Michael
In the seven days of trying to become the best version of himself, Michael was broken from the inside. He had no goal anymore. He had become incredibly strong during the Crimson Oath conflict, but mentally he had collapsed.
Olivia—his wife—had left him.
After everything that happened, he tried to make things better between them, but every attempt only made things worse. He was facing a deep depression and no longer believed he could do anything good for anyone.
He looked at the ring in his hand and thought of Olivia's face.
That night he sat alone and wrote a letter meant to be delivered to the house where she was staying.
But the letter was never delivered.
Michael kept it.
The paper was slightly wet from the rain as he read it again.
"Hi, Olivia. It's Michael—your husband, and your brother. Things were going well between us, but after Uncle Sam's message everything broke apart. I never really tried to talk to you again because we were trapped in a war. Now I am free, and I want to talk to you as your husband. I want to make things better between us. Please, Olive, talk to me."
Michael folded the letter slowly.
"I can't send this," he whispered.
"I'm not just Michael Valric anymore."
"I am the Purple Emperor."
A war was coming, and if he remained trapped in grief, the Devil Horns would never win it.
To distract himself, he began experimenting with Regicide and the Purple Emperor powers.
"Alright… attacks are being amplified. Energy drain is stable, but still too fast. I can control these powers better than before."
Yet every test ended with the same emptiness.
During those seven days, he spent most of his time watching Olivia from the rooftop of a building opposite her home.
It was raining heavily.
Michael stood alone on the roof, binoculars in his hands, staring through the window at Olivia. A tear slid down his cheek and disappeared into the rainwater.
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
"How are you doing, stalker?"
Michael turned sharply.
"I'm not stalking anyone."
The old man chuckled.
"I've seen you looking at that girl for four days. Tell me, why are you stalking her?"
"She's my wife," Michael replied quietly. "Or… we're on a break."
"A break?" the old man laughed. "Young people and their 'breaks.' It's either divorce or heartbreak."
"It's not a divorce," Michael said immediately. "And she still loves me."
"Then why are you hiding on a rooftop with binoculars?"
Michael clenched his jaw.
"Look, Gramps, I'm already frustrated enough. I don't want to share my problems with strangers."
The old man's smile faded.
"I'm not here for your love story."
Suddenly two green lines of energy appeared around Michael's feet.
Michael stepped back and summoned purple energy instinctively.
"Who are you?"
The old man straightened.
"I am the Green Emperor."
Reiji Aokage.
Michael frowned.
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea who you are, Gramps."
Reiji smiled faintly.
"I know exactly who you are, Michael Valric."
Michael's eyes widened.
"How do you know my name?"
Reiji crossed his arms.
"You answer my question first. Why are you watching her?"
Michael hesitated for a long moment before speaking.
"Because she is my wife… and my half-sister. I learned the truth only after our marriage."
The old man's expression changed slightly.
"Another Valric," he murmured. "Looks like your bloodline keeps growing."
Michael narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
Reiji looked toward the rain-covered city.
"This conversation shouldn't happen on a rooftop."
He turned back to Michael, his green aura glowing faintly through the storm.
"I need to speak with you somewhere private."