5th Day of the 1st Fire Cycle[1], 2000 g.c.
The quantum tunneling through the Sycamore Tree's central floors spat Alex out hard into the middle of Floor Thirty-Four's main hallway. One blink, he was weightless, the next, his boots scraped stone as his balance caught up with reality. The corridor stood empty, but it damn sure wasn't quiet. Despair clung to the air like a wet cloth. Every breath tasted wrong. Copper-heavy. Old blood. Fresh blood. The kind of smell that told stories nobody wanted to hear.
Red splashes stained the cobblestone walls in violent arcs, streaking down like someone tried to scrub away a massacre and failed. The floor told the same tale, darkened patches soaking deep into the stone. Alex's head snapped side to side, scanning fast, pulse climbing as panic crawled up his spine. No Ameera. No Roman. No sign of her father. His fingers tightened around the Dawn Goddess without him realizing it.
Her voice flowed into his mind, silvery and alert.
"This is where I left her before the recall happened. They must have gone up a floor."
Alex glanced down the corridor, eyes narrowing as faint trails of mana shimmered at the edge of his perception.
"I think there are some signatures down there."
He didn't wait. The moment the words left his mouth, he broke into a sprint. His boots slapped stone hard and fast, echoes chasing him as worry cinched tighter around his chest. Every step felt like a gamble. Every second tasted like it might be one too late.
"I can feel your emotions brewing within," Danica said, her tone steady, grounding. "We'll get there in time. I know it."
Alex's jaw clenched as he ran.
"I could never forgive myself if I let her die. Not after I promised her I would save her father. Not after I brought her along to this place."
A pause lingered between strides.
"Master Alex," Danica said carefully, "I know this might not be the best time, but I want to know. Do you genuinely have feelings for her?"
The only sound for a few seconds was his breathing and the rhythmic thunder of boots on stone. He didn't slow down.
"Well… yeah."
Her voice softened.
"You do?"
"I don't really understand it," he said, eyes locked forward, "but there's a connection I felt since she and I met."
"A connection?"
"Something similar to the one I feel with you. That's why I'm convinced she's important to me."
Silence followed. Not the empty kind. The thinking kind. When Danica spoke again, it sounded like she was half talking to herself.
"I get it, Master. Well, let's go save my rival."
Alex didn't catch it, though. His mind was already racing ahead. He rounded the corner at the end of the corridor and skidded to a sharp halt.
Two Watchers stood locked in brutal combat with three Velonican Wolven prisoners. The Watchers moved wrong. Oddly mechanical. Way too insect-like for me. The Wolvens' maroon eyes stared through leather flesh and bone, empty and obedient, while Blood Mana and Divinity Mana crawled over their forms like living veins. Kiranna's work. Heavy and cruel. Yet the Blood Witch herself was nowhere in sight.
Neither were Ameera, Roman, or her father.
The Wolvens fought like cornered animals. Divinity Mana pumped into them kept them standing, but barely. Their claws struck with desperation more than skill. Bodies already lay crumpled nearby, fur soaked dark, proof enough of how outmatched they were. Momentum leaned ugly. One good hit and it would be over.
A light brown Wolven stumbled out of position.
Too slow. One Watcher slid into his blindside, green claw rising.
Alex moved without thinking. His arm shot forward as Hellfire Mana compressed in his palm, black and white flames twisting together like they hated each other. The orb screamed as it formed, heat biting the air.
"Hellfire Mana Arts: Ember Shot!"
The fireball detonated into the Watcher's spine. Obsidian flames swallowed the angelic creature whole, its screech tearing through the hallway before choking out in burning silence. The body collapsed inward, reduced to cracking black stone and ash.
Alex was already gathering mana for another shot when the second Watcher turned, fully aware now.
The second Ember Shot flew.
The Watcher dodged. The blast shaved past it close enough to singe stone and nearly clipped the gray Wolven fighting beside it. Alex cursed under his breath and changed gears mid-motion. He pulled the remaining Hellfire Mana back into his palm and layered it across the Dawn Goddess.
