Above Sakael, there was a large projection like a hologram that was showing what was happening in the plaza. The black airplane was flying over the city and examining the situation.

“… Crap.” [Ryner]

Seeing the events that transpired, Ryner switched the controls to his copilot.

“I’ll be going out for a bit. Take the wheel.” [Ryner]

“Understood. Will you be taking part in that mess?” [Evelyn]

Evelyn acknowledged his order instantly and examined the monitor with sharp eyes. Understanding the subtle impatience in his voice, her mood completely changed. The pervert from earlier was gone.

“Yeah.” [Ryner]

He casually answered her and unbuckled his safety belt.

“Someone I know just got stabbed and is bleeding to death.” [Ryner]

He opened the windshield.

“Will you need any help!?” [Evelyn]

The vampire shouted as she partially closed her eyes because of the fierce winds that ruffled up her hair. The thrusters of the plane were drowning out her voice.

“I showed you how to fly before! Check out the situation first! Then, support me with your own judgement!” [Ryner]

He jumped out without hesitation. As he began his freefall, he took from his pocket dimension his railgun, released the safeties and aimed at the idiotic prince through the scope.

Inside Sakael, a splendid wooden platform was built at the large plaza where four streets intersected. The place was packed as citizens stood and watched with bated breaths. Those that couldn’t find a place were still able to see the historical event thanks to the giant projection in the sky. It was showing them everything that was happening in real time.

This phenomenon was the function a marvelous magic tool that was recently given to them. Its appearance was that of a metallic disk with a blue gem embedded in the middle. Four curved spikes were attached on the disk’s side with their tips turned to the gem. It was placed on the back of the platform and was giving off a gentle light as it sustained the giant projection.

Moreover, kneeling helplessly atop the platform were people that they would never be able to meet normally: the royal family of their country. Gagged and with their hands restrained behind their backs, the queen, the king and the two princesses had mortified expressions. Also, their knight commander, Klauss, was present with both his hands severed. He had been beaten several times to break his spirit. As such, bruises and cuts covered his body. Furthermore, just like the royalties, he had a collar around his neck that prevented him from using magic.

For each prisoner, one man was behind them, his sword drawn and ready to cut them down. Four others were standing guard on each corner. Moreover, their comrades were right in front of the platform, forming a line to keep the civilians away. Away from the plaza, the majority of their rebel army was on standby, waiting for their orders. They were the traitors that only recently succeeded their coup d’état and the one leading them was the prince of a foreign empire.

“TODAY, A NEW DAWN RISES!!!” [Sirius]

Sirius, former husband of the First Princess, Tiffany, proudly shouted to his subjects and raised his arms to the sky. His unsheathed sword gleamed under the light of the sun. The crowd that was practically threatened to attend his public display of power was unsettled and scared.

“FROM NOW ON, THIS COUNTRY SHALL BE RENAMED THE ROYAL SIRIUS EMPIRE!!!” [Sirius]

His expression was filled with triumph since he finally obtained what he wanted after failing. When Orga, the cloaked man, came to him back in his home country, he accepted his offer right away and left with him unnoticed. Now, just like he promised, he had a kingdom of his own to rule and to expand.

“… But, for my era to begin, the old one must be put to rest.” [Sirius]

Sirius muttered in a low voice and went towards his captives. The five were emaciated and wore tattered clothes to visually strip them of their high-ranked positions. They had been locked up and malnourished for several days, but besides Klauss, no one was injured.

The new king was about to change that.

He stood in front of Tiffany, his former wife. Her long blue hair was disheveled and lost its shine. Compared to her usual, radiant beauty, she was pitiful to look at. That was, of course, his fault. She was no longer the eldest princess of Garroth, but a prisoner.

And now, she was a sacrifice to his future.

“Tiffany.” [Sirius]

He signaled his subordinate standing behind her and he took off her gag.

