The news of Krow’s and thousands of other defections had naturally spread across the world. Everyone who got the news thought the same thing.

“The Dragna Empire is at its most vulnerable!”

Despite this, no one was willing to make the first move. The empire as a whole has weakened but it still had its monsters known as the Five Branch Leaders. Everyone feared Nero because of his achievements but the truly knowledgeable ones know that Rouge, Andreas, Ecko, and Alexus were monsters equal to Nero. So unless you had the confidence to defeat five Neros then don’t even think about attacking the empire and getting out there alive.

“It’s been a couple of days and no one has the balls to attack the empire? The world is filled with wimps.”

On a floating island somewhere in the sky there was a silver castle. Inside this castle, a group of people was sitting around a table. They were the traitors who defected from the Dragna Empire.

“Well, it’s not like we didn’t expect this.”

Marc answered Ranga mumblings.

“A beast is it's most dangerous when cornered after all.”

“It’s because everyone thinks like that why this world has become so boring. Everyone is chained down by their fear. Sometimes you gotta cast away your fear and just do it.”

Ranga showed a savage grinned.

“The feeling of liberating yourself from your fears is unmatched.”

“Not everyone can do that. We feel fear for a reason. Only muscle heads like you don’t.”

“Alexis, I can make it that you won’t have a head at all if you want?”

“Even if you could do that, I could survive without it.”

Ranga put on a disgusted expression.

“Why do I feel like you’re not kidding?”

Alexis didn’t reply.

“I’m surprised that you can mouth-off to your leader like that.”

Krow had an amused smile on his face.

“You’re not one to talk, Krow. Ringo is the leader of your branch and yet you pick fights with him, challenge him for his position, and disobey his orders all the time.”

Andre Bernard was straightening his beige suit in front of a mirror.

“And that was a century ago, but I’m sure it’s the same now.”

“That’s different. My branch consists of New Era’s strongest fighters. We’re all big names with bigger egos so we need to make sure the one leading us is stronger than us. We accept no weaklings.”

“Poor Ringo. Having to manage a group of mad dogs all the time. He can’t let his guard down or he’ll lose his head.”

Marc leaned back in his seat and laughed.

“Oh, if you fought Ringo now who would win?”

“I’m curious about that.”

Someone appeared from a space distortion in front of the table. It was an “elderly” man dressed in all white with a cane in his hand.

“Care to find out, Krow?”

“I’m always up for a fight. Just name the time and the place.”

Ringo laughed and took a seat next to Krow.

“What’s this? You’re the only one who came to greet me after I’m finally free?”

An arm wrapped around Andre’s shoulder. It belongs to a beautiful woman with a playful smile.

“I’m here too.”

It was Tiana. She pulled Andre closed to her and rest his head on her chest.

“Look at you, all grown up.”

Ranga and Marc started snickering while watching Andre try to break away from her.

“I missed you so much.”

“If you missed me that much why did you let me rot in jail for a century? I barely held on to my sanity in there.”

“Psst, Marc. He actually thought that he was sane.”

“I know. Funniest shit I’ve ever heard.”

Marc and Ranga were flung across the room by an invisible force.

“I wanted to free you but Alexis and Ringo said that we should leave you. He needs to learn humility, is what they said.

“I don’t remember that. Did we say that?”

“No, but I agree with the statement. You acted on your own and almost messed up everything for me and Krow. You deserve a century or two in isolation.”

“Cut him some slack, Alexis. Andre was a kid back then.”

“He’s the way he is because of the way you raised him, Tiana. Your children are always troublemakers.”

“You’re the last person I want to lecture me on parenting. You couldn’t even convince your son to join us.”

“Now, now. Let’s not argue amongst ourselves. We came here to discuss business didn’t we?”

Ringo attempted to diffuse the situation.

“Speaking of which, weren’t all the leaders supposed to meet? Where are the Hero and the Kaiser?”

Ranga and Marc sat back at the table.

“Kaiser said that something came up that needed his attention. As for the Hero….He went to fight Heracles’ Proxy Fighting God Rood again.”

The room became silent after Tiana’s reply.

“He’s gonna die.”

Krow broke the silence.

“He won’t die. Get his kicked, yes. Die, no.”

Ringo added.

“You guys have no faith. There’s no telling what’s gonna happen.”

“According to my data, the chances of Rood losing are less than 20%.”

Alexis used calculations to refute Tiana’s optimism.

“Come on, we should believe in him.”

“Then do you think he’ll win?”

“Nah, but that’s beside the point.”

Like this, they continued to talk about random stuff for almost an hour before they arrived at the reason they gathered together. Everyone was sitting around the table.

“First, I want to thank all of you for your lovely work over the years. Thanks to you we were able to severely damage the Dragna Empire.”

Tiana took control of the meeting.

“Of course, we know that they’ll bounce back. They have too many talented people to fall just because of this. However, that will take time. If they’re hit by another disaster then it could really be over for them.”

