— — — — — —
{In other news, an outbreak of an unidentified flu strain has struck the Nerapxi Autonomous Region. Over 560,000 infections have been reported. We now go live to our reporter on the scene…}
Click.
The channel changed.
{On Itogami Island, several cases of the new European flu have been discovered in the Old Southeast District. The Defense Force is moving quickly to quarantine the area…}
As the anchor's voice droned on, Natsuki Minamiya turned her gaze to the night sky beyond the window and murmured, almost to herself, "So it begins... the Blazing Banquet."
Standing nearby, Veldiana tugged nervously at the hem of her maid outfit, clearly uneasy.
While leaning coolly against the doorway, her sister Liana, now dressed in a sharp butler uniform, silently offered Natsuki a steaming cup of tea.
Natsuki took a sip, then wrinkled her nose.
"Still not there," she said flatly.
"My apologies," Liana said with a slight bow and stepped aside.
That was when Veldiana finally couldn't hold it in any longer.
"We can't just let the King go alone! It's too dangerous!"
Natsuki gave her a sidelong glance, raising an eyebrow. "And what? You want to tag along? Let Ryo escort you into a warzone?"
She took another sip of tea and smirked. "If even I don't qualify to fight in this mess, what makes you think you do?"
"...I'm sorry." Veldiana bit her lip, forcing the words out.
Even Natsuki admitted she wouldn't be joining the fray. If someone like her wasn't strong enough, what hope did Veldiana have? All she'd do is get in the way.
Natsuki gave a soft chuckle. "Good girl. Already better than your sister."
Liana, standing to the side, said nothing—just kept her gaze low in awkward silence.
Natsuki clicked the remote again.
"Relax. I get it—you want revenge. For now, just sit back and enjoy the show."
She pointed toward the screen, which now displayed live surveillance footage of Itogami Island.
To clarify, Itogami Island is divided into five main districts, each representing one of the Four Divine Beasts: the North Island symbolizes the Black Tortoise, the South Island the Vermilion Bird, the West Island the White Tiger, and the East Island the Azure Dragon.
At the center lies the fifth district, representing the Yellow Dragon—ruler of the others—linking them all together through the control of the Dragon Veins. Naturally, these five are just the main zones; there are many smaller sub-areas scattered throughout the island.
---
Southeastern District — Quartz Tower
Located in the heart of the old southeastern district of Itogami Island, this massive structure stands six stories tall. Its outer walls are made of magically reinforced ADAMAS glass, giving the whole building the appearance of a grand gemstone palace.
At its center rises a huge clock tower shaped like a hexagonal crystal. The place is heavily guarded, with one of the island's Special District Security teams stationed there full-time.
In the past, this building served as the city hall of Itogami City and the headquarters of the Artificial Island Management Corporation. It's a historically significant magical structure—one that showcased the technology of Itogami Island, the "Demon District," to the rest of the world.
And right at its center—Zaharias's stage for the Banquet.
In the glass-roofed central plaza, twelve black coffins stood in a wide circle. Half of them were already occupied—six girls lying inside in a deep, eerie sleep.
Numbers Eleven, Seven, Four, Three, One… and "Number Five."
Six of the Kaleid Blood were already gathered.
At the very center stood a frail, crystal-encased girl—her body thin as bones, wrapped in shimmering gemstone.
Red symbols glowed faintly on the ground beneath them, pulsating like veins, flowing with magic that writhed like living blood.
Dong—!
The massive clock struck eight.
Zaharias opened his eyes. Only to see a strange man.
Zaharias frowned. His intel hadn't mentioned anyone else showing up.
Ryo stopped at the plaza's center, scanning the coffins and smiling faintly.
"Not bad," he said casually. "For a human, gathering this many dolls is pretty impressive."
Zaharias narrowed his eyes at the arrogance in his tone.
