Miko looked down at Natasa and sighed. His body reverted to its original form and he fell backward.

“Woah there.”

Tiamat appeared from a bright light and caught him.

“I did it, Tia.”

“Yes, you did.”

She slowly sat on the ground and made him rest his head in her lap.

“You should rest now. You deserve it.”

“There are still things I need to do.”

Miko tried to get up but he was pushed back down by Regis.

“You can do them later. You need to rest or you’ll break.”

“….I’m not that soft.”

“You used up everything you could including my power. You need to rest.”

Ishma spoke to him with a rare stern tone. Miko stared into her eyes a bit before obediently laying back down.

“Fine. If you’re all so stubborn about this then I’ll……”

A smile crept on Tia’s face.

“Who was the one being stubborn?”

She rubbed his cheek playfully.

“You fell asleep before you could finish talking.”

Ishma and Regis also smiled when they saw how peaceful Miko was as he slept. Hina watched on from the distance with a small smile.

“Those three share a special bond with Miko.”

Luka stood beside her.

“If Momo was there it would be complete.”

Hina nodded.

“I hate to admit it but I think they’re the ones that understand Miko the best. That’s why I’m afraid of what would happen if he was to lose them.”

Luka glanced at Hina’s face as if she was trying to read her expression. She placed her hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Miko will never allow something to happen to them or us. That’s the type of person he is.”

Hina looked at her hand and smiled.

“I know.”

“He won.”

Bloom and the rest of Silver Crow we’re watching Miko in the distance.

“Natasa wasn’t necessarily weaker than him she might’ve even been stronger. What caused her defeat was the difference in experience. She didn’t know how to control her own abilities while Miko saw all of her weaknesses and took advantage of them….She didn’t stand a chance the moment he obtained a body that could take her attacks.”

Jin looked at Bloom.

“What do you plan to do now? Miko clearly won this war, that means that you lost your throne.”

Bloom didn’t look at him and stared at Miko. Jin noticed this and smiled.

“Do you want to go with him?”

Bloom’s ears reddened and she looked away.

“Why would I?”

“What’s with that reaction? Are you a teenage girl or something?.... Ah, I forgot.”

“Miko doesn’t want me to be with him….”

“What does that matter? If you want to be with him than do it.”

The one who said that was surprisingly Chrome.

“I’m shocked. I never thought you of all people would encourage her. I mean didn’t you have a lesbian crush on her?”

“I thought so too.”

Sapphire added.

“My love for Bloom goes beyond romance. I revere her.”

“Wow, I’m surprised that you can say that to her face.”

“Shut it.”

She approached Bloom.

“I hate to admit it but that bastard saved you when none of us could. He didn’t even hesitate to destroy your relationship if it meant saving you. I really don’t want to but I can’t help but to approve of him. If you want to be with him then do it.”

Jin thought about it for a bit before grinning.

“I agree with her, Bloom. You should go and be happy with him.”

“What are you scheming, Jin?”

“Nothing. I just hate the fact that everything is going the way he wants. It pisses me off. So I thought that forcing you into his life would get back at him.”

“…..Phrasing, Jin. Phrasing.”

Sapphire shook her head with a sigh. Bloom had an uncertain look on her face.

“Don’t worry. If you’re pushy he won’t reject you.”

She looked at Miko and then Jin.

“What about you? What are you going to do now?”

“Me? I’ll return home to New Era.”

“….Then I’ll come with you.”

Jin’s eyes widened. He smiled and shook his head.

“That would defeat the purpose of Miko saving you. If you enter that place you would be recognized as an enemy of the world. I don’t want you to live a life where you’re constantly fighting. It isn’t a life I want for you.”

He looked at his comrades rather they were conscious or not.

“It isn’t a life I want for any of you.”

“Jin…”

He patted Sapphire’s head.

“You guys are free. You can live any life you wish. Don’t throw it away and walk into hell.”

“A life without you is hell.”

Bloom spoke with a stern voice.

“I’m sure we all think so.”

Jin looked at her and sighed.

“Then, I’ll just make it that you can’t follow me.”

His hands started glowing. Bloom immediately prepared to defend against an attack.

“……?”

But the attack never came. Instead, she saw an enraged expression appear on Jin’s face. She noticed that he was looking at a smartwatch on his wrist.

