“Liam?”

Christi who was locked in battle with Eleleth, felt a raging anima that he recognized as his brother’s.

“Don’t get distracted!”

Eleleth jumped in the air and aimed a kick at him.

*Bam!*

He blocked the kick with a scorpion tail that was made from anima. He formed another stinger and made it attack Eleleth from the side. She jumped back to move away to avoid the attack.

“You’re pretty strong for a brat.”

Eleleth said.

“Compared to you, your brothers are nothing.”

Christi frowned when he heard that.

“Hm? Could it be I hit a chord?”

Eleleth asked with a teasing tone.

“I appreciate it if you refrained from insulting my brothers.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll make sure that you won’t even have a corpse after I kill you.”

Christi said.

“Oh? Aren’t you scary? How did someone like you become our puppet?”

*Bam!*

At that moment, several scorpion stingers came at her at the same. Eleleth skillfully avoided them and approached Christi.

She swung her long leg like a whip, aiming at his head. Christi duck under it and thrust his palm towards her chin.

“?!”

Eleleth quickly moved her head back and a knife shot past her face. She swung her foot upwards while bending back and kick Christi under his chin.

“Ugh!”

The impact made his sense of balance chaotic, which gave Eleleth the chance to stomp him in the chest.

*Bam!*

He was forced back a few meters with his chest burning.

Eleleth rushed forward again with a smile and aimed a jumping axe kick at him.

Christi’s anima erupted and formed a huge scorpion armor around him.

*Bam!*

Eleleth’s heel slammed on the armor, but was unable to breach it.

“What amazing anima control!”

Eleleth praised.

She distanced herself from him again to avoid a sneak attack.

“You really are special.”

She rushed towards him like an arrow and swung her leg at him. Christi in the scorpion armor, blocked it with his arm and threw a punch at her face, which she dodged by bending backwards.

She hit him under the chin with a jumping knee strike, which caused him to stumble back a few steps. Her Sacred Anima then started concentrating around her feet, causing them to lit up like stars.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

She then rained down kicks to his chest. Her feet were like machine guns rapidly firing shots as Christi received several kicks every second.

“Guh?!”

The scorpion armor shattered and the kicks, then fell on Christi’s chest without mercy. His body swayed from left to right like he was getting shot.

“Time for the finisher!”

Eleleth stopped and then poured her strength in her right leg. By this time, Christi was too beaten up to move.

She swung her leg like a whip and it slammed on Christi's chest.

*Bam!*

“Guh?!”

Christi was blown back and sent crashing into a wall.

“Hm? I thought the impact would be stronger than that.”

Eleleth said after she saw that the wall Christi crashed into wasn’t destroyed.

“Well, either way the puppet’s string must’ve been cut.”

She said.

“……..”

Christi leant against the wall with his body aching and vision fading. He felt like he was drifting between the boundary of life and death.

‘This is bad…..I can’t move. I’m going to get killed if this continues.’

He thought to himself.

‘Maybe it wouldn’t be bad to die like this….’

He conscious started to fade.

“Did you hear? Prince James is already training with the veteran soldiers in the military. He’s not quite there yet, but the veterans all believe that he’ll have a bright future.”

His mind was brought back to a time when he was young. He was walking around the palace when he heard some servants talking among themselves.

‘I heard that Prince Liam is already studying with some of the kingdom’s best scholar. Apparently, normal royal tutors can’t keep up with his questions and has to hand it over to someone more qualified.”

Said one of the servants.

“Man, I gotta say that I’m proud to have such talented princes as my masters.”

“I know what you mean. Just thinking about what they’ll be like when they’re older just gives me goosebumps.”

“The kingdom’s future will be bright as long as one of them become kingdom.”

“You’re right, there.”

They said.

“The problem is….”

“Yeah.”

“Prince Christi.”

“….?”

Hearing his name being mentioned, Christi had a confused expression.

“I know that he’s the youngest and everything, and is still only a child….”

“But when Prince James and Prince Liam were his age, they had already shown signs of their genius and talents. While the Third Prince has shown no such talent. He’s normal.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being normal, but….”

“It’s just disappointing that he’s not a bright star like his brothers.”

“It’s underwhelming really.”

The servants all nodded in agreement with each other.

“Hey, come check it out!”

At that moment another servant came running along.

“What’s wrong?”

“Prince James and Prince Liam are competing in a chess match!”

“Really? Let’s go check it out.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“Prince Liam of course.”

“Don’t count Prince James out. He could pull off an upset.”

