Tsubaki's POV

I felt like I couldn't move, I felt as if I was going to be crushed by the sheer force of Lord Fenix's voice as she spoke angrily towards us.

"Lord Lang, what are you doing here? This is a personal affair," she growled at the unphased god.

"I am here to make sure your anger doesn't make you do things you will regret later, just like every other time," he responded as he growled back.

She simply scoffed and looked around, then settled on my father, "What is the meaning of this? I only had to hand the abilities over to one person so why do I see so many people? Funlu?"

Funlu got up then settled in front of her, bowing respectfully then slowly poured oil over her feet before bowing once more, "My God, I repent for what I was forced to ask, and repent for going against your will. Please don't take it out on the others, I was weak and spirit incapable of avoiding this situation."

"Use your words properly, you are spilling nonsense again."

"His Majesty wishes to shift the power from your chosen one to his eldest, my Lord."

She paused for a bit, puzzled before she screamed, and looked right at me. I felt like I shrank as she did this, her eyes felt like they pierced my skin. She looked like she was vibrating with anger too.

"Fenix, calm." Lord Lang spoke out.

"Fine, Emperor Kairu, explain."

My father simply got onto his feet, walking towards her until he was a few steps behind Elder Monk Funlu, "My youngest isn't capable of ruling an emperor as my eldest can. Tsubaki is too focused on the little things when you are an emperor you need to focus on the big picture- look at it as how it is not what it is made of. My eldest has trained his entire life for this very moment. He is better than his other siblings."

"Your old man doesn't even know your children properly." a woman shouted at him.

"Silence, you were an awful mother to your children at least I was with them the entire time- they owe me their life."

"We don't owe you anything, father, that is your job as a parent," Lingjiang whispered.

"You dare, bad mouth me child."

"Wait, that lady is our mother, you look the same as before!"

"So Lord Lang wasn't lying when he said she was alive."

I looked at the woman once more, " Mother?"

"Enough! Now I am going to listen to the views of everyone. First Crowned Prince, what are your views?"

My eldest brother froze as he was asked that question, he slowly lowered his head and started playing with his fingers, "Well at first, I was happy to become the next emperor of my empire. I trained for it my entire life, from when I was 10 years old. Yes, I was upset when I found out Tsubaki was the one receiving it."

He then glanced at me with pity in his eyes, "But no matter how much I hate my siblings, I would never choose for their death. When I found out that if Tsu gave me the powers he would die from it. So I had to force myself to decide between saving my brother, or watch both my father and brother die just for me. I know they say some emperors fight to be on their throne but I can't do that. I am not going to be the brother that points a knife to my siblings who I should protect,"

"I agree with my brother, Lord Fenix, please spare our brother. He didn't know what he was getting himself into. Pan-An was only following his father's orders out of respect for both his parents and the emperor. Tsubaki doesn't need to suffer just for a man that didn't treat us as his children but objects." Lingjiang was brought up.

"Why are you ungrateful-.."

"You never loved me, father, all because I was born albino. I have long white hair mixed with silver, bright sapphire blue eyes, pale skin that rivals your own. You force me to wear wigs," Lingjiang takes off her brown coloured wig to reveal her flawless pearl coloured hair. "You made me wear contacts for years because I needed to look like everyone else. You made me cut my hair because it was a nuisance to keep. And told me my purpose was to be married off to the next empire, that hurts father."

"It was for the betterment of the empire." father claimed.

"Betterment of the empire? Really because from when I was small, I knew the first chance I got to get rid of my father was the day I would do it with my own hands even if it would get me beheaded myself. But then I got weak, and I couldn't fight a normal fight, I couldn't handle my abilities and then I fell ill to the power and I would be bedridden for days. Did father care, no he didn't- what did he do instead, he forced me to walk and fight and study because he said I was faking it. I almost died not once but twice because of you Father. And did you even care just that once- no you looked at me and said I could only come out for very official events which would only happen once a year. You know how hard it was to watch my life pass by me for 22 years, father, 22." Peru cried a bit and shook as he sat.

