The echoes of the Dragons' roar still trembled through the stone as Zumi lifted a hand for silence once more. His presence alone was enough—the chamber quieted instantly.
Bia stood proudly at his side, glowing with devotion.
Serafina watched him with a soft blush she tried and failed to hide.
Hina carried herself like a newly crowned goddess, posture straight, respectful, and ready.
Zumi stepped forward, golden aura subtly radiating off him like the heat of a divine forge.
"My Dragons," he said, voice firm, resonant. "It's time you understand your future."
A wave of anticipation rippled through the thousands of gathered warriors.
Zumi raised a hand toward the four newly chosen commanders.
"From this moment forward, the First and Second Divisions—Reina Kurosawa and Riku Zanari's units—will live with me in New York City."
Whispers shot through the crowd.
"At a large hotel," Zumi continued, "one I own."
Eyes widened.
A hotel?
In the city?
To men who grew up in filth, danger, and cramped alleys… such a thing felt unreal.
"You will be divided between the upper three floors," Zumi clarified. "A safe, clean, fully supplied home. Your new base."
The First and Second Divisions straightened with pride, many trying not to smile.
Zumi wasn't finished.
"The Third and Fourth Divisions," he said, turning to Drex Vane and Magnus Virel, "will remain here in the slums."
Some faces fell—until Zumi's aura thickened, and his next words struck them like a promise carved in stone.
"But do not worry."
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"I will be transforming these slums… into my own private city."
Gasps.
Shock.
Disbelief.
But Zumi kept speaking, voice rising with authority.
"It will take time," he said. "Years, even. But one day, this place will be unrecognizable."
The Dragons listened, breathless.
"This slum," Zumi declared, "will become the heart of my empire."
Serafina felt chills run down her spine.
Hina stared in amazement.
Bia's smile had never been so proud.
Zumi pointed to the Third and Fourth Divisions.
"Until the transformation begins," he said, "you are the guardians of this city."
He swept his gaze across the crowd.
"Every citizen who lives here—every man, woman, child—is now under the protection of the Kogane Dragons."
The words hit the chamber like a tidal wave.
"Any outsider who enters these streets with ill intent…"
His voice dropped into something darker.
"…will face judgment from YOU."
Golden aura rippled across every warrior.
"No more fear in these streets," Zumi commanded. "When civilians see a Kogane Dragon… they must feel SAFE."
The entire base erupted in an electrified, unified roar:
"UNDERSTOOD, COMMANDER!!!"
Their voices shook the stone.
Zumi raised his voice above the thunder.
"In a few days, someone will arrive here in the slums. That person will escort the First and Second Divisions to the city."
Another wave of murmurs and excitement.
"And with them," Zumi added, "will come your NEW UNIFORMS."
The room exploded in cheers.
New uniforms.
A real base.
A future.
A leader.
The Kogane Dragons had never believed such things were possible.
They saluted as one, voices rising:
"YES, COMMANDER!"
Zumi nodded in approval, then glanced at Serafina—who quickly looked away, cheeks tinted purple from her blush.
Hina watched him with admiration.
Bia shone like a sun beside him, practically radiating pride.
Zumi continued calmly, but with a tone that carried over the cheers:
"I will now assign division numbers. Each division will have 50,000 members—no more, no less."
He extended his hand, energy pulsing slightly.
"Reina Kurosawa — First Division, 50,000."
"Riku Zanari — Second Division, 50,000."
"Drex Vane — Third Division, 50,000."
"Magnus Virel — Fourth Division, 50,000."
A shimmering pulse of golden Qi washed through the chamber—organizing ranks, solidifying the structure inside the minds of every Dragon.
"Remember," Zumi said, "your commanders are the pillars of your future. Know their faces. Know their names. Obey them as you obey me."
A unified:
"YES, COMMANDER!!"
shook the entire base.
Zumi then raised his hand toward Reina.
"First Division Commander," he said.
"Yes, my King," Reina answered instantly, stepping forward.
"I want you to stay behind."
A murmur passed through the men like a breeze.
He wanted to speak with her alone?
Zumi finished:
"I have something to discuss with you."
