[The Next Morning — Before Departure]

Morning sunlight slowly spread across the western hills of Zahryssar.

The imperial convoy stood prepared beneath endless desert winds while blue-and-gold banners fluttered across the massive encampment.

Knights mounted horses; servants secured supplies. Mage circles glowed softly beneath the sands, and at the very center, the black imperial carriage awaited silently.

Meanwhile, Levin slowly approached the carriage, silver-blue robes drifting softly in the wind. One hand resting unconsciously near his abdomen. The exhaustion beneath his eyes was hidden carefully behind imperial calmness.

Beside the carriage, Raevahn immediately lowered himself respectfully. "Malika."

Levin nodded faintly, then with Raevahn’s assistance, he stepped into the imperial carriage quietly. The curtains closed afterward.

And the convoy prepared to move. Then suddenly, footsteps echoed across the sands, heavy and imperial.

Immediately every knight nearby straightened because approaching the carriage now was Zeramet.

The emperor’s silver robes shifted beneath the wind while his golden eyes remained unreadable, cold, and distant.

Raevahn immediately bowed deeply. Then respectfully opened the imperial carriage door, waiting for the Malik to enter beside his consort as always.

As tradition demanded, as the empire expected, Zeramet passed the carriage completely without stopping, without entering, and instead he walked toward another imperial war carriage farther ahead.

Silence crashed across the convoy instantly.

The nearby knights visibly froze. Servants exchanged nervous glances. Even the wind itself seemed to hesitate briefly because this had never happened before.

Never.

The Malik of Zahryssar is sitting separately from his consort? Impossible. Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Levin silently lowered his gaze, saying nothing and just feeling every stare outside anyway.

And nearby Varesh slowly glanced toward Raevahn. Raevahn glanced back; neither spoke because neither understood what catastrophe had happened overnight.

Meanwhile, farther behind, Slyvarakh quietly observed the scene from horseback, and slowly a smile spread across his face, beautiful, terrible, and amused.

Meanwhile, hidden near one of the supply wagons, Raviel leaned slightly toward Zyvera, then quietly whispered:

"...did they fight?"

Zyvera immediately nodded with complete confidence. "Definitely."

Raviel blinked. "You concluded that quickly."

"Please." She crossed her arms proudly. "I have observed married couples carefully."

Raviel slowly looked at her, deeply suspicious. "...why?"

Zyvera stared dramatically toward the sky afterward. "Because one day...I also wish to experience tragic romance."

Silence.

Then Raviel looked at her with absolute disgust. "That sentence physically harmed me."

"What?"

"You speak as if heartbreak is a hobby."

"It looks emotional and beautiful."

"It looks expensive."

Zyvera gasped. "You truly ruin every romantic atmosphere."

"And you sound like someone who would willingly marry a criminal if he looked mysterious enough."

"...that is not entirely incorrect."

Raviel immediately covered his face. "Lord Urzan, spare me."

Nearby, even a few exhausted knights looked away, trying not to laugh. Meanwhile, Slyvarakh quietly listened to the siblings’ nonsense from afar. And softly, very softly, he murmured:

"...this is becoming entertaining."

The rotten black-and-silver scales near his throat shifted faintly beneath the morning light. Then the imperial horns finally echoed across the hills.

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM.

The massive royal convoy began moving once more, toward Silthara, toward the imperial capital, toward the throne, and toward truths buried beneath centuries of blood.

And somewhere within the moving convoy, love, fear, jealousy, betrayal, and ancient ambition traveled together beneath the same desert sky.

***

[Inside the Imperial Carriage — Later]

The imperial convoy continued moving endlessly across the western hills. Outside, desert winds howled softly beneath the golden afternoon skies while endless rows of imperial knights escorted the royal procession toward Silthara.

But inside the black imperial carriage, silence ruled completely. Levin remained seated quietly near the carriage window, blue eyes lowered as his thoughts were heavy.

Too heavy.

Because for the first time since becoming Malika Levin truly felt alone emotionally. And somehow that loneliness frightened him more than monsters ever had.

The imperial curtains shifted softly beside him. Sunlight briefly touched the black lotus markings behind his neck. The same markings soon to be removed.

The same bond soon to be broken, then slowly Levin lowered his hand toward his abdomen, fingers trembling faintly.

"...does my child truly need to grow without a father...?" His voice came out barely above a whisper, fragile, quiet, and heartbroken.

Silence answered him. Only the sound of moving wheels echoed through the carriage afterward. Then suddenly a warm little weight climbed beside him.

Levin blinked softly downward, and there in his smaller dragon form was Lyresaph, tiny compared to his true size. Yet still radiating protective warmth.