"You never loved me either, you called me foolish and crazy for being me. I wasn't as classy as the other girls my age. I never really loved makeup or tea parties. I love fighting and taking care of animals in my spare time. But you didn't care, isn't a child supposed to be nurtured by their parents because all you did was scar me." Ruoqiu butted in.

"I was your wife- we were supposed to be until death does us part. We were supposed to be one whole, not two broken souls. I didn't complain when you disciplined me for supposedly stepping out of place. Or for when I tried to kill you all those years back. But god forbid that you turned your hand towards our children. It was the last straw, I was so helpless when I was thrown out, I couldn't carry my children with me. I was sad that I left them with a perfectionist sadist like you. I am also disappointed that Tsubaki never got to grow up with me properly."

She looked at me as tears fell from her face, and I saw how she regretted not growing up with me. So she was my mother, the woman that gave birth to me- the other parent to my father. All these years I thought she was dead but she was just in hiding.

"Do any of the Monks have any opinions? Your answers are in high favour of me at the moment. Is it true that all these things that the children and blessed empress of the Hun empire expressed towards me are true?" Lord Fenix asked.

"No, my Lord they aren't." my father burst. "They are all lying and plotting against me, I have been your faithful servant all these years you must trust me."

"On the contrary, you are the one that is lying to your Majesty." Chen Dai raised her head.

"Lord Fenix, all accounts that have been spoken before other than the emperor are true and have been showcased multiple times throughout his reign." Danshi Su continued.

"Instead of following your will and ways. He has a superiority complex and has psychotic actions- though I think it might be him being power-hungry." Gong Xinya noted.

"They are all lying through their teeth." my father screamed once more.

"He harmed a fellow Monk- Zen still has a few bruises that weren't fully healed from His Majesty attacking him earlier." Seren Fu glanced at her fellow Monk.

"Is that true Zen?" Lord Fenix asked.

"I am fine my Lord," Zen said.

"I know that you are fine, I can see that much, I am asking if it is true?"

"It was indeed true my Lord, I have sustained injuries from His Majesty's punishments earlier on," Zen confirmed.

Lord Fenix sat down where she stood before and stared right at my father as he shook from his anger that seemed to soon overflow any moment. Her fingers tapped on her lap as she closed her eyes, she seemed irritated.

"If I may intervene?" Eden asked.

"You are the eldest son of the Wolf Empire right? Crowned Prince Eden?" she spoke.

"Yes, Lord Fenix."

"Proceed."

"Thank you, and if I may speak freely?"

She looked directly at him and narrowed her eyes a bit, "You may."

"Tsubaki has been a friend of mine for who knows how long, he has been with me since the day he slapped me in the head for not reading a book properly. I barely get to see him, and when I do, I always make sure it is the best time he has. Tsubaki and his siblings are abused daily. They have scars on their bodies that they can never heal and will always hunt them even after their father passes on. They have trauma from all the things they experienced and gone through. They have experienced torture punishment such as whipping, drowning them in water, and once a time I heard from Tsubaki that his brother Prince Peru was burnt in a fight that he didn't want to take part in. He manipulated his children into thinking he was always right which isn't the case. The only reason why Tsubaki and his siblings never had a real family is because of him. Your empire is crumbling under his ruling, you know the number of times I go through their empire and am saddened by the way he treats his people. If there is anything, you should know that that man does not deserve to be the ruler of anything. He should be locked up or better yet dead." Eden ended it by pointing aggressively at my father. I was surprised at his remark and it almost made me cry.

"I will have your tongue boy."

"You will have nothing of the sort, Kairu."

"Funlu, raise your head. I am not mad or saddened by your doing. It was the human in you that began to speak and move you. You will not be punished for anything you have done today- I am pardoning you of your sins against me."

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Fenix." Elder Funlu cried a bit.

"Young man. Zian right?"

"Yes, Lord."

