The people gathered, their voices rising in anticipation, to elect the first true Kurozuki of Emka. Yami Hibuko, who had held the temporary throne, stepped down gracefully, his eyes calm yet sharp. He was no longer a ruler by chance—he would now guide the nation as a mentor, allowing the people themselves to choose their future.
For five long days, the election unfolded, banners fluttering in the wind, crowds cheering and murmuring, and samurai clans casting their votes with solemn ritual. At last, the results were announced: Yami Hibuko had won. The declaration echoed through the grand halls and streets alike.
Hibuko pledged his service to the country, taking the seat of Kurozuki of Emka. Under his vision, the nation flourished. Peace settled over the land like a gentle sunrise, and for a time, the people of Emka thrived.
But months later, cracks began to form.
Several samurai clans rejected Hibuko's rule, challenging the Hibuko clan through every diplomatic avenue. Whispers of dissent filled the air: "Hibuko is not suited for power." The tension escalated shortly after the world ruling dominion sought to assassinate him.
In response, Yami Hibuko declared with resolute authority:
"Emka will close its borders to anyone related to the world ruling dominion."
Just like that, outsiders connected to the dominion were rejected. The nation held its breath.
Even the samurai clans who had once served loyally under the Hibuko felt the shift in the air. Their faces twisted with anger and fear. "This will isolate the country… destroy it from within," they warned.
And as the declaration settled over Emka, the country itself seemed to shudder, caught between loyalty, fear, and the will of its people.