“What’s the meaning of this, Mari?!”

Meanwhile, Shòuxing and Hana were walking together through the destroyed country.

“Is it really okay to just leave like this?”

Hana asked Shòuxíng who looked exhausted.

“Yeah. I have a feeling that Bloom and others will forgive me for everything that happened….But that’s why I need to leave.”

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

“I don’t deserve to be forgiven nor do I want to be forgiven.”

He held her hand.

“If it is to protect you then I would betray the world over and over again.”

She clenched his hand.

“All the more reason why you shouldn’t part like this. We should at least give Bloom our gratitude for everything she’s done for us.”

“….I think it’s for the best. I don’t want my resolve to waver.”

Hana chuckled softly.

“Alright. The world may seem endless but I’m sure we’ll meet them again.”

Shòuxing nodded.

“So where are we going?”

“I want to go somewhere far away from the constant wars. Somewhere that many are afraid to attack. Somewhere we can live in peace.”

“And where’s that?”

Shòuxing grinned.

“My home country.”

“The Hanzu Dynasty?”

“That’s right. The Dynasty has the Imperial Generals to guard it along with countless other strong warriors. If we go there then we’ll be safe to live freely. Especially, if I offer my services to the imperial army.”

“I don’t know. Aren’t you being too optimistic?”

“Maybe, but we have our whole life ahead of us. The options are limitless.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore.”

A light flashed in front of them and Jin appeared from it.

“Jin…?”

Shòuxing immediately forced Hana behind him.

“What do you want? I’ve already cut ties with you guys.”

“I’m not here to kill you or anything, so calm down.”

“You say that, but you look like someone who wants to fight.”

Jin released an exaggerated sigh.

“Look, this is in no way my idea. I’m just following orders.”

“What orders? Whose orders are you following?”

Jin silently threw something at Shòuxing and he caught it.

“An envelope?”

It was a golden envelope with bloodstains all over it.

“Shòuxing, you’ve been recruited to join the New Era.”

Shòu’s eyes widened.

“From your reaction, you know who they are which makes things easier.”

Jin walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“If you want Hana to live safely don’t even think about turning us down.”

“What?”

Shòuxing glared at Jin who seemed especially cold.

“It’s just as you heard. The only way to survive is to enter this hell.”

He took his hand off his shoulder and walked past him and looked at Hana.

“My condolences.”

She looked at him for a bit before smiling bitterly.

“I don’t blame you. This isn’t your fault.”

He walked past her without looking her in the eyes.

“That may be true but I really didn’t want to be the one to drag you two into a life of endless war.”

“Wait, Jin.”

Shòuxing turned around and glared at his back.

“Who ordered this? Tiana Draxler or Jun Mizune?”

Jin halted in his steps.

“Those are two big names you just mentioned. I wasn’t aware you were connected to people that high up in the organization. I suppose this was fated to happen.”

He continued walking.

“Just another reminder that fate is a bitch….With that being said…”

He disappeared into the light but his voice lingered.

“Welcome to New Era, Shòuxing and Hana. Also, good luck, because you’re gonna need it.”

Shòuxing looked at the envelope for a while before crushing it in his hands. He gritted his teeth while his body trembled. He looked to the sky as if glaring at the heavens for mocking him and released a scream overflowing with frustration and anger.

“FUCK YOU!”

“Jin will be upset.”

Somewhere in the country, Mari was sitting on a piece of rubble with five briefcases in front of her. She looked at Didier who was standing beside her while holding an unconscious Isabel and Sami.

“You think he’ll rebel?”

“He has no reason to. It’s not like he’s a righteous guy or anything. The guilt he’s feeling will be gone by tomorrow.”

“I know but it’s fun to entertain the thought of him lashing out.”

(Even if he has that thought he better remove it from his mind.)

A voice echoed inside their heads. Didier immediately kneeled and laid his siblings on the ground.

“Praises be to the Kaiser.”

(Formalities are unnecessary, Didier. You may stand.)

Didier rose to his feet as he was told.

(You lost to Ringo’s children.)

“I’m ashamed. I was completely outsmarted.”

(So you’re not making any excuses? How honorable.)

A chuckle echoed in their heads.

(Tell me your impression of them.)

“Although I didn’t get to fight them myself, the glimpses of potential I saw was very impressive.”

