01x16 - Episode 16

[bunniefuu]

♪Trapped in this tiny world♪

♪I'm crushed into dust♪

♪I meddle around without any mercy♪

♪I'm my own pawn♪

♪I sigh at my fate♪

♪Numerous people are under my control♪

♪All the sand is washed away♪

♪An old dream fades♪

♪A bumpy path lies ahead♪

♪Traps within traps, I never make mistakes♪

♪I take a risk at every step♪

♪Even in disputes, I break through with my life♪

♪Schemes within schemes, I prison myself♪

♪Each link swaps bluff and truth♪

♪The world is my Weiqi game board♪

♪Everything's just fleeting♪

♪The play begins♪

♪No return is expected♪

♪The flame is gone, whether we win or lose♪

♪The wind never ceases. I hold the reins♪

[Ashes To Crown]

[Adapted from Xixing's novel, Empress of the State of Chu]

[Episode 16]

[Luocheng]

Your Highness,

Luocheng is less than 100 li

from the Capital.

I shall grant the local noble families

three days to present themselves.

I intend to entrust

the administration

of this city to their heirs.

Naturally,

you know how to deal with those

who defy our orders.

Rest assured, Your Highness.

Mr. Ning has provided the roster

of the noble families along our route.

I guarantee not a single soul shall escape.

How many troops do we have ahead?

The prefecture holds about twenty thousand garrisoned troops,

and the Capital is deploying reinforcements.

Yet, they pose no true threat.

Should they resist,

we shall crush them in a battle

and march straight into the Capital.

Furthermore,

there are a few other matters.

Speak.

The Grand Princess has entered the Prince of Xiaonan's Residence alone.

She is leveraging Your Highness's life

to demand His Lordship's retreat.

She likely fails to realize

how ruthless the imperial family can be.

In the struggle for power,

even the bonds of blood

are nothing but pawns

to be sacrificed.

Did she truly believe

she could threaten Father?

Secret intelligence from the Capital

reports that Xie Yanfang has drafted

an imperial edict to condemn Chu Lan's clan,

but has yet to issue it.

What a ruthless man

he is.

Zhao has evidently misplaced her trust.

The moment Chu Ling perished,

Xie began making a blood sacrifice of the Chu Family.

There is another matter.

Chu Lan and his family

have vanished.

They fled?

That serves us well.

Had Chu Lan remained in the Capital,

he would have become a constraint upon us.

Nonetheless,

that idiot is far too incompetent

to have fled the Capital on his own.

Chu Zhao must have orchestrated this in secret.

What then is our course?

It is best that this leverage

remains in our hands.

Dispatch the order

to seal all primary routes.

Chu Lan and his family must be apprehended.

Understood.

Mr. Deng,

the Xiaonan Army

is now less than a hundred li from the Capital.

The people along the way are flocking to their ranks.

I fear this might lead to trouble.

Where is the minister dispatched

to deliver the imperial edict to Xiao Xun?

There has been no word

from him to this day.

Xie Yanfang's suspicion was correct.

The dispatch riders were a ruse.

It appears Xiao Xun intends to use this pretext

to force his entry into the Capital and stage a coup.

Xiao Xun has been disseminating rumors along his march,

claiming

he comes to defend His Majesty by command.

He is clearly exploiting public sentiment

to mislead the people.

That is precisely my greatest fear

that the people of the Capital

will also be swayed by his deception.

You must formulate a strategy without delay, Mr. Deng.

If he continues deceiving the people...

Mr. Deng!

Mr. Deng!

Mr. Deng.

Please review this.

Her Highness has entered

the Prince of Xiaonan's Residence alone,

seeking to negotiate their surrender.

[The Grand Princess entered Prince of Xiaonan's Residence to urge surrender.]

A diversion to relieve the Capital?

Her Highness has truly grown far more audacious

than before.

Where is Mr. Xie?

Mr. Deng!

Mr. Deng!

Mr. Deng,

a matter of concern has arisen.

Mr. Xie intends to depart

with His Majesty.

What?

- What? - What?

This is preposterous.

He means to flee with His Majesty.

Ludicrous.

His Majesty arrives!

Mr. Xie,

where are you escorting

His Majesty?

I am escorting His Majesty

to lead the campaign.