Reina felt her heart jump, adrenaline rushing into her veins.
"Yes, Commander," she said softly, bowing her head.
Zumi scanned the chamber one final time.
"Dragons," he commanded, "you are dismissed."
All 200,000 warriors saluted sharply."
The massive army dispersed like a tide flowing outward, splitting into organized groups that stormed into the slums with a new purpose:
Protect.
Serve.
Transform.
As they entered the streets—
The reactions were mixed.
Civilians froze.
Some backed away in fear.
Others stared in confusion.
These were faces they recognized—gang members who had once terrorized them.
But instead of demanding tribute or starting fights…
The Dragons began clearing trash.
Repairing damaged doors.
Helping elderly residents walk safely.
Protecting shopkeepers.
Assisting children crossing the broken streets.
Some citizens hid behind doors, peeking out.
Others trembled.
But slowly…
Their fear faded.
No threats.
No violence.
No intimidation.
Just genuine, sincere help.
Mothers began smiling.
Old men nodded with approval.
Children peered out with wide eyes.
They didn't know why the gangs had changed.
But they approved.
Deeply.
Inside the chamber, only a few remained:
Zumi.
Bia.
Hina.
Serafina.
And Reina Kurosawa—waiting to hear what the king she once saved wished to say.
The chamber had emptied completely, leaving only the echo of footsteps fading through the tunnels. The stillness that followed felt almost sacred—like the underground itself was holding its breath, awaiting the next words of the man who now ruled all of it.
Reina Kurosawa stood before the throne, hands clasped tightly behind her back, posture straight, chin slightly lifted the way a warrior does when they refuse to show weakness. But her eyes… her eyes betrayed her. A tremble of anticipation, confusion, and overwhelming emotion flickered behind those golden irises.
Zumi stepped down from the throne.
And without a single word—
He walked right up to her and pulled her into a tight, sincere, overwhelming hug.
Reina stiffened—shock ripping through her chest like lightning.
Her breath caught. Her heart skipped. Her mind went completely blank.
Hugging? Affection? From him? From the boy she once saved?
This wasn't something she ever expected.
And yet, the moment she felt his arms around her… something inside her cracked open.
Slowly, shakily, she lifted her arms and hugged him back.
Tightly.
As if she were afraid he might disappear.
Zumi's voice came out in a quiet, trembling whisper that hit her harder than any punch ever had:
"Reina… thank you."
Her breath hitched.
"Thank you for saving my life all those years ago," he continued, pulling her closer. "If you didn't step in… I would've died that day. I owe everything to you."
A knife of raw emotion pierced Reina's heart.
And she broke.
Tears she had been holding back for years—tears she never allowed herself to show—spilled freely, silently, staining Zumi's shoulder as she clutched him harder.
Hina watched with soft eyes. Serafina folded her arms, smiling faintly, touched by the sincerity. Bia looked proud—almost motherly—seeing the connection between them.
Reina's voice came out weak, trembling.
"I… I don't cry," she whispered. "I haven't cried in years… not since that day…"
Zumi pulled back just enough to look at her face—tears, trembling lips, glowing golden eyes.
And he smiled.
"Then I'm honored today is the first."
Reina let out a shaky laugh through her tears and wiped her eyes.
"I didn't save you expecting anything in return," she said softly. "But seeing… what you became… what you rose into…" She swallowed hard. "It makes me proud."
Zumi rested a hand on her cheek, brushing away the last of her tears.
"And I'm proud of what you became," he said. "More than you know."
A soft sniff escaped Reina before she composed herself again, posture straightening, though her cheeks still glowed red.
Zumi stepped back, motioning to the women behind him.
"These two… are important to me. You should know them."
Serafina stepped forward with the grace of a queen, offering a polite bow that carried the weight of her divinity.
"I am Serafina," she said, voice velvety and dark. "Greater Goddess of Darkness."
Reina blinked— Then blinked again.
"A… Goddess?" she repeated.
Hina stepped forward with a warm smile, her purple-streaked hair catching the light.
"And I'm Hina… recently ascended Goddess under Serafina's lineage."
Reina's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"You… became a Goddess?" she asked, stunned.
