Strix landed on the once-capital of Eve, now just a planet unaffiliated with any outside world. The collapse of Eve had forced the planet to become self-sufficient, though the people certainly looked happier.
"My brother should be in this city," she mused as she landed, immediately drawing attention to herself. After all, she had once been the head of the Eve Army; no Evenian didn't know her name or face.
She made her way over to the palace where her brother was supposed to be.
Out on the field of Planet Gohan, the two Lords of Destruction watched as Goku dodged a blow from Bardock before stepping forward and systematically sweeping Bardock off his feet.
"How is Makaiya?" Gohan asked Vermont.
"He's fine, just shaken up. After all, he's very young," Vermont replied.
Gohan nodded. "I need to figure out how to prevent that from ever happening again. There must be some anti-summoning magic I can cast on him," he wondered.
"There is. However, I would advise against such methods. Anti-summoning is just a band-aid. If someone truly skilled came along, they could reverse the anti-summoning spell. Instead of summoning Makaiya, they could summon you to their location while using your link to teleport to Makaiya. That's just one method any powerful magician can pull off. Reality is too intricate to create a spell capable of overcoming every situation. Anyone smart enough can and will back you into a corner again," Vermont cautioned. Gohan nodded and thought for a few seconds.
"Alright, how about I get notified if he gets summoned? Or just link us on a deeper level where I can brute force my way through any barrier because we'd technically be the same person. After all, we already share a life," Gohan theorized. He had much to think about.
"Have you found Sinestro, Brainiac, and Enchantress?" Gohan asked.
"Of course. If they're within the bounds of the universe, finding them is as easy as taking candy from a baby," Vermont explained.
"However, that sorceress Enchantress has completely disappeared. Even I can't find her. She has probably left this reality and entered another to remain safe, although I figured she would be the mastermind behind the operation."
Gohan nodded. Enchantress had freed herself during Vermont and Whis's temporal do-over; she was a far greater threat than those two. "You hear that, Sinestro? Brainiac? Once I find Enchantress, I'm coming after you," Gohan declared, knowing they were likely watching his broadcast. What better way to stay safe than by knowing where your opposition is?
Barda sat in a dungeon cell under Gohan's castle, feeling hopeless. She believed there was no way she could escape, and from what she had just heard, there would be nowhere she could hide either.
'Why did he spare me and kill the rest?' was the only thought swaying in her mind.
Back to Bardock and Goku's battle:
Before he could get back up, Goku's fist was in front of Bardock's face with incredible force. Sweat trickled down Bardock's forehead as Goku smiled. "That was awesome! You're a really talented fighter. I can tell you got this powerful by yourself. Once you really start training with Vermont, you'll become really strong!" Goku praised, extending his hand. Bardock chuckled before being hoisted back onto his feet.
"Yeah, well, the way you fight is downright scary. It feels like I'm fighting a machine that can see through my every move," Bardock admitted.
"Hehe," Goku snickered in delight.
"It makes sense that you'd feel that way," Beerus explained as he and Gohan flew over.
"I can tell my father's fighting style has sharpened significantly; even his casual movements are smoother and more relaxed," Gohan observed, as Vegeta scoffed.
"That's only because of Ultra Instinct. Kakarot's been trying to master it," Vegeta finished. Vermont nodded, and Gohan's eyes widened.
"Indeed, Goku has achieved Mastered Ultra Instinct. I believe he still has a few levels to go, but for a mortal, that is incredible," Vermont assessed.
"Woah, that's amazing dad," Gohan praised as he walked up to Goku, eyeing him up and down.
"Let's fight," Gohan suddenly asked, and Goku's eyes started shining with excitement.
"Really?" Goku asked, as Gohan nodded.
"I think if I fight against you, it might help me in some way. Maybe I could get a breakthrough," Gohan theorized.
Goku shrugged but nodded. "I don't mind; I just want to see how strong you are!" Goku exclaimed.
Bardock, Raditz, Beerus, and the Angels watched on.
'Well, I guess I'll finally get to see how strong Kaka- I mean Goku is,' Raditz thought. 'He beat father fairly easily even while their power was equal, so he must be a great fighter.'
Gohan and Goku flew across from each other before Goku assumed a battle stance.
Just as the battle began, Goku charged in, quickly attacking. Gohan raised his hand and effortlessly blocked the attack, creating a massive shockwave. Goku smirked before rapidly punching at Gohan, who continued to block the attacks with one hand.
