A few days after Miko had left the Dragna clan.

Alec was sitting in the Royal Garden with his sister, Kirika.

“Man, Miko’s departure is sure causing a lot of problems.”

Alec said.

“We’ve gain an immense amount of new land to rule over, which sounds like a dream at first, but because of that we’re facing problems such as how to split the land among the branches.”

He said.

“The war left majority of the continent’s population in the grave after all. Because of that, all of those who once ruled various sections of the continent either died or was imprisoned as war criminals.”

Kirika said.

“This means that the continent needs to be divided again into new countries with new citizens, with new rulers. It’s a lot to consider.”

“I’m starting think that the real reason Miko left was to avoid doing just this.”

Alec said with a sigh.

“The real problem is that we currently don’t have a leader to deal with all this stuff.”

At that moment, someone walked up to the table. It was Nova’s eldest son Christian.

“Oh, Christian. Have a seat, have a seat.”

Alec enthusiastically told Christian to sit.

“It looks like that treatment I developed for you is working.”

Christian nodded.

“I haven’t randomly fallen asleep for a while now.”

He answered.

“Back to what I was saying.”

He then went back on topic.

“Because of Miko’s departure and all of the branch leaders out of commission, the empire is without a leader. As such, all important decisions have been put on hold.”

Alec nodded.

“I agree. In the past, Miko would’ve already handled everything because he would’ve predicted this outcome. However, because he had no intention to stay after the war, he never created any plans and left us to fend for ourselves.”

“Well, at least for now this hasn’t been made public; otherwise we would’ve become targets for all the powerhouses.”

Said Christian.

Alec sighed.

“Being a headless clan sure is hard.”

“Ah, no.”

Kirika spoke up and pointed at Alec.

“Aren’t you the Emperor now? Why are you making it sound like none of this is your problem?”

“Me, Emperor?”

Alec laughed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“No. Miko clearly declared you as his successor if he didn’t return.”

Kirika said.

“Yes, but he also said that if Nero returned that he would be the emperor. Both him and Nero had returned, hence my succession is invalid. It’s not my fault that he left and Nero is in a coma. They’re both alive so one of them is the emperor. I’m a free man.”

Alec explained.

“It’s amazing how you’re able to twist events in your favor, so casually.”

Kirika said while frowning.

“I’m not twisting anything, I’m just stating the truth.”

Alec answered.

“Just man up and take the throne.”

“I don’t wanna!”

Alec whined.

“Becoming emperor means that I’ll have to deal with mountains of paperwork, go to countless meetings, make difficult decisions, and worst of all my actions will be seen as the actions of the empire! I don’t want that! I want to get drunk, sleep with women, and mess around with anyone without being judged!”

“No. You’ll be judged if you do that either way.”

Kirika said.

“I want freedom!”

Alec ignored her and shouted.

“Just let the elders take over until the branch leaders wake up.”

He added.

“That can’t happen. The elders will definitely try to keep the power in their branches, which would lead to an ugly power struggle that could end up causing the empire’s destruction.”

Christian said.

His words were true. This was evident from when the five branches had just reunited. A power struggle ensued which had to be stopped by Miko interfering and taking all the power for himself.

“Then what about the last king before Miko?”

“Dario is dead.”

Christian said.

“What about his father, Marcel? He was the king before Dario wasn’t he? And he’s strong too; well, not as strong as the branch leaders but he has experience.”

“He’s no good.”

Christian replied.

“Was he a bad leader?”

Kirika asked.

“Rather than a bad leader, he was just Rouge’s proxy in a way. He held power, but Rouge made all of the important decisions. Rouge was the true king, not him.”

“I see. So without Rouge he’s useless.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

Said Christian.

“Then what about Joesph Flameheart?”

Alec said.

“He has strength, experience, and insight fitting of a leader. Even more so than the branch leaders themselves. What’s more, he was Augustus student.”

“Are you suggesting letting another clan rule the Dragna empire?”

Kirika asked with a surprise voice.

“Why not? They’re our allies and are a part of the empire as much as we are. Not to mention that he’s completely loyal to Miko and the clan. The chance of him turning against us is zero.”

Alec said.

“He does sound like the ideal candidate to run things, at least until the branch leaders recover.”

