Scenario:The Art of Mercy - Chapter 6: Fight to the Death - Episode 1
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The Art of Mercy - Chapter 6: Fight to the Death - Episode 1
(Captain) and the others witness a pillar of light and are informed of Zawra's and Erik's deaths. Meanwhile, Luhua is summoned by the king of Zilantos once again, where he finds out that the king and Vitali had been deceiving him all along. He murders the two and heads out to battle once more, determined to attain his own freedom.
Shura: What is that? It's coming from that direction...
The pillar of light emitting from Erik's body catches the attention of (Captain) and the others from afar.
Shocked by the ominous glow and explosive roar, the crew fears the worst.
Erdeni Messenger: Shura! Altair!
A panicked messenger comes running to report on the situation.
Erdeni Messenger: It appears there was some sort of trap hidden in Prince Erik's body.
Erdeni Messenger: After Commander Zawra successfully took down Erik in combat, there was a massive explosion...
Erdeni Messenger: Commander Zawra and the Zilantos soldiers in the immediate proximity of the explosion are presumed to be dead.
Altair: So they had expected Prince Erik to perish in battle and thus planted a trap that activated after his death.
Shura: How cruel... Who could possibly have done this?
Altair: My guess is their strategist, Vitali. I heard from Zawra that he is well-versed in sorcery.
Altair: Devising plans that use people as pawns, and throwing their lives away without a second thought...
Altair: As much as I hate to acknowledge him as a member of my own profession... he certainly is a formidable tactician.
Meanwhile, the Zilantos troops are also observing the pillar of light from afar.
Luhua: (That must be one of Vitali's spells... A cruel act, even if for the sake of victory...)
However, the loss of a single platoon does not affect Luhua's troops as they continue to return fire.
Luhua: (Leaving things to Vitali will only cause more unnecessary losses...)
Luhua: (Looks like I have no choice but to tear out Erdeni's heart myself.)
Determined to put an end to this war, Luhua places his hand on the hilt of his sword. Just then a soldier comes running up.
Zilantos Soldier: G-General Luhua! We have just received a message from the capital. You have been summoned by the king!
Luhua: What?
Zilantos Soldier: General Renfa was also summoned and has gone on ahead. It would be best to hurry.
At the mention of Renfa's name, Luhua turns pale.
Luhua: Very well...
Luhua: We still have the upper hand in terms of numbers. Tell the commanding officer of each unit to switch to defense and buy as much time as possible.
Zilantos Soldier: Yes, sir!
Luhua departs from the battlefield and hurries to where the king awaits him at the capital.
Arriving at the castle, he opens the door to find the king of Zilantos and Renfa, her eyes cast downward. Vitali stands beside them.
Luhua: Luhua, at your service.
King of Zilantos: Well? What is your excuse?
Luhua: Excuse?
King of Zilantos: Erik is dead. Do you know what that means, Luhua?
Luhua: Your Majesty, His Highness took it upon himself to—
King of Zilantos: Who is responsible for this war? It's you, isn't it?
King of Zilantos: Thus the responsibility for Erik's death also lies with you.
Luhua: ...!
Luhua bears the king's oppressive words, balling his fists tightly as he keeps his head down in respect.
Vitali: It can't be helped, Luhua.
Vitali: Royalty is royalty, and servants will always be servants. The status you are born with determines the value of your life. That's just how it works.
Luhua: Vitali... You're one to talk.
Luhua: You're the one who invited me here and persuaded me to offer my power to this country!
Luhua: You told me that in Zilantos, a person with power will have his rights!
Vitali: Silence. You're rather noisy for something so useless.
Vitali: It's about time you realized that you will never be anything but a tool, used for the ends of those above you.
Luhua: What... did you just say?
Vitali: You possess a very great power. There is no one on this island who would be able to win against you.
Vitali: The king wished to use your power. That is why I approached you and drew you away from Erdeni to us.
Ten years ago, on the night before the peace treaty between Erdeni and Zilantos was to take effect...
Vitali had snuck into the country of Erdeni and secretly approached Luhua.
Vitali: There may not be much discrimination in Erdeni, but only those born into a respectable bloodline have power here.
Vitali: So why do you think King Canopus would adopt an orphan like you into the royal family?
