The sun rises slowly, and its rays sneak through the hospital room window, signaling the start of a new day. Ken was still asleep, and this time, he was alone in the room.

The scene shifts to the hotel where Akio and Shiko were staying. Akio woke up full of energy and then looked at Shiko (in her girl form), who was playing in the room, causing complete chaos. Pillows were scattered all over the floor!

Akio (shocked): “Sh-Shiko!!! What did you do to the room?!”

Shiko stopped for a moment, then looked at Akio, laughed, and continued playing.

Akio (falling off the bed): “Aaaah!! Shiko!! This isn’t fair, this isn’t even our house!”

The scene returns to Ken, who slowly starts waking up. His body still felt tired, but not as exhausted as the day before. The room was completely silent. For the first time in two days, there was no one around to disturb him. But he could barely open his eyes fully before hearing the door suddenly swing open…

It was Koto, walking in with firm steps, holding his medical file as if she was ready to interrogate him again.

Koto: “Oh, finally awake, little smoker.”

Ken (sleepily): “Good morning, grumpy doctor.”

Koto paused for a moment, then glared at him.

Koto: “…Did you just call me grumpy?”

Ken (smirking): “Do you greet all your patients like this, or am I special to you?”

Koto clenched her fist around his file, trying to keep her cool. She took a deep breath and decided to ignore him… but not for long.

Koto (ignoring him): “Well, since you’re still able to joke, I guess you’re fine.”

Ken: “Oh, thanks for your concern, doctor.”

Koto: “Don’t flatter yourself, I never said I was concerned.”

Ken smirked and slowly sat up on the bed, but as he moved, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, causing him to hold onto it.

Koto: “The pain will go away soon, just don’t push yourself too hard or walk too much.”

Before Ken could reply, the door opened again. This time, Akio entered excitedly, followed by Shiko, who was hopping behind him!

Akio: “Ken! You’re finally better!”

Ken looked at Akio, then at Shiko (still in her girl form), who stared at him with big, happy eyes. Suddenly, she jumped onto his bed and hugged him tightly.

Shiko: “Daddyyy! I’m so happy you’re okay!”

Ken (annoyed): “I’m NOT your dad!”

Ann and Vico entered the room as well, with Ann holding a small gift box wrapped neatly. The moment she saw Ken, her eyes turned into hearts! She was so excited and she pushed Vico aside and rushed forward.

Ann (enthusiastically, handing him the gift): “Ken-san! I got you something very special!”

Ken eyed the gift with suspicion, then looked at Ann, who was smiling at him like he was her prince.

Ken: “Hmm… and why did you buy me a gift?”

Ann (fake shyness): “Oh… just a little gift to show how happy I am that you’re okay!”

Akio (whispering to Vico): “I’m sure she planned this from the beginning.”

Ken took the gift and opened it… inside was a set of elegant Japanese chopsticks with his name engraved on them.

Ken (raising an eyebrow): “Oh… it’s not my birthday today, right?”

Ann (embarrassed, twirling her hair): “Oh, well, it’s okay to celebrate you every day! Hehe!”

Koto watched the scene, gripping her medical file tightly.

Koto: “Unbelievable… this reckless guy actually has a fangirl!”

Ken ignored her comment and lifted the chopsticks, then looked at Ann.

Ken: “So… did you get these for me because you know I like sushi?”

Ann (excitedly): “Yes! I’ve been watching you for a while to figure out your favorite things!”

Everyone went silent.

Vico: “Wait… did you just say you’ve been watching him for a while?”

Ann (stuttering): “Uh… I mean… no no! Not like that! Just… casual observation!”

Akio laughed while Ken stared at her blankly.

Koto (frustrated): “Please, I’m a doctor, don’t make me sick with this silly romance drama!”

At that moment, Ann happily circled around Ken, thinking of more ways to impress him.

Ann: “Ken-san, do you need anything? A comfy pillow? Should I cook for you? Oh! Do you like ninjas? I can show you my skills!”

Ken: “I… don’t need anything. Just let me rest, please.”

But Ann wasn’t listening, continuing to chat excitedly while Ken started sweating, unable to stop her. Akio, Shiko, and Vico stood back, watching as if they were enjoying a comedy show.

Akio (interrupting): “Anyway, Ann, did you pack your things? We’re heading on a new adventure!”

Ann: “Of course! But tell me, Akio, where are we going?”

Akio stood in the middle of the room, looking around nervously. Everyone noticed his strange expression and stopped moving, focusing on him.

Vico: “What’s wrong this time?”

Akio (scratching his head): “Umm… I forgot something really important…”

Ann (worried): “What? Did you forget your stuff?”

