Corrupted Throne

Hollowveil Mountain

Snow crunched under heavy boots as Scout Blood Hawk led the way up the narrow ridge. Captain Samual followed, sharp eyes sweeping the fog ahead. Behind him trailed Vairan, Touka, Regan, and three others.

"Hey—you three," Samual barked, pointing to a jagged cliff overlooking the village. "Hold your post up there. Watch the village. If anything moves, report immediately."

Regan, Touka, and Vairan halted.

"Regan, you're in charge of that squad."

"Yes, sir," Regan replied without thinking.

Vairan strode ahead without a glance back, his arrogant gait cutting through the snow like a blade.

Touka moved silently behind him. Her violet eyes fixed on his back. Quiet. Calculating.

Velmora-born… He knows Capital routes. If I can shadow him long enough… maybe my path becomes easier.

Behind her, Regan watched.

He saw the intensity. The way she tracked Vairan like a predator or a shadow.

Why him? Why not me?

He hated the answer.

But Vairan felt it.

That cold, watchful presence at his back.

Abruptly, he spun. His gloved fist clenched in Touka's collar.

"Oi. Eyesore." His voice was low, dangerous. "What the hell do you think you're pulling?"

Touka's expression was neutral. Calm. Empty.

"I… I was just walking."

Then, slowly, she shifted her gaze past Vairan.

At Regan.

Just a glance.

Cold. Sharp. Unspoken.

Move.

Regan's heart pounded. He understood.

She wanted him to step in.

His fists clenched. His pride screamed against it.

And yet… his body moved.

CRACK.

Regan's fist struck Vairan square in the jaw.

Blood sprayed onto the snow as Vairan fell hard.

Silence.

Vairan lifted his head slowly, blood dripping from his nose.

And then… he smiled.

A wide, brutal grin.

"Well," he said softly. "Didn't expect that."

Regan stepped back, panicked. "H-hey… don't touch her."

Touka blinked.

Then smirked. Just faintly.

So… he does have a spine after all.

Regan saw that smirk. He felt humiliated.

Is she mocking me… or using me?

Then, she whispered.

"Thanks."

A single word that twisted Regan's gut.

Why did that sound… genuine?

Vairan stood, wiping his nose, still grinning.

"Looks like you grew a pair, Regan."

He cracked his neck, eyes burning.

"Get to the post," he said, gesturing to the cliff ahead.

"I'll kill you there."

He started walking.

Regan stood frozen, breath heavy.

Touka passed him quietly.

But as she passed, her voice returned. Colder.

"Don't disappoint me."

Regan's blood ran cold.

Why… why am I doing this?

But he followed.

Because now, he couldn't stop.

Vairan was waiting.

---

## Main Gate — Squad One, Storm Division

The lullaby drifted from the house.

Soft. Calm. Wrong.

Duke shivered near the fire. His breath visible. His fear worse.

"I… I'm scared," Jack whispered, eyes wet.

Drex, normally unshakable, looked pale.

Even Aren and Yue, guarding the gate, stood paralyzed.

Duke tried to breathe.

You have to move.

Then… he saw it.

A silhouette.

Something—someone—watching from the trees.

But before Duke could speak—

The chain struck.

SHRIIING.

A flash of blue Kendra energy arced through the mist as Miss Violet's chain lashed outward like a serpent.

A loud crack.

A branch splintered and fell to the snow.

Everyone froze.

"W-what?" Samaira gasped.

Even Drex flinched.

She just… cut a branch?

But Violet wasn't done.

Her chain hovered, floating in the air, glowing blue.

Alive.

Longer, Duke realized. The chain… it's growing?

Jack swallowed. "But… why did you—?"

Violet answered without looking at him.

"Someone was there."

Silence.

Duke's gaze dropped to the snow.

Drops of blood.

She hit them.

Miss Violet's tone stayed flat, eyes locked ahead.

"He's gone now. But he'll remember."

She stepped forward, energy pulsing around her.

Her chain rose higher, floating behind her like coiled fangs.

"Stop panicking."

Her voice cut through their fear.

"You're under my watch."

She looked at none of them as she said it.

But they all heard.

"No one touches you… while I'm here."

The chain hissed softly, blue energy pulsing.

Even the mist seemed hesitant now.

Everyone slowly calmed.

Duke realized his hands had stopped shaking.

Miss Violet… she's strong, he thought.

The others—Jack, Drex, even Samaira—breathed easier. The oppressive fear faded.

"Very good," Miss Violet said softly. Her chain hovered behind her like a silent guardian. "Now… someone check the tree."

Silence.

"It's part of your training."

"I'll go," Drex said quickly, stepping forward.

"I'll go too," Samaira offered.

"No, Samaira. Let Drex handle it," Violet said, her tone firm. "It's his task. Report back to me with whatever you find."

She didn't even look at them when she added:

"Duke. Samaira. Watch over him."

Duke blinked in surprise.

"I want you to trust each other. And me."

Drex nodded once, gripping his weapon tighter, and moved into the mist.

The fog thickened around him. Soon, even the campfire behind vanished.

He glanced back nervously.

A soft blue glow pulsed faintly in the distance.

Miss Violet's chain.

She's letting me know… she's watching, Drex realized.

He reached the fallen branch.

Blood stained the snow.

Tattered black cloth hung from the broken branch—slashed, torn. And the blood trail… it was heavy.

Drex's gut tightened.

Whoever it was… Miss Violet hit them clean.

He looked toward the silent house.

The lullaby had stopped.

Should I… check there too? he hesitated.

"Hey! Drex! You good?" Duke called from behind.

Drex shook his head, stepping back quickly. "I'm done! Coming back!"

