A tense silence hung between both parties, with Nero glaring up at the old Sceptile that wandered into his city while Terrowin skimmed through the line of threats standing behind the young emperor. Among them, Jason kept a grip on his sword, staring at Terrowin with an air of caution hidden behind his cold exterior.

That's…Terrowin? That's the leader of Last Autumn? What am I looking at here?

Terminus brandished his axe hand at Terrowin and asked, "Emperor Nero, shall I have him executed?"

Nero, however, raised his hand, ordering the Kleavor to stand down. "Unfortunately, he was summoned by invitation. My mistake for not specifying a date, it would seem."

Terrowin bowed. "I'm grateful you finally allowed me to have an audience with you, Emperor Nero, though I wish the last time didn't come at the expense of my messenger."

"I was hoping it would finally get the hint across." Nero shrugged. "But whatever." He glared at the Tinkaton standing beside him. "Is this the only protection you brought with you?"

Terrowin nodded. "This is Alfhild Lind. I hired her as my bodyguard for my trip here. She doesn't speak any English, but her instincts for combat are on point. Not that her services will be necessary. I'm sure this will be a mundane meeting for all of us, and hopefully where we can find some common ground."

Nero crossed his arms. "You're still looking to place me in your little heir system, aren't you?"

"If you would just give me a moment of your time, I may be able to persuade you to join my side. I assure you that what I have to offer is more than worth the trouble."

"Tch. I should almost be flattered you're going through all this trouble for me."

Terrowin smiled kindly. "Your reputation would make you a perfect candidate." He glanced up the steps of the palace, noting the awestruck Great Gate emperor. "I'm sure your guest can speak on my behalf."

Nero glared back at Orochi. "So, you're in cahoots with him?"

Orochi slithered down the steps and bowed to Terrowin. "Lord Terrowin, it is an honor to see you again."

Terrowin bowed back. "Likewise. How is young Riko doing?"

"Splendidly. She will be rising to the position of empress by the end of the year."

"Hmm, give my congrats to her." Looking among the party before him, he finally exchanged looks with Jason, who winced under the Sceptile's stare. For a moment, a brief look of surprise flashed over Terrowin's face before relaxing back into his relative calm. "Well, it seems I wasn't the only one seeking alliance with New Chariot."

"…" Jason backed off, still gripping tight to his sword.

Terrowin chuckled before facing back to Nero. "All the more reason we need someone with your skill on our side, Emperor Nero. Your reputation and achievements make you a worthwhile candidate for the heir system, and I hope to entice you to the role. Big things will come for New Chariot if you hear me out."

"…" Nero turned his back to Terrowin and scoffed. "Whatever. I invited you here, so I might as well keep my word. Gemini, lead Terrowin and Ms. Lind to the dining hall. Have the servants prepare them drinks. I'll be in after I see Emperor Orochi off."

Gemini bowed. "Of course, Emperor Nero. Please, follow me, honored guests."

Terrowin bowed. "Thank you." He and Alfhild followed the Medicham inside.

Tiberius approached his son and patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you for seeing reason, Nero. This may do some good for our empire."

"…Whatever you say, Father."

Tiberius nodded and followed after Terrowin, hoping to discuss business with him ahead of time. Once they were gone, Nero shot a look at Orochi, who instantly sensed the Krokorok's judging stare.

Orochi gulped. "Hehe, I, uh…"

Nero glared. "So, you're allied with him, too?"

"…You don't achieve power without pulling a few strings, Emperor Nero. I'm sure you understand that better than anyone."

"Tch." Nero waved him off. "Get out of my city. Try not to die on the way back home."

Orochi sighed, but bowed to the young emperor. "Until next time, Emperor Nero." With that, he and his two guards descended the palace steps and ventured toward their awaiting carriage.

Moments after the carriage drove off, Nero walked back to the palace with the rest of his soldiers in tow. Jason, finally easing his posture, asked, "So, how long have you known about Terrowin?"

"Don't tell me you're another of his hounds," Nero grumbled.

"Believe me, that's the last thing I want."

"And yet, you're aware of him. Fascinating." Nero huffed. "A while, to put it lightly. Ever since I took command of the empire, I've garnered a reputation for myself, and apparently the old reptile has taken notice."

"Are you considering his offer, Emperor Nero?" Saturn asked.

