The closer they walked through the tunnels, the more their banter echoed off the stone walls — three god-touched beings acting like they were just teasing each other on a sidewalk.
Hina shoved Zumi lightly as they walked.
"You could've warned me Nimbus goes Mach 10," she muttered.
Zumi smirked. "I thought you'd enjoy the thrill."
"My soul nearly left my body."
Serafina flicked her hair. "Please. You survived my domain trials. Nimbus is child's play compared to that."
Hina glared. "Your domain LITERALLY tried to eat me."
"That means it likes you."
"That is NOT—!"
Zumi snorted. "You both sound like sisters already."
"We are NOT—!" they shouted in unison, then both glared at each other, realizing the synchronization.
Serafina squinted. "Don't copy me."
"You copied me first," Hina shot back.
"I am a goddess."
"I am ALSO a goddess now!"
"Oh right. Hmph. Fine. We tie."
Zumi laughed under his breath. "You two are unbelievable."
Up ahead…
Silence.
A heavy, breath-held, world-stilled silence.
Two hundred thousand gang members, shoulder to shoulder, filled the underground base. A tidal wave of bodies, every one of them armed, trained, and loyal to Commander Bia. Not a single one dared whisper as they felt Zumi's aura approach — even muted, it pressed against their skin like a sovereign presence demanding respect.
And Reina…
Reina stood at the very front, beside Bia's throne, palms sweaty, heart pounding in her chest like a war drum.
He's here… he's really here…
Her golden braids shook with excitement she tried desperately to hide.
Bia, on the other hand?
She was vibrating.
The moment Zumi's silhouette appeared in the tunnel — tall, confident, flanked by two impossibly divine women — Bia's breath hitched. Her aura rose in her chest like a volcano ready to explode.
And then—
Zumi stepped fully into the light.
Tall. Strong. Radiant with Champion-level aura.
Every step he took seemed to command the ground to obey.
Hina walked on his left — flames faintly flickering purple along her hair.
Serafina walked on his right — a goddess of darkness dressed as though she were carved from temptation itself.
But nobody focused on them.
They only saw him.
And Bia—
Couldn't contain herself another second.
"ZUMIIIIIIIII!!!"
Her scream was half joy, half feral excitement.
She launched herself into the air with enough force to crack the concrete beneath her feet.
Zumi didn't flinch. He quickly let Serafina down and moved to his right.
Then he lifted his arms—
WHUMP.
Bia flew into him, legs wrapping around his waist, arms locking around his shoulders as she buried her face into his neck with a squeal so high-pitched half the underground room winced.
"You're HERE! You're HERE— you're really HERE— I missed you— I missed you SO MUCH!"
She peppered his cheeks, jaw, forehead, lips — everywhere — with rapid-fire kisses.
Zumi laughed, a rare, genuine laugh, and held her tight, hand sliding up her back as he kissed her properly on the mouth.
The sound that left Bia was a muffled squeak of pure bliss.
And all 200,000 gang members…
Had their jaws on the floor.
Commander Bia.
The walking natural disaster.
The woman who bent steel with her bare hands, who broke skulls with a flick of her wrist, who had conquered four entire gangs in days…
Was clinging to him like a lovesick kitten.
Someone whispered:
"…Commander Bia… gets cuddly?"
Another:
"She kissed him like a hundred times—"
"Is this… normal?"
"No. No, it is NOT."
All eyes finally turned to the two women beside Zumi.
Hina — tall, muscular, flame-haired with streaks of purple running through her hair like molten amethyst. Her new divine aura radiated strength and heat. Many men in the crowd swallowed hard; she looked like the embodiment of every slum-born dream girl — strong, fierce, and lethal.
But they dared not stare too long.
Lust was a good way to die here.
Then their gazes slid to the second woman…
Serafina.
And nearly every man forgot how to breathe.
A goddess beyond comprehension. Eyes glowing red like burning galaxies. Tattoos of living darkness shifting under her skin. A beauty so intense it felt painful— like staring at an eclipse too long.
One man quietly whispered:
"…I think I'm in love."
His friend smacked him.
"Shut up unless you want to die twice."
Serafina arched an eyebrow, amused by the attention.
"They have good taste," she purred.