He jogged toward the fire.

Once back, he dropped the black cloth into the snow before Miss Violet.

"Blood's everywhere. A clean hit. This cloth… black, torn."

Miss Violet studied it without surprise.

"If it was a clean hit, he wouldn't have gone far," she murmured. "If I go now… I might catch him."

For a moment, she looked distant. Calculating.

But she didn't move.

Duke hesitated… then forced the words out.

"You should go, Miss Violet. Don't worry about us."

Samaira nodded. "He's right."

"Yeah… we'll manage," Jack added, nervous but firm.

Miss Violet's eyes snapped back to them.

"I will not leave you behind," she said simply. "They attacked once. They can attack again."

Her voice was cold. Final.

"I don't risk casualties."

The blue energy flickered softly around her floating chain.

"We rest. We wait."

No one argued.

The mist lingered.

But for now…

They were safe.

Hollowveil Mountain – Observation Cliff

"Ahhhh! Ufff! Uhhh! DIE! DIEEE! DIEEEE!!"

Vairan's fists pounded into Regan's face, over and over. His knuckles bloodied. His breathing ragged. His body shaking from pure frenzy.

"Earlier you punched me... now you're not even moving..." Vairan snarled.

Regan's body lay limp. Barely breathing. Blood pooling beneath his jaw.

"Ah... ah..."

"HEY! STOP IT!" Touka shouted suddenly, stepping forward. "He might die for real!"

Vairan froze.

His bloodshot eyes flicked toward her.

He looked… distant. Unhinged.

Then, slowly, he stood. Breathing hard. Shoulders heaving.

"Everyone here… so pathetic..." Vairan muttered, ignoring Touka's glare.

He stumbled back, panting.

"Uff... uff... ufff..."

He wasn't calming down.

Touka watched carefully.

He's gone crazy.

Vairan suddenly grabbed his own hair, yanking at it violently.

"Wake up... WAKE UP AND FIGHT ME! PLEASE!!"

He bit his own lip hard enough to draw blood.

Touka stepped closer, more cautious now. "Hey... stop. He'll die if you keep going."

Vairan turned to her, eyes wild.

"Why don't YOU fight me instead?!" he roared.

Touka hesitated.

"I-I'd only disappoint you more."

Vairan stared blankly.

Then—he dragged his nails down his own face, leaving angry red scratches.

He's completely broken... a psycho... Touka realized.

"Why don't you just go into the jungle?" she snapped. "Maybe you'll find a bear... or some bandits to fight."

Vairan froze.

Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.

"You're right."

He smiled. A horrible, empty smile.

Before she could react, he grabbed his axes from the ground, spun, and ran—straight into the jungle.

Touka stood there in silence, watching him vanish between the trees.

"...Insane."

She turned to Regan.

His chest rose and fell shallowly.

"A-ah... ahh..."

He couldn't even speak. Couldn't open his eyes.

Touka knelt beside him, her voice quiet for the first time.

"You did well."

Her hand hovered above his battered face. Then, softly, Kendra energy flowed from her palm.

Blue light flickered faintly as she channeled it to seal the worst of his wounds.

"You deserve this much," she whispered.

Regan smiled weakly, not even conscious enough to understand.

Touka bandaged what she could. His face was swollen, bruised, broken.

"Now stay still."

She stood up, glanced toward the trees where Vairan had vanished, then lay down beside Regan.

Staring up at the grey sky.

Finally... peace.Meanwhile – Inside the Ruined Temple

"Ugh… uhhh… ahhh…"

The man slumped against the cracked stone wall, blood dripping from his leg. His breaths came in sharp gasps, his hands trembling.

Blue sparks flickered, crawling along his leg like chains.

Suppressing his Kendra energy.

He grit his teeth. "How… how did this happen…?"

He looked at the sparking wound. His Kendra flow was locked down. If he forced it… his leg would tear apart.

"I was watching them… just watching..." he whispered, shaking his head. "Then she noticed me. Attacked instantly."

His voice trembled.

"It could've ended my life… if I'd reacted even a second late."

Slowly, he reached up and removed his mask.

A scarred face. Young, but exhausted. Eyes wide with fear.

"That was her for sure..." he whispered.

"Violet."

Behind him, another masked figure stepped forward. His voice was flat.

"Captain Violet."

The wounded man nodded grimly.

"She's faster than what the reports said."

"She has a high bounty in the Black Market," the masked figure said coldly. "Dead or alive."

For a moment, silence filled the broken temple.

Then, quietly, the wounded assassin muttered:

"If we fight her directly… it'll be dead."

The blue sparks hissed softly in the silence.

The injured man sat trembling, blood seeping from the blue-spark wound on his leg.

"We're doomed… if they check the mines properly..." he muttered, shivering. "Man… I'm scared. There's up to fifty soldiers out there."

From deeper inside the shadows, a calm voice replied.

"Don't worry."

A figure stepped forward—calm, steady, confident.

"If there are fifty soldiers… remember, we have the entire village."

The wounded man looked up, confused. "But… they're trained soldiers. We're just—"

"Three hundred people," the calm one interrupted. "Three hundred bodies."

He smiled faintly.

"Numbers matter more than fear."

"But… how will that stop Violet…?" the injured man whispered, his voice cracking.

"Kukuku…" The calm figure chuckled softly.

"She's strong, yes. But not strong enough."

He turned.

Behind him, floating silently in the center of the ruined temple, was a monk-like figure. His eyes closed. His body hovering. And around him… energy pulsed unnaturally.

"She's no match for what we've kept hidden."

The calm figure smiled coldly.

"It's time for his move."

The other masked men in the temple nodded slowly.

Their smiles were darker.

Their plan had begun.