The distant light and fire, blood and tears, all vanished from sight. Uchiha Hikaru's words showed Kuzan an even bloodier reality, and its cruelty left him feeling almost suffocated.
Was this what the world truly looked like?
Kuzan turned to look at the young Alliance Leader. Was this how that detached-looking young man truly saw the world deep down?
Had all the ideals he once held for the future required him to trample over so many corpses, little by little remaking the entire world into the form he envisioned?
"You've disappointed me greatly." Hikaru spoke calmly. "I thought you came to join me because you had seen the true nature of this world. I never expected you to still harbor such naive thoughts. Step back and think carefully about what I've said. If you come to understand, then we will be like-minded partners. If you cannot accept it, then the Uchiha Alliance truly isn't suited for you. Compared to the Marines, the Uchiha Alliance may be even more iron-blooded and ruthless!"
Kuzan remained silent. Kyros, standing nearby, had gone pale. He had never expected even someone like Kuzan to be reprimanded by the Alliance Leader, with Hikaru seemingly ready to throw Kuzan out of the alliance at the slightest disagreement.
Kyros opened his mouth, intending to ease the oppressive atmosphere.
"From this point on, I will take command of the battlefield." Hikaru spoke coolly, extinguishing Kyros's urge to speak. "Pass the order to every unit. Begin disengaging from the battlefield. Form an encirclement around the perimeter, suppress the enemy with firepower, and don't let them break out."
Kyros hesitated for a moment, then immediately began relaying Hikaru's orders across the battlefield.
Law, Urouge, Drake, the Germa Army, and the Buggy Pirates, all locked in battle, were stunned. They could not