Pax quickly got to his feet, moving with the stealth Lume had taught him. With a precise leap, he lunged at Aresus. However, sensing something approaching, Aresus adjusted his helmet in a swift defensive motion. The impact of the attack cleanly split it in half, the metallic pieces clattering to the ground with a dull thud.As the helmet came apart, it revealed a familiar yet terrifying face. Pax and Paltio froze, stunned and horrified by the sight before them. It was Mok’s face—but distorted by a cold, merciless expression that didn’t belong to the kind butler they knew.“It can’t be… Are you…? Are you Mok?” Paltio asked, his voice trembling as he wrestled with a mix of anger, anxiety, and fear. The man holding him captive around the waist gripped him like a bear trap, preventing any movement.“Me? Mok? Fools, I am not Mok,” Aresus replied with a mocking smile, his eyes gleaming cruelly under the dim light.“Of course, you’re not him,” Pax interjected, regaining his composure and poi

"And as you can see, Paltio, that fool of a brother, abandoned me. So I’ve already gotten rid of him," Tok said with a cold, arrogant smile, his voice dripping with disdain.But Paltio looked at him incredulously. "Surely he tried to find you," he replied, attempting to keep his tone steady."I don’t care! I’ve already disposed of that useless waste.""And how can you be so sure about that?" Mok asked, suddenly appearing on the scene.Paltio raised his gaze, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his butler standing before him. Though his suit was somewhat dirty and there were signs of wounds on his body, he still radiated determination."How did you survive the Agamenonte? You’ve always been such a weakling," Tok snapped, irritated by the interruption. His tone was mocking, but there was a flicker of anger in his eyes.Mok met his brother’s gaze without hesitation. "I can manage just fine, brother. Although everything you told Paltio is half-truths. I didn’t want to tell anyone about m

"Nooo…! Master!" Mok shouted in desperation, struggling to rise as he clutched the wound his brother had inflicted. His voice was heavy with anguish, and the pain made him stagger."What have you done, Tok?" Mok demanded furiously, glaring at his brother with restrained hatred."Well, I guess Lord Urugas will scold me if your little friend died," Tok replied indifferently, though a flicker of mockery shone in his eyes. "Maybe I overdid it a bit.""Calm down, Mok, relax," Golden said within Mok’s mind. "Paltio is fine."From the dust and smoke emerged a glowing sphere that floated calmly. It was Paltio, along with the others, protected by a barrier that cushioned their fall. They had escaped unscathed thanks to Sacaram's power."Huh, that was close," Tok muttered sarcastically. "Well, it seems your princeling has quite luck. He’s got more lives than a cat.""We’re okay, Mok! Don’t worry!" Paltio shouted as the protective sphere faded."Looks like Mok isn’t," Lucca commented, observing

"Come here, Filio! Come if you dare!" Aresus taunted with a mocking smile."How dare you do that to Master Paltio?" Mok responded with contained fury, his voice thundering through the cave. "I swore to be his protector. I swore to his family that I would always keep him safe. Now you’ll see... It’s time we settle this."Mok paused, his gaze hardening as he adjusted his tie with determination. "Brother... No, not anymore. You are no longer my brother or my family. My family is the royal family of Avocadalia, who took me in when no one else did. I will call you by your true name: Aresus!"With renewed resolve and an aura of power emanating from him, Mok charged toward his enemy. His speed was astonishing, leaving Aresus stunned at the butler’s transformation.Aresus expected a frontal attack, but Mok now moved with unprecedented swiftness. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind his opponent and delivered a devastating blow to his back. The impact was so powerful that Aresus was sent

“Well, it’s finally the day we’ve been waiting for! Time to wake up!” Jock announced loudly as he paced among the soldiers wearing white masks. His tone rang out with resolve, but one soldier remained deeply asleep, oblivious to the call."Just a little longer..." murmured the young soldier, clinging stubbornly to his rest. Jock observed him for a moment before approaching stealthily. With a mischievous smile, he leaned in close and shouted right by the boy’s ear.The youth leaped so high it seemed as though a spring had propelled him. Dazed, he shot upright and nervously adjusted the white mask over his face. It was clear he was one of the youngest recruits.“Yes, sir! I’m awake now!” he exclaimed, trembling as he tried to regain his composure.Jock looked at him with a mix of severity and amusement before addressing the group. “Alright, everyone. Our lord—the Lord of the Golden Mask, our leader—has something important to say.”At that moment, the man with the golden mask entered. His