Said Christian.

“Then its settled. We’ll ask him to take over for a bit.”

Said Alec.

“But can you convince him?”

Kirika asked, to which Alec nodded.

“He’s my Senior Martial Brother, so I’m sure he’ll listen.”

“Ah, I forgot. You did say that that woman was one of Augustus Generals and that she made you her heir.”

Said Kirika.

“You met one of the Divine Generals? That’s impressive.”

Said Christian.

“Where is she now?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

Alec had a little wry air to him after he said that.

“Alright, lets switch topics since it’s the three of us.”

He suddenly said.

“Lets discuss Miko’s message, what it meant, and whether what he said was true or not.”

“You mean we not being on the same level as him? I believe he’s purposely provoking us.”

Said Kirika.

“I think so as well. He wants us to stay away from him, but he also doesn’t want us to waste our potential because of him. So to ensure that we don’t, he provoked us into wanting to prove him wrong, and the only way to do that is to become stronger.”

Alec said.

“Really? To me it seems like he’s running away more than anything.”

Christian interjected.

“I believe that after really looking into himself, he realized just what kind of existence he was, and foresaw his future. He said it himself, his path will be filled with bones and blood. I think the main reason he left was to ensure that his love ones don’t become some of the bones on his path.”

He crossed arms in front of him.

“I personally don’t think his choice was wrong. Miko is indeed a special existence, I mean he’s our progenitor’s reincarnation after all.”

He said.

“I mean, let’s be honest. Special people tend to devour those around them, whether they want to or not. It’s the curse that comes with their superiority, and most of them go their entire lives without being truly understood and have to lower themselves just to fit in. Well, I’ve never done anything like that, so I can’t really relate.”

He added.

“I can’t relate either.”

Said Alec.

“Well, if they’re anyone who can qualify to be Miko’s equals it would be you two.”

Kirika said.

“You two are special enough to go toe to toe with Miko in the future.”

“You say that as if you can’t do so as well, sis.”

Said Alec.

He rest his elbows on the table.

“I’ll admit that I’m superior to you, but it’s not like you’re all that far behind me.”

Kirika shook her head.

“I know my limits. You’ll definitely surpass me and go beyond what I’m capable of.”

“You know, I really hate that inferior complex you have towards me.”

Alec said with a sigh.

“In my eyes, if we leave out the older generation, who lost the means to improve because of the lack of competition, then there only four people in our generation who can hope to rival Miko.”

Christian interjected.

“The three of us here and Momo.”

He said.

“The four of us possess something that separates us from the rest, and the three of you were Miko’s masters for a reason. He acknowledged you as people worthy enough to guide him. That alone shows your uniqueness.”

Alec nodded in agreement.

“Not only that, Miko had a good eye for talent. He surrounded himself with geniuses, but he left because these geniuses were having their existence and talents devoured by being around him.”

Alec smiled.

“You could say that he was liberating himself, or that he was liberating them. It depends on how you view it.”

“So what should we do? Leave him alone, or give in to his provocation and try to prove him wrong?”

Christian asked.

“I’m taking up his challenge.”

Kirika said.

“I’m just going to do things my way and don’t do either. Whether Miko sees me as an equal or anything doesn’t really matter to me. I’m just going to do me, I’m sure our paths will cross whether we like it or not.”

Alec answered.

“What about you, Christian?”

“I’m not particularly close to him, but I would like trying to compete against someone for a change.”

“I see.”

Alec nodded.

“As for Momo, its obvious what she’ll do.”

In the Primus World, loud explosions were resounding in a mountain range. The ones causing these explosive sounds were Momo and Rihan.

Momo was throwing punches and kicks at Rihan, who used one arm to block and redirect them. Seeing that her attacks weren’t working, Momo created some distance between the two of them.

She mumbled something under her breath, however before she could activate her spell Rihan was already in front of her.

*Bam!*

He hit her with a finger flick to the forehead, which forced her out of the air and onto the ground.

“Do you want a break?”

Rihan asked as she laid out on her back.

“I’m fine.”

She struggled to her feet.

“I-I can continue.”

Her knee suddenly gave out and she fell on all fours.

“We’re taking a break. Your hard work would be wasted if you end up destroying your body.”

Rihan landed on the ground and said.

