The destruction in the chamber was relentless. Every time King Samuel moved, it was like the heavens themselves were tearing apart. His body flashed in and out of sight, each movement faster than the eye could track. A thunderous crack of light followed every step, leaving behind bursts of white-hot energy that engulfed everything nearby in violent eruptions.

Yuuna soared through the chaotic air, her dragon wings beating furiously to keep her ahead of him. Each flap sent her darting through the chamber, narrowly avoiding the deadly swath of destruction Samuel left in his wake. Her breath was sharp and controlled, her mind racing as she dodged and weaved through the chaos.

Samuel’s eyes remained emotionless, his face like stone. He raised his blade, and with a swing, a massive crescent-shaped wave of light tore through the air toward Yuuna. She tilted her wings sharply, twisting her body to the side just in time to avoid it. The light slash carved through the wall behind her, obliterating it in an instant and sending stone shards raining down.

“Samuel, stop!” Yuuna shouted, her voice carrying over the roar of destruction. “I freed you! I’m not your enemy!”

But Samuel didn’t respond. He vanished again, his body consumed by light, only to reappear a split second later directly in front of her. The sudden flash disoriented her, and her eyes widened as his blade came down, a vertical strike aimed straight for her.

Yuuna twisted at the last possible moment, her wings snapping hard to propel her backward. The blade sliced through the space she’d just occupied, the light trailing from its edge cutting a scorching wound into the air itself. The force of the swing sent a shockwave outward, cracking the ground below and throwing chunks of debris into the air.

“You’re tearing this place apart!” Yuuna yelled, her voice strained as she poured energy into her wings, pushing herself faster. “Listen to me, damn it!”

Samuel’s figure blurred again, and Yuuna barely had time to react before he reappeared beside her, his sword swinging in a horizontal arc. She dropped suddenly, her wings folding briefly as the blade passed just inches above her head. The swing tore through more of the chamber, sending another shockwave of destruction outward.

‘What’s with him?!’ Yuuna thought.

She twisted mid-air, her wings snapping open again, and darted toward the other side of the ruined space. But Samuel was relentless. He moved again, faster than should have been possible, his body flashing with light as he appeared directly in her path.

Yuuna’s eyes locked onto him for just a second before he swung again, this time sending another crescent-shaped blast of light toward her. She veered sharply upward, the slash missing her by a hair, but the resulting explosion below sent a column of energy shooting into the air, grazing her leg.

She winced as pain shot through her body, a searing burn now visible just above her knee. “Damn it…” she hissed through clenched teeth, her wings flaring as she pushed herself higher.

‘I can’t let him slash through me with the blade itself..I'm struggling to even outrun him!’

Samuel didn’t slow down. He moved again, each step a blinding flash of destruction that made light destroy the area even more. His form was like a storm of light, and every movement sent waves of devastation rippling through the chamber.

Yuuna twisted and turned through the air, her dragon wings giving her just enough speed and agility to stay ahead of him for only a millisecond until she was almost killed. But it was getting harder. Every time she dodged, another blast of light or shockwave of energy would follow, forcing her to react again.

Samuel swung his sword downward as he landed, the blade crashing into the ground with earth-shattering force. The impact sent cracks spreading outward in all directions, and from those cracks, streams of light erupted, creating jagged pools of glowing energy that spread across the floor.

Yuuna’s wings flapped hard as she ascended higher, avoiding the spreading pools below. But Samuel wasn’t done yet. He raised his sword and stabbed it into the ground with precise, deliberate motion.

‘What kind of shit…if that blade hits me, is it gonna sever the darkness in me or sever me entirely?! It’s insanely strong!’

The entire chamber shook violently as a massive whirlwind of light erupted around him. The tornado of radiance spun faster and faster, sending beams of light and slashes of energy shooting outward in all directions. Streams of glowing liquid burst from the ground beneath the tornado, arcing into the air like geysers before crashing back down.

Yuuna gritted her teeth as she flew higher, narrowly avoiding one of the liquid streams as it shot past her. Another burst of light grazed her arm, leaving a shallow but painful burn. She hissed, clutching the wound briefly before forcing herself to focus.

‘I can’t keep running like this. He’s too fast, too precise. If I slow down for even a second, I’m dead.’

