“Don, the forces of Bloom Newgate and the Four Pillars are on the move. It won’t be long before an all-out war breaks out all over the city.”

Edward reported to Miko, who was helping Ishma and Regis try out some outfits.

“I figured as much. There’s going to be a free for all battle that won’t end until one person is left standing.”

He went on one knee and helped Regis put on some combat boots.

“And yet, you show no signs of tension.”

Miko stood up after finishing.

“Edward, I’ve fought in many battles and seen countless more. It takes something far greater than this to make me nervous.”

With a smile, he added-

“I just need to be the one standing in the end, that’s all.”

“Yeah. Victory is natural for us.”

Ishma laughed arrogantly.

“Edward, how’s everything come on your end?”

Tia, who was relaxing in a chair with a glass of wine, asked.

“I’ve relayed the don’s orders. I’ll take command of our main army while you guys will do as you please.”

Tia nodded.

“I want to add a personal order.”

“An order from you, Madam? What do you wish for me to do?”

Tia smirked.

“Those guys from MYTH have gotten too cocky for my taste. I want you to do something for me that will let them know my feelings.”

Just as Edward said, it didn’t take long for enemy forces to meet and for an all-out war to begin.

“Death to Newgate!”

“Long live the queen!”

War cries could be heard as the two armies clashed. The battles had taken place in the small towns outside of the major cities. Citizens were seen in dismay as they gave it their all to escape the conflict if that was even possible anymore.

“No retreat! No surrender! We will fight until those traitors have breathed their last breath!”

A soldier screamed at the top of his lungs while using his hands to stop his intestines from falling out.

“Half dead bastard!”

A group of enemy soldiers surrounded him and aimed their guns at him.

“Go to hell and wait for your queen down there!”

The soldiers opened fire and filled his body with holes. Even while breathing his last breath the soldier had a smile on his face.

“The one I’ll see in hell is you fuckers!”

His body started glowing.

“Could it be…He has a bomb inside of him!”

“Glory to the queen!”

*BOOOM!*

The soldier’s body exploded and a huge explosion devoured his enemies.

Scenes like this were common around the country. The pillars’ forces may have outnumbered Bloom’s but the fanatic behavior of her men coupled with their lack of fear towards death had made the two forces equal.

“Whew, I heard that they were crazy but it’s still amazing seeing them close up.”

Sami Luna was walking through a ruined town with an amused expression on his face.

“We need more fanatics in New Era. I’m sure that we would be unstoppable. All we have are well, insane fuckers….Wait, I guess that’s the same thing.”

He laughed seamlessly ignorant of the movements in the shadows around him.

“I’m supposed to take out some of Miko’s apostles and the members of Silver Crow but to be honest, that just sounds like a pain.”

Some soldiers rushed out from the shadows and pounced at him with blades and guns drawn.

“I mean, what if they aren’t even worth the trouble of me fighting?”

The soldiers suddenly fell apart and formed heaps of sliced meat on the ground, even before they reached him. Sami continued to walk as if he hadn’t noticed what had happened.

“Won’t I just be bored out of my mind? I hate being bored, that’s why I returned to the clan in the first place.”

He clenched his fist.

“If only they would just attack the Wakoku Nation, I wouldn’t be bored right now. Those old farts are still afraid, even when we have New Era on our side.”

“Oh, New Era, huh?”

Sami turned his head and saw a man with sun-like blond hair and eyes that seemed to capture the sky in them. He was dressed in a full white outfit consisting of a hoodie, pants, sneakers, and a headphone around his neck.

“Oh.”

Sami smiled.

“You’re on the list. I think your name was…Uh…What was it?”

“Sora Ostinato.”

“Yeah, Sora. I heard you’re pretty fast.”

The next instant Sami was standing behind Sora.

“I’m pretty fast myself. Care to compete?”

Sora turned around and faced him with a small smile.

“I don’t know who you are but it seems that you have a death wish.”

“My bad. I’m Sami, Sami Luna. It’s a pleasure to kill you.”

Sami disappeared in bright light and Sora bent his back to the fullest. The building behind him was cut in two. Sami reappeared in front of him with two short blades in his hands. He twirled a sword and thrust it down towards Sora’s chest. Sora twisted his body and squeezed a metal orb in his hand. The orb extended into a spear and he thrust it at Sami’s head. Sami leaped back to avoided it before pouncing at Sora again. He lifted his arms overhead and thrust down both swords at Sora’s body.

“Moon Tiger!”

