Word count: 2300 words
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The once-grand throne room now reeked of blood and betrayal. Corpses littered the marble floors, royal banners soaked in crimson.
But then.
*clack* *clack* *clack*
Heavy boots marched down the ruined hallways.
The massive double doors creaked open, but instead of more enemies, a battalion of soldiers marched in.
They wore armor unlike anything anyone in the kingdom had ever seen.
Their suits were forged in deep obsidian black, polished like mirrors yet absorbing light like the void. Sleek plates layered over one another like dragon scales, outlined by thin silver etchings that glowed faintly with eerie mana.
Their helmets were smooth, almost featureless, with a thin crimson visor that gave them the appearance of soulless executioners. Each breastplate bore the same symbol, an elegant black gem embedded within silver chains that twisted and coiled around it like living serpents, it was the new crest of the Obsidian Chains.
Mahito stretched his arms lazily, his grin never fading. "Ah, don't panic, your majesty. They're with us, Obsidian Chains, of course. A fresh batch. Aren't they beautiful?" He patted one of the soldiers on the shoulder, the armored man standing rigid. Only God knew how scared he was at that moment.
He saw what happened to others he touched before.
All the soldiers said nothing, just stood at attention, silent and menacing.
Climb turned sharply toward Mahito, eyes wide and confused, his sword still bloody from the King's murder. "W-With us?"
Mahito casually dusted his shoulder, "Yep, I'm about to leave. Brain is strong but can't keep everyone in check. These guys will ensure nothing happens while the Queen finishes her preparation and ascension."
Mahito then strolled over to Gazef's lifeless body with a casual hum, his fingers tapping against his chin as if inspecting a curious trinket. With a careless motion, he bent down and pried the legendary sword Razor Edge from the fallen warrior's grip, its blade still gleaming despite the blood staining its steel.
Climb's body moved before his mind could catch up. "Stop! That's a national treasure. I cannot allow you to touch it as it belongs to the crown!" His voice was sharp, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon, though his fingers trembled with a lingering fear.
Mahito blinked at him, his grin stretching unnaturally wide. "Oho~? You wanna try taking it from me, little knight?" His fingers flexed around the hilt, his posture loose but dangerous, like a predator pretending to be bored.
Before Climb could react, Renner's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Enough, Climb."
Her golden eyes cold and commanding, she immediately understood what was going on. " It seems that Meliodas-sama took an interest in Razor Edge. Therefore it is his property now, step back Climb."
The word 'sama' hit him like a punch to the gut.
Climb blinked.
She had always referred to others with formality, yes but this? She was Queen now. And yet she used the honorific of respect… for him?
It wasn't a title of equals.
It was submission.
He stared at her, mouth slightly open, a thousand thoughts suddenly swirling in his head. 'She's… being controlled? No… maybe… maybe she chose this. But why would she address a man with that kind of respect… even now?'
But then Renner looked at him, that same sweet smile on her face, and said in a honeyed tone, "You don't have to worry, Climb. I'm perfectly safe. Meliodas-sama is the one who helped me become a queen, after all, he would never harm me."
His doubts never faded, but...
What did it matter, really?
If she was happy, if she was safe… then nothing else mattered.
Climb bowed his head, stepping back.
"As you wish, my queen."
When Mahito finished, he looked toward the princess, who was sitting on the throne, her hands resting gently on the armrests as if she'd always belonged there.
"Well then," Mahito said, his tone light, almost whimsical, "the castle belongs to Her Highness now. The kingdom too. Re-Estize has a new ruler. A queen, for the first time in history. A little applause, anyone?"
He chuckled to himself and turned around. "I've done my part. Got errands to run. People to disfigure. You know the drill."
Without waiting for a reply, he gave a mock bow to the princess. "All hail Queen Renner."
Then he walked out like a man leaving a successful performance on stage.
Silence followed for a moment.
Brain kept his arms crossed, standing just behind the throne. His blade was sheathed, but the way his fingers twitched near the hilt showed he hadn't let his guard down completely.
