Dragna City.

At Miko’s home, Sasha who had discovered that Miko was sighted at Grim Academy, was preparing to leave to see if she can catch him. Just before she left, she felt a presence behind her and turned around.

“Mama?”

She saw Kimiko who had someone under her arm. Despite him being dressed and styled in a way she’s never seen before, it took Sasha one look to know who it was.

“Miko!”

“I found him walking around in the city, while eating a crepe.”

“I dropped it when you grabbed me. Thanks a lot, Nana.”

Kimiko dropped Miko on the floor and ignored his complaint.

“Shut up. Do you know how many people were worried about you? Did you think of your mother who was worried sick?”

Kimiko looked at Sasha.

“You can discipline him as much as you like. I won’t stop you.”

Sasha looked at Miko who was sitting on the floor and then stooped down and looked him in the eye.

“Are you alright?”

Miko opened his mouth to reply but shut it when he saw the serious look in his mother’s eyes. After a while, he sighed and finally answered.

“To be honest, I don’t know. The current me feels like it’s on the constant verge of collapsing, but it always holds up in the end.”

He then smiled.

“But I’m having a lot of fun now. So you could say that I’m happy.”

Sasha looked at him for a while before smiling.

“I see. As long as you’re happy then I’m happy.”

She then hugged him.

“But…”

Miko suddenly felt his body being crushed while in his mother’s embrace.

“Um…Mama?”

“But the fact you left without a word can’t be left unpunished. Otherwise, it’ll cause the twins to believe that they can do the same.”

“I see. Fair…Enough.”

Miko had a hard time breathing. He could hear cracking coming from his body. Sasha still had a smile on her face while Miko was wondering if it was safe for him to lose feeling in his lower body like this.

After a long time, Sasha finally released Miko who fell onto the ground like blob.

“Ah, I feel so much better now.”

Sasha stood up and said.

“That’s great, Mama….Would you mind picking me up? I can’t feel….Anything really.”

Kimiko picked Miko up by his collar.

“I wanted to punish you as well but seeing your current condition I’ll wait.”

“Hahaha….”

Miko just laughed in response.

“I’ll tell everyone that Miko returned.”

Sasha left to make some calls. After they were alone Kimiko looked at Miko.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hm? What are you apologizing for?”

“Even though I was there, I allowed you to fall into enemy hands. I failed both you and Sasha.”

Miko looked at her for a bit before looking away.

“You know, I think a lot of people are taking responsibility for my failures which I find annoying.”

Miko stood on his own and started dusting himself off.

“What happened was my own failure and no one else’s.”

He pointed at Kimiko.

“Stop robbing me of my failures! They’re mine and mine alone!”

Kimiko was stomped. She didn’t know how to respond. Miko smiled and placed his hand on Kimiko’s head.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. You brought Layla back for me and gave Jason a death that he’s satisfied with. I’ll eternally be grateful for that, Nana.”

Kimiko turned her head away from him. Miko didn’t mind and just straightened himself.

“Um…”

Sasha walked back in the room with a trouble expression.

“Miko, the Branch Leaders wants to meet you right now.”

******

Miko was escorted to the royal palace by Sasha and Kimiko. The others were on their way to meet him there as well.

He was currently standing in front of the five leaders of the Dragna clan, along with the leaders of Flameheart and Saevus clans.

“Yo.”

Miko casually greeted everyone.

“Oh, that’s a nice outfit Miko. You look sharp.”

“Thanks, Gramps. I had my new designer designed it for me. I was planning on having him work with all of you. Even Tia liked his clothes, you know.”

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“That sounds great. I was in need of some new outfits myself.”

“Gamiko, this is a serious matter.”

Rouge cut into the two’s conversation.

“Miko, first I would like to thank you on everyone’s behalf for expanding our territory not only once but twice. As such, a reward is in order.”

Rouge took out a piece of paper with the Dragna crest on it.

“This may seem arrogant, since you were the one who captured them in the first place, but we’re granting you full authority over Dale and the Aloe Kingdom. With this, you have three countries under your rule.”