She hovered in the air, her mind working frantically as she watched the whirlwind of destruction below. Samuel’s figure was barely visible within the glowing maelstrom, but she could feel his presence, unwavering and relentless.

‘Think, Yuuna. Think. I can’t waste too much time! My darling is out there…I’m coming, Xyenn. Hold on a little longer. For me..’

Her eyes narrowed as an idea began to form. It was risky, but it was all she had.

She closed her eyes briefly, focusing her energy. Her body began to glow faintly as her form shifted, expanding and twisting. When she opened her eyes again, she was in her dragon form, her massive wings beating powerfully as she hovered above the chaos.

She raised her head, her tail vibrating with raw energy as she summoned a flaming orb between her claws. The orb was dark pink and black, crackling with unstable power as it grew larger and larger.

Yuuna let out a deafening roar, the sound shaking the chamber as the flaming orb shot forward, blazing toward the center of the whirlwind. The orb moved with terrifying speed, its energy rippling through the air as it flew.

The moment the orb reached the tornado, it exploded in a massive burst of energy, the force of the blast momentarily disrupting the whirlwind and sending shockwaves outward.

Yuuna used the brief opening to dart forward, her wings propelling her with incredible speed as she closed the distance between herself and Samuel.

The explosion had forced Samuel to pause, his figure now visible within the fading light of the disrupted tornado. Samuel slashed at her again, and this time, the blade was an inch from hitting her.

But Yuuna avoided the attack by transforming back into her human form, which caused Samuel’s swing to whiff HEAVILY. And Yuuna was beside him and changed back into her dragon from.

Her claws dug into his shoulders as she pressed him down, her large form towering over him. “Now calm down!” she growled, her voice echoing through the chamber. “Please calm down..”

Samuel’s golden eyes slowly looked up at her, his face still emotionless.

For a moment, there was silence.

And then, finally, he spoke.

“Yuuna.”

Yuuna huffed, her claws still pinning Samuel to the ground as her dragon form loomed over him. Her wings flapped idly, keeping her balanced as she stared down at the former king.

Samuel, still calm and emotionless, sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. “Yuuna,” he began, his tone steady, “you need to let me slash you.”

Yuuna blinked. “What?”

He repeated himself, slower this time. “Let. Me. Slash. You.”

She tilted her head, frowning. “Uh, no?”

Samuel raised an eyebrow, his voice softening. “It’s for your own good.”

Yuuna scoffed loudly, almost insulted. She leaned closer—so close her horns nearly touched his forehead. “Are you nuts? Absolutely not! Damn lunatic!”

Samuel blinked, his tone shifting to something almost gentle. “Please?”

“No means no!” Yuuna snapped, pulling her head back and bonking Samuel on the head.

He sighed, a faint trace of exasperation slipping into his otherwise stoic demeanor. “You don’t understand, Yuuna. If I slash you, you’ll be free. Completely free of your father’s influence. It’s what Kota wanted. Stop being ridiculous.”

Yuuna rolled her eyes, letting her wings fold slightly. “Yeah, free, sure, but if your shiny-ass sword touches me, Xyenn dies, and I’m not doing that. I mean, my darling Xyenn is out there doing who-knows-what, probably fighting for his life, and here you are playing the ‘let me slash you’ card? No way, buddy. We need to stop Sugred! So I need you to not attack me, because we’re wasting time!”

Samuel’s head lolled back against the cracked stone floor, and he groaned like a man too tired to deal with any of this. “Ughh. Seal me back up.”

“What?” Yuuna asked, incredulous.

“I said, seal me back up,” he repeated lazily. His head rolled to the side as he sighed again. “Being sealed made me lazy. I don’t want to deal with this. Just put me back in the stone. When I was in there, I was drifting..somewhere in some world…some plane..it was relaxing. But now I'm back, I wanna go back to it.”

Yuuna’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve gotta be kidding me! You can’t be the same king from the books! Absolutely not! Do you know how much we went through to free you?! Do you have any idea how annoying this whole thing has been?!”

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Samuel waved a hand dismissively. “You’re right. It’s too much effort. Let’s just pretend you never woke me up. It’s fine.”

