Keede's grip tightened.

Her blood was boiling— literally. Steam rose from her body in waves, every vein pulsing with molten heat. Even in Limbo, Zephyr could feel it— his skin hissing from proximity, his bones rattling from her wrath.

Her crimson eyes blazed, not with fury alone but something deeper.

Dominance.

She was a Crownkin. And this wasn't just a title.

It was a birthright forged in fire.

"I'll burn you wherever your are". She growled, her voice distorted in this warped dimension. Her hand clamped tighter, locking onto his hardened arm— melting the crystallized spatial layer around his fist.

Zephyr's breath caught. His thoughts, usually like sharpened blades, now tangled in the edge of decision.

Seven seconds.

That's how long he had left in Limbo before being ejected. And if he got thrown out here, mid-grapple, inside her Art's range, with dozens more spears forming behind her…

Death. Immediate. Unrecoverable.

His heart beat like a war drum, steady but heavy. No fear— only cold calculations.

But the pain was real. Her heat was a tide, and he was ankle-deep with nowhere to run.

"Think, damn it—" he snarled under his breath. Then he recalled something, and he almost slapped himself if only he wasn't currently fighting for his life.

Then with a deep breath, he extended his Aether throughout his body, leaving his body in a red black colour, he could see his Aether rapidly draining, then without second thoughts.

He rammed into Keede with his full weight. She staggered, her grip slipping just a little. That was all he needed.

He slipped out of Limbo and returned to the real world.

Limbo Art — Border Jail.

A burst of hardened space exploded around him, crashing into the spears flying toward him and slamming into Keede. It sent her flying through the air.

But Zephyr was already moving.

His Aether was draining rapidly, but he couldn't let her recover.

He leapt after her, using a broken stone to launch himself into the air. The sun shone behind him as his shadow fell over her.

Then—

Crash.

His feet slammed into her chest, smashing her into the ground.

The impact shattered the rocky earth, sending shards flying everywhere.

Keede arched in pain, coughing blood, but Zephyr didn't stop.

With a sharp motion, he stabbed a sharpened rib straight through her Aether hearth— the source of her power.

His breathing grew heavy. His body screamed in pain. He had pushed himself too far, and now he was paying for it.

He sensed movement nearby— people were coming.

He looked down at Keede. She was still alive.

But instead of finishing her off, a strange smile curved on his lips.

Without a word, he grabbed her by the hair and began dragging her across the broken battlefield.

He was far from done.

*******

A few minutes earlier—

Earl rushed through the mountains. Just now, part of the western mountain had collapsed.

Fear gripped his chest.

That's where his mother trained her personal soldiers.

He wanted to rush over, but the clan ordered him to stay back. He waited… but then he saw something.

Black, twisted trees rose from the ground.

That was the Third Art of the Demios Clan.

His mother only used it when she was in real danger.

Earl didn't wait any longer. As a Delta rank, he took a squad with him and raced to the mountain.

When he arrived, the whole area looked destroyed. Crystals and lava filled the land. Parts of the mountains were gone—like someone had peeled them away.

He saw signs of a battle. Scorch marks. Deep holes. Blood trails.

He followed them. Then he saw her.

His mother, Keede, slumped against a rock wall, badly hurt but still alive.

"Quick! Heal her!" he shouted.

A healer rushed forward, beginning the process.

Earl turned to guard her—

Whoosh!

His head jerked to the side. A massive arrow was flying toward them, glowing with dark Aether. It was pulling everything with it—rocks, dust, even light.

Impact.

The arrow struck, and the whole mountain shook. Rocks twisted into a single point. The land bent unnaturally.

When the smoke cleared, only two people were left standing—Earl and one other who was lucky to be behind him.

The only reason they were able to survive was because if the war fan Earl pulled out at the last minute.

Everyone else was gone. Earl looked to where his mother had been.

Nothing. Just shining crystals. No body. No clothes. Nothing.

His eyes filled with tears and rage.

Then he looked toward the direction of the attack— and saw someone standing there.

Silver hair like Mercury fluttered behind him, Cold expression.

Zephyr.

"Zephyr?" Earl whispered in shock.

Why? Why would he do this? What had his mother done to deserve this kind of treatment.

The figure dropped off the mountain and vanished.

"ZEPHYR!!!"

Earl screamed and ran after him—but Zephyr was already gone.

*******

To someone else, it looked like Zephyr had simply jumped off the mountain.

But the truth was more calculated.

He had landed on a narrow stone outcrop jutting from the mountainside— almost invisible unless you were looking for it. The wind howled past, the blood on his clothes drying in the cold.

His silver hair clung to his face, soaked with sweat and speckled with dirt and blood.

In his hand, he still held the dagger. The same that he used to return back from Limbo.

Zephyr's expression didn't change.

No regret. No remorse. Just cold, hollow focus.

With a small motion, he carved at the air. Space rippled.

Behind him, Earl's scream echoed through the mountains.

"ZEPHYR!!!"

The rage in that voice might have pierced another man's heart.

But Zephyr didn't even flinch, he didn't know Keede was Earl's mother. And even if he had…

He wouldn't have cared.

The portal opened— its edges raw and ragged, like torn skin. A slash in the fabric of space.

He stepped through it and with that he was gone from Demios territory.

****

Back at the harbor—

The moment Zephyr reappeared, no one batted an eye.

People arriving from nowhere was a daily occurrence here.

He stumbled out of the spatial tear, his vision swimming. The adrenaline had fled his body, leaving behind cold pain and gnawing exhaustion.

