Deep within the vast emptiness of space—
A massive spaceship drifted silently.
Lights flickered on.
Inside the meeting chamber, a pair of eyes slowly opened.
Pure red.
Their owner rose from his seat.
A towering tiger-like being with orange fur and black stripes, muscles carved like steel. His long tail swayed lazily behind him as black armored pants gleamed faintly under the lights.
An alien immediately knelt.
"L-Lord Dano… our mighty Emperor of Space."
Dano didn't look at him.
"Speak."
The alien swallowed.
"The Inferno Clan has conquered your targeted planet. They seized the evolution spell and enhanced themselves."
Silence.
Dano's drink slipped from his hand and shattered.
He stood up slowly.
"…What did you just say?"
The alien panicked. "I-I swear, my Lord! It's the truth!"
Dano roared.
The entire spaceship trembled violently.
"You idiots!" he bellowed. "You couldn't even protect one scientist?!"
Two fingers rose.
A small crimson sphere of destruction formed between them.
"I'll erase you right now."
The alien froze, unable to breathe.
Suddenly—
"UWAAAAHHH!!! LOOORD, SAVEEE MEEEE!!!"
A green-skinned woman with fluttering golden hair and purple eyes burst into the room, tears streaming. Wearing obsidian armor, she tackled Dano in a desperate hug.
"He's so creepy! Quaaaan—!"
The alien groaned. "N-Not now, Aika-chan…!"
Dano's eyes twitched.
"Why," he growled, "do you always ruin my mood?"
Before he could continue—
*BANG!*
The door flew off its hinges and slammed directly into Dano's face.
He crashed into the wall.
Alarms flickered.
Soldiers rushed forward.
From the smoke emerged a young man, gripping Aika by the collar.
Red hair. Emerald eyes. Calm annoyance.
Quan.
"You idiot," he said flatly. "How many times did I tell you not to eat my pancakes?"
Aika cried harder. "I just wanted to tryyy! They're sooo tasty!"
"You also ruined my haircut."
Dano stood up.
The room fell silent.
Quan immediately dropped Aika.
Sweat poured down his face.
He turned slowly, forcing a smile.
"L-Lord Dano… you like orange juice, right? I can make some. Right now."
Dano's voice echoed through the chamber.
"How many times must I tell you not to mess around?"
Aika nodded frantically. "Understood! I won't steal pancakes anymore!"
(She secretly ate one.)
The alien whispered, "We're doomed."
—
Another senior alien stepped forward, calm and composed.
"My Lord. I bring good news."
Dano turned. "What?"
"The Inferno King is attempting to erase his own son. Their planet is in chaos. Their defenses are scattered."
Dano's eyes widened.
"…Nani?"
He burst into laughter.
"Yes! That's it! That's what I was waiting for!"
He clapped the alien's shoulder.
"You're the only competent soldier here. Promotion soon."
Aika and Quan scowled.
Dano turned to them.
"You two."
They stiffened.
"No food for two weeks," he said cheerfully. "No jelly beans. No pizza. No burgers. No pancakes. Nothing."
Their souls shattered.
"NOOOOO!!" Quan screamed.
Aika collapsed. "That's so meaaaan—!"
Dano smirked.
"Prepare the ship," he ordered.
The engines roared.
—
Planet Sin.
The kingdom burned.
Any dragon who sided with Queen Monika was crushed without mercy.
"Find her!" Sin roared. "I want to watch that child die!"
Monika ran through secret tunnels, clutching Ares.
"Breathe, my love… everything will be okay."
The baby slept.
His silver tail was gone.
"I had no choice," she whispered. "The tail suppresses our true potential… and leaks our power."
She kissed his forehead.
"Live. Even without me."
She placed him inside a capsule.
—
The sky darkened.
Dano's ship descended.
"Oh?" Dano said, stepping onto the ground. "The circus already started."
Sin's face drained of color.
"T-The Emperor of Space…!"
Dano floated upward, arms folded.
"Attack."
The battlefield erupted.
Aika raised her ancient staff.
Light spears rained from the heavens.
Quan's black aura surged.
Shadow portals opened.
Demons poured out.
The Inferno Clan was overwhelmed.
Sin tried to unleash a flaming beam.
It failed.
"Tch…"
—
At the launch dock—
Monika pulled the lever.
The capsule began to rise.
Ares opened his eyes.
Too wide.
Tears formed.
Monika smiled through heartbreak.
"Please… survive."
The capsule shot into space.
—
Dano raised a finger.
"Judgment."
Planet Sin exploded.
A chain reaction erased nearby worlds.
Silence.
Aika squinted. "Wait… someone escaped?"
Dano folded his arms.
"Let him go," he said lazily. "He's not our concern."
Far away—
Inside the capsule—
Ares slept once more.