Chapter 53: 2nd Official Purge

In the heart of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Masaki sat on his grand throne, one hand resting on his forehead, irritation evident in his posture. He exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

"That woman…" he muttered under his breath.

White Empress Asami had left the palace with nothing but a knowing smile, claiming she was taking a day off—a rare occurrence for a woman as meticulous and cunning as her. And of all times, she chose this week, when the Empire's most delicate operation was set to take place.

Masaki sighed, mildly worried but not deeply concerned. He knew Asami well enough—she was not someone who would fall so easily. No, if she had left, it meant she had her own reasons. Still, it was frustrating.

She was one of his four wives, after all.

Before him stood two of his most trusted officials:

Shinegori Arata, the Prime Minister of the Hoshimi Empire

Takigawa Yoshito, the Grand General of the Imperial Army

These two men were pillars of the Empire's strength, both in governance and military power. Their presence alone signified the weight of the moment—the Second Official Purge was about to begin.

Masaki straightened his posture and met their gazes.

"We failed to cleanse the Empire during the first purge," he stated, his voice firm. "That failure led to the rise of more corruption, more traitors within our ranks. We will not make the same mistake again."

The two men nodded in unison.

Prime Minister Arata spoke first. "The necessary arrangements have been made. The names on the list will be dealt with before dawn."

Grand General Yoshito added, "Our forces are already in position. There will be no escape for those who have betrayed the Empire."

Masaki leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze assessing them. These men were not just his subordinates—they were also fathers.

Shinegori Akane, the White Princess Consort, and Takigawa Rei, the Vermillion Princess, were their daughters.

It was no surprise that they had hesitations as parents, but as Imperial Officials, their duty came first.

Masaki smirked slightly, his irritation at Asami fading for a moment. That woman had reassured these two men personally—perhaps her so-called "day off" was just an excuse to monitor their daughters herself.

Typical Asami. Always thinking five steps ahead.

Still, Masaki knew this was how the Imperial Family worked.

Each Empress covered a weakness of the Emperor, filling the gaps where his power could not reach. In Asami's case, her influence over internal affairs kept the Empire's foundation intact.

Masaki's expression hardened as he gave his final order.

"Begin."

With a deep bow, the Prime Minister and the Grand General left the throne room. The gears of the Second Official Purge were now set in motion.

By morning, the Empire would be cleansed once more.

Screams echoed through the once-peaceful streets of the Imperial Capital as civilians ran in desperation. The city was drowning in chaos.

Dark hooded figures moved like shadows, their masked faces devoid of emotion as they slaughtered indiscriminately. Blood painted the cobblestone streets, the stench of death thick in the air.

They whispered incantations, summoning low to high-tier demons—beasts with glowing eyes, claws sharp enough to tear through flesh, and bodies radiating malice.

The Dark Order had revealed themselves.

One of the masked figures tilted his head, watching the fleeing civilians with amusement. "Run all you like. The Empire is already dead."

Just as another dark sorcerer raised his staff to unleash a finishing blow on a mother shielding her child—

A shadow dropped from the sky.

THUD.

A low shockwave spread across the ground.

The masked figures turned to face the newcomer.

A young man stood before them, his black and light-blue uniform untainted by the carnage around him. His stance was relaxed, his purple eyes glowing with an eerie calm.

Rin.

He gazed at them without a hint of fear. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana, its golden flames barely flickering.

One of the Dark Order members scoffed.

"Look at this—just a single swordsman?" another mocked.

"Boy, do you understand the situation? You're outnumbered."

Another one sneered. "He's not even a soldier of the Empire. Probably just some mercenary thinking he can be a hero—"

A crackle of lightning cut through the air.

Before they could react, Rin moved.

A sharp, golden arc of fire cut through the darkness, severing the demon's arm before it could even scream.

A pause.

Then—

The demons lunged.

The earth shook as monstrous beings charged at him from all sides, their claws outstretched.

Rin exhaled slowly.

"You're in my way."

Then he vanished.

A burst of lightning and shadow magic erupted, covering his body. His katana ignited with controlled golden flames, a burning manifestation of his fury.

The first demon—slashed in half.

The second demon—head severed before it could even roar.

The third tried to run—only for Rin to reappear above it, driving his katana through its skull.

The masked men froze.

This was no ordinary swordsman.

Rin landed lightly, his blade still burning. He turned his gaze toward them, his usual calm expression unwavering.

"The Hoshimi Imperial Family lost too many loyal people in the first purge," he said, his voice even. "That was a mistake we will not repeat."

Lightning flickered around him, the air humming with power. The Urakawa Family had been among those lost, framed and destroyed. Rin had helped in the first purge, but it had not been enough.

The Empire had been wounded, but it had sharpened its fangs.

And now—

"The Dark Order has finally come out of hiding."

Rin smiled.

"Good. Now, we can finish what we started."

With a sudden explosion of power, he dashed forward, his blade flashing.

The purge had begun.

Demonic Magic—a power that exists outside the natural laws of the world. It is not classified among the elements of magic like fire, wind, or lightning. Instead, it is a tier of magic that harnesses the dark side of existence itself.

Unlike elemental magic, which draws from nature and one's own mana reserves, Demonic Magic taps into the abyssal energy of the Demon Realm—a dimension of chaos ruled by Demon Lords.