Stopping for a moment, Goku jumped and kicked, but Gohan blocked the move before slamming his palm into Goku's chest, blasting him backward.
Goku flipped a few times before gracefully landing on his feet. "I knew I stood no chance against your Super Saiyan God form," Goku remarked with a smile, as he was still in his base form. "Alright, time to get serious!" Goku exclaimed before powering up. His hair turned a deep blue, and a red glow enveloped the planet, sending intense shockwaves.
'That's from his aura alone!?' Bardock was stupefied at the amount of energy being released. 'He's like a god!'
'This reminds me of when Vegeta fought with Gohan; he is incredible as well,' Raditz mused.
Out in the Universe, Strix and Diana suddenly felt the influx of power.
'What an incredible amount of power...' Strix wondered, that was Goku, Gohan's father. 'They are most certainly related.'
Hippolyta noticed her daughter get distracted. "Even his father is a well of power," Diana said with her eyes closed.
Hippolyta emulated her daughter and closed her eyes, witnessing the intense red glow enveloping the planet and the strange but intense pressure. "Is that the extent of his power?" she wondered aloud. 'It appears as though it's the end of the world,' she thought to herself.
Diana nodded, "While I was on his planet, I learned how to sense their power, which is what caught my attention," Diana explained. "What baffles me is that I can sense it from across the cosmos," she questioned, having only ever felt Gohan's Ki from this far away.
"Now, let's see you handle the Kai-O-Ken!" Goku roared, surprising Gohan. He quickly raised his hands but was punched in the face. Goku followed up with more power and speed, amplifying his Kai-O-Ken with each blow.
Gohan quickly started blocking more of his father's attacks. "Not bad, dad!" Gohan commented as he flared his Super Saiyan God aura to match Goku's. With each connected blow, their power seemed to climb higher and higher.
The two split, grinning, neither out of breath. "Alright, so Kai-O-Ken isn't enough! You ready for Ultra Instinct, Gohan?" Goku asked as he powered down.
Gohan grinned. "Let's see what your Ultra Instinct can do, Dad!" A divine aura radiated from Goku as his power soared dramatically.
"I'll start at the bottom. Whis and I discussed it, and he explained that this state is a sign that you're close to achieving mastery. Whis called it Ultra Instinct Sign," Goku explained as Gohan nodded, taking in the aura.
Immediately, Goku was behind Gohan. Even Gohan was taken aback by the intense shift in speed. He clenched his jaw as he blocked the blow but was blasted off his feet.
The onlookers watched as Gohan flipped through the air before landing back on his feet, with Goku already behind him, his fist aimed at his face.
Immediately, Gohan increased his power, transforming into Super Saiyan Rose, startling Goku. Gohan vanished from Goku's sight, and Goku's arm lifted itself, blocking an incoming blow from Gohan. Goku then turned and stared at Gohan, his hair turning silver.
"This is Mastered Ultra Instinct," Goku explained, grabbing Gohan's arm before landing three hits instantly, knocking the wind out of Gohan, who was stunned at the increase in strength as he was launched into the ground.
'Even in Super Saiyan Rose, I didn't see him move?' Gohan couldn't believe it. Mastered Ultra Instinct made his father THIS powerful? 'This is leagues above that Sign state.'
"That's impressive. Ultra Instinct is amazing," Gohan chuckled before standing up.
"It kind of feels like how Vermont fights, but different," Gohan observed.
Goku nodded, lowering himself down. "I have one more level above this one," Goku explained with a smile, stunning Gohan.
"You really are the best fighter, aren't you, Dad?" Gohan mused. His father was amazing.
"Hehe, I know you're still holding back, Gohan," Goku revealed as Gohan nodded.
"Alright, show me the next level, Dad," Gohan asked as Goku nodded, closing his eyes.
The atmosphere shifted as Goku slimmed down slightly, his hair becoming a shinier silver. Upon opening his eyes, they were now silver too. His aura grew even heavier as a silhouette of Goku appeared around him before dissipating.
"This is True Ultra Instinct," Goku explained.
Gohan nodded. "Alright, I'll take this seriously," Gohan remarked as his power started rapidly increasing, stunning everyone.
Gohan's entire appearance started shifting into Super Saiyan 4. His aura turned crimson as he entered his Limit Breaker form.
"Is this your full power?" Goku asked, his eyes excited.
"No, my Ultra Ego is my strongest state," Gohan explained.
