It was the fifth day after that incident. The villagers had resumed their normal lives, though an air of unease lingered. Akio had not been seen since the elders of the village took him away. Whispers and rumors spread that the elders might have killed him, as they believed he posed a significant danger. However, the truth was far more sinister. The elders were secretly trying to harness Akio's mysterious powers to threaten other nations and expand their influence. Despite their efforts, they failed to control his abilities. Akio, merely a fifteen-year-old boy at the time, was bewildered by the situation, yet his powers continued to grow stronger with each passing day.
On the day Akio turned eighteen, an event occurred that would change the fate of the village forever. With newfound strength and the clarity of adulthood, Akio unleashed his fury and slaughtered all the elders. He then escaped the village, leaving behind a trail of chaos. When the villagers discovered that Akio was still alive, a wave of fear swept through them. They realized that they were powerless to stop him, as their ordinary human bodies were no match for his formidable magic.
Meanwhile, Akio, now mature enough to comprehend the scope of his abilities and ambitions, set his sights on conquering the most powerful kingdom in the nation: *Midioka*. With his immense magical power, the conquest proved to be little challenge. In just two days, Akio single-handedly defeated more than ten thousand soldiers, shattering the kingdom's defenses and claiming the throne. The news of *Midioka's* fall spread like wildfire, and soon, the entire world knew of Akio's rise to power. Fear was inevitable, and whispers of terror traveled across lands.
Two years passed since Akio's triumphant takeover of *Midioka*. During those years, every child born with the cursed eyes was brought to him. Akio was determined to build an army of these gifted individuals, amplifying his already formidable force. With time, the ranks of his army grew. Among those with the curse, three more children were born with the rare and deadly red eyes—an undeniable symbol of immense power. These children were named *Daichi Kuroda*, *Kazuki Shimizu*, and *Hiroshi Mori*.
Akio, well aware that those with red eyes possessed unmatched strength, chose them as his co-rulers. Together, they shared dominion over the kingdom. An unusual trait of those with these cursed eyes was that they did not age past thirty-five. Akio himself was now twenty-eight, and the other three were younger, yet their power made them equals in governance. The rise from a single ruler to four was an ominous sign, casting a dark shadow over all who heard their names. It marked a foreboding new era, one that promised chaos and despair for the world beyond.
*(To Be Continued)*