“NO!” Yuuna shouted, shaking him slightly. “You’re getting up, and you’re helping me!”

Samuel sighed again, this time more dramatically. “Fine, fine. But…” His voice trailed off, and he looked at her with a faint hint of curiosity. “Why did you tackle me in the first place?”

Yuuna glared at him. “Why did you attack me the moment you woke up?! That’s the real question!”

Samuel sat up slightly, though Yuuna still kept him pinned. “The last thing on my mind before I got sealed,” he said slowly, “was to complete Kota’s mission.”

Yuuna froze. “Shit..”

“Yes,” Samuel replied, his tone steady again. “She wanted you to be free from your father’s grasp. And the only way to do that is to use the Sword of Sovereignty to sever the connection. If I succeeded, Hell would lose another soldier, and you’d be free.”

Yuuna frowned, her wings twitching slightly. “Hell’s got plenty of soldiers, Samuel. You think I’m the only one? These dragon gods and their vessels have been looking to Hell for an escape from the cycle for years. And guess what? It worked. But they didn’t realize the rituals binding them to Hell make them my father’s puppets forever. The Dragon god of the sun was the first victim. Me and my darling happily killed him!” Yuuna smiled.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. “So if they die…”

“They’re gone,” Yuuna said flatly. “Forever. No cycle. No rebirth. Just pawns in Hell for eternity.” Her voice softened, and she looked away briefly. “And if I die in Kyrrin? Same thing. My father would control my body anyway. I’d never truly be gone..or alive.”

Samuel studied her for a long moment, his face unreadable.

Yuuna caught herself, shaking her head. “Mhmmmm, look, I’m not letting you slash me, okay? But if I get up… you won’t try anything, right? We really need to hurry but I don’t trust you.”

Samuel raised a hand, placing it over his chest in a mock pledge. “I promise.”

Yuuna narrowed her eyes. “You’re not lying, are you?”

“Of course not,” Samuel said smoothly, but his faint grin was far from reassuring.

She hesitated, her claws loosening slightly. “Okay…”

Slowly, Yuuna stepped off him, her form shrinking back into her human shape. She rolled her shoulders and crossed her arms, glaring at him. “Alright, you’re up. And—”

Before she could finish, Samuel nodded politely, slightly bowed, and in one fluid motion, swung his sword at her.

Yuuna yelped, leaping backward as the blade narrowly missed her. “What the hell?!” she shouted.

Samuel straightened, his expression calm. “That was a reflex test.”

“A what?!” Yuuna barked, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

“I promise it won’t happen again.”

Yuuna glared at him for several long seconds, her body tense. “You better not—”

Samuel swung again, this time with less force, and Yuuna ducked, her movements sharp and quick. “Are you kidding me?!”

“I swear, that was the last one,” Samuel said casually, his tone almost apologetic.

Yuuna’s eyes narrowed. “You’re seriously testing my patience right now—”

Samuel swiped one last time, this time slower, which Yuuna easily sidestepped. She stood there, fuming, her hands clenched into fists.

Samuel gave her an almost sheepish look. “Okay, I’m done. For real this time.”

Yuuna threw her hands in the air. “I swear, if you try that again—”

“I won’t,” Samuel interrupted, raising both hands in surrender.

Yuuna huffed, muttering under her breath, as the two of them began dashing side by side through the crumbling chamber. The destruction around them slowly began to settle, though the air was still heavy with the lingering effects of Samuel’s earlier attacks.

Samuel finally spoke. “There’s darkness here..Sugred… what has he done?”

Yuuna’s expression darkened. “He’s trying to open Hell. Even for just one second. He wants to go in and conquer it, turn it into some twisted version of a Holy Land.”

Samuel frowned, his grip on the Sword of Sovereignty tightening slightly. “…He wanted to compare himself to me all the time. He saw us as equals, even when I told him he needed to be himself no matter what. Copying people leads to you forgetting who you are..that’s what your mother told me.”

Yuuna nodded. “Awww she was always saying some wise and encouraging stuff!”