Zumi slowly walked forward toward Bia's throne, Bia still straddled around him like a koala refusing to let go. She nuzzled into his neck like he was warmth itself after years in the cold.
He stroked her back, scratching lightly behind her ear — and she melted.
The entire base stared in shock.
Reina stood frozen, mouth slightly parted.
This is him…?
This is the boy I saved…?
Her heart thudded painfully.
The weak, trembling boy she once protected—
The boy who could barely speak from fear—
Now towered like a King.
Confident. Powerful. Radiant.
More handsome than she'd even imagined he'd grow to be.
Gods… he looks incredible.
He glanced at her as he approached the throne, just one simple blink of acknowledgment—
And Reina blushed so hard her ears burned.
He remembered me.
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
Zumi reached the throne.
The throne Bia had been using as her seat of power for the past days.
He sat in it casually—
As though he had built it.
As though it belonged to him from the beginning.
As though this entire underground kingdom had always been his.
Nobody questioned it.
Everyone just shifted subtly, turning to face him, giving him the natural space one gives only to rulers.
Bia curled happily in his lap like a spoiled cat, her arms wrapped around his neck, face buried in his collar, still smiling like she had been rescued from death.
Zumi relaxed into the throne.
A King settling into his rightful seat.
He casually stroked Bia's hair as she hummed softly into his shoulder.
Serafina walked to his right and leaned against a wall, arms crossed, dark aura swirling faintly like a protective veil.
Hina stepped on his left, standing tall and proud, her new divine energy blazing softly.
Every gang member felt the shift.
Zumi wasn't just a visitor.
He wasn't just Bia's man.
He wasn't even just a leader.
He was the King.
Their King.
And for a long moment…
No one spoke.
They simply stood in reverent silence, watching as Zumi gazed over them, one hand absentmindedly petting Bia's waist as she clung to him, smiling like she'd never known happiness until now.
The hush in the air was sacred.
Electric.
And then…
Zumi inhaled slowly.
Exhaled.
And lifted his gaze to the 200,000 men and women before him—
A quiet, calm, sovereign smile crossing his lips.
Their King had returned.
The underground chamber was so silent that even the faint dripping of water echoed like thunder.
Zumi sat upon the throne, Bia curled contently in his lap, Serafina and Hina standing like divine guardians at his sides. But when Zumi finally leaned forward, his eyes scanning the sea of hardened men and women before him…
The entire Kogane Dragons held their breath.
No one moved. No one blinked. Every muscle locked in anticipation, as if the fate of the slums depended on his very next breath.
Zumi rose slowly from the throne, gently setting Bia down beside him. Her eyes sparkled with pride as he stepped forward.
When he spoke—
His voice reverberated like rolling thunder.
Deep. Gravelly. The voice of someone born to be obeyed.
"My name… is Zumi Kogane."
The sound hit the room like a shockwave.
Every heartbeat in the chamber stopped.
"And from this moment forward," he continued, voice steady, resonant, "I am the ruler of these slums."
A ripple of awe passed through the crowd.
Serafina smirked in satisfaction, folding her arms. Hina stood straighter, her new divine aura flaring subtly behind her.
Zumi continued.
"You — the Kogane Dragons — are now my private army."
The words slammed into them.
A tidal wave of emotion— pride, disbelief, excitement, purpose — hit the gang members so hard that many had to steady themselves.
"You belong to no gang," he said. "No street. No territory."
He lifted his hand.
"You belong to ME. To my empire. To my future."
A pulse of golden aura spread through the room, brushing over every Dragon like a scorching breeze.
"And I plan to take over the entire underworld of crime," Zumi declared. "New York. America. The world."
His gaze sharpened — like steel forged in divine flame.
"And all of you… will rise with me."
The room felt electrified. Men and women trembled with adrenaline.
Zumi continued, voice unwavering:
"In time, every one of you will become strong. Strong enough to face monsters. Strong enough to face demons. Strong enough… to face gods."
Gasps erupted, but no one dared speak.
Zumi's aura flared — pure Champion-level pressure pouring out like a storm. It pressed on their chests, forced sweat onto brows. A reminder:
He was not just claiming power.
He was power.
Zumi lifted his chin.
"Bring forward the four former gang leaders."