“By disaster, I take it you mean Phantom?”

Tiana nodded at Ringo.

“Phantom? Do you mean Phantom the Liberator? What does he have to do with the empire?”

“Is he a subordinate of ours or something?”

Marc added to Ranga question with one of his own.

“Phantom is linked to the Dragna clan. It’s a deep link too. Also, his hatred for the empire runs deeper. If my information is correct he has the power to destroy the empire in its current state. Hell, if we hadn’t acted he could’ve destroyed it at its full strength in a few years.”

“Well, he does have quite the reputation. Also, he’s a hero to many countries across the globe because he freed them from their oppressors….If he has a coalition of countries at his beck and call he might be able to do it.”

“You underestimate the influence and power he holds, Alexis.”

Tiana laughed.

“So we’re just gonna let him finish what we started?”

“Not exactly, Ranga. His purpose is to break Miko and those around him.”

“Break him? How?”

“Let’s just say his identity is enough to render the clan helpless to against him. It will be especially hard for Miko if his goal is to make everyone he cares about happy.”

“I’m not following you.”

Tiana smirked.

“Let’s just say that Miko will have to make a decision. Watch everything you’ve worked for be destroyed and live in misery or kill Phantom and make those you love suffer.”

She lifted both palms in front of her.

“A kindhearted fool or a hated villain, which one do you think he’ll choose?”

“………”

Krow sat in silence for a bit before his eyes widened.

“It looks like you’ve figured out what’s going on, Krow.”

He saw a teasing smile on Tiana’s face.

“Since you know then you must know that everything that’s about to happen is your fault.”

Krow burst out laughing.

“Interesting. To think something I did on a whim will make so many people suffer.”

He was all grins.

“Even I’m lost.”

Alexis frowned.

“Don’t worry, you’ll see. I’m sure even you’ll be shocked by this.”

“Hey, you guys have been talking about people I don’t know about for a while now. Care to fill me in?”

Andre was all frown too.

“Oh, I forgot you’re out of the loop. I’ll give you a quick summary.”

After Tiana explained the stuff regarding Miko and Phantom he looked impressed.

“A Satan, huh? I never thought someone like your father would be born in this era.”

“It’s just proof that the world as we know it will end soon.”

Tiana turned to her left.

“Alexis, what did you find out from the data your son collected on Miko?”

“It seems that his development into a Satan is progressing pretty smoothly. His genetic makeup is almost exact to yours. Observations show that evolves further each time he’s pushed to his limit.”

“That’s good news. For us to usher a new era Miko needs to reach his full potential. When he does we’ll have two of the three pieces we need.”

“We already have hero, all that’s left is the third piece who you refuse to name.”

Ringo added.

“The third piece is inactive at the moment. I don’t know where they are or when they’ll appear but they’ll definitely appear when the time is right.”

Tiana looked at Andre.

“Andre, you’ll return to Genesis and be under my supervision. However, this time will be different.”

Her eyes turned cold.

“You will not act without being told. You will not go anywhere without my knowledge. You will also receive a proper re-education.”

“If I refuse?”

Andre suddenly felt a cold sensation on his neck. He looked down and saw a blade pressing against his throat.

“Refusal isn’t an option, brat.”

A chilling voice entered Andre’s ears. The voice belonged to a bronze-skinned man with blue hair and black eyes. His stern face and steel-plated outfit screamed that he was a warrior.

“Jun Mizune.”

“So you haven’t forgotten me in the last century? That’s great. Then, I’ll make this quick.”

Jun brought his mouth to Andre’s ear.

“Tiana’s words as Noah are absolute. Your will is irrelevant. Forget this and that prison you spent a century in will seem like paradise compared to the hell I’ll put you through.”

Andre smirked with cold sweat flowing down his face.

“So this is your way of punishing me, Mother?”

“Punishment? This is me disciplining a disobedient child.”

Tiana showed a warm smile.

“But don’t worry. A parent must know when to be forgiving as well. So that’s why I’ll give you a present to celebrate our reunion.”

Jun removed the blade from Andre’s throat and allowed him to breathe easy.

“…..What is it?”

Tiana leaned forward.

“What do you think about becoming a Proxy?”

In a dark world, there was a burgundy-skinned being with neon azure hair and 6 pairs of crow wings on its back. This was Miko who was in his Satan form. In front of him was a child dressed in white and gold armor.

“………”

Miko silently stared at the child for a while.

“…I still don’t know when you became a part of my soul or how you did it….but the Hero knows about you. Although, I’m sure you know about him.”

The child didn’t respond.

“Still can’t talk huh? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m here to let you know that I’m reaching my limit. As the days go by so does my heart. The people of this world continue to test me, but don’t worry. I will keep myself under control until the time has come.”

He placed his hand on the child’s head and smiled.

“I’ll hold on until Miko has drawn his last breath. After that, it’s my turn.”