Absolutely impermissible!

This must not be allowed!

Cease this folly, Mr. Xie!

Mr. Xie,

are you aware of the sheer peril

of our present circumstances?

That's the precise reason

why His Majesty must lead the army.

The Lord of Xiaonan

and his son

are his sworn enemies.

It is only right

that His Majesty avenge his parents.

As the one who sits

on the throne,

he must prioritize the state.

Now that the rebels are misleading the people,

only the announcement

of an imperial campaign

can lay bare

their true intentions.

Should the Lord of Xiaonan and his son

retreat,

His Majesty's campaign

shall be directed against the Northern Desert.

Should they refuse to withdraw,

then His Majesty is crusading to suppress

the Xiaonan rebels.

Mr. Deng,

His Majesty and I

await your imperial edict.

Now that Xie Yanfang has entered the board,

this game

must finally yield a victor.

The Lord of Xiaonan always presumed this

to be his opportunity,

yet he fails to see

that it is Xie Yanfang's opportunity as well.

Mr. Chu, where are you heading

in such a rush?

His Highness requests your presence.

Please,

have mercy.

My family

has never held any grievance

against His Highness.

We beg you

to show clemency.

It's been a long time since we last met.

Mr. Chu,

why do you appear so haggard?

It seems Her Highness

has been remiss in her care

for your family.

Your Highness,

I was truly driven to despair.

I had thought

I could survive

by playing the fool.

Yet the court refuses

to grant me life

because of what happened back then.

Are you

blaming me?

I would not dare,

Your Highness.

I swear

I would never dare.

Your Highness.

Rest assured.

I'm

not that heartless.

You may stay

in Luocheng for now.

Once I enter the imperial city

and present myself to His Majesty,

I shall clear your name.

I appreciate it, Your Highness.

My deepest gratitude.

I am profoundly grateful.

Thank you.

Miss Tang,

are you willing to assist me

on behalf of your father?

Miss Tang,

you ingratiated yourself with the noble families,

keeping a sharp eye on the shifting winds,

and the second trouble brewed,

you didn't hesitate

to take your parents and flee the Capital.

Am I correct?

I did hear some news.

Where did you get it?

Zhao

brought the word to me.

You two share a remarkably deep bond.

Her Highness

could still convey tidings to you

from thousands of li away.

Yet do you realize

that your flight

only serves to substantiate the allegations

the court leveled against you?

If my father

ascends the throne,

I shall be the Crown Prince.

Miss Tang,

would you like to be the Crown Princess?

[Xiaonan Prefecture]
Masterful play to turn the tables,

Your Highness.

Did you truly believe a worthless fool like Chu Lan

could ever approach my son?

Xiao Xun has suffered three defeats at my hands.

He will never hesitate to strike when he spots an opening.

He will take the bait, even fully aware.

Since Your Highness knows my son so well,

why

did you sabotage

such an ideal alliance back then?

To hunt, one must truly know the prey.

However,

I place no faith in hollow affection.

I trust only the blade in my hand.

What a pity.

A fence-sitter like Chu Lan

is unworthy of being your blade.

You ought to know

your uncle, Your Highness.

Even if he gained access to my son,

a coward of his measure

could never achieve anything of note.

How can Your Lordship be certain

I have nothing left up my sleeve?

I am aware.

Your cousin.

Your Highness seems to forget

that despite your boasted detachment,

you still lost your heart to my son.

Let alone Chu Tang.

Your Highness,

you might as well concede.

Your Highness.

What... is it you require of me?

Chu Zhao

is besieging Xiaonan

with her forces.

Therefore,

I'd like you

to persuade her,

so as to guarantee my father's safety.

Your Highness,

how

could I possibly achieve this?

Zhao is the Grand Princess.

How

could someone like me ever persuade her?

Miss Tang,

you live as you please,

even through hard times.

Though Chu Zhao

may be wary

and guard against you,

I remain confident

that you know

how to win her trust.

Everyone praises Chu Zhao's valor

on the b*ttlefield.

But the truth is,

maneuvering through human minds

takes an even greater hero.

Chu Tang,

do you wish

to stand above all others

and be revered by the entire world?

Your Highness.

Will you truly marry me?