Then Ryo looked at him, cold and disdainful. "So, what's your grand wish, then? Wealth? Power? Fame? Or something more... noble?"
A chill crept into Zaharias's spine. A deep, primal fear. It wasn't just intimidation—it was awe.
He stiffened. Eyes wide. "You… no. You are…"
Ryo chuckled. "You seriously didn't know who you were trying to wake up?"
Zaharias dropped to his knees, bowing low. "I-It's truly an honor, Your Majesty."
There was no longer any doubt. That fear crawling in his blood—only one being could cause it. The Fourth Primogenitor. The strongest.
So… the original had already awakened? The true Fourth Primogenitor?
Zaharias was both terrified and elated.
He pressed his forehead to the ground, voice trembling with reverence. "My only wish… is to bring back my sister from the dead."
Ryo turned his head slightly, looking toward the crystal coffin in the center—the frail girl, locked in time.
"…Interesting. Alright. Your wish is granted."
Zaharias's face lit up. Pure joy, mad and unfiltered.
But then—shhhhhing—the sound of a blade being drawn.
Zaharias looked up in shock to see Ryo unsheathing a Zanpakutō, its elegant blade gleaming with ethereal light.
Ryo murmured, "Show your beauty, Lilith."
With one graceful motion, he sliced through the crystal. Then returned the blade to its sheath.
Crack…crack—CRASH.
The gemstone shattered.
The girl's body—once shriveled and withered—began to change. Flesh returned to her bones. Color bloomed in her cheeks. Her breath came, soft and slow.
She was… alive.
"Your wish has been fulfilled," Ryo said, sheathing his sword, glancing at Zaharias with faint amusement.
"No… No, that's not…" Zaharias stared in disbelief at his sister's open eyes, then clutched his head and screamed,
"HOW?! She was dead! She can't be alive! She's not supposed to be alive!"
Ryo smirked. "What's wrong? Can't wrap your little human brain around a miracle?"
"A miracle? You're calling this a miracle?"
Zaharias's eyes were bloodshot, his whole body trembling.
"You're the Fourth Primogenitor—sure, maybe you're powerful. But to resurrect someone, you're supposed to transfer a soul! Put someone else's soul into the body! That's how it's supposed to work!"
He was screaming now. "You were supposed to possess her! Use her as a vessel! That's how you were supposed to come back!"
Ryo said nothing—just looked down at him with calm, condescending eyes.
Zaharias shuddered. A pause. Then—
"No, no, no… this is wrong. I asked the wrong way. The wish was phrased wrong. You weren't supposed to actually bring her back. You were supposed to use her… and come back yourself."
That had been his plan all along.
According to what he knew, anyone who succeeded in reviving the Fourth Primogenitor would be granted a wish. And for the Primogenitor to be reborn, he'd need a physical vessel—ideally, a living body.
A vessel that could withstand his immense power didn't exist, which is why he hoped Ryo would take over his sister's body to make a comeback.
He never imagined the bastard would actually resurrect her. Soul and all.
It was impossible. It was divine territory. He shouldn't be able to do that.
"You embedded a soul-capture ritual in her body, didn't you?"
The calm voice came from the coffin beside them. Number Five slowly stood up, gazing coldly at Zaharias.
"You called it resurrection… but all you were doing was laying a trap. You wanted to trap the Fourth Primogenitor."
Koyomi's expression twisted with disgust for the first time.
"…How repulsive."
Trying to control the most powerful being in existence with cheap tricks? Betting everything on a lie? And he failed anyway?
It was laughable.
"You…" Zaharias opened his mouth to protest, but his words faltered. He looked up, only to see Ryo staring down at him, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please—you've been misled! I swear, everything I did was for you!"
He dropped to his knees again, banging his head against the floor so hard it bled.
"I gathered the Kaleid Blood not out of greed—but loyalty! For you, my King!"
As Ryo watched this pitiful display—bloody, desperate, deluded—he simply smiled.
.
.
.