EXECUTION DAY

5:00 AM. Caged in the death row cell of the palace dungeon with no sign of life, Mort was just staring at the wall. His emerald-green eyes gleamed, mysteriously cold but beautiful. Unmoved, with a calm demeanor, face devoid of any signs of emotion and mind completely blank though a part of his heart ached every time Sumire's face entered his blank mind. He wanted to talk to the maiden during his last moments. He wanted to see and hug her for the last time.

His arms were folded across his chest and his rugged features were drawn into a frown. Mort sighed heavily. Trying to get rid of the maiden out of his mind, the image of her crying. Eyes closed, he thought of going back to his dark past that he had buried in the bottom of his mind for a long time.

Even before Mort was born, his future is already decided. His path is set and everyone in the Underground world expects him to be the next leader, an heir of the most powerful clan in the world, the Aslanov. Many mafia clans tried to dispose of his mother just to prevent her from giving birth to Mort. Until the day come, he was born and Death is tailing him.

Everything was not easy for Mort. Even before he learned to walk and talk, some outsiders made an attempt at his life. Several dead bodies fell in front of him and blood splashed and painted on his innocent face. Until he matured and learned to defend himself. At age 3, his first kill was his first-degree cousin who tried to end his life. Although his aunt and uncle mourned in secret their loss, everyone in the organization celebrated his first kill.

Since that day, Mort's killing spree became widely known and inspire awe and terror in the Underground. He possesses inhumane strength that he could kill a man with his bare hand and could crash someone's face with his palm. He ruthlessly killed anyone on his way one after the other. Not only the training he had at a young age is what he has to deal with every day, as well as the outsiders that his grandfather lets in to test him by means of killing him, Mort also has to deal with it.

Even in his sleep, many more assassins were sent to kill him. His life was always in danger every single second. Mort did not experience playing games like kids usually do. Instead of playing with toys with his peers, he held bloody deadly weapons in his hand. Born prodigy, Mort has a high IQ and possesses immeasurable knowledge. He was fond of experiments, his Grandfather gives all his demands. If before he quickly killed those who attempted to end his life, now he revives them for his experiments.

Mort sees only black and bloody red as colors in his world. His cold emerald eyes reflected the abyss where the Beast of all Beasts lurked. Death and Destruction are only imprinted on his brain. He is incapable of feeling any emotions, he doesn't feel anger, joy, sadness, or anything else. He doesn't feel satisfaction in everything he does. He is aloof and detached even from his family and he doesn't feel any bond with them. Instead of worrying him, the Aslanovs were delighted because of his potential. They think the young Mort who will dominate the Underground in the future is the "Perfect One".

As a child, Mort has already contributed a lot to the clan, especially in ammo and weaponry. He has also won many battles against the Underground countless times. People considered him a threat and is feared by everyone. He became infamous in the Underground and nicknamed him 'DEATH'. Certain and Quick Death, he never lets his opponents speak before he kills them. He doesn't need to hear any of their pleas or last words. The important thing for him is they die in his hand and won't allow them to cheat death.

If others want to kill him. Others want to get him. Various Mafia Lords offer a large amount of treasures just to get Mort on their side. They were ready to give everything to him just to make their organization powerful and stronger but he was not impressed with such lame moves, showing off their wealth. Mort has never been born greedy. He is not after treasures nor does he desire to possess anything.

And in the darkest times of young Mort, he developed a passion for painting. He was 12 years old when he asked his grandfather for something which surprised the old man.

"I want to paint. I need art materials."

Those words didn't immediately process in the old man's brain. Don Zagreus felt deaf for a second after hearing such a request from his grandson. For the first time, young Mort likes something not fitting for a Mafia Heir.

"I won't allow it."

Young Mort immediately received a flat rejection. He never expected that. Although his face was cold and plain stoic, the old man knows what is going on in his mind.

"If you want to paint so much then why don't you use human blood?" Don Zagreus added that Mort wasted no time and left to follow what his Grandfather said.

