It was near midnight and Darius Flameheart was walking through Robber’s Den, with unhurried steps.
Darius was a rising star in the crime world, known for his cruelty and quick wits. Because of this, the originally lively street became docile and deserted when others saw him coming.
Darius shrugged when he saw this.
“Well I've recently killed another big shot so it's expected I guess.”
He said.
“After I conquer Robber’s Den, I'll have to leave the city for a while and go make a name for myself in the smaller cities and towns.”
He sighed.
“I'll be away from Nami for a while, but it can't be helped. This will benefit her in the long run anyway…..Hm?”
Darius saw a silhouette of someone up ahead of him, standing as if waiting for him.
He narrowed his eyes and entered battle mode. He didn't know who it was, but in this kind of work you can't take any chances.
Darius slowly approached the person, while noting the escape routes in case the enemy was too much for him to handle.
It wasn't long before he could make out the silhouette. It belong to a woman who looked somewhat familiar.
“Good Evening, Brother.”
“…Lisa?”
Lisa nodded.
“I must be high to be looking at my dead sister.”
Saying so while holding his head, Darius walked past Lisa mumbling “I must be tired”.
“Wait, wait, wait! I'm not an illusion!”
She grabbed his shoulder, she spun him around.
Darius leaped back and put his hand in front of him.
“Evil spirit begone! I rebuke in the name of Venus!”
“…..Are you done?”
“Kinda.”
Lisa sighed.
“Even after so many years your first reaction to seeing me is to tease me.”
“Bad habit.”
Lisa smiled and then jumped into Darius's embrace.
“Long time no see, lil sis.”
“Good to see you, big brother.”
Lisa separated herself from Darius and looked at him from head to toe.
“My, haven't you've grown handsome.”
“You're became quite the beauty yourself. It's a shame that you're a tomboy.”
“Hmph. Tomboy or not, I'm still beautiful.”
Darius smiled at Lisa's arrogant tone, and then suddenly became serious.
“So, why did you come to pay me such a late visit? I'm sure it's not to catchup.”
Lisa also put on a serious expression.
“Let's talk elsewhere. You don't know who could be watching after all.”
Lisa took out a black cube and squeezed it.
Light flashed and a giant golden bike appeared out of nowhere.
The appearance of bike shocked Darius. He looked the cube in Lisa's hand.
“Is that dimensional magic?”
“Yup. My control over it isn't so good so I used this cube as a medium. I stored all of my stuff inside here.”
Lisa said proudly.
“Now that I look at you, you're already a [S Class].”
Lisa got on the bike and tapped the back seat.
“I was training at the #1 magic academy on the Gold Continent after all, so this much is expected. I'm sure you would've been stronger if you went there too.”
Darius got on the bike and reluctantly wrapped his arms around Lisa's waist.
“Hang on.”
Lisa poured some magic into the bike and it started floating.
“This is a Chariot from MYTH’s Apollo Series!”
Apollo’s Chariot, more commonly known as simply Chariot, was a line of super bikes created by the military organization MYTH. Just as the name states, it's based off the Greek Sun God Apollo’s golden chariot that he uses to drag the sun across the sky.
This chariot has several different modes, Earth mode, Sky Mode, Water Mode, and a hidden mode.
In other words, there's nothing this bike can't ride on; not even air.
“Yup. That pervert Arsene bought it for me as an apology for getting me kicked out of school. It costed almost a million gold coins.”
Darius nearly coughed up blood when he heard the bike’s price.
Lisa ignored him and gripped the throttle.
“Hold on tight!”
*Boom!*
The bike disappeared with an explosive sound.
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The Chariot, that had a top speed of 1 Mach, shot through the sky like a comet and instantly left the capital city, only to stop less than ten minutes later.
The wheels returned to the ground and the two of them got off.
They were in a woody area far away from the capital.
“So where are we?”
Asked Darius.
“Waverdale, on the next side of the kingdom.”