A father's eye sees

only perfection.

There is a kind of person

who is the hardest to sway.

Take my cousin for instance.

She trusts nothing

she cannot hold for herself.

She cares nothing for mere charm,

only for propriety.

Propriety?

And by what standard

does Your Highness gauge her heart?

Besides, what my son is best at

is turning the desires of others

into playthings in his own hands.

You should be

well aware of this.

What truly moves people

in this world

is nothing more than profit and sincerity,

and my son possesses both.

Your Highness,

how much can you offer your cousin?

But I am not like Chu Zhao.

She commands the frontier,

with an army at her back.

A shared surname means nothing.

I am of no use to your grand designs, Your Highness.

Do you know

that the hardest thing

to fathom

is not power,

but sincerity?

Just like

how I used to feel about Chu Zhao.

Since Your Highness cared for her,

why have you come

to me?

Because she does not trust me

and even tried to k*ll me.

I believe you are different from her

and would never treat my sincerity

as dirt,

right?

Since I have been upfront with you,

I will make things perfectly clear.

Seeking

to marry Zhao back then

might have been for interest,

but

seeking your help

is for my father.

My father staked everything on me,

and is now trapped in a dire situation.

If you could write

a letter to sway Chu Zhao into retreat,

I will never forget

this kindness.

Your Highness, there is no need for this.

Look.

Such devotion to His Lordship.

Not a soul alive

could ever doubt it.

Miss Tang,

are you willing to help me?

Miss Chu,

this game is all but lost.

Then I shall wager on the wild variable.

Since Your Lordship cannot crush

me yet,

shall we play another match?

What are we gambling on?

Whether a simple snare

of tenderness

can shatter

your son's rotten pretense.

Your Highness,

does it really...

take only a fraction of this poison...

to claim a life?

I have lived a guarded life

and have never k*lled anyone.

I am afraid.

There is an exception to everything.

I believe you, Miss Tang.

After all,

the dagger in your sleeve

is far deadlier than this poison.

Darling.

What a fine dagger of meteoric iron.

Tell me.

Tang.

Should I test the blade

on your father first?

No!

Your Highness,

I am willing to k*ll Chu Zhao

for your sake.

Your Highness, please spare my life.

Your Highness.

Miss Tang,

you have deceived me once.

I will obey,

Your Highness.

Please spare my father.

Your Highness.

Please spare my life.

- Come here. - Father.

Come.

You said you would obey, didn't you?

Get up.

I told you to come here.

Hold it!

Just like this.

No.

Tang.

Show Chu Zhao...

Father.

how ruthless

her cousin can be.

Whoever dares to move,

I will k*ll him.

You taught me well, Your Highness.

Did I look the part​

when I raised my blade against my father?

Surrender now!

Take one step closer,

and I will flay Xiao Xun alive.

Back away,

unless you want

to watch him suffer.

Wait.

Tang,

do you know what you are doing

right now?

Release His Highness,

now.

Father,

did you forget

he was trying to k*ll you just now?

I...

Your Highness,

where is your private seal?

In the ruyi sachet inside my sleeve.

Brilliant, Miss Tang.

You even kept your parents in the dark.

Your Highness,

your seal is truly beautiful.

Your Highness, I beg your forgiveness

for failing to realize that their servant

was an assassin in disguise.

I did not mean to hide it.

My parents are of a gentle nature,

and I feared the truth

would terrify them.

What did Chu Zhao promise you?

Promises?

We are family.

If she falls,

so will I.

My hand

was forced.

It seems that, compared to Chu Zhao,

I still haven't done enough

to make you believe

that my promise

to make you Empress

was genuine.

You have come from a humble background.

If I ascend the throne,

we would be a perfect match.

​Why bow to her command?​

Or

do you think yourself unfit

to be Empress,

and that the only difference

between you and her

is a powerful father?

My father

is wonderful.

Join me,

and your father will become the Emperor's father-in-law.

I'll offer the military tally as a betrothal gift.

He would hold

far greater power

than he does now.

- Tang. - Tang.

You...!

You wretched woman!

Even His Lordship

never laid a finger on His Highness,

yet you dare to...!

I will tear you to pieces!

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

This is the first time

I have ever struck someone,

but I truly had no choice.

