Kay turned off the microphone and leaned back in her seat, her gaze still fixed on Mira.

“You don’t want to miss this,” she said to Emilia, turning the camera to show the scene.

“This is it!” Emilia exclaimed excitedly.

Kay muttered to himself, irritated:

“Damn Takemichi…”

As Mira approached, Takemichi stepped forward, assuming an official tone:

“Since we’re all gathered together, I want to take this opportunity to introduce someone very special.”

Mira lifted her chin, taking a deep breath as everyone’s attention fell on her.

“Mira, I remember you from the castle!” the king said, smiling as he recognized her.

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty,” Mira replied with a restrained bow.

Suddenly, the journalists around her went into an uproar.

“Mira?! Is that her?!” — they exclaimed, their euphoric voices mixing with the incessant clicking of the cameras.

“Something big is about to happen! Let’s get closer!” suggested the blonde journalist, leading the group.

Takemichi raised his voice to be heard above the hubbub:

“After careful consideration, I have decided that Mira will be the vice-captain of my division!”

The announcement echoed like thunder. A chorus of surprise formed among the journalists and soldiers present.

“Is this serious?!” exclaimed a reporter, incredulous.

“Yes, it is serious. She is still inexperienced, but I assure you that, in a short time, Mira will be able to lead this division with excellence!” said Takemichi with conviction, his gaze firmly fixed on the new vice-captain.

The king smiled, satisfied:

“Takemichi has finally chosen a vice-captain. I confess that I did not expect to receive this news now, but I am happy with the choice. Mira, do your best!”

“Okay!” — Mira replied, the nervousness in her voice masked by determination.

While the applause and the photographs continued, Kay watched everything through the camera, her gaze divided between pride and apprehension.

On the other side, Emilia was in the room, still on the call, but was interrupted by a firm knock on the door.

“Princess!” a guard called.

“One minute!” she replied, covering her cell phone with her hand.

“Busy?” Kay asked, curious.

“I’ll leave you in the corner of the screen. Don’t hang up,” she said, dimming the brightness of her cell phone.

“Okay. I’ll mute the microphone. Call me when you’re done.”

“Deal.”

— Come in! — Emilia said, turning to the door.

The guard entered, his posture rigid.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. I bring a message from the king.”

“What message?” she asked, frowning.

Without warning, the guard locked the door, the click echoing in the silence of the room.

“Leave the door open! What are you doing?”

The guard turned, pulling out a gun and pointing it directly at Emilia.

“Don’t scream.”

Emilia’s face paled, her heart racing as she tried to process the betrayal.

“This can’t be happening…” she thought, terror beginning to take over her.

“Where’s that arrogance of the royal family, huh? Come on, princess. Look at me like you’re superior to me, like you always do!” the guard mocked, slowly approaching.

“Why… Why are you doing this?” she managed to ask, her voice trembling.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

He smiled sinisterly:

— Don't scream. Don't say a word.

Kay, still watching through her cell phone, narrowed her eyes when she noticed the threatening tone.

"Why is there a guard pointing a gun at her?" she thought, her heart racing.

— If you scream, you'll regret it. So be a good princess and stay quiet — the guard said, his voice dripping with venom.

Emilia swallowed hard, nodding as she held back her tears. The guard advanced

— No! Please! — Emilia screamed, trying to struggle.

— I warned you not to scream! — the guard roared, pressing the gun against her head.

— Kay, your suit's heartbeat is at critical levels! Report immediately! — Fernanda's voice sounded urgently over the radio.

— Kay? — Mira exclaimed, watching the helicopter in the distance.

The recruits around her ran toward the aircraft.

— His mask is here! He's... gone! — announced Thaís, looking inside the empty helicopter.

“What happened?!” Mira asked, alarmed, as Takemichi quickly approached.

Thaís showed Kay’s mask, visibly worried. Takemichi received a call and answered immediately.

“Speak.”

“Kay’s suit is overheating, and his heartbeat is out of control! We don’t know what’s going on, but we better find him now!” Fernanda informed.

“Any idea what could have made him act like this?” Takemichi asked, frowning.

“I didn’t notice anything unusual!” all the recruits replied.

Mira thought for a moment and said: — Yes, he is! He was in contact with Emilia!

— Fernanda, send soldiers to the castle! Mira, go with your squad and call Joana to accompany you. Find out what's going on! — Takemichi ordered.

— Understood! — Mira and the soldiers responded, already moving.

Meanwhile, Kay flew over the city, cutting through the clouds like a meteor. His suit was releasing smoke, the heat of the overloaded system enveloped him like an incandescent cloak.

Inside the castle, Emilia was shaking with fear. The glass door to the room shattered in an explosion of shards and wind.

