Sora took the lead, guiding them through the overgrown courtyard, his small frame moving with surprising confidence. Despite the destruction that had ravaged the rest of the city, the courtyard remained relatively intact, its walls hidden beneath a thick layer of ivy and moss.

Sora led them to a large bush near the back of the courtyard, where he pushed aside the leaves to reveal a hidden switch embedded in the stone. With a click, the wall shifted, revealing a narrow passageway that led into the palace’s underground chambers.

Katsuo turned to Yumi and Sora, his expression serious. “Stay here,” he said firmly.

“It’s too dangerous inside. I’ll take care of this.” Yumi’s eyes widened with fear, but she nodded, trusting Katsuo’s strength and judgment. Sora, however, looked hesitant.

“But I can help…” he began, his voice trailing off as Katsuo placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I need you to protect Yumi,” Katsuo said gently, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“This isn’t your fight.” Sora’s eyes filled with determination, but he nodded, accepting Katsuo’s words. With a final glance at the two of them, Katsuo stepped into the darkness of the hidden passage, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The hidden passage led Katsuo deep into the palace’s ancient sewer system, a labyrinth of dark, damp tunnels that twisted beneath the grand halls above.

The stench of rot and decay filled the air, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the narrow corridors. The walls were slick with moisture, their stone surfaces worn down by centuries of use.

Katsuo moved cautiously through the tunnels, his katana drawn and ready. Every step echoed through the passage, amplifying the eerie silence that surrounded him.

His senses were on high alert—he knew that danger could lurk around every corner.

As he ventured deeper into the sewers, the atmosphere grew colder, the oppressive weight of dark magic pressing down on him like a heavy cloak.

His sharp eyes scanned the shadows, searching for any signs of movement.

The sewer system was a maze, its winding paths and narrow corridors designed to confuse intruders. But Katsuo had trained for moments like this. His mind was focused, his body prepared for whatever lay ahead. He moved silently through the tunnels, his footsteps barely making a sound as he navigated the treacherous path. But even with his training, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye, and Katsuo’s heart raced as he turned toward the source of the disturbance.

From the shadows emerged a group of twisted creatures, their bodies deformed by dark magic.

Poisonous toads with glowing eyes and giant bats with leathery wings screeched as they descended upon him, their fangs bared in anticipation of the kill. Katsuo’s grip tightened on his katana as he prepared for the attack. With a swift, precise movement, he sliced through the first wave of creatures, his blade cutting through their flesh with deadly efficiency. But more were coming.

The creatures swarmed around him, their bodies writhing and twisting as they tried to overwhelm him.

Katsuo moved with practiced ease, his katana flashing in the dim light as he dispatched each one with lethal precision. His muscles burned with exertion, but he couldn’t afford to slow down.

The real fight still lay ahead, and he needed to conserve his strength. As the last of the creatures fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground, Katsuo took a deep breath, steadying himself for what was to come.

The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the oppressive weight of dark magic seemed to press down on him even harder now.

After what felt like hours of navigating the winding tunnels, Katsuo finally entered a large chamber, the air damp and heavy with moisture.

In the center of the room lay a figure, his armor dented and bloodied—Captain Haruto Kurozawa, Katsuo’s former general and one of the finest soldiers Milix had ever known.

Katsuo’s heart clenched as he rushed to the captain’s side, his mind racing with worry. “Captain!” Katsuo called, shaking the man gently.

Haruto groaned, his eyes fluttering open as he slowly regained consciousness.

When he saw Katsuo kneeling beside him, a look of shock and relief crossed his face. “Katsuo… what are you doing here?” he muttered weakly.

Katsuo helped the captain to his feet, his voice filled with concern.

“I could ask you the same thing. You were supposed to protect the king. How did you end up here?” Haruto winced, pressing a hand to his side where his armor had been dented.

“I fought… but I was defeated. The mages threw me into the sewers like garbage. I couldn’t protect anyone…” Katsuo’s heart ached at the captain’s words, his guilt rising to the surface. “You did everything you could,” he said firmly.

“But this fight isn’t over. The people of Milix need you now more than ever.”

Captain Haruto shook his head, shame etched into every line of his face. His once-proud figure was hunched, his armor battered and covered in grime from the sewers.

“I’ve failed them, Katsuo. I couldn’t protect the king… I couldn’t even protect myself.” His voice was filled with bitterness and regret, the weight of his perceived failure weighing heavily on him.

Katsuo felt a pang of sympathy for his former general, knowing how much Haruto had dedicated his life to serving Milix. But now was not the time for despair. They still had a chance to save the city, and Haruto could still make a difference.

“You didn’t fail,” Katsuo said, his voice firm and resolute.

“You fought, and that’s what matters. But we still need you. There are people out there who need protection, and we can’t afford to lose any more lives.”

