Jacob Island's original name had long since been lost to history. As far as anyone knew, it was now a medium-sized island occupied by a member state of the World Government.
Its terrain was unique in the East Sea. More than half the island was a vast plain rising only a few meters above sea level, rich in vegetation and fresh water, and highly suitable for habitation.
The rest was a barren plateau more than a thousand meters high. On one side, the plateau connected to the plain by a steep slope at a 40-degree angle; on the other, sheer, perilous cliffs plunged straight down to the sea.
The island was dotted with two sharply contrasting styles of architecture. One belonged to the present-day Kingdom of Jacob. The other could be found throughout the plains: ruins left behind by a war that had destroyed them a century ago.
They were separated by a wall more than eight meters high and stretching over ten kilometers, as if it divided civilization from the ruins and wilderness, splitting the world in two.
At that moment, kingdom soldiers armed with standard-issue Navy weapons hurried into formation atop the wall. They raised their guns and aimed at the refugees emerging from the ruins, opening fire without mercy.
At one corner of the wall, dozens of soldiers wore the uniforms of the Kingdom of Jacob, yet instinctively used standard Navy defensive tactics. Looking down at the refugees, who were nearly naked, they wore troubled expressions.
After exchanging glances, they finally set their faces and pulled their triggers.
Every time the soldiers pulled a trigger, golden muzzle flashes burst from their guns. Lead bullets streaked through the air in dazzling flashes and pierced the frail bodies in the blink of an eye.
Cannons fired from within the wall. One black cannonball after another tore across the sky with a terrible whistle, dropping into the crowds among the ruins.
Boom... A violent explosion erupted. Flames billowed, heat surged, and a massive shock wave hurled shrapnel through the air, instantly knocking down a group of ragged, disheveled refugees.
Seeing the refugees thrown into disarray by the blast, the soldiers atop the wall grinned and laughed wildly.
"Hahaha, these damn commoners are even more pathetic than those little brats who stole water last night. At least they dragged their buckets a few meters."
"We only used sniper rifles last night. This time, we used the cannons the Navy sold us!"
"..."
"Damn, didn't you snipe a few of those little commoners last night? You hogged all the targets, so my daughter mocked me for not killing even one!" The soldier's face twisted with frustration.
Beside him, a bearded man wore a blissful smile. "Hahaha, my five-year-old son was so happy when he heard about my kill count!"
"He said that when he grows up, he wants to join the army like me and kill all those damn commoners."
They made no effort to hide their conversation as they fired. Even the roar of the cannons couldn't keep their words from reaching the soldiers more than ten meters away.
Some of the soldiers who had instinctively maintained Navy tactical formations fell silent. Without thinking, they raised their guns, sending their bullets into empty ground.
Then they all turned to their grim-faced commander, who gripped his katana tightly, and looked at him expectantly.
At last, the resolute-looking man stared blankly down at the carnage below and spoke the words his subordinates had hoped to hear: "Follow your own sense of justice. I'll take responsibility for the consequences!"
With that, he slowly sat down with his back against the wall. His face fell, and his eyes grew dull and lifeless, as if he had suffered a tremendous blow.
At his words, the soldiers' expressions eased slightly. They took a deep breath, aimed beside the refugees, and pulled their triggers again.
Suddenly, the soldiers in the distance grew frantic, their voices full of terror. "Concentrate your fire! Take that monster down!"
In an instant, gunfire and cannon blasts roared deafeningly. Muzzle flashes flickered, changing the color of the entire stretch of wall.
Bullets and shells fired from portable cannons streaked through the air, hurtling straight toward a ruined building.
Rumble... The already-dilapidated structure instantly crumbled under the relentless explosions.
Huge chunks of stone scattered in every direction. Dust accumulated over the years mixed with the smoke from the explosions, spreading over the entire area.
Amid the clouds of dust, only the flames from the explosions and the sparks that burst from bullets striking steel could be seen.
The sudden turn of events even caught the attention of the true power players atop the wall.
A tall, slender man in a white suit, his face hidden behind a white mask, raised his binoculars and peered at the battlefield shrouded in dust, scrutinizing the enormous figure faintly visible within.
As he watched, the corners of his mouth lifted beneath the mask. He chuckled. "Just killing a few children who stole water was enough to draw him out?"
"He's quite different from those brutal Oni in the New World."
A moment later, he lowered his binoculars and turned toward the middle-aged man beside him, who wore ornate armor and a sword at his waist.
"Vice Admiral Natan, the target has appeared. As agreed, please assist us in capturing him."
A trace of gloom flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. Without turning his head, he replied casually, "I left the Navy a long time ago. Please address me as Your Majesty."
"And based on our estimates, the Oni who appeared in my territory is at least fifteen years old. Does CP0 really have the ability to brainwash and control him?"
Meanwhile, high above, in the clouds more than five thousand meters up, Louis narrowed his eyes at the keywords he had heard. He halted midair, beating his wings to hover in place.
His hand instinctively reached for the spear on his back. Expressionless, he repeated the words his superhuman senses had picked up: "CP0, a retired vice admiral..."
A thoughtful look came over his face, but at some point, his hand had already taken the spear from his back.
Louis quickly came to his senses and made his decision, his gaze sharpening. "Since I'm already here..."
The next moment, his wings beat once. The surrounding clouds churned in the wild gusts, and he vanished from the spot.
Atop the wall, Natan watched the white-clad figure depart with a group of black-suited agents. His gaze gradually turned cold.
"He must die here. No one is taking him away from this kingdom."
Years ago, the previous king had killed a group of children in front of Roger and insulted Roger's companions.
That had enraged Roger, who had destroyed every army in the Kingdom of Jacob. As a result, Natan, who had struggled to rise to the rank of vice admiral, had been forced to retire and return to shoulder the kingdom's burdens.
Now, an exceptionally gifted Oni had emerged from among the kingdom's enemies. As king, Natan had to make sure no one could take him away.
"Not even CP0!" King Natan's gaze was profound, his tone icy. "Dolo, you'll work with me. Before CP0 can react, kill the horned man!"
"Yes, sir!" A figure in a white suit and justice cloak appeared without a sound. As if reporting to a superior, he saluted the king with a Navy salute.
Natan stood at the gate in the wall, coldly watching the Armored Figure step out of the dust.
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