Michael and Jack froze as they saw Hiyori raise her blade toward the massive serpent.
"STOP!" Michael roared. "Don't kill it!"
Hiyori turned slowly, her sword gleaming above her head. The steel caught the dim torchlight.
"Jack?" she said coldly. "What are you doing here?"
Jack stepped forward. "I came with Michael."
"So," Hiyori's eyes shifted to the boy. "You're Michael."
Before anyone could speak again—
THUD!
Michael dropped from the ledge and landed hard on the stone floor.
The serpent reacted instantly.
HISSSSSSS!
It lunged toward him.
Michael winced. "Easy, Gantara… easy…"
The giant snake stopped and shook its massive head.
Hiyori narrowed her eyes. "So… you're its owner?"
"Yes," Michael answered firmly.
"We're out of time," Hiyori said sharply. "Give us the Book of Power."
Michael's jaw tightened. "What did you do to my pet?"
"Your pet attacked me," Hiyori replied calmly. "So I showed him who I am."
Jack stepped between them. "Stop arguing! We don't have time!"
Suddenly—
TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs
Hiyori turned. "Now who's coming?"
Yuki appeared first from the shadows.
"Hiyori!"
Behind her, Elysia, Hina, and Zoe rushed in.
"Hiyori!" Elysia ran forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. "What happened to you? You're covered in bandages!"
"I'm fine," Elysia muttered.
Hina glanced at the serpent. "Looks like Michael finally controlled this stubborn snake."
Michael frowned. "Your friend almost killed my pet."
"She had no choice," Hina replied coldly. "Now hurry. Open the lock so we can capture Weston."
Michael hesitated… then nodded.
He stepped toward the ancient pedestal.
The Book of Power rested inside a sealed locker of glowing metal.
He placed his hand on it.
Everyone held their breath.
After everything… all the battles… all the blood…
They were finally here.
"Finally," Hiyori whispered.
Unseen in the shadows of the castle, Raithasu was somewhere inside—but he hadn't joined them yet.
Then suddenly—
CRAAACK!
The ceiling split open.
"Everyone, alert—!" Michael shouted.
Too late.
WHAM!
Usami crashed down from the roof and landed directly on Michael.
Both of them slammed onto the ground.
"OOF!"
Usami stood up quickly. "Oh! Sorry, man! I fell—I didn't see you! By the way… where's Raithasu? He fell with me!"
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Yuki clenched her fists. "Usami! You just destroyed our perfect moment! Couldn't you wait five minutes, you idiot?!"
"Sorry!" Usami panicked. "But where's Raithasu?"
A faint glow flickered across the wall.
Raithasu stood casually against the stone, lighting a cigarette.
"I'm here."
Usami blinked. "How did you get there? We fell from the same hole!"
Raithasu exhaled smoke. "I teleported."
Usami sighed. "You're always one step ahead of me."
Raithasu smirked. "Finally admitting I'm better?"
"Hmph."
Michael groaned on the floor. "You broke my back…"
Elysia looked around. "Everyone's here… but where's Daiki?"
Raithasu turned to Hiyori. "He went with you. Where is he?"
Hiyori's expression darkened. "He was fighting the twin brothers. After freeing the prisoners, I went to help him… but he wasn't there. I don't know where he went."
Raithasu frowned. "And the freed people? We needed them to move this treasure."
"Oh," Hiyori blinked. "They all went back to the village."
"What?!" Raithasu snapped.
Jack raised a hand calmly. "Don't worry. I transferred things safely."
Raithasu looked at him sharply. "Jack… Zoe you're here? Weren't you dead?"
"No."
"So what are you doing here?"
"We were prisoners."
Raithasu shrugged. "Oh."
Jack glared. "That's all you have to say?"
Hina stepped in. "Enough! We have five minutes left!"
Michael stood again and placed his hand on the lock.
CLICK.
The locker trembled.
WHIRRRRRR…
It slowly opened.
A blinding golden light exploded into the chamber.
FWOOOOOOOSH!
The Book of Power rose into the air.
The entire room flooded with radiance.
Elysia gasped. "It's… beautiful."
Michael raised a hand. "Listen carefully. Before I take it… if you hear any loud voice—ignore it. No matter what. It's an illusion trap. If you pay attention, you'll be caught inside it."
Everyone nodded.
Michael grabbed the book.
The light faded.
In his hands now rested a crimson book with golden engravings.
Then—
A scream.
A girl's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Help me…"
Usami stiffened. "What is that?!"
"IGNORE IT!" Michael shouted.
Hina checked the timer. "One minute left!"
"Don't move!" Jack ordered.
Suddenly—
THUD!
Usami collapsed onto the floor.
Raithasu cursed. "You idiot!"
Hiyori covered her ears. "I… I can't ignore this voice…"
"Don't listen!" Raithasu warned.
"Thirty seconds!" Hina shouted.
Elsewhere—
Lyra stood outside the castle, her body trembling.
"Thirty seconds…" she whispered.
"They're not coming out…" Weston laughed loudly. "Today is my day! You're all going to die!"
Daiki looked at Lyra. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer.
At another side of the battlefield, Yotara faced a wounded man.
A sharp blade flashed—
SHIIING!
James appeared suddenly. "We don't have time! Get outside—now!"
And then—
Without warning—
The entire castle exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Flames swallowed the sky.
Stone shattered.
Shockwaves ripped through the air.
Lyra and Daiki watched in horror as the castle bloomed into fire before their eyes.
And inside…
The fate of everyone hung in the balance.