Haruto looked up at Katsuo, his expression filled with uncertainty. “But the king… I couldn’t even protect him. What good am I if I can’t fulfill my duty?” Katsuo placed a hand on the captain’s shoulder, his grip strong and reassuring.

“You can still protect the people,” he said quietly.

“Yumi and Sora are waiting by the secret entrance. They need someone strong to protect them while I deal with the palace.”

Haruto hesitated, his brow furrowed with doubt, but Katsuo’s words seemed to reach him. Slowly, the captain nodded, his resolve returning.

“You’ve changed, Katsuo,” Haruto said, his voice low but filled with a hint of pride.

“You’ve grown stronger… wiser. I’m proud of you.” Katsuo gave him a small, appreciative smile, though there was no time for sentiment.

“Thank you, Captain. Now go. I’ll handle things inside.” With a nod of understanding, Haruto turned and began to make his way back toward the hidden entrance, his movements slow but determined. Katsuo watched him go, the weight of responsibility heavy on his own shoulders.

Once Haruto had disappeared into the shadows, Katsuo steeled himself and turned back toward the chamber. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the oppressive atmosphere of dark magic pressed down on him like a leaden weight.

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He knew that the path ahead would not be easy, but there was no turning back now. The fate of Milix depended on him finding and confronting whatever dark force lay at the heart of the palace.

His grip tightened on the hilt of his katana as he moved forward, his steps steady but filled with purpose. The real fight was about to begin.

As he navigated through the twisting tunnels of the royal sewers, Katsuo’s thoughts briefly flickered to Yumi and Sora.

He had left them behind with Haruto, trusting the captain to keep them safe. But the revelation about Yumi’s true heritage still weighed heavily on his mind. The fact that she was the illegitimate daughter of King Milix changed everything.

It made her a target, not just for the dark forces that had taken over the city, but for anyone seeking to use her royal bloodline to their advantage. Katsuo’s resolve hardened. He would protect her, no matter the cost.

The tunnels grew narrower as Katsuo descended deeper into the palace’s underbelly, the oppressive weight of dark magic growing stronger with each step.

His senses were on high alert, every sound amplified by the echoing stone walls. The air was colder here, the temperature dropping the further he went, as if the very essence of the palace had been corrupted by the darkness.

The silence was suffocating, broken only by the distant dripping of water and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures in the shadows. Katsuo could feel the tension building inside him, his body coiled like a spring ready to release.

The winding, damp corridors of the royal sewer system seemed endless as Katsuo pressed onward, his katana at the ready.

His footsteps echoed through the narrow tunnels, each step louder than the last, amplified by the eerie silence surrounding him. The stench of decay and stagnant water was overpowering, but Katsuo ignored the discomfort. The air itself seemed heavy, weighed down by the oppressive magic that permeated the palace.

Katsuo could feel the pull of that dark energy, like a beacon drawing him closer to the source of Milix’s suffering. His thoughts flickered briefly to Yumi and Sora, trusting that they were safe under Captain Haruto's protection, but he couldn't dwell on them now. He had a mission to complete.

After what felt like hours of navigating the labyrinthine sewers, Katsuo finally saw a faint light ahead.

His heart quickened with a mix of anticipation and dread. This had to be the way out. The air around him grew colder as he approached, the darkness of the sewer giving way to a dim, flickering light. He kept his katana drawn, ready for any threat that might be waiting beyond the exit.

Every nerve in his body was on edge, his senses heightened as the weight of the magic around him grew heavier with each step.

As he neared the exit, Katsuo’s mind raced with thoughts of the battle ahead. He had fought his way through the streets of Milix, faced the twisted creatures in the sewers, but nothing could prepare him for what awaited him inside the palace. Izana, the mastermind behind Milix’s fall, was waiting.

Katsuo’s grip tightened on the hilt of his katana. He had trained for this moment, fought for it with every ounce of strength he had. The thought of failure didn’t cross his mind. He couldn’t fail—not when so many lives depended on him.

Pushing through the final archway, Katsuo emerged from the suffocating darkness of the sewers and into the grand, ominous halls of the palace.

The cold, damp air of the underground gave way to the still, oppressive atmosphere of the palace’s lower chambers. The walls were lined with intricate carvings of ancient symbols, glowing faintly with residual magic.

The air was cold, unnaturally so, and the silence was deafening. Katsuo moved cautiously through the corridor, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. He could feel it—he was close to the heart of the palace, where the darkness was strongest.

But just as Katsuo took a step forward, a low, mocking laugh echoed through the hall, sending a chill down his spine. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.

From the shadows, a figure emerged—a mage clad in dark, flowing robes. His eyes gleamed with amusement, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he regarded Katsuo like a predator toying with its prey. The mage’s presence radiated dark energy, the air around him shimmering with the crackle of magic.

