As they soared through the sky at incredible speeds, propelled by the Asterazine, Saruto mind raced, replaying everything that had transpired from the prisoners' liberation to the fall of the kingdoms. Finally, he broke the silence with a firm voice: "Listen carefully."
Everyone turned to face him. "We will now divide ourselves," Saruto said. "Each of you will return to your kingdom to protect your people and confront the Ten Ranked Prisoners."
He raised his voice as he continued, "Stop them at all costs. Kill them if you must. If you hesitate… more innocent lives will be lost."
A heavy silence fell. "Even if you cannot defeat them," Saruto said with deadly seriousness, "try to buy time."
"And here comes the second part of the plan," Saruto continued.
Then he turned to Ethan. "Ethan, Kevin, and Hidan will go to the Hartz Academy."
"To the Academy?" Ethan was surprised.
Saruto nodded. "With Director Ragnar help, you must rebuild the Abyss Prison. We can't eliminate all the prisoners, so we must contain them."
"But… if the prison is rebuilt, won't Kaven and Hidan return to it too?" Ryan asked anxiously.
A brief silence followed. Saruto turned to Kaven and Hidan, as if he had been expecting this question. Before they could speak, he said firmly, "They won't return."
Everyone's eyes widened. "I will grant them their freedom," Saruto said clearly.
Kaven and Hidan were utterly taken aback. "Are you sure about what you're saying?" Kaven asked hesitantly.
"You really… will release us?" Hidan whispered.
"Yes," Saruto answered without hesitation.
Then, his voice heavier, he added, "And on top of that… I will appoint you both as generals of war in the Dark Kingdom."
A profound silence fell. The title of General of War was not merely a position, but one of the highest ranks of power in the Dark Kingdom, bestowed only upon those entrusted with the kingdom's fate in times of crisis.
Everyone was taken aback once more. Kaven looked at Hidan, then smiled broadly. "Fair deal, Saruto," he said.
"We will fight to the last breath," Hidan said with a slight bow.
Saruto nodded, then gestured to Ryan. "We will part ways here."
Ryan sped off like lightning, taking Kyle to the Storm Kingdom, Arina to the Forest Kingdom, and Felisa to the Sand Kingdom.
Saruto, meanwhile, took Ethan, Kaven, and Hidan to the Heartz Academy. He then used teleportation to transport the remaining two to their respective kingdoms: Lucian to the Ice Kingdom, Selina to the Sea Kingdom, Star to the Star Kingdom, and Emilia to the Light and Hell Kingdoms.
Inside the Heartz Academy, they were greeted by Headmaster Ragnar himself.
He was unusually calm, but his eyes betrayed his awareness of the gravity of the situation. Ethan explained Saruto plan in full. Ragnar nodded. "Very well… but before that, we must head to the Academy's vault."
"And why the vault?" Kaven asked, puzzled.
"To look for the manuscripts of the Creation Skill," Ragnar replied.
"The Creation Skill?" Kaven exclaimed in surprise.
"A skill I created long ago to rebuild buildings destroyed by ancient wars," Ragnar smiled.
"Yes… I remember that skill," Hidan said, frowning. "In an age when wars ceased, there was one man who rebuilt ruined cities and kingdoms."
"Hey, old man… how old are you?" Kaven looked at Ragnar and said jokingly.
"Three thousand years," Ragnar chuckled softly.
"Impossible," Kaven eyes widened.
Meanwhile, the heirs and princesses arrived at their respective kingdoms. What they saw there wasn't just destruction. Burnt cities. Ruined palaces. Blood-stained streets. And unmistakable traces of terrifying energy.
As Ryan drove his fiancée, Arina, to the Forest Kingdom and was about to leave, he sensed a great energy emanating from the kingdom. Ryan said to Arina, "Arina, I doubt you'll be able to defeat this prisoner."
Arina replied, "What? Is he that powerful?"
Ryan responded, "Yes, I've never seen energy like this prisoner's before."
He thought to himself, "I'm sorry, Saruto, for going against your plan, but if he leaves now, I doubt Arina will be able to defeat this prisoner."