Princess Ling swung her sword to the left. A shockwave radiated outward as the blade clashed against a savage pair of claws.

Barely! Just barely!

Beads of sweat rolled down the side of her head and she pushed away from the impact point. Her body sailed through the air, but her opponent was quicker.

“Ahh!”

A brutal kick smashed against her rib cage, easily shattering a few bones. The force of the impact sent her sailing through the ceiling, and then through the next, and the next. Finally, her ascent came to a halt as she landed in a desolate room surrounded by massive columns.

“Urgh..”

Blood spewed out from her helmet, but she picked herself up off the floor regardless. The air behind her shifted, and she immediately ducked her head.

I’m going to die here.

She had always imagined that she would meet her end on some glorious battlefield away from home. It would have been filled with prestige, becoming a legendary tale that parents would tell their children as they grew older.

With an impossible level of dexterity, she managed to twist her body midair, landing a loose kick across Eosa’s face. The Twilight Fox’s head turned, but it only barely moved.

“Wait-“

Words could never stop the unholy punch that was coming her way. She braced her body for impact, just as the blow landed on her shoulder.

Dislocated… or broken…

She sailed through the air before colliding against one of the many stone columns that acted as foundational support for the palace. The pillar crumbled to dust, and yet she still managed to crawl out of it.

In the distance, she spied Eosa slowly strafing sideways. The ruined fox was not breathing, and the cavity within her chest was gushing out blood. Princess Ling readied her greatsword with her other hand, which was still in working condition.

How did it come to this?

She could still remember the long nights, practicing her sword play in front of Eosa. At the time, she never once questioned the origins of the motherly fox, only taking her expertise and care for granted.

It was two years after she arrived. I still remember that night, the visceral hatred she displayed to my father. That’s what opened my eyes to everything.

Princess Ling hopped out of the rubble and counter-strafed against her opponent.

I should have done more. Would he have tried to kill me if I did? …She’s coming!

Eosa’s body flashed with a series of afterimages as she cut a jagged path toward the princess, but Ling was ready for it.

She swung her sword overhead. Scarlet and black energies crackled outward for the blade’s path as it met Eosa impossibly sharp claws. The two were trapped in a deadlock, each trying to overpower the other.

“Hiya!!”

Princess Ling cried out and she tried to force her greatsword further inward.

She’s already gone… I can survive if I chop off her head.

The ground cracked and crumbled underfoot as the radius of the impact began to consume the surrounding space.

The spatial laws of floor one are weak, but I’m not strong enough to break them. Eosa’s raw power however…

The princess’ thoughts sharpened as she felt a sudden shift within their clash. Without any hesitation, she immediately broke off the interaction by redirecting the force of Eosa’s strike to the side. The moment Eosa’s claws struck the air, a terrifying wave of energy sliced through, rending the ground asunder and smashing apart another foundational column.

The entire palace will collapse if enough columns break…

Princess Ling’s eyes darted from side to side.

I lost her!

Panic began to set in, but all her years of combat forced her to remain calm.

Behind!

She whirled around just in time to deflect a lethal stab, but that wasn’t the end of it. Sparks flew one after another as Princess Ling parried strike after strike, defending against Eosa’s relentless onslaught of blows.

With no other choice, she was forced backwards with every successful parry. Eosa was simply too fast, and much too powerful. Soon enough, she felt her back slam against one of the many stone columns.

She ducked at the last second, and with a deafening crash the column shattered to pieces under Eosa’s might.

----

“Kagh-bleh… ahhh…”

Sans awoke to a fire burning within his lungs.

“Ble-Bleehhh…”

His stomach upheaved a mixture of blood and vomit, time and time again. His senses were a blurred mess as it felt like he could smell purple and taste the screams in the air.

“What… is all that…”

He crawled to his hands and knees, shuddering as his body retched once again.

“Gahh…”

With every pool of substances that left his body, he felt increasingly lighter. It was as if he had roamed the world with the heaviest shackles imaginable, and only now was each one being unbound one at a time.

“Run, everyone run!”

“The palace is collapsing!”

“Ahh! Save me!”

Distant cries for help trickled into his ears, but he could barely help himself, let alone strangers.

Ugh… Chenbo, I hope you’re got out of here. Please be safe.

Sans’ mind wandered as his eyes rolled around in their sockets. He had lost track of time after he lost consciousness, but he knew that the palace was currently embroiled in a massive rebellion. One that, apparently, threatened to tear the palace to pieces.