“Sugred sees himself as a Jotyin. Literal sons and daughters of the King of Sen. Premature seeds of a forgotten world. Your mother told me that also. Just some of us were awakened at different times. But Sugred wanted to be like me, since I took him under my wing, he thought of himself as not worthy to inherit or complete the Holy Land when we got older, simply because he would get bullied for even training under me. Even when I was a vessel, I was mocked for talking to Kota, and with Sugred by my side, they mocked him too.”

“Uhhhh Why would he wanna be you then if you were bullied too?”

“He knew I didn’t care. But he did. He knew I was guided by your mother and the light. And he wanted that. So he mimicked me, in hopes of changing..”

“…He hated himself...”

“But for it to lead to this…”

“I know he won’t listen to us if we explain the risks and all that stuff, so we MIGHT have to kill him…I KNOW that sounds a little evil, but—.”

“Whatever it takes..he can’t open Hell up! No matter what! And..thank you for unsealing me. Let’s move faster…how strong is your…darling? He’s my new ally, so I must know.”

Yuuna replied, “My darling is amazingly strong, brave, and he’s a Jotyin.”

Samuel gasped slightly as they had darted outside, seeing the detection and battles.

‘A Jotyin…our chances have just gone up. For better or worse. Who is this Xyenn? If he’s a Jotyin..then he’s my brother..connected by power..’

…

(Svarthelm)

(Jörvaldr)

The line stretched painfully long, curling around the block like some overgrown, rusted serpent. Sethrak stood with his arms crossed, his tail flicking in barely-contained irritation. His thin draconic pupils narrowed dangerously as he glanced at the sign above the building, "Gunthr’s Vagabond, Taking care of every issue you need, because we’re the city’s last hope of defense!" The words made him wince, as if the sign had personally insulted him.

Sethrak was with Zyphira, both of them out of their kid forms, and Draeven was standing with them.

‘Finally found it, after hearing word on the street they already started their own business. Who would’ve guessed these losers would survive Gabriel’s Ladder after everything that happened, and run a business in Jörvaldr. Feel like the bastards are following us like weirdos.’ Sethrak thought.

Zyphira, meanwhile, was crouched next to Draeven, who was sweating bullets and clutching his hands like it might sprout legs and run away.

“Hey, Draeven,” Zyphira said casually, poking him on the shoulder.

“Ah! W-what?” Draeven stammered, his voice cracking as he glanced at her.

“Let’s spar,” she said with a grin that could’ve powered half the city’s steam engines and automatons.

“W-what? No! We’re in a line…Y-you can’t just—”

“Stop being so boring. I need something to do, and get my mind off certain things, so it’ll be fun!” She lunged at him with a playful jab, only for Draeven to duck and nearly tumble into the poor woman in front of them.

“Hey! Watch it!” the woman snapped, clutching her bag of groceries. “Some of us are here for serious business!”

“Sorry!” Draeven yelped, bowing so low it looked like he might fold himself in half. “She used to be a drunk—.”

Zyphira snorted, putting Draeven in a headlock, “Huh?! Tellin’ my business to some old farts?!”

“Sorry!”

Sethrak sighed so heavily it sounded like a bellows. “This is insufferable.”

‘Insufferable line we’re in. I’m gonna just cut everyone. I wonder how the other Tyrants are doing…what Xyenn and Yuuna are doing…gross. Why am I thinking like this? Like I miss them? Ew.’

But Zyphira wasn’t done. She turned back to Draeven, tilting her head with a mischievous grin. “Alright, no sparring. Let’s have a flyting match instead.”

“A… a what?” Draeven asked, blinking nervously.

“It’s like a battle of wits but with insults,” Zyphira explained, smirking. “You know, like a verbal spar. I insult you, you insult me back. Whoever’s insult is worse wins.”

“W-why would I insult you?” Draeven asked, shifting uncomfortably.

“Because it’s fun?” Zyphira said, spinning on her heel to face him fully. “Unless you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared…” Draeven protested, a little louder than intended.

“Prove it,” Zyphira said, crossing her arms.

Draeven hesitated, glancing nervously at Sethrak, who was too busy glaring at the front of the line to care.

“U-uh… fine,” Draeven finally muttered.

Zyphira clapped her hands together. “Alright! I’ll go first.” She cleared her throat dramatically, putting on a mock-serious face. “Draeven, you’re so jumpy, I bet if someone sneezed behind you, you’d end up in the next city over.”

