The ancient castle stood silent, cloaked in shadow and overgrown vines. Once forgotten, it now hid a sinister secret beneath its roots. The moment Aizen stood before its gate, a cold wind swept through, carrying the scent of old blood and the weight of countless cries. His golden eyes shimmered with fury, the storm within him ready to burst.
"I'll tear this place apart," he growled. Lightning crackled behind his back, his aura unstable. But then… a whisper echoed through his thoughts.
"Don't… lose yourself."
Lyra's voice. Faint, gentle… like a breeze brushing past his ear. It pulled him back from the edge. Aizen clenched his fists, grounding his rage.
---
Inside the Castle Underground…
Lyra stirred awake, groggy and weak. Chains clinked around her wrists, her magic barely flickering. Beside her, Theodore huddled, eyes red from crying.
"Lyra…" he whispered. "I'm sorry. I got caught and… you did too because of me."
Before Lyra could speak, a soft voice broke in, "Magic doesn't work down here."
They turned. The pale boy with purple hair and tired red eyes stood beside the bars—Amethyst.
"No one will find us," he said quietly. "The Crimson Hand layered this place in anti-magic runes. They made sure this dungeon is a dead zone."
Theodore's hope faded… but Lyra's gaze hardened.
"Dead zone, huh?" she muttered. Then, with a growl, her dragon tail surged with power. With a feral roar, she slammed it into the bars—once, twice—until CRACK!
The bars snapped.
Amethyst's eyes widened. "W-What were you saying?" Lyra asked smugly.
"Y-You broke the anti-magic bars… with brute strength?!"
Lyra rolled her shoulder and grinned. "Not all dragons are delicate, you know."
But their escape wouldn't be easy. Amethyst warned them, "There are traps… lots of them. Pressure plates, sound triggers, illusion walls. If we trigger even one, Esdarte will know."
He stepped forward. "But I know the path. I've lived here too long not to."
---
Meanwhile…
Aizen gathered Lina and Mikaela in the woods beyond the city.
"We'll make a plan," he said, barely holding in his rage. Lightning danced on his skin.
Lina crossed her arms. "Papa, just destroy the whole city. They took Mama and big bro."
Mikaela nodded solemnly, tears in her eyes.
But Aizen hesitated. "Lyra told me… not to become a monster. She told me to spare the innocent."
Lina grunted. "Then just don't destroy everyone. Just the bad guys."
---
Back in the labyrinth below, as they snuck past a hidden chamber, Theodore accidentally leaned on a strange black tile—click.
BZZZTTT!
A panel opened, revealing a floating red eye. It flashed.
Suddenly, a booming voice filled the hallways.
"Well, well, well…" it cackled. "Looks like an angel, a dragon, and a city brat are trying to crawl out of my lab?"
Lyra froze. Theodore trembled.
"Who are you?" Lyra demanded.
The walls themselves responded. "I am Esdarte… leader of the Crimson Hand. And I will use your bodies to fuel my dominion. Every race shall kneel—beastmen, dragons, angels, demons—I will enslave them all."
His voice echoed like thunder.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "You can't take us. We're not yours."
Esdarte laughed. "We'll see about that, impatient dragon."
(End of Chapter 18)