The servants started to walk briskly while discussing with each other, leaving Christi behind.

“……..”

Christi was left with his thoughts. He silently recalled what the servants said about him and how they praised his brothers.

“Chris.”

At that moment, he heard someone call out to him. He turned around.

“Mother.”

It was Serket.

“What’s wrong? Why the long face?”

Serket approached him and asked.

“Mother, am I no good? Am I undeserving of being a prince?”

He asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“You and father are so amazing, and my brothers are praised as geniuses…..I’m the only one who seems plain.”

Hearing him say that, Serket placed her hand on his head.

“What nonsense are you saying? You’re very special, at least to me. Isn’t that enough?”

“……..”

Christi didn’t answer. The words of the servants kept playing in his mind.

The next couple days, Christi having overheard the servants’s conversation, started to notice that the way people looked at him and his brothers were different. The smiles that people showed him, now looked fake and forced. All he could see was disappointment in their eyes.

Even his brothers who he had always looked up to, seemed like they saw him as nothing but an insect. This all too much for him to bare as a child. He started to get depressed, and it even reached the point where he stopped associating with others and kept to himself. He was slowly but surely withdrawing into his own world.

One night when he was tormented by nightmares and went in search of his mother for comfort, he overheard a conversation between his parents.

“Did the church send another messenger?”

His mother asked.

“Yeah. They’re becoming persistent.”

His father answered.

“Looks like they’re running out of patience though. I noticed that they no longer act humble, and started speaking with a threatening tone.”

“Just be careful. The church tends to employ crude tactics to get what they want. I understand you not wanting to tarnish what your ancestors built, but keep that in mind.”

Said Serket.

“It’s nothing. If push comes to shove, my beautiful wife will handle it.”

“Stop relying on me for everything. You’re a man aren’t you?”

“Hahahaha”

After hearing everything, Christi decided not to disturb them and went back to his room.

‘What’s going on with the church?’

He asked himself.

“Hello.”

“?!”

At that moment, someone appeared before him from the shadows and frightened him.

“Now don’t be frightened, Prince Christi.”

The person who looked like they were made from shadows, took out a pendent and showed him.

“I’m from the Sacred church. Can we talk?”

“The church?”

The person nodded.

“I don’t know.”

Christi said while backing away.

“?!”

That’s when an overwhelming pressure fell on him and caused his feet to be rooted. He couldn’t move or speak.

“Now, now. I won’t bite.”

The person said with a smile.

“How about we change locations?”

The person didn’t wait for a response and took Christi away. He took him to an underground room in the church that was some distance away from the palace.

“Ahhhh!”

“God, help us!”

“Mommy!”

In the dark room, Christi was chained to a chair and gagged and was forced to watch a clip on a tv. On the screen was footage of people being murdered in the most cruel ways, buildings being set ablaze, women being raped, and all kinds of heinous acts.

Christi was watching these clips for several hours now. The person might have done something to him, because he couldn’t close or avert his eyes from the screen. By this time, his body was trembling from head to toe, and tears ran from his eyes.

He couldn’t speak, but his breath and heartbeat was had sped up. It was a horrible sight.

“Horrible, isn’t it.”

The person stood behind him and spoke into his ear.

“You must be wondering why those people were suffering. You see, they’re all sinners who refused to give themselves to the Sacred God and instead bit his hand when he tried to reach out to them. That is a grave and unforgivable sin, so it’s obvious that they must be punished.”

The person said.

“Did you know, your country is on the verge of experiencing this as well. Why you ask? Because your father wishes to oppose us and disregard god’s teachings.”

Christi’s heartbeat started to accelerate when he heard that. The fear he felt instantly doubled.

“Hey, do you see those heads on the spikes? That’s the royal family.”

They said while point at the screen.

“Aren’t they beautiful? Do you think your family would look even better? I bet they would. Especially, your beautiful mother.”

The heads on the spikes soon turned into that of his parents and siblings before his eyes.

*Rattle!*

His tremble started to get worst, and even the chair he was tied to looked like it was going to turn over. The tears from his eyes increased and he had the strong urge to vomit.

“Now, now. Calm down. There’s a way to stop this from happening.”

The person held onto the chair and whispered into his ear.

“All you need to do is to become king. If you do, you can give the kingdom over to us. If you’re successful, then nothing will happen to you and your family.”

They said.

“I heard that your brothers are both geniuses, then you’ll need to work hard won’t you?”

The person laughed.

“So will you do it?”

At that moment, Christi regained his ability to move and speak. Even so, no sound came from his mouth other than groans and small cries. In the end, all he could do was nod.

