Pyon staggered forward through the thinning smoke, vision swimming, ears screaming with a piercing whine. For a moment, he genuinely didn't understand what had happened.
The world felt… wrong.
He raised a hand to his face, feeling something warm trail down his cheek. Thick. Sticky. When his fingers brushed his eye socket, they came away soaked in blood.
He froze.
Then he noticed it.
His arm.
Gone.
"What—"
Reality slammed into him all at once.
"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!"
The scream tore through the ruined street, raw with pain and fury.
"That insolent human!" Pyon roared, his voice shaking the air itself. "How dare he do this to me?! HOW DARE HE?!"
Poison surged violently from his body, melting stone beneath his feet.
"I'll melt everything! I'll poison every last thing in this cursed city!"
The loss of an eye and an arm didn't matter.
What mattered—what burned—was that a human had done this to him.
Snarling, Pyon stormed toward the castle gates once more.
This time, there was no resistance.
He slammed into them, poison erupting outward like a tidal wave. The gates corroded instantly, collapsing in on themselves as if made of wax. Royal guards scattered—some fleeing to warn the castle, others standing their ground despite the terror clawing at their hearts.
They died screaming.
Even maimed, even half-blind, Pyon advanced relentlessly, nothing able to truly slow him.
⸻
Inside the castle, Vetra and Alice moved at a near run through the corridors, their boots echoing sharply against the polished floors.
They passed the twins' chambers—but Vetra didn't even glance toward them.
Clover first.
Alice noticed but said nothing, simply keeping pace.
At the end of the hall stood a heavy metal door.
Alice stopped short, staring.
"That door alone could stop a siege…" she muttered.
Vetra knocked once.
No answer.
He knocked again—harder.
A woman's voice responded sharply, and the door cracked open—only for Vetra to shove his way inside without hesitation.
"HEY—!"
The woman stumbled back, furious.
"Who do you think you are barging into—?!"
Vetra ignored her completely.
Princess Clover Tio Von Warmark stood at the center of the room, surrounded by glowing schematics and a strange, humming contraption. She didn't even look up.
"Was barging into my private research room and disrespecting my assistant appropriate behavior to you… Commander of the Slingers?" she said coolly. "Or have you forgotten that I am still a princess of this nation?"
Her eyes never left her work.
"We don't have time for this!" Vetra snapped. "Jace is here himself! You've been marked as a target—we need to move you to the strategy room immediately!"
Clover didn't budge.
"Commander," she said flatly, "I am not leaving until two conditions are met."
She finally turned her gaze to him—sharp, irritated.
"First: I finish this within the allotted time. Second: you apologize to my assistant, Rose. Only then will I listen."
Vetra clenched his fists. "Grrr—what a pain!"
"You were out of line," Alice added calmly. "An apology is the least you can do."
Grinding his teeth, Vetra exhaled sharply and turned.
"…I apologize," he muttered stiffly, bowing slightly to Rose—and then to Clover.
Clover nodded once.
"Accepted."
"But we still have to—"
"Your demand is denied," Clover cut in. "I am not finished."
Alice stepped forward.
"Your Highness… my name is Alice Will Hidenham. I am a four-star Holy Knight of the Kingdom of Righteous, escort to my king—and to Prince Jericho Von Menssai."
Clover froze.
Slowly, she turned.
"…Jericho?"
Alice nodded. "He's here. Fighting for Warmark. He asked me personally to ensure your safety."
Clover exhaled deeply.
"So… he really is here."
For a brief moment, she smiled.
Then it vanished.
"…Fine," she said. "Rose, pack up. We're leaving."
Vetra stiffened, irritation flashing across his face—but said nothing.
⸻
They regrouped at the twins' chambers next.
The guards saluted immediately. Orders were given, the maids ushered out—and the twins rushed forward the moment they saw Clover.
"Sis!"
"Clover!"
They collided into her arms, hugging tightly.
Clover smiled softly—then noticed Alice.
"There's a strange lady behind you," Spade said bluntly.
