"We have known each other since before we could walk. I know you better than anyone alive so the least you can do is don't lie to my face. You couldn't care any less about our 'brothers' if your life depended on it. Tell me the truth, why? Why now after all this time?"

Both Princess Ceni and the guardsmen held their breaths waiting for the answer. It had gotten everyone curious.

The captain chuckled softly, completely throwing away his previous 'loyal soldier' persona.

"This is why I always liked you. You didn't let your emotions cloud your judgment or hold you back. I admit it, it was because he didn't give me what was mine. That greedy old fool kept the sword scripture that he promised me so why would I continue to risk my life for his empire?"

"I only followed him this long because he promised to one day let me learn the sword scripture that even made the God of War interested, that's all. But as the years went by he kept pushing it back saying I wasn't ready, that I would not be compatible with it. It was obvious he wasn't planning on giving it to me at all so I decided to look elsewhere."

"I reached out to the enemies of the Empire both old and new, to everyone that would want to see it burn. It took a decade and a half but I finally managed to pull it off hahaha."

He paused for a moment with a pondering expression before meeting the vice-captain's gaze again.

"Come with me, brother. The Luna Empire will fall today and all that it was will be wiped out of existence. But there is always a need for people like us, like you and me. We were born to be fighters, to be warriors. You were right in saying that perhaps you are the only one who knows me so well, just like I know you."

"I know very well that in our generation only you were my equal, and if you didn't have those injuries perhaps you would have surpassed me long ago so...come with me. They are building something unique, a new 'Republic' where no one empire can outdo the others."

"We will have a place there, we will have purpose! We can fight all we want, we can go and do whatever we want! We will be their champions and in turn they will let us learn any sacred texts, battle techniques, hidden manuals, or combat skills that catch our eye. I have already gotten my hands on a handful of them!"

"For warriors like us this is no better place. With you by my side we can create a dynasty that will last eons! Nothing will stand in our way!"

The captain finally finished his sermon and waited for the vice-captain's answer.

But Princess Ceni on the other hand was more confused than ever. She took out the medallion and raised it in front of her. The third dial spun around once before pointing straight ahead.

The successor of the Luna Empire's sword technique was here. With furrowed brows she leaned slightly to the left and watched as the dial moved just a little. Previously she was sitting in line with the captain so it was hard to tell but now that she moved it was obvious it wasn't him.

The dial pointed right at the vice-caption just as he spoke up.

"Is that it? Greed? More blood and war? That's why you betrayed everything you stood for? Betrayed the King you swore to protect and the kingdom you helped build? For something as trivial as a 'sword skill' you killed your own brothers and burned down their homes? And you want ME to join YOU?! I thought you knew me better."

The captain didn't look surprised at all.

"I do know you, old friend. That's why I never even considered talking to you about this. Your blind faith in that old fool was never in question."

He reached to the side and slowly withdrew his own exquisite silver blade.

"So be it. Although I would rather have you by my side we both know that will never happen. You can die how you lived, like the empire's loyal lapdog," he finished by pointing the silver blade towards him.

The pressure increased tenfold and the ground near the captain was flattened even further as if a giant hammer had crushed it down. It wasn't even aimed at Princess Ceni but she could barely even raise her head.

The vice-captain shook his head, "His Majesty was right about you. You are not worthy to learn it. Instead of controlling the blade you would have let it control you instead. That's why you would have never managed to reach the final step."

The captain scoffed lightly, "And what would you know of it?"

"I do know, old friend," the vice-captain raised his black sword in front of his chest, "I know it much better than you ever will."

Where the pressure from the captain was overbearing to the point that it felt like someone was pushing a boot on your throat, when the vice-captain raised his blade it had no presence whatsoever.

No extraordinary aura or even sword intent could be felt from him. In fact if one wasn't looking directly at him it would be easy to miss him completely.

He took in a deep breath that created a small whirlwind around him.

"Let me show you why the Luna Empire has stood the test of time for this long and why only one man from each generation is allowed to learn it. It is not because of the difficulty of the skill but rather its very nature. The universe would not allow such a force to be replicated because only one was enough to trample upon all of existence."

The captain finally realized what was going on as his dumbfounded expression accurately portrayed his inner feelings.

"No! That can't be you- STOP HIM!" he shouted at the top of his lungs before lunging forward.

Unfortunately, the guardsmen were not as quick to react even though they were much closer to him.

The vice-captain pulled the blade back along his chest and pointed it straight ahead.

"First step to rule the Mortal World!"

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