“You want me to give you this country?”

“That’s right. I know it’s within your ability; so don’t even try to say that you people don’t own this country.”

“….It is indeed within my ability. However…”

Mari smiled.

“I don’t think that would be interesting at all.”

“Oh, then what do you propose?”

“How about this? There’s a war brewing for this country; join this battle and if you win I’ll allow you to keep the spoils.”

“I was planning on doing so already. How is that helping me?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. You know that no one can truly fight for the throne without our permission. If a random person was to try and dethrone Bloom, they would be eliminated by us. Only those that we feel are worthy can dream of ruling this country.”

“So the Pillars were given your blessing. Hahaha, are they a test for Bloom?”

“If one cant defend their throne than they don’t deserve it in the first place.”

“How cruel.”

“I merely wish to help her develop. You’re far worse than me. You want to ruin her.”

“For good reasons. In fact, I believe that the motives behind our actions are the same. We both know what kind of future she’ll have if things stayed as they were.”

Mari said nothing and just smiled.

“Anyway, I’ll accept your invitation to join this madness.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The Silver Nest, as expected the place was heavily guarded and was crawling with people wearing a Silver Crow on their clothes.

“Anything?”

Jin asked a soldier who was standing guard.

“No, nothing yet.”

“I see. Keep guard.”

“Yes.”

Jin walked away with a serious expression.

“I know it’s been just a day but I thought Miko would make a move by now….He’s oddly quiet.”

“Boss.”

Nico and Axel approached Jin with serious expressions on their faces.

“What? Did Miko make a move?”

“No….”

“What’s wrong? Hurry up and speak.”

The brothers looked at each other before Axel stepped out to speak.

“It’s kaido. We’ve been trying to get to him since yesterday but we were unsuccessful. We got worried and went to visit his home…..When we got there the house was completely destroyed….Kaido and Hana were nowhere to be found.”

“What did you say? Missing? They’re missing?”

Jin was visibly shaken.

“How is this possible? Were they killed? Ugh….Why at a time like this?! That idiot!”

He looked at the brothers.

“Did you tell Bloom?”

“No, we came to you first.”

“Good decision. We don’t want to burden her with anything at the moment. Leave this to me, I’ll-”

*BOOM!*

Suddenly a loud explosion rocked the building.

“What’s going on?!”

While Miko and Bloom were having an important meeting, an event that rocked the very core of this city and threw the power balance out of harmony had occurred. It all began at the home of Kaido and Hana.

“Miko and Bloom should be talking right now.”

Hana delivered a cup of coffee to Kaido who was sitting in the dark.

“Are you still upset about today?”

“….Yeah.”

“I’m glad.”

Kaido looked at Hana with a confused look. She smiled and explained herself.

“I’m happy because it means that you consider Miko a friend.”

“It does?”

“Yup.”

She sat beside Kaido.

“Did you know? You tend to fight a lot with the people you’re close to while you speak formally with those you don’t consider your friends. It’s really cute.”

She laughed a bit.

“You would always bicker with Miko when he came here, so I knew that he was someone you had already considered a friend.”

“Wait, by that logic then isn’t Jin my best friend?”

“Isn’t he?”

Kaido burst out laughing. Hana only kept smiling and rested her head on his shoulders.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Miko has a reason why he’s acting the way he is.”

“….I already know that.”

The two sat in silence while they enjoyed each other’s company.

“Young love, how nostalgic.”

“?!”

The two sprung up when they heard an unfamiliar voice. In front of them, they saw a tall, muscular man with brown skin and green hair that was tied into a ponytail. He had tattooed of various beasts on his thick arms and was wearing military theme clothing. Kaido and Hana’s eyes widen when they saw the man because they recognized him.

“Bastian Brant.”

“It’s been a while, you two. Have you been well?”

The man called Bastian smiled at the two.

“Why are you in our home?”

“That brat Gear said that it’s time for you to come over to our side, so I came to come get you.”

“You make it sound as if I’ll just say ok and follow you. I’m loyal to Bloom.”

“Oh, I’m quite aware of that, we all are. I was just sent here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

“What kind of offer?”

“Anything that would make you motivated. For example…”

He pointed at Hana.

“If you join us I won’t have to kill her in front of you.”

“!”

Kaido’s eyes instantly became bloodshot and his pupils resembled those of a beast.