“You once had the honor of being my wife, so I’ll spare you, if you swear your loyalty to me.” [Sirius]

That was the most he was willing to offer. Not only would she be spared, but she would be able to witness him turn her old kingdom into an empire. It was also to show the citizens that the royal family relented and admitted defeat. But-

“… I refuse.” [Tiffany]

She glared at him despite her unfavorable position and, after a few seconds of silence, rejected him.

“I was your wife in a political marriage for our countries. I never loved you.” [Tiffany]

“… A shame.” [Sirius]

“Ack…! Uk…” [Tiffany]

“I never loved you either, wench!” [Sirius]

“MNNNGH!!” [Leila]

The Second Princess, Leila, screamed with all her might through the gag. Sirius’ sword plunged through her older sister’s stomach. As he pulled it out, a great amount of blood flowed freely from the wound, staining Tiffany’s ragged clothes. She fell down limply as the blood slowly pooled around her.

Her mother, Clara, stared at her dying body with wide eyes, shaking in place, incapable of uttering a sound. Her father, Adrian, tried to stand up and attack Sirius in a fit of rage, but was knocked down by the man behind him. His eyes were bloodshot as grief and killing intent filled them. Her little sister, Leila, was crying in a muffled voice because of the cloth gagging her mouth. The man that led the knights, Klauss, gritted his teeth, frustrated by his powerlessness. He tried to use magic several times, but the magic shackles hindered his attempts.

The crowd that was forced to watch was horrified. Gasps and voices such as “The princess!” and “By the gods…” were accidentally released. Many covered their mouths with their hands to keep quiet. Parents hugged their children and did their best to comfort them.

They needed to behave. Besides the row of rebels in front of the platform, more were waiting on the rooftops of the houses surrounding them, bows and arrows in hands. If they attacked while everyone was tightly packed together, it was easy to imagine what would happen.

“My new queen will be your sister. You’re not needed.” [Sirius]

Sirius coldly declared and didn’t spare Tiffany another glance. However, Orga wanted her and he ended up killing her. He would need to appease him using some other woman. For now, what mattered was that Leila would soon be his. He could have assaulted her while she was imprisoned, but he wanted to do it properly on their wedding night. After all, she was a virgin. The satisfaction would be greater then. Still, she needed to be groomed up, get a proper bath and wash her blonde hair since her current, crying appearance wasn’t befitting of a future queen.

“I shall be king. The old matriarchal system will be overturned, just like you’ve been.” [Sirius]

He said to Clara, the queen and the one who held the real authority in the country. Although he planned on killing the shocked woman after her daughter, he changed his mind when he saw how much Adrian was still struggling.

The king would be his next sacrifice.

“Finally, after failing because of that man, it’s now mine.” [Sirius]

Drunk on his power, he spoke out loud and raised his sword up. The crowd was becoming frantic again, but no one dared to make a move. Clara, Leila and Klauss were desperately struggling and trying to say something, but couldn’t form words and only let out muffled voices.

“(It’s cold… It’s so cold…)” [Tiffany]

As if time was slowing down, Tiffany, who felt her body growing colder and colder as the pain receded, watched it all absentmindedly while shedding tears. She couldn’t believe how quickly things changed. Everything was turned upside down and she was dropped to hell. From her position, she stared at the sword that was raised in the air. It was going to take her father’s life next. No panic welled up, only sadness. A deep sadness that made her think about a certain man for comfort.

“(If you were here… You could save us… Like back then… Right…?)” [Tiffany]

He left a while ago, but she never forgot about him. She never forgot his name.

“R-Ry…… Ner…” [Tiffany]

That was the last word she muttered out before she died.

BANG

Right after her eyes lost their light, a roar resounded high above the sky. A split second later, Sirius’ hand that was holding the sword was blown off. He stared at the bloody stump, dumbfounded, before raising a scream filled with agony.

“GYAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! M-MY HAAAAAANNNNDDDD!!!” [Sirius]

He fell to his knees and tightly held his wrist in pain. His men, who were still reeling in shock by the sudden event, were defenseless as more attacks rapidly came from the sky. One by one, the rebels standing behind the captives had a hole blown through their heads. They reacted like headless chickens and couldn’t put up any decent defenses as they were easily killed. Those that used body strengthening to increase their defense couldn’t survive the attacks. They needed stronger protection than what their magic offered.

At the same time, the remaining four rebels that were originally standing in the corners raised their shields and hesitantly made their way to the injured future king while keeping an eye on their surroundings.

“LO, LOOK!!” [Citizen]

Someone from the screaming, panicking crowd shouted and pointed above. A black dot was growing bigger and bigger as it fell from the sky until the silhouette of a man could be seen. He fell on one of the rebels, killing him upon his landing. The armored man broke through the wooden platform and hit the stone pavement, hard. His armor was crushed and his body was destroyed.

“(I should have fixed it.)” [Ryner]

Thinking so, Ryner, who put on the broken mask he wore as an adventurer, jumped off the corpse and through the platform. He emerged from the hole he created and spotted the dead Tiffany. Ignoring the stunned looks of those around him, he rushed to her side just as smoke bombs that he had thrown while in the air finally fell down and hit the platform. A thick, black smokescreen hid him and caused those caught up in it to go into a coughing fit.

“(Sword wound to abdomen. Massive blood loss. Heart stopped. Dead.)” [Ryner]

While he quickly examined her condition, he took out a vial of healing potion and poured the green liquid on the wound. As if time was rewinding, the gaping cut was rapidly closing. Even on a dead body, the potion worked, and there was only one reason for that:

“(Fresh kill. Brain still functional.)” [Ryner]

Tiffany could still be saved.

That was why, next, he took out an adrenaline syringe and, turning her over, stabbed the needle through her chest. The content was directly injected into her heart.

“*Gaassssppp* Haa, ack! *cough cough* Haaa…!” [Tiffany]

The First Princess suddenly woke up and gasped. She drew in painful, ragged breaths, taking in the oxygen that her lungs demanded. Then, as her unfocused eyes wandered about aimlessly, she lost consciousness again.

“… There you go, kid.” [Ryner]

Seeing her quiet breathing, Ryner softly whispered to her before getting up. The smokescreen was still hanging in the air, hiding him. Three enemies were on the platform and guarding Sirius. He silently moved to them, unnoticed, and assassinated the three rebels by breaking the necks of the first two and slitting the last one’s throat by using his own dagger.

When the smoke cleared, everyone saw the current state on the platform and was utterly shocked. Moreover, it was clearly displayed in the sky by the magic tool. The rebels were all dead and a man wearing a damaged mask suddenly appeared. He stood in front of an injured Sirius, who was kneeling and groaning in pain.

“… Sup!” [Ryner]

“Buerg!” [Sirius]

After that casual greeting, Ryner planted his foot in his face, breaking his nose and causing blood to spurt out. Then, he stepped on the back of his head and pointed a sword he picked up at him. Before everyone, before the whole city, the future king that lead the coup d’état was lying on his side, holding his bloody stump, his face covered in blood and his head stepped on by some masked stranger. He was held at sword point, whimpers leaked from his mouth and the arrogance of a victor that he had a second ago was gone.

“I’ve got a hostage, people! Lay down your weapons, surrender and play nice!” [Ryner]

The unknown man shouted in a rather laidback manner to the ones in front of the platform and those on the roofs of the buildings. The chain of command was in disorder. The remaining forces in the plaza stared at each other, wondering what to do. Still, it was a fact that their leader and future king was captured.

“Hey, they’re not listening. You’re the leader, so tell them too.” [Ryner]

Since they still hadn’t decided whether to fight or to surrender, Ryner urged Sirius to speak up and have them stand down.

“Gah! Arrrggh!” [Sirius]

Also, he was grinding his foot and pressing his head in the wooden floor with more force, causing the prince’s whimpers to become screams.

