Six Months Ago | Tokyo Tower | Roof
Lucil sits on the edge of Tokyo Tower, a cigarette between his fingers, the city lights glittering far below. Behind him, Silver approaches, his boots clinking softly against the metal. He rests a hand on Lucil's shoulder.
"Lucil, our clans are weak again." Silver says. "Just like last time… and in Scotland."
Lucil exhales a thin stream of smoke. "Hmm. Sure. Sounds like an epic boss fight."
Silver chuckles. "Ruin's gaming obsession has rotted your brain."
Lucil sighs. "I don't know, Silver. I just hope it's not like Scotland… or Berlin."
"Hmm… I hope not either." Silver says. "But what are these things? They were hunting you specifically."
Lucil glances at him. "I'm not sure. But I do know this— they're called entities, and they hunt for irregularities."
"And I guess we're irregularities." Silver mutters.
Lucil stands. "And Jake too."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Do you know the term 'rule breaker', Silver?"
"No?"
"You know."
Lucil pulls a coin from his pocket and holds it up. "If I drop this coin, what happens?"
"It falls. Gravity." Silver answers.
"Why?"
"Because that's gravity."
"And what's gravity?"
"A rule of nature."
Lucil drops the coin— but it lands upside down.
"A trick?" Silver asks.
"This shouldn't be possible." Lucil says. "Sure, I used magic to make it fall that way, but if something exists outside the rules of nature, it makes no sense."
Silver rubs his temple. "What's your point?"
"Someone made the rules. Someone lives by those rules. And I think we're exceptions— that's our only clue. And if we don't fight each other, we'll break a rule."
"No." Silver interrupts. "Too conflicted. In the last life, it was Jake. And Jake wasn't an entity that threaten us— he was just a madlad."
Lucil gazes over the skyline, a faded memory surfacing— Jake stitching a massive wound in his side. "You didn't fight them last time. But Jake and I did."
Silver's brows lift. "That madlad. And you—"
"It was before his 'perfect world' plan. I didn't know him well then. But that thing hunted us."
"Impossible—"
"Arazaha!" Lucil says flatly. "Your circle gave me the excuse for its downfall. But the truth? It was an entity."
Silver exhales. "So if we team up, we have to expect a force strong enough to kill us multiple times."
"Yes."
"Rule Breaker…" Silver smirks faintly. "Sounds kinda cool. And we've got guns, some—"
"Silver!" Lucil cuts in, voice lowering. "The entity in Arazaha… it was using something modern…"
Silver shudders. "Okay. So we need to be ready."
"I've already made preparations."
Silver eyes him. "You know… I always thought you were chaotic. Never realized you were this calculated."
Lucil bursts into laughter. "Really? I've been orchestrating revolutions against you for centuries. Making plans."
"And manipulating—" Silver starts.
"No." Lucil says sharply. "I never manipulated anyone. Freedom is everything to me. I've always made my goals clear. I never force anyone to fight. The only difference between the past and the last five hundred years is just one thing."
Both men say together: "Never kill civilians. No casualties."
"Hey, I am apologising for hitting a soft spot. I'm stricter with my past subordinates." Silver says.
"It's fine. I just want that clear. Freedom's important to me— but I don't have a clean record. I've killed over and over, taking away others' freedom."
"So have I. But I have no regrets."
Lucil looks down, sad and thoughtful.
Silver taps his foot. "Lucil, you're gonna protect them?"
"It's my promise. But you need to join too."
"I'm just good at killing and playing dirty. Between us, you're the honorable one."
Lucil meets his eyes. "Silver, let's survive this cycle. No matter what."
"Nothing can stop us. Silver says with a grin. "I… no… We will push through it."
Present Time | White Dragon Shrine
Ruin listens to the story in disbelief.
"Hey—" she says, eyes narrowing. "You're telling me our predecessor slaughtered an entire city because something ancient corrupted him? And that's why we need to wipe out this bloodline?"
Her voice cracks into laughter— laughter that teeters on the edge of sanity before breaking.
