The tension in the air dissolved into an eerie calm as Zero’s words hung between him and Valna. She studied his expression, her sharp eyes picking up the faint trace of satisfaction in his smirk. The faint glow of his crimson eyes betrayed his deep, calculated amusement at the unfolding events. Valna crossed her arms, leaning slightly toward him.

"You’re sending your creations into the world to spread terror," Valna remarked, her tone neither critical nor approving. "And then you plan to create spirits to join with the other races to counter them. That seems… paradoxical, even for you."

Zero turned his gaze to her, his expression unreadable save for the glimmer of mischief that danced in his eyes. "Paradoxical? Maybe. But isn’t it entertaining to pit them against each other and see what rises to the top?"

Valna raised an eyebrow. "So, this is about entertainment?"

"Partially," Zero admitted with a slight shrug, his tone calm yet tinged with something deeper. "But there’s another reason for doing this—a way to lure out the higher-ups of the magic tower. These children of mine—Nick and Lenara—they’ll teach this whole world what it means to fear again. Meanwhile, the spirits we’ll create will give those with enough resolve a fighting chance. Those in the magic tower should be eager to monopolize this new, undiscovered form of power."

Valna’s brows furrowed slightly as she processed his words. "So, this isn’t just about creating chaos and having fun. You’re baiting them, aren’t you? Using the chaos that’s about to occur to draw out the tower's leaders?"

Zero’s smirk deepened, his sharp fangs just barely visible. "Exactly. The magic tower thrives on control and power. They can’t resist the allure of something new, especially something they don’t yet understand. The creation of elemental spirits will unsettle them. They’ll see it as a potential threat—and an opportunity. That’s when they’ll come out to the open, thinking they can take what we’ve made."

"And if they don’t come?" Valna pressed, her gaze unwavering.

Zero’s expression darkened slightly, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. "Then we’ll escalate. Fear will spread, and the spirits will grow stronger. The magic tower won’t be able to ignore it for long. They’ll have to act eventually—whether to control it or destroy it."

Valna considered his words carefully before finally nodding. "I see. So things are about to get really hectic. Will you warn Torin?"

Zero shook his head, “No, I don’t plan on it. He’s off with Pia and they plan to take down the king and tower. I’d like to see if they’re worth my support before I help them out.”

Zero and Valna soared through the sky, their wings beating powerfully against the crisp air, the castle of Torin came into view on the horizon. The journey back had been mostly quiet, save for the occasional exchange of thoughts about the newly created vampires and the deities Jörmungandr had mentioned.

Descending gracefully onto the castle grounds, the pair folded their wings and stepped inside. The air within the castle was filled with the distant echoes of bustling activity, but one sound rose above it all—a loud, unrelenting wail. Zero’s brows furrowed as he made his way toward the source of the noise.

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Inside one of the main halls, they found Yoko cradling a bawling Avarus in her arms. The child’s cries reverberated through the room, his tiny fists clenched tightly, his face scrunched up with frustration and distress. Yoko was gently bouncing him, her face a mixture of exhaustion and amusement.

"What’s wrong with him?" Zero asked, his sharp voice cutting through the commotion as he approached.

Yoko looked up, her expression softening when she saw him. "Oh, it’s nothing too serious. He’s just being... difficult." She gestured toward the table behind her, where eight large, luminous eggs rested in a neat arrangement. "He won’t stop crying because he wants those."

Zero’s gaze shifted to the table, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the sight of the eggs. What had once been clear, translucent cradles glowing with a soft blue hue had transformed dramatically. Each egg now radiated a distinct color, each one corresponding to a specific element. The cradle for the fire spirit was a brilliant, translucent red, its center dominated by a massive red crystal that pulsed faintly like a living ember. The water cradle glimmered in shades of deep blue, like sunlight dancing on the ocean’s surface. Green represented air, brown for earth, white for light, black for darkness, gray for time, and purple for space. Each cradle emanated a subtle, primal energy, and the room seemed to hum faintly with their combined presence.

"They’re perfect now," Yoko said, her voice filled with pride as she soothed Avarus. "I finished the engravings. The crystals can now absorb ambient mana and convert it into whatever type of energy they need. It took some effort, but they’re exactly as we envisioned."

Zero nodded in approval. "Good work." He stepped closer to inspect the eggs, his crimson eyes flickering with satisfaction. "The mana flow is flawless. These will do nicely."

Yoko smiled faintly but raised an eyebrow at him. "You should have seen him, though," she said, nodding toward Avarus. "The moment I finished the eggs, he started screaming. He tried to crawl over to grab them, and when I stopped him, well... this happened." She gestured to the still-bawling child, whose cries had yet to subside.

Zero tilted his head, regarding Avarus with mild amusement. "He wants them? Why?"

Yoko shrugged. "Probably the mana they’re radiating. He’s drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The child’s instincts are strong, after all. His sin of greed also seems to be growing."

Valna crossed her arms, observing the scene with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. "He’s your child, Zero. What did you expect?"

Zero chuckled softly, turning his attention back to the eggs. As he did, his mind briefly wandered back to the preparations he had made while waiting for Valna to gather the mana crystals. Using his mental manipulation abilities, he had delved into the memories of eight different creatures, carefully selecting those that would serve as the perfect templates for the new elemental spirits. Each memory had been altered and refined, shaping the essence of the creatures to fit their new roles.

For the fire spirit, he had chosen a creature known as a metal lizard. These lizards were small but incredibly durable, their metallic scales granting them natural armor. They were known to burrow near mineral-rich grounds, their diet consisting of ore and stone. At first, Zero had considered making them the template for the earth spirit, but their preference for warmth and proximity to magma had convinced him otherwise. He had reshaped their memories to instill a love for molten lava rather than the earth, and redesigned their appearance to match their new purpose.

Now, the fire spirit’s template had been reimagined as a creature of raw, primal power. Its body was covered in shimmering, metallic red scales that flickered like molten lava. From its sleek, elongated head, two glowing embers burned where its eyes should be, and its breath swirled with intense heat, leaving trails of smoke in the air. Its wings, resembling flames frozen in motion, spread wide as it soared, casting an ethereal glow.

Zero reached into the depths of his power, activating the skill Soul Forging. His hands began to glow faintly as he molded the memory of the metal lizard into a tangible, physical soul. The deep red soul took shape in his grasp, pulsating with life and energy. Once it was complete, he carefully inserted it into the fire cradle, watching as the soul merged seamlessly with the crystal at the egg’s core.

Next, Zero activated Life-spark, infusing the cradle with a spark of life-force that ignited the transformation process. The fire egg began to shimmer and shift, drawing in ambient mana from the surrounding air. However, the mana in the room wasn’t enough to sustain its rapid growth. Zero turned to Valna, tossing the egg to her with a casual motion. "Burn it," he commanded.

Valna caught the egg effortlessly, her expression calm as she summoned a ball of intense flame in her palm. She held the egg in the fire, watching as it greedily absorbed the flames and mana, growing brighter and more vibrant with each passing moment. The egg pulsed with life, its surface glowing with an almost molten intensity.

Zero watched the process with satisfaction, nodding approvingly. "That’s one down," he said. "Now for the others."

Yoko, still holding the now-quieted Avarus, raised an eyebrow at him. "You’re going to do this for all eight, aren’t you?"

"Of course," Zero replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "Each one needs the same care and precision. These aren’t just creations—they’re the foundation of what’s to come."