"You're amazing Gohan," Goku praised, "I don't know what this awesome great ape form is but it's powerful!" Goku commented.
They both entered a fighting stance, immediately Goku's hand deflected a attack before leaning as Gohans leg flew by, Goku vanished in a burst of speed, appearing behind Gohan.
Gohan turned and landed a brutal elbow directly across Goku's face, sending him skidding across the rocky terrain. Goku quickly regained his composure, wiping a small trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"That was a good hit, you're much faster than before," Goku admitted with a grin, his silver eyes gleaming with excitement. He launched himself back into the fray, his movements a blur as he and Gohan clashed with intense speed and power.
Gohan, with his newfound limit breaker power, was a force to be reckoned with. His attacks were precise and devastating, each strike carrying the weight of his enhanced strength and determination. Goku, fueled by his True Ultra Instinct, matched Gohan's onslaught with his own unparalleled skill and agility.
The battlefield became a whirlwind of energy, with shockwaves from their clashes creating massive craters in the ground and sending shockwaves throughout the area. Spectators could only watch in awe as the two Saiyans pushed each other to their limits and beyond.
Despite Gohan's immense power in his limit breaker form, Goku's True Ultra Instinct allowed him to react almost instinctively, dodging and countering Gohan's attacks with flawless precision. However, Gohan was relentless, refusing to back down as he continued to push Goku to his limits.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Suddenly, Gohan's aura flared even brighter, his eyes locking onto Goku's. "Let's see you handle this!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
With a fierce roar, Gohan unleashed a devastating energy blast towards Goku. Goku responded by crossing his arms in an "X" shape in front of him, creating a powerful barrier to deflect the attack. The explosion that followed was blinding, illuminating the entire area with its intensity.
As the smoke cleared, both Saiyans were seen standing their ground, Goku panting from exertion but refusing to give in.
He smiled at Gohan, his silver eyes filled with respect and admiration. "You've gotten incredibly strong, Gohan," he said, catching his breath. "But remember, I'm always pushing to get stronger too!"
Gohan grinned back, his crimson aura pulsating around him. "Alright! No holding back dad!"
With that declaration, the two Saiyans charged at each other once more, their battle continuing to escalate in intensity as they both tapped into even greater reserves of power, determined to emerge victorious in this epic showdown.
Their excellent Ki control on display, despite their great power, the shockwaves were dulled.
As Gohan and Goku clashed once more, the air crackled with energy. Goku's True Ultra Instinct allowed him to predict and evade many of Gohan's lightning-fast attacks, his movements a mesmerizing dance of precision and grace. Despite the power disadvantage, Goku managed to hold his own against Gohan's overwhelming might.
However, Gohan's relentless assault began to take its toll on Goku. His speed and power were simply too much to handle for long. Gohan moved with a calculated ferocity, systematically knocking Goku off his feet with a series of powerful strikes and hand to hand combat.
With Goku on the defensive, Gohan saw an opening and lunged forward, ready to deliver the final, decisive blow. Just as his fist was about to connect with Goku's vulnerable form, Goku's eyes flashed with determination and he vanished into thin air using Instant Transmission.
Anticipating Goku's move, Gohan had already prepared for this. As Goku reappeared behind him, Gohan pivoted on his heel, turning to face him with a charged Ki blast ready in his palm. Before Goku could react, Gohan unleashed the blast, hitting Goku squarely and sending him flying backward, crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.
Goku struggled to rise, his body bruised and battered, but the relentless assault had finally taken its toll. With a weary sigh, Goku's eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness, his True Ultra Instinct form fading away.
The battlefield fell silent, the dust settling as Gohan stood victorious, but his eyes still ablaze with adrenaline. He looked down at his father's unconscious form, a mixture of pride and concern in his eyes.
"You alright, Dad?" Gohan asked, kneeling beside Goku's motionless body. "That was fun."
The spectators, who had been watching the intense battle unfold, erupted into cheers and applause, marveling at the incredible display of power and skill they had just witnessed.
Hippolyta opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on Diana. "I understand you know this god personally?" she inquired, to which Diana nodded in affirmation.
"Despite my efforts during that entire ordeal, I could not recall any mention of such a god's existence. However, I do remember Zeus speaking of a deity named Perpetua—a destroyer god. It was a highly guarded secret within Olympus. Zeus would deliberately ensure that he was the only one present whenever she visited. I always wondered about his reasons, but I suppose he may have been concerned about appearing vulnerable, not some secret dalliance," Hippolyta explained, leaning forward slightly.
