The throne room reveals itself, grand yet degraded, the shadows casting a sickly pall over every gilded surface. There, slouched on the Madium Throne, is Udis. He reclines, popping grapes into his mouth one by one, giggling with each bite like a child who's lost his grip on reality. He hasn't even noticed me.

I glance up, and there—suspended from the ceiling in a rusted iron cage—is Alyse. Her form is barely visible in the dim light, but the faint sound of her voice drifts down to me.

"Red?" she whispers, her voice hoarse but filled with a painful hope.

Udis snaps to attention, his gaze flicking up to her with annoyance. "Quiet, you! How many times must I tell you to keep your pathetic pleas to yourself? That brother of yours cannot hear you here." His voice is sharp and grating, the malice barely contained. He turns, and his eyes lock on me.

At first, he squints, almost as if I'm a mirage. Then his lips curl into a wide, unsettling smile. "Ah...a visitor. Have you come to seek mercy from the most just and honorable king in all the lands?" His voice is a mocking squeak as he tosses the bowl of grapes to the side and it clangs to the floor.

I glare at him, unflinching. "No. I've come for my sister."

His twisted smile falters, and he glances around to his guards, feigning surprise, his lips puckered in mock confusion. "Whom?"

I grit my teeth. "...my sister!"

Udis falls silent, his gaze sweeping over me, scrutinizing every inch, his mind racing. Then, his eyes drift upward to Alyse's cage, realization dawning on his face. "Wait... you're the boy from Valoria, aren't you?" He mutters, almost to himself, as though piecing together a puzzle. He touches his forehead as if in pain, squinting at me. "Oh, um... Reed, was it?"

I sigh. "It's Red..."

He suddenly snaps upright, cutting me off with exaggerated delight. "Red! It's Red, isn't it? Gods, what are we doing now—fucking naming children after colors?" His laugh is sharp, grating. "Hello Red, my name is Brown!" He mocks.

"It's short for Reginald," I mutter, feeling the heat of irritation rise.

"Regi—" He stops, unable to even finish the word before he doubles over, cackling like it's the funniest thing he's heard in centuries, his laughter echoing through the throne room. "Well dear Reginald, how did you even survive?" He tilts his head, the curiosity almost childlike, before his expression hardens into suspicion. "How are you even here?" His voice snaps, filled with irritation. "Well, go on, it's not rhetorical!"

I hold his gaze, the memory of battle burning in my mind. "I killed him..." A lie, but maybe it's enough to break him.

A flicker of shock crosses his face, his smile dropping as he stares at me, disbelieving. "You... you what?" His voice is filled with incredulity and rage as he points at me. "You killed Muthos, you insufferable—" He stops abruptly, his anger twisting into something else, something almost delighted. His finger falling ever so slowly as his eyes glimmer with a wicked curiosity.

He throws his hands up. "Well, well..." he breathes, a hint of admiration sneaking into his tone. "Was it grand?"

"Grand?" I say, raising a brow.

He leans forward, eyes gleaming. "Yes, killing my brother, of course! Don't be shy-tell me every little detail. It's the best news l've had in years!"

I swallow down the revulsion, keeping my face unreadable. He's baiting me.

"Muthos? Well, he put up a fight, I suppose," I say with a shrug. "But it was all rather... unremarkable. If you want memorable, that would be Galagon.

Now he went out with a little more fire."

Udis freezes, then breaks into hysterics, his laugh high-pitched and unsettling.

"Galagon is dead too?!" He snickers, clapping his hands like a delighted child. "That slimy little wretch-always fawning over Vermidia, always craving the spotlight. So desperate for glory, yet couldn't stomach the backlash." He smirks, his amusement unsettling as his eyes dart over me. "Now, that I might believe. But Muthos..." His eyes narrow. "You're lying."

Without warning, his hand darts to his waist, and he draws a thin dagger, his face twisting in rage. "And I do not appreciate being lied to!" His voice rises to a shriek as he lunges forward, the blade flashing in his hand.

