In the Imperial Capital, New Terra.
Aegis Special Forces Headquarters. Commander's office.
"..."
In this stark, bare room with not a single decoration, Fernandez sat on a hard, simple chair, legs crossed, scrutinizing documents.
Then, with a bang! The door to the commander's office was flung open, and members of the special forces stormed in.
"Your Highness. We've captured the last rat."
They forcefully brought in a woman dressed in black and threw her in front of Fernandez.
"Ugh!"
The woman, her arms tied behind her back, groaned as she fell.
"Mourning attire..."
Fernandez commented dryly as he observed the woman's clothing.
"Jilted Women, was it? There are better uniforms to wear, but why choose such attire?"
"..."
"Is the organization's name and the attire, all according to Ash's taste?"
The woman, face pressed to the floor and groaning, slowly raised her eyes.
Her face veiled in a black mourning veil – she smirked.
"You seem to be under some misconception, Your Highness Fernandez."
"...?"
"The formation of our organization, wearing these clothes, and striving to thwart you... all were our own voluntary actions. They have nothing to do with the current Ash."
Fernandez tilted his head in confusion.
"Unrelated to the current Ash... so it's related to the Ash of the past?"
"To some extent, yes. The Ash we loved passed away when he was twenty-three."
Fernandez's eyes sparkled with interest. The woman continued.
"We loved the Ash of the past. And it was he whom we decided to follow, risking our lives."
"I see. Hence the mourning attire."
"..."
"Well, your motives are irrelevant to me."
Fernandez crossed his legs the other way.
"You've splendidly disrupted my plans. There were some setbacks, thanks to you. But now that we've rooted out the last member of your organization... you won't be causing any more trouble."
"I wish I could have annoyed you a bit more, but it's a pity."
"You've done enough. Just like my brother's lovers, causing trouble until the end."
Fernandez laughed. The woman laughed too.
"I have no intention of clinging to life shamefully. Just kill me already."
"I won't kill you."
The woman looked puzzled. Fernandez grinned.
"You're also a citizen of the Everblack Empire and New Terra. I grant you permission to join us in the new world."
"Oh my, how merciful."
"Of course... if you can endure the torture and interrogation our proud Aegis Special Forces are known for."
The special forces agents behind her pulled out a bottle of succubi truth serum.
The woman sighed deeply and glared at Fernandez.
"One last word. You're insane, Your Highness Fernandez."
"I know."
Fernandez easily acknowledged.
"Not mad enough. There are heights one cannot reach without madness."
"..."
"And the same goes for Ash."
Fernandez waved his hand lightly.
"Take her away. After extracting all the information, lock her up in prison until the 'ark' sets sail."
"As you command!"
The woman was dragged out. The agents followed suit.
Watching this scene beside Fernandez, an elderly female magician, Reyna, bowed her head to him.
"I apologize, Your Highness. Due to my incompetence... it took time to eliminate them."
"No need to apologize, Captain Reyna. Not everything can go as planned."
Fernandez had anticipated the sabotage.
In any case, delays in the schedule are inevitable. That's why this operation was planned well in advance.
'The monsters will bring about the world's destruction in about a year.'
Before that, the Imperial Capital was seized, and the ark was set in motion, prepared for any delay of a few days to several months.
"So, now the Shutdown Protocol only needs maintenance and replenishment of its magical source. The ark is also near completion."
"That's correct."
"What else do we need to do, Captain Reyna?"
Reyna responded immediately.
"Ascend to the throne, Your Highness."
"..."
Fernandez was momentarily speechless. Reyna spoke again.
"Didn't you decide to become the leader of the surviving humanity? The one to rule over mankind in the Final Ark is none other than Your Highness."
"..."
"You've won the throne battle and have the Imperial Capital in your hands. You can proclaim yourself the emperor, and no one could dispute it. Why hesitate?"
In the silence that followed, Reyna emphasized her point once more.
"Become the King of Kings, ruling the world... Ascend to the throne of the Everblack Empire."
"Emperor, huh."
Fernandez exhaled shortly.
"It's been a year since I confined Father in the spirit world. I deliberately disabled Everblack's functionality to prevent him from returning to the real world."
"No matter how great His Majesty is, surviving in the spirit world for over a year without any preparations is impossible. By now, he would be..."
Dead.
Reyna, swallowing her words, bowed her head.
"...I apologize. I spoke disrespectfully."
"Disrespectful? Nonsense. If that's disrespectful, then what am I, who personally committed such a vile act?"
Fernandez let out a bitter laugh and stood up.
"Right. It's something that needs to be done anyway, no point in hesitating any longer."
"In that case."
"Prepare the coronation ceremony."
Before activating the Shutdown Protocol.
There should be time to provide the people of New Terra with one last festival.
"After my ascension, by imperial decree, activate the Shutdown Protocol. Load all the people of New Terra onto the ark and depart for the spirit world."
"As you command. We will also prepare for the coronation ceremony."
"I'm counting on you."
Reyna saluted precisely and left the commander's office.
"..."
Slowly rising from his seat, Fernandez gazed out the window.
The streets of New Terra were desolate.