His fingers twitched. His legs almost gave out.

He leaned heavily against a wall, chest rising and falling as if each breath cost him pieces of his soul.

He was shaking.

His Aether had nearly bottomed out. Not just drained— burnt.

Forcing his body to move, he dragged himself forward. Through the polished corridor. Past a crowd of civilians and officers.

Finally, he reached the docking platform. There, nestled in the back row— untouched— was his pod.

He climbed in.

Fell into the seat like a corpse returning to its grave.

The interface blinked to life, scanning him automatically.

"Welcome, Zephyr," said the soft voice of Elden.

"Destination?"

Zephyr opened his mouth— his voice barely a whisper.

"…Academy Harbour".

The pod hummed. But before the confirmation could finish—

His vision darkened. His head slumped back.

And the last thing Zephyr felt before losing consciousness…

…was how cold he felt inside. Why did she have to do? Why?.

*********

Back in the Demios Clan, the air hung heavy with solemn heat as the Crownkin assembled before the Hall of Burning Judgment. Crimson-robed figures, adorned with Aether-braided insignias, stood silently in formation before the obsidian doors. These were the highest-ranked scions of the clan—the ruling bloodlines, the direct wielders of the cursed flame.

The black pyrewood doors, scorched with the names of every judgment made by the clan, radiated heat that warped the very air around it.

Then the doors opened.

Out stepped the Clan Head of the Demios, a towering figure draped in black fire robes that flickered between form and formlessness.

Despite just being a skin worn by Demios clan head, his presence silenced even the low winds curling between the mountain peaks. His voice, when he spoke, carried not just through the air, but through the marrow of those present.

"I have seen the path beyond Alpha."

The statement dropped like molten steel.

"The soul— is the key."

He raised a hand, and from it, revealed a sphere bound in twisting chains of black and gold. Inside, countless glowing lights flickered.

"This is the Soul Sealing Artifact. Ancient. Forbidden. But no more."

A murmur rippled among the Crownkin.

"Our participation in the war is not just for prosperity. We will gather souls. We will rise beyond the limits this world has bound us to."

********

Capital of the Central Domain — Sanctum of Kings, Royal Clan.

The skies above the Crystal Throne shimmered with refracted light, the air itself humming with harmony— controlled, elegant, orderly.

At the center of it all stood the Throne Hall, a structure carved from Everglass and Voidsteel, radiating authority. The hall itself mirrored the mind of the one seated atop the Crystal Throne— clear, cold, and brilliant.

Inside, a gathering of nobles, military dignitaries, and high scholars stood silently, their gazes drawn to the figure seated at the elevated throne.

Sovereign Lysandros Ambrose, ruler of the Central Domain and bearer of the Crown of Vaeltherium, looked down upon them with pale blue eyes that shimmered like frost on crystal. Despite all the authority, it was a skin worn by the sovereign.

He spoke.

His voice was soft, yet it echoed through the marble and glass.

"It has come to my understanding that a new rank has emerged— and I have gained knowledge on how to access the rank".

The sovereign leaned back into his chair. "Take command of the army, subtly. And retrieve the corpse if the light bringer". Then he added in a grieve tone. "Thus lies our path to ascension".

******

The Emberdusk region is a strange and quiet land, where the skies shimmer like glass and the stars seem closer than they should be. Floating rocks drift lazily above the ground, glowing with soft blue light. Paths curve and twist as if space itself doesn't follow normal rules.

Their cities are built on floating islands, and silver bridges link each one like threads in the sky. Tall towers rise into the clouds, filled with strange machines that glow with Aether.

Most fear DuskFall because they move quietly, like ghosts. Their soldiers don't fight with brute strength. Instead, they strike from nowhere—blades flashing through folded space, vanishing before blood hits the floor.

In the main clan hall, knelt numerous crown kin of DuskFall clan.

Seated on a high chair was the clan head. She was a woman of immense power.

"Gather the rest of the materials, I will pull down the star myself". The people bowed deeper.

"As the lady wishes". They chorused.

*******

The Vale of Echoes was the region ruled by UmbraFan clan. The clan was seated in candle veil.

The land was birthed in eternal twilight, day and night were tracked by clocks and not the sky.

Currently in a large hall, no figures could be seen, instead only shadows. Deep purplish black shadows.

"There is no time to waste. Lead the army into the valley of the end, I will send one of my shadows with you". The clan leader of UmbraFen was known for his impatience, and decisive character.

*******

The Skywalker Highlands was ruled by Vermilion clan, which was seated in HighPure.

It was more water then land, artificial construct served as land in the pure land, there was not a single hint of disease and death in this land.

The crownkins of Vermilion clan all rested on their knees, directly seated just few meters from them were the clan leader. Two female and a male.

Each representing the pathway of Vermilion clan— Flesh. Blood. Bones.

The crownkins were still reeling from the bomb in form of information dropped on them.

"Savage as much corpses as you can. It doesn't matter a virgin or not, all will be purified". The male spoke.

"As you have commanded. Sovereigns". They had since considered themselves the rulers of Vaeltherium. The royal clan was just a parading chump.

"Forgive me my sovereign, but where did you get an information like this. Is the sovereign in contact with the world will".

When faced with such questions the various clan leaders answers differed.

Vermilion clan sovereign:— "A snake shed it's skin".

Demios clan leader:— "I caught a little snake".

The sovereign:— "A snake flashed me it's blue gaze".

DuskFall clan:— "A snake tongue is filled with lies and twisted truth".

UmbraFen clan:— "I saw a slithering Shadow".

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