Newgate City. Jin was sitting in a hospital room with Bloom sleeping on a bed in front of him. She was hooked up to an IV Unit and had a troubled expression on her face.

“It seems that even in your dreams, you’re tormented.”

Jin sighed and closed the book he was reading and stood up.

“Well, I should get going now. I’ll come visit you with Sapphire later.”

*Bam!*

“Boss Jin!”

A soldier burst into the room and was immediately grabbed by his throat and slammed against the wall.

“Oi, do you realize where you are?”

His glare sharpened.

“How dare you cause a racket here?”

“M-My apologizes, Boss. Forgive me.”

Jin glared at the soldier for a bit before releasing him.

“Speak. It better be important.”

The soldier nodded while coughing a little.

“We just received reports that Romix, Elon, and Sawyer are all under attack.”

“What?”

Jin glanced at Bloom behind him before indicating to the soldier that they’re leaving the room. Once they were outside, Jin continued the conversation.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. The reports are flowing in as we speak.”

“Shit.”

Jin started walking and the soldier followed behind him.

“You’re telling me that Miko, who has the smallest faction is attacking all Four Pillars at once? Does he even have the manpower to do that?”

He paused and looked at the soldier.

“How many people are attacking the three cities?”

“The reports estimate it to be around 200.”

“200? That’s insane and yet it’s what I expected to hear.”

Jin increased his speed and quickly lost the soldier.

“Silver Crow, gather around!”

He shouted once he reached the Silver Nest.

“Boss, we’re here.”

Nico and others quickly gathered.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard what’s happening right now. I want you all to focus on solidifying the city’s defenses.”

“You think he’ll attack here too?”

Axel asked.

“He will. It’s in his character to do insane things for kicks.”

Jin looked at all of them with a serious expression.

“Listen, there’s no telling how he’ll attack and how many he’ll bring. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he came alone.”

“No way. He wouldn’t-”

“Boss Jin!”

A group of soldiers ran into the Silver Nest breathing heavily.

“It’s Miko! He’s at the front gates asking for us to let him in!”

“Who did he bring?”

“He’s alone!”

Other than Jin, the Silver Crow members all looked surprised.

Jin walked past the soldiers and tightened his gloves on his hands before declaring with a loud voice.

“Everyone stay in the city. I’m going to end this once and for all.”

Outside the gate of the capital, Miko was standing there with countless weapons aimed at him.

“Hmm…I’m getting déjà vu here.”

He mumbled before looking up at the wall.

“So, are you going to let me in or not?”

“Who lets in an enemy just because they asked?”

Miko looked up and saw Jin standing on the wall. He jumped down and landed in front of Miko without making a sound.

“It’s been a while, Jin. I think this is the first time we’ve met since this war started.”

“Cut the crap, Miko. I received reports that your people are attacking the Pillars as we speak.”

Jin pointed at him while glaring.

“I doubt you’re here for a chat.”

Miko smirked and laughed a little.

“Well, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t come to cause trouble, but seeing your face made me have doubts…Say, Jin. Do you love Bloom?”

“I’m the one who should be asking you that. It’s obvious from the time you declared war on her that you’re being forced to do this. Despite knowing that, I can’t figure out what you’re after. So I’ll give you this opportunity. Tell me what you’re truly after.”

Miko looked at him for a bit before smiling.

“Alright, I tell you.”

Jin’s eyes widen.

“Why do you look so surprised? You’re the one closest to her, so I’m willing to see if you would understand my actions.”

“Fine, speak.”

The smile fell from Miko’s face and he put on a more serious expression.

“One day when I was hanging out with her I asked her a question that was on my mind for a while. How did she become the ruler of this country? It’s then that I saw a glimpse of her true self. I saw her true personality. Although, only for a second.”

“………”

“I can tell that you were aware of it from the beginning. Well, whatever. Anyway, I didn’t have a problem with it at first; I mean, everyone is a little crazy inside. However, after thinking about it for sometime I realized that it could be a serious problem. So I ran a few tests. I constantly brought up topics that I knew would bring out that personality again. Topics like how to handle the Four Pillars, potential betrayals, and what would she do if her closest allies were to die. Each time that personality slipped out I became more and more certain. Bloom was unstable and if left alone like this she would lose everything.”

“So you decided to speed up the process and take everything from her, right now?”

Jin spoke with an angry tone.