The guards seize me, locking their arms under mine as they shove me forward. Udis steps closer, pressing the cold edge of his dagger against my throat.

"So, what is this?" he sneers, his breath reeking of decay. "Did Muthos whisper secrets of my supposed treachery? Did he tell you I lied, that I ordered your death? Have you come here expecting to take your revenge, to save your dear sister?" He laughs, the sound sharp and mocking. "You didn't think I'd just hand her over, did you?"

I grit my teeth, straining against the guards' grip. "Why her? Why not me?"

A wicked grin spreads across his face, twisted with malice. "Oh, child," he says, voice dipping into a venomous hiss. "Because you're weak." His laughter turns into a screech, reverberating through the chamber. "Your mind's already tainted by that son of Vermidia. You've tasted Daem blood, soon enough, you'll crave it." He leans in, his eyes glinting. "But your sister? She's pure, untouched, a blank slate. Her potential is... boundless." His gaze flickers with cruel delight. "Vermidia will reward me richly for her capture."

"And what makes you think Vermidia will ever get her hands on Alyse? Or that you'll walk out of this alive?" I growl, defiance tightening every muscle in my body.

He chuckles, a low, mocking sound. "Oh, you really don't get it, do you? Look around." He gestures to the towering guards, the twisted throne, the iron bars caging Alyse above. "Look at where I have you."

He slides the dagger back to his waist, lifting his right hand toward my face. I barely register the flicker of metal before I see it: a razor-sharp, mechanical claw unfurling from his wrist, encasing his fingers in glinting talons. He presses the cold, serrated tip of his index finger under my chin, forcing my gaze upward.

My breath catches, and I know he sees it.

"Oh, you like these?" he purrs. "A little gift... from your father. Forged specially for me." He grins as he twists his clawed finger, grazing my skin. "The only artifact of its kind—designed to let the wearer wield the Dragonsbreath without needing the bloodline. Quite the privilege, don't you think?" His eyes narrow, the amusement in them sharpening. "Speaking of that blade... you know where it is, don't you?"

"Why would I?" I reply, keeping my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.

His grin widens. "Oh, he made it just for you. If you tell me where it is, I promise, I'll make this swift. No suffering."

My mind races. How do I get out of this? My father? The thought spirals as fragments of memory rush back, voices from my past. "You're of Draco, yes?" Brenelor had asked, her tone edged with curiosity and certainty.

I shake my head, feeling a sudden flicker of heat building within. Her voice echoes again. "Because I can feel it within you—the power of a dragon."

The realization hits. It's like a flame sparking in my chest, a fire building from deep within, raw and primal.

The fire grows, spreading through my veins like molten lava. I can feel it now—a pulsing heat, an ancient power, the strength of something fierce and unbreakable. My heart pounds harder, syncing with the rush of energy that fills me.

Udis narrows his eyes, sensing the shift. His smug smile falters, just for a second. "What...what are you doing?"

I take a breath, feeling the heat rise to my throat, blazing behind my teeth. I know he sees it too—the faint glow starting to light up my eyes, the subtle wisps of smoke that curl from my lips.

"You're not the only one with tricks," I say, the words escaping in a low growl.

Udis takes a cautious step back, his face twisting into a sneer. "You think a little parlor trick will stop me? You're just a boy playing at things he doesn't understand."

The air around me thickens as my anger ignites the power within me, unleashing it fully. Flames start to lick along my arms, crackling with intensity, illuminating the dark throne room in a fierce glow. It feels both foreign and familiar, like waking up a part of myself that had been buried.

"You're right," I say, advancing slowly, watching the fear bloom in his eyes. "I am playing with fire."

With a shout, I unleash the firestorm toward him, the flames spiraling outward in a wild torrent. Udis stumbles back, throwing up his arm to shield himself, his sneer melting into horror. The power roars around me, a searing wave that consumes the space between us.

For the first time, Udis isn't laughing, he's just sitting there, cowering behind the throne. I turn to see the men who were holding me, crumbing to the ground in a pile of ash.