The bō ignited. Black fire crawled along its length as Alex spun, momentum clean and tight, then brought it down like judgment. The strike landed square against the Watcher's skull. Blue ichor exploded across the hallway. The creature's body slammed into the concrete floor with a wet, final crunch, cracking stone and leaving behind a shallow crater. Alex exhaled hard, a brief grin breaking through as the fire guttered out.
Then the prisoners noticed him. The three Wolvens turned as one, forced roars tearing from their throats. The sound was wrong. Half threat, half plea. Their eyes still empty. Still owned.
Alex raised his hands slightly as they advanced.
"I don't want to harm you guys. But I don't have time to waste right here."
They rushed him anyway.
Claws slashed. Fangs snapped. Alex shifted his footing, dodging and parrying with tight movements, redirecting force instead of meeting it head-on. He slipped between strikes, tapping one Wolven just hard enough to shove him into the other two. They tumbled together, buying Alex a breath of space.
"I need to free them from that stupid ass Imp's control."
Danica's presence flared brighter.
"Then you should use my Ultra Skill, [Royalty]. Its subskill, [Fine By Me], should break that kind of physical control. Especially since it lets you rewrite the laws of a battlefield."
Alex's eyes widened.
"You're saying I can override the witch's hex?"
"Yeah. It's the same skill I used to return you to your senses when you went berserk."
A grin tugged at his mouth despite the pressure.
"Smooth. Then I got an idea."
He inhaled, steadying himself.
"Also, Danica, thanks for having my back."
Her response came with a soft, amused warmth.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Master Alex."
Astral Mana surged first, silver and calm, followed by Quantum Mana snapping into place in sharp azure sparks. The two braided together around him, motes swirling faster until a crown of energy formed overhead. The pressure lifted him slightly off the ground as the halo settled onto his head. Wind screamed down the corridor, forcing the Wolvens to brace themselves.
Alex raised his voice, clear and absolute.
"I decree, no Wolvens of any kind shall follow the orders of another while in my presence—[Royalty: Fine By Me]!"
The crown shattered outward.
Divine force blasted down the hallway, a visible wall of pressure slamming into the charging Wolvens. The mana drained him brutally, ripping through his reserves until less than a quarter remained. When the crown dissolved back into the aether, Alex staggered and dropped to one knee.
The spell worked instantly.
The bloody haze peeled away from the Wolvens' eyes. They gasped and coughed, shaking as control snapped back into place. One look passed between them. Then relief broke through like sunlight after rain. They pulled each other into tight embraces, voices cracking with laughter and disbelief.
"Congrats, Master. It was a success," Danica said.
Alex wiped sweat from his brow.
His ear still rang while his grip slowly ended its trembling.
"Shit, that takes a lot outta you."
He barely had time to stand before the Wolvens swarmed him, gratitude pouring out raw and unfiltered. Tears clung to fur. Noses ran shamelessly.
"Thank you so much, milord. You smell of the great Tengu from the northern lands."
"Hush, James," the light brown Wolven snapped. "That time in prison must've driven you crazy. Can't you smell the soil of the Janell Forest on him? He's clearly from our country."
Alex blinked.
"Yo. My name's Alex Zo of the Mikazuki Clan."
James froze.
"The Mikazuki? I'm so sorry, milord. I didn't know we were in the presence of nobility."
"I told you," the light brown Wolven said quickly. "My lord, could we beg a request from you?"
"You've gotta help us, Lord Alex," the orange-furred Wolven said urgently. "We've heard stories about the powerful Mikazuki Clan. You're the only one who could save our pack leader."
"BJ, you fucking idiot," the light brown Wolven snapped. "That's not how you speak to someone of the Demon Lord's clan."
Alex waved them off.
"Guys, it's cool. If you're talking about Ameera and the others, I'm already on it."
BJ's ears perked.
"Wait, so that was the priestess?"
"If Priestess Ameera is captured as well…" James muttered.
"Then you'll want to hurry up those stairs over there," the light brown Wolven said, pointing. "They shouldn't be far."
Alex nodded.
"Thanks. Make your way to the bottom to escape, but be cautious. The whole Sycamore Tree's crawling with Watchers."
Fear rippled across their faces. After a heavy pause, they nodded and moved off, shoulders slumped but steps determined. Alex didn't give them a speech. He turned and bolted for the stairs. Whatever doubt they carried behind him, his chest filled with something new. Confidence. Sharp and burning. As he took the steps two at a time, he felt it clearly.
