Eustace had long since noticed the Navy soldiers stationed atop the palace walls.
At the time, he'd thought little of it. Perhaps the Navy had sent a commodore or, at most, a rear admiral to assist the kingdom. That would have been expected.
But now seeing the man who stepped forward to shield King Moriah his pupils constricted sharply.
Vice Admiral Onigumo.
Eustace gave a hollow laugh. "Didn't think the Navy held me in such high regard. Sending a vice admiral for a mere rebel? I'm honored."
Onigumo's expression didn't shift an inch. From above, he looked down with an air of cold detachment. "Eustace. Don't overestimate yourself. The Navy and the World Government are not forces you can oppose. Surrender peacefully, and you may yet keep your life."
Eustace's smile faded. "Tell me, Vice Admiral… do you know what's been happening in this kingdom these past few years?"
Onigumo's brows twitched. He hesitated, then shook his head.
He didn't need to explain. The World Government had long forbidden the Navy from interfering in a nation's internal affairs. This very mission was an exception he was only here because orders had come from above.
After all, a man of his rank spent most of his time either stationed at Marine Headquarters or sailing the seas, hunting pirates in the name of justice. The affairs of a small kingdom like Moriah's were beneath his notice.
Eustace gave a low, bitter laugh. "So you don't even know. Then you have no right to interfere. You claim to uphold justice, to protect peace yet here you stand, helping the tyrant who caused his own people to suffer. Tell me, Vice Admiral… doesn't that make you a hypocrite?"
He took a step forward, his voice rising, cold and clear. "Or perhaps… the Navy is nothing but the World Government's guard dog. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong when they say bite, you bite."
The words rang across the battlefield like a thunderclap.
The world seemed to stop. Soldiers froze mid-breath, eyes wide with disbelief. Even the rebels stared in stunned silence.
Was he insane?
To insult both the Navy and the World Government openly… was he seeking death?
Liam Ross, watching from the shadows, raised an eyebrow. There was a spark of intrigue in his eyes.
This man, he thought, was interesting.
"Enough!"
Onigumo's sharp voice sliced through the still air. His gaze turned cold and venomous, his tone like frost. "You dare mock the World Government? You dare question the Navy? You've sealed your fate."
He drew one of his swords with deliberate calm. "A soldier's duty is obedience. Whatever your kingdom's plight, it is not our concern. My orders are clear bring you in, or put you down."
His eyes narrowed. "Since you refuse to surrender…" He paused, then declared flatly, "You will be executed on the spot."
Eustace's lips curled into a smirk. "Then stop talking and do it."
He had accepted his fate the moment he raised the banner of rebellion. Before storming the royal palace, he'd already made peace with death. He'd even entrusted his child to Osmond, knowing full well he might never see him again.
If his death could free the people from tyranny, it would be worth it.
"Defiant outlaw," Onigumo said, voice dripping with disdain. "Challenging justice earns you only one end oblivion."
Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, there was mutual understanding. Both men knew what came next.
"Magnetic Cannon!"
Eustace roared, swinging his massive mechanical arm down with earth-shaking force.
"Too slow."
Onigumo vanished.
A thunderous crash split the ground where he'd stood, sending up clouds of dust.
"Eight-Sword Style Aurora Slash!"
From the darkness of his long, black hair, six additional arms extended, each gripping a blade. His entire form glimmered like a burst of steel.
He shot forward, a streak of light too fast for the naked eye.
"Magnetic Burst!"
Eustace reacted instantly, flinging shards of metal from his arm in a storm of spinning debris.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The blades cut through each piece effortlessly, the flash of steel piercing through the storm.
Then, silence.
Eustace froze mid-stance.
Behind him, Onigumo reappeared, his spiderlike limbs retracting as he sheathed his swords.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then
"Pfft."
A crimson spurt erupted from Eustace's chest.
Then another. And another.
Seven thin lines of blood sprayed from his body as he staggered, trembling, the magnetic energy flickering weakly around him.
King Moriah's laughter echoed through the ruins. "Hahahaha! You're finished, Eustace! You thought you could overthrow me? I'll live! And every last one of your filthy rebels will die!"
Eustace clutched his chest, blood running down his armor. The pain was unbearable but not greater than his fury.
So this… was the power gap between him and a Marine Vice Admiral.
He coughed violently, spitting blood onto the dirt. His vision swam, but he forced his legs to move, step by step, toward the sneering king.
Moriah smirked, towering once again, the arrogance returning to his face. "Pathetic, isn't it? Look at you. Covered in your own blood, barely standing. Did you really think you could take my throne?"
Eustace said nothing. He simply kept walking.
One meter. Two. Three.
Each step heavier than the last.
"Stop looking at me like that!" Moriah shouted, his voice cracking. "You dare glare at your king? When you're dead, I'll gouge out those eyes and preserve them in wine!"
He laughed, drunk on his own madness. "Filthy rebel. Trash. You'll never rise above the likes of me!"
Around them, the rebel soldiers screamed through tears.
"Eustace!"
"Don't die, captain!"
"We'll avenge you no matter what!"
But Eustace didn't turn.
He was already beyond pain, beyond fear.
When he was only a few meters away, he smiled faintly. "Moriah… I'm dying."
"Good," the king sneered. "A worm like you deserves no better."
Eustace's tone softened, almost wistful. "I only wished… to see the people freed from your cruelty. To see this kingdom breathe again."
He raised his head. "Seems I won't get to see it."
Then, his voice dropped, cold as iron. "But if I can drag you to hell with me… that's enough."
"Still pretending to be a hero?" Moriah scoffed. "Kill him! Now!"
Too late.
Eustace lunged forward, lightning erupting from his hands.
He struck the king's skull with both palms.
A surge of magnetic energy exploded outward, and Moriah's head burst in a crimson flash.
The tyrant fell, lifeless.
"Foolish move."
Onigumo's voice came from behind, low and chilling.
At that moment
Ding!
A metallic voice echoed in Liam Ross's mind.
"Mission Triggered: Save the dying Eustace and fulfill his final wish help him see his son one last time."
Reward: Mysterious Chest
Penalty: 'Little Brother' permanently unable to enter elemental form.
Liam's eyes flickered. "So it begins."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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