Military base Ishmavael, Renacido. An aircraft landed on the airstrip. Hundreds of soldiers surrounded the aircraft with their feet spread and hands behind their backs. The doors opened, they all saluted, and shouted-

“Welcome back, Don!”

Miko looked down on his soldiers with a bright smile.

“At ease.”

The soldiers placed their arms on their sides with straight postures. Miko walked down the steps with the others behind him. A woman wearing clothes made of leaves with a green glow around her stepped forward and bowed.

“Welcome back, Don.”

“Kai, how were things in my absence?”

“Everything was handled perfectly by Sir Alec and Lady Kirika. Even when the empire was burning, they remained here and protected the country.”

“Then, this place was attacked?”

“Yes, but no major damages were done thanks to Lord Gremlin.”

“Aeon?”

“Yes. He led a group of masked people to removed enemy spies days before the coup. Thanks that we had no infighting and our enemies were clear, unlike the other places. Sir Alec and Lady Kirika had an easier time keeping things under control because of this.”

“I see. Then I’ll have to thank them when I see them.”

He gestured behind him.

“Inside you’ll find some people who need medical attention. Have the soldiers move them to a medical facility to be treated, except for Momo. She requested for Alec to look after her.”

“I’ll pass down your orders at once.”

Miko nodded.

“Let’s head to my base.”

Miko and the others were escorted to Renacido’s headquarters in Nebulous City.

“Miko, shouldn’t we head to the capital first and get a briefing on what happened?”

Luka seemed impatient.

“If you want to go home then you can do so, however, stay away from the capital for now.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want them to see any of us in bandages or weakened in any way.”

“Them?”

“The Top Brass of the Dragna Clan. Now more than ever is the time when we’re supposed to show our strength. Otherwise, we might be at a disadvantage.”

“….You think there’s going to be conflicts for power?”

“Without a doubt.”

“When we’re already weakened?”

“It’s because we’re weakened why it will happen. The sneaky ones who hid behind Krow will start making their moves to gain power.”

Miko’s gaze sharpened.

“If you think all the traitors have left the empire then you’re sadly mistaken.”

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

Not all of the Dragna members lived in one of the five domains or are under any of the five branches. Krow was an example of this. His father was Augustus but his mother wasn’t Tiamat. Those of the five branches are descendants of Tia’s children she had with Augustus and are protected by her other children. However, Augustus had other wives and other children. Most of these children’s descendants chose to live under one of the five branches but some despised the idea and chose to live in the royal district.

Royal District, Dragna City. A young adult woman was walking down the busy streets. Around her people were up and down trying repairing the broken buildings and roads. She stopped by a partially broken store window and saw her reflection. Long unkept purple hair, an average face with freckles, thin build, and clothes that didn’t stand out in any way. She checked the bags under her eyes and sighed.

“Not matter how many times I see it, my appearance is really dull.”

She walked away with a frown on her face. She twirled her hair with her fingers.

“Coarse…Even so, I still can’t find the motivation to treat it.”

She scanned the district with idle eyes.

(Everything should be fixed in a few days but that just the buildings.)

She noticed that all the workers were frowning and grumbling under their breaths. She focused on those grumbling.

“Why do we have to fix up this place first? Shouldn’t we fix the residential areas first? They’re homeless people in the cold right now!”

“Be quiet. It’s just how things are. The royal family always comes first.”

“….Someone told me that the people should always come first….I’m starting to think they’re right.”

She stopped focusing on the conversation and continued her walk.

(The buildings have been fixed but the relationship with the people remains broken.)

She walked passed more workers complaining among themselves.

“They say that most of the damages were done by Lord Raven and the other guardians.”

“I saw it. He intentionally blew up an entire district just to try and kill Krow.”

“Isn’t he a guardian of the empire? Yet he kills us!”

The woman sighed.

(The failure to handle Krow and the other traitors have planted seeds of doubts in the minds of the citizens. Some lost everything at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them.)

