The air in Oruko had grown thick and still, as if the village itself were holding its breath. Under the cloak of a moonless sky, the cult boys moved like shadows detaching themselves from the night. They reached the high stone walls of Daddy John's estate, a fortress of prosperity that stood in stark contrast to the humble huts of the villagers.
Kanpe knelt by the servant's gate, his fingers glowing with a pale blue light as he worked on the spiritual wards. With a soft click that resonated only in the magical realm, the gate swung open. "The path is clear," he whispered, his glasses reflecting the dim glow of his magic. "But we must be quick. The wards will reset in ten minutes."
Fogo gestured forward, his face a mask of cold determination. Lighter led the way, his sheer bulk making him look like a moving mountain in the darkness. Scooby followed, his heart hammering against his ribs. The intoxication of the ritual was still humming in his blood, making every sound seem magnified the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the soft jingle of Scorpion's bells.
They reached the main house and slipped inside. The interior was silent and smelled of expensive cedar and lavender. Following Fogo's lead, they navigated the corridors until they reached the door to Daddy John's study. Lighter didn't bother with finesse; he placed his hands on the heavy oak door and, with a surge of raw strength, pushed it open without a sound.
Inside, the room was bathed in a soft, ethereal light emanating from a glass case on the desk. Within the case sat the Celestial Stone a relic that pulsed with a rhythmic, golden radiance.
"The stone," Fogo breathed, his eyes wide with greed. "With this, we won't just be brothers of the shadow. We will be masters of the light."
As Fogo reached for the case, a voice cut through the silence.
"Stop!"
They spun around to see Ada standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with terror. She was clutching a silken robe around her, her hair flowing like a dark river down her shoulders. Her gaze moved from Fogo to the others, finally landing on Scooby.
"Scooby?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What are you doing here?"
The goofy boy felt a sudden, crushing wave of shame. The intoxicating lie Fogo had told him that he was doing this for her shattered in the face of her fear. "Ada, I..."
"Don't listen to him, Ada," Fogo snarled, his charm replaced by a terrifying intensity. "Your father has hoarded this light while the rest of the village suffers in the dark. We are simply taking back what belongs to everyone."
"It doesn't belong to you!" she cried, stepping forward.
Fogo moved with blinding speed, grabbing her by the arm. "Lighter, get the stone. Scorpion, keep watch. Scooby...prove your loyalty. Hold her."
Scooby stood frozen, his mind a battlefield. He looked at Ada's tear-filled eyes and then at Fogo's monstrous grin. The catastrophic chain was tightening, and for the first time, Scooby realized that the "strength" Fogo offered was nothing more than a different kind of cage.
"I said hold her!" Fogo barked.
Lighter smashed the glass case, and as his fingers touched the Celestial Stone, a brilliant, blinding flash erupted. The stone didn't just give off light; it let out a spiritual shockwave that knocked everyone back. In the chaos, the first truly tragic event occurred.
Poro, confused by the flash, stumbled backward and tripped over a heavy ornamental statue, his head striking the corner of the marble hearth with a sickening thud. He didn't move again. The dumbest member of the group was the first to fall.
"Get the stone and go!" Fogo shouted, ignoring Poro's body.
As they scrambled to flee, the village bells began to toll. The heist had failed to be silent, and the reckoning for the cult boys had begun.