Power of the Four Monarchs

Somewhere unknown, inside a mountain cave.

The unfathomably deep cave was shrouded in darkness like an invisible giant net covering every inch of space. The silence was unsettling, with only flickering candlelight stubbornly shining within it.

A woman in a kimono knelt at the end of the cave, her head lowered as though she were meditating with her eyes closed.

The ground behind her suddenly split open.

It had literally split open, as though it had been drilled through from below. A burly man emerged from beneath the hole, like a ninja using an earth-release technique. Strangely, though he had clearly come from underground, not a speck of dust clung to him.

Then a mass of blazing fire swept up beside him, like a whirlwind made of flames. When the inferno dispersed, another figure emerged from within. This time it was a comparatively lean man. Though he had stepped out of the flames, he showed no signs of being burned, and even his clothes remained intact.

"Ganmaru. Enmaru."

The woman remained seated with her back to them, resting with her eyes closed without turning around.

The two men both bowed respectfully.

"Lady Misuzu."

These two were the remaining members of the Four Monarchs: Enmaru, who commanded Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, and Ganmaru, who commanded Granmarg the Rock Monarch.

"Your brothers failed," Saiō Misuchi said calmly.

"Yes. Unfortunately."

Enmaru rested his right hand on his hip as he spoke.

"It seemed Ice Maru and Thunder Maru paid the price for their arrogance. I always thought their mindset would cause problems sooner or later."

After a pause, he looked at his companion.

"But we're different. Right, Ganmaru?"

"Mm." Ganmaru nodded.

"Rest assured, Lady Misuzu. Since we're making a move, there absolutely won't be any more mistakes." Enmaru said confidently, "We'll deal with