Heroes of the Holy War

Deep within the bunker awaited Zenathan, Aki's father. His face betrayed anger, and his stance turned menacing the moment he saw his daughter. He twisted a heavy ring on his finger, his cold, icy gaze fixed on Aki, who was supporting the weakened Akira.

"You've got some nerve, you little bitch... defying your father again?!" he snarled, taking heavy steps toward her. His face flushed with fury, and his fist clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Aki looked at him with fear, gripping Akira even tighter. Seeing her father raise his hand to strike, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the blow. But the hit never came.

"Enough!" – the cold, authoritative voice of Queen Anna filled the room as her hand stopped Zenathan's in mid-swing.

Zenathan turned his head, glaring at her furiously. "You've got some nerve, woman, interfering in my family matters!" he hissed, trying to wrench his hand free from her iron grip.

"And you've got some nerve raising your hand against your own child in my presence," – the queen replied icily, locking her cold eyes onto him. – "I know the whole story. Your son sang like a bird, my dear. Abuse, conspiring against the kingdom... and that's just the tip of the iceberg of your sins."

Zenathan yanked his hand free, straightening up and adjusting his shirt. "Against the kingdom? Nonsense. I wanted to secure our place in heaven," – he retorted, removing the ring and turning it in his fingers.

At that moment, Akira, who was slowly regaining consciousness, opened his eyes. His gaze immediately landed on the ring in Zenathan's hand. It was the same ring he had used to summon the lightning lion. The memory flared in Akira's mind like fire.

"What the hell was that for?!" – Akira growled, leaping at Zenathan with surprising speed. Slamming his hand into Zenathan's stomach, he grabbed him by the hair, lifting him and staring into his eyes.

Zenathan doubled over in pain, fear painting itself across his face. He didn't reply.

Akira's eyes slowly began to take on a violet hue as his aura surged violently. Seeing this, Aki grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Akira, stop! This won't change anything!" – she cried, her voice full of desperation.

Akira stepped back, releasing Zenathan, who collapsed to the ground, clutching his stomach and slowly bleeding out. Queen Anna looked down at him, her expression betraying not a shred of sympathy.

"Anyone who dares to help him will be deemed a traitor to the kingdom!" – she declared, addressing those present. Her gaze landed on King Rena, who was attempting to cast a healing spell.

"The same goes for you, my dear," – she added in an icy tone, halting his actions with a single glare.

The room fell silent, broken only by Zenathan's labored breaths and the murmurs of Anna's spells.

Akira leaned lightly on Aki, his weight surprising the girl, but she immediately held him to prevent him from collapsing completely. Placing her hand on his forehead, she whispered anxiously:

"He has a fever..."

Meanwhile, Queen Anna slowly knelt before Zenathan, who lay on the ground, drenched in blood. Her gaze was inscrutable, icy. She remained silent for a moment before finally speaking in a voice full of menace:

"Zenathan, I will give you a choice. Solving the riddle will be your key to life. Otherwise, you will meet immediate death, and your soul and name will be lost forever. Listen carefully:

If I have one, I cannot be divided. If you divide me, nothing will remain of me. What am I?"

Zenathan looked at her with clear fury. He spat blood onto the floor, struggling to catch his breath. His defiant face twisted into a smile full of irony as he whispered:

"I'll see you in hell..."

With those words, he slumped to the ground, his body motionless.

The queen rose slowly, brushing her hands as if clearing away invisible dust. Raising her head, she gave an order in a cold voice:

"Guards! Remove his body. Let him be buried like any other traitor."

When she turned to face those present, her gaze rested on Ren.

"For a king, that was quite a performance," – she said in an icy tone, glaring at him with disdain.

She didn't have the chance to say more, as a scream echoed from the far end of the bunker.

From a locked room, Princess Sara emerged. Her appearance caused shock to cross Elara's face. Clenching her fists in disbelief, she hissed through gritted teeth:

"You... You really faked your death? You damn bitch!"

Elara moved toward Sara, but before she could get close, her motion was stopped by Seraphina, who lay on a bed. Grabbing Elara's hand, Seraphina spoke softly but firmly:

"Don't get involved now. Let Gamble handle this."

Elara hesitated but ultimately sat down, clenching her teeth and watching the situation from a distance.

Sara, seeing her parents, began to speak in a high-pitched, sugary voice:

"Daddy! There's such a big spider over there...!"

Her tone shifted to one of surprise and embarrassment, but she tried to ingratiate herself with the queen, ignoring Gamble, who watched her with growing fury.

His eyes slowly began to turn deep black. A mysterious voice echoed in his head:

"We'll kill her... Or maybe I'll do it?"

Gamble slapped himself in the face, trying to regain control. When he did, he walked decisively toward Sara. Grabbing her by the hair, he forced her to look directly into his eyes, which now shone like lanterns, unbearable for her to gaze into.