“In a way, you’re pretty much an emperor.”

Ecko added. Miko took the paper. It had the signatures of all the leaders in this room. He silently folded it and placed it in his pocket.

“I appreciate it but it’s as you said. You’ve only given me something I’ve already possessed. So I can’t consider it a reward.”

“Do you wish for something else?”

Markus asked. When it came to wealth he was probably the richest in the room.

“Grandfather, what I want can not be bought with money.”

Miko lifted up three fingers.

“I want three things. I gave you Jara, Dale, and Aloe; so I think it’s fair.”

“Alright. Go ahead.”

“First, and this isn’t negotiable, I want you all to remove yourselves from this feud between Renacido and Dragon Storm.”

“Denied.”

The one who turned him down was Rouge.

“Miko, you are the proxy of the progenitor of this empire as well as a member of all three royal clans. Your battles affects us greatly, whether you like it or not.”

“Then you’re doubting my chances of victory?”

“Dragon Storm has a lot of powerful warriors under its command. The number of thousands of soldiers they have aren’t few and they have a few divine level beings in their ranks. They’re strong enough to be consider a future world power. So if you’re asking if I believe you can win, then my answer is no.”

Rouge didn’t mention Miko’s Satan form. It wasn’t something that could be accessed easily. Even if it could, that form was a double edge sword, so the empire wouldn’t allow Miko to use it.

“You’re misunderstanding something here. I’m not asking you to pull out, I’m telling you to pull out.”

Miko spoke with a smile that contradicted his words.

“And if we do not?”

“I’ll leave the Dragna Empire for good.”

“What?”

Miko’s words caused waves in the room.

“You heard me. If you’re going to interfere then I’ll leave the clan.”

He then sighed.

“Well, I guess you always have the option of locking me away in hopes that I’ll change my mind while you deal with the issue.”

“Don’t be stupid. We would never do that.”

Rouge looked like he was having a headache.

“Um, I have a proposal.”

Sasha spoke up.

“What if I become Miko’s Apostle and fight along side him?”

“Oh?”

Miko looked interested in that proposal.

“You wouldn’t be enough.”

“Then what if I become an Apostle as well?”

The door opened and people started barging in. They were Leon, the twins, the trio, Luka, Momo, Kirika, and Alec. The one who stepped forward was Leon.

“What if I becomes his Apostle as well? Will that be enough?”

“If not I’ll become one since I was supposed to become one from the get-go.”

Momo added.

“We too!”

“We also want to help out.”

The twins also spoke up.

“Leon, Sasha, and Momo aren’t divine level fighters. You won’t be able to compete against Dragon Storm on your own.”

Rouge said.

“What if the two of us help out as well? Not as Apostles but just giving our family a helping hand?”

Alec spoke up.

“Do you mean you and Kirika?”

“That’s right. I’ll gladly assist Miko.”

Kirika replied.

“You two are strong, however, you’re still not enough.”

Rouge replied.

“Are you people looking down on those who reached the Divine Realm? They’re this age new gods. It’s not easy to defeat one, especially if you’re not a Divine level being yourself.”

“But it’s possible to defeat one.”

Alec spoke.

“For example, all of you here are Divine Level beings; probably of the highest level in fact. If I was to use my Bloodflame are you 100% certain that I can’t kill you?”

No one answered. Alec’s Bloodflame was the deadliest flame known to the world. All he needed was-

“An instant. Just one instant is enough to kill anyone when they have their guard down. Gods aren’t exempt from this. In battle, it’s not all about who can hit the hardest. Strategy, techniques, and luck are all very important in war.”

Miko spoke up.

“It’s too much of a gamble.”

“Life is about gambles.”

Miko and Rouge stared at each other without any signs of backing down. And then-

“Just let him handle it.”

Nero spoke up.

“It’s his fight after all.”

“If Alec and Kirika are there then it should be fine.”

“If he’s a man then this is how he should be.”

Ecko, Alexus, and Andreas spoke up as well.

“It’s his decision.”

“He’s my grandson after all.”

Darwin and Markus also seemed to agree.

