Three days passed.
The stars over Zayn's secret realm shimmered like jewels.The sky was peaceful… but the air?The air was trembling—hot, wild, alive.
She was coming.
Zayn stood at the peak of his floating island, arms folded, cloak waving in the wind.Astra floated behind him like a quiet moon.Lira hovered beside him in her sword form, glowing gently.
Then…
BOOM!
A fire streak shot through the sky, parting clouds, splitting the space itself.
She crashed down.
Flames wrapped around her body like a storm.Hair red like lava. Eyes like molten gold.She landed in front of Zayn, standing tall and proud.
"Zayn," she said. Just his name.But it carried a thousand years of emotion.
Zayn looked at her, calm. "Elaine."
Silence.
She looked at him for a moment.Then walked forward… and punched him in the chest.
Zayn didn't dodge.The punch wasn't just strength—it was pain, love, betrayal… and longing.
"You left," she whispered.
"I had to," he replied softly.
"You could've said goodbye."
Zayn looked down. "If I did… I wouldn't have left."
Elaine stepped back, her eyes wet but still burning.
"You promised you'd come back when the stars cried again," she said."Well, they're crying now."
Zayn nodded. "I know."
Elaine's flames dimmed a little.
"I searched for you," she said. "Across realms. Across wars. I thought you were dead."
Zayn looked at her, his voice low. "I tried to be."
Astra finally floated forward. "He sealed himself away after the last war. After the breach."
Elaine's eyes sharpened. "Is it happening again?"
Zayn turned and looked at the sky.The crack was growing, slow but steady.Dark energy leaked from it, twisting the stars nearby.
"Yes," he said. "And worse is coming."
Elaine walked beside him, her fire gently burning.
"I'm not leaving," she said.
Zayn looked at her. "It'll be dangerous."
She smiled. "Good. I missed danger."
Lira's voice echoed softly, "You're still the same, Flame Queen."
Elaine blinked. "Lira? You're still here?"
"I was waiting too," Lira said.
Elaine nodded. "Then we're all back together."
Zayn looked at the horizon. "Not yet. The others are still lost."
Elaine raised an eyebrow. "You mean… the harem?"
Zayn coughed. "Don't call it that."
Elaine laughed. "Why not? We all knew. Even back then. You were everyone's weakness."
Zayn looked away. "That life is behind me."
Elaine stepped close. "Not anymore."
Suddenly—The ground shook.
The sky split wider.A black figure began stepping out of the crack—tall, armored in shadow, with eyes like red suns.
Elaine raised her hands, fire blooming in her palms.Zayn summoned Lira in sword form.
The enemy spoke:
"We have found you, Star Sovereign. This time… you won't escape."
Zayn's expression changed—serious, sharp, cold.
"I'm not running anymore," he said.
And in the next breath—He disappeared.
Appeared behind the creature.And with one silent move—cut it in half.
BOOM!
The sky closed again.
Elaine looked stunned. "You… you're even stronger now."
Zayn floated down. "I'm just getting started."
Elaine smiled, stepping beside him again.
"So," she said, "who's next?"
Zayn looked into the distance."Aqua. The Sea Empress. She's closer than you think."