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"You annoying little child. I'll have you dead!" He shouts as he leaps from behind the throne, his sharp metal claw at the ready.

Udis lunges toward me, his metal claw gleaming, each talon aimed at my throat. I sidestep, flames still coursing over my skin, instinct taking over as I spin out of his reach. He stumbles, his clawed hand slashing through empty air, and snarls, fury twisting his face.

"You've been a thorn in my side from the beginning!" he seethes, lunging again. This time, he's faster, his other hand sweeping toward me as the claws catch the edge of my shoulder. Pain sears through me, sharp and immediate, but the fire within roars louder, burning through the hurt.

I take a step back, clutching my shoulder as the warmth of my power cauterizes the wound. My voice comes out as a growl. "I didn't come all this way to die here."

I push forward, flames erupting from my hands, forcing Udis to leap back. He stares at me, his confidence wavering as he realizes I'm not backing down. I feel the fire coiling in my chest, building to a crescendo. This time, I won't hold back.

With a fierce cry, I release it—a blinding surge of flames blasts toward him from my finger tips. Udis throws his arms up, but it's too late. The fire engulfs him, wrapping around his form as he shrieks, clawing at the air, trying to escape the blaze.

When the flames finally die down, he's on his knees, his cloak smoldering. His once-arrogant sneer is gone, replaced by desperation. He looks up at me, fear in his eyes, and for the first time, I see him for what he really is—small, weak, and crumbling.

"You...you don't know what you're doing," he gasps, his voice hoarse. "Vermidia...she'll come for you. She'll come for all of us."

I stand over him, breathing hard, my own flames simmering down as I stare him down. "Let her. But she won't get Alyse. Not while I'm still breathing."

With that, I turn, my gaze lifting to the cage hanging above the throne room. Alyse is there, her face pale but determined, clutching the bars as she watches me with hope filling her eyes. I stride forward, reaching out to her as her voice trembles through the silence.

"Red," she whispers, tears in her eyes. "You came..."

I reach up, taking hold of the cage bars, determination surging through me. "I told you I'd find you. I'm here now. And we're going home."

"Not so fast!" Udis' voice echoes, twisted with rage.

I whirl around, and he's airborne, his claw arcing down like a predator's talon. My hand finds the hilt of the Darkblade just in time, drawing it and meeting his strike with a fierce clang. The impact reverberates down my arm, but I hold my ground, teeth gritted as he staggers back.

His face contorts, snarling, and he strikes again, this time faster, claws flashing. I dart back, narrowly avoiding him, but then I feel it—an insidious creeping in my mind. His power, a dark, seething madness clawing at the edges of my thoughts, filling my head with whispers, taunts, distorted laughter.

My vision blurs, the throne room shifting around me. Alyse's cage vanishes, replaced by endless shadows as I hear her voice somewhere far away, pleading for help. Udis' laughter fills the air, weaving into the chaotic murmur in my mind.

"Poor little dragon child," he sneers, his voice echoing in my head like a thousand poisoned knives. "Did you really think you could stop me?"

I grit my teeth, fighting to keep hold of myself. I won't let him win—not here, not when Alyse is so close. With a surge of will, I force his voice back, focusing on the fire still burning within me, letting it ground me.

My vision clears just in time to see Udis lunging again, claw poised for my heart. I sidestep, twisting, and slice with the Darkblade, catching him across his side. He howls, stumbling back, dark ichor seeping from the wound.

"You're the one who's outmatched, Udis," I say, tightening my grip on the blade. "You're the one who's lost."

He glares at me, eyes filled with fury, then raises his clawed hand, pulling on the shadows around us. Tendrils of darkness rise from the floor, coiling and writhing like living things, trying to bind me, to drag me down.

I slash through them, flames leaping from my blade, but there are too many, circling closer. I call on the fire within, letting it surge through me, pushing back against his darkness. The shadows recoil, but Udis is relentless, his clawed hand weaving the darkness around us both.