Tang,

you should have let me do it.

I promise I would have made him remember

the pain for the rest of his life.

I didn't do it to hurt him,

nor was I even trying to hit him.

What do you mean?

I slapped him

to burn my own bridges.

The title His Highness promised

was far too tempting.

I was afraid that if I kept listening,

I would actually believe it.

Take this

to Zhao.

If we wait any longer,

I am afraid I might regret it.

In your dreams.

The guards are outside.

You cannot even leave

this room.

Now

I've made a bitter enemy

of His Highness's right-hand man.

I will k*ll you!

Tang,

what should we do now?

Whether we bind His Highness or not,

death awaits either way.

There is

no way out.

Father,

since it has come to this,

we must fight

for a way to live

where none seems possible.

Zhao wanted me to restrain Xiao Xun

and then await her word.

How certain

are you of this?

The Lord of Xiaonan has seven children,

and Xiao Xun is merely one of them.

To people like him,

flesh and blood mean nothing.

Even if Chu Tang

has restrained Xiao Xun,

it does not mean

the Lord of Xiaonan will back down.

Xiao Xun can die,

but the Lord of Xiaonan

will not relent.

I am aware.

But

let us wait a little longer.

What exactly are we waiting for?

For Xie Yanfang?

For the news that he has brought Yu

to lead the army in person?

You certainly place great faith in him.

Even acting from afar,

the two of you move in perfect accord.

I merely think

he should understand my move.

More than just you.

He understands everyone in the world.

It is hardly surprising

that Xie Yanfang could earn your trust,

Your Highness.

Jiu, you sound like

you are...?

I am reminding you

that Xie Yanfang excels

at claiming the spoils from the shadows.

His help must come

with an ulterior motive.

What of it?

I have no use

for Xie Yanfang's sincerity.

[Xie Residence]

Mr. Xie.

Mr. Xie,

the routed troops from the prefectures

​who are straggling in,

combined with the eighty thousand troops

marching with the imperial expedition,

bring our total strength to about one hundred and fifty thousand.

Although the Lord of Xiaonan claims to have

an army of two hundred thousand,

most

are commoners forced into service

along the way.

Furthermore,

we have thirty thousand of our own men

who have secretly left Gaoyang

and can deliver a fatal blow to the Lord of Xiaonan

at any moment.

Very well.

Pass down the order

to assemble

and prepare to move out.

Yes.

We must not keep Her Highness

waiting.

What perfect accord

between you

and Chu Zhao.

She seized Xiao Xun as a hostage,

and you persuaded His Majesty to lead the campaign.

A masterful chain

of stratagems.

The Lord of Xiaonan's lifelong quest

comes down to just one thing,

a rightful name.

Yet I shall ensure

he loses the moral ground he stands on

and the heart of his son.

[The Capital]

Your Lordship, you do not look

particularly pleased.

Is it because Tang managed

to capture Xiao Xun?

I've often told my son

that to perfect the elixir,

it is all in the timing.

Yet he was too impatient,

letting you gain the upper hand.

But do you truly believe

you have won?

With Xiao Xun captured,

his life is in our hands.

I have one wife

and three concubines,

with seven children in total.

So Your Lordship means

Xiao Xun's survival

is of no consequence?

Xun

is a devoted son.

So

even if it costs him his life,

he would never allow anyone

to use it as leverage

against his father.

After I ascend the throne,

I will honor him as Crown Prince.

How about I name you Crown Princess,

so you may keep him company in the afterlife?

I dare you.

It's true

blood holds no sway in the palace.

Your Highness also waded through blood

in the coup

to reach this position.

Do you think

that capturing Xun

would make me hesitate?

Since Your Lordship

disregards even your son's life,

you must care even less about being labeled

a traitorous rebel.

I received word

that His Majesty is about to lead the army in person.

Can Your Lordship guess

whether the imperial expedition is targeting the Northern Desert

or Xiaonan Prefecture?

If it is the latter,

this treason

can never be absolved.

I promise you

that if you withdraw your troops now,

I can ensure you remain unscathed.

Should you not be begging me

to spare that boy's life

when I ascend the throne?

Or if you submit to me now,

I can spare your life as well.

Xiao Hong,

His Majesty and I have no need for your mercy,

nor will you have the chance

to face His Majesty in battle.