Sora saw the image of a celestial tiger opening its mouth to devour him. He lifted the spear in front of him and blocked the swords.

*Clang!*

Sparks flew and Sami swung his leg like a whip at Sora’s side. Sora lifted one leg to block it but suddenly leaped back. The leg missed him by a few inches but his hoodie was cut along with his skin.

“Oh? You have pretty good instincts.”

Sami played with the swords in his hand.

“It’s kinda my thing to be sensitive to changes. I’m a sound user after all.”

Sora rubbed the bleeding wound on his stomach.

(That was close. It’s a good thing I figured it out in the last second.)

His eyes narrowed.

(This guy uses the Slaughter Moon Sword Style.)

His spear started vibrating and darkness seeped from it.

(He uses a Slaughter Moon Sword Art completely different from Isabel.)

His body flickered and he popped up in front of Sami thrusting his spear. Sami crossed his swords in front of him and parried the strike. He moved towards Sora and a moon with a tiger inside it appeared under their feet.

“Moonlit Hunt.”

He swung his swords up to the sky and two long cuts appeared on Sora’s hoodie. Blood sprayed from the cuts and dyed the white hoodie red.

“Checkma-”

Sami’s words were cut short when he was assaulted by severe pain in his arms. His arms were shaking like a baby’s rattle.

“Took you long enough to feel it.”

Sora slapped him on the side of the head with his spear. Sami’s vision became blurred and he lost his sense of balance.

“Self Reforge!”

His body hardened and he held his ground. He moved back to avoid Sora taking his head.

“Self Reforge, I heard about that from Miko.”

Sora ripped the bloodstained hoodie and threw it to the side, revealing the three cuts on his torso.

“You’re definitely using the same sword art as Isabel but your fighting style is completely different. I mean, she uses a katana but you use two Tanto swords. There’s also the tiger theme that Isabel didn’t use.”

“Isabel? Please, I’m on a higher level. That girl chose to master the basic techniques before creating her own variations. Because of that, even though she’s strong she’s still considered a novice.”

(So to be considered an expert in the Slaughter Moon Style you have to create your own techniques. Then, doesn’t that mean that other the basics there’s no set techniques for it?)

“More importantly, what did you do to my arms earlier?”

Sora threw up a middle finger and smirked.

“Like hell, I’ll tell you.”

“Hahahaha! I’m so gonna kill you!”

Sami rushed towards Sora with his swords glowing. Sora clenched his spear and charged towards him with a sonic boom and appeared in front of him.

“I’d love to see you try!”

He swung his spear while Sami swung his swords.

*BOOM!*

An explosive sound erupted between them. Even so, their weapons weren’t even touching. It was like an invisible wall separated the two. Despite not physically touching shockwaves spread out around them and caused buildings to crumble and the ground to crack open. Even the very air was trembling.

“Hahahaha! You’re great, kid! To think that you had such incredible power in you! I can tell that I’ll enjoy fighting you!”

Sami shouted. Sora grinned.

“Me too. There’s a new technique I was dying to try out. I might use it against you.”

The two took a step forward and the shockwaves and trembling got stronger, so much that it looked like they were going to demolish the town.

“?!”

The two stopped and leaped back as far as they could. A crater opened up where they were before and two figures appeared from a pillar of flames.

“Oh? Now, this is an interesting turn of events.”

Sora agreed with Sami’s statement. He looked at the women who he fought and defeated before with an amused expression.

Chrome, who had sapphire by her side showed Sora a bloodthirsty grin.

“Have you ever heard of payback? I heard she’s a bitch.”

Sora smiled.

“Don’t worry. I have experience slapping bitches. You should know.”

“Sapphire and Chrome have encountered one of Miko’s apostles and an unfamiliar man.”

Jin received a report from a soldier.

“Unfamiliar? Send me his picture.”

“Yes.”

Jin waited a few seconds before receiving the picture. He clicked his tongue when he saw Sami’s face.

“Tell the girls to be careful. That man is extremely dangerous.”

“Yes.”

Jin rode on his bike with a frown.

(Sami Luna, Kaiser must’ve sent him here to help Gear. I knew he wouldn’t lend me the suits without a catch. If he’s here then Didier must be too.)

The sounds of explosions could be heard in the distance.

“I’ll just have to leave them up to the others.”

He stopped his bike. In front of him was a sign that read “Romix”.

He got off and started walking towards the entrance with swagger.

“I have work to do.”

He took a deep breath and then shouted.

“Knock knock, Fuckers!”

He grinned.

“The reaper has come to play.”