A single boy steps into the training facility.

The facility, resembling a massive gymnasium, had been remade into a conference room just for today.

The expansive space was originally built for indoor training.

Desks and chairs were lined up there, filled with representatives from Earthguard and the World Alliance.

Right at the front sat the World Alliance representatives.

Genbu and Camille.

And now, the boy slowly advances toward the seat that had been empty.

“Then, shall we begin? Lord Road.”

“Yes. Let’s decide the fate of the world right here today.”

The 100th Emperor of Earthguard.

Road Earthguard sat there, staring straight at Genbu and the others.

And so begins the meeting that will decide the world’s fate.

A fateful battle broadcast to the entire world.

…

“—And that concludes the demands of the Earthguard Empire.”

A man who looked like a civil official standing beside Road states Earthguard’s requests.

“Can we take this seriously? You came all the way from afar to Japan just to spout this nonsense?”

Camille retorts, his voice tinged with anger.

Earthguard’s demands were absurd, outrageous ravings on an impossible level.

“Every nation must send its citizens to the educational institutions designated by Earthguard until the age of sixteen. Violators will be stripped of their human rights. There’s no way something like that could be allowed. And besides…”

And another one.

This was the most outrageous of all, and Camille slams his fist on the table.

“Every national decision must be re-resolved by the Earthguard Council after domestic approval and then ratified by the Emperor. How is that any different from outright conquest?”

Requiring Earthguard’s permission for every decision a nation makes.

It’s no different from Earthguard ruling the country in practice. Camille’s argument was entirely reasonable.

“To avoid bloodshed and achieve my goals. I won’t yield any further on this. Does that mean we’re at an impasse?”

But Road refuses to budge an inch, fixing his gaze on Genbu and the others.

Genbu, who had fallen silent at those words, finally speaks.

“Lord Road. We thought we could negotiate today, but it seems we were mistaken. What is your true purpose? Why did you set up this stage?”

Genbu understands now.

There’s no way the World Alliance would accept such outrageous demands.

And Road has no intention of compromising. So what meaning does this negotiation table hold?

Genbu realizes there must be some other objective.

“To show my resolve.”

“…Resolve?”

Road gives an answer no one could have anticipated.

They furrow their brows at his words.

But Road turns the question back on them.

“Lord Genbu, let me ask you one thing. What do you think is necessary to change the world?”

“…”

Genbu falls silent at the question.

But he responds quickly enough, with his own answer.

“…Power. Connections, military might, diplomatic skill, national strength. Every kind of power there is. To change the world, you need power.”

“…As expected from Lord Genbu. A splendid and spot-on answer. But my answer is different.”

“Then what is the Emperor’s answer?”

Road stands up and declares in a booming voice.

As if he’d been waiting for this very moment, proclaiming it proudly to the world.

“Resolve. Unshakable resolve to change the world. To kill your parents, your siblings, and…”

Road raises his hand in a signal-like gesture and declares the final piece.

“Even the resolve to kill the friend you least want to kill!”

“What!?”

Immediately after, gunshots ring out, and the representatives duck for cover.

What appeared was a KOG—one of the KOGs stationed around the training academy—charging into the negotiation site.

A single custom unit.

“So that’s it!! You don’t care if you lose the world’s trust?!”

Camille and Genbu shout.

They realize Road has betrayed them and never intended to negotiate.

A massacre at the negotiation table—a declaration that no more words will be exchanged.

The manifestation of resolve to make enemies of the entire world.

And from that custom unit, a gun barrel is aimed.

Genbu and the others close their eyes, bracing for death.

Gunshots echo, and then—

Kiiin.

The sound of a sword rings out.

It deflects the bullets—with a sword, of course, wielded by the white knight.

There was no way he could allow such an atrocity.

Because there—

“Road, I’ve received your resolve. I knew it would come to this.”

—waited the world’s strongest knight, his own resolve steeled.

The moment he spotted the enemy KOG, he burst through the roof in a flash and descended from above, slicing the bullets midair.

And without pause, Kenya assumes his stance, sword at the ready, and points it forward.

“Road, I’ll be the one… to stop you!”

Even with the sword aimed at him, Road remains calm, his expression as if everything is going according to plan.

“I was hoping to kill you all if possible… but that would be too greedy. Time to shift to the original objective.”

“Objective? I thought it was to kill Genbu and the others.”

He’d thought Road’s goal was to assassinate Genbu and the rest under the guise of negotiations.

That’s why Kenya had been on standby—to prevent exactly that.

But he was wrong.

“Hah, haha. No. These old fogeys hold no fear for me. Killing them would just make things a bit easier, nothing more. If it were just them, I could’ve conquered the world with raw power alone, no need for these tricks.”

And Road points.

At the tip of his finger stands a single KOG.

A white, beautiful sword god holding swords in both hands.

Road stares straight at Kenya—meaning Road’s true target is…

“My goal is just one thing.”

The facility shatters as KOGs pour in one after another.

The structure crumbles, and Earthguard KOGs form a protective canopy around Road.

Kenya, joined swiftly by Kaguya and Reina, shields the representatives from the collapsing debris.

The walls give way, leading outside.

“No way…”

And surrounding them: 100 KOGs from the World Alliance, arriving in an instant.

All of them defeated, reduced to rubble in the landscape.

And then—

“I gathered everyone scattered across the world just for you. Abandoning all defense lines and military bases in the process.”

Stripping away the facades resembling standard units reveals 100 custom machines.

Each with diverse appearances and weaponry, they overwhelmed the World Alliance KOGs with sheer superiority.

“All… custom units? No way…”

The 100 KOGs Road had prepared.

Every one a custom unit, all now glaring at Kenya.

“Every one here is a top-class knight. Thirty Holy Knight Captains and seventy elite Holy Knights. The strongest hundred from my empire. No match for common soldiers.”

Road’s resolve.

The resolve to take down Kenya here, even if it means losing bases worldwide.

“I won’t underestimate you. Even if the homeland falls, you’re the priority.”

“That’s an honor, going to such lengths.”

“Of course. No one fears and respects you more than I do.”

Road steps slowly forward.

“Hey, did you know? I’m the ultimate sore loser. I haven’t forgotten that day for a second. So, rematch time. Today, I’m the challenger.”

And Road extends his hand toward Kenya.

In sync, every KOG turns to Kenya, weapons raised.

“Let’s begin the final battle. You’re prepared to kill me, right? And…”

The strongest hundred machines from the world’s strongest nation, brimming with full murderous intent.

“…prepared to be killed as well.”