It is a forbidden art, a taboo that no respectable mage would ever dare to practice.

The Hoshimi Empire had strict laws regarding its use. Any individual caught using Demonic Magic would face one of two fates:

Reformation – A chance for redemption, provided they willingly submit to purification rituals and strict surveillance.

Execution – For those too far gone, those who have already succumbed to the whispers of demons, there is no saving them.

Many have been saved, their minds and souls cleansed of corruption. But many have perished, either consumed by their own dark power or executed before they could harm others.

Demonic Magic is powerful—perhaps too powerful. Those who wield it can:

Summon Demons – By forming contracts with entities from the Demon Realm, a caster can summon lesser or greater demons to do their bidding.

Corrupt the Elements – Fire turns black and burns unnaturally, ice drains warmth instead of freezing, and lightning crackles with ominous energy.

Enhance Physical Abilities – Users gain increased strength, speed, and resilience, often at the cost of their humanity.

But power does not come freely.

Demons demand sacrifices.

For every spell cast, something must be given in return. A caster must offer blood, life force, or even the souls of others to fuel their magic. The stronger the spell, the greater the sacrifice.

It is for this reason that Demonic Magic users often target civilians—innocent people become fuel for their growing power.

Those who rely on Demonic Magic for too long find themselves losing their humanity, their very souls eroded by the corrupting influence of the Demon Realm. Eventually, they become the very monsters they once sought to control.

This is why the Hoshimi Empire does not tolerate its existence.

Demonic Magic is not a tool. It is a curse.

And tonight, as Rin faced the Dark Order, he knew one thing—

The time for mercy was over.

The Hoshimi Imperial Capital, once a beacon of prosperity and stability, was now a city drowned in fire and blood.

Flames raged against the night sky, consuming buildings with an eerie glow. The scent of burning wood and flesh filled the air, mixing with the cries of the wounded and the dying. Dark-robed figures of the Dark Order moved through the streets like shadows, cutting down civilians and summoning monstrous demons to wreak havoc.

But they were not unopposed.

The Imperial Army had moved.

Under the command of Grand General Takigawa Yoshito, two forces were deployed:

The Rescue Division – A force dedicated to protecting civilians and restoring order.

The Purgers – A ruthless group assigned to eliminate the nobles who had betrayed the Empire by siding with the Dark Order.

Tonight, the Imperial Family would show its twin faces—one of mercy, and one of unrelenting wrath.

Amidst the chaos, a group of Imperial soldiers charged through the burning streets, cutting down demons and defending fleeing civilians. The sound of clashing steel echoed as warriors, dressed in the deep crimson armor of the Empire, stood their ground against the darkness.

A mother and her child ran from a monstrous Hellhound, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow, its jagged teeth dripping with black venom. Just as it lunged—

SHNK!

A soldier intercepted, his halberd slicing through the beast's skull. Black blood splattered onto the ground, sizzling like acid.

"Move! Get to the evacuation points!" another soldier shouted as he guided civilians away from the battle.

Everywhere, the soldiers of the Rescue Division fought to push back the enemy.

Mages raised water barriers to block incoming fire spells.

Knights used their tower shields to protect fleeing merchants and common folk.

Archers lined the rooftops, releasing enchanted arrows that pierced through the skulls of summoned demons.

A young soldier, barely out of training, stood trembling as he faced a towering, armored demon. The creature raised its greatsword, its eyes glowing with malice—

"Don't falter! Stand your ground!"

A veteran warrior, his armor dented and soaked in blood, tackled the demon, his blade igniting in holy flames. The younger soldier, snapping out of his fear, lunged forward and drove his spear through the demon's heart.

They fought not for glory or honor—but to protect those who could not protect themselves.

The Empire's shield had risen.

While the Rescue Division defended the innocent, the Purgers moved with cold efficiency, their mission clear—eliminate the traitors.

There was no mercy for those who had harbored the Dark Order.

The first target was House Moriyama, a once-powerful noble house. Their estate, grand and luxurious, had long been suspected of consorting with dark forces. Tonight, their sins were to be judged.

BOOM!

The gates to the Moriyama estate were blasted open as Imperial soldiers stormed inside.

"You can't do this! We are nobility! We—"

Before Lord Moriyama could finish his plea, a blade slashed through his throat, silencing him forever.

"Traitors to the Empire deserve no last words."

The soldiers advanced through the halls, cutting down dark mages and corrupted guards who attempted to resist. They found hidden chambers filled with sacrificial altars—proof of their allegiance to the Dark Order.

One soldier lit a torch and threw it into the room.

"Burn it all."

And so it burned, the screams of House Moriyama lost within the inferno they had long been destined for.

One by one, noble houses fell.

House Fukuda, who had supplied dark artifacts, was purged to the last man.

House Watanabe, who had funneled gold to the Dark Order, was publicly executed.

House Ishikawa, who had attempted to flee, was hunted down like animals.

The streets ran red with the blood of traitors.

The Imperial Army showed no hesitation, no forgiveness.

This was not vengeance.

This was justice.

As the chaos unfolded, one truth became evident—the Hoshimi Empire would not fall.

The Imperial Family was not weak. It was a force of absolute authority.

To those who sought peace, it was their protector.

To those who sought corruption, it was their executioner.

Tonight, the Empire's fangs were sharpened once more.