Nobles in Disarray
The creation of the Sun Guard sent shockwaves through the noble families of the Clover Kingdom.
Within a grand hall deep inside the Kira family estate, Duke Reinhardt Faust sat across from several powerful noble heads. The air was thick with tension as they discussed the sudden rise of Solis Vermillion.
Duke Reinhardt Faust: "That boy has become a greater threat than we anticipated. First, he takes his father's seat in Parliament. Now, he forms his own military force? This is beyond unacceptable."
Viscount Delacroix: "I hear the commoners are praising him already. They call him the 'Tyrant Sun,' both feared and admired. If this continues, our influence will crumble."
Duchess Lorraine Kira: "Our ancestors built this kingdom on noble rule. We cannot let a single man dismantle centuries of order. We must act."
The nobles exchanged glances before reaching a silent agreement.
Solis Vermillion had to be stopped.
The Assassins' Shadows
Later that night, deep within the capital's underworld, a group of cloaked figures gathered in an abandoned chapel. These were hired assassins, elite mercenaries who thrived in the shadows.
A noble messenger stood before them, tossing a heavy sack of gold onto the table.
Noble Messenger:
"Your target is Solis Vermillion. He is to be eliminated without failure."
The leader of the assassins, a masked man known as Specter, picked up a detailed sketch of Solis.
Specter: "A prince-turned-king… This will be interesting."
The assassins disappeared into the darkness, ready to strike.
Solis' Awareness – An Inevitable Attack
At the Royal Palace, Solis sat at his desk, studying reports on recent bandit raids in the Forsaken Realm.
But his sharp mind had already predicted the nobles' reaction.
As he stared at the flickering candlelight, he smirked.
"So, they finally move against me."
At that moment, Nacht Faust, the enigmatic Vice-Captain of the Black Bulls, appeared from the shadows.
Nacht: "You're being hunted, Your Majesty. The nobles have sent assassins."
Solis turned to Nacht, unbothered.
"Expected. Do you have details?"
Nacht nodded, summoning his devil's shadow magic to reveal several masked figures sneaking into the palace.
Nacht:
"Shall I handle them?"
Solis stood up, his golden eyes burning with determination.
"No need. I will deal with them myself."
The First Assassination Attempt
As the assassins infiltrated the palace halls, their knives gleamed under the moonlight.
One of them, a skilled magic user, cast a silent spell to mask their presence.
But as they reached Solis' chamber, they suddenly froze in place.
The air had become unbearably hot.
One assassin looked up, his face drenched in sweat, as he saw Solis standing before them.
His body radiated an aura of immense heat, causing the floor beneath him to glow a faint red.
Solis (calmly):
"You nobles underestimate me."
In an instant, he vanished from sight.
Before they could react, one assassin was slammed into the ground, flames consuming his cloak.
Another tried to retreat, but a golden chain of light wrapped around his leg, dragging him into the fire.
The last assassin, Specter, barely dodged a strike before activating his Shadow Step technique, moving at high speed.
But it was too late.
Solis appeared in front of him, his hand radiating golden light.
"I'll give you a chance—tell me who hired you, and I may let you live."
Specter hesitated before grinning beneath his mask.
"You are a true tyrant, aren't you? Fine, I'll tell you… but you already know the answer."
He snapped his fingers, and his body erupted into a black mist, disappearing.
Solis frowned, realizing this was a suicidal escape technique.
The assassin had chosen death over capture.
"So, they won't break easily. Good."
He turned toward Nacht, who emerged from the shadows.
Nacht: "This was only the first attempt. The nobles won't stop here."
Solis sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Then I suppose it's time I remind them… why they should fear me."
As dawn broke over the kingdom, Solis prepared his next move.
The unseen war between him and the nobles had officially begun.