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Chapter 1 - PROLOGUE THE AZURE AWAKENING

The clang of steel and the roar of a thousand men echoed across the battlefield, a

symphony of destruction that shook the very foundations of the kingdom. High

above, within the fortified stone walls of the royal keep, the queen lay on a bed of silk,

her face pale with exhaustion. She had just given birth as the siege raged on. She

clutched a tiny form wrapped in crimson cloth, a new life born amidst the chaos of

death. The air was thick with the scent of fear, but in her eyes, there was only fierce,

unwavering love for the child in her arms.

Just as the tremors of battle reached the keep's inner sanctum, the doors burst open.

It was the king, his armor dented and streaked with blood, his sword still in hand. He

was a force of nature, a mountain of a man who had broken through the enemy lines

to return to his queen. His helmet was of, his face a mask of triumph and concern. He

strode to the bed, his heavy boots silent on the marble floor.

He knelt beside the queen, his gaze falling upon the child. The infant stirred, its tiny

hands grasping for the air. The king gently lifted the baby, his massive hands dwarfing

the small body. As he looked into the child's eyes, a profound sense of destiny filled

the room, overpowering the distant sounds of war. A smile, full of both love and

ruthless ambition, spread across his face.

"You're my world's best creation," he declared, his voice a low rumble that promised

conquest. "No one can defeat you. Conquer the whole world, my son."

The words were not just a blessing; they were a prophecy, a command etched into the

very essence of the child's soul. He held the future of his kingdom—and perhaps the

world—in his arms.

;)page 2

The polished chrome of a luxury sports car gleamed under the showroom lights, a

testament to Haru Ryūzaki's success. Yet, the sleek perfection of his business was in

stark contrast to the strained conversation happening within it.

"Sora," Haru said, his voice calm but firm. He ran a hand over the hood of a scarlet

convertible. "You're 22 now. It's time to take on some responsibility. You should get a

job, or at least come work with me here."

Sora, leaning against a glass wall, didn't even look at his older brother. He was

scrolling through his phone, a dismissive smile on his face. "Why? You're here, aren't

you?" he replied, his tone laced with nonchalant arrogance. "You earned me a good

life, a house, and our parents.. What else do I need? Twenty-two is for having fun, not

for being a workhorse."

Haru's hand dropped from the car's surface. A deep sigh escaped his lips. "I'm not

going to be here forever, Sora. I can't always take care of you."Sora finally looked up from his phone, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. "Whatever.

Don't worry about it," he said, pushing himself off the wall. "I've got plans."

With a final, dismissive wave, he turned on his heel and strode toward the

showroom's sliding glass doors. Haru watched his younger brother leave, the doors

sealing shut with a soft hiss behind him. The noise of the city returned, but inside

Haru's heart, a heavy silence settled. He was a successful man, a respected

businessman, but he couldn't get through to the person he cared about most. He was

alone with the shining, empty trophies of his success.

;)Page 3

The quiet of the middle of the night was a fragile thing, shattered instantly by the shrill

ringing of Haru's phone. He fumbled for it on his nightstand, the bright screen a

sudden, unwelcome intrusion. He answered, his voice groggy.

"Hello?"

"Haru! It's me. Something's happened," his father's voice, Hiroshi Ryūzaki, came

through, thick with panic.

Haru sat bolt upright, all sleep gone. "Dad? What's wrong? Is it Sora?"

"He's not picking up his phone, Haru! Your mother... she's crying. She found a note in

his room." Hiroshi's voice broke, and the faint sound of his mother's sobs could be

heard in the background.

Haru's heart sank. He knew this was the consequence of their earlier conversation.

"What did it say?" he asked, his voice steady despite the dread coiling in his gut.

"It says... 'I'm going to live alone. I don't need my older brother. I'll show him I can do

it alone.'"

A flash of fierce determination ignited in Haru's eyes. The note wasn't a cry for help; it

was a reckless challenge. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll find him," he said, his voice now a low

promise. "Just take a deep breath and go back to bed. I'll call you as soon as I do."

He hung up without waiting for a reply. In a moment, he was dressed, his keys were in

his hand, and he was out the door. The garage door rumbled open, and the sleek,

black car he had admired earlier in his showroom now felt like a tool for a mission. He

slid into the driver's seat, the leather cool beneath his touch. The engine roared to life,

a powerful, angry sound that cut through the silent night as he pulled out onto the

empty streets, a man on a hunt for his foolish younger brother.

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