The safehouse was hidden beneath a crumbling sake shop on the outskirts of the capital. Dusty lanterns cast weak light over a narrow room lined with maps and coded notes. Ren sat at a worn wooden table, Mukuro no Tsurugi resting across his lap like a sleeping beast.
Aya stood near the doorway, arms crossed, her sharp gaze never leaving him. Riku rummaged through old scrolls, muttering curses as he shoved aside piles of faded documents.
Finally, the rebel strategist slammed a map onto the table.
"Alright, listen up," Riku said. "The moment you awakened that relic, the Empire felt it. You just announced yourself to every Relic Wielder in Teikoku no Yami. They'll hunt you relentlessly."
Ren didn't flinch. "Let them come."
Riku shot him a look of disbelief. "Tch. Of course you'd say that. But you don't get it. This isn't just about soldiers. The Empire's Relic Corps will move next. Seven wielders, each one a walking catastrophe. They're not toys you can just erase with a flick of your wrist."
Ren's eyes glimmered faintly. "Are they really that strong?"
Aya stepped forward, her voice calm but heavy. "Each Imperial Relic was forged from the essence of the ancient gods who ruled this land before the Empire. Every wielder is handpicked, trained from birth to kill and die without hesitation. Even your blade, limitless as it seems, is not invincible against all of them."
Ren tilted his head slightly. "Limitless means limitless. Do you doubt it?"
Aya frowned. "Limitless power isn't the same as omniscience. There are relics you haven't seen yet… relics that can counter even Mukuro no Tsurugi."
Ren's expression hardened. "…Explain."
Aya hesitated, then spoke quietly. "The Empire guards a secret weapon. The Kagebara—the Shadow Rose. It's said to be the Thirteenth Forbidden Relic, created from the remains of the God of Silence. Unlike any other, it nullifies all relics, stripping their wielders of power. If the Emperor awakens it… even you won't survive."
For the first time since touching the blade, Ren felt something flicker inside him—not fear, but interest.
"…Then I'll burn it before they wake it."
Aya exchanged a sharp look with Riku.
The strategist sighed. "He's insane. Figures."
Ren ignored him, gaze drifting to the map spread before them. "Where is this Relic Corps now?"
Riku tapped a spot near the capital. "Here. Kasai Fortress. They're stationed there with a dozen other relic wielders. If you're smart, you'll avoid it for now. The rebels don't have the strength to face them directly."
Ren traced the map with a finger. "…Then that's where I'm going."
"Oi, did you not hear a word I just said?!" Riku barked.
Ren stood, his coat shifting with the movement, the faint glow of Mukuro no Tsurugi reflecting in his mismatched eyes. "You asked me to fight the Empire. I will. But I don't wait for my enemies to come to me."
Aya stepped in front of him. "Charging in alone will alert the Emperor and bring Kagebara out of slumber. You need strategy, allies, and information. Power without direction is just another weapon the Empire can turn against you."
Ren paused. Aya's voice was steady, commanding—not out of fear, but conviction.
"…So you're saying I should wait?"
"Not wait," she corrected, "but strike with precision. There are relic wielders even within the capital who might betray the Empire. Find them. Unite them. Break the Empire from within before the Relic Corps can react."
Riku grinned faintly. "She's right. You want to topple the Empire? Fine. But you'll need more than brute force. There's a network of informants, spies, and a few relic wielders who hate the throne. We can start there."
Ren considered their words, then lowered himself back into the chair. "…Then tell me who they are."
Before they could answer, a sharp knock echoed from above.
Riku stiffened. Aya drew a hidden dagger from her sleeve.
The trapdoor creaked open, and a soft voice called down, "You're being watched."
A figure stepped down into the dim light.
It was Kagemi Akari.
The assassin removed her mask, revealing pale skin and sharp violet eyes. "The Relic Corps is already on the move. They know you're here."
Ren's hand drifted toward Mukuro no Tsurugi. "…And you? Still here to kill me?"
Akari smirked faintly. "If I wanted you dead, you'd already be gone. Consider this… a warning. The first of the Seven Imperial Relics is coming for you."
Aya's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Akari's voice was soft but edged with tension.
"Shiba Reiji. Wielder of the Flame Emperor's Spear. He doesn't take prisoners."
Riku cursed. "That lunatic? Of course they'd send him first."
Ren rose slowly, blade in hand. "…Then I'll kill him before he reaches us."
Akari tilted her head slightly. "You're confident. I like that."
Aya glared. "You're going to help him fight?"
Akari's smile was unreadable. "No. I'm just here to watch. To see if the boy who wields the Hollow Blade can truly rewrite fate."
Outside, the air grew heavy.
From beyond the city walls, a deep rumble rolled like distant thunder. Faint embers flickered in the night sky.
The Flame Emperor's Spear had awakened.
Ren stepped toward the door, Mukuro no Tsurugi pulsing faintly in his hand.
"Then let's see how strong the Empire really is."