An unnatural silence reigned deep within Castle Azrok. Valdor walked down a vast stone corridor, the heavy shackles on his hands clanking with every step. On both sides stood tall columns covered with ancient runes, their green and purple light reflecting off the stone floor. Sylphia walked behind him, and a few steps to his side was Elio, who glanced at him from time to time to make sure he wouldn't try any tricks.
Valdor knew exactly where they were leading him. He didn't need to ask or eavesdrop on the demons' conversations, because he had already seen the contraption set up in the Azrok underground. That was where they intended to separate Leo from his body, and the very thought of it made Valdor clench his fists in his shackles.
After a moment, the three of them stopped in front of a massive door. On its surface was a symbol resembling an eye surrounded by chains, and from behind the door came a low, pulsing sound of magical energy.
Elio looked at Valdor and smiled coldly.
"Ready?"
Valdor looked up and met his gaze.
"I'm not going to make this easy for you."
Sylphia approached the door and placed her hand on its surface. The runes immediately glowed, and the massive gates began to open slowly. A bright light poured out from within, revealing a vast chamber with a magical circle in the center, surrounded by dozens of chains.
The other Warriors of Darkness were in the room: Arthur and Emi. Valdor looked at them one by one until his gaze settled on Emi. It was the first time he'd seen her, so he studied her with curiosity for a moment.
Arthur stood at the head of the group and calmly watched Valdor.
"It's been a long time, Valdor." — Arthur laughed.
Valdor furrowed his brow.
"Yes, I'm sorry, but I'm chained up — if my hands were free, I'd kill you…"
Arthur walked up to him and punched him in the cheek.
Valdor looked at Arthur.
"You want to free him."
Arthur raised his hand, and the runes around the circle immediately glowed.
"Exactly. Let's begin the ritual."
Elio led Valdor to the magic circle.
Meanwhile, in Aurelios, the village located below the palace, Mayuri and Luna were treating the wounded villagers, while Arwen kept bringing in more people in need of help. After a moment, Mayuri stopped and looked toward the palace.
"I can't sense Valdor's energy…" — she said anxiously.
Luna also tried to sense his presence, but couldn't find him in the palace. After a moment, however, she sensed his energy — it was very far from Aurelios. She immediately understood what had happened.
"Valdor has been taken. We have to go back to the palace." — Luna said.
At the same time, inside the palace, Kael struggled to get to his feet and leaned on his sword. He slowly made his way toward the great tree, trying to keep his balance. Noah was already standing as well, leaning his left hand against a pillar and clutching his stomach with his right. After a moment, they both set off in the same direction.
Luna raised her hand, and a bright light appeared around her. A moment later, magical portals began to open in the square, and paladins emerged from them one after another. Faise and the other warriors immediately rushed toward the injured residents, helping them to their feet and carrying the more seriously wounded to safety.
Mayuri watched them work for a moment longer, then looked at Luna. Arwen was also ready to return.
Luna approached Faise and looked at him calmly.
"I'll leave the rest to you…"
Faise nodded and replied in a confident voice.
"You can count on me, Luna. Save Valdor."
As soon as she made sure everyone would receive help, she set off back to the palace with Mayuri and Arwen.
After a moment, the three of them reached the large tree where Kael and Noah were already waiting. Mayuri looked at them with concern, seeing the state they were in.
Arwen immediately ran up to Noah, a look of obvious worry appearing on her face.
"Noah…" — she whispered.
Noah lifted his head and, despite his fatigue, smiled at her.
"I'm fine. A little scratch like this won't get the better of me." — he replied with a laugh.
Arwen looked at him in silence for a moment, then smiled slightly, seeing that Noah was still in good spirits.
Luna and Mayuri stepped closer to Noah and Kael, then raised her staff. The red crystal at its tip began to glow brighter and brighter, and a green magical circle appeared beneath the wounded.
"I'll heal you…" — Luna said, focusing her energy. — "The Holy Healing of the Valkyries."
Small, luminous points began to rise from the magical circle, slowly surrounding Noah and Kael. The lights began to penetrate their bodies, gradually restoring their strength and allowing them to regain their mobility.
"Much better…" — Noah said, moving his shoulder.
Kael looked at his hands, then gripped his sword more tightly.
"We're ready to go."
Mayuri looked at Luna with concern, clenching her fists.
"Ms. Luna, do you know where Valdor is…?" — she asked anxiously.
Luna was silent for a moment, then looked at the others.
"Yes, Valdor is…" — she narrowed her eyes, trying to sense his energy precisely — "in Azrok…" — she finished in a serious voice.
Noah immediately grew serious, and his smile vanished.
"Azrok?! But that's the seat of the demon lord!"
Kael looked at Luna with concern and gripped the hilt of his sword more tightly.
"Why would they kidnap him?"
Luna looked toward the spot where Valdor's energy had been.
"It's most likely about Leo. Valdor sealed him inside his own body, so if they want to get Leo back, they'll have to deal with the seal first."