Lisa answered.
“You must've been in some serious trouble to bring me all the way here.”
“There's someone I want you to meet first.”
Lisa got off the bike and so did Darius.
“You can come out, Zanis.”
Before Darius could ask who she was talking to, two figures emerged from shadows and walked towards them.
“Brother, this is Zanis. Zanis, this is my brother I told you about.”
Lisa introduced them to each other.
“I'm Zanis Zebul. And this is my [Parent] Ouroboros.”
Zanis held his hand out towards Darius.
Darius stared at the hand for a while and then back to Lisa.
“What did you get yourself into?”
His voice was filled with anger.
“From the fact that you secretly brought me here to meet someone from the Zebul Empire, I can take it that you're going against the Flameheart Clan’s wishes. And now you need my help with something that might put me at odds with the clan, right?”
Lisa nodded silently.
“Do you know that my relationship with the Clan is already strained, and that I might get killed if the relationship worsens?”
Lisa nodded again.
“Since you know that, then tell me why do you think I'll help you with whatever you intend to do?”
“Because you're my brother and I'm you're precious little sister.”
Darius glared at Lisa, but she remained unfazed and smiled at him. This continued for a while until Darius was forced to sigh.
“Fine. Just tell me what happened.”
Lisa smiled and hugged Darius.
“That's why I love you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just know that I'll haunt you if I die because of this.”
Darius leaned on the Chariot and listened to Lisa's recap of her meeting with her father. After she was finished he placed his hand on his chin and said-
“Well, shit.”
That was the best way he could describe their situation.
“Is it really that bad?”
Lisa asked.
“Bad doesn't even begin to describe it. The pride of the Dragna and the Flameheart Clans are on the line. I wouldn't be surprised if a war breaks out between the Dragna Kingdom and the Zebul Empire over this. And if that happens you two will be constantly hunted by both kingdoms.”
“Even so, we still have to do it.”
Said Zanis. Darius looked at him as if probing him.
“Lisa is a Flameheart so her getting carried away with her feelings is somewhat natural. But what about you? You should know that there's a high chance that you'll get into trouble with your country over this. So why risk it?”
Darius glared at Zanis. To him, Zanis was the reason why his sister might lose her life. And to him, that was unforgivable.
Zanis took Darius's glare head on and answered.
“I don't know.”
“What?”
“I'm fully aware of the risks and dangers that comes with being with Lisa. In fact I was trained to avoid such situations as much as possible but…”
He looked at Lisa and spoke with a gentle tone.
“I just can't abandon her. I know I didn't feel this way when we first met, in fact I'll admit that my saving her was just a whim. However, that whim became something so stunning that it took away my common sense, and makes me want to happily plunge into the deep abyss just to be with her.”
Zanis words caused Darius to shut up and Lisa to blush. They were the sincere words of a man who was helplessly in love. They lacked logic and reason but there was no fabrication in his speech.
Darius couldn't help but relate to him.
“Sigh. I can get you two out the country by tomorrow night.”
“Thank you, Brother!”
Lisa jumped on Darius and started kissing him all over his cheek.
“Thanks.”
Zanis showed him a grateful smile. .
“Ah, shit! Dario and I are working together too! I'm definitely going get charged with treason!”
Darius shout echoed through the night along with Lisa's laugh.
A few days later, it was announced that Lisa ran away from the kingdom with Zanis Zebul. This news sent waves through the aristocratic society in the kingdom, especially the Triads.
Darwin sat around a large table with a group of men dressed in emerald robes. They all had on an emerald and gold ring on their fingers.
They were the highest ranked members of the Flameheart Clan, beside Darwin himself.
The Flameheart elders.
“This is quite the mess you've caused, Darwin.”
Said one of the men.
“Only two months after returning, your daughter has dragged the clan’s name into the mud.”
“Now now, Fourth Elder. You're exaggerating.”
Another man spoke up.