“S-stand down! STAND DOWN!” [Sirius]

He shouted in panic, feeling like his head was about to be completely crushed. The rebels heard his order, but didn’t move as instructed. Most of them were mercenaries, thugs or bandits that were employed and promised great wealth in exchange. They weren’t loyal soldiers.

“DON’T SURRENDER!! KILL THAT BASTARD AND THE ROYAL FAMILY!! THIS COUNTRY IS OURS, MEN!! WE’LL LIVE LIKE KINGS!!!” [Rebel]

Someone shouted from amongst the men standing in front of the platform. Desiring the lifestyle of a noble, and perhaps, even a king, he decided to use this chance to take command. The rest of the rebels agreed and also chose to abandon their leader, who was a lost cause. The decision spread through the plaza. They had come this far, they didn’t want to lose everything now. There was no loyalty on their faces, only greed and desperation.

“W-wait! Wha, WHAT ARE YOU F-?! I’M YOUR KING!!” [Sirius]

“… Wow you suck at picking employees.” [Ryner]

Sirius screamed, shocked by the unexpected betrayal. His jumbled mind didn’t register Ryner’s complaint. Those below the platform turned their weapons on him. Those on the rooftops pulled their bowstrings. The citizens stuck in the plaza had been stunned by the rapid development and were only watching. However, their thinking finally changed from spectating from the side to trying their luck to escape. But, before anyone could make a move, a loud rumbling sound was heard coming from the sky.

“Relax.” [Ryner]

Although Ryner spoke as if to reassure Sirius, he didn’t take his foot off his head.

“You’re not gonna die yet.” [Ryner]

The black airplane, piloted by Evelyn, descended and hovered above the plaza.

“KYAAAA!!” [Crowd]

“MONSTER!!” [Crowd]

“RUN! RUN!” [Crowd]

Everyone was in an uproar, believing that a flying monster invaded the city. The citizens screamed and shouted. They ran while crouching, fleeing for their lives. The royal family, the knight commander and the prince stared, wide-eyed, while Ryner calmly watched the scene before him.

“She might be a pervert, but she’s reliable in battle.” [Ryner]

Two turrets could be seen below the plane’s nose. The vampire, while finding the machine interesting, aimed at the stunned and frightened rebels on the roofs. She pulled the trigger and, followed by the sound of gunfire, shredded their bodies with a storm of bullets. Even louder screams of terror could be heard coming from the fleeing citizens. The rebels, realizing that it was suicide to stay at their current position, scrambled to get off the buildings.

When no more archers could be seen, Evelyn moved the plane right in front of the platform. There were still the men in charge of keeping the citizens away. They had fallen on the ground, either powerlessly kneeling or sitting. They trembled in fright at the overwhelming might of the unknown flying monster.

“H-hii…! H-ha… Spare me…” [Rebel]

Crying, the man that issued the earlier command to betray Sirius muttered a plea, begging for his life. However, his plea went unnoticed by the vampire piloting the plane.

“Ryner’s enemies should all die.” [Evelyn]

She mercilessly fired on him and his men, shredding them to bits.

“That takes care of that. Now then…” [Ryner]

With no one left standing and the captives secured, Ryner shifted his focus to his hostage, who was dangerously close to dying of blood loss.

“Pl, pleahze…H-h-hulp…” [Sirius]

“If you tell me who and where all of your allies are, I might save you~.” [Ryner]

Planning on hunting down any remaining forces that Sirius may or may not have, he asked him in a cheerful voice. Luckily, he didn’t need to look very far since the entire city could see him. Many rebels, riled up, moved to the plaza in large numbers. They believed that they had to suppress this new threat that challenged them in front of everyone as soon as possible. The rest that were scared of the masked enemy and the flying monster stayed hidden. These people that knew the difference in power between them would be the survivors that lived the longest before being caught.