The underground hall was an abyss of metallic echoes and forgotten whispers.
At its center, an arcane circle — etched with ancient sigils and pulsing runes — seemed to breathe, as though something within it waited to awaken.
The torches fixed to the stone columns burned with silver flames, their dance accompanied by a faint sound — like a distant lament.
Nyra walked slowly toward the center, the sound of her footsteps echoing against the damp floor.
In her hands, she held two pendants — the halves of the Convergent Amulet, relics inherited from the cursed legacy of Ulisses's daughters.
She closed her eyes.
A cold wind swept through the chamber, and the two amulets began to float before her, slowly rotating.
The crimson light emanating from them grew brighter until — with a metallic roar — the two halves fused, forming a silver disk marked with the sigil of twin wolves, one gazing at the Sun and the other at the Moon.
The amulet fell softly onto the circle's center.
Nyra knelt before it.
She unsheathed her katana and, without hesitation, ran the blade across her palm.
Blood dripped thick and dark, flowing into the ancient carvings until it formed a crimson river.
Runes began to flicker in sequence. The air grew dense, heavy, vibrating.
But nothing happened.
Nyra waited.
One second. Two. Three.
Absolute silence. More minutes passed.
No tremor, no surge of power — nothing.
Frustration twisted her face. She clenched her teeth and growled:
"Why isn't it working?! What's missing?!"
She raised her bleeding hand, trembling. "Does it need more blood?"
A soft, teasing voice echoed from the back of the chamber:
"You sound cranky, sis."
Nyra turned sharply.
From the shadows, Lucy emerged.
Her crimson hair glimmered under the torchlight, her blood-red eyes half-closed in an amused smile.
She walked with that same insolent confidence, Dracallion resting on her shoulder.
"Lucy…" Nyra hissed, her blue eyes glowing.
Lucy laughed, folding her arms.
"So, Mom's amulet is the key to the underworld, huh? Nice plan."
Nyra's tone was cold.
"It's the opposite. It was the key to the underworld — until it was given to a human… as a gift."
"Hmph…" Lucy smirked. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that we're both here."
She spun her sword, the air crackling. "And I'm guessing you've got time for one more fight, right?"
Nyra gripped her katana's hilt.
For a moment, the two stared at each other — blood and mirror, sister and reflection.
Then Nyra slowly sheathed her blade and said,
"Why not? We share the same blood. And I intend to use yours to undo Father's curse."
She snapped her fingers.
Silver and azure gauntlets and boots materialized around her, wrapping her body in ethereal energy. She dropped into a battle stance.
Lucy smirked.
"So you literally want a piece of me? Fine, sis… come get it if you dare!"
They lunged at once.
The clash of steel tore through the air.
Sparks burst wildly, flashing through the chamber — strikes, blocks, collisions.
Lucy spun midair, her blade carving an arc, while Nyra blocked and countered with lightning speed.
Nyra's boots left glowing trails on the stone as she moved with the grace and ferocity of a wolf.
Lucy laughed mid-fight — a savage, feral laugh.
The ground cracked beneath them.
Runes blazed, reacting to the spilled blood and their unleashed power.
At one moment, Lucy caught Nyra's wrist, blocking a strike, panting.
"You're… getting slow."
Nyra punched back, the air detonating from the impact.
"And you talk too much."
Their blades crossed one last time, sparks exploding between their faces.
But before either could strike again —
A blast of energy ripped through the air. The beam hit both of them in the shoulder, forcing them apart.
"Tory," the blonde, stepped forward with her tech spear aimed at Nyra.
"Sorry, but this ain't a playground, girls. Time to clear out," Lucy said firmly.
"Shut up!" Tory shouted, firing another energy bolt.
Lucy dodged, laughing, and Nyra stepped back. The sisters resumed fighting, ignoring the blonde entirely.
Furious, Tory dashed between them, spinning her spear and locking both blades in place.
The impact sent a shockwave crawling across the floor.
She clashed with Nyra in a burst of rage, screaming:
"You forced me into this!"
Nyra replied coldly,
"Is that what you think? Foolish girl."
With a powerful strike, she sent Tory flying against one of the pillars before turning back to Lucy.
The battle intensified — Tory tried to keep up with their supernatural speed but could barely react.
Lucy came from behind, striking Nyra again.
The three moved in a violent dance of steel and energy, their cries echoing through the hall.
Then — a laughter broke through it all.
A sudden surge of black energy exploded between them, throwing all three to the ground.
"Bravo! Bravo!"
The voice of Ponyus rang out amidst clapping.
"I never thought things would go this well! Congratulations to everyone!"
Lucy's eyes widened, bloodied and exhausted.
"You…!" she hissed, raising her sword.
Tory charged forward with her spear, but the clown leaped, snatching the weapon midair.
He laughed, his eyes glowing a sickly green.
"Don't be a naughty girl, Sophie! Hehehe!"
Then hurled her violently against a column, sending her crashing beside the circle.
He spun among the silver flames, singing:
"Or Daddy's gonna be mad! Hihihi!"
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
"Insane clown… I don't know where you came from, but I know you don't belong here."
She lunged.
Her katana sliced through the air at inhuman speed.
But Ponyus caught the blade between his palms, laughing.
"Whoa there! That was close! But looks like you've taken quite the beating today, huh, Nyra?!"
He leaned in, his grin grotesque.
"Go ahead, turn me into confetti if you can…"
"Fuck you," Nyra growled.
"You've already lost —"
A surge of black energy erupted — Ponyus repelled her with a devastating blast.
She crashed into a wall, the stone fracturing from the impact.
She lay there, breathless and wounded, as the clown's body began to glow red. His voice shifted.
The grotesque paint melted away, revealing pale human skin — and a face Nyra knew all too well.
Lucy stepped back, eyes wide.
"No…" she whispered. "That's impossible."
Ponyus laughed — now deeper, sharper. His face reformed: brown hair, piercing eyes.
"Well, well… miss me?"
From the transformation stepped Cletus.
He smiled, blood dripping from his fingers.
"Hell doesn't take just anyone, my dear girls."
He took a step forward, the Convergent Amulet pulsing with dark energy.
"And now… the real game begins."
To be continued...