Lyon POV:

5 minutes.

The estate buildings gradually shrank in size as I drew closer to the heart of District 1. They became more like houses with wider streets.

The main street led directly into a significantly large stairway that connected to a wide dome-like building. It was huge and unlike anything I had seen before in Outer Astril.

I reached the top of the stairs, and my gaze rested on Lissandra, who stood in front of two large closed doors while holding a Guard in both of her hands.

“You’re here.”

Her lips formed a small smile as she threw the two unconscious Guards to the ground. Lissandra had gone on ahead to clear the way for me, and I was grateful for it.

I walked forward slowly as beams of light shone down between us. My feet came to a halt a few metres away from the door when I turned to face Lissandra.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, she abruptly dashed forward and wrapped her arms around me tightly. I felt her heart rate increase as I pulled her in closer.

“Thank you, Lissandra.”

She reluctantly let go and smiled brightly at me.

“Go. I’ll wait here until the others arrive.”

The corners of my mouth rose as I nodded my head. She understood me well, so there was no need to explain my intention.

I turned back towards the door, and my smile vanished. I stepped forward, placing two hands on either side and pushed it wide open.

A short corridor appeared before me with a red carpet laid out in the middle. I walked down the pathway, noting that it was quite dark since the tall walls on both sides blocked most of the light coming from the horizon.

The end of the corridor soon came into view. It opened up into a very spacious room, mimicking the dome shape I saw from outside. There was no ceiling, allowing the rays of light to pierce over the walls and illuminate the place.

The red carpet became wider as it travelled down the middle. It continued up a set of stairs that connected to small platforms; each had a large chair embedded in it.

My gaze rested on the lowest chair as a familiar face jumped to their feet after noticing my arrival.

“You...!”

I shifted my sight to the next Royal Guard seated opposite Solina. The process continued till I saw a woman standing above all the other Royal Guards on the far left of the highest platform. Finally, my gaze rested on the Ruler, who sat on a large throne that connected directly to the red carpet.

A ray of light shone on his lean body. He had short black hair and piercing red eyes. His fingers grasped the throne firmly while his gaze shifted to Solina.

“Solina, you lost to this child?”

“...Yes, my King.”

She bowed her head while glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. Her calm demeanour had evaporated, and all that was left was pure rage. I noticed her fingers twitching, but she couldn’t move carelessly in front of the Ruler.

***

Lissandra POV:

I leaned my back against the wall as I recalled the warmth of his hug and how he had pulled me in close. A faint heat spread across the bridge of my nose while I wondered what he thought about me now.

‘I should tell him clearly after this is over.’

I stared at the early morning sky. My lips formed a thin smile as I waited for the others to show up. Some time passed, and my eyes flickered towards the doorway.

“Your senses are extremely sharp.”

Gia appeared from thin air; her eyes burning as they locked onto me. I smiled before shifting my gaze back to the houses far below.

“The Leader wants us to wait? Does he think words will get through to a Ruler like that?”

I watched her hands ball into fists as her lips curved upwards. Her fighting spirit burned brightly while she stared through the half-open doors.

“...Well, words are usually the best place to start.”

“Hm.”

Gia calmed down and moved away from the entrance. She stretched her body while waiting by the opposite side of the wall. More time flew by when I sensed three people heading towards us rapidly.

“Lissandra!!!”

Jasmine dropped down from the sky with a loud bang as she glared at me with a lollipop in her mouth. Len and Marina appeared behind her, focusing on the large doors ahead.

“Huh? Where’s Skorr? Tch. Whatever.”

She looked around briefly before staring at me with disapproving eyes. I leaned forward and waved at her.

“Hey, Jasmine.”

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Don’t ‘hey’ me. I know you went on ahead to get an advantage! You just wanted to spend more time with Leo!”

I gazed at Jasmine, clearly annoyed by having to deal with the Shadow and Royal Guards for so long. More importantly though, she didn’t call him Leader, nor did she call him by his first name. Were they already onto the lovers' nickname stage?

I pondered for a while, re-evaluating just where I stood among the competition. After spending a month training with him, I was confident that I had a decent chance.

“Honestly, I think Len and Marina have the biggest advantage. Haven’t they known the Leader for the longest amount of time?”

Her eyes swivelled towards Len, who blushed slightly, while Marina stepped forward.

“Finally, someone understands the hierarchy here. I hate to break it to you all, but Lyon will be choosing me.”

Jasmine ignored her and twirled the lollipop around in her mouth. Len stayed quiet, and Gia seemed somewhat intrigued by the situation as she gave her own input.

“I recognize the Leader as a capable man, but what if he chooses none of you?”

“What?”

Marina's eyebrows furrowed while she glared at Gia, who smirked as her eyes lit up.

“What if he wants all of you?”

Our eyes shot towards Gia in unison.

“Tch. I won’t accept sharing him with anyone.”

“Such a thing...”

“Hm...”

“...”

I remained quiet while Marina was the only one to have such a strong outburst against her words. Naturally, I had no intention of sharing the Leader... I just needed to win over his heart slowly.

“Are you guys serious? Why are you all staying so quiet? Don’t tell me you’re actually considering this?”

She placed her hand on her hip, displeased by the sudden silence that entered the conversation. I shifted my gaze down to the steps.

“Looks like I’m a little late.”

Skorr's jacket flapped behind him as he reached the top of the stairs. He threw down the Guards he had been carrying next to the dome wall and wiped the blood off his hands.

“Let's go see how the kid is doing.”