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“Blehh…”

His shook his head after releasing another mouthful of toxin.

“I have to get out of here.”

Sans crawled on his hands and knees toward the door. He was rapidly regaining his strength, which was a good sign considering the circumstances. The palace trembled once more, bringing more alertness back into his eyes.

“Watch out, watch out!”

A distant crash shook the floor.

Sounds like something heavy fell down the hall. I should help…

He carefully staggered to his feet by using the wall for support. The next minute, he found himself opening the bedroom door.

This…

Outside the room, it was pure pandemonium. Servants, guards, and noblemen alike all cried out in terror as chunks of the ceiling came crashing down from above. The once carefully designed palace interior was now a mess of rubble and scrap.

People are dying…

He spied a still pair of legs, poking out from beneath a thick block of stone. Beside the stone, a small child cried incessantly while looking around.

“Ugh…”

Sans grasped his throbbing head.

This is a mess…

He stumbled forward, toward the child.

I’ll just help this one…

His eyes fixated on the screaming child, and he extended his hand out.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m coming-“

Just as he spoke, another chunk of the stone crashed down from the ceiling. The floor splattered red, and the child was eternally silenced.

“Ugh…”

He tore his eyes away, feeling dizzy and sick. The next moment, he hunched over and retched another personal concoction all over the floor. He stood upright, with a better posture than ever before. The world seemed brighter, and his body felt increasingly nimble.

With a light push, he parted ways from the wall and stumbled his way down the passage. The palace continued to rock and tremble, but each time an obstacle threatened his life he was able to dodge it cleanly.

Where’s Chenbo? Did he make it out alright?

He glanced out a nearby window, but all he could see was the massive blue barrier.

“What is that?”

Looking closer, he was able to spy Advisor Karbone standing patiently before the palace gates.

What’s he looking at?

Sans followed Karbone’s line of sight before settling on a cloaked finger.

That’s Elsie!

A series of sparks flew from the barrier at Elsie’s location.

I see. She’s forcing her way in… looks like I’m on my own.

With a sigh, Sans broke away from the window and continued finding a way out. However, after taking just a few more steps, a bloody blur flashed by.

“King… Anthor?”

He gazed down the route that King Anthor had taken. With a resolute expression, he decided to pursue.

I have to talk with him. Is he aware of Karbone? Is he aware of the chaos in his kingdom?

Sans hobbled after the king. Although he didn’t know exactly where King Anthor had gone, he knew it wasn’t toward the palace exit, which was multiple floor below them.

He took the stairwell up. That’s the floor that Lyra was on… surely Chenbo has already rescued her…

Without any hesitation, he chased after as fast as he could. Occasionally, he would pause to empty the contents of his stomach, but afterwards he only felt better. It was as if vomiting were the key to becoming an enhanced version of himself, and after experiencing the sensation so many times in a row—he was almost excited to throw up again. A bizarre experience, to say the least.

Up the stairs he went, and then down the hall. Just as uncertainty took hold once more, he saw a familiar silhouette flash by.

There he is again. He’s looking for something on this floor.

“Hey, wait!”

Sans called out, but King Anthor had already disappeared. Nevertheless, he continued to chase after the elusive king.

Just as he thought he’d lost him again, a deafening blast sounded from down the hall.

Was that King Anthor?

Sans cautiously turned the corner. Off in the distance, he could see a fresh plume of dust the billowed outward from a pile of rubble.

He took a step forward, and then vomited once more.

“Ugh… I’m feeling a lot better. Wow…”

Springing to his feet, he lightly bounced on his toes.

“Heh.”

He flashed a confident grin and pursued the king once more.

“Anybody here? Hello?”

He stepped onto the pile of rubble, which had been created from the wall beside it. He poked his head into the room that had been forced open.

“Whoa… is that a portal?”

Sans eyed a mysterious grey orb as it wobbled about in the air. Beneath it was a series of glyphs that brimmed with energy.

“It’s only just been activated…”

Sucking in a deep breath, Sans sprinted toward the portal and dived into it. The next moment, he crashed into the floor, but the floor was not of smooth stone.

A wave of nausea came over him, but it only added fuel to his chronic condition of vomiting.

“Blehhh…”

He spewed out another stream of blood and toxin. By the time he wiped his mouth clean, he already felt infinitely better.

“Where… am I?”