Draeven frowned, his face turning red. “W-well… you’re so loud, you could wake up the dead and annoy them!”

‘Shit..that was horrible! I’ve never played this game before..’

Zyphira raised an eyebrow. “Not bad, not bad. But…” She leaned in, smirking. “You’re so clumsy, Draeven, the last time you tried to swing a sword, you managed to hit yourself twice.”

“That’s because I don’t USE swords,” Draeven snapped softly as he kept his voice down. “A-and, uh… y-you’re so reckless, I bet you’d charge into a dragon’s mouth just to see what it looked like on the inside!”

Zyphira laughed, shaking her head. “That’s not an insult, that’s just true!” She tapped her chin, pretending to think. “Let’s see… oh, I’ve got one. You’re so awkward, I bet if someone handed you a treasure chest, you’d apologize to it for opening it.”

Sethrak smirked at that, and Draeven looked at him, saying, “You’re not even in this game…” Draeven stammered, then looked back at Zyphira, “And… and you’re so… so…” He fumbled for something, his hands waving in the air as he searched his brain for a good comeback. “You’re so… short-tempered, even a rock would tell you to calm down!”

Zyphira burst out laughing, almost doubling over. “A rock? Really? That’s the best you’ve got? I’m not MERTHA.”

“I’m still thinking!” Draeven protested, his voice cracking.” Draeven groaned, covering his face with his hands. “I’m not good at this…”

“You think?” Zyphira teased, grinning ear to ear. “I’ve heard better insults from drunk sailors.” She leaned closer, wagging a finger in his face. “But don’t worry, Draeven. One day, you’ll come up with an insult that doesn’t make me want to pat you on the head and say, ‘Nice try.’ You’re coming out of your little shell, proud of you.”

Draeven muttered something unintelligible under his breath, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Thanks I guess.”

The people in line were chatting away, oblivious to the dragonkin’s growing irritation.

“Did you hear? Gunthr and the Crimson Claws took down a whole pack of shadow wargs last week. Cleared out the entire forest!”

“Yeah, and they handed out maps to Gabriel’s Ladder! Can you believe it? He’s doing more for this city than the guards ever have!”

“Gunthr’s a genius, I tell you. A real hero—”

“Hero?” Sethrak muttered, his eye twitching. “That fool wouldn’t know heroism if it bit him on the tail.”

Zyphira raised an eyebrow. “You have a tail.”

“That’s not the point,” Sethrak snapped.

The chatter continued.

“Did you hear about the guild’s new headquarters? They’re making so much gold, they’re practically swimming in it!”

“Yeah, I heard they’re sitting on piles of treasure right now. Literally!”

That was it. Sethrak’s patience snapped like a rusty cog under too much pressure. “Enough of this,” he growled. “Follow me.”

“Wait, what are you—” Draeven started, but Sethrak was already moving.

With a flick of his tail, he began shoving his way through the line, much to the dismay of the people waiting.

“Hey! Watch it!”

“Wait your turn!”

“Who does he think he is?!”

One particularly bold man stepped in front of Sethrak, puffing out his chest like a rooster defending its coop. “Hey, buddy! You think you’re special or somethin’? Get back in line like the rest of us!”

Sethrak stopped, barely glancing at the man. His draconic pupils narrowed to razor-thin slits, “Move.”

The man’s bravado melted like cheap wax. “D-dragonkin!” he stammered, stumbling back and tripping over his own feet. The man scrambled out of the way, muttering apologies under his breath.

Zyphira burst out laughing. “Did you see his face? Priceless!”

Draeven was busy trying to apologize to everyone they bumped into. “S-sorry! He’s just… uh… not great with lines!”

Sethrak said to Draeven, “Stop apologizing to everyone please.”

Sethrak didn’t stop until he reached the rusted doors of the building. With a single shove, the doors swung open, slamming against the walls with a metallic clang.

Inside, the scene was straight out of the most absurd play imaginable. Gunthr and his two guildmates were lounging on literal piles of silver and gold, tossing coins into the air and letting them rain down like confetti. One of the guildmates was hugging a golden goblet like it was his long-lost child, while the other was using a silver plate as a mirror to admire himself.