“Well, well, look who finally crawled out of the sewers,” the mage sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

“I must say, I’m impressed you made it this far. Most wouldn’t have survived the creatures down below.” He took a step closer, his dark robes billowing behind him as his hands began to glow with faint tendrils of magic.

“But no matter. Your journey ends here.”

Katsuo’s grip tightened on his katana as he squared his shoulders, his eyes locked on the mage. He could feel the malevolent power radiating from the figure, but he refused to let fear take hold.

“I’m not here to entertain you,” Katsuo said coldly. “Move aside, or I’ll cut you down.”

The mage chuckled, his grin widening as if Katsuo’s defiance amused him.

“You think you can defeat me? How quaint. But I’m afraid I’m not here to fight you.” The mage raised a hand, and the air around him began to shimmer with dark energy.

“You see, my master has been waiting for you. And it would be rude of me to deny him the pleasure of greeting you in person.”

Before Katsuo could react, the mage snapped his fingers. In an instant, the world around Katsuo shifted violently, the ground beneath him warping as the dark magic took hold.

The corridor blurred into a swirl of shadows and light, and Katsuo felt as though he were being pulled through space itself. His heart raced, his body tensing as the magic engulfed him.

The sensation was disorienting, like falling through a void with no sense of direction. But Katsuo kept his focus, gripping his katana tightly, ready for whatever awaited him on the other side.

The sensation lasted only a moment, but it felt like an eternity. When the world finally snapped back into place, Katsuo found himself standing in a grand, ornate chamber—the throne room of the palace.

The sudden shift left him momentarily disoriented, but he quickly regained his composure, his senses sharpening as he took in his surroundings.

The air was thick with dark magic, the oppressive weight of it pressing down on his chest. His breath came in shallow bursts as he steadied himself, his katana still drawn.

The throne room was massive, its walls lined with ancient tapestries and glowing runes. The flickering torches cast long, ominous shadows that danced across the floor. At the far end of the room, two thrones stood elevated on a dais. And there, seated upon them, were the figures Katsuo had been hunting—Izana and a mysterious boy.

Izana, the orchestrator of Milix’s downfall, reclined lazily in the larger throne, his dark eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. His long, black robes draped around him like the cloak of a king, and his thin fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest as he regarded Katsuo with a mixture of arrogance and delight.

“Ah, Katsuo,” Izana said, his voice smooth and mocking. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever make it this far.”

Next to him sat Xanus, a young man with a cold, analytical gaze. Unlike Izana, who reveled in his power, Xanus seemed almost indifferent to the proceedings. His sharp eyes were focused on Katsuo, but there was no malice in his gaze—only curiosity.

He leaned back on his throne, his expression unreadable, as if he were studying Katsuo like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Katsuo’s heart pounded in his chest as he stood before the two of them, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

This was the heart of the enemy—the source of the darkness that had consumed Milix. And now, he was face to face with the ones responsible.

Izana’s smile widened, his voice dripping with condescension as he addressed Katsuo.

“Welcome to my palace,” he said, his tone mocking. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your little journey. But I’m afraid this is where it ends for you.”

He rose from his throne with a fluid grace, his hands crackling with dark magic as he stepped down from the dais.

“You’ve caused me quite a bit of trouble, Katsuo. And I don’t like being inconvenienced.”

Katsuo’s grip on his katana tightened as he faced Izana.

“This ends now, Izana,” Katsuo said, his voice steady despite the growing tension. “You’ve destroyed enough. I won’t let you corrupt Milix any further.”

Izana chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You think you can stop me? How cute.” He raised a hand, and the air around him crackled with energy.

“I’ve already won, Katsuo. The city is mine. The people are broken. And soon, you’ll be nothing more than a memory.”

He gestured to Xanus, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. “But first, let me introduce you to someone special. Xanus here is quite… interested in you.”

Xanus shifted slightly in his seat, his gaze still fixed on Katsuo.

“I’ve been curious about you,” Xanus said, his voice calm, almost detached.

“Izana speaks of you like you’re some great obstacle. But I don’t see it. Show me if he’s right.” There was no malice in Xanus’s tone—just curiosity. He wasn’t loyal to Izana in the same way others might be.

To him, this was just a game, a chance to test his strength against someone worthy.

Katsuo’s heart pounded as the room filled with tension. He was outnumbered, but he refused to back down.

He could feel the weight of the final confrontation pressing down on him. Izana’s arrogance, Xanus’s detachment—it all came down to this moment. The fate of Milix rested on his shoulders.

Izana’s smile widened as he saw the determination in Katsuo’s eyes. “Are you ready to die, Katsuo?” he asked, his voice low and filled with malice.

Katsuo’s grip tightened on his katana as he stepped forward, his resolve unshakable. “No,” he said, his voice cold. “But you should be.”

And with that, the room crackled with energy as the final battle loomed.