The old commanders stepped out from the crowd:
Reina Kurosawa, the Black Flame Riku Zanari, former Blood Rats leader Drex Vane, ex-Bulldogs Commander Magnus Virel, from the Iron Saints
They approached nervously, bowing their heads.
But Zumi's eyes found Reina's first.
"You," he said, voice gentler — just barely. "Step forward."
Reina swallowed hard and obeyed, her heart pounding like the beat of war drums.
Zumi faced all four of them.
"You conquered your gangs. You survived the chaos of the slums. You've proven yourselves valuable."
He pointed directly to Reina.
"And you… saved me once."
Reina's breath hitched. Her chest tightened. Tears threatened — but she held them back with dignity.
Zumi stepped closer.
"Because of that — because of your loyalty — you will stand closest to me."
A murmur rippled through the Dragons.
"Reina Kurosawa…" Zumi's voice boomed across the chamber. "From this moment forward, you are my First Division Commander."
Her knees nearly buckled.
Gasps tore through the gang.
First Division Commander. The position closest to the King.
Zumi wasn't finished.
"You will act as my vice-commander. Every order passes from me… to you… and from you to the entire army."
He paused.
"If anyone disobeys Reina—" His eyes sharpened like blades. "—they disobey me."
Reina's heart surged in her chest.
A faint tremble escaped her hand — not from fear, but from gratitude she'd never known in her entire life.
"Z–Zumi…" she whispered. "Thank you…"
Zumi held her gaze. Approval. Respect. Recognition.
Her chest felt like it might burst.
Zumi turned to the other three old leaders.
"Riku. Drex. Magnus."
They bowed deeply.
"You will lead the remaining divisions."
He pointed to each.
"Riku Zanari — Second Division Commander. Drex Vane — Third Division Commander. Magnus Virel — Fourth Division Commander."
Each man nodded, swelling with pride.
"But understand this," Zumi said, raising a hand. "The First Division — Reina's Division — has special rules."
Everyone leaned forward, listening intently.
"Only the First Division may discipline traitors. If someone betrays the Kogane Dragons, or harms any member of my family…"
His voice sharpened to a lethal edge.
"Reina and her division will pass judgment. Their word is absolute. No mercy."
The Dragons straightened, adrenaline setting their veins ablaze.
Reina lifted her chin, fiery gold aura flickering behind her.
"I will obey, my King," she said solemnly.
"And I trust you completely," Zumi replied.
Her heart nearly stopped.
All eyes turned to Bia.
Once their supreme commander. Once the unstoppable monster of the slums.
But now…
She stood at Zumi's side, head resting on his chest, arms around his waist, smiling as if she'd found heaven itself.
And the Dragons realized:
She had stepped aside. She had surrendered her authority. Because she followed Zumi.
And if she bowed to him…
Who were they to do anything but kneel?
They dropped to one knee, a massive wave of bodies lowering in perfect unison.
THOOM.
The sound shook the tunnels.
"COMMANDER ZUMI!!!" they roared as one.
Their voices thundered like a thousand cannons.
Bia beamed with pride, hugging Zumi as the chorus echoed.
Hina smiled softly. Serafina smirked, amused by the display of devotion.
And Reina…
Her eyes glistened as she looked at Zumi — the boy she once saved, now a king with an army.
Zumi lifted his hand.
"My Dragons."
The entire crowd froze mid-breath.
He gazed over them — his people, his soldiers, his future empire.
"Stand tall."
They rose instantly.
"You are no longer gangs. You are no longer criminals. You are no longer dogs of the slums."
He pointed to his chest.
"You… are MINE."
His aura surged outward like a tidal wave of golden flame.
"You will fight for me. You will rise with me. You will conquer the underworld with me."
His gaze hardened with kingly resolve.
"And together… we will take EVERYTHING."
The underground base trembled under their roar.
"YES, COMMANDER!!!"
"YES, LORD ZUMI!!!"
"WE FOLLOW YOU!!!"
The Dragon Army screamed until their throats went raw.
Zumi raised his hand once more.
And instantly…
Silence.
Absolute silence.
His presence alone commanded obedience.
Bia clung to his arm proudly. Reina met his gaze with fierce devotion. Hina and Serafina stood like twin goddesses guarding a sovereign.
Zumi smiled — slow, confident, terrifyingly calm.
The smile of a king with an empire in the making.