“I still can go on.”

Momo said stubbornly.

Rihan sighed when he saw her like that.

“Momo, why do you have to push yourself so far?”

“Because I refused to let him say that I’m not worthy enough to walk beside him!”

She replied.

“I am his master. Where does he get the nerve to say that I’m not on his level?”

Momo gritted her teeth and said.

“So it’s your pride as his master that’s pushing you?”

Rihan asked.

“That’s right!”

He shook his head.

“You’re lying.”

He said.

“What’s pushing you to go this far isn’t your pride, but your desire to be with him.”

Rihan sat on a boulder and said.

“If I was to break it down further, you just don’t want him to abandon you like everyone else.”

“………”

Momo didn’t answer and only kept trying to get up.

“My niece, I’ve seen the suffering and the pain that you’ve experienced. For this reason I can’t and will not abandon you.”

Rihan said.

“Are those words meant for me, or are they meant for my mother?”

She looked up at him and asked.

“Uncle, I know what kind of person you are, just as much as you know what kind of person I am. You, just like everyone else, only see my mother when you look at me and not myself.”

She said.

“Whether it be gramps, Uncle Nova, Aeon, or everyone else in the branch; no one looks at me and see Momo, they only see their beloved dearly missed Sonia.”

Rihan smiled at her words and didn’t attempt to correct them.

“I honestly don’t remember much about my mother, but I can tell from the way everyone longs for her, she was an amazing person.”

She looked at him with a sharp gaze.

“I am not my mother, I am myself.”

“I see. So the reason why you’re so gravitated towards Miko is because he sees you as yourself, unlike everyone else around you.”

Rihan nodded as if agreeing with himself.

“Well, he has never met your mother so he won’t see anyone but you when he looks at you.”

He smiled.

“But you’re wrong about something, Momo. When I look at you, I don’t see your mother; after all, the two of you are different. Your mother was an unruly brat of a sister, but she was still my sister.”

He said.

“I favor you because of who you are, not because of who you look like. I favor you because you are my flesh and blood. Our origins are similar, but our choices are different.”

“………”

Momo looked at his smiling face and couldn’t help but to feel familial love towards it.

“But I can understand you trying your best to not lose Miko. After all, you’ve already lost so much.”

Rihan suddenly said.

“At a very young age, your father and brother committed a great crime and left you at the mercy of others. Because of that, you also lost your mother, but gained your grandfather and uncle in returned. However, your grandfather and uncle couldn’t help themselves from seeing your mother in you, which made you questioned if you’re truly loved.”

He smiled.

“But thankfully, you had someone by your side who was experiencing the same things as you; your older twin Vanz.”

Momo’s body twitched when she heard that name.

“I don’t want to talk about him, uncle.”

She mumbled weakly.

“On the contrary, I think you need to. Vanz has been a like a chain holding you down for so many years. If you truly want to grow you need to free yourself from his curse.”

‘Both you and Aeon.’

Rihan thought to himself.

“Free myself?”

Her body started to tremble.

“How can I free myself when every time I look in the mirror I see his face…How can I free myself when I’m always reminded that I was the one who killed him?!”

She shouted. She sat down.

“I killed the person I loved the most, and now someone else I love has abandoned me. Is this karma?”

She said.

“Karma? Such a thing doesn’t exist. If it did I would’ve died a long time ago.”

Rihan said jokingly.

“Anyway, take a rest. You’re in no condition to train.”

He turned around.

“Wait, Uncle.”

However, Momo called out to him.

“I’m fine, really. I’m not the type to cry and do nothing.”

She stood up.

“I hate those type of people the most. I want to become someone who can walk on the same path as Miko, not only because I want to prove him wrong. I want to convince myself.”

She looked at him with a determined look in her eyes.

“I want to convince myself that me surviving this long after everything, is because I’m destined for something great. I want to convince myself that me being alive while Vanz isn’t wasn’t a mistake.”

Rihan smiled when he heard that.

‘She’s just acting tough. I know that, but….’

He looked at her more closely.

“I like that look in her eyes.”

He approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Alright, as a reward for your determination I’ll teach you something that will help you achieve your long time goal.”

He smiled and said-

“I’ll teach you how to use your Demon heritage to the fullest.”