The little dragon quietly nudged Levin’s shoulder with his snout, once, twice, and gently.

As though saying:

You are not alone.

And down near Levin’s legs, Asha slowly lifted her head too; her eyes watched Levin carefully with concern. Then softly she moved closer and gently licked Levin’s foot.

Levin froze slightly afterward, and then slowly his expression softened for the first time that day. A tiny, weak smile appeared across his lips.

Painfully weak but real.

"You two..." His voice trembled faintly. "...are trying very hard to comfort me."

Lyresaph immediately huffed proudly as though demanding acknowledgment for his excellent emotional support. Meanwhile, Asha curled tighter around Levin’s ankle possessively, clearly refusing to let sadness approach him alone.

And somehow that tiny affection nearly shattered Levin again. Because his husband was distancing himself, the empire was changing, and ancient monsters were awakening, yet these two creatures still remained beside him without hesitation. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Then quietly Levin rested his forehead against Lyresaph’s small head, closing his eyes briefly.

"...what am I supposed to do now?"

The little dragon gave a soft growl in response as though even Lyresaph himself disagreed with Zeramet’s decision.

Meanwhile, outside the carriage far ahead within another imperial carriage, Zeramet suddenly paused mid-thought, golden eyes darkening slightly because through the mate bond he could still feel Levin’s sadness faintly.

And that pain silently tore through the emperor like a blade, but even then, Zeramet did not turn back.

Because fear still chained him stronger than love, and the imperial convoy continued moving westward beneath endless desert skies, carrying two hearts slowly breaking apart beneath the same sun.

Until suddenly the winds changed. At first it was subtle, too subtle. The horses became restless; the war serpents hissed uneasily. Even the desert birds vanished from the skies.

Then one imperial knight near the rear formation frowned slightly.

"...did the sands just move?"

Silence. Another knight slowly turned toward the cliffs nearby. He was hand-tightening around his spear.

Then—

SKKKKKKKKKRRRRRRRRR.

Something slithered beneath the sands, fast—far too fast. Immediately Varesh’s eyes sharpened.

"STOP THE CONVOY!"

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!

The desert exploded. Black sand erupted violently upward across the imperial road while massive serpent bodies burst from beneath the earth.

One, ten, twenty, and hundreds. Imperial knights instantly raised weapons the moment they saw the attackers; their blood froze, black serpents.

Azhrakaal’s clan.

The cursed enemy Zahryssar had hunted for centuries. Their scales looked like living shadows, pitch black. Some cracked with glowing crimson veins beneath them.

Others wore bone ornaments around their throats like trophies from slaughtered enemies, and their eyes, their eyes held no imperial loyalty, only hunger and only hatred.

"BLACK SERPENTS—!" One knight screamed. Immediately, chaos exploded across the convoy. "DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"

Varesh roared.

"PROTECT THE MALIKA!"

Raevahn shouted simultaneously. Imperial mages ignited barriers instantly.

FWOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!

Blue serpent flames erupted across the sands, but the black serpents did not retreat.

No, they rushed forward laughing...actually laughing.

"Kill that human and the child!"

"For the Black King!"

CLANG!!!

Steel collided violently; several imperial knights were dragged directly beneath the sands, screaming. Others transformed instantly into half-serpent forms and counterattacked brutally.

Meanwhile, inside Levin’s carriage, everything shook violently. Levin immediately steadied himself while Lyresaph sprang upright, growling furiously.

Asha hissed sharply beside the curtains.

Then—

BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

A body crashed against the side of the carriage. Blood splattered across the blue silk curtains outside.

Levin’s eyes widened instantly. "Lyresaph—!"

Before he could move further, the carriage doors burst open. Raevahn appeared there. Half-covered in blood already. Silver sword dripping black venom.

"Malika!" His breathing came harshly. "We are under attack!"

Immediately afterward, another imperial knight behind him screamed.

"CAPTAIN—BELOW YOU!"

SHHHHKKKKK!!!

A gigantic black serpent exploded upward from beneath the sands. Massive jaws wide open. Straight toward Levin’s carriage. Raevahn instantly slammed the carriage door shut again.

SLAMMMMM!!!

Then roared across the battlefield:

"MOVE THE MALIKA NOW!"

Outside chaos consumed the imperial convoy entirely; knights screamed, mage circles shattered, and black serpents slithered violently beneath the sands, dragging imperial soldiers downward alive.

And then suddenly the entire battlefield darkened. A massive silver shadow crashed directly before Levin’s carriage.

BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

The sands exploded outward violently. It was Zeramet. In his enormous silver serpent form. Towering across the battlefield like a divine beast descended from ancient myths.

Silver scales gleamed beneath the blood-red skies while black lotus pheromones exploded across the desert winds.

Several black serpents instantly died merely from approaching too close. Their bodies collapsing beneath the emperor’s overwhelming aura. Then Zeramet turned his massive head slightly toward Levin’s carriage.

Golden eyes sharp with terrifying protectiveness.

"Consort." His voice echoed across the battlefield like thunder. "Remain inside."

Inside the carriage, Levin tightened his grip around his sword immediately.

"But—"

"There are too many." Zeramet cut him off coldly. His golden eyes darkened dangerously. "Black serpents are poisonous to humans; even their spit carries venom capable of rotting flesh."

Levin froze slightly afterward because despite everything...despite the divorce...despite the distance, Zeramet’s instinct to protect him remained unchanged, and slowly Levin lowered his sword again, obeying silently.

Meanwhile, farther behind the convoy, Slyvarakh quietly observed the battlefield, and slowly he smiled. Meanwhile nearby inside another supply carriage—

Raviel and Zyvera hid beneath blankets dramatically. "DAMN IT!"

Zyvera hissed. "Why now?!"

Raviel looked deeply offended by reality itself. "We specifically chose survival."

"Yes!"

"Yet danger continues approaching us personally."

"I believe this is the karma of our crimes."

Outside another explosion shook the convoy violently.

BOOOOOMMMMM!!!

And amidst the chaos, Slyvarakh suddenly moved, quietly, smoothly, and dangerously. He approached Levin’s carriage from the opposite side. Then slowly opened the carriage door.

CREAKKKK.

Levin immediately looked toward him sharply. Meanwhile, Slyvarakh’s silver eyes remained calm.

"It is not safe here." The battlefield was reflected in his silver gaze. "We must move somewhere farther from the convoy."

Levin hesitated instantly because, despite everything, something inside him still distrusted Slyvarakh deeply, and Slyvarakh noticed.

Then softly, almost amused, he added, "I cannot harm you, Malika, after all..."

His silver eyes darkened slightly.

"...I still must answer to the people of Zahryssar."

Silence.

Outside, another imperial knight screamed; black blood splattered across the carriage curtains. Levin clenched his jaw, thinking quickly.

Then finally he stepped out of the carriage, but immediately his gaze shifted toward Lyresaph.

"I shall ride him." Slyvarakh’s silver eyes narrowed slightly afterward as Levin said. "I do not require assistance."

And just like that Lyresaph instantly transformed. His massive dragon body erupted across the sands powerfully. Meanwhile, Asha immediately climbed into Levin’s arms possessively.

Then without hesitation, Levin climbed onto Lyresaph’s back, and the massive dragon instantly leaped upward across the rocky hills.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

Sand and stone exploded beneath his claws while he rushed away from the battlefield. Fast, meanwhile, far below, Zeramet saw everything. The emperor’s golden eyes widened instantly because behind Levin, Slyvarakh was following.

And immediately something ancient and murderous awakened inside Zeramet completely, but before the emperor could pursue, another wave of black serpents attacked him directly.

Then suddenly Sarash appeared beside him in his pale serpent form.

"Malik!"

Black blood dripped across Sarash’s claws while he hissed furiously toward the attackers.

"I shall manage the convoy!" His pale eyes sharpened dangerously. "Go protect the Malika!"

Zeramet hesitated only one second, one single second, and then instantly the massive silver serpent turned toward the hills and exploded forward violently.

CRAAAAASSSSHHHHH!!!

The sands tore apart beneath his gigantic body as he pursued them across the cliffs. Farther ahead, beyond the battlefield, Lyresaph finally landed atop the distant hills.

Meanwhile, Zeramet followed, and then he froze, because standing atop the cliffs before him was Slyvarakh but no longer in human form.

Half-Black. Half-silver. Corrupted scales spread grotesquely across his enormous serpent body while black smoke leaked endlessly from cracked flesh.

Silver eyes glowed beneath the darkening skies, monstrous, ancient, and beautifully horrifying, and slowly Slyvarakh smiled.

"I knew..." His voice echoed across the cliffs. "...the Black Serpent King would assist me eventually.

The moment Zeramet’s golden eyes saw Slyvarakh, the atmosphere itself turned murderous. Then Slyvarakh’s smile widened further and dangerously.

"It is time..." Silver eyes gleamed coldly. "...for you to say goodbye, dear brother."

BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!

The mountains exploded and the battle between the two silver serpents finally began.