Ten minutes later, Gohan sat with his legs folded. "I've been meaning to show you this, Vermont," Gohan started as Vermont paid closer attention. Whis looked on intrigued, while Goku, Vegeta, and Beerus watched.
"Do you recognize this?" Gohan asked as red electricity zapped around him.
"Yes, your energy vibrates and heats the atmosphere around you, generating tiny lightning static. I've noticed the greater the power, the stronger the crackles," Vermont observed.
"That's right, but that's not what I'm referring to," Gohan clarified.
"It's red, not blue," Goku added. Gohan opened his eyes and nodded.
"Ever since I started training, I've felt a vast power building up. It feels like my potential is finally reaching its greatest height. But I've been slightly worried about just letting go. Unlike before, if I let go, my aura alone could incinerate the entire southern half of the universe if I lose control," Gohan revealed. Goku chuckled, walking up to Gohan, crouching, and placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Even when you let go against Cell, you contained that power and didn't destroy the Earth. Sure, maybe your ego became stronger, but I think that was good. You finally realized that it was okay to let go. Cell didn't know what hit him. So, relax, you got this! Also, Whis and Vermont are here," Goku chuckled, backing up. Gohan nodded.
"You're right, so let's see what happens," Gohan said, standing up and taking a deep breath.
Whis and Vermont quickly tapped their staffs on the ground, creating a barrier around everyone present.
Gohan roared as a storm of Ki erupted, surprising everyone. "That's insane," Vegeta muttered, lowering his arm and staring in disbelief at the enormous Ki signature he was feeling.
Goku chuckled nervously. "Woah, Gohan, that's incredible."
Whis and Vermont glanced at one another before focusing on the transformation.
Gohan felt euphoric. He had been feeling this itch get progressively stronger as time went by. Unleashing all that Ki felt like a dam bursting open. 'This feels incredible,' Gohan mused. With one final push, an explosion of Ki flooded everyone's senses.
Once the dust had settled, Gohan opened his eyes, revealing red glowing orbs. He still looked like he was in his ultimate mode, but crimson bolts of static electricity crackled around him.
The partial transformation was startling. Gohan had tapped into a form that was both fearsome and awe-inspiring. His divine body, which had become leaner, was slightly buffer, indicating a significant increase in strength and power. His aura radiated an intense energy that sent shivers down the spines of all who witnessed it.
This was a bit of his potential unleashed. The red glow of his eyes pierced through the lingering dust, locking onto Vermont with an unwavering intensity. The angel smiled.
This was Gohan's first time partially accessing this form. It felt so primal. 'If I close my eyes and just go deeper...'
His aura surged, and his hair grew longer as crimson fur appeared. "Just what is this primal form!?" Vegeta questioned.
"That would be Super Saiyan 4, Mr. Vegeta," Vermont explained. "Super Saiyan 4 you say?" He questioned with intrigue, perhaps he could get that form as well.
"Although for a moment, it felt like he was on the verge of transforming. Maybe that was my imagination," Bardock pointed out. He had sensed plenty of Ki evolving through transformations since arriving on the world of the destroyer god.
"You aren't incorrect, but you aren't correct either," Vermont and Whis suddenly explained at the same time. The two looked surprised before chuckling.
Raditz eyed Bardock, who nodded. 'Yep, they're weird.' But everyone had come to understand that the angels were very strange. It felt like they knew things that normal beings could never understand.
Gohan had been standing with his eyes shut. His Super Saiyan 4 fur started disappearing as he opened his eyes and roared, just as he had done those many years ago against Dodoria, Frieza, Cell, and Beerus.
The shaking of the planet became more severe as Gohan's hair turned into shades of gray and silver, his control waning as the size of his Ki increased. The light from his aura became so bright it was visible to planets light-years away.
The onlookers present were stunned at the Ki they could feel. "That looks like Ultra Instincts hair? But it feels nothing like it," Vegeta commented.
Meanwhile, people on Earth who had their eyes closed were just as entertained. Lord Gohan always seemed to have different hair colors, but they suddenly felt a light tremor.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us on CNM News. For those who may not be aware, the tremors felt throughout the states are not an isolated event. Reports from various corners of the globe indicate that they are experiencing the same phenomena. The God of Destruction appears to be responsible for these disturbances. If you are inconvenienced in any way, please call 1-800-555-HELP," the news channel reported.