“Good.”

After that, he was freed and returned to the palace.

“Good luck, Prince. We have high expectations of you.”

The person said before disappearing in the dark.

The next couple days, everyone in the palace realized that something had changed in the third prince. He no longer locked himself away and started to walk around again. However, he no longer smiled and gave off a strange aura. All those who interacted with him all felt uneasy.

He even personally requested his mother to train him. He tried hard in his academics as well. He soon started to excel in both combat and academics. However, he never looked satisfied. All those around him felt like he was an abyss endlessly sucking in everything around him.

Eventually, everyone started to fear him. Especially after he merciless and effortlessly killed an assassin who came after his life.

One day when he was sent to his kingdom borders to investigate a string of robberies and murders happening around there by his father, he came across the bloody body of a young girl who looked like she was a little bit younger than him.

He checked the surroundings and saw that there were countless bodies of adult men around her. From their attire and weapons, they seemed to be thieves, the same ones he came to eradicate.

He approached the girl in order to see if she was alive.

*Swoosh!*

The moment he did, a knife slashed towards his throat. He was able to move away in the last second and distanced himself. He looked and saw the girl sprung to her feet while gripping a dagger.

“……..”

He silently looked at her before speaking.

“Did you kill these thieves?”

He asked. The girl however didn’t answer.

“I am the third prince of this nation, Christi Marigold. I demand an answer.”

He said while showing his royal insignia.

“They tried to rob and rape me, so I defended myself. That’s all.”

The girl finally answered.

“If you wish to arrest me, then you have to kill me first!”

She shouted before rushing towards him. He avoided her attacks and circled behind her to disarm her.

“?!”

However he was blown away by a claw made of anima, which came from her back. He was cut across the chest.

“Looks like this won’t be easy.”

He said and moved to approach her again.

“Hm?”

However, he soon saw the girl fall to her knees and breathing heavily.

“Was she injured?”

He asked himself.

*Growl!*

When approached her he heard her stomach growling.

“…..She’s just hungry? She must’ve not eaten for a while.”

He said to himself.

He then look around.

“But she was able to take down all these men by herself? That’s impressive.”

“I-I can’t fall here.”

He say the girl struggle to her feet and faced him.

“I can’t fall until I meet him!”

She shouted.

Christi silently looked in her eyes. He saw that she had eyes that reminded him of his own. Eyes belonging to someone who would be willing to do anything to accomplish their goals. For some reason, he started to feel like she was kindred spirit.

He unknowingly smiled.

“What’s your name?”

“…..Reina.”

Reina answered after a while.

“Reina huh? Well, Reina it looks like you too have a goal you would do anything to achieve. However, as you are you’ll die by the end of the day. Since it’s seems like you have no food or home.”

He stretched his hand out towards.

“This is good timing. I was looking for a powerful and strong willed subordinate.”

He then spoke-

“Help me save my country, and I promise you that I will provide a home where you can be safe.”

“…..!”

At that moment, Christi’s eyes opened and his consciousness returned.

“How could I forget what I was fighting for?”

He started to struggle to his feet.

“Hm? You’re still kicking? Looks like your puppet strings are harder to cut than I thought.”

Eleleth said, as she prepared to bombard him with even more kicks.

“Yeah…..I might be a puppet to you bastards….”

He finally struggle to his feet and released his anima again. This time it was far stronger than before.

“But even puppets have their pride!”

He charged towards her.

“Hmph. The desperate actions of a dying man.”

He shot towards with a smile on his face.

“Allow me to make it so that you won’t move again!”

She jumped in the air and aimed a kick at Christi’s head. Christi stopped and gathered all of his anima into his fist. His fist then turned into a scorpion stinger. He then took a deep breath and roared.

“Roc!”

*Clang!*

At that moment, some chains appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around Eleleth and pulled her back a little to decreased the force behind her kick.

“Wha?!”

She looked and saw Roc some distance away holding onto some chains. She started to wonder where he came from. She then remembered when Christi was hit by her, he strangely didn’t break through the wall as she expected.

‘He must’ve hidden himself and caught him back then!”

She thought. However, she didn’t get much time to think because she was now in front of Christi.

“Feel my pride, Scared Church!”

*BOOM!*

Christi slammed his fist in her stomach and forced the stinger to pierce through her back, before she was blown away. Blood sprayed across the sky as she was sent flying back through the air.

She crashed into the ground with a huge hole in her stomach and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Christi looked at her while breathing heavily.

“How’s that? My foolish pride!”