With Xiao Xun captured,

the Xiaonan forces in the Capital

are left without a head,

destined to crumble at the first strike.

The day His Majesty's cavalry

crushes Xiaonan Prefecture,

your treacherous correspondence

with the Northern Desert

will be posted on every city gate.

When the time comes,

the frontier troops of Yunzhong

will be waiting to sever

every head of your clan.

I will have them all displayed,

one by one, atop the city gates,

for all to witness.

The court historians will write

as I command.

The traitor Xiao Hong

is condemned for treason.

His clan shall be exterminated.

Every life in the Prince of Xiaonan's Residence,

and every blade that falls on them,

serve to atone for your infamy.

Did you believe

I captured Xiao Xun

to threaten you?

I want you to know

I can take his head at any moment.

If you persist in your defiance,

I will ensure that there is not a single soul left

to shed a tear for the Xiao Clan.

Even with perfect timing,

you still need a spark to ignite it.

Xiao Hong,

as long as I draw breath,

Xiao Clan

can forget about touching the throne.

Your Lordship,

standing for too long harms your bad leg.

Why don't you take a seat and talk?

You fool,

do you truly think

you are the one to end this game?

What I want is simple.

Withdraw your troops

and leave Xiao Xun as a hostage.

Your Lordship

would still hold dominion over Xiaonan.

It's a pity

the world

doesn't bend to your will alone.

As things stand,

even if I were willing to retreat,

someone else would not allow it.

Xie Yanfang has brought His Majesty

to the front lines.

The imperial expedition

is acclaimed by all,

its momentum

like a rising tide.

After all your planning,

are you truly resigned to letting another

reap the rewards?

I only know

that Your Lordship must accept

my terms.

Your Lordship broke your leg in a fall at seven,

yet the late Emperor

met that frailty with nothing but disdain.

Having survived until today,

are you truly content

to die at the hands of a mere woman like me?

You...

Her Highness considers your situation,

and has specially prepared

a letter of surrender for Your Lordship.

The moment Your Lordship affixes your seal,

it will be dispatched to the Capital.

If I can surrender my son

to suppress this rebellion,

what can you possibly offer me?

How does the title

of the Prince of State sound

to Your Lordship?

The first sentence in Her Highness's letter

certainly gets straight to the point.

This w*r must not come to pass.

Her Highness states

she has captured

the heir to the Lord of Xiaonan, Xiao Xun,

and by holding the life of the Xiao Clan over his head,

she has forced the Lord to withdraw his troops.

She only asks the imperial court

to pardon their sins,

requiring only that Xiao Xun enter the Capital as a hostage,

and that the Prince of Xiaonan be granted the title of Prince of State.

Is Her Highness being

too lenient?

Not punishing them is one thing,

but to grant him an even higher title?

Absurd.

Treason is a grave crime.

How could it be so easily pardoned?

In my view,

the Lord of Xiaonan should return

to the Capital to beg for forgiveness.

- Right. - Yes.

Her Highness argues in her letter:

"While the court's forces are strong,

the Northern Desert is restless.

The Lord of Xiaonan has long harbored treasonous designs.

If the conflict drags on,

I fear the state will be plunged into chaos

for decades.

The Lord of Xiaonan covets the throne but lacks the spine for it.

If his edge is blunted,

he will surely tread with extreme caution.

Therefore,

the court can subdue the enemy

without a w*r."

A victory without a w*r is like

merits going unnoticed.

Even if we are willing,

would Mr. Xie be?

Now that

His Majesty has assembled the forces

for an imperial expedition,

negotiating peace secretly

with the Lord of Xiaonan

would bring unimaginable infamy upon us.

Mr. Deng, what gives you such support,

enough to rival the Xie Clan,

is the late Emperor's dying wish

to place the Imperial Seal in your hands.

It is not you they follow,

but the power behind you.

In w*r and peace, it is the generals who hold sway.

A commander in the field

need not always heed the Emperor's orders.

If even an imperial command can be refused,

what then of a regent's authority?

So, Mr. Deng,

do you intend to serve in an age of chaos

or an age of prosperity?

Draft the decree.

Yes.

The Northern Desert is encroaching,

and His Majesty is leading the army in person.

