Junyu falls to the ground.
For a moment, he doesn't move.
His eyes remain fixed on the massive structure before him.
Thousands of glowing ores surround the enormous stone, their light spreading through the underground ruins like a second sun buried beneath the earth.
His face is frozen in disbelief.
"What... and how is this even possible?"
A faint rumbling suddenly reaches his ears.
Junyu's expression changes.
The lift.
It is coming down.
The sound of the machinery echoes through the enormous underground chamber.
Junyu quickly looks around.
There is nowhere to run.
He moves behind a large stone formation and holds his breath.
The lift continues descending.
Closer.
Closer.
Junyu watches through the gap in the rocks.
These ores can destroy the entire country effortlessly.
There will be deaths... injured people...
It will be like an apocalypse if we don't do anything.
His hands tighten.
These smart people called all the strong people from the country here as a diversion for their plan to work.
But how are they even getting these energies from?
His eyes return to the thousands of glowing ores.
I have to run from here and tell my crew about this.
We have to take action.
The lift finally reaches the ground.
The doors open.
Junyu stays completely still.
After several tense seconds, he carefully moves away from the area.
ABOVE — THE SECRET PASSAGE
Katsa stands frozen behind the wall.
She has heard everything.
The entire plan.
The ores.
Bloodveil Harbour.
The destruction.
Her breathing becomes heavier, but she forces herself to stay calm.
I can't panic.
I have to get out.
Slowly, Katsa begins walking backward through the corridor.
One step.
Then another.
The distant blue flames flicker against the walls.
She turns—
And her foot catches something.
THUD.
The sound echoes through the entire passage.
Katsa freezes.
Silence.
Then—
One of the masked figures slowly turns his head.
"Someone is outside."
Another member looks toward the corridor.
"Catch them."
Katsa immediately runs.
Her footsteps echo through the passage as she disappears behind the wall.
But it is too late.
All six members have already noticed her.
Number 3 slowly steps forward.
Katsa looks at him.
Her eyes widen.
"DOM!"
Dom smiles beneath his mask.
"You recognized me."
His voice becomes colder.
"You ungrateful bitch."
Katsa's expression hardens.
Dom continues.
"You destroyed an entire city... and now you're spying on us?"
He takes another step.
"I will take care of you very well."
Morgan finally speaks.
His voice is calm.
Almost emotionless.
"Nobody had to know about the plan."
He looks directly toward Katsa.
"But you heard us."
A pause.
"KILL HER."
Katsa turns and runs again.
The corridor stretches ahead of her.
She reaches the end.
Nothing.
A dead end.
Her eyes quickly search the walls.
Then she sees it.
A lift.
Katsa rushes toward it and presses the button.
Nothing.
She presses it again.
Still nothing.
Behind her—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Getting closer.
A voice echoes through the corridor.
"Running away again..."
Katsa slowly turns.
The six figures stand in the distance.
The blue flames flicker behind them.
The corridor seems to become darker.
"It's your own path."
A pause.
"Follow it... or die."
Katsa lowers her hand from the lift.
For a moment, she looks down.
Then she raises her head.
Something has changed in her expression.
She isn't running anymore.
She steps forward.
"Try to kill me."
Her eyes sharpen.
"I know you can't."
Dom suddenly charges.
Katsa waits until the last moment.
He swings—
She ducks underneath him.
But before she can move—
BAM!
Number 4's kick strikes her across the cheek.
Katsa is thrown into the wall.
The stone cracks behind her.
Number 4 calmly steps forward.
"Nice to meet you."
She reveals her knife.
"I am Smith."
Katsa pushes herself away from the wall.
Smith suddenly leaps into the air.
Lightning gathers around her.
The entire corridor flashes white.
She strikes downward.
Katsa braces herself—
But nothing happens.
The attack is countered.
One after another, the members move against her.
Katsa is surrounded.
MEANWHILE — THE LIFT
Junyu reaches the lift.
The doors close behind him.
He looks at the enormous control panel.
Hundreds of buttons.
His eyes move across them.
Then he notices one.
The original castle.
Junyu's eyes widen slightly.
Noctharis.
He presses it.
The lift begins moving upward.
The darkness of the underground world slowly disappears below him.
THE SECRET PASSAGE
Katsa struggles against the six members.
Dom and the others hold her in place.
Smith slowly pulls her knife from its sheath.
She steps closer.
"It was a pleasure."
Katsa closes her eyes for a moment.
Then—
BEEP.
Everyone freezes.
A mechanical sound echoes through the corridor.
The lift doors slowly open.
Cold air enters the passage.
The blue flames flicker violently.
All six members turn around.
A figure stands inside the lift.
Red.
Completely still.
Katsa's eyes widen.
Her disbelief turns into shock.
Her voice escapes before she can even think.
"JUNYU?"