This rescue wasn't over. It was just hitting its crescendo.
Little did Alex know that the floor he was attempting to exit was about to wake the hell up with his cavalry's arrival.
Back at the opposite end of the corridor, space itself started glitching. A golden-yellow tear chewed its way through reality, unstable and loud, spiraling wider as hyperspace bled into the dungeon. The air screamed. Then it spat out two bodies before snapping shut like it never existed.
Luda stumbled forward first, boots scraping as his vision swam. The sickness hit him late, curling his stomach and making the world tilt sideways.
"Shit," he muttered, hand bracing against the wall. "That made me nauseous."
Roxy followed a step behind, just as unsteady, but already moving to him. She placed a gentle hand against his back, patting slowly, focused more on him than herself.
"Are you okay, Your Highness?" she asked. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I'll be fine," he said, forcing the wave to pass. "Just need a second. I knew Spatial Mana was difficult to handle, but Xi makes that shit look like a breeze."
Roxy smiled faintly.
"I think you did a great job, considering the kilometers of distance we traveled just to go a floor above."
Luda let out a breath and straightened.
"These Trees of Wonder are just as ludicrous as I read about."
Before either of them could say more, a roar thundered down the corridor. Not distant. Not muffled. A raw, violent bellow that rattled mana crystals in the walls. Right after it, Alex's mana signature spiked hard, sharp enough to be felt like a pressure change.
Luda's head snapped toward the sound.
"I gotta say," he muttered, "Alex has really gotten strong. I'd honestly love to see him freestyle battle against Steez."
Roxy nodded, eyes glowing faintly.
"His bonding with Danica was not expected. I'm sure that's what's behind the difference in his battle power from twenty-six hours ago."
"Maybe," Luda said. "But I won't disregard his hard work trying to keep up with Xiro and me. Those types of artists are rare."
That's when the air cut. A jambiya burst from the shadows, curving straight toward Luda's head. He leaned back without panic, just enough for the blade to skim past his nose. The polished steel caught his reflection for half a heartbeat before burying itself into the stone wall behind him with a ringing crack.
Luda straightened and turned.
A man stepped out of the shadows like he owned them.
He wore a black turban and a fox mask, white as bone. Gold eyes burned behind the slits, steady and assessing. His outfit was black and admiral blue, trimmed in gold at the waist and forearms, catching candlelight with quiet authority. A white beard spilled free beneath the mask. Tan skin showed at his neck and hands, alive with Bio Mana, dense and disciplined.
This wasn't a street killer. This was a motherfuckin' professional.
"I wasn't sure at first," the man said calmly, "but now that I can see your eyes clearly, I'm convinced. You're a Demihuman. You and that woman."
Luda smirked.
"You should be more careful playing with knives," he said. "It's quite easy to have an accident with thumbs for fingers."
Roxy's glare sharpened, her stance tightening.
"The audacity of this Human to speak to you."
Behind the mask, Hassan assessed fast.
"His reaction speed is far faster than I guessed," he thought. "This man is hazardous. The woman as well."
Without looking, Luda reached back and touched the jambiya embedded in the wall. A flicker of Solar Mana pulsed from his fingertips. The dagger softened instantly, metal liquefying and dripping down the stone like molten wax.
Hassan's pulse ticked up.
"Instant casting," he noted. "And that exotic armor... Did I stumble into an unknown Demon Lord?"
Roxy never took her eyes off him.
"Should I kill this man for his disrespect, my love?"
Hassan inclined his head slightly.
"From how you refer to him, I assume I stand before someone important," he said. "May I ask who you are?"
"You speak with Prince Luda of the Braye Clan."
Hassan's shoulders eased just a fraction.
"The first prince of the Braye Kingdom. I knew the rumors of your death were fabricated. Still, I didn't expect to see you in Endora at this tragedy of a barbarian sex party."
"Consider yourself lucky your vision still works," Luda replied coolly. "It's not above me to keep turning a blind eye to that murderous intent pouring off you."
"I am Hassan of House Alamut," the man said. "Many call me the Old Man of the Mountain."
Luda's brow lifted.