“The Third Elder is right. Little Lisa merely act out on her instincts as a Flameheart just as we've all have.”
Said another man.
“I won't deny that Fifth Elder, but it doesn't change the fact that her actions has put us at odds with the royal family, and blemished our reputation.”
Said the Fourth Elder.
“Rouge is asking for us to deal with this swiftly or he might intervene himself.”
“We can't allow that to happen, no matter what.”
Said the Fifth Elder.
“Then what do you all suggest we do? Pursue Lisa?”
“Isn't that obvious?”
Answered the Fourth Elder.
“But what about the Black Scripture? I doubt that he'll give her up without a fight, and it would be bad to kill him.”
Asked the Third Elder.
“Lisa is our only priority. If we can't get her back peacefully, capture the boy and used him as a bargaining chip.”
Said the Fourth Elder.
“Do you really think it will be that easy to capture one of Beelzebub’s Black Scriptures? And one that is Ouroboros’ Proxy at that. Did you forget about the power he possesses, and the fact that he can continuously evolve during a fight?”
Said the Fifth Elder.
“Then kill him.”
A cold voice belonging to a woman rang out in the room. This was the voice of the only other Elder that remained silent throughout the meeting.
“Second Elder, do you know what you're suggesting?”
Darwin also spoke for the first time.
“If we kill a Scripture it's equivalent to a declaration of war on the Zebul Empire. Do I need to remind you about the military strength they hold?”
“Don't lecture me on the details boy. If I suggested it then I must have thought it through.”
The Second Elder spoke with an uninterested expression on her beautiful face.
“According to my sources, Zanis Zebul received orders to return to empire the moment he received what he came for. However he defied that order and spent two extra months here. For Black Scriptures, Zara’s orders are absolute, disobeying them can be punishable by death.”
“Zanis is Zara's adopted son. He won't order his execution just because he disobeyed an order.”
“You're right, Darwin. But he would kill him if it led to betrayal.”
Darwin eyes opened wide when he heard that.
“You're suggesting that we paint Zanis as a traitor and let the empire deal with him?”
The Second Elder shook her head at Darwin.
“Zara isn't stupid enough to believe rumors unverified by his people. So tricking him to order Zanis’s death is impossible.”
“Then why did you mention betrayal?”
Asked the Third Elder.
“That's because we'll send real proof that Zanis really did betray his country to Zara, and let him deal with Zanis.”
“How?”
Darwin asked.
The Second Elder glance at everyone in the room and said-
“We only need to pressure him, and all the rest will follow. Zanis will truly self destruct.”
She then got up and looked at Darwin.
“For safety precautions I’ll personally lead Lisa’s pursuit. And you'll have nothing to do with it, Darwin.”
“What?”
“You're the Clan Leader, but you're also her father. There's a high possibility that you'll allow her to escape.”
“Wait, Second Elder. Darwin made a [Soul Promise] with the king. There's no way he'll allow her to escape.”
The Second Elder glance at the Third Elder and spoke.
“You've forgotten something important. We're Flamehearts. For us love tramples all, and logic doesn't apply to us.”
“Then what about you? She is your niece.”
“A niece I barely knew.”
She answered Darwin coldly.
“She's my sister's child, but nothing more.”
“Maria…”
The Second Elder turned away from Darwin and continued speaking coldly.
“This matter as already been decided by the First Elder. Darwin you are to stay under house arrest until Lisa is retrieved.”
With that, Maria disappeared without waiting for Darwin to respond.
He leaned back in his chair and ignored the pitying looks of the Third and Fifth Elder and made a small prayer in his heart.
‘Please be safe, Lisa.”
When Maria left the meeting room she went straight towards an old bar in the Lower Class District.
She pushed opened the door and entered the almost deserted place.
There were only two persons other than herself in the bar. The old bartender and a someone dressed in a red suit, hat and glasses.
The man whose whole attire screamed blood, sat by the counter drinking beer.
