The Black Star Castle lood like a fortress of shadows, its towering spires piercing the storm-ridden sky. Walls of enchanted black stone, reinforced with layers of magic, held firm against the relentless assault.
But they wouldn't hold forever.
A deep tremor rumbled through the structure as another explosion shattered the outer gates. Smoke curled in thick plus, drowning the cold night air in the acrid scent of burning tal and charred flesh.
The once-imposing courtyard was now a battlefield—spells clashed in bursts of violent energy, steel rang against steel, and bodies crumpled under the weight of war.
And in the midst of it all, Alex ran.
Disguised as Hunter Lucian, he had infiltrated the castle alongside Isabella and Mira through a secret passage. But their entry was already compromised. The Avengers had moved faster than expected.
The main hall doors were within reach. If they could get inside before the enemy noticed—
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
The main castle gates behind them shattered.
A wave of people surged through the breach, moving with deadly precision. They poured onto the castle grounds, cutting down what remained of the defending forces.
Their leader stepped forward, red eyes gleaming like embers in the chaos.
She was none other than Sia.
She stood poised amidst the destruction, her black hair swaying in the smoky air. Aether coiled around her fingertips like a living entity, hungry and patient.
Her gaze swept across the battlefield, stopping on them for a bit and dismissing everything that wasn't her true target.
Then, finally, her cold voice rang out:
"Fake Lord, co out and accept defeat. We have you surrounded. And, don't try to use tricks—we have your daughters as hostages."
The battlefield stilled. Even amidst the ongoing battle, a shift in montum was undeniable. The Black Star Lord, wherever he was hiding, had just lost control of the situation.
But Alex knew what that ant.
This wasn't just an attack.
It was a trap.
They were the mice, caught in the web of an enemy far too prepared.
A squad of Avengers had already peeled away from the main force, forming a blockade in front of Alex, Isabella, and Mira before they could slip inside. The entrance to the castle—their only escape route—was no longer an option.
'Good.'
Alex's grip on his sword tightened, but his expression frustrated. He glanced at Mira.
She didn't look worried. Not one bit.
'As expected.'
Instead, her eyes flickered with sothing else. Anticipation. Amusent.
'...'
anwhile, the battlefield had gone eerily silent.
The only sounds remaining were the crackling of dying flas and the faint groans of the wounded. Everyone's attention was drawn to the massive doors of the Black Star Castle's main hall as they groaned and shuddered before slowly swinging open.
And beyond them—nothing but darkness.
A pitch-black void stretched into the depths of the castle, swallowing even the torchlight. It was not ordinary darkness, nor the absence of light. It was sothing alive, sothing hungry.
Then, footsteps.
Tap. Tap. Tap...
Slow. asured.
Each step echoed like a death knell across the courtyard, pressing down on the hearts of those present.
From the abyss, a figure erged.
Tall, commanding, and draped in a darkness that twisted and coiled around him like living shadows. His skin was pitch-black, a stark contrast to the cold crimson glow of his calculating eyes.
His features were sharp—devilish with its own charm. And upon his head sat a black crown, adorned with red engravings that pulsed with a sinister energy.
With every step he took, the darkness followed, creeping outward, devouring the ground beneath him, snuffing out the dying embers of battle. The very air grew colder, as if the world itself recoiled from his presence.
The Black Star Lord had arrived.
Fear rippled through the Avengers' ranks. Even the most seasoned warriors tensed, gripping their weapons tighter, as if that alone could shield them from the suffocating dread he exuded.
But amidst the terror, one person remained completely unfazed.
Sia.
Their gazes t—two forces of absolute dominance locking onto each other.
It was like lightning colliding midair, an unspoken battle of wills.
Then, after a long pause, Sia smiled. A slow, knowing smile.
"You didn't expect this, did you?" she mused, her voice almost teasing. "I admit, you're intelligent. Scheming. But given how arrogant you are, I doubt you expected us to strike you in your own ho."
The Black Star Lord did not answer imdiately. He rely smirked.
And that smirk alone was enough to send another wave of unease through those watching.
"So what?" he finally spoke, his voice deep, rich, carrying the weight of absolute certainty. "I am the strongest here. Do you think you can defeat ?"
He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening.
"You worked for long enough to understand that my power isn't sothing easily overturned. I am the strongest here. Do you think you can defeat ?"
Sia's smile didn't waver.
But sothing in her eyes shifted.
Because, for all her confidence, she knew—this battle had just truly begun.
Now, the fate of the war would be decided.
And whether she would have to use the End plan.
'I shouldn't lose in word battle...'
She then tilted her head, brushed a strand of black hair behind her ear, and let out a soft chuckle.
"Since I worked for you so much," she said smoothly, "isn't it only natural that I discovered a secret or two of yours?" She took a step forward, unbothered by the oppressive darkness that thickened around him like a living entity. "Everything and everyone has a weakness, including you."
She paused, letting the words sink in before delivering the final blow.
"In simpler terms—you aren't as strong as you think you are."
A low chuckle rumbled from the Black Star Lord's throat. It was deep, rich, and full of condescension. The kind of laugh that sent chills down lesser warriors' spines.
"Hmph." He folded his arms, crimson eyes narrowing with curiosity. "So what if you discovered it?"
His voice remained unshaken, carrying the weight of absolute dominance. "You still don't have the power to fight ."
His aura surged, the darkness at his feet writhing violently as if reacting to his amusent. The air around them grew heavier, pressing down on the battlefield like an invisible force.
Warriors on both sides instinctively stepped back, the Avengers' instincts screaming at them to run while his people felt a sense of relief and pride.
But Sia only laughed.
"n, surround him."
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