[A HELLGATE?]
Aruna laughed when a PINK Hellgate suddenly appeared behind Neoma de Moonasterio. "That child is crazy!"
Arche, who looked surprised by her choice of words, cleared his throat. "Please be mindful of your language, Princess Aruna."
She rolled her eyes at her twin brother's nagging. "I'm no longer a princess, Brother. Moreover, we're nothing but mere Spirits now."
Spirits that couldn't rest in peace until Callisto de Luca and the crows were punished.
"Your temper hasn't changed, not even a bit," Arche said, sighing while shaking his head. "I'm afraid our precious descendant inherited your impatience and recklessness, my dear sister."
"Why is it my fault that child turned out like that? Her father is Nikolai de Moonasterio– the strongest man born in our bloodline, and also the rudest. Do you remember how Nikolai de Moonasterio looked down on us when we asked him to take the trial when he was still a Crown Prince?"
Every Crown Prince in history was summoned in this place to take the trial before their ascension to the throne.
Since Nikolai de Moonasterio was the sole heir, he was automatically chosen to take the test.
But that man-child refused them in the rudest way possible.
"Well, we can't force anyone to take the trial if they don't want to," Arche said, avoiding Aruna's glare. "And it's rare to meet a de Moonasterio who isn't arrogant or rude."
"Right," Aruna said, nodding. "It's rare to find a pushover like you than to find an ill-mannered princess like me."
"Don't talk like that about yourself, my dear sister."
"You're scolding me for insulting myself, but you're not upset that I called you a pushover?"
Arche laughed softly. "My dear sister, I was called the 'most incompetent emperor in history' for more than a century after my death. Hearing you call me a 'pushover' is nothing compared to that. In fact, I find it cute."
Hah.
[He even knows how to use a strange word like 'cute' now.]
"You're not a pushover. I take that back. I'm sorry," Aruna said, avoiding Arche's smiling eyes because she was embarrassed. "Because of me, you had to endure being called the most incompetent emperor in history when it was actually me who was incompetent between the two of us. All I had was my stupid temper and physical strength."
Arche wasn't blessed with outstanding fighting skills. His physical strength, Mana, and divine power were all average for a de Moonasterio. But there was something that her twin brother had that stood above the rest.
And that was his brain.
"You're the brightest emperor in history," Aruna said, taking the courage to look at her twin brother again. "And also the shrewdest. In fact, you're the most ruthless scheming bastard I know."
"Ahem. Language, please."
Look at him pretend to be a nice person.
[Well, Arche is kind. But not towards his enemies.]
"It's a compliment, Brother," Aruna argued. "You were the only de Moonasterio in history that succeeded in killing Callisto de Luca. It was you who destroyed that bastard's divine body. Hence, thanks to that, Callisto de Luca has yet to find a new perfect vessel."
Arche smiled, and it wasn't a smile that was nice to look at.
It was chilling.
[There it is– his cold and frenzied smile that drove Callisto de Luca to insanity in the past.]
"It was me who ruined your perfect and brilliant plan," Aruna said. Even after a century had passed, she still couldn't forgive herself for her stupidity. "It was because I was dumb and couldn't do anything right without your guidance."
"Aruna de Moonasterio."
She flinched. "Yes, Brother?"
"It wasn't your fault."
"A-alright."
[Arche becomes scary when he's using that tone on me– the tone of an older brother scolding his stupid little sister.]
Her twin brother was usually calm and composed.
[He can even be a pushover sometimes.]
But Arche's aura would change once his twisted mind began working.
"Come to think of it, didn't Nero de Moonasterio receive Zeru, the ice phoenix, as his Soul Beast?"
"That's right, Brother. It seems like the right royal twins are born this time."
Aruna and Arche tried to coax Nikolai and Nichole de Moonasterio into following their footsteps in the past.
However, Nikolai and Nichole de Moonasterio had a very terrible relationship.
"Neoma and Nero de Moonasterio cherish each other," Arche said, smiling. And, yes, that smile was cunning. "We can use them."
Aruna could almost hear her twin brother's mind working overtime. "Be careful, Brother. If Neoma de Moonasterio inherited my nasty temper, then she also inherited your twisted brain. We might end up being used by the little princess and not the other way around."
"That sounds fun."
"Brother."
Arche's cunning smile only became more twisted, then he turned to Aruna and raised his hand. "Should we teach Neoma and Nero de Moonasterio our secret technique that sent Callisto de Luca insane?"
Pfft.
Aruna laughed at the funny memory, then she placed her hand on Arche's bigger hand. "The Soul Switching Technique?"
***
A GHOST?
Ah, no.