"I'll hear him out, but I don't intend to play nice." He pointed to the Hariyama. "I need you to run a couple favors for me while I'm at the meeting. Terminus, Stormbreaker, you'll be joining me in the dining hall. Keep an eye on the Tinkaton. I don't need another battle-hardened woman stirring up trouble, especially a Subterran."

Jason's eyes widened. "Wait, how do you know she's—"

"She's wearing goggles to protect her eyes from sunlight, and she doesn't speak any English. Plus, I can tell from her stance and smell. She smells of ash and metal. It's plain as day."

Saturn glared. "You think he's allied with the Subterrans?"

"Either he's telling the truth and just happened to hire a Subterran bodyguard or he's scheming something. With the declaration of war the Subterra Kingdom made months ago, I'm not leaving anything up to chance."

Jason glared. "What…are you planning to do?"

Nero smirked. "Nothing more than a traditional welcome to Telo Martius."

Telo Martius Colosseum Prison

"Take heed, my brothers of this lowly prison, for we stand before a miracle of light. This is our call to action."

With the colosseum under repairs, matches have been temporarily suspended, leaving the prisoners with nothing to do but train and pass the time meandering through the open dungeon. In that time, the old Torkoal, Fintan, had been going around gathering useful prisoners to spread the word of Skill Hunter Harlow. Thanks to his decades stranded in the colosseum, he had an in-depth understanding of the prisoners who made up its population, thus he knew the right ones to seek out and secretly inform of Melissa's prison break. He would slowly work his way toward the more difficult prisoners, and he'll eventually gather an army under their little savior.

Fintan raised his foreleg to the ceiling and proclaimed, "We have been oppressed by our captors for far too long. Puppets for their entertainment, our pain serving as their amusement. We cannot go on a day longer under these conditions. By allying yourselves under the banner of Harlow, we will amass a force so strong that we may be able to see the grasslands beyond Telo Martius once again. We are men, and we value nothing more than our freedom!"

"Yeah!" the prisoners cheered, though in low voices as to not rattle the other prisoners or the guards.

"She will be our savior to the outside, and we shall pledge ourselves to ending the reign of New Chariot for a new dawn. No one shall succumb to the hardships we face. We will dismantle the tyranny of these warmongers and bring about a new age for the next generation. Follow me, brothers, and we will see a brand new Virdis open up under the leadership of Skill Hunter Harlow!"

"Yeah!" they cheered. "All hail Skill Hunter Harlow! All hail Skill Hunter Harlow!"

As Fintan's secret rally went mostly unnoticed or ignored by the other prisoners, Vilde watched them in silence by the prisoner transfer door. He couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but knew enough of the Buneary's troublemaking during her stay to get the idea.

Tch. Are they trying to get us all killed? What is she thinking getting their hopes up? She storms in like she owns the place, and now she's betting everything on this risky prison break? Doesn't she know who she's up against?

Vilde glanced at the prison door, noting the chatter of the two guards hanging on the other side, oblivious to the colluding in the prison.

It would be so easy to just rat out the entire operation and spare the embarrassment. He knew precisely how ruthless New Chariot was, and he wouldn't accept another bloodbath over someone's brazen ideals. It would be for everyone's own good. He would rat out the entire plan, and the only casualty would be the Buneary herself.

Vilde raised his knuckles to the door, preparing to bang on it and alert the guard. It would be a swift and decisive action. No need for over complication or debate. It was the most logical solution. Betting everything on a risky strategy…

"We'll follow your lead wherever you go, Sir Vilde! We won't let New Chariot conquer the Algus Kingdom so long as we stand!"

Vilde nearly struck the door, but hesitated. His hand trembled, eyes flickering with embers. The Armorouge glared at the rally of prisoners, irritated that they were being sucked into the Buneary's idealistic scheme for freedom. She was going to get everyone killed.

…so why was he struggling so much to just end it?

All he had to do was knock on the door and alert the guards. That's it.

Why was this so complicated?

He jolted as he heard a knock from the other side. He saw one of the guards peeking through the hidden window. "Hey, you! What are you doing by the door?"

"…" Vilde closed his eyes and stepped away. "Nothing."

"Hmm…" The guard scanned the prison and noticed the rally taking place. "What's going on over there?"