“…Argh, Fine! Do as you like.”

Rouge eventually gave in.

“What’s your second request?”

“I want to borrow Aeon for three months.”

“Borrow? For what reason?”

“This takes me to my third request. I want access to the Illusionary Beast Valley.”

“Are you mad?!”

This time it was Sasha who shouted.

“The Illusionary Beast Valley is the empire’s most dangerous training space. Even Divine Beings can die there if they slip up.”

“Denied. The Valley is currently occupied.”

Rouge said. He didn’t say that Krow was currently using it.

“I see, that’s too bad.”

Miko looked sad, but only for a second before speaking again.

“Then as consolation, can I get the Ruined World?”

“You….You asked for the Illusionary Beast Valley just to test us didn’t you?”

“What can I say?”

Miko showed a sly smile.

“What’s the Ruined World?”

Luka asked.

“It’s a world that’s based off this one. The only difference is the conditions there are so harsh it’s like it’s constantly on the verge of collapsing. While it’s not as dangerous as the Valley, it’s pretty dangerous in its own right.”

Darwin explained.

“Training there will cause you to always be on high alert and you’ll be forced to constantly push past your limits to survive. There’s no way to fully adapt to the environment, and everyone will be placed under the same pressure until you reach the Divine Realm. It’s designed that way.”

Nero added. He then smirked.

“I think I know why you want to borrow Aeon, but are three months enough?”

“Then I’ll borrow him for six since you’re so kind.”

“You little….”

Miko laughed at Nero’s response.

“Fine. We accept all of your requests. However, before that we need you to do something for us.”

“Which is?”

“A psychological test.”

Alexus answered.

“We’re concern about your current state of mind. To be honest, after meeting you and seeing you act like you do I’m even more concerned.”

“So you want to know whether I’m sane or not?”

“We’ve prepared a team of specialists to-”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll answer you here. I’m nowhere near a sane mind. In fact, I’ve imagined slaughtering everyone here at least five times in the last 10 minutes. And I mean everyone.”

Naturally everyone’s eyes widened with shock.

“Why?”

“Why do I want to destroy everything? My nature I guess.”

Miko shrugged and then pointed at his head.

“You see, my mind’s been corrupted by my own powers.”

“Explain.”

“So it’s like this. You know that my irregularity basically turns me in a Satan right? I can’t really control it, so this guy called Samael, being a kind kinsman, separated my power into five categories: Darkness, Chaos, Insanity, Malevolence, and Wickedness. I unlocked the first stage and became able to use the power of darkness while fighting Darius, I also used it against Luka. Since then, I’ve tried to unlock the power of chaos which I’ve been successful in doing, but that’s where the problems start.”

Miko exhaled and everyone saw black fog come out of his mouth.

“I started having side effects like this after taking my Satan form. When my eyes become black and I exhale a dark fog. I feel the urge to commit dark and violent acts. When my eyes turned a neon blue and the fog is azure my mind becomes chaotic and I want to create mayhem.”

“My god…”

“Yes?”

Miko answered as if it was natural.

“Do you have self control?”

“For now; I can’t make any promises though. The more I suppress my powers, the stronger my urges become. That’s why I make it a habit to do and say whatever comes at my mind no matter what it is. As long as it sounds fun at the time.”

The branch leaders looked at each other in silence.

“Well, I’m going to the ruined world.”

Miko ignored them and spoke to those behind him.

“If you want to join me on my training montage then feel free to come along.”

*********

Somewhere in the world, Tang Xian was sitting on the roof of a building. He was reading some information his subordinate had brought him.

“So you’re still kicking huh, Miko.”

He smiled.

“That’s how it should be. You can’t stay down after being knocked down once.”

He put down the report.

“Biyu.”

“Yes, Young Lord.”

Behind him, a woman wearing a fox mask and was dressed in a suit appeared with a sword on her waist.

“Tell all the executives that I’m stepping out for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

Tang smirked.

“My enemy is working hard to catch up to my level and even surpass me. What kind of rival would I be if I don’t try my best to stay at the top of my game?”