He lunges, his face twisted with desperation. "You will bow to me! You will serve me! Or I will break you, piece by piece."

I focus every bit of strength I have, channeling the fire of my father, letting it rage. Flames erupt around me, pushing back the darkness until I see Udis clearly, his form wavering, his face pale with fear.

"You have no power over me," I say, my voice steady. "And your reign of madness ends here."

With a final push, I drive the Darkblade deep into his chest. Udis flails, instinctively throwing his clawed hand to block the strike, but the blade slices through, severing it clean off. His eyes widen, his mocking smile vanishing as he stumbles back, a gasp escaping his lips, more animal than human.

"You... insufferable whelp!" he snarls, voice distorted and guttural. A low growl rumbles from his throat, vibrating through the air as his form begins to twist and shift. His body contorts violently, limbs snapping and reshaping, fur erupting from his skin as he transforms before me—a towering werebeast, dark and monstrous, eyes gleaming with primal fury.

His snarl grows louder, filling the chamber as he glares down at me with hatred, his bared fangs dripping with malice. He lunges, his claws slashing through the air with brutal speed. I dodge back, barely escaping the swipe as his claws tear into the stone floor, sending shards flying.

"You think that toy can defeat me? I am Udis, god of madness and beasts! You are nothing to me!" His voice is deeper, a chilling snarl echoing through the throne room.

I hold the Darkblade steady, feeling the heat of its power thrumming in my hands. He paces, watching me, a twisted smile stretching across his maw. The air around him crackles with dark energy, and I feel the edges of his madness clawing at my mind again, even stronger than before. Shadows swirl around him, fueled by his rage, darkening the room.

I focus on Alyse's face, her pleading eyes watching from the cage above.

I charge forward, raising the Darkblade, and swing it with all my strength. Udis snarls, dodging my attack, and lunges at me with terrifying speed. His massive hand catches me across the side, sending me crashing into a pillar. Pain shoots through my body, but I grit my teeth and force myself to stand. I won't let him win.

"You'll have to do better than that!" I shout, lifting the blade and summoning the fire within me, letting it flow through my veins. The Darkblade ignites, flames licking along its edge, illuminating the room in a fierce, fiery glow.

Udis hesitates, eyes narrowing at the sight, his snarl twisting into something like fear. For the first time, his confidence wavers.

"What's wrong?" I taunt, gripping the Darkblade tighter. "Afraid of a little fire?"

With a roar, I launch myself at him, flames blazing along the blade as I swing it down. Udis howls, trying to evade, but the blade catches him across the shoulder, slicing deep. Black blood sprays as he staggers back, clutching the wound, his face twisted in agony.

"You... miserable child!" he snarls, voice breaking with fury. "I will tear you limb from limb!"

He lunges, his massive jaws snapping, and I sidestep, driving the Darkblade into his side, twisting it as he lets out a strangled howl. He thrashes, claws raking against my arm, but I grit my teeth and hold on, forcing the blade deeper.

Udis lets out a furious roar as he pulls the Darkblade from his side, flinging it across the room with a spray of blackened blood. The blade skids across the floor, leaving a trail of smoldering scorch marks.

"What now, Son of Draco?" he snarls, lunging at me, claws slashing through the air.

I dodge to the side, my eyes locking onto the fallen Madium Claw, glinting darkly on the ground nearby. The severed hand lies limp within it, a grotesque reminder of Udis's hubris. Without hesitation, I grab it, wrenching his hand free and sliding the claw over my own fingers. A surge of power hums through me, cold and electric, the talons fitting to my hand as if crafted for it.

The moment it settles, I feel a strange resonance, a dark energy rippling up my arm, melding with my own strength. I clench my fist, the razor-sharp tips catching the dim light, glinting with a deadly promise. Udis falters for a moment, eyes widening as he recognizes the Madium Claw now under my control.

