A mysterious shadow followed the guards through the quiet hallways of Noctharis.
The castle had become strangely calm.
Only the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors.
The guards continued walking until they finally reached a dead end.
They stopped.
Silence.
Then—
One punch.
Both guards collapsed to the floor.
The mysterious shadow stood over them for a moment before reaching down and taking the key.
The key to the restricted access.
The key to the hidden passage.
NOCTHARIS CASTLE — HIDDEN PASSAGE
Katsa slowly walked toward the hidden passage.
Her footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.
She looked around.
Nobody.
She pulled out the key.
But before she could insert it—
A voice suddenly appeared inside her mind.
"SAVE US!!"
Katsa froze.
Another voice followed.
"DON'T KILL US!"
Her breathing became heavier.
She held her head.
Then another voice.
"You might have moved on... but think about what you did."
A pause.
"It was mass murder."
"AHH!!"
Katsa screamed.
She dropped to one knee as her head began to feel hot.
"I... I..."
The voice returned.
"Speak less."
"You are a murderer... just like Organization X."
Katsa's eyes widened.
For a moment, she saw the memories of the rehabilitation camp.
The people.
The destruction.
And the boy who had once helped her.
Her hands slowly stopped shaking.
She took a breath.
"I have to live long enough to save more than I killed."
Katsa stood up.
She looked at the door.
Then she inserted the key.
Click.
The hidden passage unlocked.
The door slowly opened.
Warm air flowed through the opening.
Katsa stepped inside.
She immediately stopped.
The temperature was completely different.
Everything felt warm.
Almost unbearably warm.
It felt like the floor itself was burning beneath her feet.
She continued walking.
One step.
Then another.
The passage seemed to stretch endlessly.
Until finally—
A faint light appeared ahead.
Katsa slowly approached it.
She looked around the corner.
Her eyes widened.
A massive room.
People were standing everywhere.
And among them—
The masked man.
Katsa immediately stepped backward and hid behind the wall.
She stayed completely still.
Then she heard them talking.
"The energy ores are ready."
A second voice answered.
"The world has to understand it now."
A pause.
"It's already too late."
Katsa's expression changed.
She listened carefully.
UNDERGROUND — THE CAVE
Far below the prison, Junyu continued walking.
The underground castle was silent.
Soldiers moved through the halls carrying the mysterious energy ores.
Junyu stayed behind them.
He watched carefully.
They're taking the ores and placing them somewhere.
If I follow them, I might get caught.
Which is not good.
Junyu looked around.
Then an idea came to him.
He placed the water on the ground.
He broke the water container.
Crash.
Water spilled across the floor.
Junyu quickly hid behind the wall.
A few moments later, the soldiers arrived.
They looked at the scattered water.
But they didn't notice anything unusual.
They simply continued carrying the ores.
Their footsteps slowly disappeared.
Junyu waited.
And waited.
Silence returned.
He finally stepped out.
Then he noticed something.
Footprints.
The wet floor had revealed exactly where the soldiers had gone.
Junyu's eyes narrowed.
"Got you."
He followed the footprints.
They led deeper into the underground castle.
Eventually, Junyu reached a massive cave.
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
A huge elevator stood in the center.
And it went even deeper.
Junyu waited behind the wall until the guards disappeared.
Then he stepped inside.
The doors closed.
The elevator began descending.
And descending.
And descending.
The darkness outside became deeper with every second.
Finally—
Ding.
The doors opened.
Junyu stepped out.
He had reached the lowest ground.
BLOODVEIL HARBOUR
The final land connected to the entire country.
Junyu slowly walked forward.
Everything was strangely quiet.
Then—
Something bright caught his attention.
He looked ahead.
His eyes widened.
THE SECRET PASSAGE
Katsa remained hidden behind the wall.
The masked man continued speaking.
"After all the pain... it's time."
Katsa's eyes narrowed.
"For the plan."
The room became silent.
Then the masked man continued.
"The entire Bloodveil Harbour will fall beneath us."
Katsa's heart dropped.
"The ores will destroy all the land."
A pause.
"And kill all the people."
Katsa covered her mouth.
Her eyes trembled.
"No..."
BENEATH THE HARBOUR
Junyu stood completely still.
In front of him was something enormous.
A massive round stone.
And surrounding it—
Thousands upon thousands of glowing energy ores.
Junyu slowly counted the markings.
His expression changed.
10,000 ores.
His eyes widened.
At the same moment, Katsa finally understood what she had heard.
And Junyu understood what he was looking at.
Two people.
Two locations.
The same terrifying truth.
Their plan was not to control Bloodveil Harbour.
It wasn't to take the castle.
It wasn't even about the auction.
The energy ores were meant for something much bigger.
Katsa whispered:
"They're going to..."
Junyu stared at the enormous weapon beneath the harbour.
His expression became serious.
"They're going to destroy..."
Both finally understood.
THEIR PLAN IS TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.