Gunthr, reclining on a throne of treasure, let out a high-pitched squeal of laughter. “We’ve done it! We’ve finally made it in Jörvaldr! This city’s ours! We’re heroes! No—icons!”

“You’re a genius, boss!” one of the guildmates said, practically bowing as he handed Gunthr a shiny new crown.

“The smartest man alive!” the other added, throwing a handful of coins into the air.

Gunthr preened. “Of course I am! And this is just the beginning! With the impending war, we’ll be richer than kings!”

Sethrak stood there, staring at the scene with a look of pure disgust. “This is what you’ve been doing?”

Gunthr froze mid-laugh, his eyes landing on Sethrak and his companions. His face turned pale, and he let out a high-pitched squeal that could shatter glass. “It’s them!”

One of the guildmates dropped his goblet, while the other nearly choked on his own spit.

“B-boss, isn’t that the dragonkin? And the scary lady? And the guy who always looks like he’s about to faint?”

Gunthr’s squeal turned into a nervous laugh. “Oh, right… it is them.” He cleared his throat, trying to sound confident. “What do you guys want? Jealous of me, huh? Didn’t think I’d make it this far, did you?! Where’s that other guy who was with you? That broody man with the sword with those creepy eyes on it, the one who insulted our pride!”

Draeven replied, “I think he’s talking about..”

Zyphira finished Draeven’s sentence, “Broody? Sword with eyes on it? Definitely Gorran.”

Sethrak didn’t respond. Instead, he strode forward, grabbed Gunthr by the collar of his armor, and hoisted him off his pile of treasure like he weighed nothing.

“Listen to me, you arrogant worm,” Sethrak growled. “Stop acting like you’re important. I’m in need of—.”

Gunthr let out a squeak, his feet dangling helplessly.

“…I’m in need of your services,” Sethrak continued, his voice low and dangerous. “Do you know how long it took me to find this place? Hours.”

Gunthr’s guildmates were frozen in place, unsure whether to intervene or run for their lives.

“Uh, boss,” one of them whispered, “maybe we should do what he says?”

“Y-yeah,” the other stammered. “I mean, they’re the ones who fought that crystal lady in Gabriel’s Ladder…”

Gunthr groaned. “Fine! What do you want?!”

Sethrak dropped him unceremoniously onto the pile of coins, the metallic clinking filling the room. He dusted off his hands and leaned in, his pupils narrowing like daggers. “I need information. And I’m not in the mood to deal with your nonsense.”

Gunthr gulped, straightening his crooked crown. “Information? About what?”

Zyphira chimed in, leaning casually against a nearby pile of gold. “Oh, you know, little things. Like where we can find someone who’s not spending their time rolling in money like a spoiled pig in mud.”

Gunthr’s eye twitched, but he forced a smile. “W-well, if it’s information you want, I’m your guy! The Crimson Claws know everything! And we’re WELL KNOWN throughout Svarthelm! Right, boys?”

His guildmates nodded furiously.

“Everything!” one of them said.

“Absolutely everything!” the other added, though his voice cracked halfway through.

Sethrak raised an eyebrow. “Then why did it take me hours to find you? Only one person knew where this place was.”

Gunthr laughed nervously. “We’ve, uh… been busy! You know, with the war and the wargs and, uh… the treasure!” He gestured wildly at the piles of coins, as if they were a defense. “We haven’t had times to spread out our business further out yet!”

“You mean the treasure you’re sitting on instead of doing your job,” Sethrak said, his voice dripping with venom. “Aren’t you a business? What worth are you proving sitting here?”

“It’s… resource management!” Gunthr squeaked. “We’re, uh, consolidating assets!”

Zyphira snorted. “You’re consolidating something, alright.”

Draeven, who had been standing quietly in the corner, finally spoke up. “C-can we just get what we need and leave? This place is giving me secondhand embarrassment…”

Gunthr shot him a glare. “Hey! This is a legitimate operation!”

Sethrak cracked his knuckles. “Do you want to keep arguing, or do you want to stay alive?”

Gunthr deflated like a punctured balloon. “…What do you need?”

Sethrak replied, “The cursed region. The one you all claimed to have seen. Take us to it.”