“She was too unstable. She’s not the type to handle pressure and would definitely lash out on everything and everyone around her if pushed into a corner. What if she had claimed everything she wanted in the future only to have someone try to take it from her? She would bring forth her own ruin. That’s why she needs to experience defeat now and learn to overcome it before it’s too late. So yes. I took away her present to make sure that her future isn’t one filled with despair.”

“Fuck that!”

The area shook when Jin roared. He walked up to Miko and grabbed him by his collar.

“If you take away her present, she has no future!”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Miko met his glare with his own.

“She has you and Silver Crow to help her back on her feet, that’s certain. But what about the future? Who knows if the people around her then will be willing to stick beside her through thick and thin? Who knows if you people will still be so loyal to her?”

“You bastard. Are you questioning my loyalty?”

“Loyalty is momentary. In this world, today’s ally can easily be tomorrow’s enemy. That’s common sense.”

“Don’t assume that everyone is like you.”

“Hah?”

Miko’s eyes sharpened.

“You think I don’t know your type? You can’t trust anyone with all your heart; can you, you cynical fucker?”

Miko grabbed Jin’s collar dragged him closer.

“What’s wrong with being cynical, huh?! Everyone has doubts! Only idiots would leave themselves expose!”

“So people like you are smart? Heh. They sound more like cowards who are afraid to trust their backs to others to me.”

“Bitch, who are you calling a coward?”

Jin could feel Miko trembling out of rage. He smirked.

“Did I hit a nerve there, coward?”

“….If you weren’t so important to Bloom I would’ve ripped your heart out already.”

“Haha! Go ahead, you damn coward! You talk about her future and that she has us to pick her up, but why couldn’t you be one of those who would pick her up?! Why did you have to be the one to take everything from her?! You could’ve left everything to Gear and his Pillars and fought alongside her, but you ran away! Why?! And let me guess after everything is over you’ll just walk out of her life and say that it’s for best?!”

Jin pushed him back and punched him across the face.

“Fuck you! You destroyed her life, her relationship with you, and left everything in the hands of others so that they can take care of the rest! In the end, you get nothing but hate and scorn! Is that how you plan to live your life?! What are you, one of those self-sacrificial heroes?! Well, some hero you are! Everyone that loves you will end up regretting they ever met you!”

“…..Hero?”

Miko spat out the blood gathering in his mouth and glared at Jin with eyes full of hatred.

“What the hell do you know about me, you piece of shit?!”

Miko punched to the ground and then tackled him to the ground when he tried to get up again.

“You can’t even imagine the hell I’ve seen! Can you picture knowing that everything that you love will eventually be destroyed and that there’s nothing you can do about it?! Have you’ve ever witnessed your mother and sisters getting raped, tortured, and then killed before your eyes over and over again?! Have you’ve ever seen your lifelong friends get butchered, cooked, and eaten like they were cattle?!”

Miko started raining down punches on Jin.

“Do you know the pain of having your intestines dragged through you mouth?! Have you’ve ever eaten your limbs to survive?! Have you ever had to cut open the corpses of your parents and force yourself inside to stop yourself from freezing to death?! Huh?!”

“Boss!”

*Bam!*

Miko was blast off Jin by a beam. Jin looked up and saw the members of Silver Crow and a large number of soldiers coming towards him.

“You idiots! Why did you come?!”

He stood up and shouted.

“We got a report that the two of you were in a fight and got worried.”

Sapphire and the others stood in front of Jin in a protective formation.

“Stop, quickly return!”

“No, let them stay.”

Miko got up off the ground and dusted himself off.

(That was a direct hit. How is he completely fine?)

Chrome thought to herself. Miko looked at her with a sharp gaze before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he looked calm and collected.

“Thanks to that shot I was able to calm down.”

A smile appeared on his face as he looked at Jin.

“Let me correct something. I’m no self-sacrificial hero nor a tragic one. Just as how Bloom needed a villain in her present to save her future, this world needs a great evil to put it out of its misery.”

He pointed at himself.

“I’m that great evil.”

Jin and the others suddenly saw five dragons of different colors appear behind Miko. Four disappeared leaving only the Azure Dragon behind.

“I think we’ve talked enough, don’t you?”

An azure glow engulfed his body.

“Since we’re all on edge how about a little deathmatch to lighten the mood?”

He grinned.

“But don’t worry. I won’t try to kill you even if you try to kill me. Bloom needs you after all.”

His grin became a twisted smirk.

“I’ll only break 103 of your bones. In other words, I’ll only half kill you.”