"Have you ever thought about dying a second time?" – his voice was filled with terror.

Sara screamed for help, but no one responded. Anna, standing nearby, watched her without a trace of emotion.

"You brewed this trouble; now drink it," – the queen said coldly. – "You and Ren are no longer part of the Drascels royal family."

She turned on her heel and left the bunker, followed by the soldiers.

When their footsteps faded, a young man in tattered robes entered the room. His long hair was tied in a loose knot. He looked at Sara, smirking mockingly.

"I see my sister finally got what she deserved," – he said in a cold, satisfied tone.

"Your sister?" Gamble asked, confused, as the young man began removing his robes.

"Yes, my sister. Sara Drascels is my younger sister. I am Darion," he replied, donning an elegant sazate.

Akira, standing unsteadily, weakened by a growing fever, asked:

"And didn't you say you were so poor you couldn't even afford air?"

Darion laughed and replied:

"Unfortunately, I'm from the royal family. Wait—are you okay?" He approached, suddenly concerned, feeling the rising temperature.

"Guards, prepare a medical room immediately!" he shouted, supporting Akira and guiding him to a room.

When Gamble tried to follow, Sara attempted to flee, but Gamble quickly tripped her, using nature magic to bind her with vines.

"Stay put, like the obedient bitch you are," he said sarcastically before rushing off to help.

Sara, visibly upset, struggled to free herself as Kaen, Hana, Kazoto, Elarina, and Kaido entered the bunker.

"Get the dragon, they said. It'll be fun, they said..." Kazoto grumbled, perched on Kaido's back as she set him down on a bed.

Hana, lying beside him, took a deep breath.

"We really need to start taking training more seriously. I want to fight epically like that too!"

Kaido was about to respond when Sara began screaming:

"Help! They broke in and are attacking us!"

Trying to manipulate the girl into helping her, Sara caught Kaido's brief hesitation. However, before Kaido could act, time froze for her.

"Again? Five years of peace, and now this again?" she muttered to herself as a woman with long black hair appeared before her.

"You finally hesitated. That's why I can appear now," the woman replied.

As Kaido tried to think of a response, the woman disappeared, adding:

"Don't help her. Trust me."

When time resumed, Kaido turned away and said:

"I'll wait for the guards."

Outraged, Sara began shouting and hurling insults at Kaido, but Gamble suddenly stomped her head into the ground with his foot.

"You've got nerve. You realize she outranks you now?"

Realizing she couldn't win, Sara fell silent. Gamble, intending to question her about Akira's medical room, heard an explosion as a guard broke through the nearby wall.

"Everyone, evacuate the main room and lock yourselves in wherever there's a seal!" the knight shouted before collapsing.

Gamble sensed a familiar presence.

"Kaido, take her and get out of the bunker. No questions—go! All of you, leave now!" he shouted, activating Seraume and summoning a shield.

The group took Sara and fled the bunker just as Aki stumbled into the room. Sensing an attack aimed at her, Gamble created a shield-like barrier around her.

"Looks like we meet again... shield boy," said a familiar feminine voice heard on the battlefield.

From the smoke emerged Akira, now with sharper, golden hair and terrifying, piercing blue eyes.

"It hasn't been long, has it?" the voice asked again, removing part of its clothing.

"Yes, a fine body despite the Sage's Curse. The boy has determination," the woman remarked.

Markings appeared on Akira's body.

"Seeing them for the first time? They're called tomoe. Arms, neck... the places where mana splits to the gates. Akira also holds my blessing of the Six Paths. He has six gates, not four. Hands, feet, eyes... the points where mana can be generated or absorbed."

Gamble, watching Akira, felt immense power as the woman in his own body spoke:

"And who are you?" Gamble asked, stalling for time.

"The previous holder of the Sage's Curse. Aurra," she replied, crouching.

"Do you know why these tomoe are special to Akira?" she asked, but Gamble, attaching his shield to his arm, responded:

"No, but you're about to tell me."

Aurra laughed.

"You're right. Six paths. If I use fire, one of them will glow red. And so on. The Sage State slowly merges with my blessing, allowing my consciousness to appear here when the boy is unconscious or nearly dead. Unfortunately, this saves his life through automatic regeneration."

Aurra stood, approaching Gamble and looking straight into his eyes.

"Know that keeping him alive isn't always a benefit."

With those words, Aurra attacked Gamble, who, unprepared, was slammed into the wall.

"Keeping me alive was your mistake. But... mistakes are human," Aurra said, raising a hand.

Before she could act further, Darion appeared behind her, grabbing and breaking Akira's arm.

"Third technique of the Dancing Dragon: Roar!" he shouted, striking Akira's heart, restoring his consciousness but immediately bringing back his fever. Akira collapsed onto Darion's shoulder.

Gamble, losing consciousness, squinted as he saw himself with black hair and black-and-white eyes.

"I told you... through your mistakes... you'll regret it."