"Where shall I go now?" Yue Ming pondered. "I suppose I will head to the Kingdom of the Dark Elves."
Yue Ming rose and began his journey toward the kingdom. After a long trek, he finally reached its borders. As he entered, two guards suddenly approached him, their expressions grim. One of them shouted, "You! You are under arrest by order of the King!"
The guard reached out to grab Yue Ming's arm, but in a flash, Yue Ming severed the guard's hand. He looked at him coldly and said, "Remove your filthy hand!"
The guard began to scream in agony; the sound was so piercing it felt as if his throat would burst. Yue Ming glanced at the sky and muttered, "It is a dark day." He then drew his sword and, with a single strike, decapitated the second guard.
Alerted by the screams, many other guards rushed to the scene. Yue Ming began leaping across the rooftops, maneuvering to escape, but he eventually found himself trapped in a dead-end alleyway between the buildings.
Yue Ming roared, "Massive Destruction!"
With the sheer force of his strike, he demolished the building, leaving the guards in shock. However, from a distance, a sniper fired a precise shot that knocked Yue Ming off the structure.
"Damn it!" Yue Ming cursed as he stood up, finding himself surrounded by guards on all sides. Suddenly, the ranks parted to make way for the Chief of Defense, a man named "Rye."
Rye glared at him and demanded, "What do you want, stranger?!"
Yue Ming replied shortly, "Nothing."
"Are you mocking me?" Rye snapped. "Face me!"
Yue Ming said coldly, "I don't have time for the likes of you."
Rye gave the order: "Attack!" Every guard rushed forward to kill Yue Ming.
Yue Ming whispered, "High Pressure!"
His power was devastating, crushing all the guards surrounding him. Rye managed to withstand the blow due to his strength, but he emerged in immense pain. At that moment, the Deputy Chief of Defense slid across the ground from behind and fired a tranquilizer dart at Yue Ming.
"Impressive," Yue Ming remarked, feeling the effect, "but it won't hinder my movement!"
But suddenly, someone ensnared Yue Ming in chains made of incredibly powerful energy; he found it impossible to break free.
Rye said, "You are going to see the King."
They took him to the King's castle, brought him inside, and slammed the massive gates shut behind them. Yue Ming looked around and remarked, "What a massive and dark place."
The castle was vast, filled with dark and imposing corridors. Yue Ming walked until he reached a grand hall in the center, where he found the King.
"Yue Ming, welcome," the King said. "I am Jinoku."
Yue Ming replied sharply, "What do you want? Get to the point!"
Jinoku stated, "I know what I am doing now violates the treaties between the kingdoms, but I will bear the consequences."
"Do you want me to do something?" Yue Ming asked.
"I won't kill you," Jinoku replied. "Instead, I want you to kill Itchi. Not now, but in two months when he is in his kingdom. Nao will assist you."
Yue Ming replied with pride, "I don't need anyone to help me."
The King explained, "There will be many generals; Nao will take care of killing them."
"Why do you want him dead?" Yue Ming inquired.
Jinoku answered, "He is the only person the kingdoms have who can open the Gates of Hell. As a carrier of royal blood, I know the danger of that."
"But if I kill him," Yue Ming noted, "you will be the only one left who can open it."
Jinoku replied firmly, "Yes, and I will never help them."
"Is this Nao strong?" Yue Ming asked.
"Nao is the brother of one of the Seven Emperors," the King revealed.
At that moment, Yue Ming heard faint sounds behind him. He turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows.
"Don't be afraid," Jinoku said. "That is Nao. I will let you go on your way now, and I advise you to go to the city of Yamatsuki."
As he prepared to leave, Yue Ming said, "I will return in two months, Nao... King of the Dark Elves."
"The name is Jinoku," the King corrected.
"A pleasure," Yue Ming said.
Upon his exit, Yue Ming shook hands with Nao, who said coldly, "I am your partner."
Yue Ming left the kingdom, setting his sights on the city of Yamatsuki.