Still, he said nothing. No new orders had been given by Meliodas-sama. That meant he stayed.
Climb was still frozen where he stood, barely able to look at the corpse of the king, and on the other side the corpse of the first prince, barely recognizable.
"Your Highness… what do we do now?" he asked, his voice hollow.
Renner tilted her head, the softest smile on her face. "Now… we begin rebuilding, of course."
Her words were like honey. Poisoned honey.
"I will need new laws written, a council of nobles replaced, a few assassinations scheduled, and we'll begin preparations for my coronation. Brain… please stay by my side. I'll require your strength."
Brain simply nodded once.
"And Climb, my dear Climb," she continued, her voice as gentle as always, "you'll stay with me, won't you?"
Climb looked at her, his eyes bloodshot. He had just murdered the king. Her father. Because she asked. Because he… loved her.
He dropped to one knee. "Of course, my queen."
Renner's smile grew wider, her hands clasping together with giddy delight. "Good."
One of the Obsidian Chains soldiers stepped forward. "The outer courtyard is secure. Loyalist forces have been neutralized."
She gave a soft nod. "Excellent. Make sure the city knows Barbro's rebellion is over. The king and two princes are the casualties and that I, Queen Renner, have brought peace."
The soldier bowed and left.
Brain, standing silently, looked down at the blood staining his boots. The silence between him and Climb was heavy.
And Renner?
She was already imagining how her crown would look in the moonlight.
She didn't care that she had lost a brother.
Or a father.
Because she had gained a kingdom.
*Jircniv El Nix POV*
In the Imperial Palace of the Baharuth Empire, the atmosphere inside the emperor's private study was thick and silent.
The report landed on Jircniv's desk with a quiet finality, the parchment crisp and unassuming—yet the words scrawled across it might as well have been written in blood. His fingers, usually so controlled, twitched before turning into a fist.
A low, guttural breath escaped him.
Then...
*SLAM!*
His fist crashed down on the desk, shaking the silver inkstand. The crack of impact echoed through the chamber.
His knights stationed outside did not enter.
They knew better.
Jircniv remained silent for several heartbeats, staring down at the paper as if it had personally insulted him.
"She became queen..." He whispered.
Of all the outcomes he had predicted, all the future simulations he had considered… This had never even crossed his mind. Not once.
He leaned back in his chair slowly, fingers steepled under his chin.
'Renner, the pathetic powerless princess. A charming mask over a cunning demon, yet a harmless pawn. She had no military backing, no royal right to ascend, no supporters in the court beyond the people's gratefulness and that bodyguard, but Brain could never overpower a whole military force… still, she now sat on the throne.'
'No civil war. No prolonged siege. The royal family, gone.'
'How?'
'She's not a schemer. Not a commander. Not a revolutionary. And yet... she outplayed the entire board.'
His mind immediately traced back through all the political movements in the region over the past few months. The tremors that seemed random. The fall of Eight Fingers. A shift in some noble's backing and support.
And then there was the breaking point, the deaths of Gazef.
He had already received detailed reports from his informants. Some said Gazef fought Brain Unglaus in the throne room. Others mentioned an unknown stranger with terrifying powers. But the constant across all whispers, all reports…
The Obsidian Chains.
Jircniv narrowed his eyes.
"The moment they appeared… this all began," he muttered.
He stood from his seat and walked to the tall window overlooking the imperial gardens, the late afternoon sun casting a reddish hue across the tiled floors.
Obsidian Chains.
They weren't just a rising organization anymore. They were a force of disruption.
Renner had no army, no support, no means… until they showed up.
'Who are they? Who leads them? And more importantly... what do they want?'
His teeth clenched.
He hated that he didn't have the answers.
And the one sitting on the throne now… was the woman he hated most in the world.
"Renner," he growled.
He had always known something about her was off. The way she smiled. The fake innocence. The little games she played while pretending to be harmless. But this? This was beyond manipulation. This was a coup, carried out with terrifying precision.
He exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts.
'I can't act rashly. If the Obsidian Chains are truly behind this, direct conflict would be stupid.'
His fingers curled slightly.
'But if they are focused on Re-Estize for now… that gives me time.'
'The Third Minister of Trade already had a transaction with them, didn't he...'
Jircniv walked back to his desk and began scribbling notes on a fresh sheet of parchment.
Strengthen border control.
Increase surveillance on all known Obsidian Chains activity.
Open diplomatic channels under the pretense of congratulating Queen Renner.
And especially, come in contact with Obsidian Chains.
A slow, icy smile curled his lips.
"I will try to have friendly relationships with Obsidian Chains and work my way into bringing them under Baharuth Empire, if that doesn't work, I will just dispose of them."
Jircniv made up his mind, he would peel back the layers of Obsidian Chains one by one, and when he found their weakness.
He would break them.
*The Elven Forest POV*
A loud rustling ripped through the trees, birds scattered into the skies, and several squirrels nearly died of heart attacks as a blur of chaos tore through the serene woods.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU HUMAN TRASH!!"
That scream came from a group of very angry, very shirtless elven men chasing full-speed after what could only be described as the most unhinged kidnapping squad the forest had ever seen.
Leading the charge was Meliodas, sprinting at top speed with a happygrinon his face. In his arms, a dazed and half-swooning elven woman, hair flowing like silk, eyes spinning from how fast they'd been snatched.
"GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTER!"
"I WANT MY SISTER BACK, PLEASE!"
Meliodas shouted back cheerfully without breaking stride. "We're just borrowing them! It's for diplomacy!!"
To his left, Yoriichi ran like the wind, one arm holding his NichirinBlade with serene composure… while the other was yeeting an elven woman over his shoulder like she was a sack of rice. His expression was still calm as if none of this was strange in the slightest.
"To be honest, this reminds me of my childhood." Yoriichi said mid-sprint,
"…What kind of childhood did you have?" Meliodas blinked.
To Meliodas' right, Rem thundered forward, eyes glowing with silent determination. In her left hand was another elven woman, flailing slightly but too stunned to resist. In her right hand?
That massive spiked flail she always carried.
*BAM!*
She swung it backward casually, smashing a tree that an elven archer had just leaped into for a better shot.
"You touch Master Meliodas and I'll crush your forest," Rem said sweetly.
Bringing up the rear, Nico Robin jogged effortlessly, her expression calm and elegant. Three extra arms sprouted from her shoulders, each holding an elven woman delicately like they were vases from a museum. She glanced at one and smiled politely.
"Sorry about the mess."
Behind them, elven men were screaming war cries and throwing everything they could, boots, branches, and even freshly baked muffins from a nearby village.
One narrowly missed Meliodas' head.
He ducked and laughed.
"Oh man, I really wanted that muffin."
Mid-run, he received two notifications from the system he took a moment to glance at the panel.
[Congratulations on completing the mission]
[SECURE RENNER'S CLAIM TO THE THRONE]
[Reward: A-rank summon]
[Congratulations on completing the mission]
[SECURE 'Razor Edge' THE SWORD THAT GAZEF STRONOFF USES]
[REWARD: C RANK SUMMON]
'Nice, they got the job done.' He thought.
With newfound excitement, he faced the elf he was carrying with a smile. "Don't worry, pretty lady. You're going to a very rich man who's probably gonna spoil you with elven spa days and diamond combs."
She blinked, dazed. "Wh... what?"
Meliodas' group was leaving the elven men behind thanks to the obstacles Rem and Robin created in order to buy them time. He turned one last time and gave the distant furious mob of elves a thumbs-up.
"THANKS FOR THE HOSPITALITY! LOVE YOUR TREES!!"
'Guess it's mission complete.'
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Hey everyone! Author here.
If you've got an anime character you'd love to see summoned into the story, feel free to drop your suggestions, including which character you'd like to see and what rank you think they deserve. Your input might just shape the next events in the story!
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