As Gohan stood there, his posture more feral and predatory than ever, it was clear that he was no longer the Gohan they once knew. He had become something else entirely—a Beast ready to unleash its full fury upon anyone who dared to challenge him.
But in an instant, he frowned taking a deep breath, his aura reducing itself to more manageable levels.
He slowly stood upright. 'I almost went too far,' Gohan thought to himself. "Maybe fully letting go would be a bad thing. I need to learn how to control these explosive bursts of power to be more consistent. But other than that, this power is beyond my Ultra Ego and easier to control. Somehow, feeling primal feels more natural than having destruction energy coursing through me," Gohan mused.
"The strain isn't bad; it reminds me of Super Saiyan 2 or Ultimate but less stressful. Maybe it's because I feel like I am harnessing the power of Super Saiyan 4 as well," Gohan said, considering his newfound abilities.
"This seems like you're developing at an astonishing rate!" Vermont suddenly remarked.
"You're right, but I wonder how much more powerful I'll be if I use destruction energy in tandem with it. It could greatly boost my energy of destruction," Gohan explained, nodding in agreement.
"I agree. However, I must interject here. I believe it's time we get back to your Ultra Instinct training. If your father could achieve it, then surely you can too," Vermont suggested as Goku approached.
"I agree! Who knows, maybe you learned a thing or two from our battle!" Goku said with a grin.
"You've also been training with Vermont a lot already, so it's definitely somewhere in there. You just need a push," Goku theorized. "I actually only unlocked Ultra Instinct because I nearly blew myself up fighting against Jiren," he casually revealed before recalling the fight.
"You should have seen this guy called Jiren! He was really strong too!" Goku continued, with Gohan sweat dropping. "What I'm trying to say is, you never know, maybe one day you'll be forced to unlock Ultra Instinct."
Gohan nodded in agreement; it made sense. There was only so much he could do until he was actually backed into a corner.
"Would you like to test that new power of yours?" Vermont asked.
Gohan nodded, and they both suddenly disappeared. Beerus watched the battle in the sky, with Goku, Vegeta, and Whis following suit. Bardock and Raditz stared at the sky as well, occasionally seeing something disappear in the distance.
Gohan zipped through the sky, with Vermont turning around, ducking, and weaving to avoid every punch and kick. He then turned and blocked a kick using only his finger.
"Your fighting style has shifted slightly; it feels more feral," Vermont observed. He continued dodging more blows before aiming his palm forward. Gohan appeared with a surprised expression just as a Kiai wave blasted him into the ground.
Vermont stared at the crater for a moment before swiftly moving his head to the left to dodge a fist. He then grabbed Gohan's arm, tossing the god over his shoulder. However, the instant he released Gohan, Vermont dodged again, casually grabbing Gohan's leg and pulling him closer. With a swift chop to the neck, Vermont knocked Gohan unconscious.
"It certainly is strong," Vermont observed as Whis nodded. "Ultra Instinct combined with this form would definitely put him above the average Destroyer God. With more time, he could certainly rise to greater heights."
"Well, he's still dead the moment he comes across Merno," Beerus informed.
"That includes myself though," Beerus finished before scratching his chin with a sweat drop. "I wish I found you Saiyans sooner, though I doubt I would have found you interesting," he mused to himself as Goku approached him from behind and smacked his back in reassurance, irritating the god instead.
"Don't you worry, Lord Beerus, we'll definitely grow stronge-"
"Would you stop that!?" Beerus roared as he smacked Goku over the head, shaking the ground with a slight tremor as Goku yelped.
"Ouch!" Goku held his head in pain. "Why'd you do that!?" Goku whined as Beerus growled at him.
Raditz and Bardock watched the scene with disbelief. The force of the head smack looked like it would have been incredibly painful. 'If I got hit like that, Super Saiyan or not, my head would explode,' Raditz thought, shuddering.
"Maybe you shouldn't touch me so casually," Beerus responded, as Gohan opened his eyes and sat up.
"You know, every time I get stronger, I think I'm getting closer to your strength, but you always prove me wrong," Gohan said as he got up, looking at Vermont who smiled.
"Don't get arrogant now. Even I haven't surpassed Whis, at least not yet," Beerus said, as Whis chuckled.
"Confident, aren't we, Lord Beerus?" Whis asked, as Beerus smirked.
