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| The Cyber Ascension | Volume 5 — Chapter 50 : " The Truth of a Ruthless Man About to Be Discovered by the Pure Soul He Loves " |
The chamber remained still as Shinonu spoke, his voice low, heavy with the inevitability of fate.
Shinonu:
"After that night… Shimono understood something. He realized he can never obtain the peaceful life he wanted—not as long as Hell itself still existed."
Queen Victoria Reona's eyes widened, the shock reflecting in the glow of the floating phoenix embers.
Queen Victoria Reona:
"So… he wanted to destroy Hell itself? Just to live peacefully with Kiyomi…?"
Jin Yuan, arms folded, simply nodded.
Jin Yuan:
"Continue… Did she ever find out the truth?"
Shinonu exhaled slowly.
And the scene dissolved—
---
[ The Past… ]
The night was still.
Silver moonlight spilled through the cracks of the old wooden window, falling gently across the small room.
Kiyomi lay with her head nestled against Shimono's shoulder, her voice soft, fragile.
Kiyomi:
"Shimono… I want to live a long life with you. Just you and me… anywhere. Wherever you go, I want to stay by your side."
Shimono blinked once, surprised by the sincerity.
Then he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, resting his chin lightly on her head.
Shimono:
"Yeah… We'll live together. Happily."
A pause.
"What about your family?"
Her expression dimmed instantly.
She curled into him, as if seeking shelter from memories she hated.
Kiyomi:
"They're cruel… My older brother—Zenogu—Father always favored him. My mother died when I was half a year old, and Father only cared about Zenogu's growth."
Her voice trembled.
"He forced me to marry a king from another empire. Never asked what I wanted… never cared."
Shimono's eyes darkened.
A cold, ruthless emptiness began to swirl in them—
the old Shimono awakening.
"Humans… always the same."
His thoughts sharpened like a blade.
"Selfish. Cruel. Pathetic."
Shimono gently patted her head, voice calm.
Shimono:
"Don't worry. I'm here… So you escaped?"
Kiyomi nodded.
Kiyomi:
"The day we met. On the sea… I was running away. And when I saw you… I think I fell for you instantly. Maybe it's destiny… That's why I stayed."
Shimono nodded slowly.
Shimono:
"Don't worry… I'll wipe them out if I have to."
Kiyomi's eyes softened.
She fell asleep within minutes, her breath warm against his chest.
But Shimono…
He lay awake.
Silence wrapped the snowy forest, but his mind boiled.
"This world… humans… they never change."
"They'll hurt her again if they can."
"I won't allow even a single threat to exist."
He slipped away from her slowly, placing the blanket over her shoulder.
For a moment, he looked at her face—
peaceful, innocent, trusting.
His expression softened.
Then— it collapsed into a hollow, emotionless stare.
He stood, took his katana, sheathed it at his side.
Shimono:
"…Zenogu. And her father. Those worthless pieces of human waste."
He stepped into the snow.
The cold crunched beneath his feet.
A clone materialized beside him with a soft flicker of mist.
Shimono nodded.
The clone nodded back and stood guard by the house.
Shimono walked into the forest.
---
The Empire
He reached the walls of Kiyomi's former home—
a vast empire glowing with torches and banners.
Shimono slipped in quietly, unseen.
Shimono:
"This is it."
But the route to the king was unfamiliar.
He clicked his tongue.
Shimono:
"Fine… I'll create my own path."
He intentionally knocked a vase down.
It shattered loudly.
Armored guards rushed in.
Guard 1:
"Hey!! Intruder! Restrain him!"
Shimono didn't move.
He simply smiled—
a gentle, polite smile that was more terrifying than rage.
Shimono:
"Oh? You caught me."
The guards dragged him to the throne hall.
---
Inside the Throne Room
The king—fat, drunk, careless—sat drinking wine.
King:
"Who is this?"
Beside him, Zenogu flirted with the maids.
One maid winced as he tightened his grip on her wrist.
Maid:
"P-please… it hurts…"
Zenogu smirked.
Zenogu:
"Good. That's the point."
Shimono's expression turned to ice.
"Kiyomi was right…"
"They ARE trash."
A guard bowed.
Guard:
"Your Majesty, he attempted to enter the castle in secret!"
The king scoffed.
King:
"Who is this brat?"
Zenogu's eyes narrowed.
Zenogu:
"Oi. You got a death wish?"
Shimono remained silent.
Calculating.
Measuring.
Choosing who to kill first.
Zenogu stepped in front of him.
Zenogu:
"Who are you?"
Shimono raised his eyes.
Calm. Empty.
Deadly.
Shimono:
"Kiyomi's husband. Shimono."
The entire hall froze.
The king shot up.
King:
"WHAT?!"
Shimono repeated, voice even calmer.
Shimono:
"I'm Shimono. Your daughter Kiyomi's husband."
The lie was strategic—
to justify everything he was about to do.
Zenogu exploded in rage, drawing his katana.
Zenogu:
"She is OUR pawn! For empire relations! You—"
Steel flashed.
Shimono had already drawn his own black katana from under his kimono.
King:
"Soldiers!! Zenogu!! Kill him!!"
Before they could react—
Shimono cut off the guard's arm while still tied in chains.
The arm hit the floor with a wet thud.
The guard froze in terror.
And Shimono disappeared.
---
The Massacre
He reappeared behind a group of soldiers.
They fell instantly, throats opened in one clean, emotionless sweep.
More soldiers came.
He moved like a ghost.
No wasted motion.
No sound.
Death in its purest form.
Within minutes,
the throne hall was drowned in blood.
King:
"Y-you monster!! Zenogu—KILL HIM!"
Zenogu charged, screaming—
—but Shimono had already moved.
A clean arc.
A whisper of steel.
Zenogu's head rolled across the marble floor.
The king collapsed.
King:
"W-what are you!? ARE YOU HUMAN!?"
Shimono:
"…Maybe."
He sliced both of the king's hands off.
Shimono:
"You touched your daughter with these hands, didn't you? Regret it."
The king screamed.
Shimono silenced him with a blade through the throat.
---
The Empire Falls
The massacre spread like a plague.
Armies, guards, nobles—
all fell to Shimono's blade.
The ground soaked with their blood.
Finally, Shimono sat atop a pile of skulls,
calmly,
like it was his rightful throne.
His clones devoured the bodies, one by one,
then dissolved back into him.
Shimono stood, brushing dust from his kimono.
And walked home.
---
Before Sunrise
He slipped back into the house silently.
Laid beside Kiyomi.
She stirred, hugged him from the side.
Kiyomi (sleepy):
"Mm… Shimono… don't leave…"
He smiled softly.
For the first time that night,
he looked human again.
---
[ Back to the Present ]
Shinonu exhaled.
Shinonu:
"Shimono nearly wiped out an entire empire…
Ten lakh soldiers.
All for Kiyomi's safety."
Queen Victoria Reona's cheeks reddened lightly.
Queen Victoria Reona:
"He's… extremely protective. Any woman would fall for a man like him…"
She suddenly realized what she said and flailed her hands.
Queen Victoria Reona:
"Ah—No! I mean—yes—no—forget I said anything!!"
Jin Yuan remained calm, silent, observing everything.