"You don't know who I am. I am Lord Fenix as you might know. I am your mother's goddess. You are a very promising young man. Do you know you have royal blood in you?"

"Yes, Lord."

"Royal blood belonging to your mother that is?"

"Yes, Lord."

"Which means you have a say, in this situation. Do you have anything to add?"

"You can not ask an outcast to help decide on a matter such as this; it is outrageous."

"I can and I will." Lord Fenix's fury skyrocketed but quickly settled down, "now Zian, be a dear."

"Well, I don't know what goes on in the palace other than what I hear right now. The only thing I can speak of is my mother's suffering over the years, from when I was born to now. She has been depressed and always spoke of how great my older siblings were, and if she weren't banished, she would have given me a better life. Mama suffered because of her separation, I just want to see Mama happy because she was always smiling for me."

I felt like I wanted to hug Zian right at that moment. We all did well except for Father. At least someone was keeping Mother company while she wasn't home. I am glad even though I barely know her- I feel at peace about it.

"Now, I leave this opinion last because it is very important, Tsubaki what is your situation?"

"I… Well." I struggled to put my words together, what was I supposed to tell her, the thing she wants to hear or what her father wants?

"What is your opinion, Tsubaki? I am not asking for anyone else's but yours."

"Life has been hard on all of us. And I am grateful for the powers that you are bestowing on me. And I do agree with my siblings and mother when I say that father wasn't a parent to put it the very least. But I wanted to ask why me? I am literally the weakest in my family other than Peru but he was a reason to be weak, and even then he is stronger than me. I can't fight and I cry in the face of a weapon. All I can do is read and study and go to ceremonies. Not ruling an entire country, I barely even know what to do with myself. Why choose someone as inexperienced as me when my brother Pan-An is better in every aspect and isn't afraid. Why me?" I looked down to the ground grabbing my clothes. I may have stepped a line. I should have questioned a goddess right to her face but I had to get it off my chest.

"It is said that you don't see the potential in yourself, young boy. I never choose you to rule because of your physical strengths. I chose you because of your heart, that is what I want to run my empires. Your empire is like your family- although not blood related you are all connected by me making you family. Your Tsubaki cares and that is what gave me hope." Lord Fenix finished, I was touched.

"Going off that notion, I agree. Tsubaki you are a man with the soul of a flower waiting for the sun to come out to find its place to bloom and shine in its petal glory. You are perfect for the job." Lord Lang smiled at me.

But the mood changed when my father's anger finally burst, he laughed as he stood up and pointed at me.

"It is all your fault. I was going to have the perfect plan to get back into power. Stealing the power for myself and becoming a God was my dream. To leave eternally. But you Tsubaki ruined it, you all ruined my chance to reign over this dump my way. And if I can't have it, no one can."

Father was then consumed by a dark blob that fell from his hands and it started to leak towards us. We quickly scattered away from him as the river thickened and got closer.

"Omg, he is going to drown us," Peru shouted.

"Mama!" Zian screamed.

"Enough of you!" Lord Fenix sent a blast at my father but he quickly absorbed it. "It can't be!?"

"A corrupt soul." Lord Lang winced.

"Corrupt Soul?"

"A soul that is lost to the world and doesn't have a place in the mortal or immortal world. We can barely do anything to it because it will just absorb magic if we blast at him." Lord Lang explained.

"So what should we do?" Mother asked as she jumped away once again from my father's attack.

"Let him die out, they are unstable and unable to survive long. Don't feed him your magic."

Then I was grabbed by my father and dragged towards him. I screamed as I reached out to grab something.

"I got you Tsubaki, don't let go," Eden said as he grabbed my hand.

Eden slowly started to lose footing but was grabbed by everyone else as they tried to pull me away from my father.

"That's it, I am blowing everything away."

With that, everything paused for a split second, I turned as I saw the smirk on my father's face grew abnormally larger. He then started to crack and then burst into a blinding light. The last thing I heard was Eden calling out my name as I quickly slipped into unconsciousness.