“I’ll kill you if you try.”

“See? Just mentioning her has gotten you this motivated.”

Bastian laughed and gently pushed Kaido’s shoulders.

*Bam!*

Kaido’s body was blown out of the house without being able to resist.

“It’s good that you’re motivated and everything but don’t allow the emotions control you cause you to make empty threats.”

Bastian smiled brightly.

“I mean, the chances of you killing me, the strongest Pillar, are slim to none.”

He spread his arms.

“But as someone who loves to nurture the next generation, I’ll allow you to give it your best shot.”

Kaido burst back through the wall and charged at Bastian while roaring at the top of his lungs. Bastian smiled and lifted his hand.

A few minutes later, Bastian was looking at the pile of rubble in front of him with a satisfied expression.

“You did well, Kaido. You actually were able to touch me. It’s proof of your growth.”

He spoke to kaido who was covered in blood and was laying under large chunks of rubble. Bastian held an unconscious Hana under his arm as he turned his back to kaido.

“I’ll give you a chance to reclaim your woman. Meet me on the borders of the Red Light District and Romix, I’ll fight you again. You have an hour.”

He started to leisurely walk away.

“Don’t keep us waiting.”

“……..”

Kaido was left alone with his entire body aching.

“No one’s making a fuss, which means that a sound-canceling device was set up in the area. I can’t contact Bloom for help because of her meeting with Miko that’s bound to keep her occupied…..Which means that I’m on my own.”

Kaido lifted the rubble off him and started dragging his body forward until he was able to stand up. Determination burned in his eyes like wild flames and he made sluggish steps in Bastian’s direction.

“Wait for me, Hana!”

At the border of Romix and the Red Light District was an open land that stretched for nearly a mile. On this open land, Bastian Brant was sitting on an old rusty drum with Hana laying at his feet. He smiled when he saw someone walking in the distance.

“I gave you an hour and you’re here with 15 minutes to spare. You must be eager.”

Kaido took out a metallic ball out of his pocket and squeezed it. The ball then transformed into a 7ft tall glaive. Kaido lifted the glaive and pointed it at Bastian.

“Give Hana back.”

“Whew~. I heard that you used a glaive but this is the first time I’ve seen you with it. You must really be serious.”

Bastian stood up and started walking towards Kaido.

“The last time you came charging at me, this time I’ll take the lead.”

Bastian kicked off the ground and charged at Kaido, who held his ground and swung down his glaive.

*Bam!*

Bastian blocked the glaive with his arm and the ground underneath him cracked open.

“What Incredible strength, but..”

He pushed kaido back with his arm and forced him to step back.

“Too bad that it just isn’t enough.”

Bastian clenched his fist and punched Kaido in the stomach causing an explosive sound. However, that was it. Kaido’s body didn’t move an inch.

“I see. You’ve already activated Behemoth’s power to increase your weight and defenses.”

Bastian smirked and hit Kaido with another punch, but he still didn’t budge. He then started raining down an assault of powerful blows on Kaido’s body.

“Your defense is indeed impressive if you focus on defending with everything you’ve got, but it can’t last forever, can it?”

Slowly but surely Kaido’s body started moving under the force of the punches.

(He can’t last much longer, but this tactic of his is strange. I know that he can’t utilize his full strength because of the injuries he suffered earlier, which is why I expected him to come at me desperately....And yet, he’s only defending.)

Bastian smiled. He suddenly twisted his body to avoid a strike from Hana’s sword.

“Which means that this is all a diversion.”

He stretched his hand out to grab Hana.

*Bam!*

His stretched out arm was hit by Kaido’s glaive so hard that Bastian almost fell over.

“Don’t touch her!”

Kaido gripped his glaive tightly and slashed at Bastian’s head. Bastian ducked under it and immediately saw Hana’s rapier thrusting towards his face. He thrust his palm forward and stop the strike with a palm attack, but he kicked in the side of his head by Kaido. He stumbled to the side and was immediately attacked from the front and the back by the two.

“Impressive teamwork.”

Bastian twisted his body to avoid Hana’s rapier which was the closest to hitting him, and then grabbed Kaido’s glaive while his back was turned and pulled Kaido, and then slammed him into Hana.

“Ahh?!”

Hana screamed out in agony after feeling like she was hit with a truck.

