Everyone seated at the table stood up in fear and shock.
"Emperor…"
The emperor stood behind the king, a bloody sword in hand. He wore a red royal suit lined with white buttons and white stripes along the sides; his hair was silver. His face was buried in shadow—only his silver hair caught the light.
The king rose from the throne and stepped back from the emperor, his face trembling.
"Why… why are you here, and what is the meaning of that blood?" he asked in a low, trembling voice.
The emperor raised his head, tightened his grip, and suddenly struck toward the king.
Rim burst forward and stepped between them, blocking the emperor's sword with his own.
The room went silent. Rim pushed back the emperor's sword with a sharp thrust, and the guards surrounded the emperor, their spears and swords leveled at his face.
The king and Rim moved back from the spot.
The emperor glanced at the king, then swung his sword through the air. The blood spattered from the blade, and the sword became clean again. He slid it back into the waist belt.
Rim turned to the king.
"Like I thought, they never really left this kingdom. I didn't expect it would get worse than this. The emperor himself came here and attacked—and he swung that sword to kill you."
Rim saw the king, who stood frozen in shock as Rim spoke.
"You idiot, look at me."
The king finally met Rim's gaze.
"You need to get out of here."
The king turned toward the door and saw the body of a guard, blood pooling on the floor. His fear hardened into anger.
"Do you really think I would leave this place?" he snapped. "Did you see his sword? He's already killed our guard, our people—after he gave us freedom, then betrayed us on the very day he did."
"Now you—"
A sudden pressure filled the room. They turned back to the emperor.
The emperor's appearance changed. A new suit erupted around his body, starting from his ears and spreading across his skin. The suit was red, like exposed nerves, with two horns rising from the shoulders. The gaps in the armor glowed with red mana light.
He also drew a new sword, the blade wreathed in a red shockwave.
Rim spoke again, his voice urgent.
"I understand you, but the situation here is getting worse. Your life is the highest priority. Leave now."
The king shouted at him.
"You idiot, how many times must I say it? I will never move from here!"
Rim snapped back.
"Dammit—don't make me repeat myself. Just do as I say. Go find that bastard Gin and tell him what's happening!"
The room fell silent for several seconds.
Rim took a heavy breath and forced himself to calm down.
"Enri, please understand the situation. Get away from here. I'll do my best to push him back. You know where to go, right? You go first—I'll follow."
The king said nothing.
Rim called to the guards.
"Guards!"
Three guards pulled back from the emperor and ran toward Rim.
"Protect the king with your lives and find General Gin. Report to him what's happening."
"Now—go."
The king and the guards moved out of the dining hall. As they left, the king turned and saw the emperor fully transformed, now covered in the red mana suit. The emperor's eyes lingered on the king, then he slowly shifted his gaze to the terrified royals and stepped toward them.
Outside the hall, the king saw the fallen guards and the blood on the floor. He clenched his fist, teeth grinding in anger.
He turned, determined to move away—then he called to one of the guards.
"Go find General Gin and report the situation to him. Tell him to meet me in the chamber."
The guard nodded, turned, and ran off.
Inside the hall, tension crackled in the air. The emperor stepped toward the royals, but the remaining guards surrounded him, weapons raised.
The emperor stopped for a second—then vanished.
The guards flinched, blinking in confusion. In that instant, their weapons had already been sliced. They didn't even realize it until the emperor's blade had cut through them all.
Every guard collapsed. The royal standing in front of the emperor trembled, speechless.
Now only the emperor, General Rim, the remaining royals, and the musicians were left in the room. The musicians shook in fear.
Rim shouted.
"Everyone, get down!"
He raised his hand.
"Fire… strike!"
Flames erupted from his palm, racing toward the emperor—but instead of hitting him directly, they exploded in front of him, forming a wall of fire. The flames pushed through the room, shattering the window glass behind the emperor.
"Everyone, jump out and escape! I'll deal with him," Rim ordered.
Everyone froze, staring at him.
"Why are you all just standing there? Jump!"
The emperor stepped forward. The royals shoved one another toward the window. The shattered glass lay scattered across the floor. They looked at each other, each waiting for someone else to go first.
A young man with straight red hair climbed onto the windowsill, gritting his teeth. He jumped. The glass tore into his skin, shards embedding themselves in his body.
"Ahh… shit, shit, shit!" he screamed in pain.
He pulled the sharper pieces away, clearing the worst of the glass so the others could follow.
The royals jumped one by one, still pushing each other, then ran into the palace.
"Hurry! We need to find the escape path!"
They left the first man behind. He struggled to stand, his knee bleeding from the glass stuck in his skin. He panted, crawling along the ground as everyone else fled.
Now only Rim, the emperor, and the terrified musicians remained.
Rim looked at the musicians.
"Oh… you're still here? Don't worry. You're not his targets. Just stay in the corner and keep yourselves alive."
He slid his sword back into his waist belt.
"Now… now I've got one in a hundred chance of fighting the emperor." Rim's voice was low, heavy, almost calm.