The night was no longer just deep— it was filled with silence. The ancient walls of the palace, its towering pillars, and the shadows of its corridors seemed wrapped in a blanket of sleep. All around was such stillness that only the faint echo of breathing and the soft hum of crystals in the darkness could be heard. Inside the palace, within a vast, wide chamber— three figures stood.
In the upper part of the chamber, Jury stood motionless, holding a staff embedded with a red crystal. The blood-colored aura emanating from that crystal cast trembling shadows on the walls. To her right— Shon stood holding a staff set with a green crystal. There was coolness in that green light, yet a hidden sharpness lurked within it, like a poisonous vine, and beside them— Lith held a staff embedded with a blue crystal. That light did not radiate outward— instead, it seemed to absorb the darkness, as if it were an extension of darkness itself.
The combined glow of the three crystals pushed back the thick darkness of the chamber. This light was not one of protection— it was of conspiracy.
Before them— Humbha sat upon a tall, ornate chair. Her posture was calm, but in the depths of her eyes countless schemes drifted. Beside her— Mascar stood. Motionless, silent, yet his presence itself was a warning.
Suddenly— Shon stepped forward and bowed her head. Her voice was low, but the edge of resolve was clearly evident in it— "My Queen… tomorrow I will complete my task."
A satisfied smile spread across Humbha's lips. It was not a smile of reassurance— but of a predetermined end.
At that very moment— Jury took a deep breath.
And along with it, a cold, heavy breath escaped Lith's lips as well.
Lith's voice was as deep as the darkness— "Then… we too should complete our unfinished work of yesterday night."
At that moment— the light in the chamber was still.
But within that stillness— the sound of the coming bloodshed was clearly audible.
On the other side— in the depths of darkness, Lily sat in complete calm, immersed in meditation.
Her body was still, her breathing controlled— and her consciousness flowed inward. She was digesting within herself the energy of the spiritual stones given by Snehwal. That energy was not ordinary— it was dense, ancient, and ferocious. With every passing moment— that power was dissolving into her veins, bones, and soul. Suddenly— Lily sensed something.
Her heart skipped a beat. She had come extremely close to touching the highest level of the sixth stage.
That threshold… beyond which lay the meaning of a new birth. The moment she realized this— Lily intensified her focus even further. She began to digest the energy at an even faster pace, as if she wished to complete herself ahead of time.
On the other side— Snehwal.
He was submerged in deep sleep upon his bed. There was exhaustion on his face, yet his mind was pure.
He had no awareness— that the shadow of death was slowly creeping toward him.
Then— Creak… the window opened on its own.
From within the darkness— two figures emerged. Lith… and Jury.
Their eyes carried cold intent. Without speaking a single word— the two of them together instantly formed a circular barrier of spiritual energy around the room. That barrier was transparent— yet unbreakable. Its purpose was clear— no sound must escape outside. No scream, no struggle… nothing at all.
After that— Lith moved forward.
Her steps were slow, yet sharp. Her fingers gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. She reached the side of Snehwal's bed— and the edge of her blade tilted toward his neck.
A cruel smile appeared on Lith's lips. Within her mind, words echoed—
"Lily… now your host will meet his end. And my desire… will finally be fulfilled today."
A short distance away in the room— Lily was still seated in meditation. Completely unaware… or perhaps— pretending to be unaware.
And in one corner of the room— Jury stood watching all of this. A satisfied, twisted smile spread across her face.
The room was silent. Very silent and deeply dark. Because in this palace, there was no provision for lighting torches at night.
But within that darkness— death was breathing.
Then— an apparition appeared inside the room.
Its appearance was sudden— as if the darkness itself had given birth to it, and the very next moment— its voice echoed— "My dear… since when have you started doing such shameless things?"
There was no sweetness in that voice— there was such pressure in it, such weight— that even the air grew heavy.
Jury and Lith— both froze where they stood. Their breaths caught. Their feet felt as if they had been glued to the ground. Their bodies refused to obey them. At that very moment— Lily's eyes opened.
Those eyes were no longer calm— there was awakening in them, and a warning as well.
Lith and Jury were in shock. Only one question echoed in their minds—
"How… is this possible?"
The spiritual barrier they had created— it was not broken. There was no crack in it. Nor was there any sign of an external impact.
And yet— that figure… was standing inside the barrier. And in that moment— they realized for the first time that today, they were not the hunters. Today… they themselves had become the prey.