An ash filled sky draped along the horizon. When he took a step forward, the charred earth below, black and brittle, crackled underfoot.

“Nothing is going to plan! Why me? What did I do wrong? Why do I deserve this? Why do I have to start all over?!”

King Anthor roared at the sky a small distance away. His back was turned toward Sans, and he appeared to be cursing at the mountains in the distance. It seemed he hadn’t quite noticed his company yet, or if he had then he didn’t care in the slightest.

“King Anthor?”

Sans called out to him. Upon hearing the title, the king let out an exasperated sigh. He spun around and cast Sans an odd look.

“Did you follow me?”

“No? I mean, yes?”

Sans squared his shoulders properly, but the next moment, another wave of nausea struck—and he puked all over the floor.

“Ugh…”

He wiped his face clean, instantly feeling better.

“That color… Heaven’s Tears?”

King Anthor cast Sans a strange look, almost as if he had seen a ghost.

“Yea? What of it? Don’t worry, it’s gone now, or going. I made sure of it.”

Sans revealed a casual smirk, proud of his more recent achievements.

Or at least Elsie helped make sure of it.

Unexpectedly, the king began to laugh. Slowly at first, but then with more vigor. Eventually he broke down into a mad cackle as he yelled at the sky.

“Are you kidding me?!”

His laughter came to an abrupt halt, and he stared at Sans with a cynical gaze.

“W-What?”

Sans took a step back with a frown.

“You’re that prized possession of that crazy woman. Ah, what was her name again? Yes, Madam Lexene.”

Sans’ eyes widened in shock. Never did he think he would hear of that name again, but here, in this desolate place, did it come to haunt him again.

“How do you know of her?”

“Know of her? Boy! Who do you think she obtained Heaven’s Tears from?!”

King Anthor’s voice thundered into Sans’ ears.

“She ordered buckets of the stuff! Even paying a pretty premium to keep it a secret. Naturally, I had Karbone make as much as he could. She bought every ounce.”

Sans’ face darkened.

“Yes! Yes! She tried keeping you hidden too. Very smart of her. I had even considered using my accursed daughter to steal you away from her. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. None of this was meant to be. Everything, it’s all ruined.”

King Anthor rolled his eyes, letting out an annoyed sigh. At the same time, Sans’ thoughts ran wild.

Ah… I went through so much trouble, because of this man?

But soon, the king made an odd motion, as if he were waving for him to leave.

“Go on. Get out of here. Sorry about whatever happened to you in the past. Please understand, it was just business.”

King Anthor turned and began walking away. Seeing as the king was letting him go, Sans only felt further conflicted. Was the king innocent? Did he really have it in him to kill this man? This father?

“King Anthor.”

Sans called out to him once more, but the king didn’t bother turning to face him. It was as if Sans’ presence meant nothing to him, or even less than nothing.

“Karbone has been practicing blood magic. I thought you should know that.”

The king simply waved his hand in the air, as if he were acknowledging his words, but most assuredly didn’t care in the slightest.

“Don’t worry thought. I put an end to his plans!”

King Anthor finally paused, mid step.

“That’s right. I did it! I was able to waste all the energy in his evil plan. He was going to sacrifice thousands of lives for it, but it was all for naught!”

Sans smiled as a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It felt good to announce his heroic deed, and who better to hear it than the king himself?

“Hah… ah-hah!”

Just then, the king turned around, wearing a smile that was not quite a smile. He began with a hearty chuckle, which turned into a full-bodied laugh.

Seeing the king laughing so enthusiastically, Sans only smiled brighter.

“You…”

Suddenly, the king’s voice plummeted, seething with hatred.

“Me?”

Sans pointed to himself innocently.

“You ruined everything? All my plans? All my years of hard work? Centuries of planning, foiled by some insect!”

Sans stared at the king strangely.

“Your plans? It was Karbone’s plan. What are you…”

His eyes widened as he thought about the king’s words, mixing them with Elsie’s explanation of the blood ritual.

“The prince… curing his blindness…”

The king’s gaze smoldered and the air began to solidify around them.

“Are you… King Olgren?”

Sans recalled the name of the previous king from Burgess. Sharing drinks with Olgren’s old guard turned out to have its merits.

“Olgren? That fool? Betrayed by his own brother.”

Adopting a narcissistic sneer, he slicked back his hair and stared up at the sky.

“No, I am not Olgren. Though it matters not… my name is Borgash.”