"That family name is familiar. If I recall right, that's the family of Ascended Humans who run the Order of Assassins. The Hashshashin."
"I'm not surprised Braye's royal family knows of us," Hassan replied. "Then you know the danger of crossing paths with one of us."
"I've read the stories," Luda said. "I'm not impressed, gang."
"Then we share sentiments," Hassan answered. "I find your nation's military tactics lacking."
"I suggest you direct complaints to my Knight Commander."
Roxy shifted.
"Shall I take out the trash?"
"Nah," Luda said, stepping forward and pulling his face cowl higher. "Sit back. There's something I'm curious about with this supposed Human."
His eyes ignited jade green.
Behind him, space fractured as dozens of microportals bloomed open. Solar Mana javelins slid out of them like loaded spears, all aimed dead center at Hassan.
Hassan inhaled slowly.
"That amount of mana… I was right. An unknown Demon Lord. Likely one of the new generation we were warned would appear."
Fear didn't touch his posture, but caution did.
"It seems our introductions end here," Hassan said. "Allow me to stretch. I'm interested in testing the strength I sense in you."
His fingers folded, crossed, and snapped apart.
"Basic Earth Mana Arts: Stone Wall!"
The floor surged. Gravel and stone fused upward into a thick divider between them just as Luda spoke.
"[Empyreal Weapon Summon: King's Barrage]."
The corporeal javelins fired.
Solar Mana punched through stone like paper, detonating the wall into shrapnel. Dust filled the corridor. When it cleared, Hassan was gone.
"Where'd he get to?" Luda muttered.
The ground trembled beneath his foot.
Stone clustered, sharpening into a spear that erupted upward. It impaled straight through Luda's torso. Except it didn't.
His body liquefied mid-strike, turning into a water mannequin that split and collapsed into a puddle. From above, the real Luda dropped, Solar Mana spear already formed. He stabbed into a shadow pulsing on the ground.
Hassan burst out, rolling into a crouch just in time to avoid the spearhead.
"I see you are well-trained," Hassan said. "Instant casting. Sensory detection. Who is your teacher, young M-Cee?"
"I'm a student of the Lady Red," Luda replied. "The previous Demon Lord of Velonica."
Hassan stiffened.
"So the Lady of Red is behind this new generation. I knew she was too dangerous to leave alive."
"You're pretty spry for an old man," Luda said, settling into a stance. "But that won't save you from this ass whippin', gang."
Before either could move, divine pressure slammed through the corridor. A magickal wind blasted past, reeking of Paradiso and metallic ozone.
Luda froze.
"The hell? That can't be."
Roxy gagged slightly.
"Eww… That smell. There's a Principality near."
Hassan's eyes widened behind the mask.
"That's one of the Zodiac Keys... I need to leave. I can't afford to have my cover blown."
He straightened.
"I must cut our meeting short, Prince Braye. Other matters call."
"Huh?" Luda scoffed. "Sounds like you're runnin'. Are you a scared lil' bitch, Grand Assassin?"
"What a sharp tongue on you. I won't forget this exchange," Hassan said. "Open skies to you, future warrior king."
Earth Mana gathered under his feet.
" Bury the shadows. Yin/Earth Mixed Arts: Dark Tunnel."
The ground swallowed him whole. Black dirt exploded upward, choking the corridor in an ebony cloud. When it cleared, Hassan was gone.
Roxy lowered her guard.
"What intense bloodlust... for a human."
"That's the thing," Luda said. "I don't think he was fully human. His aura had a similar vibe to what I sense in Xiro's."
"The Infernian aspect?"
"Exactly," Luda replied. "Anyway, let's move. We need to check out that signature down there. I'm positive Taurus is here."
"Yes, my king."
They took off down the corridor, chasing the hunt. Because somewhere ahead, a Trapper had entered the area.
And Luda knew shit was about to get even more turnt.
Meanwhile, just a floor above, Kiranna Rosalett had relocated.
She walked like she owned the place, Roman Una trailing behind her like a broken weapon, and Melech Una stumbling last with his unconscious daughter slung over his shoulder. The Fighting Pits opened before them into a wide, brutal chamber carved for suffering. This was where the Panty Raiders gathered to gamble on desperation. Prisoners fought here for scraps of food, for the chance to breathe another day, or for punishments meant to break bodies and minds alike.
