Gilead, the ancestral homeland of the gunslingers, had been reduced to ashes, along with most of that world.
Aside from a few areas Jonathan had observed through the spatial breaches, hardly any human settlements remained. The civilization that had once existed there had all but vanished, leaving behind abandoned cities, devastated lands, and corpses that no one would bother to bury.
People from other realities were being forcibly dragged into that inverted world, a place where the laws of nature seemed to have lost their meaning and where the Dark Tower stood tall. Once there, they had no way out. They were used and eventually died in that distorted reality.
Upon discovering this, Jonathan finally found an explanation for the dozens of disappearances that had occurred during the last few days before he crossed that portal.
These were not simple disappearances or inexplicable accidents. Someone was gathering people from different realities, and the inverted world was their final destination.
"I'll find you soon, Crimson King."
Standing atop a sea of corpses, Jonathan gazed at the vast expanse stretching out before him. His eyes swept across the desolate landscape as a cold expression settled over his face.
He had come too far to stop now.
And if the Crimson King was truly responsible for all of this, then Jonathan would not rest until he found him.
…
The Dark Tower. Unknown Location.
Inside the Dark Tower, a group of anomalies worked methodically to locate individuals with special abilities.
The screens covering the walls displayed information from different realities. Names, locations, records of supernatural activity, and data on people who had awakened extraordinary powers were constantly updated as the personnel monitored the operations.
If Jonathan had been able to witness that scene, he would have been astonished to discover just how far the influence of supernatural beings had spread.
These creatures were not merely hiding among humans or causing isolated incidents. They had established an organized structure, a network capable of tracking individuals across different realities and transporting them to that world.
And everything operated under the orders of a single entity.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the main portal emitted a powerful vibration. The machines connected to its structure began responding, and a series of indicators lit up across the control panels.
The personnel immediately abandoned their tasks and turned their attention toward the enormous device.
"All systems online!"
"Connection established!"
"Opening the portal!"
A moment later, the space in front of the structure distorted. A luminous crack spread across its surface until it formed an opening large enough for a person to pass through.
A man dressed in black stepped through the portal.
It was none other than the Crimson King.
"Welcome, sir!"
The assistants bowed their heads upon recognizing him, but the Crimson King did not even bother to respond. His gaze swept across the faces before him until it settled on one of them.
With an expression of profound disgust, he removed his jacket and draped it over one shoulder.
"Get yourself another face, rat. You're in my house."
The person he addressed remained motionless, not daring to argue.
"How was your trip, sir?" The assistant assigned to receive him asked meekly.
"Fine. Any news?" The Crimson King approached one of the machines and studied the screens. His casual tone contrasted sharply with the tension that had gripped everyone present.
"We've identified new candidates. The trackers are already pursuing them, but we're encountering resistance in Dimension 432. The hunters are massacring our units."
"Hunters?" The Crimson King slowly turned his head.
"Yes, sir. It seems they've become aware of the portals and are looking for a way to use them to cross into this reality. However, we haven't been able to confirm their intentions yet. For now, it's only a theory…"
"You're working with theories?" The Crimson King's expression darkened instantly.
He raised his right hand, and before the assistant could react, an invisible force lifted him by the throat. His feet left the ground as his hands desperately clawed at the supernatural pressure gripping him.
Air stopped reaching his lungs.
The assistant writhed, struggling to free himself, but the force holding him refused to yield. Terror filled his eyes as he tried to beg for mercy.
"Sir…"
"For a long time, I've been preparing the invasion of that altered reality. I've invested resources, time, and personal effort into that project."
The Crimson King's eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me you're still incapable of destroying the forces of light that teeter between corruption and ambition."
His eyelids twitched slightly. His irritation stemmed not only from his subordinates' failure but also from the possibility that someone was interfering with plans that had been developing for far too long.
To him, the different realities were nothing more than pieces on a game board. Armies, hunters, and even the supernatural creatures serving under his command were tools he could use and discard at will.
However, it now seemed that one of his toys had begun moving on its own.
And he deeply disliked that.
"Order the troops to attack the cities. I want them reduced to ashes. Soon, I'll destroy that universe as well and eliminate every agent serving under that insignificant hunter."
His tone returned to its usual calmness.
As though he had not just condemned countless people to certain death.
The Crimson King relaxed his fingers, and the assistant fell to the floor, coughing violently as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Yes, sir…"
Tap! Tap! Tap!
A series of hurried footsteps echoed from the entrance to the floor.
A woman burst into the room, breathing heavily. She appeared desperate to deliver her message, but stopped dead when she saw the man who had just returned.
"Sir, we have a breach at Portal 2349! Hundreds of figures have managed to get through!"
The words caught in her throat as the Crimson King turned toward her.
The woman, whose face was entirely human, glanced at the assistants standing silently nearby. Then, feeling her superior's gaze settle on her, she lowered her head slightly.
She needed no one to explain how dangerous it could be to make a mistake at a time like this.
"I don't like waiting," the Crimson King said, clasping his hands behind his back.
The woman straightened and mustered enough courage to look him in the eyes.
"The crossing was unauthorized, sir. One of the portals in the Keystone Territories has been opened, and multiple enemies have managed to pass through. They're armed and advancing through the territory."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Jonathan Belmont is among them… The last Belmont who possesses true power."
Silence fell over the room.
For several seconds, no one dared utter a single word.
The Crimson King remained motionless, his expression difficult to read. His gaze drifted toward a point somewhere in the room as he appeared to mentally assess the information he had just received.
Jonathan Belmont.
That name should not have appeared in his reports under such circumstances. Much less as the leader of an incursion that had managed to penetrate his defenses.
"Has this happened before?" one of the assistants asked, unable to hide the fear in his voice.
No one answered.
The Crimson King raised his chin slightly and turned his attention back to the screens.
"Find me a nearby portal."
The assistants hurried to obey. Several began manipulating the controls while others searched for a route that would allow them to reach the affected area without wasting any more time.
"Send the armies to that land. Burn everything. Kill everyone."
His voice did not waver for an instant.
"I want to hear good news when I return."
After issuing the order, the Crimson King headed back toward the main portal.
He had no intention of wasting any more time in that room. If Jonathan Belmont had decided to invade his territory, then he would have to learn the consequences of such audacity the hard way.
"Preparing the portal, sir," one of the operators announced.
The machinery began emitting a deep hum once more. The lights on the control panels flickered as the structure prepared to establish a new connection.
The Crimson King stopped in front of the opening and waited for the process to finish.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on his face.
Jonathan Belmont had come looking for him.
Very well.
He would personally make sure Jonathan understood that he had made a mistake.