Akio (shaking his head quickly): “No, no… worse than that!”

Everyone leaned in, expecting him to reveal something serious.

Ken: “Just say it already, what did you forget?”

Akio (yelling seriously): “I forgot… where we’re going!”

Silence filled the room. Ann and Vico looked at each other slowly. Shiko burst into laughter, while Ken held his forehead and sighed deeply.

Ken: “Oh, great… our leader doesn’t even know where we’re headed.”

Koto (confused): “Wait… then what have you all been doing this whole time?!”

Akio: “Umm… I don’t know, Dr. Koto…”

Ken (muttering): “How do I still put up with you?”

When everyone left the hospital, Koto noticed Shiko standing by the hospital door, looking deep in thought.

Koto (walking towards her): “What’s wrong, Shiko? You look lost in thought.”

Shiko looked at everyone for a moment, then lowered her head sadly.

Shiko: “Actually… I don’t know where I should go.”

Everyone looked at her in surprise.

Ann: “What do you mean? Don’t you have a home?”

Shiko (slowly shaking her head): “No… I’ve been living here and there… I never had a real home.”

A moment of silence followed as everyone realized that Shiko had no family or place to belong. But instead of showing pity, Koto placed her hands on her hips and thought seriously.

Koto: “Well… that means you need someone to take care of you, right?”

Shiko looked at her expectantly.

Koto (calm but firm): “Alright then, I’ll take care of you, you weird little cow. I get lonely here, away from my sister.”

Shiko’s eyes widened in shock.

Shiko: “Really?!”

Koto (crossing her arms): “Yeah, you’re just a kid, and you need someone responsible around. And since these idiots (pointing at Ken and Akio) can’t be trusted, I’ll be the one to make sure you grow up healthy!”

Ann and Vico smiled, while Ken and Akio looked at Koto in disbelief.

The group looked at each other with excitement, ready to start their journey.

Akio: “Alright! Now that we have a new team… where should we go?”

Everyone stared at him in silence.

Ken: “Didn’t we have this conversation already?”

Ann (frustrated): “Oh my god, not again!”

Akio: “Okay, okay! Let’s just stay at the hotel today, and tomorrow, I’ll have an answer!”

Ann: “Sounds good to me!”

The scene changes completely. First, the screen fades to black, then transitions to Kaji Kingdomduring sunset. The air was eerily quiet, carrying an ominous feeling, as if a disaster was about to unfold. Everything seemed normal… until the palace alarm echoed loudly!

A man’s voice came through the microphone:

“Evacuate! Machia’s army is at the gate! They are storming the palace!”

Inside the throne hall, King Sirrus sat on his red throne, one leg crossed over the other, staring ahead with complete indifference. It was as if the chaos outside was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. He didn’t move. He showed no emotion. Even when the massive doors burst open, and a royal guard rushed in, his face pale and eyes wide with fear.

Guard (panting): “My Lord Sirrus… Machia’s soldiers have breached the palace… They’re coming here!”

Silence filled the hall for a few moments. Then, Sirrus let out a quiet sigh, as if he was simply bored. He stood up and walked forward slowly, his steps carrying a crushing weight of authority and deadly presence.

Sirrus: “As always… that fool Machia decided to send his dogs after me.”

His voice was calm, but it carried a lethal aura, sending shivers down the spine of the guard who delivered the news. Sirrus didn’t need armor. He didn’t need a sword. He left the palace without fear, walking as if he were simply going on a casual evening stroll.

Outside, in the grand palace courtyard, Machia’s army stood on high alert, their boots pressing into the ground as they prepared for battle. Then, they heard it… slow, deliberate footsteps approaching.

Sirrus finally appeared before them. Alone. No army. No guards. Just him.

He stood at the top of the stone stairs leading to the palace entrance, looking down at them as if they were nothing but insignificant insects. Then, he raised his gaze slightly, locking eyes with the fleet commander, a towering man clad in black armor, holding a massive gun in his hand. The commander glared at Sirrus, trying to appear fearless.

Machia’s Fleet Commander (loudly): “Sirrus! By order of Emperor Machia, we are taking this palace from you! Surrender now, and we will let you live!”

Sirrus didn’t reply with words. Instead, he simply smirked coldly. Then, he started walking toward the commander, his steps slow but unwavering. Some soldiers instinctively stepped back. But the commander stood his ground, gripping his gun and pointing it at Sirrus’ head, his finger resting on the trigger. He was trying hard to mask his fear.

Then, in the blink of an eye—Sirrus vanished.

Soldier: “W-What?!”

No one saw how he moved… but suddenly, he was right in front of the commander. Too close. Too fast.