The air reeked. Rust. Sweat. Fear soaked so deep into the stone that even the torches lining the walls burned with a sick orange glow, shadows flickering like specters watching from the stands. Gallons of blood still pooled across the arena floor, dark and tacky in places, fresh and glossy in others.
Kiranna kicked a severed Dark Elf arm out of her way, bone skidding across stone. Her body hummed. Euphoria rolled through her veins like liquid gold. Every breath felt perfect. Every movement felt powerful. Her blonde hair shimmered with iridescent light, glowing softly as Divinity Mana coursed through her like a drug she never wanted to quit. She hummed to herself, quiet and pleased. Then the glow began to fade. Her hair dulled. The buzz softened.
She clicked her tongue.
"It lasted shorter this time," she muttered, flexing her fingers. "But it was far stronger than the pills I took earlier."
Pain hit her without warning.
A sharp, tearing agony ripped through her shoulders and spine. Her muscles screamed as the Cultivation Pill's buff collapsed inward, stress rebounding through tissue pushed far past its limits. Kiranna hissed, spine arching as her breath caught.
That single slip was enough. Her concentration fractured. The blood threads anchoring Melech unraveled, dripping back into the crimson pools below. His vision snapped into focus as his mind returned to his body. The one-eyed Wolven didn't hesitate. He leapt back instantly, claws scraping stone as he pulled distance between himself and Kiranna, Ameera still slung over his shoulder.
"I don't know what happened," he growled, shaking his head, "but I'm myself again. Free of that hag's manipulation."
Kiranna staggered, Divinity Mana bleeding out of her like steam. The iridescent glow vanished entirely, leaving her breathing heavier than she liked.
"Shit. Shit. Shit," she thought. "I overdid it. I'll make that white doggo protect me while I recover for a second."
Melech glanced down at his daughter, then at Roman, still standing stiff and hollow-eyed under Kiranna's control. His gaze returned to her, one eye burning with resolve.
No words were needed. He knew what had to be done.
He knelt and gently lowered Ameera beside him, brushing a claw through her hair. His voice softened as he leaned close.
"I'm so proud of you, Ameera," he whispered. "Thank you for saving me."
He straightened, wiping blood from his muzzle as he turned to face his brother. His stance widened, claws digging in. Pain screamed through his body, but his resolve was louder.
"With the precision to cut black lightning," he said, voice steady, "guide my strikes. Activate—[Ebony Blade: Yasuke]!"
Lightning exploded around him.
Black and yellow volts crackled through his fur, crawling over his limbs like living serpents. His Magic Gem necklace expanded and pulsed, dumping Gem Mana straight into his core. Even as his Vessel Skill riled up, it hurt. Bad. His muscles spasmed as raw energy ricocheted through him, forcing a sharp snarl from his throat.
He pushed through it anyway.
"Here I come, Roman," he said. "I won't leave you to die in that bitch's hands."
Roman roared in response.
His missing arm left his balance off, but Wind Mana poured around him regardless, forming sharp currents along his remaining claws. His fur was matted with blood and dirt, his eyes wild and unfocused.
They launched at each other. Supersonic. Lightning met tempest. Their collision detonated into an electrical gale that ripped across the arena, cracking stone walls and rattling chains high above. Wind blades slashed for Melech's face, but he twisted past them, sliding behind Roman in one smooth motion. He pressed a crackling orb of electricity into the back of Roman's skull. The electric pulse was gentle. Precise.
Roman's body locked, then went limp, collapsing unconscious to the floor.
It was done. Melech freed him. But his body chose that moment to betray him. Pain crashed in full force. His legs buckled as he yelped, dropping to one knee, breath tearing from his lungs. Kiranna clicked her tongue again. Blood rose from the surrounding puddles, slithering back into her body as she drained the last whispers of life from the scarlet liquid. Her posture straightened. Her breathing steadied. She adjusted her glasses calmly.
Ameera's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was her father on one knee, panting, blood dripping from his fur. Then she saw Kiranna approaching, Blood Mana swirling into her palm. The liquid thickened, sharpening into a massive crimson blade shard. The iron stench burned her nose.