Estelle's tone is cold. "You don't understand the destruction Ryusaki causes. The souls vanish— completely. The deaths are permanent. Nothing remains because of his warped idea of unity."
"The threat—" Joseph begins, but Ruin cuts him off with a shout.
"Brainwashed! No wonder we're weak! Evolution— ass— truly despicable. Even if they have the power to destroy this country, we have the Guardians and the Mage Tower to—"
"No!" Estelle snaps. "The Guardians give us the task to eliminate the Red Dragons. The Mage Tower wants us to annihilate them."
Ruin's expression turns pitying. "Joseph… do you know the Mage Tower also gave the Red Dragon Clan that same task? They want to annihilate us too— feed the hatred. It's absurd."
Joseph's voice rises, sharp. "I can show it to you! Emberium— what happens to it—"
Estelle doesn't let the pause linger. "Japan once had ten million citizens. Four hundred thousand were mages. Two hundred thousand died in Emberium. The rest get were dragged into clan wars— because Ryusaki interfered with his so-called 'peace.' Now? We have ten thousand mages left in this country."
Jessica's gaze is hard. "Ryusaki does the most damage— by uniting."
"And now." Ruin says bitterly, "We're slaves for something we didn't commit. Using this war to enforce hypocrisy."
Joseph steps toward her. "You don't see the destruction."
"And you—" Ruin begins.
Jessica cuts in sharply. "The Emberium Massacre wiped out our magical culture, and you're just walking away, Ruin!"
Estelle's tone cools again. "Ruin… we will forget you killed a clan member."
"That's why you are weak, mom. Even if all of this is true." Ruin replies, "You sell us out. Every future is seeded for hatred, and stagnation just keeps rolling on."
She snaps her fingers. The illusion collapses. Jonas sleeps unconscious nearby.
Jessica and Estelle turn to look at him.
"I can kill you all." Ruin says quietly. "That's not the problem. But for what? I've learned killing needs a reason. And what reason is there? All I see now is hypocrisy."
She thinks over their story.
"You say the Mage Tower wants you to win. You know the Red Dragons get the same order."
She sighs. "Your hatred means nothing. They want us to kill each other, over and over. Even without that, disrupting Japan's mages works wonders for them. The Guardians are strong, but our mages? Pathetic. And now I know our headmaster is guilty for that. That's just—"
"RUIN!" Jessica barks.
"Ruin—" Estelle warns.
"You know, Lucil from the Red Dragons taught me how to control an avatar, even fight in my own sword style. Silver taught me magic— how to really understand it. Ironic, right? These two know everything."
She exhales slowly. "You try cheap manipulation on me. It never works. The world is more than hate. I like to choose— and chase— my goals. Even if I love someone else, I'll choose them because I want to. I'll never want it any other way. So, Estelle, Joseph— give me my freedom back and I'll never use your magic."
"Ruin—" Joseph starts.
"You're our kin." Estelle adds.
"If not." Ruin says coldly, "then I won't bother with illusions. I'll kill you for real. And don't start with countermeasures— I'll break the spell before it blossoms."
Joseph's gaze sharpens, a smirk tugging on his lips. "I understand. But what will you do?"
"JOSEPH!" Estelle's voice cracks.
He glares at her. "She can kill us anytime— she doesn't need this illusion. Is it worth dying just to change our daughter's mind? And Estelle— you lied. About Lucil. About the attack on Rika—"
Jessica's voice is ice. "Those dragons… they can't blossom."
Joseph sighs, then smiles faintly at Ruin. "Hey, little star. Don't think I don't know Silver's past— or Lucil's."
He holds her gaze, eyes steady.
"You've grown up."
Jessica and Estelle both stare daggers at him.
Joseph continues, voice measured. "Bowing to wisdom and strength… that's good. So I'll tell you the truth. The story I just told you— it's real. An entity destroys Emberium. And yes, the Red Dragon bloodline is cursed. The Mage Tower— once the Mage Circle— has dealt with it before. I know this."