Eleo, Tony, and Kenji stood outside the massive iron gate that loomed before them, its towering structure casting long shadows under the dim moonlight. Kenji furrowed his brow, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.“How the hell do we get in there?” Kenji asked, crossing his arms over his chest.Tony rubbed his bony chin thoughtfully. “Maybe we could climb up?”Kenji snorted. “Or destroy the gate.”Before either could argue further, Eleo, ever the energetic one, bounded high into the air with his powerful bunny legs, easily clearing the gate. He landed gracefully on the other side and spun around to face them, grinning from ear to ear. “Ta-da!”Tony gave him a thumbs-up. “Great job, Eleo.”Kenji nodded, albeit with a hint of reluctance. “Yeah, but now how do we get in?”“I’ll look for a way to open the gate!” Eleo called out as he dashed off into the castle, his small figure quickly swallowed by the darkness within.As Eleo explored the castle’s interior, he was struck by the sheer opulence of the place. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the floors gleamed with polished marble. The air was filled with the scent of rich, savory food that made his stomach growl. Unable to resist, Eleo hurried over to a lavishly set table and began to wolf down some of the food.After a few minutes of indulging himself, he plopped down on a plush, velvet chair, sighing in contentment. That was when he noticed a large painting of an angel hanging on the wall. The image stirred something in his memory—a reminder of why he was here. He quickly shook off his momentary lapse and continued deeper into the castle.Despite the castle’s deceptively small exterior, the interior seemed impossibly vast, stretching on for what felt like miles. Eleo’s curiosity was piqued as he ventured further, eventually stumbling upon a lever. His eyes lit up as he realized this might be the key to opening the gate for Tony and Kenji.Just as he reached for the lever, three heavily armored knights emerged from the shadows, their spears crackling with holy energy. Their presence was imposing, their armor gleaming with a divine aura that made them appear almost ethereal.“You guys look like the one knight I met when Tony and I were with the Demon Princess,” Eleo said, trying to lighten the mood.The knights didn’t respond. Instead, they lowered their spears, which now radiated with divine power. The room seemed to buzz with energy as they advanced on Eleo, intent on striking him down.Eleo’s instincts kicked in, and he dodged the first spear strike with ease, then the second, and the third. He retaliated by transforming his left arm into an Ink Hammer, swinging it with all his might into the chest of one of the knights. The blow sent the knight staggering back, but it wasn’t enough to take him down.Another knight took advantage of Eleo’s brief distraction, landing a powerful hit that sent Eleo reeling. Pain coursed through him, and he realized he was outmatched in raw strength. But strength wasn’t all that mattered—Eleo had his own tricks.“I’ve got to be smarter about this,” Eleo muttered to himself, retreating a few steps. He quickly activated his Ink Regeneration ability, channeling ink to heal his wounds and restore some of his lost stamina. The process was slow, but it gave him a chance to catch his breath.The knights advanced again, and Eleo knew he needed to think fast. He released a cloud of Ink Smoke, obscuring the vision of the knights and causing them to hesitate. Taking advantage of their confusion, Eleo laid down several Ink Traps on the floor, careful to conceal them well.The knights, driven by their holy mission, charged through the smoke, only to trigger Eleo’s traps. Ink exploded from the ground, entangling their legs and blinding them. Eleo didn’t waste a moment—he rushed forward, his fists becoming a blur as he unleashed an Ink Barrage of rapid punches. Each strike was precise, each move calculated. The knights, already weakened and disoriented, stood little chance. They crumbled under the relentless assault, their holy aura flickering out like a dying flame.With the knights defeated, Eleo breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the lever. The massive gate creaked and groaned as it slowly began to open.Outside, Tony and Kenji watched as the gate lifted, revealing the castle’s grand entrance.“Wow,” Tony said, his eyes wide. “I didn’t think a castle could look this good on the inside.”Kenji’s expression was more serious. We need to stick together.”They entered the castle cautiously, their senses on high alert. The opulent interior stood in stark contrast to the grimness outside, but the beauty of the place only made it feel more dangerous. After a few moments of searching, they heard a rustling noise from around a corner.“Boo!” Eleo jumped out, now wearing a helmet he had picked up somewhere in the castle.Tony laughed, but Kenji wasn’t amused. “This is no time to be playing around. We need to find my sword and get out of here as soon as possible.”Tony turned serious. “Any clue on where your sword might be?”Kenji shook his head. “No, but maybe Taki has it for some reason.”Eleo’s ears perked up. “We should be careful. Those knights were alive somehow.”“Is it magic?” Tony asked, his voice laced with curiosity.“No clue,” Kenji replied, his tone resolute. “But it doesn’t matter. Let’s keep looking.”They continued exploring the castle, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Every room they entered seemed to hold its own mysteries—hidden passages, strange artifacts, and more. But none of it led them any closer to the sword.Just as frustration began to mount, Eleo suddenly stopped in front of a large, ornate door. “Uh, guys? I think I found something.”Tony and Kenji walked over, peering inside. Beyond the door was a swirling portal, its edges shimmering with an eerie light.Tony looked at his companions, his face determined. “Well, in case this portal kills us or leads us to a death trap, I’ll be the one to head in first.”Kenji nodded in approval. “That’s very noble of you.”Eleo, his usual cheerfulness tinged with worry, said, “Good luck, Tony. Try not to die.”With a final nod, Tony stepped through the portal. For a few agonizing seconds, there was nothing but silence. Then, Tony’s skeletal hand emerged, giving them a thumbs-up.Kenji and Eleo both sighed in relief before following Tony through the portal.On the other side, they found themselves on a narrow stone bridge suspended high above a sea of bubbling lava. The heat was intense, the air thick with the scent of sulfur.“Wow, it’s pave,” Eleo said, staring in awe.Kenji rolled his eyes. “No, it’s called lava.”“Oh,” Eleo mumbled, slightly embarrassed.“Come on, guys,” Tony urged. “Let’s head across the stone bridge.”They moved slowly and cautiously, the stone beneath their feet hot to the touch. Just as they were about to reach the other side, a voice echoed from the shadows.“That’s far enough.”A man stepped out from the darkness, a smirk playing on his lips. He was tall, with dark skin and a powerful build. His open leather jacket revealed a sleeveless shirt underneath, and his slim, cargo-style pants were tucked into worn combat boots. A silver chain necklace hung around his neck, catching the light.Kenji, Tony, and Eleo stopped in their tracks, readying themselves for whatever came next. The man’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous intelligence, and the smirk on his face only grew wider as he sized them up.

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