“Your heaviness has caused your woman lots of pain.”

Kaido quickly undid his weight increase to ease Hana’s pain.

“And I was waiting for that!”

Bastian popped up in front of Kaido and slammed his leg in his midsection. The sounds of Kaido’s ribs breaking reached their ears.

“Your heaviness and defense go hand in hand. You can’t deactivate one without deactivating the other.”

Bastian lifted kaido by the throat and then slammed him on top of Hana. The ground cracked open and Hana was forced into the ground with severe injuries.

“Looks like you’re still not up to the challenge, Kaido. I understand why Gear wants you on our side but the current you are too conservative for my taste. I prefer when you were wild and bold back when you got along with Natasa and myself. Bloom Newgate has made you weak. So weak that you can’t even protect the woman you love.”

Bastian picked him up.

“Well, there are many ways to fix that….Hm?”

When Bastian picked up Kaido he immediately noticed that Hana was gone. Only a hole was left in her place.

“Did she-?”

*BAM!*

Suddenly a giant root burst out of the ground and stabbed Bastian in the chest, forcing him into the air and causing him to let go of Kaido. Before Kaido’s body touched the ground, several roots caught him and Hana appeared from underground. Roots were growing out of her body and her swords while she was surrounded by a green glow.

“I forgot that you had plant-based abilities.”

Bastian cut the root that was piercing him and landed on the ground.

“That was a good shot, but I want you to hand him over.”

“You’ll have to kill me first.”

Hana waved her hand and giant roots burst out of the ground and charged at Bastian while spinning like drills. He dodged them with fast movements and then charged at Hana. She gripped her rapier and charged at him as well. She thrust her sword at his chest, which he evaded by slightly twisting his body. However, he couldn’t evade a bunch of roots that came at him from behind. The blow caused him to stumble forward and into an elbow strike from Hana. He clicked his tongue and threw a punch at her head, which missed her after she was dragged away by a root that was wrapped around her leg. Bastian accelerated and chased after her with a stomp. The root flung her into the air and helped her avoid him. A flower made of light appeared at her feet, which she used as a foothold to fire herself at Bastian. Bastian threw a punch at her but she was dragged to the side by a root, which flung her back at him immediately after. An image of a blooming rose appeared behind Hana, as she thrust her rapier at him.

“Rose Thorn!”

Bastian stood his ground and clenched his fist. One of the beast tattoos on his arm started glowing while he threw the punch.

“Bear Fist!”

*BAM!*

The rapier snapped when it clashed with the fist and charged towards Hana.

*Bam!*

The fist hit her in the chest and sent her flying with blood gushing out of her mouth. Her body bounced off the ground a couple times before laying out on the ground.

“….Despite being weaker than Kaido she gave me more trouble than he did. This must be because she had resolved herself to die fighting me which means…”

Bastian looked around and as he expected Kaido was nowhere to be seen.

“She put her life on the line to buy time so that she could bring him to safety. I’ll be a hypocrite if I didn’t admit that she was pretty badass.”

“Cough! Cough!”

Bastian turned his head and saw Hana breathing heavily with blood all over her mouth.

“She’s actually still alive. She’s tougher than she looks.”

Bastian walked up to Hana and looked down on her.

“You know, I always thought that you would end up being a burden for kaido but today you’ve proven me wrong. You even saved him. You’ve earned my respect. As such, I’ll grant you a painless death.”

Hana said nothing and just continued to breathe heavily. Bastian lifted his arm but soon brought it down and turned his head to the side.

“Even after she gave it her all to save you, you came back on your own? Are you willing to give up your life for love?”

“Shut up, she doesn’t get to decide that. I’m the only one who will make the sacrifices around here.”

Seeing Kaido limping towards her, tears flowed from Hana’s eyes. Kaido stood in front of her and faced Bastian.

“I’ll betray everyone and join you guys! But if you dare touch Hana again I’ll show you a beast you’ve never seen before!”

Bastian smiled.

“That’s fine by me.”

Present time. The Silver Nest had just been attacked and Jin was speechless when he saw who the attacker was.

“Kaido?!”

Kaido looked down on Jin and the others with a cold look.

“I have a message for your queen.”

He pointed his glaive at Jin who was visibly fuming.

“The Four Pillars says hello.”