Vilde could hear the guards rattling for their keys. Before they could act on opening the door, he quickly blurted, "They've gone mad from boredom and started gambling with pebbles. Some poor sucker just lost his entire fortune of dust and gravel."

"…" The guard groaned and shut the window. "Good grief. If I ever reach that point in my life where I'm gambling garbage, just stab me through the head."

"Sure thing, pal."

"You didn't even hesitate saying that!"

Vilde left the chattering guards to themselves and trudged away from the door, mentally slapping himself. He spoke up without thinking. The guards were going to notice the rally of their own accord and break it up themselves, but he stopped them. Why did he do that?

"I'm sorry, Vilde, but that's just not who I am. I'll never stop fighting for others."

"…" He groaned. How can someone stay that positive in this decrepit world?

"Annnnd…GO!"

Melissa kicked off the ground, bursting forth at great speed across the prison. She reached the wall, planted her feet against it to cushion the impact, and bounced off the second she connected. She flew up to the ceiling, bounced off, dove into the floor, bounced off there, and raced back to the other side of the prison where Decebal was waiting.

Once she stopped next to him, he finished counting. "Almost four seconds. You're picking up on Ground Dance Art faster than I expected."

Melissa panted lightly, having endured the same routine for several hours. She straightened up and stretched her back. "Yeeeeah, I've been told I'm a fast learner."

Decebal grinned. "It took me months to get the hang of the turns. You have to torque your body at just the right time to kick off another surface, though I've learned to do it with my hands and feet. The key, however, is proper breath control. You eventually reach a point where you can't breathe as easily while moving at those speeds, especially in consecutive bursts, so you have to know how to properly regulate your breathing."

She nodded before readily bouncing on her toes. "Is this how you and the rest of your fellow disciples were taught?"

He nodded. "Master Harriet never taught us directly. We would always just follow her example through demonstrations and experiment with the knowledge given to us. Some even had the distinct honor to test their skills against her. No one has ever won a fight against her, though."

Melissa frowned. "She's that strong?"

"For a time, she was the third most wanted in Virdis, only being beat out by the recent spike in killings done by Grim Deadlock in the last few years. Master Harriet typically lives in seclusion from the rest of the world. None one knows much about her personal life."

"Huh." Melissa looked aside for a moment before asking, "Out of curiosity, what can you tell me about her?"

"…" The Hawlucha crossed his arms and sighed. "If you've been around long enough, you'll know the rumors of her being enlightened."

"Enlightened?"

"They say she achieved some greater understanding of the world, thus she has become liberated from mortal desire. No longer tethered to anything, they say she even mastered the art of flight."

Melissa glared. "I've heard that once or twice before. Is it true?"

"I've never actually seen her do it, but that's why so many flock to her teachings. They say the next level of her training allows one to become untethered to the ground just like her, but no one has ever reached that level of mastery. However, I…did overhear something."

"Hmm?"

"She was talking to someone in secret. I just happened to be passing through the training grounds. I wasn't sure who she was speaking to. It was a long time ago, but they seemed to know each other. Anyway, they were talking about…something, I don't really care, but one thing stood out. They kept mentioning something called Heavenly Emotion."

"Heavenly…Emotion?"

"Yeah, didn't make too much sense to me. Personally, it sounds like they were drinking one too many cups of ale." Decebal laughed for a moment before continuing, "But no, it sounded like it was…a technique. Maybe something more. I didn't want to get caught eavesdropping, so I didn't stick around for any longer than that."

Melissa scratched her chin. "Heavenly Emotion, huh?"

"It did sound like something impossible to learn, but she kept taking on students hoping someone would meet her level. We just kept training and training, hoping to one day become as amazing as her."

"…" Melissa smiled softly. "Yeah. I know that feeling." She looked aside. Even though everyone says I'm stronger, I can't help but admire everyone. Jason, Jet, Shingo, Eadwulf, Marie. Especially Marie. She…never hesitated to spare a moment for me.

Flashback – Castle Foirbeis Training Hall

"HA!" Melissa lunged across the room, throwing out a straight jab with her curled finger extended.

Marie gently sidestepped and guided Melissa's hand out of the way. Melissa spun on her heel and tried to strike her from behind, but Marie grabbed her wrist and redirected the attack before striking her index finger into the rabbit's side. Melissa gasped in pain, stumbling over herself and collapsing to the ground.