The Lord of Xiaonan intended to dispatch troops

to garrison the Capital.

However, Xiao Xun,

in...

his obstinate defiance,

harbored treasonous designs.

By commanding Xiao Xun to the Capital to face justice,

the Prince of Xiaonan has placed duty above blood,

a loyalty most commendable.

The title of Prince of State is hereby conferred upon him,

in recognition of his fealty.

Your Highness, please rise.

Father has cast me aside.

His Lordship had no other choices.

Please do not hold a grudge against His Lordship.

Why would I?

A sacrificed piece

must know its place.

Chu Zhao has set an inescapable trap.

Be careful on your way

to the Capital, Your Highness.

Chu Zhao.

Are you certain it is safe now?

Rest assured.

It has been safe for some time.

Mr. Chu,

there is still a grand undertaking waiting for you.

Grand undertaking?

What is that?

Her Highness says

you are to accompany

Xiao Xun back to the Capital.

Having achieved such a monumental success,

​you should go and see​ His Majesty

​to receive your rewards.

That's right.

We did render our service.

We deserve a reward.

Go.

Let's claim it.

Darling,

do you truly wish to go?

Could this be another errand to our deaths?

Wait.

We risked our lives

for this.

It is real.

Father, remember to ask His Majesty

for plenty of rewards.

After all,

I did give up a chance

to marry into power.

That's for sure.

- Let's go claim our rewards. - Alright.

Hold on tight.

Mother, easy.

Hurry.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

You may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Mr. Deng, I appreciate your tireless dedication

to affairs of state.

Guarding the state for Your Majesty

is my duty.

With you presiding over the court,

I was able to march with peace of mind.

You have earned

great merit.

Your Majesty,

where is Mr. Xie?

He offered to remain

in Xiaonan Prefecture to handle the aftermath.

He will return to the Capital

once the situation is settled.

Given the gravity of the matter,

would it be wise to leave it

entirely to Mr. Xie?

He is my own flesh and blood.

How could it not be appropriate?

Do you doubt

his ability to manage

the affairs of Xiaonan Prefecture?

I would not dare to speak recklessly.

Everything is at Your Majesty's discretion.

The imperial uncle's carriage

has entered the city.

I leave

the rest to your discretion.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[The Capital]

Send His Highness to the side residence.

Assign more guards

and ensure His Highness is well cared for.

Yes.

Long live His Majesty!

The rebels of Xiaonan Prefecture are repelled

and the State of Chu is preserved

for eternity!

"For eternity"?

They actually treat Your Highness as a prisoner.

A defeated enemy

deserves no courtesies.

It should have been Your Highness entering the city in triumph.

Chu Zhao used you as a hostage,

and His Lordship had no choice but to retreat his troops,

wasting all his efforts.

Did Father call back his troops

for my sake,

or for his reputation?

We both know the answer.

But it doesn't matter.

Even if my father has no regard for me,

I still have to play the dutiful son,

don't I?

Your Highness.

No need for comfort.

Chu Zhao's scheme was brilliant.

First, she used the Longwei Army to threaten Father

into hesitation,

then she joined forces with Xie Yanfang

to deceive my nephew

into leading an imperial expedition.

Father has been so cautious

that he would not risk sending troops.

How could His Lordship do this?

Father has valued

a rightful name above all else his entire life.

Yet,

he was nearly branded a traitor

by Chu Zhao and Xie Yanfang,

so he had to abandon me.

My mistake

was underestimating Chu Zhao again.

I never thought

she was capable of such ruthlessness,

wagering me over Xiaonan Prefecture,

and Xiaonan Prefecture

over the will of the people.

If Your Highness wishes to leave,

I will risk my life

to escort you out of the city.

Why the rush?

Since we are back in the Capital,

I might as well play out

the rest of this game

with Chu Zhao.

♪Broken walls and withered branches, trapped in the mire♪

♪Yet still striving to reach for the sky♪

♪My pride is torn down and my body is sacrificed♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint, I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean, however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up, I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand, I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪

♪Peril is everywhere in the palace♪

♪Yet I smile to nobody but you♪

♪Amidst the chaos♪

♪I'll always be with you♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint, I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean, however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up, I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand, I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