Re:Chaos

[Scene: The Kingdom of Lugunica — Royal Castle War Council]

Inside the ancient marble halls of the Lugunican royal palace, an emergency summit was underway.

All five royal candidates were present:

Emilia, pale but calm.

Crusch Karsten, as composed as ever.

Anastasia, guarded, calculating.

Priscilla, smirking like a queen already.

Felt, arms crossed, scowling.

At the head of the table: Margrave Roswaal. On his shoulder perched a silent blue butterfly—Echidna's fragment, observing.

Also present: generals, nobles, Church officials... and Reinhard van Astrea.

Silence reigned until Emilia spoke.

"He saved us. From the Cult."

Crusch responded, "He also traumatized an entire continent. That wasn't justice. That was theater."

Anastasia adjusted her scarf. "Power like that doesn't serve a throne. It becomes one."

Priscilla sipped wine. "He is a being above nations. Above meaning. We should kneel or be ground beneath his whim."

Felt growled, "I don't kneel to freaks."

Roswaal laughed softly. "The question, dear friends, is simple: do we try to control him, or destroy him?"

All eyes turned to Reinhard.

He stood, eyes closed, arms folded.

"Neither," he said softly. "You don't control wildfires."

He opened his eyes. Burning blue.

"You extinguish them."

Gasps echoed.

Emilia stood. "Reinhard, no. You can't just decide—"

"I'm not deciding," he said calmly. "I'm taking responsibility. I let this world grow complacent in the name of order. But he's made it clear: he doesn't belong."

Crusch clenched her jaw. "You mean to challenge that thing alone?"

"Yes," Reinhard said.

He turned to the council.

"You may continue your debates. But understand this—if Bill Cipher is left unchecked, the gods themselves may stop watching us. And when they look away..."

He didn't finish.

He vanished in a flash of light, headed toward Bill.

[Scene: The Empire of Vollachia — Emperor's War Chamber]

Word reached the red throne quickly.

"Reinhard has declared a crusade."

The young Emperor stared at the messenger.

"Do we assist him?"

The generals were split.

"Bill is a threat," one said. "He shattered the cult. He humiliated the Archbishops. What happens if we become his next joke?"

Another countered, "He protected Emilia's camp. The world watched him tear evil apart. Maybe we offer him an alliance. A role."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes. "You can't give a throne to a god. He either takes it or leaves it behind."

After a pause, he whispered:

"Prepare our best. Not to kill. To watch. If Reinhard fails—we must know what we're dealing with."

[Scene: Gusteko — Council of Winds]

Snow howled outside the ice fortress.

The shaman-mage of the north stared into the storm mirror.

"I saw him undo prophecy," she whispered.

Her guards shivered.

The tribes debated fiercely. Warriors called for war. Priests for worship. Merchants for negotiations.

But the chieftain raised his hand.

"We wait," he said. "Let the Sword Saint test him. If he falls, we don't need to decide. We prepare to survive."

[Scene: Pristella — Anastasia's Private Quarters]

Alone now, Julius turned to Anastasia.

"You said it yourself," he said softly. "He can't be on a throne. He is one."

Anastasia looked out at the floating orb that showed Reinhard moving—approaching the forest where Bill waited.

"I wonder," she whispered, "if even the Sword Saint is enough."

[Scene: Forest Clearing — Bill's Camp]

Bill Cipher sat cross-legged on a floating cube made of glowing runes.

He was waiting.

Rem stood behind him, unsure. Watching the tension in his posture.

"You knew he'd come," she said.

Bill smiled without looking.

"Oh, Remmy. He's always coming. A sword that sharp can't stay in its sheath forever."

And then—

The wind bent.

The trees bowed.

A man stepped through light itself.

Reinhard van Astrea.

He did not speak.

Bill stood.

His smile was genuine.

"Red," he said warmly. "I was wondering when you'd wake up."

Reinhard's eyes narrowed.

"You are not part of this world."

Bill bowed.

"Neither were meteors. But they made a dent, didn't they?"

The sword on Reinhard's back burned without flames.

He drew it slowly.

"I will give you a chance. Leave. Or face me."

Bill's smile vanished.

"I think I'll take the third option."

The trees exploded outward.

And the battle began.