"Well, doggo," Kiranna said casually, "your usefulness is over. Might as well kill all of you and prep for that white-haired guy to come back."
Her mana surged.
"Enhanced Yang/Water Mixed Arts: Bloody Wraith's Spade."
She raised her arm.
She never saw the lightning.
A yellow bolt crossed her vision, and then Ameera was there, fist slamming into her face with a thunderous crack. Electricity exploded on impact, launching Kiranna into the wall hard enough to crater stone. The blood blade dissolved midair, splashing harmlessly across the floor.
Ameera staggered, breathing ragged.
"Don't touch my father," she gasped. "Bitch."
Her legs shook as she bent forward, hands on her knees. Melech reached weakly and grabbed her ankle.
"Ameera," he said. "Escape with the Pack Leader. I'll—"
"Shut up!" she snapped, tears streaming. "I'm not leaving you behind. I could never."
"Our goal," he said through pain, "was always to save the Una Clan. Roman must live. Without him, our people end today."
"I can't," she cried. "You and Uncle Roman are all I have."
"You're wrong," he whispered. "Your real mother still lives."
Her breath caught.
"What?" she said. "She died giving birth to me. Everyone knows that."
Their conversation never got the chance to finish.
Ameera's ears twitched first. Then her eyes snapped up. A spear of crystallized blood tore through the air toward her, screaming like it wanted her soul more than her body. The crimson javelin twisted as it flew, layers of hardened Blood Mana rotating around a lethal core. The iron stench hit her nose so hard it burned.
She couldn't move. Lack of mana and fatigue took hold of her body. Her legs locked. Her lungs forgot how to work. Ameera tensed up, every muscle screaming as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the end. The impact never came. Instead, something warm splashed across her face.
Wet. Thick. She opened her eyes. Red dotted her muzzle.
Her father stood between her and the projectile.
The javelin had punched clean through Melech's torso, erupting out of his back in a violent spray. His body was lifted off his feet and thrown across the dirt, carving a shallow trench before he rolled to a stop. Blood poured out of him in heavy spurts, soaking into the arena floor.
"Father!" she screamed. "Noooo!!"
Kiranna didn't even flinch.
"Dumb ass doggo," she said flatly. "Got in my way and still died."
Ameera ran.
She slid across the dirt on her knees, hands shaking as she gathered Melech's head into her lap. His remaining eye struggled to focus, each breath hitching harder than the last. A wet gurgle rattled in his chest.
"No no no no," she cried, hands glowing faintly. "Stay with me."
Yang Mana tried to answer her call. Nothing came.
The spell sputtered, flickering weakly before collapsing in on itself. Her Mana Pool was bone dry.
"Oh my Creator," she sobbed, pressing her forehead to his. "Please. Aeons within the stars, please help me. Save my father. Please!"
His claw twitched.
"…Meera," he whispered. "Listen."
"Don't talk," she begged. "Dad, save your strength. Please."
"Roman knows where," he rasped. "Where in the Holy… Lands to find her."
Her breath hitched.
"I don't care about that right now," she cried. "I just need you to live."
"I'm so proud," he said softly. "Of you, kiddo."
Tears streamed freely now, dripping onto his fur.
"Dad… don't leave me."
His muzzle trembled into a smile, weak but real.
"Fight hard," he breathed. "For whatever… you love."
The light in his eye dimmed.
Then it was gone.
"Faa…ther... nooo!"
Ameera screamed until her throat burned. She clawed at the air, forcing mana that wasn't there, her desperation ripping at the fabric of her soul. Empty mana clusters formed and popped around her hands like broken bubbles. Each failed attempt shattered her focus even more.
Behind her, Kiranna watched it all. Slowly. Patiently. Blood Mana gathered in her palm, swirling into a dense orb of scarlet and black, pulsing with a heartbeat that wasn't hers. She stepped closer, boots crunching softly against blood-soaked dirt. That's when the footsteps stopped behind her.
Kiranna stiffened.
She turned.
And saw a face she was really tired of.
"There yo' ugly ass go," Alex said, cracking his neck. "So, bitch... You still want that fade or nah?"
Yeah.
At last, Alex Zo had finally rejoined the motherfuckin' battle.
[End of Chapter]
[1] April on Earth