Night cloaked the heart of France, a heavy fog rolling through empty cobblestone streets. Shadows twisted under the pale moonlight, as if the town itself were alive, watching.
Rex stood at the prow of the boat, eyes piercing the darkness. Behind him, Cyrus tightened his grip on the tiller. Every nerve in his body screamed caution, yet no fear dared touch Rex.
"She's close," Rex murmured, voice low but commanding. "Pacifism… the world's last thread of innocence. We cannot fail."
Cyrus swallowed hard. "But my king… who—or what—is this real enemy you spoke of?"
Rex's gaze did not waver. "Patience. You will see. And when you do… you will know why destiny has chosen me to act."
The boat scraped against the abandoned docks. Silence greeted them. Not a soul stirred. The wind carried only whispers of a life long vanished.
Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber beneath the city, flickering candlelight revealed a figure—Pacifism. She sat at a small wooden table, hands trembling as she traced patterns in dust. The innocence in her eyes was radiant, but a shadow lurked at the edges of her mind, an unseen weight pressing down.
Far away, a storm brewed—not the sea's, but something darker. Lightning danced like shards of glass across the sky, revealing glimpses of monstrous silhouettes that vanished as quickly as they appeared.
Artemis crouched on a rooftop, scanning the streets below with unblinking eyes. Her hand rested on the hilt of her blade. "My king will arrive," she whispered to the wind. "But the world's lies run deep. Be ready… for what comes next."
Back on the boat, Rex's voice cut through the night like steel.
"The world is not the enemy, Cyrus. Not yet. But those who hide in shadows… those who twist innocence into chains… those who start wars as if it were a game, controlling everything from behind the scenes just to watch us fight for amusement—they are the enemy. And we will find them. One by one."
Cyrus shivered—not from cold, but from the chilling truth in Rex's words. Somewhere in the darkness, the first threads of confrontation were already tightening.
Rex raised his head to the sky, letting the moonlight strike his face.
"Pacifism waits. And so does destiny. Tonight… everything begins."
Later, as they approached the city, Rex spoke in a low, urgent voice.
"They will notice once we get her. Once we have her, take her and hurry to start the training. I will lead them away and meet you at the base in a month's time. By then, I will have found all the rest of the Ten Commandments. My king, be careful out there. At least until we have the army."
Cyrus frowned. "And after that?"
"We go to China to gather the warriors of the Twelve Zodiacs. Then to Greece—their warriors have been waiting for me since the dawn of their time."
Cyrus looked confused. "Dawn of their time? What does that mean?"
Rex remained silent, eyes fixed ahead. He steered the boat toward a church, the shadows around them stretching unnaturally.
"I will give Pacifism a choice," he said quietly. "But in the end, she will realize it was the best choice. Even innocence will serve the king eventually."
Inside the church, a girl knelt in prayer, voice trembling.
"Why have you brought me here? What destiny awaits me now?"
As she finished, a dark shadow began creeping across the cathedral, spreading slowly, almost sentiently. Rex stepped forward, voice echoing in the vast space.
"I am your destiny. You will follow me, for you will show the people what true innocence is. You are my commandment, Pacifism. So come with me, Sarah."
Sarah looked up, eyes wary. "And who might you be?"
"Rex Draven Kane," he replied, his voice steady. "The one true king."
"You are a terrorist," she whispered, disbelief and fear in her tone.
Rex looked down, calm and unwavering. "Do you really believe that, deep in your heart?"
Sarah hesitated, then admitted, "No… my king. I have seen what you have done. My closest friend—before she was killed—spoke of a man taking down the cartel in Mexico… in the most radiant ways. If you are him, then I will follow you."
Lightning split the sky, and the cathedral trembled. From the darkness outside, a small army emerged, cloaked in shadows and storm. Their armor gleamed in the flashes of lightning, weapons ready.
"Cyrus!" Rex shouted, voice carrying over the roar of thunder. "Get her out here—NOW! I will meet you at the agreed-upon location!"
As Sarah followed Cyrus toward safety, Rex stepped fully into the center of the cathedral. Shadows twisted around him like living things, swirling at his back. Lightning struck again, illuminating the fury in his eyes.
The storm outside mirrored the storm within. Every strike of thunder felt like a drumbeat announcing war. The small army rallied at his call, moving with precision and discipline, their presence unstoppable.
Rex raised his hand, and the shadows recoiled, bending to his will.
"Tonight," he shouted, "we begin the cleansing. Those who hide in darkness will fall. And the world… will remember what true innocence can command."
The first clash of destiny had begun.