"With me here... why should the Ryuzaki Clan worry about finding an Emperor?"
The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of destiny.
It wasn't just a statement. It was a promise. A declaration of war against the Heavens.
RUMBLE.
Thunder roared in the clear sky. The laws of the world seemed to resonate with Ryuzaki Haruto's invincible will.
Inside the Golden Palace, the guests were paralyzed.
"The Divine Son has the ambition of an Emperor!" "An invincible Dao Heart!" "This path to the throne... is about to get interesting."
The Princess of the Great Shang Dynasty sighed, her eyes filled with longing. "A true man should be like this..."
As for Minamoto Ruri, she was practically vibrating.
"He's so cool! He's so handsome! He's so domineering!" Ruri squealed internally, her earlier humiliation forgotten. 'Marry me now!'
Haruto ignored the adoration. He looked down at Ryuzaki Raijin with cold indifference.
"Are you satisfied with this answer?"
Raijin's throat tightened. He wanted to retort, to scream, to fight. But facing Haruto's aura, he felt like a candle facing the sun.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the depths of the Ryuzaki Ancestral Grounds. It was ancient, raspy, and filled with terrifying power.
"Good."
One word.
"The Eighteenth Ancestor!" Ryuzaki Kenshin gasped.
The Ancestor rarely spoke. His approval was the highest law in the clan. With that single word, Haruto's position as Sequence Zero was set in stone.
Raijin's face turned pale. Even if he had a hundred lives, he wouldn't dare defy the Ancestor.
"I apologize for my rudeness," Raijin gritted his teeth, bowing stiffly. "I have matters to attend to. Farewell."
He turned and stormed out, his lightning flickering erratically.
Haruto watched him go.
'Ryuzaki Raijin... don't be foolish like Prince Seiryu,' Haruto thought. 'If you become an obstacle, I won't show mercy just because we share a surname.'
The Uninvited Guest
With the internal conflict resolved, the banquet resumed.
Ryuzaki Yukino (Sequence 7) raised her glass. "Congratulations, Sequence Zero."
"Thank you, Cousin Yukino," Haruto smiled politely. He appreciated people who knew their place.
Ryuzaki Kenji (Sequence 10) also offered a toast, his expression respectful. He knew he could never catch up to this monster.
Just as Haruto was wondering why the System hadn't triggered a Sign-In yet, a booming voice shattered the festive atmosphere.
"The Divine Son of the Ryuzaki Clan... your tone is arrogant. I wonder if your strength matches your mouth?"
The voice came from outside the Torii Gates, loud enough to shake the floating islands.
The music stopped. The guests froze.
"Who dares?!" "Crashing the Ryuzaki Clan's banquet? Are they tired of living?"
Everyone looked toward the sky.
A massive Azure Dragon with a wingspan of a thousand meters hovered above the gates. Standing on its back was a group of non-human beings—creatures with horns, wings, and scales.
Leading them was a young man in golden robes. He had two crystal dragon horns on his forehead and vertical slit pupils that burned with golden fire.
It was Ryuu Haotian . The Second Dragon Prince of the Ancestral Dragon Nest.
"The Ancestral Dragon Nest!" an Elder gasped. "They are an Ancient Royal Family! Why are they here?"
The feud between the Ryuzaki Clan and the Dragon Nest was legendary.
Decades ago, Haruto's father, Ryuzaki Mumei, had skinned a Dragon Elder alive. The two factions were sworn enemies.
"Hmph. Bad luck," Kenshin scowled. "We didn't invite these lizards."
"What?" Haotian shouted from the sky, his voice mocking. "The mighty Ryuzaki Clan, ruler of the Central Province, is afraid to let a few guests in? Are you scared we'll eat your food?"
"You...!" Kenji stood up, his hand on his sword. "Arrogant!"
Haotian laughed. "If you're afraid, just say so! Close your gates and hide like turtles!"
The guests whispered nervously. If the Ryuzaki Clan refused entry, they would look weak. If they let them in, there would be trouble.
Kenshin was about to activate the Guardian Array to blast them out of the sky.
"Grandpa."
A calm voice interrupted him.
Haruto stood up, his white robes fluttering in the wind. He looked at the massive dragon in the sky with a bored expression.
"Let them in," Haruto said, waving his hand dismissively.
"They are just a few mudfish. What waves can they make in my ocean?"