In Aurelius, everyone was still standing in front of the portal that, just a few moments earlier, had led them straight to the city of Taperis.
The light of the runes was slowly fading, and a faint glow from the remaining energy still lingered in the air.
Valdor stood motionless for a moment, gazing at the portal.
Then he turned away.
His gaze settled on Kiyoshi.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Around them, the team members were slowly beginning to prepare to leave, but Valdor took a few steps toward Kiyoshi.
He stopped in front of him.
"Thank you for looking after Mayuri." — Valdor said calmly.
Kiyoshi looked at him for a moment.
After a moment, he laughed softly and waved his hand.
"It's no big deal."
Valdor raised an eyebrow slightly.
Kiyoshi glanced toward Mayuri, who was standing a few steps away.
"I just did what had to be done."
Valdor nodded.
"Still, I'm grateful to you."
Kiyoshi smiled slightly.
"If you ever need help rebuilding your country…"
He took a step closer to Valdor.
"Come to me."
Valdor looked at him intently.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Kiyoshi folded his arms.
"But in return, we'll form an alliance."
A faint smile appeared on Valdor's face.
"An alliance?"
"Exactly."
Kiyoshi held out his hand.
"What do you say?"
Valdor looked at his hand.
He was silent for a brief moment.
Then he smiled.
"I agree."
Kiyoshi laughed.
"All right."
Valdor held out his hand.
Their hands met in a firm handshake.
It wasn't just an ordinary gesture.
It was the first agreement between the future king of the rebuilding Kingdom of Dragons and Taperis, whose journey, too, was just beginning.
Mayuri watched them with a slight smile.
Noah looked at Kael.
"Did they just form an alliance in thirty seconds?"
Kael shrugged.
"Apparently, politics doesn't have to be boring."
"It's still boring." — Noah said.
Arwen sighed.
"Shut up, Noah."
Valdor let go of Kiyoshi's hand.
"I hope we'll meet again."
"We will." — Kiyoshi replied. — "I'm sure of it."
The portal behind them flashed once more.
Valdor glanced in its direction.
Then he turned back to his team.
They had a long road ahead of them.
A battle against the warriors of darkness — an enemy whose true power they still did not understand.
But now they were no longer alone.
Valdor looked at Kiyoshi one last time.
"See you later."
"See you later, Valdor."
Kiyoshi set off toward the portal.
And behind them, in silence, Dragon Gon watched as they disappeared into the light.
An alliance had been forged.
And though none of them knew it yet...
In the future, it would change far more than any of them could have imagined.
"So let's go get something to eat." — Luna said, clasping her hands with a smile.
Valdor looked at her.
"Finally, a good idea."
Mayuri laughed softly.
"Since when is eating more important than saving the world?"
Valdor shrugged.
"Even the future king of Dragonaria has to eat."
Luna headed toward the exit.
"Well, come on, before I change my mind."
Kael and the others followed her, while Valdor gazed toward the garden for a moment longer.
"All right…" — he whispered.
Then he turned and joined the rest of them.
Meanwhile, in Azrok, the warriors of Darkness entered a small chamber where Leo was to be extracted from Valdor's body.
The interior was dimly lit. The demons were working on a massive structure resembling a circular platform surrounded by thick chains. Strange runes were inscribed on its surface.
Arthur looked at the structure with displeasure.
"Why are we even doing this?" — he asked.
Elio looked at him.
"Leo is our trump card. He's the only one of us with the greatest reserves of magic."
Arthur snorted.
"I still don't understand why we need him."
Then someone approached him from behind.
"Sylphia…" — Arthur whispered, glancing at her over his shoulder.
Sylphia looked at him coldly.
"Arthur. We need him."
Arthur laughed.
"Him? Are you kidding? I defeated Valdor all by myself. We don't need Leo!"
Sylphia took a step toward him.
"You defeated Valdor when he was weak and hadn't yet mastered his power."
Arthur's smile slowly faded.
"Watch what you say."
"It's true." — Sylphia replied coolly. — "Leo possesses a power that none of us can replace."
Elio turned toward them.
"Whether you like it or not, Arthur." — Nathan ordered.
Arthur clenched his fists.
"Tch..."
He looked at the enormous circle of chains.
"All right, then. We'll bring him back."
His face, however, remained full of anger.
"You'd better not forget, Arthur…" — Sylphia said.
Arthur looked at her.
"What?"
Sylphia paused.
"It's not up to you to decide who's needed. Nathan made that decision."
Silence fell over the chamber.
Arthur clenched his jaw.
"I know."
Elio looked at the demons at work.
"When will the structure be ready?"
One of the demons turned toward him.
"Just a moment. The chains need to be connected to the runes."
Arthur looked at the dark circle.
"And then?"
The demon hesitated for a moment.
"Then we'll wait for them to bring Valdor, and we'll begin the ritual."