"Tell me what you did wrong," Marie ordered.

Melissa groaned, picking herself up. "Uuuugh. Um, I…wasn't fast enough to hit you?"

"No." Marie paced around her, hands tucked behind her back. "You're fighting too much like Jason. You've been training under him for so long that you're incorporating his sword style without considering the effects on yourself. You start off with big lunging strikes without the speed to compensate for their surprise factor. Any skilled close quarters specialist can capitalize off that. Now, again."

Melissa huffed before launching back onto her feet and rushing the Mawile down, this time throwing out a flurry of punches. As Marie dodged, Melissa activated her Adaptive Foresight, sensing the patterns of her movements. After passively absorbing Marie's fighting style for so long, she almost immediately found an opening and went for the hit.

Marie, however, caught Melissa's wrist and flipped her over her shoulder, slamming her onto her back. "AAAAGH!" Melissa cried.

"You're also too reliant on your Adaptive Foresight."

Melisssa groaned and picked herself up. "W-What do you mean?"

"Being granted an Inherited Will gives you a natural increase in perception speed. You can react to outside stimuli with greater accuracy than most others, and your Adaptive Foresight adds onto this by seeing the patterns of your opponent's movements and recording them to memory. It's a natural branch of using the lowest level tiers of your Inherited Will. The problem stems from that overreliance on prediction. It's not future sight. You are interpreting subconscious movement into recognizable patterns."

Melissa massaged her aching back. "But I was able to fight people so well with it. I even managed to trip up Tadhg with it."

"Tadhg isn't a combat specialist, though. I am. All living creatures have a natural rhythm to their movements. It's nearly invisible to everyone. Only those who trained their entire life understanding the kinesthetics of different body types could begin to unravel the rhythm of not only their opponent, but also themselves. Unless you're from the Moonleaf Clan where this sort of thing is second nature by birth, it's something that has to be learned through actual experience."

Melissa frowned. "But how was I unable to predict you just then?"

"Remember what I said about understanding your own kinesthetics? If you're skilled enough, you can actually change the rhythm of your movements. That subtle difference can break a stalemate. We subconsciously pick up on these movements without realizing, thus we mess up if we're no longer in tune with our opponent's rhythm. Consciously analyzing and changing rhythm, however, can make and break the outcome of a duel." Marie shrugged. "You have to think more like a trickster."

"Like Basil?"

"Remember one of the first lessons he taught you?" She pulled a dagger out from behind her waist and tossed it into the air. Melissa, without thinking, followed the flying dagger before getting struck in the shoulder. She yelped, stumbled back, and massaged her aching shoulder right as Marie caught her dagger. "Everything about war is a psychological game. Every movement, every action, every thought must not be wasted. Jason can get away performing flashy movements because no one can come close to his speed. Jet can brute force his way through anything. Blitz is virtually unmatched in a war of long-range combat. Basil…well, he's an entirely different case. But those aren't wasted movements on their part. That's how they've perfected their fighting styles. That's how they've survived as long as they did. You've been accelerating through your training at a remarkable pace, but you still don't have the mind of a survivor."

"…" Melissa narrowed her eyes. "Just like what you, Basil, and Pandora tried to teach me during those first couple months."

"Your Inherited Will is a tool, not a crutch. A jack-of-all-trades, master of none. That's what makes you unpredictable. You have an uncanny talent for picking up skills after seeing them once. You may never reach the same level as the original practitioner, but it's another weapon in your arsenal. But it's all worthless if you don't have the mindset of a survivor."

"…" Melissa smiled gently. "You sound like you speak from experience."

Marie glared off to the side. "Something like that, yeah." She shook her head before putting her dagger away. "I just want you to be prepared for anything. You have no idea what you'll face once you enter the colosseum. So, best to brush up on your hand-to-hand while we still can."

Melissa sighed before raising her fists. "I'll do my best."

Marie smirked and raised her fists in return. "Once I'm done teaching you pressure point combat, I'm going to also teach you a few techniques of my own. They may be useful in a pinch. Think you can handle it?"

"Heh. I have an amazing teacher, so I think I'll do fine."

"Stop flirting and give me your best shot, hon~."