Clover blinked. "…Ah. Yes. Um. Oh. Hmm."
Alice sighed internally.
"I am Alice"
"Yes Alice I knew that…" Clover cuts in.
Rose apologized on Clover's behalf, "am sorry lady Alice, my princess isn't great with names."
{"I guess I hold my commander an apology, for thinking she was overreacting by always talking about Princess Clover's sense of seriousness"} Alice thought with a light smile.
"These two are the twins," Clover continued. "Princess Spade Stella—older by three minutes—and Prince Ace Alexis."
Ace waved shyly, face reddening when Alice smiled back.
"She's really pretty," he said.
Spade scowled. "Hey! I thought I was your favorite!"
"You still are!" Ace said quickly, hugging her.
Spade shot Alice a smug look.
They laughed—until Vetra snapped sharply.
"We're out of time."
The smiles faded.
They moved again.
And far below them, deep within the castle grounds—
Pyon kept coming.
⸻
Pyon stood alone in the ruined courtyard, poison steaming faintly from his body as blood continued to drip from the empty socket where his eye once was. His missing arm had already begun to cauterize itself with corrupted energy, black veins pulsing violently beneath his skin.
Across from him, fleeing figures froze.
Four adults.
Two children.
Running.
Clover was the first to stop.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"…Who is that?" she whispered. "And is he—missing an arm?"
The others followed her gaze.
The moment Alice laid eyes on him, her entire body screamed danger.
Her soul energy flared instinctively.
"Oh no…" she breathed. "That's one of Jace's men."
Her voice sharpened into panic.
"We have to leave—now."
Vetra's eyes darted around the courtyard.
The bodies.
The melted stone.
The poisoned earth.
His face drained of color.
"…This isn't good," he muttered hoarsely. "How did he get this deep inside the castle grounds…?"
Then the realization hit him like a hammer.
"…Captain Sirius."
His jaw clenched.
"We move—NOW! GO, GO, GO!"
He grabbed Clover by the arm, forcing her forward as she clutched the twins tightly, their small hands trembling in hers. They ran.
Too slow.
"Ohhh… where do you all think you're going?"
The voice crawled across the courtyard like a blade dragged along bone.
Before any of them could react—
Pyon vanished.
The air cracked.
He reappeared directly in front of them, blocking their path completely.
They skidded to a halt.
His single eye gleamed with cruel amusement.
"Looks like one of you is exactly who I'm looking for."
He straightened slightly, towering over them despite his injuries.
"Which one of you is the second princess of this kingdom…"
"…Princess Clover Von Warmark?"
Silence.
⸻
Far away, at the edge of the capital—
Jericho and Erica finally broke through the outer districts.
The streets were drowned in carnage.
A few civilian corpses.
Warmark soldiers corpses.
And—
Jericho froze.
"…Menssai armor."
His breath hitched.
Dead soldiers bearing his homeland's crest lay scattered among the rubble.
"Jericho?" Erica asked softly. "Are you alright?"
He closed his eyes briefly.
"…Yes. I'm fine," he said, though his voice was tight. "Let's keep moving. Something's wrong."
As they advanced, liquid silver flowed across Jericho's face, forming a smooth, reflective mask.
Mercury hardened into place.
"If I'm right," he muttered, "we're about to meet something very unpleasant."
⸻
Back in the courtyard—
Pyon chuckled.
"I know it's not you, lady knight," he said, glancing briefly at Alice. "Only the Warmark people have that darker skin tone… with black or white hair."
His gaze slid over Vetra and the twins dismissively.
"And it's obviously not the man… or the children."
Slowly, deliberately, he turned toward Clover and Rose.
"…So it must be between the two of you."
His smile widened.
"Now tell me—who is it?"
Before either woman could speak—
Vetra stepped forward.
He raised his pistol, hands shaking but steady enough.
"You're in no condition to make demands," he snarled. "You've lost an arm, an eye, and half your blood. What gives you the confidence to stand there like this?"
