man barely had time to gasp before Leon lifted him off the ground like he weighed nothing.
"Min…" Leon muttered.
His voice carried a cold fury.
The soldier struggled helplessly, kicking in the air, but Leon showed no mercy.
With a violent motion—
Leon snapped his neck.
The lifeless body fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Leon didn't even look at it again.
Instead, he turned and walked toward the palace balcony.
Outside, Yunara glowed beneath thousands of lantern lights, but the city now carried the scent of fear and blood.
Behind him, Lucien's calm voice broke the silence.
"Brother… why such anger?"
Leon didn't answer.
Lucien stepped forward slowly, his long black coat flowing behind him.
"You already know who you sent after him."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Kaizo."
Lucien's eyes gleamed with confidence.
"No one escapes Kaizo."
"He is the perfect counter to the Min clan's tricks."
Leon finally spoke, his voice heavy.
"Yes… I trust Kaizo."
"But I will never underestimate our enemies."
He rested his hands on the balcony railing, staring at the burning city.
"If the RA blood and the Min clan ever fully unite…"
His eyes darkened.
"History has shown what happens when those two clans fight together."
"Cities burn."
"Kingdoms collapse."
Lucien's smile slowly faded.
Leon turned his head slightly.
"Send our elite commander."
"Kaizo will hunt him."
"But he will not hunt alone."
Lucien nodded calmly.
"As you wish, brother."
Without another word, he turned and walked back into the palace shadows.
Yunara City
The streets of Yunara had turned into a battlefield.
Steel clashed.
Shouts echoed between burning lanterns.
Rin stood surrounded.
At first, she had faced only a few soldiers.
Now—
More than thirty Yunara warriors circled her.
Her breathing had grown heavy.
Blood stained the edge of her katana.
But she still stood.
A soldier rushed forward.
Rin moved instantly.
Her blade flashed through the air.
SLASH.
The soldier's chest opened as blood sprayed across the stone street.
Another soldier attacked from behind.
Rin twisted her body and flicked her wrist.
A tiny arrow flew from the hidden launcher in her sleeve.
The needle-sized projectile pierced the soldier's neck.
He stumbled backward, grabbing his throat.
Moments later—
Poison spread through his veins.
He collapsed, convulsing on the ground.
Three soldiers charged together.
Rin dashed forward to meet them.
CLANG!
Her katana blocked one blade.
She kicked another soldier in the stomach.
Then spun—
Her sword sliced across a throat.
Blood sprayed through the air like red mist.
But the soldiers kept coming.
Too many.
Her movements slowed.
Her arms trembled.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Finally—
One soldier saw the opening.
He raised his sword high above his head.
"Die!"
Rin tried to move.
But her exhausted body refused.
The blade came down—
Suddenly—
A flash of silver cut through the darkness.
THUNK.
A knife buried itself deep into the soldier's throat.
Blood erupted instantly.
The soldier dropped his sword and collapsed.
The other soldiers froze.
Footsteps echoed behind them.
Slow.
Calm.
Cold.
A figure walked out from the shadows.
Haru.
He approached the fallen soldier and calmly pulled the knife from the corpse.
Blood dripped from the blade.
He wiped it across the dead man's armor.
Then looked up at Rin.
"This much trouble from soldiers like these?"
His voice carried a mocking tone.
"You've become weak… fool."
Rin stared at him.
Something felt different.
This wasn't the cheerful Haru who talked endlessly in the tunnels.
His eyes now carried something darker.
Sharper.
Like a warrior who had stepped into battle too many times.
Rin slowly stood beside him.
The soldiers tightened their circle.
More than thirty warriors surrounded them.
Haru twirled the knife once in his hand.
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"Well then…"
His voice dropped.
"Let's see how many of you can die tonight."
Side by side—
Rin and Haru faced the soldiers of Yunara.
And the battle was far from over.
To Be Continued…