From that day, Mort paints the walls where his killings take place by using the blood of his enemies. Until he stepped at the age of fifteen, he grow up handsomely and look at his last victim mercilessly.

"You are a chained and tamed mindless monster who has no ability to think for himself. Do you really think just because they feared you mean you have everything? You are wrong. You don't even have freedom. You have nothing. Even if you are surrounded by high-profile people. Even if many people want to be your ally, you are still alone. Because they only see you as a killing machine. They want you because they need you. When you are no longer useful to them, they will throw you away. That's it. And you will die someday gaining nothing. Yo-"

And before the man finished what he had to say, with just one swing of his blade, Mort cut off his head. The wind messes up his hair as the blood is painted on his cold face. He turns around and leaves the corpse to be devoured by the predators around. That was the same day he did not return to the territory of the Aslanovs. He decided to create his own organization.

As he walked along a wide road in the middle of the forest, Mort realized that he had nowhere else to go. He doesn't want to go home to the Aslanovs. He brought nothing but himself. The young man realized that he didn't have anything that he could call his own. But he was not afraid or sad. He just kept walking until he stopped when something caught his attention.

A pair of butterflies chasing each other greeted him. Mort followed them and took him to a mountain where he effortlessly climb until the wildflowers opened to him like cotton candy that glowed in the sun setting on the horizon. The horde of dandelions wildly disperses beautifully on the meadow. Mort blew at the round dandelion, causing the white seeds to fly all around the green meadow on a cliff over the ocean and sea.

The current of the sea breeze and the waves hitting the rock mesmerize him. For the first time, Mort could feel his heart skip a beat. He was amazed at the scenery in front of him. He had never seen such a beautiful sight. He stood frozen on his feet, eyes cruising the otherworldly place. The young man stood there for several minutes until he witnessed the unparalleled beauty of the sunset. For the first time, a hint of small life grows on his pair of dead green orbs while the breathtaking beauty of the sunset is reflected in his eyes.

"I want to live here. This is mine from now on." Mort declared. It was the first time he claimed something. And he is determined to make this place belongs to him. The young man is ready to go for another kill if the place is not given to him or sold to him.

In the new world, he discovered, Mort was lucky to find someone who was also willing to give the property to him. He built a Shrine of Death. Mort built his new life from scratch. The dark and bloody pages in his life have new light pages.

Mort earned millions in just 2 months because of his skills, talent, and immeasurable knowledge. He entered one of the top universities around the world and pursue his desired career. There he met Klauss, the son of a Mafia Lord whose clan was annihilated a decade ago. They became close and founded several organizations named after him. He met young Narco who Mort decided to adopt and he brought in the twin brothers who were the same age as Narco.

And his first meeting with Sumire at the Shrine of Death. A lone girl who captures his attention.

Mort turned around outside when he heard footsteps coming to his place. It was the prison knights who will take him to the gallows. There are only two of them wearing a priest outfit with a pyramid head. The man who stood as tall as Mort was wearing black and the other man on his side was wearing the same outfit but a white one and is a bit smaller.

"Your time has come." Said a prison knight who is smaller than his companion in size.

Mort didn't fight back. He stood up and followed them. While they were walking out of the death row prison, a commotion broke out in one cell which is all the knights who guarded each cell went to a certain cell which was the root of the commotion. The two prison knights who escorted him remain unmoved in their place. The commotion block their way and made them stopped from walking. A few minutes later, the commotion finally subsided and everyone calmed down. The knights and Mort are able to pass the place.

"I never imagined the day would come when I would be executed," Mort said as he loosened the heavy chain which locked both of his hands and feet. He is not used to being tied up since no one has ever done that to him.

"Don't worry, your act of heroism will soon reach your family." The one in the white outfit meaningfully said and didn't bother to glance at him.

They soon reach the light and when they got out of death row, the gallows opened up to them. Hands rose from the air, Mort close his eyes from the dazzling light. When his eyes finally adjusted, a number of angry people were surrounding the gallows where he would be hanged.