Martius Palace Dining Hall

Arrangements were made according to Nero's will. The servant girls quickly arranged for fresh drinks while cleaning down the table and chairs. The moment the expected party arrived, everything was spotless. The girls graciously welcomed everyone to the dining hall and helped them to their seats.

Once wine was poured, an eerie silence hung across the table.

On one end, there was Terrowin, causally sipping from his wine glass with Alfhild standing attentively at his side.

On the other end, Nero sat in his elaborate throne, twirling his wine glass between his fingers with a dagger-like glare set on the Sceptile across from him. Jason and Terminus stood diligently at his sides while his father took to a seat on his left and Gemini seated at his right.

After Terrowin finished his wine, he set the glass aside and smiled warmly at Nero. "I must again thank you for finally taking time out of your day to meet with me, Emperor Nero. I hope we'll come to an understanding after today."

Nero scoffed. "We'll see." He snapped his fingers, ordering a servant girl to pour the Sceptile another glass. "Let's not waste time. I'm a busy man, and I don't take kindly to needless pestering. You're here to persuade me into your little heir system. Have you brought a negotiation plan more convincing than the first time you bothered me?"

Terrowin chuckled as the shy Heliolisk servant poured him a new glass. "I'm afraid I couldn't spare you the full details of my operation until I had your outmost trust. Someone of your renown is hardest to come by. You possess a grand display of charisma to move your people to tears with but a whisper."

Nero smirked. "I do have that effect, yes. Try not to flatter me too much." He sipped his wine.

Jason glared warily at the old Sceptile, still shaken by the fact he was seeing the man with his own eyes. The rumors of Last Autumn from the days of old to the stories told to him by his uncle. None of it could've prepared him for the monster that brought untold chaos thirty years ago, especially from a monster of such high respect and politeness.

What's your game, Terrowin? Why are you here? And what's this heir system of yours really? I want to hear it from you and you alone.

As if sensing the Pikachu's impatience, Terrowin raised his glass and leaned back in his seat. "Allow me to get straight to the point: I'm offering you the chance to become the true king of Virdis. Not the ruler of a fifth of its land, but the entirety of it. The divine birthright to take hold of Virdis and all its secrets in your grasp."

Nero chuckled. "You'll need to try better than that. Offering what I already have? It's not a good start."

Terrowin smirked. "I suppose not, but New Chariot isn't all powerful. You know this better than your own people?"

"Tch. We are an invincible army. We are as powerful as we need be."

"I thought the same of myself a long time ago, boy. You'd be surprised how quickly hubris cracks when you see a kingdom collapse."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm well-adjusted to the fleeting possibility of defeat. Unlike you who had to go into hiding after your hideout was bombed."

Tiberius glared. "Nero, behave yourself. He is our guest."

Nero rolled his eyes. "Duly noted."

Terrowin raised his hand. "Do not come to my defense, Lord Martius. It is true, I had to go into hiding for some time. I took quite a bit of damage when my hideout was destroyed. Took years to fully recuperate. I still feel the flames licking my skin." He raised his wooden arm. "Though, some developments are more recent than others. I'm afraid I don't have much longer to live. A few years at best."

Nero smirked. "Oh, that? I assumed you were growing weeds from your barely functional corpse." Tiberius facepalmed.

Gemini glared. "That is quite the gnarly transformation, Lord Terrowin. What became of you lately?"

Terrowin patted the wooden arm. "Oh, nothing more than some life-extending miracles gone awry with expected side effects. That is the price of advancing medicine: the successes and the failures. I received both in this miraculous recovery, but it's a sign of my eventual demise." He traced his fingers along the wooden scars across the left side of his face. "Even the best of us can't escape death."

"…" Nero sipped his wine and sighed. "So, you come to me on your eventual deathbed to become the king of Virdis?"

He nodded. "I sense you have a great love for your people, Nero. That kind of commitment is precisely what I need to take care of Virdis for generations. I can offer you the chance of a lifetime to protect Virdis in your ideal image. I can make your status as a god much more than just some flimsy title."

Terminus snarled. "You watch your mouth! You dare insult out emperor with your—"

Nero raised his hand. "Settle, Terminus." The Kleavor huffed, but obliged. Nero set his glass down and cupped his hands beneath his chin. "What do you mean by this exactly?"

Terrowin glared. "Answer me this, Nero: do you plan on having children?"

"If you're trying to seduce me into bed, a ragged sack of mulch like you isn't my type."