Pyon smiled.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound came after the impact.
Vetra vanished from sight.
A heartbeat later, he slammed into the stone behind them, blood spraying from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
Alice's eyes widened.
She moved instantly, stepping in front of the others, sword drawn.
Her breathing was heavy.
"What was that…?" she thought. "I didn't even see him move…"
Her grip tightened.
"So this is a Grand General…"
Pyon tilted his head.
"So, lady knight," he said calmly, "are you also going to be foolishly unreasonable… like that loud-mouthed worm?"
Alice's eyes flicked to Clover.
To the twins.
To Rose.
She made a decision.
"All of you—get close to me!" she shouted.
They obeyed instantly.
Alice drove her sword into the ground.
"Soul Technique—Nature's Embrace!"
The earth trembled.
Massive green vines erupted upward, twisting and weaving together in seconds, forming a dense dome around them. Leaves shimmered with soul energy, pulsing like a living heartbeat.
Inside, the air felt warm.
Alive.
Clover's breath caught.
Her eyes sparkled as she reached out, fingers trembling as she felt the energy flowing through the vines.
"…Incredible," she whispered.
Outside the dome—
Pyon laughed.
A deep, delighted sound.
"Oh… how interesting," he said softly.
"Soul techniques… used this well by a human."
His single eye gleamed.
"This just became far more fun."
⸻
Pyon stared at the dome of living vines, genuine surprise flashing across his face.
It vanished almost instantly.
"Ohhh… I see," he said softly. "You're one of those humans who can use soul energy now."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"I truly underestimated you. You'd think I would've learned my lesson by now." His eye darkened. "I deserve punishment for that."
He stepped forward and placed his remaining hand against the vines.
"But this little trick won't stop me."
"Soul Casting—Fog Dilitirio."
Green mist poured from his palm, spreading like a living disease. The vines hissed and blackened, melting away as if submerged in acid.
Alice gasped, pushing more energy into her sword.
"No—he's breaking through! I can't force it any further—my blade will shatter!"
The vines collapsed inward.
A hole tore open.
Before anyone could react—
Pyon's arm shot through.
He grabbed Spade by the throat and yanked her out.
"NO!" Clover screamed. "Spade!"
Rose cried out in horror.
Pyon lifted the struggling child effortlessly.
"Now," he said calmly, "you will tell me which one of you is Princess Clover."
His fingers tightened slightly.
"You have five seconds."
"Five."
"Four."
"Three—"
"Two—!"
Clover stepped forward, terror flooding her face.
"Wait! I'm Clo—"
"Give her back."
Ace's voice cut through the courtyard.
Everyone froze.
The young prince stepped forward, shaking with rage, tears streaming down his face.
"Give me back my sister," he said again, louder. "Now."
Alice reached for him. "Prince—don't—!"
He shook her off.
Pyon blinked, amused.
"Oh?" he said. "And who might you be, little one?"
"If you want her," he continued, smiling, "tell me who Clover is."
Ace's fists clenched.
"I SAID—GIVE HER BACK, YOU MEAN JERK!"
The ground shook.
A blinding white aura erupted around Ace.
The air screamed.
"I WANT MY SISTER!"
A thunderous sonic wave burst from his hands.
It slammed into Pyon's face.
The Grand General was hurled backward, crashing into the stone and skidding across the courtyard.
Silence followed.
Everyone stared in shock.
Alice was the first to move.
She rushed forward as Ace collapsed to his knees beside Spade.
"Spade—are you alright?!"
"I'm fine!" Spade said excitedly, leaping into her brother's arms. "You saved me, Lexis! That was AMAZING! You were like a hero!"
Rose stared in disbelief.
"…Princess Clover," she whispered. "Did you see that? How was that possible?"
Clover's eyes trembled—not with fear, but awe.
"So this is what Father meant…" she murmured. "The world awakening to soul energy."
Her gaze softened as she looked at her brother.
"I never thought I'd witness it so soon… from my own family.