Morning crept over Vanterra in soft streaks of pink and neon blue, the streets buzzing back to life after a restless night.
Ronnie stood in the penthouse lounge, a steaming cup of coffee trembling faintly in his grip. His gaze swept the room—Jack half-dozing in an armchair, Emilia polishing her nails, and Lenny pacing near the glass wall.
Ronnie: "Where's Elara?"
His voice broke the quiet. Jack blinked awake, and Emilia looked up sharply.
Emilia: "And Henry. He's not here either."
The room exchanged quick glances. No one knew. No one had seen them since the night before.
Ronnie set the cup down with a sharp clink. The unease in his chest tightened.
Meanwhile…
Far from Vanterra, a lone hoverjet cut across pale morning clouds. Inside, Henry sat strapped into the passenger seat, the hum of the engines filling the silence. His brow furrowed, his patience already cracking.
Henry: "Alright, Elara. Enough games. Where are we going?"
Elara didn't look at him at first. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, her hands steady on the controls. Only after a beat did she answer, her tone low and deliberate.
Elara: "Have you ever heard of the King in Gold?"
Henry frowned.
Henry: "A fairy tale. Some ruined kingdoms in the old texts."
Elara shook her head.
Elara: "Not a fairy tale. A king who once ruled a city of endless gold—a place where even the streets burned like sunlight. They called it the Golden City."
Henry: "And?"
Elara: "And he lost it all. The city crumbled, and the people vanished. He ruled over nothing but sand and echoes. They call it the Dead Lands. For centuries, his name faded into rumor."
She turned then, her eyes sharp and unwavering.
Elara: "But in the Underworld, whispers are surfacing. Whispers that the King in Gold has returned."
Henry's chest tightened.
Henry: "You think… he's one of them?"
Elara: "I don't think." Her hands tightened on the controls. "I know. After what you guys saw in the Black Halo tunnels, after the chaos in Neoterra Prime… I'm sure of it. The King in Gold is alive. And his name is King Midas."
The hoverjet sliced through the sky. Henry leaned back, stunned into silence. A Soul Reaper with the face of legend—the very same man pulling at shadows in the dark.
Henry: "And we're flying straight into his hands?"
Elara's jaw tightened.
Elara: "If he's really behind all of this, then hiding won't save us. We need answers. And if those answers are in the Golden City, then that's where we're going."
Henry stared at her for a long moment. Her conviction was unshakable. She wasn't reckless—she was desperate. Desperate for her brother. Desperate for the truth.
Finally, Henry sighed.
Henry: "Alright. Then let's meet the king."
Meanwhile…
Far away, deep within the Dead Lands, where gold dust swirled in the air like ash, Midas sat upon his throne. His presence burned brighter than the lights that lined the endless hall. Gold flowed across the chamber like liquid sunlight, pooling at his feet, coiling like serpents.
At the far end, Ravenous approached. He walked with his head bowed, cloak brushing against the gilded floor.
Ravenous (bowing): "My Master, if I may… You've spoken often of Henry Dreherg. How do you intend to bring him here?"
Midas's eyes gleamed, molten gold burning within their depths. He smiled—a slow, deliberate curve of lips that carried both arrogance and certainty.
Midas: "Bring him? No. I do not intend to bring him anywhere."
Ravenous lifted his gaze slightly, confusion flickering.
Ravenous: "Then… how?"
Midas rose from the throne, his golden cloak spilling down the steps like a river of fire. He paced slowly, each step echoing in the chamber.
Midas: "Henry is not prey to be dragged. He is a hound. Proud. Loyal. Hungry. And a hound does not need to be caged… it only needs to be tempted."
Ravenous tilted his head.
Ravenous: "Tempted?"
Midas stopped before him, shadows bending against the glow of his aura. His laughter rang out—smooth, melodic, but carrying venom beneath its beauty.
Midas: "If you hold a sausage in front of a dog, Ravenous, it will follow. Not because you pushed it, but because it cannot resist wanting more."
Ravenous bowed his head again, understanding dawning with a chill.
Ravenous: "The rumors…"
Midas: "Yes. Whispers of my return. Hints dropped into the veins of the Underworld. Fragments of gold scattered in the shadows. I do not need to summon Henry Dreherg. He will chase me."
He turned, eyes blazing toward the horizon only he could see.
Midas: "And when he arrives, he will do so of his own free will. That, Ravenous, is the key to breaking him."
The chamber burned with golden fire. Ravenous remained on one knee, silent, loyal, though deep inside the whispers of Zorath stirred again. Ashes. Always ashes. He clenched his jaw, forcing the memories back down.
Midas raised a hand, dismissing him.
Midas: "Go. The stage must be set. The dog is on the hunt. And soon… the leash will be mine."
In the hoverjet…
Henry looked out of the window; the water from the ocean quickly turned into land of seemingly endless sand.
Henry: "I heard of this land, sand everywhere you go. Heat that sometimes becomes unbearable and no water at all."
Elara: "The Dead Lands are housed by bandits and tomb raiders, and sometimes you see a friendly village. But it is extremely dangerous but also rich with history."
Henry turned his seat towards Elara. He glanced at her face.
Henry: "You know a lot. Even things from the Underworld."
Elara: "When your dad is the high authority of Neoterra Prime, you can catch a lot of info by just listening. I always sat in the control tower, watching him do his job and helping him a little, so I sometimes just did my own research if there was something interesting enough to catch my attention."
Henry was amazed by her. His eyes couldn't leave her face, and his smile caught her eyes very quickly.
Elara became slightly red before turning her attention back to flying.
Elara: "We're soon there, Henry. Whatever happens, I trust you."
Henry didn't answer, but a nod was all Elara needed to fully trust Henry.