He nor the old bartender paid Maria no mind as she sat beside him.
“Two more rounds old man.”
Said the man.
The bartender nodded and took out bottles of beer. He put one in front of Maria and the other in front of the man.
“I don't drink.”
Said Maria.
“Is that so? What a shame.”
The man took the beer Maria was given and began drinking it.
“So how did your little meeting go?”
He asked.
“That is something regarding my clan and kingdom. It has nothing to do with you.”
“How cold. But you gotta point.”
“So? When are you going to pursue Zanis?”
The man picked up another beer and drank it before he answered.
“I already know where he's going, so there's no need to haste.”
He showed the bartender two more fingers and received two more bottles of beer.
“Zanis is currently in the possession of a national treasure, but he doesn't seem like he intends to give it to our emperor. Why's that?”
“…He’s probably planning on keeping it as a trump card against his pursuers.”
“That's what I believe too. It's a powerful item after all. I believe his plan is to eliminate his pursuers and then go into hiding for a while.”
“That is the smartest thing to do. Rouge will definitely work to lock down the entire continent. He’ll most likely use the [Separate World] spell, and temporarily disconnect the Silver Continent from the rest of the world, thus rendering all long distance teleportation and communication magic and other methods useless.”
“That old man is so terrifying that he just might do it.”
The man body shivered before he spoke.
“When I came here I sense that the borders were already under a tight guard against teleportation magic, which meant that Zanis escaped through other means. And it must be a method, that Rouge doesn't know about, otherwise they would've at least been spotted leaving the kingdom. Do you have any idea how?”
“I believe Lisa contacted her brother in the crime world. I think he used a shady method to get them out.”
“A shady method, huh. Then why don't you torture the brother to tell you that method?”
“Torture doesn't work on Flamehearts. Our loyalty is too strong. We would most likely commit suicide before betraying a love one.”
“What a pain in the ass Clan.”
The man sighed.
“Well, whatever. In the end Zanis is trapped on this continent. That's make it easier for me to paint him as a traitor when I report his death to the emperor. All I need him to do is to use the national treasure in a crowded place, and everything else will go smoothly after that.”
He then pointed at Maria.
“And that's where you come in. I need you to push Zanis so far in a corner that he's forced to use it.”
“I know. As long as we get Lisa back, then I don't care about you Black Scriptures killing each other.”
“Hypothetically, if I accidentally killed your niece, what would you do?”
“I would force your balls down your throat without cutting them off.”
The temperature in the bar dropped immediately which caused the man and the bartender to shiver.
“I said hypothetically, you don't have to get so mad.”
Maria got up and glared at the man.
“Heed my warning, Zach Zebul. If you harm my niece, your position as the Fifth Scripture won't be enough to save you. I'll hunt you down and kill you even if I have to destroy the entire Zebul Empire to do it.”
Without saying anything more, Maria left the bar in a bad mood.
Zach watched her leave and spoke.
“What a cold woman. Well, even an ice queen can melt under a man.”
He laughed at his vulgar joke, and finished his last beer.
“Now then, I should get going myself.”
He stood up from his seat and faced the bartender.
“The drinks were good old man, you're a real professional. But sadly I don't need you anymore.”
Zach snapped his fingers and the old bartender caught fire.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Shh. You're too loud.”
He grabbed the burning bartender and looked into his eyes.
“[Calm down and burn quietly].”
The old bartender’s mouth immediately shut and he stood in place with clouded eyes.
He was more like a torch than a human.
“That's better.”
Zach then open up his palms and several bottles of liquor started floating. Some poured on the old bartender as if feeding the flames, while the rest went towards Zach.
He waved his hand and they all disappeared.
“A little something for the road, I'm sure you won't mind.”
Zach then disappeared in a burst of flames leaving the old bartender silently burning in the bar.
The flames slowed spread and engulfed the bar. People saw the flames and did everything to extinguish it. At this point there was barely any flesh left on the bartender’s bones.