"Nero!" Tiberius scolded.

Terrowin sighed. "Just humor me."

"…" Nero leaned back in his seat. "The thought has crossed my mind, though I never really planned on when. I've been busy undoing the damages left behind by my moronic brother during his brief dip into politics."

Terrowin nodded. "And you know the purpose of an heir in the royal families. A successor, and an insurance policy in the event of the king or emperor's death. You succeeded your brother, but who succeeds you?"

Nero scoffed. "You think the Martius family has been in charge since New Chariot's founding? My family claimed the title from the previous royal family because they were deemed too weak-minded to lead our people. And I followed tradition by removing my brother from a line of weakness. If anything were to happen to me, the cycle will continue with someone else succeeding me, blood or not."

Terrowin nodded again. "But you don't plan on giving up power to anyone else. You don't trust anyone to do what you do."

Nero smirked. "I certainly don't trust the other kingdoms to do my job better. There isn't a single person who stands under my banner that wants in silence. What have the other kingdoms done of late? They can't keep their people happy. Murder in the streets, poverty around every corner, coups being formed against the royal family, cover-ups by said royal families—what exactly can they do that I haven't already stamped into the ground? New Chariot reigns supreme because I understand the limitations of running a kingdom. My brother helped me come to that conclusion: peace is a lie."

Terrowin raised his brow. "How so?"

"There is no such thing as true peace. As long as different ideologies exist, there will always be two people in conflict with each other. And those two people will eventually form families and bonds that share in those ideals. And those ideals will eventually branch off into their own identities, thus creating even more ideals. And the cycle continues with new ideals at a crossroads with each other. It all ends the same: conflict and war. And what of money? The sad truth is, for all the money one may have, they can't save every struggling soul. Not even New Chariot had such wealth of its own to spare. And what point is there in peace when it'll be undone in the future? Or maybe one's idea of peace is another's nightmare of oppression? It's amazing how no one can come to the same conclusion because free will exists. We have the right to decide what we believe."

Terrowin glared. "You don't believe peace can transcend death?"

"I know it can't."

"…Well, it seems we finally found some common ground. After all, if you were to have a child, they may come to see the world differently from you. They may choose to take New Chariot in a different direction, one similar to your brother's ideals."

Nero glared. "And what do you propose to prevent such an inevitability?"

"What if I told you of a way where your will can proceed even after death? A means to keep your ideals and sense of self alive for countless generations? Your wisdom and leadership could prevail for eons to ensure New Chariot and Virdis are at peace."

He raised his brow. "And you possess such means?"

"I possess a force of nature unlike anything the world has ever seen. It has the power to change the destiny of Virdis by your will only. You would hold the means to bring true peace to Virdis."

"…" Nero scoffed. "What a fascinating tale, Lord Terrowin."

"It's no tale. There are secrets buried beneath Virdis, and I'm one of the remaining few who know the whole truth." He held his hand out. "I can gift you the wisdom of Virdis itself to create a utopia for you and your people. Your desire to free everyone from poverty and helplessness would be in the palm of your hand. All I am asking for is your support in my vision. You could become the hero of this land and save it from despair."

"…"

"What do you say, Emperor Nero? Will you join me in freeing Virdis from a doomed future?"

"…"

"Emperor Nero?"

"…Heh."

"Hmm?"

Nero covered his face and laughed quietly. "Oh. Don't mind me. I'm just reveling in your proposal, that's all."

Terrowin raised his brow. "You mean you're considering?"

"Oh, on the contrary, I'm laughing at you for even thinking I would ever agree to this."

Terrowin glared. "Is something the matter?"

Nero smirked. "You think I give a shit about the rest of Virdis? The only thing that matters to me is my people. Those who serve under New Chariot are under my protection. Everyone else is my enemy, and they will continue to be my enemy so long as they oppose me. That is the fact. What you suggest is that I become the king of Virdis to save everyone? That goes back to my earlier point: I can't save everyone, and I know not everyone will serve under me. I thrive off that derision against me because that means there will always be resources to spare from the majority all in the name of raising up the people that truly matter. My people."

"…"

"And let's not even kid ourselves if you think I'm playing…what? Third or fourth fiddle to your little scheme? How many others have you tried to get in on this system of yours? How many have you convinced?" Nero leaned forward, grinning like a madman. "And most importantly, who are you really seeking to fulfil your little dream project?"

