Prologue SS Monster...

Lapsus Stella.

A plan that Yuuki set in motion to usurp a sit in the upper brackets of the Empire. So far his plan has been going according to a tee. Hana Takahashi has been isolated and will die from a 00 numbered Royal guard member.

My part in this plan is observation. To be more precise, confirmation of the success of this plan. I just need to watch from afar as everything goes according to plan.

At least, it was supposed to be like that. An anomaly had appeared out of nowhere and proceeded to go into the forest. 'If anything was an indication then I can they are.' I subconsciously made a

decision.

'That unknown aberration, it was a miscalculation on our end. I should despise it immediately.

Following it into the forest, I couldn't help but find similarities between him and Yuuki. 'It's like his a-' my thoughts cut off when I saw a figure walk out of the forest.

'Tatsuya Kundou? What is he doing here!? Isn't he the right right-hand man of the Emperor!?' My thoughts ran rampant until their fight started. "!" These people were on a different tier of fighters.

They moved so fast I could barely keep up.

I had to retreat further into the forest to avoid getting caught in the aftermath of the fight. 'If Yuuki is going to accomplish his dream... He needs to be past this level.' I lamented for my boss and his ambition.

"Crap!"

*Boom!*

light illuminated the forest before slowly dissipating.

The finale of their battle cut my musings short. Looking at the smoke in the area it was apparent who won.

'I guess I didn't have to interfere after all-'

" Ah... It's honestly scary, how everything is coming to pass..." The monotonous voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. He wasn't supposed to survive that! Not even Yuuki could survive that!

"-I am he who has claimed the pinnacle of primates."

The ground quivered as he spoke. I should have moved yet, I could not. I wanted...Wanted to see what someone stronger than Yuuki looked like.

"Foreign to man, alien to failure."

The sky exalted him as he declared himself onto the world.

"I am the bane of sympathy and antithesis to empathy."

The magicules in the atmosphere grew violent yet felt tamed as he talked.

"The ideation of perfection."

Nature itself was silenced. As if to not interrupt him.

"I am it, that has affirmed the mantle of masterpiece."His monotone voice boomed with an unknown authority as he declared himself.

"I am he who derided my crown."

It was as if he were laughing at a funny joke as he said those words. He stuck his sword into the ground then twist it. Infinity, that is the best way to describe the number of magicules that leaked out of him at that moment. He looked at Tatsuya then spoke-

"So as I proclaim, now and forevermore"

Reality froze, nature silenced as it appeared to manifest.

"[] masterpiece."

Everything was consumed in darkness instantaneously. Not a single thing in my view remained as I looked on trying to find something, anything.

"!" I froze. I was being looked upon-no. I was being looked down upon by a higher existence. Its very gaze affirmed its authority over me and assure me, "I could kill you any time." I could do nothing but stand there and wait for his next action.

"Mystifying, isn't it?" I thought he had talked at Tatsuya but I looked ahead to meet brown eyes that held the abyss in them. "!" I prostrated myself under the true gaze of something that can only be described as a higher existence.

He cupped my cheek gently, forcing me to look him in his eyes. For a moment I saw Golden orbs before they turned to brown. He observed me before speaking, "This," he gestured all around us, "Is the perfect place, to start over..." His words left ominous premonition in the very depths of my

heart, "A blank slate." He pointed in a certain direction.

No noises were made yet, never in my life had I been so scared. Nothing had been seen, nothing had been perceived but, I knew everything that had taken place in this place.

I was shown everything he had done in the void. Truly, I knew the meaning of fear.

"!" I felt relieved as I stopped feeling his touch on me. I looked to see him talk to Tatsuya. I saw him save Tatsuya. If Yuuki is serious about his plans, then there will be many obstacles in his path.

"... Master... May I ask you...something?".

Tatsuya's timid question brought me out of my musing as he addressed the unknown individual.

"What is it?" It was straight to the point, wasting no formalities.

"... Why... Why are you doing this?" I leaned in to listen to the conversation.

"Maybe I'm insane? Maybe I have a split personality? Maybe I'm just doing this for fun? Who knows?"

"That's a lie," I was shocked, to me, he sounded genuine in his reasoning, so how is he lying?

"If it was for a body, you would have made alternatives, if it is power you could have made connections, if it is knowledge you could have gained insights..." He trailed as to not aggravate the daemon even more.

"What's your point?" His voice sounded so hollow as he asked this, different from monotone. It wasan unknown tone.

"You had millions of alternatives... So... Why?" Silenced stretched out after the question was

asked, the daemon's eyes were shadowed leaving an eery vibe in the air.

"... As long as Hana Takahashi is blessed by the stars," his voice carried a new type of conveyance as he spoke, "...As long as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka knows what are those stars," We listened to his every word in anticipation, "I cannot let her live." He looked at Tatsuya straight in the eyes as he

said this as if to affirm his point.

"That is why I am doing all this..." His words were drowned out by the sound of his illusion

breaking like shattered glass. The forest came into view and a new sense of security surrounded

me.

Just when I started gaining my barrings "!" They both, for a brief moment, made eye contact with me. They saw me, just like I saw them. I feared what was going to happen next. "Now that you know what to do... I need to resolve my own." His words were cut as he disappeared in a flash as if he were never there.

Tatsuya Kundou looked at me again one last time before turning to the sky. "You really are... A repudiation..." His words faded as I made my way out of the forest as fast as I could. I followed the daemon to the waterfall.

I arrived saw a body of an individual that lay unconscious on the floor. It did not look like the person from before but, his presence was the same. This is my chance. Charging at him I lifted my hand, magicules enhancing it many times over, "You shouldn't have let your guard down," I brought my hand down in a swift motion--

"Who said he did?" I was knocked into the forest, by a strong force that had appeared out of nowhere.

"Guy, what do we do about the pest you knocked away?" An alluring voice asked as the red-haired individual picked up the unconscious body.

"Don't you know, he is this guy's," he pointed at the person that he carried like a sack of potatoes,"Bard. He is a narrator of this tale if you will." He chuckled at his own words while I clenched my fists at the insult.

"I see, we should be on our way now." The woman disappeared shortly after she spoke.

"Now, now. No need to be so aggressive Velzard." The oldest demon lord vanished into the night leaving the clown all by his lonesome.

I stood there, digesting this night's events in my mind. Only one thing came to mind. I have to tell Yuuki about this because every single one of these people...

"... Are monsters."

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And cut!

This chapter just screams future plot point.