“I’m fed of this.”

A certain conversation drew her attention.

“The Dragna Clan has run this empire in the dirt. They don’t care about their citizens and showed no ambition to expand for hundreds of years until recently. We can’t remain like this.”

“The problem isn’t the Dragna Clan.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s Tiamat. I mean, think about it. Who are the ones who hold all the power now? Tiamat’s descendants. Her descendants created our situation. When the previous emperor was in power nothing like this happened. We ruled the Silver Continent but he was killed by Nero’s son-in-law and grandson. Nero and the other branch leaders took control and that’s where everything turned to shit.”

One of the workers took out a pendant with a Phoenix on it.

“I’ve left the Church of Tiamat and converted to the Church of Augustus. I think you should too.”

“….I never knew that there was such a church.”

“Yes. The one who founded this empire wasn’t Tiamat but Augustus. So why must she hold all the power? We’ve prayed to her all our lives and what has she done?”

“But isn’t Augustus dead? What can praying to a dead person do?”

The man shook his head.

“Augustus is only dead in flesh. His spirit lives on in all of us.”

He dropped his tools, spread his arms, and looked towards the sky.

“And every day it reminds us to live up to our worth. Live as conquerors. Live as if everything rightfully belongs to us!”

He looked at his co-worker.

“And it does.”

He grabbed his shoulder.

“Everything rightfully belongs to the empire and those sinners who didn’t try to retake it deserve not our love and faith but our scorn! They and the slothful beast that they serve!”

He released his shoulders and showed an intoxicating smile.

“The Nation of the Heavenly Conqueror will raise again and claim its place on the throne!”

“……..”

The woman frowned at the man’s public display and continued her walk. She walked in silence until she arrived in front of a mansion in a corner of the district. The mansion was painted in purple and gold and had a Phoenix emblem on the gates. The woman opened the gates and entered the yard. On the lawn were statues of a warrior vanquishing beings of all races. The ground was cover with purple aster flowers that shone brightly under the sun.

Upon reaching entrance she placed her hand on the door. A purple light scanned over it and the door opened. She walked in, dyed with golden lights. A second later she was standing in the mansion. It was filled with paintings, sculptures, and luxurious furnishings.

“Oh, you’re back.”

A man walked into the room wearing a white and gold three-piece suit. His curly purple hair rested on his shoulders and matched his bright purple eyes. He wore a confident expression on his handsome face. The man approached the woman.

“So, how was the walk, Nina?”

“It was pretty much what I expected it to be. The people are upset and the atmosphere is gloomy.”

Nina took a seat on the light gray sofa near her.

“As they should be. The people have a right to feel upset. Tiamat and her children have failed them time and time again.”

The man sat on a couch across from her.

“It’s good that the people are wising up.”

“Wising up or being manipulated?”

The man laughed.

“Call it what you want but all that matters is that they understand who their true enemies are.”

“Enemies huh? I wonder how it feels to have enemies?”

“You have enemies. You might not see them as such but they will soon see you as theirs.”

He crossed his legs.

“Besides, don’t you hate the so-called main family for how they treated you when you were a servant?”

“If there’s anyone I’m supposed to hate for that, it’s my family for turning me over to them, because they believed I had no talent that could benefit them.”

“They were misguided fools who looked at the main family as a standard. They failed to realize that not all talents bloom at a young age. Some talents appear when we’re far into our lives. Or in your case, talent can be triggered by a psychological event. They were just too devoted to their masters.”

The man's eyes widened a bit.

“Speaking of, I heard that your former master has returned.”

Nina’s eyes brightened for a bit before darkening again.

“Hahaha! He’s really the only one that can make you excited. Sometimes, I fear that you might join him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Rogan. He’s the reason why I’m doing this.”

A small grin appeared on her face.

“He looked so happy raising up the ranks so I want to see if I’ll feel the same, looking down on him from the top.