A palace.
The resplendent palace seemed gilded with a golden glow in every inch of its space. Beneath the towering dome at the center of the main hall stood imposing statues of various forms—some held scepters, while others sat with their eyes closed in thought. The surrounding walls and massive pillars were carved with intricate ancient murals and indecipherable mysterious writing.
A jet-black jackal statue lay silently at the center of the hall. Its eyes seemed alive, as though they were peering through the void and examining every soul that approached this forbidden domain.
Kira strode into the palace and stopped at the center of this forbidden domain.
A moment later, another figure appeared ahead of him.
"Welcome," the man said. "The new king of the modern age, Fujiki Kira."
The man wore black robes and a hood that concealed most of his face in shadow.
But when he stepped forward and slowly removed his hood, he revealed a smooth, round bald head. His skin was dark, and under the dim light, he looked like a freshly peeled tea egg.
However, his face bore striking markings that appeared to be tattoos. There were abstract images resembling murals, as well as ancient words and symbols. Though their meaning was unclear, one could imagine from that grim visage alone the inhuman pain he had endured while having those tattoos inscribed, and the willpower required to see the work through.
With such distinctive features, Kira naturally recognized him at a glance.
He was Rishid.
Rishid of the Tombkeeper Clan, Marik Ishtar's most trusted confidant in the world.
Rishid had not originally belonged to the Tombkeeper Clan. He had been adopted and ordered to serve Marik from childhood. He was both Marik's servant and his most important friend.
When Marik was young, the Tombkeeper