The thunderstorm that had struck the imperial capital through the night finally began to subside as dawn approached.
Heavy clouds still lingered overhead, but the violent rumbling faded into distant echoes, leaving behind damp streets, broken branches, and an uneasy silence that clung to the city like a warning.
In the core circle of the capital, a massive mansion stood quietly under the pale morning light. Imperial guards remained stationed at every gate and corridor, their armor still damps from rain.
This estate belonged to the Sword Saint, a place that normally exuded calm authority, yet this morning it felt tense, as if even the stone walls sensed something was wrong.
As the sun rose higher, the grand doors of the mansion opened.
Ethan stepped out, a wooden sword strapped across his back. His clothes were simple training attire providing flexibility for training sword.
The boy who once flinched at raised voices was gone, replaced by someone sharper.
He was heading toward the training grounds when a sudden pressure brushed against his senses.
Ethan stopped. It was faint, but unmistakable.
It was from his master.
Before Ethan could fully turn, hurried footsteps echoed from within the mansion. Klaus emerged with long strides, his expression tense, his usual calm replaced by urgency.
Brian followed closely behind him, wearing his knight attire.
They moved straight towards the waiting carriage.
"Master," Ethan called out, stepping into Klaus's path. "What happened?"
Klaus halted only briefly, his eyes flickering to Ethan before looking ahead again.
"A fight broke last night," Klaus said. "In the outer circles of the capital. Near the market district."
Ethan's brows drew together. A simple brawl would never warrant his master's involvement.
Klaus seemed to sense his thoughts.
"This wasn't a normal fight," he continued. "Several buildings were obliterated and reports suggest it was done with a single attack."
Ethan's breath hitched.
"One attack?" he asked.
Klaus nodded grimly. "If the reports are accurate, then an extraordinary swordsman was involved. The commander of the imperial guards requested my assistance in the investigation."
Ethan's eyes sharpened. The word extraordinary carried weight when spoken by the Sword Saint.
"Master," Ethan said without hesitation, "please let me come with you."
Klaus studied him for a moment. He saw determination, curiosity, and something else beneath it all. A sense of responsibility that had grown steadily since the calamity in Opera Town.
"Alright," Klaus said at last. "You're coming."
Ethan bowed slightly and followed as the carriage began its journey from the core circle toward the outer districts.
***
Meanwhile, in the Sinclair estate, Maximus Sinclair jolted awake.
"LIA!"
He sat upright in bed, his chest heaving up and down, his eyes went wide with panic and the body was drenched in cold sweat.
His heartbeat was hammering as if trying to escape his ribcage.
For a brief moment, relief washed over him when he realized he was in his bedroom.
Then reality settled in "Master, please calm yourself," a soft voice said.
Maximus turned sharply, a maid stood beside the bed.
She wasn't Lia's mother.
His momentary relief shattered instantly.
"Who are you?" Maximus demanded, his voice was tight with suspicion.
The maid lowered her head slightly. "I was assigned by the Duchess, my lord. From now on, I will be serving you."
Something snapped inside him.
"Get out," Maximus said.
The maid looked up, startled. "My lord—"
"GET OUT!" Maximus roared.
He lunged forward, grabbing a nearby vase and smashing it against her head before she could scream. The ceramic shattered. The maid collapsed instantly, unconscious.
Maximus didn't stop.
He tore bedsheets apart, gagged her mouth, bound her arms and legs, and dragged her to one of the pillars in the room before tying her up to it. His movements were frantic, unrestrained, driven by panic rather than reason.
He locked the door.
Then he turned to the window, it was the third floor.
Without hesitation, Maximus climbed onto the sill and jumped.
Pain exploded through his legs as he hit the ground awkwardly, but he didn't scream. He barely slowed down. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright and ran.
He leapt again, clearing the estate's boundary wall with desperate momentum.
Rain-soaked streets stretched ahead, Lia's house was in the outer rim.
He sprinted through the capital, ignoring the pain tearing through his muscles, his breath growing ragged. His heart pounded in his ears as fear twisted into something unbearable.
When he finally reached the house, he flung the door open.
"Lia—"
His voice died before coming out properly. The smell hit him first.
Blood.
The sight came next.
A body lay sprawled on the floor.
It was Lia's mother.
Her abdomen had been ripped open. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the wooden boards. Her eyes were wide, frozen in shock, her mouth slightly open as if she had tried to scream.
"NO!!!!!"
Maximus collapsed beside her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently.
"Wake up! Please wake up!" he screamed.
His hands became slick with blood.
"Oh god… oh god…" he muttered, his voice was breaking.
Then he stood abruptly and began searching the house.
"LIA!"
"LIA!"
He tore through rooms, knocking over furniture, throwing doors open, calling her name over and over.
Nothing.
He burst back into the street.
Rain water on the streets soaked him as he screamed her name into the empty roads. People emerged from their homes, staring in shock as a noble boy ran through the streets in madness.
Some tried to stop him as he shoved past them.
For Maximus, everything was collapsing. His mother. Now Lia.
Every good thing in his life had been ripped away.
"No… no… this isn't real," he muttered. "This has to be a dream."
his mind started spiralling uncontrollably making him believe it was a dream.
He bit down hard on his arm and pain flared.
but nothing changed, nothing at all.
He fell to the ground, scratching himself, shaking, blood seeping from his skin as panic consumed him.
"Wake up!" he shouted at himself. "Wake up, you idiot!"
Minutes passed away but the pain remained and unfortunately the reality did not break.
At last, he gave up all the struggle.
He lay still, staring at the cloudy sky as tears streamed down his face.
"Why…" he whispered. "Why me?"
Unknowingly, he had wandered into an abandoned alley far from prying eyes.
Suddenly a sharp pain flared inside his body.
It bloomed from deep within his chest, far worse than any physical injury. His organs trembled, his vision blurred, and he understood what was happening to him.
He laughed weakly through tears.
"I deserve this pain," he said hoarsely. "I failed you."
His body convulsed as blood poured from his nose and mouth.
"I swear," Maximus whispered, his voice filled with hatred, "I will burn this world. I will burn the hell and heaven itself if I have to."
"Wait for me, Lia."
"I will take your revenge."
soon every cell in his body started screaming
Maximus Sinclair, villain of the first arc, was awakening.