Hina scratched her cheek, embarrassed. "Yeah… it's still new."
Serafina smirked proudly. "She did well."
Reina shook her head in awe.
"And here I thought Bia being a goddess was already insane…"
That made Serafina grin widely.
"Oh speaking of her," Serafina said, glancing at Bia, "your worship of Bia? It still ends up reaching him."
She pointed at Zumi.
Reina blinked. "Wait—what? How?"
Bia stepped in, proudly linking her arm around Zumi's.
"Because everything of mine… belongs to him," she said with a giggle. "So if you worship me, you're basically worshipping Zumi."
Reina burst out laughing.
"What a fate," she said. "I end up serving the boy I saved back then."
Everyone laughed—Zumi included.
But for Reina… the laughter wasn't mockery.
It was relief.
Closure.
A strange, beautiful twist of destiny.
And for the first time in years… she felt like she wasn't carrying the slums alone.
Reina wiped the last traces of tears from her cheeks, inhaling deeply as she steadied her breathing. The heaviness she'd carried for years had begun to melt away, replaced with something she hadn't felt since she was a child—
Belonging.
Zumi stepped back, giving her space, but his aura still wrapped around her like a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Serafina was the first to approach.
For all her dark divinity, for all her terrifying beauty, she looked at Reina with a softness rarely seen from a Greater Goddess.
"You're stronger than most mortals I've met," Serafina said with an approving smirk, folding her arms. "I like you."
Reina blinked, startled, then let out a short, breathy laugh.
"That's… good to hear," she replied. "I think."
Serafina chuckled, amused.
"No—truly," she added, stepping closer. "Zumi holds you in high regard. Anyone he respects… I respect."
Her gaze softened.
"And anyone he cares for… becomes precious to me as well."
Reina's cheeks warmed, but she held Serafina's gaze with quiet confidence.
"Then I'm honored," she said.
Bia suddenly wrapped her arms around Reina from the side, squeezing her in a tight, affectionate hug.
"She's our little sister now!" Bia announced proudly, chin resting on Reina's shoulder.
Reina froze.
"S-Sister…?" she echoed, as if the word were foreign.
"Of course!" Bia chirped. "You saved Zumi back then. You helped shape who he is today. That makes you family."
Serafina nodded with a regal smile.
"I agree. A sister."
Reina's eyes widened—she had no memories of being embraced like this. Not by anyone. Not even her past brother, whom she loved so much, held her like that.
And then Hina stepped up beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"We got your back always, little sister," she said softly, her purple-streaked hair glowing under the dim lights. "No matter what."
Reina's breath caught.
She didn't know whether to cry again or laugh or fall to her knees.
Instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat and managed a trembling smile.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
Then she said it again, firmer:
"Thank you. All of you."
The four women—each powerful in their own right—stood around her in a semi-circle, creating a ring of unity she never imagined she would be a part of.
Bia grinned and nudged her gently with her hip.
"Come on, Reina. You're part of us now. Get used to being loved."
Serafina smirked.
"And protected."
Hina smiled warmly.
"And supported."
Reina looked from face to face—dark goddess, blazing warrior the newly born deity, and the unstoppable goddess who dominated the slums.
She let out a shaky laugh.
"This… is overwhelming," she admitted. "But… it feels good."
Zumi watched the scene with quiet satisfaction, arms crossed, golden aura relaxed.
He didn't interrupt—he simply let them talk, bond, and build something he knew would change the course of the future.
Reina turned to him suddenly.
"Is this what you envisioned?" she asked softly.
Zumi smiled—calm, confident, reassuring.
"No," he said.
"This is better than anything I could've imagined."
Reina laughed again, wiping her eyes.
And for the first time in her life—
She didn't feel like a lone warrior.
She didn't feel like a protector who had to stand alone.
She didn't feel like the weight of the slums rested solely on her shoulders.
She felt like she had—
A brother.
A king.
A family.
And now…
Sisters.
A newfound light settled in her chest, gentle and warm, unlike the harsh flames she wielded in battle.
She breathed it in.
And for the first time…
She allowed herself to feel safe.