[Since Nicholas de Moonasterio was a monster in human skin, then his soul would have turned into an evil spirit.]
That was Neoma's conclusion after the spirit of Nicholas de Moonasterio blocked her way.
<"Are you ready to carry my sins with you?">
That was what the evil spirit of Nicholas de Moonasterio said to Neoma.
Then it only meant that she was also supposed to carry the sins of the remaining twelve bastard emperors waiting for her as she continued climbing the stairway to hell.
[Are they fucking crazy?]
Neoma realized that the sins of her ancestors were too much for her poor shoulders to carry.
In the first place, her ancestors' sins had nothing to do with her.
[I'm Neoma– I'm innocent.]
But that didn't mean she wouldn't take responsibility.
"I know they're already dead, but I can kill them again," Neoma said, her red eyes glowing dangerously. "Pinkie, come out."
'Pinkie' would be her pink Hellgate, of course.
And, with a loud thud and cold breeze that came along with it, the pink Hellgate appeared right behind her– causing a soft vibration in the air.
[Oh, it really appeared even though I haven't killed anyone yet?]
It was probably because she was in Hell, literally.
[Perhaps my demonic power is stronger here.]
Then…
Neoma opened her hand. "Skewer, come out."
She then grabbed the hilt of the Death Scythe as soon as it materialized.
"Alright, it's judgment time," Neoma said, her eyes still glowing red. "Nicholas de Moonasterio, this is the first time that we've seen each other, isn't it? I never paid my respects to you, and I never will."
To her, Nicholas de Moonasterio was nothing but a monster who terrorized the people of the empire for many years.
[And he was the one who wiped out the Silver Fox Clan out of greediness!]
"I will never forgive you for your sins," Neoma said sternly, raising the Death Scythe. "And you don't deserve a peaceful eternal sleep either."
She slashed the ghost of Nicholas de Moonasterio cleanly.
The evil spirit's loud cry echoed in the entire place.
[So fucking loud.]
Fortunately, Nicholas de Moonasterio's cries were soon swallowed by the loud creak of the pink Hellgate opening its doors.
After that, the pink Hellgate absorbed Nicholas de Moonasterio's soul.
[One down, twelve more to go.]
Neoma bravely took the next step without looking back. "Let's fucking go."
***
DAHLIA was confused when Emperor Nikolai and Commander Ruto brought her to the throne room.
To be precise, to the place where the throne room was supposed to be.
[But the door is gone…]
"Don't worry. The door to the throne room will appear now that you are here," Commander Ruto said. "Try placing your hands on the wall, Dahlia. Don't be afraid– I'll be right behind you."
Hearing that from the dependable commander was assuring.
"Dahlia, Commander Ruto, be careful," Emperor Nikolai said. His voice was formal as usual, but there was a hint of worry in it. "Again, if it gets too dangerous, then just grab Nero and leave that place. It's okay if you don't beat the Third Calamity right away."
Dahlia and the young commander answered the emperor at the same time.
"We understand, Your Imperial Majesty."
Emperor Nikolai nodded. "I wish you a safe trip."
That was Dahlia's clue.
She slowly yet carefully placed her hands on the wall. To be precise, on the part where the door should be.
At first, nothing happened.
But soon, the wall quickly turned into a warp– making her gasp in surprise.
A strong force then pulled Dahlia until she passed through the warp, finding herself in a strange dimension.
***
NERO, bored out of his mind, decided to ignore all the nonsense coming out of Larissa's mouth.
[I can't believe I used this madwoman's power.]
He got up from the throne and looked around.
[Since I'm in my physical body, I guess it would be difficult to get out of here.]
If he was in his Spirit form, then it would have been easier for him to travel to another dimension.
After all, it was his strength as a Roseheart.
"There's no way out, my prince," Larissa, who noticed that Nero was looking around to find an escape, warned him. "The door will only appear once the Black Witch is here."
Nero just rolled his eyes at Larissa. "Neoma often says this certain phrase that it got stuck in my head."
["I'm Neoma– I find ways."]
That was what his precious twin sister would often say when cornered.
Nero smirked, deciding to mimic not only Neoma's favorite phrase, but also her mindset. "If I can't find my way out, then I'll make one."
He was ready to blow up the entire place.
However, he paused when he heard a scream.
[From above me?]
Nero looked up, then his eyes widened a bit when he saw Dahlia falling from the sky. He automatically opened his arms to catch the Black Witch, and he succeeded.
[Ah.]
Dahlia looked relieved at first, then her face turned red as if she was suddenly put in a tight spot. "P-Prince Nero…"
Nero knitted his eyebrows, confused. "Why did you come here?"
***
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The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l