(I see. Then I’m eager for the day they officially join us.)

“Father, about Miko.”

(He passed.)

Mari’s face lit up.

(I was skeptical at first because potential and talent don’t mean everything, you needed a strong mind too, but he surpassed my expectations. Jin Makoto, Shòuxing, Bloom Newgate, and then finally Natasa Kingsley. They’re all current or future members of New Era and he took them down one by one. And with little to no rest too. After everything I’ve seen from him, I must admit that the others’ judgment was correct and I was the foolish one. I must now give my complete support for his recruitment.)

Mari nodded.

“But there’s a problem though. We may have recruited Shòuxing and Bloom but we lost Natasa to Miko and the Dragna Empire by extension.”

(That’s wrong, Marionette. We didn’t lose anyone. We’re just using a diamond to polish another diamond. At the end of the day we’ll have both diamonds in our possession.)

“Do you think the Dragna Clan will allow that?”

(Ah, you haven’t gotten the news.)

“News? What news?”

(The Dragna Empire is facing its biggest crisis in the last 10,000 years.)

*************

“Miko!”

“……..”

“Miko, wake up!”

Miko silently opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a badly hurt Momo looking down on him.

“What is it, Momo? I’m not dead or anything. There’s no need to shout.”

“Miko, listen to me carefully….It’s about the Dragna Clan.”

He immediately noticed the distress on Momo’s face and quickly sat up.

“What happened?”

Momo gritted her teeth with a frustrated expression. She spat out her next words with an irritated tone.

“Krow left the clan and took half of the Dragna, Flameheart, and Saevus clan with him.”

Miko’s eyes widened.

“What did you say?!”

Luka and the other couldn’t hide their shock.

“To think that he had that much influence…”

“He cut the empire power in half or even less depending on who followed him.”

Ace and Sora had serious expressions on their faces. As for Miko-

“Heh.”

He had a huge grin on his face.

“Hahahaha! You finally made your move, Krow! It took you long enough! I was getting tired of waiting!”

He looked overjoyed.

“Miko, this isn’t a laughing matter!”

“Calm down, Momo. We all expected for this to happen soon or later. I’m sure countermeasures have been made. Why do you think I’m trying to rapidly strengthen Renacido? It’s for this day.”

“Miko, you don’t get it. We had countermeasures but they’re meaningless now.”

“…Why?”

“The ones who helped created those countermeasures are the ones who left.”

“What?”

“Alexis, Alec and Kirika’s father, has been confirmed as a member of New Era.”

“What?!”

Miko sprung to his feet.

“Not only is he a member he’s said to be one of the founding leaders. That means that he’s been leaking everything about our defenses to the enemy. And a lot of those who left with him and Krow were Elders who had access to top-secret information. This isn’t just something that was planned overnight. New Era has thousands of years worth of information on us. We’re defenseless against them.”

“……….”

Miko became quiet for a bit before speaking.

“Don’t panic yet. It’s a bit early but I might have to speed up my plans. Also, Gramps and the others aren’t stupid. They must’ve kept some backup plans to themselves….They have to.”

He smiled.

“We can still survive this.”

“…..There’s still one piece of information I was told to pass on.”

Momo paused a bit and stared at Miko as if to assess his mental state. After a while, she finally spoke.

“It’s about your mother.”

Miko’s heart dropped and all of the taste vanished from his mouth.

“W-What about her?”

“….She was attacked by some of the traitors who wanted to kill your father while he’s still in a coma…..She’s in critical condition.”

“………”

Miko stood there silent and motionless like a statue. The light slowly faded from his eyes and all emotions vanished from his face.

“Miko, calm down. You need to stay calm.”

Tia who could feel his emotions quickly moved to his side.

“She’s alive. Right, Momo?”

Momo nodded stiffly.

“Yeah, she’s alive. I heard from Gramps himself.”

“See? Everything will be fine. She’s a strong woman.”

Miko looked at Tia with deadpan eyes and then at the others.

“We’re leaving. Now.”

He walked off without saying anything else. Everyone watched his back retreat further and further away before moving. Miko walked in silence. His face slowly tensed up until it resembled an enraged demon. He clenched his fists so tight they started bleeding. He glared into the distance with his body trembling from rage.

Country On Fire Arc End!!!!

Dragna Crisis Arc Start!!!!!