Everyone must be cursing him, locked up in their homes.
"An emperor hated by all his citizens, and who massacres them..."
Fernandez laughed bitterly.
"I'll go down in history as the worst tyrant ever."
Slowly removing his monocle and placing it on the table, Fernandez observed the cityscape he loved with his blood-red eyes.
"It doesn't matter."
His gaunt fist clenched tightly.
"The only way to ensure everyone's survival is this."
Even if he was misunderstood by everyone, even if he bore all the infamy-
In the end, everyone would recognize.
That the last King of Kings, Emperor Fernandez of Everblack, had made a decision... that preserved humanity.
"You intend to stop me, don't you."
Fernandez murmured softly, looking towards the southern sky.
"Let's settle this, Ash."
The time had come to put an end to the long-standing enmity between the brothers.
***
At the southern end of the world.
Under the black lake, the Lake Kingdom.
Deepest part of the 10th Zone. King's Castle.
"..."
"..."
"..."
At the long table in the audience chamber, only three of the Nightmare Legion commanders remained.
Ranked third, the Grand Sorceress of White Night.
Ranked second, the Demon Guard Commander Cromwell.
Ranked first, the Black Dragon Night Bringer.
These three paid no mind to the empty seats at the table.
Though collectively called 'Nightmare Legion commanders,' there was a significant gap between these three and the other seven.
Regardless of whether the remaining seven legions were annihilated or the entire Lake Kingdom collapsed, it wasn't much of a concern to these three. They each had the confidence to obliterate humanity without a trace if they took action.
However, there was something they were all concerned about.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three stared blankly at the empty throne.
The Demon King's seat was vacant.
The Demon King, who had resurrected them in this world and promised them a chance for revenge against humanity, hadn't shown himself for several months.
Even though an imperial meeting wasn't summoned, they gathered here every day, hoping to be granted an audience, but the Demon King still did not face them.
"The King of Kings..."
With golden eyes flashing through his disheveled black hair, the Black Dragon Night Bringer spoke in a resonant voice.
"How much longer will he remain in seclusion? Has he finally tired of this childish play?"
"Just wait a little longer."
The reply came from the Guard Commander Cromwell.
With red skin, white hair, and deer horns, she was a direct subordinate of the Demon King, also in charge of the demon guards protecting this castle.
"This is the last game, so there's no more chance. The King of Kings is still... delving into people's nightmares."
"He's been searching through the nightmares of the Lake Kingdom's residents for over five hundred years. Is there still a nightmare he hasn't found?"
The Demon King had thoroughly searched through the nightmares of the Lake Kingdom's residents, refining the fear embedded in them.
Monsters that had invaded humanity and were repelled.
Even after being defeated, the fears embedded in the residents' minds, genes, and souls.
The Demon King forcibly extracted these memories to resurrect them. All these monsters were revived through this process.
After conducting this process for over five hundred years, most of the world's monsters had already been resurrected.
Yet, the Demon King was still wandering in search of someone in the nightmares.
"...It might have been more than five hundred years."
Finally joining the conversation was the Grand Sorceress White Night.
Both Night Bringer and Cromwell looked at White Night in surprise.
A lich wearing a crown adorned with beads, his face covered with a large talisman.
Grand Sorceress White Night had never spoken aloud until then.
White Night moved his lips beneath the talisman and continued.
"The King of Kings is a transcendent being. Perhaps, he has been doing this since even before... this time."
"Before...? How is that even possible?"
"..."
White Night remained silent, saying no more.
Night Bringer looked at the throne with eyes filled with ennui. (TL Note: New word to learn)
"Anyway, it means there's no progress, right? No matter how formidable the monster the King of Kings is looking for, it's frustrating to see a leader wasting time on a futile endeavor."
"..."
"The King of Kings claimed that title, so shouldn't he complete the task we all started together?"
As Night Bringer's voice mixed with strong dissatisfaction, Cromwell glared at him sharply.
"Night Bringer, don't tell me... you're thinking of rebelling against the King of Kings?"
"What's stopping me? If a leader cannot fulfill his role, it's only natural for the stronger ones below to take over."
Night Bringer sneered.
"Being the King of Kings means that all those under him are also kings. And those who wear crowns do not tolerate anyone above them."
"If you truly plot a rebellion..."
Cromwell's deer horns emitted a burst of red magical energy, as if ready to attack Night Bringer at any moment.
"I must annihilate humanity."
Night Bringer stared unblinkingly at the demon.
"If anyone tries to extinguish the flames of my vengeance, I will annihilate them. Even if it's the being who resurrected me in this place."
Black energy surged around the Black Dragon.
Just as the two commanders of the Nightmare Legion seemed poised for a clash,
"Sorry for being late."
A relaxed voice suddenly echoed.
"I've been rather busy with many tasks. I hope you'll understand."
As the three commanders of the Nightmare Legion turned their eyes,
A dark shadow had already taken its place on the throne.
The Demon King.
The King of Kings of the monsters.
A white crack appeared in the middle of his face, formed of shadows, creating a sardonic smile.
"So, what were you discussing?"