"…" Terrowin curled his fingers into the table.

"Don't even try to deny it. It's plain as day this heir system was a hastily crafted backup plan in case your true heir became useless. And the only people who would agree to your proposal would have to be as cutthroat as me. In other words, competition."

"…"

Tiberius stood up. "Nero, what are you—" Terminus, however, reached over and pushed the old croc back into his seat.

Nero snickered. "I don't know what you were going on about with my will exceeding death, but I couldn't care less what my supposed heir does in my stead. If he burns the empire to the ground with his actions, that's his legacy to leave, not mine. I can't control his actions. I can only guide him to become the perfect son and let him decide his own fate. Which…is funny." Nero glared. "You don't trust anyone to get the job done right, do you?"

"…" Terrowin scowled.

"You poor thing. What horrors have you witnessed that you can't trust an individual to make an informed decision? You fear outliers. You fear individuals as strong-willed as you. Or rather, you fear a changing world that is going into a direction of ceaseless destruction, or so you view it." The croc laughed. "Me, however? All I see is the whole of Virdis locked in an endless war with New Chariot standing pristine and unopposed for countless centuries! My people will thrive and live fulfilling lives while the rest of the world can burn to ash. I don't care about the rest of the world. All I want from them are their resources to keep my people from never experiencing pain and loss ever again. That will be the legacy I leave, and that may be the legacy my descendants continue. Or not. It doesn't matter in the end. All I desire is to live a marvelous life without regret."

"…" Terrowin stood up. "You're a sick, twisted man, Emperor Nero."

Nero smirked. "I'm sure with the company you keep around, they'd find me quite charming."

"Hmph." Terrowin shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "I take it your answer is final?"

"I will not bow to anyone. I serve only myself."

Terrowin nodded. "Well then, I guess that's that." He bowed. "Thank you for your time and the wine. I promise never to bother you again over the matter. Take care, Emperor Nero—"

The Sceptile paused to the sound of clinking armor and marching feet bursting into the dining hall. Cautiously glaring over his shoulder, dozens of armed soldiers surrounded him at spear point.

Nero leaned back in his seat and sipped his wine. "I wonder how long your little organization will last without its leader? Is your will strong enough to exceed death, Terrowin?"

Tiberius growled. "Son, what is the meaning of this?!"

"I really should thank you, Father," Nero said. "You inspired me. You said I should show him around Telo Martius, so I decided to show him exactly who he's dealing with. Perhaps this will make an example out of anyone who dares think New Chariot is so easily malleable."

Before Terrowin could get a word in, Alfhild leapt onto the table and rushed the emperor down with her hammer. She lunged, gripping the weapon in both hands, and went for the kill. However, both Terminus and Jason raised their weapons and blocked the Tinkaton's strike, the shockwave cracking the end of the table and the floor under Terminus' feet.

Nero casually sipped his wine, staring unflinchingly at the hammer. "I don't need another rambunctious female causing trouble in my colosseum, though you're far too dangerous to be kept around as a servant. Stormbreaker, have her apprehended. We'll figure out what to do with her later."

Jason withheld a growl. "Yes, Emperor." He parried Alfhild's attack before lunging and pinning her onto the table by the neck. He raised his sword under her chin. "Don't. Move."

Alfhild growled. "{You will meet a swift end, land skitter!}"

"{Alfhild!}" She paused and tilted her eyes toward Terrowin. He nodded at her and said, "{Surrender. Trust me.}"

"…" She groaned and dropped her hammer. Jason pulled her to her feet and locked her arms behind her back as the soldiers marched over to cuff her.

Gemini, who remained mostly silent throughout the exchange, glared at Nero. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Nero shrugged. "Who cares? He was getting on my nerves."

"Uh huh. And what are we going to do with him exactly?"

Nero smirked. "Oh, I have just the place to make him feel welcomed to our lovely city."

Colosseum Prison

Melissa felt awkward standing in front of a crowd of prisoners all bowing before her brimming with newfound loyalty. Fintan did as he promised and exceeded her expectations. These prisoners who were once bloodthirsty combatants willing to beat up their fellow prisoners were now lowering themselves to a Buneary in promise of freedom.

It was…a lot to take in.