"Oh, you don't like it when the tables turn, do you?" I sneer, stepping forward, fingers flexing within the claw, feeling its potential—a chilling, predatory instinct awakened within me.

"You insolent little..." His voice breaks into a growl, but I'm already moving, closing the distance between us in an instant. I swipe at him with the claw, its edges slicing the air with a deadly precision.

He recoils, barely managing to dodge as I drive forward, my strikes relentless, forcing him back with each swing. Udis snarls, stumbling as he tries to retaliate, but the Madium Claw's speed and power are overwhelming him, each swipe landing closer to his flesh.

"You were so confident a moment ago," I taunt, my voice low, barely masking the fury boiling inside me. "You thought I'd be easy prey. But look at you now."

Udis's eyes flicker with panic as he stumbles, retreating toward the throne, his confidence shattered. In a final, desperate attempt, he lunges at me, claws outstretched, teeth bared in a snarl. But I see the move coming, and with a swift counter, I sidestep, swinging the Madium Claw in a wide arc. The talons catch his exposed side, ripping through flesh and bone.

Udis lets out a blood-curdling scream, collapsing to his knees, clutching his wound, black blood pouring from between his fingers. He looks up at me, gasping, his monstrous form beginning to crumble, the madness draining from his eyes.

I take a step closer, towering over him, the Madium Claw still humming with residual energy. "This is for Alyse," I whisper, raising my arm, driving the claw within his chest.

He howls as my fingers wrap around his heart and I pull it from his chest.

I look down at Udis, his form crumpling, his power fading, his breath labored. "Who is too weak now?"

His body disintegrates into a swirl of ash and shadow. The darkness dissipates, and the room falls silent.

I take a shaky breath, my body aching, and look up at Alyse. She's staring down at me, eyes wide with disbelief and relief.

"Red!" she calls, her voice weak but steady.

I step forward, exhaustion weighing on me. I see the Darkblade lying on the ground, the familiar weight of it calling to me. I reach down, picking it up and feeling its steady warmth return to my grip. Then, I turn toward Alyse, her face a mix of relief and hope.

"Hold on, Alyse. I'm here," I say, my voice soft but resolute. I raise the Darkblade and aiming it at the cage's lock. With a precise strike, the lock shatters, and the cage door swings open.

Alyse slowly climbs out, her body weak but her spirit unbroken. She rushes toward me, and I catch her in an embrace, holding her tightly.

"Red, you came for me."

"Of course I did Alyse. I'd never let a monster bitch take you and get away with it. We're going home," I whisper, looking back at the throne room one last time before leading her away, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

She chuckles. "... but our home. It's gone isn't it?"

I nod. "It is, but I met someone who helped me find you. He's waiting for us back in Celestria. The Empress has let us stay there, I'm sure she won't mind us staying a bit longer, at least until we find somewhere else to stay."

"You know The Empress, you killed a god... what is happening?" Alyse's voice is filled with disbelief, her wide eyes flickering between me and the crumpled form of Udis behind us.

I place a steadying hand on her shoulder. "I'll explain everything soon, I promise. Let's just get out of here first, okay?"

She nods, managing a shaky smile. "There's a room with a portal nearby," she says, pointing down a shadowed corridor to the left. "This way."

We move quietly, her steps slow but determined as she leads me down the dim passage. The walls pulse faintly, alive with the same dark energy that seemed to feed Udis' madness, but there's something brittle about it now—cracks in the shadows, like the sickness left by him is starting to fade.

The portal room is just as eerie as the rest of the castle, but a faint, swirling light pulses at its center, casting long, wavering shadows across the walls. Alyse hesitates, glancing at the portal with a mixture of relief and dread.

I reach for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "This is almost over," I murmur.

She looks at me, her expression softening, and nods. Together, we step forward, approaching the portal. She smiles, a mix of relief and pride in her eyes. "Let's get out of here, Red," she says, reaching out for my hand.

Together, we step into the portal, the world around us shifting as we leave the cursed castle behind, the remnants of Udis' darkness fading as we cross back into the light.