After a grueling three-day journey, Nahid reached the Flame Monastery. Dropping to his knees before the massive ring of fire at the monastery's center, he closed his eyes.
"God of Flame! I need you!" he cried out.
A deep, echoing voice surged from within the sacred fire:
"I have given you your power, Nahid. You cannot ask for more."
Nahid's face tightened.
"The world could be destroyed! I must be stronger!"
The Flame God's voice grew sharper and resolute this time.
"I gave you what you need. What comes next is up to you."
Nahid clenched his teeth, knowing there was no point in pushing further. After another three-day return journey, he arrived back in the city, six days after he had left.
Zayden spent days tracking clues in the Island City, but found nothing. His hopes that Dante might have left something behind before his death were shattered.
Like Nahid, he returned to the city on the sixth day, and his first task was to find Nahid.
"Did you find anything?" Nahid asked, a faint ray of hope still lingering in his eyes.
Zayden shook his head. "Nothing."
The city had lost its king. The people were arguing over who the new ruler should be. Nahid crossed his arms and turned his gaze toward the palace.
"There's nothing we can do. When the seal breaks, we will defeat them."
Yet, merely a day after those words, a massive explosion shook the city.
Following the blast, Nicat and Nihad were freed from their imprisonment.
Walking among the ruins of the palace, Nicat surveyed the wreckage and whispered with contempt:
"Despicable humans."
A shadow emerged silently from the rubble.
It was Nihad.
His eyes burned with a red fury. He looked at Nicat and asked in a cold voice:
"Friend or foe?"
Nicat narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to gauge Nihad's state of mind. Then he noticed something:
The scabbard on Nihad's right side was empty.
This meant his power had not fully returned. With a faint smile playing on his lips, Nicat bowed his head.
"Friend."
Nihad took a deep breath. "For seven years, I wanted to be king again."
Yet now, only a handful of ruins remained of the palace.
Nicat crossed his arms. "Then show your people your strength, king," he said in a low voice.
Opening a portal, he quickly vanished from the scene.
Nihad walked into the city square. Standing before the gathered crowd, he gave a single command:
"Kneel."
The crowd waited in silence.
A few slowly dropped to their knees. However, one man remained standing, an unflinching glare in his eyes.
"I will not bow to a madman like you."
Without a moment's hesitation, Nihad drew his sword.
With a single strike, he severed the man's head.
"I repeat," he said, his voice cold and authoritative. "Kneel."
This time, no one in the city dared to object. Everyone fell to their knees.
Nihad had finally reclaimed his kingdom.
Nahid and Zayden realized they were too late.
They traveled for two days without stopping, but when they reached the city, everything had changed.
The city was silent.
The streets were deserted. Everyone had retreated into their homes, waiting in fear.
Looking at the empty streets, Zayden turned to Nahid.
"This is not a good sign. Let's move forward."
As they stood before the palace gates, they felt someone waiting for them inside.
Entering the ruined yet still standing throne room, a figure shrouded in shadows slowly rose.
Nihad leaned against his throne with a cold, charismatic smile.
As Zayden and Nahid stood directly before him, he approached with heavy steps, fully revealing himself in the dim light.
His voice was deep, cold, and ruthless.
"You're late."
The madness and arrogance in his eyes signaled that this was no longer the Nihad of the past.
Nahid and Zayden had found their new king.
And now, everything was much more complicated.