Western Mountains
We rode toward the western mountains at full speed.
As predicted, no armies guarded the pass.
The direct route would have taken half a day. Crossing the twin mountain ridges would cut that time nearly in half.
If Seraphine was right about the relic, Ryn would need time.
Replacing one's own eyes with a Devil relic was not instant.
And if his team was busy luring the others, we still had a window.
We pushed forward.
Each ridge held a fortress belonging to the Oni and Troll teams, but both stood quiet. No banners moved. No sentries signaled.
Too quiet.
We advanced anyway.
Then—
Two Troll warriors fell from the sky.
They crashed into the earth before us, their maces shattering stone on impact.
Our horses reared violently, panic ripping through the formation.
"Mira."
She didn't even turn her head.
A thin breath escaped her lips.
The air crystallized.
The two Trolls froze mid-motion, ice locking their bodies before they could rise.
We did not stop.
We rode past their frozen forms and continued through the pass until dawn began to fade.
Ahead of us—
The Hunter Team's castle.
---
War Updates
A notification echoed through the armor.
[Three players eliminated — Goblin Team]
Aeldir's voice entered the shared link.
"General. Apologies. The remaining goblins engaged us."
Elara spoke at the same time.
"It's as you predicted. Hunter Team mirrored the strategy. But someone possesses a relic that cancels summoning magic and external perks."
A second notification struck.
[Three players eliminated — Hunter Team]
Shock rippled through the channel.
So even with relic advantage—
They were bleeding.
War never moved perfectly, no matter how experienced the commander.
Then—
A metallic sound vibrated through the armor.
An iron door opening.
Telepathic resonance.
Seraphine.
---
The Call
"Guards remain outside," a voice echoed faintly through the link.
"Do not enter until I come out."
"Understood, General," someone replied.
Her presence felt unstable.
I said sharply, "Advance, Aeldir. We're out of time."
We dismounted and ran through tall grass along the riverside.
Then—
A sharp, burning pulse tore through my body.
"Seraphine. Report!"
Her reply came fractured.
"Eron… save me… I don't think he's in his right mind…"
The connection trembled.
Then cut.
If my prediction was correct, he had already activated the relic — either through the crown or through her.
But I still didn't know his objective.
We reached the castle.
Smaller than the Emperor's fortress.
But built for a warlord.
Aeldir stood near the inner gate.
Two bodies lay at his feet.
Elves.
Skulls pierced cleanly.
No external wounds.
Water bullets. Mana suppressed.
He looked at me calmly.
"General. Don't breathe loudly. I'll eliminate anyone remaining."
"It will cause noise," I replied. "Mana fluctuation will alert him."
Then—
We heard her scream.
---
Inside the Dungeon
The cell was dim.
Stone walls. Rusted iron doors. Dust layered across the floor.
Seraphine sat chained against the wall, wrists bound by mana-forged restraints.
Ryn knelt before her.
Her sleeve had been torn.
A clean cut marked her wrist.
He did not hesitate.
He lowered his head.
Several minutes passed.
Her breathing weakened.
Not from violence.
From inevitability.
He did not rush.
He did not speak.
He simply took what was required.
Her strength faded steadily.
His eyes changed.
The white vanished.
Darkness swallowed the sclera.
Crimson expanded within the iris — circular, abyssal.
The Devil's Eyes awakened.
He pulled back slowly.
Blood marked his lips.
He wrapped her wound carefully with royal cloth taken from the chamber.
Then he stood.
Walked to the second cell.
Locked himself inside.
He fell to his knees.
Gripping his head.
Veins pulsed beneath his skin.
His body trembled as if resisting something trying to surface.
Footsteps echoed outside.
Through clenched teeth he forced the words out:
"I told you… remain outside…"
The dungeon doors burst open.
Mira stepped forward.
"Domain Expansion — Valley of Snow and Eternal Sleeping Soldiers."
The temperature collapsed.
Frost spread instantly across stone.
Ryn's body froze where he knelt.
Ice sealed him in place.
Silence fell.
"We came, Seraphine," Mira said calmly.
Seraphine did not respond.
She stared at the floor.
Still.
Unreadable.
But something in her eyes had changed.