"What… where am I?" Zackary whispered, his eyes wide as he stepped through the portal. Before him stretched a forest bathed in warm, golden light. Spirits of all shapes and sizes darted through the trees, some running, some flying, their laughter like wind chimes in the air. Compared to the cold, gray world outside, this place radiated life and magic in every breath.
"This way!" the spirits called, their voices melodic. Zackary followed, calm yet alert, reshaping his clothes with a flick of magic to match the ethereal forest around him.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked, curiosity thick in his voice as the spirits guided him toward a giant, temple-like structure. And then, as suddenly as they appeared, they vanished.
"Where did they go?" he muttered, scanning the temple grounds. Above, a massive moon cast a silver glow, illuminating the structure in a dreamlike light.
"So… you've come."
Before Zackary could react, a silver wolf the size of a dragon leapt from the sky, landing gracefully yet powerfully before him. Its fur shimmered like liquid moonlight. Zackary froze, awestruck.
"I… I guess I should introduce myself," the wolf said, voice deep and resonant. "I am the Moon Spirit King, Luranias. Welcome to my domain, Grand Duke Vermillion."
"How… how do you know my name?" Zackary asked, confusion knitting his brow.
"We Spirit Kings can read souls," Luranias explained, gazing at him intently. "I have seen all of your lives."
"All of my… lives?"
"Yes. Both the lives you've lived," Luranias said confidently.
"Why… why have you called me here?"
Luranias lifted his massive tail, and two elf-like children emerged—a boy and a girl, no more than three years old. Their eyes shone red, the boy's hair black, the girl's silver, both radiating fragile innocence.
"Children… in the Spirit Realm?" Zackary asked, astonished.
"It seems you realize mortal children cannot survive here," Luranias said softly. "It has been a miracle that we could sustain them. But mortals do not eat spirit energy, and they cannot age here. They will perish without guidance."
Zackary ran a hand through his silver hair, a knot of worry forming. "You want me to take them?"
"Yes," Luranias replied, his gaze unwavering. "Or at least deliver them to their father."
Zackary's eyes widened. "Deliver them? How would I even find him?"
"You are a ruler of the Twilight Territory," Luranias explained. "A dragon died trying to deliver them to their father, who resides there. Beyond that, I know nothing. The dragon only spoke of there lord who resides in the TwilightTerritory."
Zackary swallowed, thoughts swirling. Despite his own fractured past, he felt confused wondering what was going on weight of this request settling on his shoulders. "Alright… I'll accept. They cannot survive here regardless."
Luranias bowed deeply, causing the remaining spirits to pause in reverence. "Thank you, Grand Duke Vermillion. Truly."
"How old are they?" Zackary asked, curiosity softening his anxiety.
"Two years have passed since they arrived," Luranias said. "They were two then, so four now, though they appear younger."
Kneeling before them, Zackary extended a hand. "Hello there… you don't have to be afraid." He conjured a butterfly of shimmering ice. As the girl reached out, it multiplied, surrounding them in delicate, glittering wings. The children giggled, their fear melting.
"You should remain here tonight," Luranias suggested. "Going out now would place you in battle." Zackary nodded, deciding to stay for the moment.
Across the Forest
Xoraxys leaped through the treetops, hundreds of monsters in pursuit. "Catch me if you can," he taunted. Shadows became his allies as he vanished, reappearing in the darkness to slash his enemies apart. Blood sprayed across the forest, crimson painting the leaves, the ground littered with dismembered corpses.
Elsewhere, Reages unleashed torrents of fire. Each incinerated monster left a cloud of smoldering ash, rain evaporating in the intense heat before touching the forest floor. Scorched bodies littered his path, leaving a trail of terror behind.
Finn and Penelope fought off swarms of smaller creatures while evading a monstrous earth worm, its segmented body tearing through the ground chasing them.
"Where are you, master?" Fenrir muttered, scenting Zackary's magic and following relentlessly.
Twilight Territory – Southern Coast
At dawn, a colossal ship appeared, skimming the ocean with unnatural speed. It slammed into the harbor of Duke Tempest's Territory, crushing smaller vessels and sending sailors into the churning sea.
"What… what happened?" a demon stammered, watching the ship's lion insignia approach.
"From the Moonlight Continent?" murmured another.
"Your Grace, Duke Tempest?" Sabastian looked shocked, he had plan to have a peaceful breakfast know this.
From above, a voice roared, terrifying in its volume: "Bring me your King!"
The soundwave shattered windows across the city. Before Sabastian could react, a pain tore through his side, and he was flung through ten buildings, leaving a trail of debris.
"I am Vogarth Bestia, and I face you cowards as a warrior!" The man's declaration unleashed a pulse of raw magic, a red haze rolling through the city. Cries of agony erupted as bodies were torn apart by waves of energy. Limbs twisted unnaturally, bones splintered, and walls cracked, spilling bricks onto the terrified crowds. The air was thick with blood and screams.
Twilight Territory – Castle and Library
Luciferus felt the pulse from his office, and so did Aisha. "Let's greet our guest," Luciferus said. They stepped out together, aware of the chaos unfolding.
Vlad glanced at Klein. "I'll handle this here." In a blur, he transformed into a thousand bats, vanishing before Klein could blink.
Meanwhile in the Exion stronghold, Maximilian sifted through the grand library, multiple clones devouring text on the Exion group. "Power to kill God… interesting," he mused. Sensing movement above, he realized Lysander and Leon were entering.
"You idiots will ruin everything," he muttered invisibly, pursuing them.
Their ghoul led them to a cathedral-like room. Maximilian revealed himself. "You almost ruined my investigation."
"We came to help," Lysander said, irritation in his tone.
"The investigation can wait," Maximilian replied, leading them out. Leon, seizing a the ghoul trying to run away and tore it apart, blood splattering across the marble. "I'll keep your soul," he said coldly, absorbing it into himself.
Sunlight Empire – Emperor's Chambers
The Emperor, Lucien, stared out at the chaos in the Twilight Territory. "That pathetic lion took the bait," he muttered. He turned back to the five women on his bed. Memories of a woman with silver eyes holding two children flared, igniting a dangerous possessiveness.
He tossed a purple potion over the women. "Your Majesty," one breathed, flushed and trembling. Lucien's eyes lingered on them as he removed his robe, exuding power and dominance. The women reacted, drawn to his presence, the tension thick with desire. Lucien moved with calculated control, the scenario charged with erotic energy, the air heavy with anticipation.
Down the hallway, the sounds of the chamber—moans, cries, and gasps—echoed, a reminder of the emperor's obsession and lust.
Twilight Territory
Meanwhile, Vogarth carved a bloody path through the city. Soldiers and demons alike were crushed under the force of his attacks, impaled on shards of wood and stone. Buildings collapsed under magical blows; fire and lightning tore through the streets. Pools of blood reflected the silver moon, and screams filled the air.
"This… is war," Vogarth growled, each strike leaving rivers of gore and twisted metal in his wake. He advanced with unstoppable force, a whirlwind of death and devastation.