"Do you think it was a good idea to give them all that power?" The executive asked.
"I don't know. But he suspects us. If he were to find out that we are partially responsible for everything that's happened... And tell it to our subordinates... Then we wouldn't just be making an enemy of him but everyone." Said the president.
"...You're right... Let's just hope he does as promised and actually ends this all once and for all in their world..." Said the president.
Violet, Aurora and Lara each went to do their respective tasks.
Lara headed over to the restaurant where they had last eaten in search of Kylo and Lita.
Violet split up with Aurora. She went around the facilities looking to see if there was anything they could give her that would be helpful for the other world.
She had been given a special card by the officer from the president which also allowed her to make said payments.
Aurora went over to their rooms, to get their bags before being guided by Liam to the place where their weapons were stored.
She knew that Gray's pouch was especially important because he'd usually pull out useful things from it.
There was also a glowing core in it last time she checked but she wasn't sure whether it was still there or not.
Either way, she was the one paying attention to most of the minor details out of all three of them.
"I should probably also get him something to eat..." She muttereed to herself.
"What was that?" Liam asked, not having heard it.
"Hm? Nothing... Just thinking out loud."
"Duchess charlotte, is that you?"
The red horns, the white hair tied up into a bun and the snow-white yukata. There was no mistaking it.
It was her.
Before she could reply, the cell's bars were suddenly cut in half, creating a path for her to leave. Without wasting a second, she rushed inside and cut off the cuffs around her arms.
"Princess Ruby...? Why?" She asked
"Save your energy... We're getting you out of this place." She mumbled.
Veins could be seen bulging out of her hands she clenched them tightly.
Ruby had known charlotte since she was a kid, as a duchess they were naturally close to each other since their families would usually meet.
They grew closer over time as a result of that. For ruby, someone who grew up without any siblings, charlotte was basically like an older sister.
Ruby was also someone very close to Charlotte which was why she tried convincing her to return and plead her father for forgiveness rather than subduing her right away.
Seeing someone who she considered family in such a state infuriated her. But she didn't blame anyone but their own selves for starting this whole mess.
The other officers who were watching grew confused. The one who was bowed in front of Gray a while ago begging for his forgiveness stepped up.
"W-What are you doing?! Getting her out of this place...? Are you working with them!?" He asked as he unsheathed and pointed his sword towards her.
Ruby didn't reply and simply glared at him. The other officers placed their hands on their swords hilt upon hearing this.
The few which had a gun, locked their sights on Ruby's figure.
The eyes of the horned ones lit up in hope as they saw Ruby.
"Isn't that princess Ruby?"
"Has she come to save us...?"
Chattering grew amongst the horned ones who were filled with confusion.
"S-SAY SOMETHING DAMN IT!!" The officer yelled out.
"There's nothing to say." Gray intervened. "Just as she said, we will be releasing the horned ones. All of them."
The look of admiration they had had completely faded from their faces as chunks of bloodlust fell on their back.
"Is this some sort of joke?"
"Wasn't he the guy who killed their king?"
"Did he bribe the president or something?"
The officer who had previously gotten on all fours to apologise to Gray, turned his katana towards him. His hands trembling as his eyes bulged out.
"Did I hear that right? You honestly want us to release the horned ones after everything they've done to us? After we spent all that time locking them up and bringing them here!?"
Upon saying that the other officers began to rebel. Even if he was the one who saved everyone... What guarantee was there that he was under the president's and the executive's actual order and didn't threaten them.
"Why the fuck would you even want to release them in the first place!? He must be being mind controlled by a mind manipulation ability..."
Upon saying so, the other officers grew even more wary and hesitant.
Gray who planned to deal with things quickly was now once again having his patience tested.
He let out a sigh.
"I'm not asking you all to help me take them anywhere. They'll listen to what Ruby has to say, go back to their ships and return to their lands. All I need is for you to open all the cells and leave them alone." Said Gray.
"THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT!! WHY SHOULD WE LET THEM LEAVE AFTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO US!?!" One of the other officers shouted.
Gray rubbed the back of his head, they were running out of time. With each second they wasted arguing here, the closer they got to another war arriving.
"Listen. I'm just as angry as all of you. We've all lost someone, it's hard but if we don't want to lose anyone else, we have to resort to this method."
"DON'T ACT LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PAIN!! IF YOU DID YOU WOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SUGGESTING THIS!!!" One of them shouted.
That shout was the spark.
"THAT'S RIGHT! WHAT COULD YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR SUFFERING!?"
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF US WATCHED OUR LOVED ONES DIE RIGHT BEFORE OUR GOD DAMN EYES!?"
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE WAR YOU LITTLE SHIT! I DONT CARE IF YOU KILLED THEIR LEADER! I WANT THEM ALL DEAD!!"
The officers were riled up. One by one, more of them began to curse and shout at Gray. With his head hung down, and veins bulging out of his neck, he took all the insults without retorting.
Ruby who was beside the duchess as this happened, couldn't stand to watch. But before they could make a move, they were stopped by Gray.
Veins could be seen bulging out of his neck, his expression was hidden beneath his hair as he tried to keep his cool.
The officer ahead of him had grown tired of hearing his shit, he gripped tightly on his sword before thrusting it forward at Gray.
*Stab*
Blood could be seen dripping down Gray's hand as the Katana pierced through it.
He felt a jolt of burning pain through it, so much that it made it hard for him to think clearly and yet he still didn't let out a single cry of pain.
The whole room had grown quiet as they saw him. The shocked expressions weren't only present on the officers but also the horned ones.
"W-Why didn't you dodge...?" The officer ahead of him asked, surprised that he had actually pierced him.
"I... I know I'm asking for something unreasonable... I know most of you don't deserve this..."
Gray grit his teeth from the pain.
"But... Someone has to do it... I've seen enough deaths since all of this began. It's not just the horned ones to blame... It's the Labyrinth, zombies... Everything."
Gray grabbed the blade with his other hand before holding it in place as he pulled out his pierced hand.
The officer's blade could be seen trembling as he did so.
"All I want is to put this all to an end... I'm just asking that you'll let me..." Gray muttered.
Suddenly, a strange golden pattern which resembled a puzzle or maze formed in the middle of his forehead. It began to glow brightly as Gray's eyes grew colder.
[Activating The Mark Of The King.]
[Partial Activation.]
*Drip* *Drip*
The blood which was dripping down his hand was doing so at a much slower rate than before.
"Sympathising with you all isn't going to help. Killing them isn't going to fix things... It'll feel good now but what about after that?
Is it worth subjecting even more of the innocent to suffering that they can't do anything about? Is what you're fighting for revenge? Or to protect those dear to you?!"
The deep hatred and bloodlust which was hiding inside of the corner of Gray's heart began to leak out, causing the air in the room to grow heavier.
"I'll ask this once only... Am I going to have to forcibly save you all or will you all help me out?"
The officer let go of his sword.
Ruby, the duchess, the horned ones and all the remaining officers were left speechless. Rather, they didn't know what to say.
The pitter pattering of the rain resounded across the city. The dark clouds had returned once more.
Climbing up staircases made of earth, many groups of horned ones no longer bound by cuffs could be seen heading up onto the fleets.
Other groups were flying up or getting transported using their abilities.
They were all being led by Ruby.
The final stage of the plan was finally in action.
