"Aaaah!"
Sophia stumbled backward in terror, struck the edge of the bed, and fell.
Her eyes widened as she watched her familiar elder brother rapidly contort, turning into a completely alien monster.
Pop! Pop!
One keratinous scale after another burst through First Prince Nicholas's skin, emerging into the air slick with blood. Strange, intricate patterns covered those scales, which spread across his body in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, his body swelled, his flesh proliferated, and his limbs convulsed.
Riiip!
The sumptuous clothes that embodied the Royal Family's majesty split apart. A pair of membranous wings burst out beneath his shoulder blades, sending a great spray of blood flying!
Nicholas's face contorted, his fangs lengthened wildly, and sharp claws sprouted from his hands and feet. In an instant, he transformed from a tall Warrior into a blood-drenched monster!
"Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"
As he mutated, cheers rang out in the previously quiet room.
Every face present brimmed with fanatical joy, golden light flashing in their eyes. Rather than fearing the bizarre sight before them, they praised it in unison. "A new emperor has been born! A new emperor has been born!" Bang! Bang!
Amid those cries of praise, their heads exploded one after another. Writhing flesh gushed from their necks and spread over their bodies, forming bloody scales, membranous wings, fangs, and claws.
"Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"
Even without their heads, their praises continued, ringing out endlessly from some unknown source!
Sophia felt as though she had fallen into the most terrifying nightmare. Fear and the oppressive presence of a higher-ranking Beyonder gripped her mind, leaving her legs barely able to move.
"Come here, Sophia."
The hideous, dragon-shaped monster spoke in a gentle voice that seemed to carry