— What?! — she screamed, looking at the figure that appeared among the flying shards.

— I'm late... I'm sorry, Emilia! — Kay said, emerging from the shadows and standing up among the wreckage.

— Brother! — Emilia sobbed, running to hug him.

She collapsed into his arms, her cries echoing through the room as Kay held her close.

“You don’t need to be afraid…” he murmured, his tone softer. “He won’t hurt you anymore.”

The smoke from the suit filled the room, surrounded by a faint red glow from the overheated energy plates.

“A maid is coming. She’ll take care of you. Wait here, I’ll be right back.” Kay looked into her eyes, firmly.

“No, please… don’t go!” Emília begged, grabbing his shirt.

“Just trust me. Take a shower, get dressed… I promise I’ll be back.” Kay gently released her hands, stepping away.

When Kay left, the heavy air followed him down the hallway. The maid arrived, startled by the smoke coming from the room.

“What is this?!” the woman exclaimed hesitantly.

Kay glared at her with cold fury, and the intensity of his gaze made the woman back away.

“Take care of her. Give her a bath and medicine if necessary. But make sure she doesn’t get pregnant by the bastard who did this!” he said, before disappearing down the hallway.

The woman stood still, confused.

In the courtyard at the castle entrance, the guards were grouped together. Kay walked past them like a predator and stopped in front of the soldier.

“Why did you do that to Emilia?” he asked, staring directly at the guard who seemed the most restless.

“What are you talking about, boy? I don’t even…” Before the man could finish, Kay hit him with a devastating punch.

The impact threw the guard against the wall, which shattered into pieces under the brutal force. The man's body lay beneath the rubble, trails of blood running from Kay to the wall.

"Get up!" Kay said, his voice echoing among the guards. "I told you to get up, you bastard! You're not going to die with just one punch, are you?!"

The guards surrounded him and raised their weapons, pointing at Kay with trembling hands.

"Don't move!" one of them shouted, frightened.

A shot rang out. Kay raised his hand, stopping the bullet as if it were a mere speck of dust.

"My problem is with him. Don't get in my way, otherwise I'll have to use self-defense!" Kay said, with a threatening look.

"Don't move!" the guards ordered, their voices thick with tension.

Kay tilted his head, looking at the destroyed wall with a mixture of boredom and determination.

“I don’t think there’s any point in continuing this. I’m going to sit over there,” he said.

He pointed to a spot where Emilia could see him from the bedroom window.

“If you try anything funny, we’ll shoot you! Do you hear me?” one of the guards shouted, his voice almost trembling.

Kay walked unhurriedly, ignoring the warning. He sat on the floor, crossing his legs calmly. His eyes were now closed. The guards kept their guns pointed, but their hesitation was visible.

One of them received a call.

“Sir! I’m glad you called. We have a problem!” he said hurriedly.

“Speak up,” the head guard said on the other end of the line, his voice authoritative.

“A soldier has invaded the castle and killed one of our people. We have him in our sights!” the guard informed, tension brimming in his words.

“That’s the situation!” — said the head guard.

— He... he's not reacting? Takemichi exclaimed next to the head guard.

The guard looked at Kay. — He's just sitting there, as if he's meditating.

— Tsk. This idiot... — Takemichi grumbled. — Listen, I have some people heading over there now. Let them go in and deal with him.

— Chief? — the guard replied, surprised.

— Mira will know how to deal with him. And there's Joana too. Don't complicate things any further. — Takemichi said to the head of the guard.

The head of the guard, who was next to his subordinate, intervened:

— Alright. Let them in, but keep two guards watching the boy.

— Understood! — confirmed the subordinate, ending the call.

The head of the guard sighed heavily.

— This won't end well. News spreads fast, and he'll be punished!

— I agree. — Takemichi's voice now sounded more serious. — But I can't let him be killed. I hate to admit it, but this brat's strength is needed by my division.

— Takemichi, your soldiers can't just go around doing whatever they want! — said the head, irritated. — Our world has rules, and we're the ones responsible for keeping them!

— I know. — Takemichi paused, thinking. — Let's think about the punishment later. Now, keep up appearances.

“Act naturally.” The head guard shook his head, ending the conversation.

A few minutes later. The first helicopter landed in an area designated for such vehicles in the castle’s backyard.

The door opened, and Fernanda hurried down, accompanied by a team of soldiers. Her steps were firm, and her expression exuded urgency.

As they approached the group of guards who still had their weapons pointed at Kay, Fernanda raised her voice, firm and authoritative:

“Make way!”

One of the guards, frowning, retorted:

“A scientist? You’re not the one we’re waiting for!”

Fernanda glared at him, the authority in her voice making it clear that she wasn’t there for arguments:

“Let me pass!”