Arthur smiled slightly.
"In that case, they'd better hurry."
Deep within the chamber, the chains suddenly trembled.
One of the runes glowed.
And then another.
Sylphia looked toward the structure.
Nathan raised his hand and created a magical teleportation circle in the wall. Dark energy began to swirl, and after a moment, the portal illuminated the chamber with a violet glow.
"Head to Aurelios, Sylphia, Elio."
Sylphia looked at the portal, then nodded.
Elio and Sylphia stepped through the portal and appeared in a clearing not far from Aurelios.
The magic circle behind them slowly faded, leaving behind only a faint purple glow.
Elio looked around. In the distance, high above the ground, Luna's flying palace could be seen.
"Luna's Palace is close by. I'll go alone, and you wait until I open the portal." — said Elio.
"All right, Elio."
Sylphia nodded and stayed in the clearing, hiding among the trees.
Elio set off toward the village located beneath Luna's flying palace.
It was a small, peaceful settlement. Ordinary villagers, merchants, and a few adventurers strolled through the streets. Some sat outside the tavern, others chatted at the market stalls, or prepared for their next expeditions.
Elio entered the village with a calm stride.
The villagers looked at him in terror. Elio drew his sword, and a moment later, the clang of steel echoed through the streets.
The villagers rushed at him, trying to stop him. After a few minutes, the last of them fell to the ground.
Elio sheathed his sword and looked toward Luna's palace.
Elio closed his eyes.
"Kael and Noah are training together. The Paladins have set out for the capital, and the rest of the Warriors of Light are with Luna. I must eliminate those two first."
Elio opened his eyes, and his light-blue demon arc glowed.
"Instant Teleportation." — said Elio.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck him, and a moment later, Elio vanished without a trace.
Noah and Kael were locked in battle.
"This time I'll defeat you, Kael!"
Both prepared to strike, but suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck a few meters away from them.
Amid the flashes, a male figure emerged.
Kael and Noah froze. They recognized him immediately.
"Elio… What's he doing here…?" — Noah whispered.
"We have to stop him, Noah." — Kael said.
Elio made the first move. His sword flashed with tiny electrical discharges.
Kael used his Demon Arcu. A sword appeared behind his back, which he grabbed after a moment.
Then he, too, charged at Elio.
"Get out of the way!" — Elio shouted.
Elio swung his sword down from above, but Kael managed to parry the blow. Elio, however, was much faster. He swiftly pulled his sword back, changed the direction of his attack, and wounded Kael in the side.
Kael was knocked aside.
"Kael!" — Noah shouted.
Elio looked at Noah.
"You let your guard down."
Elio swung his sword. A streak of white energy shot from its tip, hurtling straight toward Noah.
Noah's right fist burst into flames. The warrior struck the oncoming energy with all his might.
An explosion followed, dispersing the attack.
Noah smiled slightly.
"Is that all?"
As the dust settled, Elio appeared above Noah. Noah didn't have time to react, and Elio struck him with all his might. A moment later, a loud boom rang out.
Meanwhile, Luna and the other three Warriors of Light heard the sound of the impact.
Valdor spun around abruptly.
"What was that?!"
Valdor moved slowly toward the source of the boom. After a few steps, he stopped when he saw Noah leaning against a pillar.
"He's here…" — Noah whispered.
A moment later, he slumped to the ground.
Elio stood right behind Noah. He raised his sword and fired the same streak of white energy toward Valdor.
Valdor immediately drew his sword and blocked the attack. The white streak split into three, bouncing off Valdor's blade, but it did not disappear. Elio still held his sword, sustaining the energy.
"Dragon Slash!"
Green energy shot from Valdor's sword, dispersing the white streak. The force of the impact also knocked his sword aside.
Elio looked at Valdor.
The two stood facing each other, locking eyes.
Luna, Arwen, and Mayuri stood behind them.
Luna's staff appeared in her hand.
Valdor glanced over his shoulder at the girls.
"Go and help the others. I'll handle Elio."
Mayuri took a step forward.
"Valdor…"
"Mayuri, calm down. I'll defeat him this time. Now go."
Mayuri's eyes fluttered, but after a moment she nodded.
"Valdor… I believe in you." — Luna said.
Luna formed a magic circle and teleported herself, Mayuri, and Arwen to another location.
"We're alone now, Elio… Now tell me what you want."
"Nathan ordered me to capture you."
"Why?"
"We want to rescue someone. By the way… we're going to kill you."
Valdor narrowed his eyes.
"Do you mean Leo?"
Suddenly, Valdor clutched his heart. He sensed Leo's energy, which reacted violently to the presence of Elio's power.
"Enough talk." — Elio said coldly.
He assumed a fighting stance, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword.
Valdor also took up a fighting stance.
For a moment, the two stood facing each other in complete silence.