Dragna City. Ecko was in one of the Royal gardens sitting on a chair near a fountain. She was reading a book and had a cup and a floral teapot on a small table next to her.

“This is unusual. You, of all people, reading.”

She lifted her head from out of the book.

“Rouge.”

She closed the book.

“I was just seeing if it could make me relax.”

“Did it?”

“Nope.”

She threw the book away.

“I don’t know how you and Alexus do it.”

“That’s because we’re civil. Unlike you and Andreas, who love to blow things up as a past time.”

“Forget that, what’s up?”

“I’ve been informed that Raven and the other Guardian Beasts’ Proxies are preparing to meet Miko. I was wondering if your daughter told you anything?”

“No, it’s the first I’m hearing of it.”

Ecko stood up.

“But I’m not worried or anything. Shina is my daughter, but she’s also the guardian of the Tertitus Branch. We have the same level of authority, I can’t force her to report everything to me.”

She smirked at Rouge.

“Are you worried about what Miko’s planning?”

“Of course not. I trust Miko 100% I just hope that he doesn’t try to carry the burden of this empire’s fate on his shoulders alone. He should try being a just kid more often.”

Ecko patted his shoulders.

“Well, that’s all more reason for us to get our shit together. So the kids can stay kids even for a second longer.”

“Madam Ecko, Lord Rouge!”

A group of servants ran into the garden and kneeled in front of them.

“Come quickly! Lord Miko has….!”

The Demon Kingdom of Edison. The capital was in shambles. The buildings had signs of being set on fire, scorched and dismembered dead bodies covered the streets, and the stench of death could be found everywhere. In the sky, armies of beasts blocked out the sun and cast a grand shadow on the capital, as if it was night. In front of the royal palace, there was a sea of people before a grand stage. On the stage, 8 persons were forced to kneel before the crowd with sacks over their heads. Behind them stood Renacido’s Guardians.

“Attention!”

Oden stepped out and stood before the crowd. He folded his arms behind his back.

“I present to you His Majesty, Supreme Commander, and Don of Renacido, Gamiko Dragna the Third!”

Mutters and confusion came from the crowd, while cheers came from the monsters and beasts in the sky. The Guardians moved and made a path. Miko was seen making his way to the front of the stage. He was dressed in a teal suit with a black undershirt. By his side were Ishma and Regis. He stood before the crowd with a deadpan expression. He silently scanned the crowd. People would flinch under his gaze. After nearly a minute he looked away.

“Two months ago the Dragna Empire suffered huge losses after a large number of our forces defected, but not before causing as much damage to the empire as possible. Every one of those traitors displayed great hatred for the country they were born and raised in. For that to happen, the only reason for their actions is that the country has betrayed them before they betrayed it….The Dragna Clan had failed them.”

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Miko’s words suggested that the deserters did nothing wrong.

“Yes, they merely acted out on their desires and nothing is wrong with that. Nothing is wrong with seeking happiness.”

He smiled.

“That’s why nothing is wrong with me slaughtering them all. After all, I merely wish to be happy and right now their deaths would bring me nothing but happiness.”

An uproar broke out in the crowd before him. He clenched his fist in front of them.

“Just as how they had their reasons for hurting my family I have my reasons for wanting to kill them. With that being said, I have a message to those people who were simply seeking happiness.”

He pointed at a camera that was attached to a flying beast.

“I will hunt you down and kill you in the most gruesome ways possible.”

He eyed the crowd again.

“If you’re an enemy of Dragna then you’re my enemy as well. And I and my enemies can’t exist under the same sun, we can’t share the same sky, we can't breathe the same air. In conclusion, one of us will have to die and it won’t be me.”

Shivers ran up the spines of everyone who faced his ungodly gaze. He turned from the crowd and faced those kneeling on the stage.

“And that brings us to our event here today. Remove the sacks.”

The guardians pulled the sacks off those kneeling and revealed their faces. Their ages, gender, and race varied but they all shared something in common. They were all bloodied and bruised.

“Your Majesty!”

“My Lord!”

Cries came from the crowd. They recognized one of the kneeling persons as the king of Edison.

“………….”

The king glared at Miko with swollen eyes. Miko smirked.

“All of you here were proud rulers of your countries just a few hours ago but here you are, kneeling in disgrace before me.”

