History repeats itself.
The horrors of war—humans forget them far too quickly.
Like watching fish devour each other in a small tank, there are beings who coldly observe humanity's endless conflicts.
And those beings pull invisible strings, manipulating humans like puppets.
The ones holding those long, unseen threads—the ones guiding mankind from the shadows—are none other than the "descendants of gods," the Yudra.
In the Kingdom of Nakatam, a fleeting peace had returned.
A week had passed since the fierce battle, and the reconstruction of the capital was slowly but surely underway.
Temporary housing lined the military training grounds and the area around the castle, sheltering displaced residents.
From clearing rubble to rebuilding walls, craftsmen from across the kingdom directed the work. Soldiers, volunteers, even former Old Doal troops—and members of the Nova Family who had once fought against them—labored side by side.
Men who had once faced each other with blades now shared shovels.
Race, history—none of it mattered in that moment.
They exchanged weary smiles, shared water, and laughed over simple meals. That fleeting moment alone was true hope.
"Damn it… why the hell do I have to be doing this…?"
Only Darmaine scowled at the situation.
To work shoulder-to-shoulder with men he once commanded with an iron jaw—covered in dirt—was nothing but humiliation.
Pouting, he swung his shovel without spirit.
Meanwhile, at a training ground further from the castle, the military, the Royal Guard, and the security corps were conducting joint exercises.
But "training" was a euphemism. In truth, it was a brutal Spartan-style regimen led by Marshal Ponaparto and Marshal Valentino.
Its severity bordered on madness.
Endi, Rabesta, and Esta were among the participants.
On a field spanning twenty hectares, over two hundred soldiers ran in grim silence.
Snap!
Valentino snapped his fingers.
At that signal, every soldier had to sprint at full power for twenty seconds.
To them, it was the whisper of a devil.
Yet the true devil was Valentino himself—smiling wickedly, eyes sharpened, as he watched their anguished faces.
"Uoooooohhh!!"
Endi roared as he surged forward at the head of the pack.
Rabesta and Esta chased desperately after his back.
Captain Saizo clutched his side but still kept within the top fifty.
Meanwhile—Kumashis was slacking off in the toilet.
Eventually, Valentino raised his right hand high.
At the signal, the relentless sprinting came to an end.
"Finally… water…"
Endi staggered forward, parched, only to find Ponaparto blocking his path.
"Oi, brat! Who the hell said you could take a break!?"
"…Eh?"
Endi blinked, dumbfounded. Ponaparto cracked his knuckles with a grin.
"Next up—combat training! I'm gonna pound you until you shine!"
The next instant, Endi's body was sent flying.
Ponaparto's fist had smashed him mercilessly.
One after another, trainees fell victim to the marshal's strikes.
Some froze in terror. Others turned to flee.
But Endi—knocked down again and again—kept rising to his feet.
Seeing him, Rabesta and Esta too stood back up, only to be blown away, and yet rose again.
"We… we're going too!"
"Yeah!"
Inspired by their courage, the other trainees clenched their fists and charged.
"You bastards got guts, I'll give you that," Ponaparto laughed, glancing at Endi.
"That kid's something else."
His fist howled once more, and the frenzied training raged on.
Meanwhile, Willart Rose toured the reconstruction efforts with Jessica and Moene.
"Everyone's working hard out here. Alright, I'll help too!"
"Young master! Absolutely not!" Moene rushed to stop him.
Then, from ahead, Nova appeared.
"Well, well, Prince Rose. Out surveying the scene with two lovely bodyguards, are we?"
"Huh? Aren't you joining the joint military exercise?"
"I prefer training alone. So I thought I'd devote myself to the reconstruction instead."
"Watch your tone when speaking to the young master!" Jessica snapped, frowning.
"Well, if it isn't Jessica the traitor."
Nova's provocation made Jessica stride forward.
Her right hand lashed out, striking his cheek with a sharp slap.
"Traitor? I pledged loyalty to the young master from the very beginning. And you—aren't you a captain now? Stop whining about the past and act like one!"
With that, she turned on her heel and rejoined Rose and Moene.
"Not bad, Jessica," Rose muttered in admiration.
"My loyalty to the young master is stronger than hers!" Moene shot back, bristling with jealousy.
Nova stood frozen, stunned, staring after Jessica. When their eyes met, he quickly looked away and slunk down a deserted street.
"…Damn, what a woman."
But then, his steps halted.
"Quit hiding and show yourself."
A silent figure emerged behind him—Cain.
"You noticed, huh?"
"Anyone would, with that much killing intent." Nova smirked.
"You've been sniffing around me for a while now. So I figured I'd come to you myself."
"I've been appointed Captain of the newly formed Nakatam regiment. Investigating seeds of unrest is part of my duty."
"Captain, eh? That's a hell of a promotion—from mafia boss to big shot. And 'unrest'? You've got some nerve."
"From the very first time we met, I knew you were someone I couldn't read. You might fool Endi, but not me. So tell me, Cain—just what are you?"
Cain gave no answer.
His eyes glimmered with the cold, reptilian emptiness of a being stripped of all emotion.