Vitali: The answer is obvious. He only wants you for your extraordinary strength.
Luhua: No... You're wrong.
Luhua had been living as part of Erdeni's royal family at the time, after King Canopus took him in.
However, it was not an easy environment for an orphan like Luhua to survive in.
Due to his lowborn status, he suffered constant abuse from the people around him who had held power since the day they were born.
Even so, Luhua trusted Canopus and believed that the king's display of benevolence was genuine.
But in the end, his faith in the king was broken by the words of a stranger.
Vitali: Did you not find it strange that he picked someone not even from his own country to adopt into the royal family?
Vitali: You are merely being raised as a shield for Leonis.
Vitali: It is so easy to make people born into poor circumstances like yourself pledge their allegiance just by showing a bit of kindness.
Vitali: A small price to pay for a loyal shield... I applaud Canopus for his clever thinking.
Shocked by Vitali's words, Luhua grits his teeth in disbelief.
Vitali: Zilantos, however, is different. Those who have power will have rights. It is a country where extraordinary strength is more valuable than lineage.
Vitali: High achievements in our country will earn you a life equivalent to that of a noble's, no matter how poor of a family you were born into.
Vitali: No one will ever call you a servant or abuse you ever again.
Vitali: I have come to offer you this freedom... and true salvation.
Luhua: Is what you're saying the truth?
Vitali: Why, of course. There is just one condition.
Vitali: Bring us the head of King Canopus. That is the condition.
Luhua: ...!
Vitali: What are you so surprised about? There is no need for hesitation.
Vitali: The man has tricked you with his virtuous disguise and plans to use you for the entirety of your life.
Vitali: To put it simply, his murder would only be an appropriate act of revenge.
Vitali: Now... what will you do?
Luhua: You mean... all of that was a lie?
Vitali: What was? Ah, you mean Canopus.
Vitali: What is a lie and what is the truth? Who knows.
Vitali: I merely pointed out the possibilities. How you interpret them is up to you.
Vitali: Well, Canopus certainly was a soft-hearted man, almost to an illogical extent...
King of Zilantos: How foolish. In the end, what determines a person's life is their lineage.
King of Zilantos: No matter how much a servant achieves, the filthy blood running through their veins will never change.
King of Zilantos: Luhua, I cannot let your failure this time go unpunished. As for the price, I've decided to have Renfa pay for part of it.
Luhua: Wha... Why! Renfa has nothing to do with this!
King of Zilantos: That is for me, the king, to decide. Not you.
King of Zilantos: Just as your strength is valuable, the beauty Renfa possesses is also greatly appealing to me.
King of Zilantos: Servants like you are no more than mindless cattle, born to serve until the day you die.
Luhua's lip trembles with fury at the king's heinous words.
Luhua: So you were using me from the very beginning...
King of Zilantos: Of course. You're a servant—it's what you were born for. Rather, you should be grateful that you were able to serve a king as great as myself.
Luhua: ...!
Luhua: You monsteeeer!
With a scream of rage, Luhua leaps to where the king is sitting in the blink of an eye.
As Luhua wraps his hands around the king's neck, he realizes its frailty and wonders what he had ever feared from this man. Without another word, he cleanly snaps the king's neck in one swift movement.
Vitali: Do... Do you realize what you've done?
Failing to see the point of any further conversation, Luhua seizes Vitali by the throat next.
Luhua: ...
Vitali: You're nothing... but a beast... A servant... That is what... you will always—
Luhua: Silence.
With the slightest tightening of Luhua's grip, Vitali is rendered silent, never to speak again.
Luhua tosses Vitali's corpse onto the floor and looks over at Renfa.
Luhua: Renfa... Do I scare you?
Renfa: No... Not at all.
Luhua: Am I a monster?
Renfa: No. You are a person, Luhua. The only person that I love.
Renfa shakes her head and walks to where Luhua stands motionlessly.
Luhua: I'm going to crush Erdeni. And Zilantos after that.
Luhua: I'll acquire the freedom I want with my own hands.
Luhua: These hands are already stained with the blood of many. What comes after this will make no difference.
He quietly turns to leave the room, Renfa at his side.
Hopelessness and resentment are reflected in his eyes as his heart burns with a dark, raging flame.