Sirrus stared at him with his lifeless gray eyes, completely void of emotion.

Sirrus (whispering, yet his voice felt like a dagger to the heart): “Did you say you would take my palace?”

Before anyone could react… Sirrus raised his hand slowly… and placed it on the commander’s head.

The commander froze. His hands trembled, and he couldn’t even pull the trigger.

Then, with no effort at all—Sirrus ripped his head off.

There was no dramatic battle. No screaming. Just the sound of flesh and bone separating.

The commander’s massive body collapsed instantly. His head, still dripping with fresh blood, remained in Sirrus’ grasp. He examined it for a moment, as if bored, then dropped it carelessly to the ground like a piece of garbage.

Silence.

The soldiers stepped back instinctively, their hands trembling. Some dropped their weapons without realizing it. Others began hyperventilating, as if the air around them had become too heavy to breathe.

Sirrus took another step forward, casually conjuring orbs of fire in his hands as a final warning.

Sirrus (calm, yet his voice carried the heat of hell itself):

“Who’s next?”

No one answered. No one dared.

In a single moment… Machia’s mighty army turned into a bunch of trembling fools.

Some began fleeing in blind panic, while others stood frozen in place, too scared to even move.

Then, a desperate voice rang out—the vice commander. His hands were shaking as he stared at his leader’s decapitated head, blood still pooling beneath it.

Vice Commander (shouting, voice laced with terror): “You cowards!! Where are you running?! Fire at him!”

The soldiers hesitated… some gripped their weapons but their hands shook violently. The vice commander, desperate to maintain control, raised his arm and ordered the snipers to take aim.

Vice Commander: “Aim on his head! NOW!”

In an instant, dozens of rifles pointed at Sirrus, and within a second, they all fired at once.

The bullets rushed toward Sirrus at deadly speed.

But in that moment—he didn’t flinch. He didn’t move. He didn’t dodge.

Instead… his gray eyes flashed a deep crimson red.

That was the moment everyone realized… they had made a fatal mistake.

Sirrus: “I’m tired of this nonsense.”

In one second, flames erupted around him. The heat intensified instantly, and the bullets, which had been flying toward him at full speed, began warping in the air.

Then suddenly—a massive explosion of fire burst from Sirrus’ body!

With a simple lift of his hand, an unstoppable wave of flames surged forward like a ravenous beast, devouring everything in its path.

In an instant, the bullets were gone.

Melted into nothing.

The soldiers had no time to react—the flames rushed toward them at terrifying speed.

“Aaaaaahhh!!”

Screams of agony filled the air.

Some tried to run, but the fire was faster.

Some burned alive before they could even comprehend what was happening.

Their armor melted into molten metal, their weapons dropped uselessly, and their bodies collapsed into ashes.

The vice commander was among them. But he didn’t die immediately—he could feel his body burning slowly, as if the flames were devouring his flesh and bones inch by inch.

Through the chaos, Sirrus appeared before him again.

The vice commander barely managed to lift his head. His body was half-burnt. His face, once full of pride, was now a twisted mask of horror.

His trembling eyes locked onto Sirrus’ expressionless face.

Sirrus (whispering coldly):

“A moment ago, you were speaking so confidently… but your heart tells me you were lying.”

Before the vice commander could mutter a single word, Sirrus moved.

Faster than lightning. Faster than anything they had ever seen.

In one swift motion—Sirrus’ hand plunged straight into the man’s chest!

The vice commander let out a choked gasp, eyes widening as he looked down…

He saw his own trembling hands.

Then, he saw Sirrus’ hand protruding from his back… holding his heart.

A wave of pure terror washed over him.

His heart was still beating.

Sirrus lifted the still-pulsing organ, watching it with quiet amusement.

Sirrus: “So, what are your last words?”

Vice Commander (barely whispering, voice broken with fear):

“I-impossible…”

Then, with no effort at all—Sirrus crushed the heart in his grip.

The body collapsed lifelessly.

Blood dripped from Sirrus’ fingers, but he simply wiped his hand on his red scarf as if cleaning a minor stain.

The remaining soldiers stood frozen. None of them could lift their weapons anymore.

Then, they ran.

“He’s a demon!! RUN!!!”

Within seconds, Machia’s army dissolved into chaos, scattering in fear.

Sirrus simply watched.

Then, he let out a low, sinister laugh.

Sirrus: “Is that all you’ve got, Machia? Pathetic.”

He turned back toward his palace, walking slowly, calmly.

As the palace doors shut behind him, silence returned.

But everyone knew one thing for certain—

Sirrus was not an ordinary man.

To be continued…