Sunlight pierced the cave mouth, birds chirping outside. Akime's eyes fluttered open—Narcissus stood at the entrance, lifting the leafy covering."Wake up, everyone. Training time." His bright smile beamed, a total shift from last night's lifeless killer. "I'm off for a bath. Meet at the seashore."He vanished into the morning light, utterly transformed.

  Reo stirred awake as Akime nudged him. "Narcissus said meet at the seashore for training.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  They scrambled up, dashing out of the cave toward the crashing waves.

  The scene shifted to Ursa Minor's Polaris Empire—a colossal golden god statue loomed in the vast temple.

  Shingen meditated before it, eyes snapping open. He rose, striding toward the exit where servants bowed, one proffering a towel.

  "What do you think about increasing our payments?" the servant asked casually. "We even polished that gold statue—hope it means a raise.”

  Shingen seized the man's trachea, yanking it out with lungs in a gory spray. "Lowlives shouldn't speak this much," he growled, blood dripping. He glared at the others. "Clean this mess." Wiping his hands on the towel, he tossed it and walked off.