All of us switched gears and moved in front of the half-open doors. It was time.

***

Lyon POV:

The Ruler's gaze swept over me, unimpressed by the result of his quick analysis. I felt the eyes of the single-digit Royal Guards all swivel toward my direction.

“I congratulate you for reaching here, but what did you hope to gain? There’s a limit to one’s insolence.”

I took a step forward as the rest of the Royal Guards threatened to move if I advanced any further. I paid them no mind and glared at the Ruler.

“Is this what you call being a King? You oppress your people, take from them, steal from them, and treat them like livestock. There’s not a shred of compassion or empathy in your rule. You don’t care about anyone other than yourself.”

His eyebrows twitched, and the intensity in his glare increased.

“A mere child running his mouth about things he doesn’t understand. Compassion? Empathy? Do those things put food on the table? Do those things provide the clothes that you wear on your back? There’s a difference between running a charity and being a King. You don’t know how to do either.”

I clenched my fists while keeping my cool.

“A true King is chosen by the people—uplifted by them. They serve willingly, and they bow gratefully, yet your own people cower in fear. They dread the sound of your name and reject it. Your people don’t call you a King, they call you a Ruler.”

His thin lips spread into a half smile as his pupils dilated.

“Such a child. A true King is feared by the people because they know the realm he stands in is different to their own. They lower their heads because of his overwhelming presence. They fear the sound of his name because of his might and power.

A true King expands, devours and conquers. He builds in order to grow his strength, in order to remind the masses that he is King! The will of the people is not the will of the King! A true King isn’t chosen; they are self-made!”

I relaxed my hands. I gazed at the face of a man lost in an unattainable dream.

“...You joined hands with Enigma, offering your own people in District 3 as test subjects. They tied them down like lab rats, injecting them with drugs that made them go on a killing spree. Many of their loved ones died by their own hands.”

Some of the Royal Guards twitched their eyebrows at my words.

“They paid you greatly, didn’t they? But that money was for you to build up your army, and that still wasn’t enough to satisfy your greed. You plunged District 3 into a deeper darkness, waging war against Enigma, for what? Some new improved KEDs? Your people ran for their lives to District 4, unable to live in the constant warzone you created.”

His fingers dug deeply into the armchair of the throne as he glared at me.

“You flooded the streets with drugs to boost your own income. You forced women to be prostitutes, shipping them off to Inner Astril to be the plaything of some noble against their will. Child Labour, Assassinations, Monthy Tributes; you started all of these things. Deep down you know it yourself, that you... are no King.”

Lissandra and the others rushed into the room, standing behind me as my gaze never left the Ruler.

“...You. Lack. Vision.”

He looked at my allies who came to support me.

“You think you’re some hero of justice. You give all these people hope; you sell them false dreams, and in turn, they revere you as a leader. They think their situation has changed and that their life has improved, but it’s all an illusion.”

His grip around the armrests decreased, seemingly regaining his composure.

“Do you know what happens to people like you when they fall? Everyone else falls with them. The pillar supporting the masses collapses, and suddenly everyone wakes up. They mourn you at first, but then that hope you gave them changes.

It turns into hatred.

They begin to wish that they never experienced such a pleasant dream, that they never left their true reality and that a stupid child didn’t spread his naivety around my districts.”

His words reminded me of Belle's. Too many people here were content with accepting this situation as inevitable, but I wouldn’t.

“Everything under this sky belongs to me. Your friends, your loved ones, the Districts, the KEDs... All of it is mine. For I. Am. KING!”

His roar rippled through the air as we locked eyes while the tension in the room reached breaking point. Words would no longer get through to him, and I had said everything I needed to say.

I raised my hand slowly. The Royal Guards scrutinizing my every move as my finger pointed toward the Ruler.

“Get out of that throne.”

His eyes widened, and the veins on the side of his head popped. His fingers wrapped around the armrest, digging into it as he glared at me.

“Make him kneel.”

Solina's eyes flashed as the itch she had been trying so hard to suppress could finally be scratched. She kicked off the ground, destroying the earth beneath while charging at a speed incomparable to when we fought in District 3.

“!”

A black cloak entered my peripheral vision, followed by dark red hair. Just as Solina’s eyes locked onto me, mine never left the Ruler, who peered down at me in anger.

“Leave her to me.”

His lips curved upwards while he flicked two fingers up towards the sky and vanished with Solina. I took a step forward when the next Royal Guard immediately dashed towards me, but this time Gia met him head-on.

“It's finally my turn.”

Her eyes burned with excitement as they both disappeared. Each step I took was met with the next Royal Guard trying to block my path, and each time my allies, my friends would move them out of my way.

“Don’t lose here, kid.”

“Lyon, make sure you win.”

“Leo, this is your moment~”

“Lyon, I’ll show you how much stronger I’ve become.”

Marina kissed my cheek gently before slipping past the Royal Guard's fist. Her body spun as her foot connected square on his jaw. She launched him outside of the dome and chased after him.

I took another step forward.

“Win.”

Lissandra flickered in front of me, catching the next Guard's kick. She glanced back at me and smiled before vanishing like the rest.

I stopped walking a few metres away from the set of stairs that lead to the Ruler. The only Royal Guards remaining were ranked 1 to 4.

“Before you beg for your life, let me tell you one more thing. Your suffering won’t end here. District 4 will pay a heavy price for trusting in the foolish dreams of a child.”

I glared at him, unmoved by his words. The corners of his mouth rose while he peered down at me from above.

“I'm going to kill them all, and their blood will be on your hands.”