(In the Central Island, within the Royal Castle, death walks silently, dragging its shadow across the white marble halls.)

  (Inside the royal chambers, the King of Astrea lies bedridden. His skin is as pale as the sheets covering him, and his breath is barely a whisper. A royal physician leans over him, checking his pulse with a grim expression.)

  Doctor (heavy voice):

  —I'm afraid, Your Highness... the king won't live through the night.

  (Standing beside the bed, Princess Akari Vermillion remains frozen. Her golden eyes don't blink. No tears. Not a single emotion on her face.)

  Princess Akari (quiet and controlled):

  —...How much time does he have?

  Doctor:

  —A few minutes.

  (Slowly, Akari kneels beside her father. For the first time in years, a flicker of vulnerability breaks through her mask.)

  Princess Akari (whispering):

  —Father... can you hear me?

  (The old king slightly opens his eyes. His voice is weak, almost a breath, but still clear.)

  Dying King:

  —Yes... before I go... promise me... you'll protect... Homura...

  (Akari blinks—only once. The surprise cuts through her like a knife. She opens her lips to answer, but—)

  (The king exhales. His final breath. Silence falls like a curtain. His chest moves no more.)

  (The room is consumed by stillness.)

  (Akari bows her head and finally speaks, though no one is left to hear her.)

  Princess Akari (with an icy whisper):

  —...I promise.

  (That very night, the news shatters the foundations of the continent.

  The King of Astrea is dead...

  And a new monarch rises to the throne.)

  (The night of her coronation, Akari Vermillion sits for the first time on the Throne of Flame. Around her, ministers, nobles, and generals argue fervently. Demands, complaints, and strategies swirl through the air.)

  (But Akari… hears nothing. Her gaze is lost in the void.)

  (Then, her voice slices the room like a blade.)

  Queen Akari (enigmatic tone):

  —"And when the Monarch of the Throne of Flame falls, the path to the Shell will open..."

  (The room falls silent. The chaos dies instantly.)

  Queen Akari:

  —"...And the blood of the Two Phoenixes shall be required... to awaken the Rise of the Seraphines,

  who will bring the end of the world."

  (A chill sweeps through the room. Nervous glances are exchanged among the ministers.)

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  Minister 1 (confused):

  —Your Majesty... why quote an ancient, forgotten prophecy?

  Queen Akari (cold smile):

  —Because every legend... has a grain of truth.

  (For the first time, there's no sweetness in her voice. Only steel.)

  (Later that night, alone in her chambers, her mask cracks for a moment. Sitting before her mirror, she lets out a bitter sigh.)

  Queen Akari (softly, bitter):

  —To them, I'm nothing more than a trophy... or a vessel for the next heir.

  (She opens her eyes. They now burn with a new resolve.)

  Queen Akari (firmly):

  —Ryu...

  It's time you fulfilled your duty.

  (The scene fades to black.)

  (The golden light of dawn spills across the Kurogane Estate. Two days have passed since the assassination attempt, and the heirs have spent that time training under strict surveillance. Another attack cannot be risked... not before the most anticipated event of the year.)

  (The day has arrived. The inter-island tournament is about to begin.)

  (Inside the estate, in Homura's room, the Kurogane siblings review data on their opponents. The atmosphere is tense—but not from fear. From focus.)

  Ishiki (arms crossed, looking at the screen):

  —Huh... Seiji's gotten strong. Don’t you think so, sister?

  Homura (distracted):

  —...Huh? Yeah, sure.

  (Ishiki raises an eyebrow. He knows she hasn’t heard a word. But he’s used to this version of her—the analytical one. The hunter.)

  Ishiki (thinking, slight smile):

  —So it’s true... predator instinct really does kick in.

  (The door opens quietly. Charlotte enters with her head low and hands nervously clasped.)

  Ishiki (noticing her expression):

  —Char? What’s wrong?

  Charlotte (slightly trembling):

  —My opponent... she's really strong. I don’t know if I can handle her.

  (Ishiki gently pats her head in reassurance. Then, he points at Homura.)

  Ishiki:

  —Tell me, Charlotte... what do you think she’s doing?

  Charlotte (frowning, unsure):

  —Umm... studying for exams?

  (Ishiki lets out a soft laugh. Charlotte puffs her cheeks in protest.)

  Ishiki:

  —No. She’s analyzing her opponent.

  Charlotte (surprised):

  —Homura? But she's... well, she’s Homura. Does she even need to?

  Ishiki (calmly):

  —That’s exactly why she does it. Because she respects her opponents. She never lets her guard down. She’s always learning.

  Charlotte (quietly, with admiration):

  —...Wow...

  Ishiki:

  —So if she, the strongest, still prepares like this...

  Then of course, you can get stronger too.

  (Charlotte nods, clenching her fists with new resolve.)

  Charlotte:

  —I’ll do my best.

  (Ishiki ruffles her hair. Charlotte giggles.)

  (Meanwhile, far from the polished halls of the academy, in the underbelly of D-City, a conspiracy is brewing.)

  (Inside a dimly lit bar, two figures converse at a secluded table. One wears a spotless black suit. The other, a dark cloak with a hood hiding his face.)

  Hooded Man (raspy, annoyed):

  —So... the explosives failed.

  Man in the suit (deep voice):

  —And with the estate turned into a fortress, another direct attack is suicide.

  (They fall into silence. Then the man in the suit places a hand on the table.)

  Man in the suit:

  —Then we strike during the tournament.

  (The hooded one nods slowly. His hidden eyes gleam with sinister intent.)

  Hooded Man:

  —The girl's blood is essential. Only with it can the prophecy be fulfilled.

  (Silence lingers like smoke. Then, as if nothing had happened, they raise their glasses.)

  Man in the suit (smiling coldly):

  —Let’s make it worth the risk.

  (Glasses clink softly. The reflection of a dancing flame flickers on the glass.)

  (The combat coliseum in D-City stands empty, yet it pulses with anticipation. Bright lights flood the arena, casting long shadows across the untouched sand.)

  (In the center, alone, stands Satsuki Amagiri.)

  (Her long hair flows freely as she swings her blade with ease. Her movements are smooth. Precise. There’s no nervousness—only intention. Her smile is not calm... it’s hungry.)

  (She pauses, glancing up at the moon—round and glowing high in the sky.)

  Satsuki (murmuring):

  —Two more days...

  and the real show begins.

  (Her fingers tighten around the hilt. Her heterochromatic eyes burn with quiet intensity.)

  The battle... is about to begin.