Mort stood up gloriously in the gallows trap door in front of hundreds of people, unafraid of what will happen to him. He faces the wrath of North Le Frère people with a stoic face. The black pyramid head knight put the big rope around his neck.

"String him up! Hang him high!"

"Kill him this instant!"

"Serves him right!"

"Die!"

"Shameless outsider!"

The people screamed furiously when they found out that Mort had killed their next King. Mort was looking at them indifferently. He looked around to find someone and there he saw Sumire across from him, tears clouding her vision and slowly streaming on her reddened cheek. She let out a silent sob while Chaise was hugging his wife who is now crying in his arms.

'There she is.' said Mort in his mind and lock his gaze on her. The crowd went silent when the Queen along with the Archduke began to give a short speech.

"She's pretty," Mort muttered under his breath. He wanted Sumire to be the last person he would see before his life ends.

"...... I hereby declare, as the Queen of North Le Frère, found Mort Dmitriv Aslanov, guilty of killing the heir of the throne, Dreygur Davenford. Any last word?"

Mort shook his head while staring at Sumire indifferently. The maiden's tears flowed nonstop as she looked at Mort who was just staring at her. The corner of her eyes and nose were reddened by tears.

"Then-" The Queen's words were interrupted when the big screens surrounding the gallows suddenly turned on.

Everyone in the place stops cursing him and looks up. They thought it was just a white cloth but it turned out to be a screen. And something is written in there.

"Do you want to know the reason why Mort Dmitriv Aslanov killed Dreygur Davenford?"

Everyone went silent. No one answered, but everyone wanted to know what was Mort's reason for killing their next King. From there, the video that was captured on Dreygur's cam dash was played where he attempted to rape Sumire when she was a child. Eyes widened, everyone at the gallows looking at the screen in horror, and audibly gasped filled the air. The next scene was the one in Sumire's room while she was soundly sleeping and many more. All were unsuccessful.

Sumire on her place, turn pale and wanted to throw up at what she saw. Her pupils dilated while the scene played in her mind. She never imagined that Dreygur could do such a thing to her. She felt sick, horrified, and disgusted knowing she was lusted by her Uncle since she was a kid. Her eyes closed and her veins started to pulsate in pain, Sumire holds her head when dizziness struck her. The maiden wonders why she forgot those memories.

After the video was played, another message appeared on the screen again.

"Sumire is Mort's beloved fiancée. When he found out what Dreygur did to her, he lost control and killed him in the process. Will the execution still take place?"

With those questions, the screen off left everyone stunned. A few seconds passed, and the waves of loud murmurs reigned the gallows.

"Silence!" The Queen commanded and the crowd bowed to her. Queen Zèlle look worriedly in Sumire's direction who was now ghostly pale, stood frozen in her place and her dead pair of orbs blankly stared into the nothingness while tears raced down her cheeks.

Even if she wanted to kill Dreygur because of what he did to her granddaughter, she couldn't take back what she said. Dreygur is an heir to the throne. Even if Sumire is her granddaughter, anyone who takes Dreygur's life will face his destiny to die. And that can never be taken back.

'I'm sorry, Mort.' Queen Zèlle said and face Mort who was now staring at the maiden in the middle of the crowd. " And for your crime, you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul."

After the Queen orders, the white pyramid-head knight pulling off the lever releases the trapdoor. Mort fell down, pulling the noose tightly and the rope broke his neck. Witnessing the death of her beloved, Sumire was shaking uncontrollably in horror, bottom lip quivered, and her shoulders dropped in resignation. Her vision went blurry as the streams of tears flowed faster than her heartbeat. After a few minutes, with the head lowered, the hunk was no longer moving.

"Mort Dmitriv Aslanov is confirmed dead."

The news brought her gaze now far off, Sumire was engulfed in darkness and fell on the ground, losing consciousness.

"Is this even possible?"