The prison of Vorthus shook violently. The pulse of dark energy that had rocked the mine was proof that Ren's pact with the Ash Queen was in full effect.
Lysandra pushed Kaito toward the wall he'd damaged with his Chaos.
"Move!" she ordered.
Kaito used his newly forged Chaos Blade to destroy the drainage conduit's seal, and together they crawled into the darkness.
Kaito and Lysandra made their way toward the underground cavern. The chaos on the surface was audible: screams, explosions, and the clash of Light and Shadow magic.
Just as they reached the cavern's mouth, the imposing figure of the Ash Queen blocked their path. She had come personally to intercept the "asset".
"Lysandra Vane," the Queen said. "The asset isn't yours. Nor your Commander's."
The Queen extended a hand toward Kaito.
"Your brother wanted to save your body. I want your *power*. Join me, child of the Conjunction, and I'll teach you to not just forge Shadow, but to *devour Light*."
Kaito looked at Lysandra, then at the Queen. He stepped forward, feeling his Chaos's pull toward the Queen's immense Shadow.
It was a powerful attraction.
Lysandra, knowing she couldn't fight the Queen and that Paladin Darius was near, made a survival decision and vanished into the mine's labyrinth.
The Ash Queen smiled, took Kaito by the chin, and opened a portal of pure Shadow.
"My Commander Ren is going to be very angry. But Chaos always comes home."
The Queen dragged Kaito through the portal.