“Y-You monster…”

He turned to a woman kneeling next to King Edison. She was glaring at him while tears ran down her cheeks.

“You…You killed them! You killed my family! My husband, my children, my grandchildren!”

She struggled to her feet.

“You heartless monster! I swear that I will—!”

Miko swung his leg like a whip and kicked the woman in the head. Her body slammed into the ground with a thud.

“I killed your family? What about it? Didn’t you plan to have me and my family kill each other? What’s the difference between us?”

He walked over to her and stomped on her head.

“Let me tell you.”

A devilish grin crawled on his face.

“I was always one step ahead of you, that’s the difference.”

Tears continued to flow from the woman’s eyes.

“I’ll kill…I swear that I will kill you!”

“You don’t have what it takes.”

Miko turned and faced the rest of the fallen leaders.

“None of you have what it takes.”

He took his foot off the woman’s head and returned to his original position. Kris and Acacia dragged the woman back and forced her to kneel in front of him.

“I prepared a test for all of you to see if you had any use, to see if you had what it takes to be a part of my empire, but you all failed. You all plotted in secret against Renacido, the Dragna Empire, or even both like fools.”

Miko spun around with his arms spread as the cameras focused on him.

“Renacido? Dragna Empire? Fools, we’re one and the same! Renacido is Dragna, Dragna is Renacido! Plot against one and feel the wrath of the other!”

He faced the kings.

“You morons couldn’t even figure that out. You’re not even worth conquering. That’s why I chose this method. Trash doesn’t deserve the honor of battling it out with me.”

The Guardians dragged them to their feet.

“Trash deserves to be disposed of.”

Soldiers walked onto the stage carrying 8 crucifixes. The kings’ paled at the sight of them. They looked back at Miko in panic and shudder when they heard his next words.

“Nail them to the crucifixes and burn them alive.”

“?!”

“Yes, Don!”

The guardians started dragging them.

“No!”

“Wait! Can’t we talk about this?!”

“I was wrong! Forgive me! I beg you!”

The kings threw away the last of their dignity and started begging for their lives. All except the king of Edison and the woman Miko kicked.

“Guardians, break the limbs of anyone who struggles. Also, their screams annoy me, rip out their tongues.”

“Yes, Don.”

The sounds of bones breaking resounded along with tearing sounds and muffled cries. The crowd watched as the leaders had their limbs nailed to the crucifixes. Many couldn’t handle the sight and turned away. Others could only look on in shock, and some couldn’t hold back the urge to vomit. After a few minutes, they were nailed to the crucifixes and lifted in the air. Miko looked at the kings’ faces one by one and smiled.

“That’s some great expressions you have there. Regret, fear, surrender, anger, hatred. All the emotions I hoped to see on my enemies’ faces.”

He laughed hysterically in front of his victims. That laugh, however, disappeared faster than it came. He now wore a deadpan expression.

“It’s because of people like you why I must do the things I do.”

He turned to the guardians.

“Do it.”

“Yes, Don.”

The Guardians surrounded the crucifixes.

“I admit that I’ve lost and this is the end of me.”

King Edison locked eyes with Miko.

“But remember, there will be a day when you’ve lost everything and when that happens I hope you remember this day and what you’ve done here.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Edison.”

Miko pointed at himself.

“I’ve already experienced what it’s like to lose everything too many times. It’s because of that why I’ll never experience it again.”

Miko turned his back and the light of flames came from behind him.

“AAAAAHHHHHH?!”

The agonizing screams of the kings rung in the ears of everyone in the city. Their skins crawled and their bodies trembled.

“……….”

Miko silently walked to the edge of the stage, the crowd stepped back in unison. It wasn’t planned or rehearsed. Every single person in the crowd was truly terrified of the man in front of them. His emotionless eyes struck fear into their very souls.

“….No matter how much evil I must commit, no matter what kind of monster I’ll have to become, there’s nothing I won’t do to ensure that I win in the end.”

He lifted his right fist into the air.

“Long Live Renacido! Long Live Dragna!”

“LONG LIVE RENACIDO! LONG LIVE DRAGNA!”

The beasts, Guardians, and all of Renacido’s soldiers roared causing the city to tremble. Miko slowly brought his arm back to his side. Illuminated by the flames burning his enemies and dyed in the cheers of his allies, Miko declared to the world.

“Welcome to my era!”