Galus grinned. "New friends! Harlow army."

Melissa laughed awkwardly. "My own army. Oh boy…"

Fintan laughed hoarsely. "A little sweet talking about you, and they were willing to listen to what I had to offer. Skill Hunter Harlow, I hereby introduce you to your first batch of followers."

"Skill Hunter Harlow!" the prisoners exclaimed. "We will follow you into battle wherever you may go!"

"SHHHH!" Melissa immediately hushed. "I-I'm flattered, but don't all speak at once. The guards will hear." She sighed, shuddering with a sudden wave of anxiety. I know the plan was to rally the prisoners together, but I didn't expect them to start looking up to me like a goddess or something. This is a bit much.

Decebal, sensing her discomfort, slapped her across the back. "Hey, don't let the attention get to you. We've all been trapped down here for a long time. Some of these men were once young children. This is all they've known, and now they're being offered a chance at a fresh start. Let them look at you as their savior."

"…" Melissa smiled shyly. "Heh. Well, when you put it like that…"

Fintan bowed his head. "Now, what is your first decree, Master Harlow?"

Melissa sighed before smiling out at the prisoners. "It's going to be a long while before we can act on a plan. For now, I need everyone's cooperation. We still have several more prisoners to win over onto our side. I'm not resting until I've saved everyone, so I'll need your collective support to have the entire prison working together. With the temporary suspension of the colosseum, that should buy us some time to strategize. Fortunately, I already have a plan of escape thanks to my allies on the outside. If I truly have your support, this must be kept between us. Understood?"

"Yes, Master Harlow!" they exclaimed.

She winced. "Voices!"

"Oh. Sorry!" they exclaimed again.

She groaned. "We'll work on that." She shook her head and smiled. "Alright, so the first part of the plan, we'll need to wait for my partner to get through to us with supplies. After that, we—" Her ears shot up at a distant sound coming from outside the dungeon.

Galus frowned. "Something wrong?"

She glared. "I hear the prisoner transfer doors opening. Everyone, scatter for now. We'll go over the plan another time." The prisoners nodded and broke apart while Melissa and her mini entourage walked carefully to the prisoner transfer corridor. "Did anyone know we were getting a new prisoner today?"

Decebal shook his head. "None I've heard of."

Fintan glared. "The guards usually get updates on this sort of thing in advance. Then again, the last time we got a surprise prisoner was…" He glanced at Melissa. "Well, you know."

Melissa raised her brow. "Who did they capture, then?"

The final door opened, and the person of interest was shoved inside with his cuffs removed. Melissa could hear Terminus' voice speaking through the final door. "Don't let them tear you apart too much, Terrowin!"

Melissa's eyes widened. W…What did he just say?

A haunting chill flowed up her spine as the figure rose off the ground. Standing before her was a Sceptile with his left arm made entirely of twisted roots growing out from his shoulder. He rose to full height, stretching out his sore limbs and cracking his neck.

"Well, that's some way to treat a guest." The old Sceptile finally took notice of the immediate staring and acknowledged the Buneary looking right at him. "Hmm?"

Melissa took a hesitant step backwards, shuddering in disbelief. He…called him Terrowin. This…This can't be the same guy, right? This can't be who I think it is? This has to be a coincidence, right? The very man we've been warned about for so long. The leader of the same group we've been investigating and tracking down for months. Is this…the leader of Last Autumn?

The old Sceptile stared intensely at the shivering Buneary as if studying her. After a tense standoff of silence, a gentle smile curled across his lips. He approached and knelt before her, reaching his hand out to her. "Well, I never thought I'd get the chance to finally meet you. What an honor to meet the recent legend around Virdis."

She gulped. "Uh, I…don't know what you're—"

"No need to be shy, child. I know who you are. You are Skill Hunter Harlow, correct?"

"Um, well…" Unsure of what to say, she hesitantly reached out and shook his hand. "N-Nice to meet you, I guess."

"Heh. I'm sure you overheard what that brute called me, so no need for an introduction from me. Though, a shame your immediate company prevents you from introducing yourself honestly."

"H-Huh?"

He leaned in close to her ears, and what he said next made her blood turn to ice. Of all her blunders as Skill Hunter Harlow, she didn't expect such a response to come from the man she only just met.

"It is an honor to finally meet you, Princess Melissa Penworth."