"Just you wait, Whis. I'm coming for you," Beerus challenged. Whis smiled, recognizing that his God of Destruction wasn't joking. "I don't feel like dying yet, especially not after having been alive for so long. If I want to stand a chance against your eldest brother, I need to beat you first," Beerus explained. Whis nodded before smiling and walking towards Vermont.
"To withstand Merno, the bare minimum requirement is that you'd need to be able to fend off both Vermont and me simultaneously. But last I saw my elder brother, he was capable of beating all of us Angels at once. This is only natural since, after father, he is the strongest Angel," Whis explained.
"And it is with certainty that I can say all the current angels would still not be able to stop him. He used to train us, after all. He probably knows of weaknesses we have that we aren't aware of," Vermont added, surprising everyone.
"Wait, Angels?" Bardock suddenly realized. That's what these tall, blue-skinned individuals were. He glanced at their backs, trying to figure out whether angel myths were totally inaccurate or not. 'Maybe I didn't know anything to begin with...'
"Yep, Whis and Vermont here are Angels," Goku reassured. "That's why they're so strong. I haven't actually seen Whis get hit before, even against guys like Broly," Goku said before turning and looking at Gohan.
"Which reminds me, we found this guy called Broly. He was incredibly strong. His potential was insane. He went from being as strong as Frieza was the first time I turned Super Saiyan to taking on both Vegeta and me while fused. All in one fight, he beat Frieza for an hour too," Goku chuckled fondly, recalling the fight.
"Really?" Gohan asked. "He sounds incredible."
Goku nodded. "He is. But I can tell you're still much stronger than he is. If he were to train, though, I think he'd give you a hard time," Goku explained to Gohan, who nodded and turned to Beerus.
"Could you have him brought here?" Gohan asked, surprising Beerus, who looked at him suspiciously.
"You aren't looking to poach my strong warriors, are you?" Beerus asked. Gohan shook his head.
"Of course not, at least not completely." Beerus's ear perked at that. "Hey!"
Gohan quickly continued. "But we need strong training partners to grow, otherwise, we might as well throw in the towel now," Gohan explained carefully to Beerus, who took in the information before sighing.
This caught the attention of the people watching the broadcast. 'Hold on, throw in the towel? Were they in danger?'
"You're not wrong. You've gotten stronger, but you've still got a long way to go," Beerus said. "Honestly, though," Beerus used his power to purposely distort the broadcast.
"This is a death trap. Even those two destroyers above me in power struggle to land a decisive blow against an Angel," Beerus explained. Gohan nodded in understanding.
Carnelia walked confidently to her brother's cell, a smile playing on her lips. "Carnelia...you-"
"Shut up, you traitorous swine!" she cut him off, her laughter echoing in the cold dungeon. "I've waited so long to say that to you."
Drawing nearer, she enjoyed the shock registering on his face. "Don't worry, 'dear brother.' I'll plead with father to be merciful. Maybe you can join Eris in the asylum where you trapped her. It would be poetic justice to see you lose the will to live just as she did."
"How did you know?" he managed to stammer.
"Seriously? I've always despised you. Your plan was transparent. Eris would never betray Vanetia. Your mistakes were glaring: disappearing resources, mysterious invasions, lost warships, and a sudden alliance with Thanagar. Father should've caught on," she sneered.
Derrick suddenly chuckled. "You're sharper than I thought. But you missed two key details, one of which is right under your nose."
"What?" she demanded, suspicion clouding her features. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her abdomen, and she saw a blade protruding from it.
"Do you think you're the only one with a secret?" he grinned maliciously. She tried to strike back, but the blade twisted inside her, intensifying her agony.
As the shadowy figure retracted the blade, Carnelia collapsed to her knees. "You may be my half-sister, but you're still beautiful," he cooed, attempting to touch her through the bars. She swiftly warned him off with a concealed blade.
"Scum," she spat out, each word a struggle through her pain.
"I'll find you," he smirked, savoring the taste of her blood and spit that had splattered onto his face.
Carnelia took a deep breath, applying pressure to her wound. "Guards!" she called, wincing. Ten guards rushed in as the shadow disappeared.
"Princess!" they exclaimed. "Who did this?"
Carnelia pointed to an old man in a nearby cell. "Execute him," she ordered, glaring at Derrick.
"You don't need to find me, I look forward to owning you," she said to Derrick, leaving the guards shocked as one helped her out.