Mayuri clenched her fists, and a look of determination flashed in her eyes.
"So they want to free Leo..."
"Yes." — Luna replied. — "And that's why we have to act before it's too late."
Arwen looked at her hands and clenched her fists, a look of determination flashing in her eyes.
"We have to get him back."
"But Azrok is swarming with demons… How are we going to get there?" — Noah asked.
Luna looked toward the huge tree where they had been standing just a moment earlier.
"I can teleport you to Azrok."
Noah immediately looked up.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go as soon as possible!"
"No." — Luna replied calmly. — "All the Warriors of Darkness will be in Azrok… you have to save them, too."
The rest of them looked at her in surprise.
"Save them?" — Noah asked.
"But they're our enemies." — Mayuri added.
Luna sighed and looked at them seriously.
"The Warriors of Darkness are just ordinary warriors. Nathan took control of them and used his power to mess with their minds. They're not fighting us of their own free will."
Kael furrowed his brow, trying to understand the situation.
"So Nathan is able to control their minds?"
"Yes. That's why you have to save both them and Valdor."
Kael looked at Luna seriously.
"But how are we supposed to do that?"
Luna walked over to Kael and looked at his Demon Arc, which trembled slightly under the influence of her energy.
"Kael, your Demon Arc is perfectly suited for this power."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"What power?"
Luna held out her hand toward him.
"I'll transfer a power to you that will allow you to break the mind control imposed on the Warriors of Darkness."
Kael looked at his hand, then at Luna.
"So I'll be able to free them?"
"If your power combines with mine, yes. But you must be careful. Nathan will certainly try to prevent this."
Kael clenched his fist.
"In that case, we have no time to lose. Do it, Luna."
Luna nodded and took a few steps back, then raised her staff.
"Step back…"
Everyone obediently stepped back, leaving Kael alone in front of Luna. The red crystal at the top of the staff began to glow brighter and brighter, and a powerful aura appeared around Luna. A green magic circle lit up the ground, and the wind began to ruffle her hair.
Luna closed her eyes and began her incantation.
"Light that purifies the soul… power that severs bonds… let no darkness take hold of free will."
Energy began to flow from the staff toward Kael, and his Demon Arc flashed with an intense blue light.
"May the bonds of the mind be broken, may the foreign will lose its power…"
Luna pointed her staff directly at Kael.
"Holy Liberation: Shattering Mental Bonds!"
A powerful surge of energy struck Kael's Demon Arc, and luminous runes appeared around him. Luna's power began to merge with his Demon Arc, creating a new energy that would allow him to free the Warriors of Darkness from Nathan's control.
Kael fell to one knee, breathing heavily, and after a moment, the magic circle vanished completely. Despite his exhaustion, however, he could feel the new power flowing through his body and merging with his Demon Arc. Luna smiled slightly, seeing that the spell had worked.
"Kael, your mission is to free the Warriors of Darkness."
Kael slowly raised his head and looked at Luna, then clenched his fist.
"I'll do it."
Noah suddenly shouted, his voice echoing throughout the area.
"All right, let's go! We're going to save them all!"
Mayuri reached for her scythe and twirled it in her hand, then looked toward the portal.
"I'll save you, Valdor…" — she whispered.
Kael's sword appeared before him. He gripped the hilt tightly and stood beside the others. Meanwhile, both of Noah's fists burst into flames, and Arwen drew her daggers.
"This is the first time I'll be using my Demon Arc…" — Arwen said, looking at her weapons.
Luna thrust her staff into the ground and closed her eyes. After a moment, four small magical circles appeared high in the sky and began to merge into one enormous circle. White energy gathered at its center, and after a moment, it struck the ground violently, creating a portal.
Luna opened her eyes and looked at the Dragon Hunt.
"It's ready. Here is the passage to Azrok."
The entire team stood in front of the portal. After a moment, Kael stepped forward.
"I'm taking command."
Noah smiled broadly.
"Yes, Captain!"
One by one, they entered the portal, while Luna stayed behind and watched as the light slowly faded.
"I'll pray for your safe return… Give it your all."
At the same time, Faisa, who was in the city, looked toward the castle. He spotted a magical circle in the sky and immediately realized that the rescue operation had just begun.
"Good luck, Dragon's Pursuit…" — he whispered.
Meanwhile, in Azrok, in the chamber where the ritual was to begin, Valdor was still chained to the wall with heavy chains. He was conscious and watched the Warriors of Darkness surrounding him closely. Sylphia was talking to Emi behind one of the pillars, Elio stood nearby preparing his sword, and Arthur approached Valdor.
"These are your final moments, Valdor… You could have just stayed dead."
Valdor looked at him calmly.
"And you still haven't understood a thing."
At that very moment, outside the castle, the guards noticed four magical circles appearing in the sky. They merged into one, and white energy struck the ground, opening a portal.
Elsewhere in Azrok, Nathan immediately sensed a powerful energy.
"They're already here…"
A broad smile spread across his face, and then he began to laugh.