stretching far into the horizon, lit faintly under the silver glow of the moon. A confident smile played upon his lips as he observed the marching formations of his vast army, whose numbers greatly dwarfed those of South Ryehem.
The sound of heavy boots echoed behind him as a servant arrived, bowing respectfully before speaking."Your Majesty, the latest report from our informants has arrived."
Vareon, still gazing over the battlefield, spoke in a deep, calm voice. "Speak."
"It concerns the South Ryehem army. The Emperor Shang plans to deploy an additional fighter soon. But it's not a seasoned warrior… it's a child."
The Emperor's brow lifted slightly, a faint trace of curiosity flickering across his otherwise emotionless face. "A child? And why would I care for a mere boy amidst a battlefield?"
The servant hesitated, glancing toward the entrance of the balcony as another figure stepped forward — a shadowy man clad in a dark, form-fitting outfit, his face obscured by a double-layered mask, marking him as one of North Ryehem's elite spies.
The spy knelt before the Emperor and spoke with a voice cold and composed."Because this boy is no ordinary child, Your Majesty."
Vareon finally turned to face him fully, his interest now piqued. "Explain."
"His name is Kazuki. The youngest heir of Emperor Shang, and the one rumored to possess the highest Spiritual Force in the entire South Ryehem Kingdom. He has awakened not one, but both Holy and Chaos forces — a phenomenon believed to be impossible until now. And, perhaps most concerning, he is bonded to a Celestial Spirit, one that intervened during our demon attack on the Royal Academy."
For a moment, a heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant sound of war drums echoing from the training grounds.
"So… he was the one." Vareon murmured, his smile returning, but this time colder, darker. "The boy who single-handedly cleansed my demon and purified an entire academy. Impressive for a mere child."
The spy nodded. "Reports suggest his power is growing rapidly, and his presence on the battlefield could disrupt our current advantage."
Vareon chuckled softly. "Let him come." He turned his gaze back to the horizon, where the first fires of battle glimmered like stars. "The war will test him. I wish to see with my own eyes whether this Kazuki is truly a prodigy… or just another fool swept away by fate. If he is as extraordinary as they say, then he'll either become a threat to crush… or an opportunity to exploit."
The Emperor's words carried across the balcony like a chilling wind, and both servant and spy exchanged uneasy glances.
"Keep watching him," Vareon ordered. "And inform me the moment he steps foot onto the battlefield."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
With that, the spy vanished into the shadows once more.
Scene shifts back to the war camp of South Ryehem, where preparations for the next clash against North Ryehem's forces were already underway. Somewhere within, Kazuki stood atop the walls, eyes gleaming with determination as he watched the enemy camp's distant lights. He could feel it — the war was near, and so was his moment.
"I'm coming for you, North Ryehem," Kazuki whispered under his breath, a faint grin curling his lips.