Layla’s former base. After changing, Miko headed downstairs where he was greeted by Momo and the others.

“Miko, are you okay now?”

Momo asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.”

“You look sharp, Miko. Fitting of an underworld boss.”

Ace said.

“Speaking of which, I heard that you still haven’t taken over Gael yet.”

“Yeah. We wanted to completely take it over before your trial but it was harder than we thought.”

Sora answered.

“There are some syndicates that are like cockroaches. No matter how many times we destroy them, they just come back.”

“Have you tried killing their leader?”

“Countless times. They just break up into smaller groups until a new leader reunites them again.”

“So they can live without their heads? They really are like cockroaches.”

Miko thought about it for about.

“If you had to give a percentage, how much of the empire’s underworld is under our control?”

“I’ll say around 70%. The other 30% belong to those in Gael.”

Layla answered.

“That’s more opposition than I wanted…..”

Miko stayed silent for a bit and then spoke-

“Alright, brief me on who our opponents are and their fighting force. We may have 70% but that 70% is scattered across the empire. I want to make here our stronghold, so it’s meaningless if it isn’t conquered.”

“Shouldn’t you rest up some more Miko? You were imprisoned in inhuman conditions for almost half a year.”

“I would like to rest, but this is a race against time. I can’t afford to slack off.”

“No. You’re resting.”

“?!”

Miko’s body flinched when he heard a voice that shouldn’t have been here. He quickly turned around and saw his mother behind him.

“Mama?!”

He immediately covered his mouth after shouting.

“Did he just say, mama?”

“What’s this? Miko still calls his mother in a childish way?”

Sora and Ace burst out laughing.

“I think it’s because he was caught off guard.”

Momo said.

“Either way, it’s surprisingly cute.”

Layla said. Miko’s face was turning red from their comments, but he managed to compose himself.

“Mother, How did you find me so quickly?”

“Don’t you mean Mama?”

*Bam!*

The seat Ace and Sora were sitting on exploded, causing them to be flung across the room.

“How did I find you? Mother’s intuition.”

Sasha replied.

“She had a tracker installed in you when you were a kid and was being kidnapped on a regular basis.”

Mill looked and saw Kimiko standing at his side.

“Nana? You’re here too.”

“Nana?!”

“Hahahaha!”

Ace and Sora burst out laughing again.

*Bam!*

They were hit by another explosion which flung them across the room again.

“Wait? I have a tracker installed in me? Where?”

Miko started checking his body.

“It’s a secret.”

Sasha replied.

“More importantly….”

She approached him and placed her hand on him.

“You need to rest. So you’re coming home. Your father is already there.”

“Sorry, But I got things to doooo~!”

Before he could finish speaking, Sasha flung him over her shoulder and started leaving with him.

“Anyway, we’re going home. You can explain everything to me there.”

After saying that, she left with the struggling Miko.

“Sasha looks like she’s overjoyed to get her son back.”

Tia said.

“Oh? You can tell?”

Kimiko approach Tia.

“It’s been a long time daughter of Hel. You look good.”

“So do you, Tiamat.”

The two stared at each other for a while in silence.

“Ok, everyone. Let’s relocate to Miko’s home. With his invincible grandmother there there’s nothing to fear.”

Tia suddenly said. She then showed Kimiko a smug look which pissed her off. Everyone else looked at each with confused looks.

Sasha dragged Miko back to the capital, completely disregarding his awesome exit the same day. Everyone else followed him and they were now at his home.

“Um…Father, could you help me out here?”

Miko was laying on a couch with his head being forced to rest in Sasha’s lap. He pleaded to his father for help, but Leon seemed to be enjoying his discomfort.

“You should just bare it. Your mother was extremely worried about you, so just spoil her a bit.”

Leon said with a laugh.

“Then….What exactly are you doing?”

Miko was referring to the fact that he was being petted by his father.

“Don’t mind me.”

Leon responded with a smile.

“Enough, you two. Can’t you see that he’s uncomfortable.”

Kimiko said. Sasha allowed Miko to sit up and Leon stopped petting him.

“Good.”

Kimiko patted her lap.

“Now, Miko. Come sit on Nana’s lap and tell her everything those bad men did to you while I was gone.”

“You’re not much better!”

Miko retorted.

“Geez…..I know that you guys were worried, but I’m fine now.”

He crossed his legs and lean back.

“I don’t have time to spare. I need to prepare everything as quickly as possible.”

“If you’re referring to the Flamehearts? I can handle it for you.”

Kimiko said.

“No, I need to handle everything myself. I need to show the world that I can stand up and face any adversary with my own strength. I can’t rely on what I was born with, I need to accomplish everything with my own efforts.”

Miko said with a straight face.

“Besides, I have a plan.”

“First, I wanna hear from your own mouth.”

Sasha looked at him.

“What exactly went down with you and Darius, and what do you plan to do with all the power you’re gathering?”

Miko looked around and then started to narrate what happened between him and Darius. How they met, what kind of relationship developed between them, Darius’ tragic past, and him inheriting his will.

“As I said at the trial, Darius and I are one. I’ve inherited his everything and had my eyes opened because of his sacrifice. For that, I owe him. That’s why I plan on carrying out his last wish. For me to live enough for both of our shares. I plan to make good use of everything he left me.”

He said.

“I’ve joined this bloody war for the throne with half-hearted feelings, and now I’m fated to walk the road of carnage dragging everyone I cared about into the war with me. To make up for that and in order to live just like how Darius wished for me to live, I need to be smarter, faster, stronger, and more prepared than anyone. I need to become an existence that can stand above all.”

