Chapter 2: The Beginning
Thick veils of cloud blotted out the sky, forming an impenetrable shield against the sun's rays. Mist curled lazily through the dense canopy of towering trees, their leaves a strange shade of blue, their jade-like branches arching high overhead. The obsidian ground below gleamed with a glassy sheen, faint reflections of jade trunks wavering on its surface.
Deep within this silent forest lay a tranquil lake. Its crystalline waters shimmered with such purity that the lakebed seemed to vanish altogether from the reflection of the clouds.
A lone figure sat cross-legged at the water's edge. Draped in a black robe, the man appeared to be in his forties. A lock of jet-black hair fell over his forehead, partially veiling a long scar that ran down his right eye. His right sleeve fluttered idly in the breeze, empty—his arm long lost. A somber aura clung to him as he sat in still silence, head bowed, eyes half-closed.
From the shadows of a nearby tree, a woman emerged. Her long, fiery red hair cascaded down her back, and her piercing crimson eyes glowed with intensity. She wore a white robe embroidered with intricate golden patterns. With measured steps, she approached the man and spoke in a quiet, respectful tone.
"Beast Monarch."
The black-robed man trembled at the title, a flicker of pain tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Better to use my name," he said, voice low. "I no longer deserve that title ... Any news?"
The woman hesitated, then spoke gently. "The Ghost Monarch of Azure Village has fallen. So has the Dark Monarch. He launched a midnight assault with his army. I don't yet know the full outcome, but Azure Village endured—thanks to its leader. They remain a force to be reckoned with."
The man nodded solemnly. "I remember when Yorichi Fukasaku founded that village. Even now, even after such losses, they are too strong for us to face directly ... Still, the Ghost Monarch—no, the Emperor of the Turks Empire—is gone. The time has come to begin our plan."
The woman stepped back in silence.
The man stood up near the lake. His reflection shimmered in the still waters of the lake, golden light flaring in his eyes.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to quake, softly at first, then with growing violence. Bubbles surged to the lake's surface. Below the clear waters, a dragon's silhouette formed on the lakebed.
The earth's trembling grew more violent.
"What's happening? Are we under attack?" the woman asked sharply.
"Calm yourself. It's not the mechas!" the man snapped. The gloom vanished from his face, replaced with an expression of euphoric awe.
With a mighty splash, a silver light erupted from the lake, slamming into the shore. A massive claw emerged, glistening silver and armored in pentagonal scales that scattered light like gemstones.
The Beast Monarch's eyes blazed as he stepped forward. "Let the Empire of Armain see what they've done to my people."
From the lake rose a colossal dragon, over three hundred meters long. Its body gleamed black and silver, water cascading off its metallic scales. Its roar split the clouds and air, shaking the forest to its roots.
Tears welled in the man's eyes. "It died ... but I survived. They tried to exterminate us? Then I'll give them a day of reckoning!"
Behind him, the red-haired woman spoke hesitantly. "... Are we launching an attack now? You know how powerful they are. Even together, we barely held our own against their elite mechas. Their science and technology have crushed us at every turn."
The dragon slowly bowed its massive head toward the man. He turned toward the forest, voice steady.
"To destroy them, we must first understand them. Follow me. There is much to prepare."
A silver light enveloped the dragon, its massive form slowly shrinking until it took on a humanoid shape.
High above, on a jade-like branch, a figure in a black cloak and ferocious white demonic mask observed the entire scene. His presence was cloaked in darkness, his face entirely hidden.
A sneer curled behind the mask.
"The pieces are moving exactly where I wanted them ... No matter what you do, you will all remain in the palm of my hand."
And with that, he vanished into the shadows.