“Even so, Miko. Rushing will get you nowhere. I’ve seen many geniuses crash and burn because they rushed ahead, losing their heads to someone who took their time to build their foundation.”

Kimiko warned.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Nana. I’m not rushing. I’m calmly thinking what’s next and what needs to be done. It’s just that you’re all underestimating me too much that you think I’m rushing.”

He stood up.

“I’m fine. Trust me.”

“……..”

“If he says he’s fine, then he’s fine.”

Tia, who walked into the room eating a piece of cake, said with a carefree voice.

“Miko isn’t weak. He’s my Proxy after all.”

“Oi, is that the cake I had in the fridge?”

Sasha stood up had a murderous look on her face.

“I was saving that for Miko.”

“Really? It’s not bad.”

Tia put another piece in her mouth and smiled. At that moment, Regis and Ishma transform from their sword forms and appeared beside of Tia.

“That cake looks good.”

“Mama, can I get a taste?”

“Hey, leave my cake alone!”

Sasha approached them and an argument over cake broke out.

“Miko.”

Kimiko called out to Miko.

“I’ll allow you to do as you please as a show of respect. However, don’t be afraid to ask if you need any of our help.”

Miko’s nodded.

“Of course.”

He looked at everyone.

“My goal is currently one thing. Create my own country at Gael, for that, a lot of stuff must be done.”

He smiled.

“Renacido, it’s time we get to work.”

At a town in Gael. Things have calmed down compared to how it was a month ago where everyone was scrambling to make a name for themselves and entered the race to be Nebulous’ successor. With Renacido and other big gangs raising up, “Calm” had returned to the country.

Currently, someone was walking down the streets dressed sharply in a blazer suit. He was Miko. He spotted a group of men dressed in leather and wearing orange bandannas. He smiled and approached them.

“Good evening.”

“Hm?”

All looked at him wondering what he wanted.

“Hey, doesn’t this girl look familiar?”

One of them asked.

“You know, I think you’re right.”

“Where have we…”

They all paused for a bit before tensing up.

“Mi-”

*Bam!*

A burst of flames hit them and roasted them to death and setting the buildings near them on fire. Miko stood in front of the fire with a smile on his face.

“What happened?!”

“Which bastard had the guts to attack us?!”

More men with orange bandannas came running, well armed and ready to fight.

“That would be me.”

Miko turned and faced them.

“You…..Aren’t you Miko?!”

“Looks like you’re quicker than those guys over there.”

He indicated to the men he just casually roasted.

“Now then, who can guess why I’m here?”

“……..”

No one answered. They all silently readied themselves for battle.

“What? No guesses? Well, aren’t you guys boring.”

Miko said with a disappointed look on his face

“I’m here to make you all a proposition.”

“We’ll never work under you!”

“That’s right! We’re finally free of Nebulous! We won’t be enslaved again!”

He immediately receive opposition before he could finish speaking.

“I see. But I’m not here to ask you to work under me. I’m giving you all an opportunity to ride the new wave. You’ll be under some supervision, but you won’t be treated like slaves, but rather workers. You’ll be given benefits of course.”

“Hmph, you say that after killing our guys? Bullshit!”

“Oh, this? This was me sending a message.”

He showed a devilish smile.

“I don’t need your measly lives, they mean nothing to me. I’m only giving you all a way to survive.”

His words immediately angered the men.

“Kill him! Kill this motherfucker!”

They all charged at Miko all at once.

“Looks like negotiations have broken down.”

*Bam!*

He swung his arm and smashed in the face of the nearest person to him. The others watched as the body flew into the distance, leaving them speechless.

“But this is great.”

Miko started taking off his blazer and unbuttoned his shirt.

“I need a good workout after being locked away for so long.”

His skin started changing into azure scales and his teeth started looking like fangs, and nails grew long and sharp like swords. His transformation frightened the men.

“My dragon blood is boiling.”

He lowered his center gravity.

“Help me calm it!”

*Bam!*

He moved with an explosive step which caused the ground to crack.

“K-Kill him!”

*Bam!*

Mill slammed into the gang of men blowing dozens away with broken limbs and shattered bones. It was like a truck had run into them. He turned around and slammed his leg on the nearest person. That person’s body bent into a > shape as it was blown to the side.

He then swung his claw separated a couple torsos from their waists. He then bulldozed his way through the crowd and slammed five persons into a building.

*Bam!*

The building walls cracked and started to crumble. The piece of the wall he crashed into had pieces of flesh, which used to be people, stuck to it. He turned and faced the men.

“Come, gangsters, thugs, and outlaws! I’ll show you what true terror is.”

“He’s really enjoying himself.”

Not too far away, the others who were at the house were watching Miko.

“This gang is the most violent and savage of all of the gangs who opposed us. Miko decided that it was better to destroy them than trying to control them.”

Said Layla.

“He said that they had too much personality and that people like that are too hard to control. Since we’re in a delicate phase we can’t afford for any mishaps so it’s better to destroy them.”

“That’s good judgment.”

Kimiko said.

“Looks like Darius’ experience have benefited him greatly.”

“Well, Miko has always been smart. What he lacked was experience, and now he got it.”

Tia smiled.

“It will be really hard to keep him down now.”

“He made Hina and others approach the other gangs right?”

Momo asked.

“Yeah. When we were making a name for ourselves we only used brute strength, but thanks to our display at the trial everyone knows that we have immense military strength too. Most of the remaining Dons should submit to us now.”

Said Layla.

“I see.”

Kimiko looked at Miko with a proud look.

“Looks like my grandson is about to become a king.”