Preparations in Two Worlds
Solmere was calm.
Peaceful, even.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the Vixens were simply… living.
Laughter echoed through Darquebane Manor. Wedding fabrics were spread across tables. Measurements were argued over. Decorations debated.
But Nyxian…
Nyxian was preparing differently.
"…I need something stronger," she said, arms crossed as she stared down a very confused merchant. "Something that burns when it touches demonic skin."
The man blinked.
"Lady… most of my customers are trying to attract demons. Not repel them."
Nyxian didn't blink.
"I'm not most of your customers."
Behind her, Bunny leaned toward Llandra.
"…Isn't she—"
"Yes," Llandra muttered. "She is."
Nyxian continued listing items.
"Repulsion wards. Anti-summoning salts. Anything that disrupts infernal magic signatures."
The merchant slowly nodded.
"…You're going to a family gathering, aren't you?"
Nyxian paused.
"…Yes."
"That explains everything."
---
Elsewhere in Solmere—
Jax moved through the city like he always did.
Checking in.
Listening.
Adjusting.
A handshake here.
A deal there.
A quiet conversation that turned into a new seafood trade agreement.
Efficiency.
Growth.
Momentum.
But one stop mattered more than the rest.
Brannic's forge.
Inside, heat roared.
Steel sang.
And Merriweather hovered nearby, humming softly as magic laced itself into the weapon resting on the workbench.
Jax approached slowly.
"…Is it ready?"
Brannic didn't look up.
"It is."
Merriweather smiled brightly.
"Oh, it's perfect."
Jax stepped closer.
The weapon wasn't built for war.
Not entirely.
It was elegant.
Refined.
Powerful in a way that didn't need to scream.
"…For a queen," Jax said quietly.
Brannic finally looked up.
"Aye."
Jax nodded once.
Good.
Because Nyxian's world…
Was not like this one.
---
Alexandria – Beneath the Empire
Far beneath the surface of Alexandria…
The air itself felt wrong.
Heavy.
Thick.
Alive with something ancient and watching.
A massive ritual chamber stretched outward, carved into black stone and etched with symbols that seemed to shift if stared at too long.
At its center—
A circle.
Perfect.
Intricate.
Terrifying.
Dozens of mages stood at its edges, cloaked in deep crimson robes.
Their faces hidden.
Their voices silent.
Waiting.
At the head of the ritual stood the mage who had proposed it.
Her eyes burned with fanatic purpose.
"Begin."
The words echoed like a command not just to the room—
But to something deeper.
Something listening.
Torches extinguished.
One by one.
Until only the circle remained illuminated.
A dull, pulsing glow.
The mages stepped forward in unison.
Hands raised.
Chanting began.
Low.
Rhythmic.
Unnatural.
The air bent.
Mana twisted.
Drawn inward—
Fed into the circle.
And then—
The sacrifice stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No resistance.
Only devotion.
"For the Chaos God," he whispered.
The lead mage placed a hand on his chest.
"Your offering is accepted."
Her fingers tightened—
And with a single motion—
His body convulsed.
Then stilled.
Life ripped free.
Not gently.
Not cleanly.
But violently.
His corpse collapsed into the center of the circle.
And that's when it began.
The body didn't lie still.
It sank.
Flesh dissolving into blackened ash—
Bone cracking, reforming—
The circle ignited.
A pillar of blinding crimson light erupted upward.
The chamber shook.
Flames burst from the center—
Not normal fire—
But something darker.
Hungry.
The chanting intensified.
Voices rising.
Breaking.
Screaming as the magic surged beyond what their bodies could comfortably contain.
The corpse twisted—
Reshaped—
Becoming a conduit.
A vessel.
A bridge.
The lead mage extended both hands.
"Bind the target!"
Symbols flared to life.
Threads of black energy lashed outward—
Disappearing into nothing—
Reaching across distance…
Across kingdoms…
Across reality itself.
"Jax Darquebane…"
Her voice echoed.
"…be undone."
The flames surged—
Then collapsed inward—
Imploding into a single point of absolute darkness.
And then—
Silence.
The ritual was complete.
---
Solmere – The Attempt
Jax laughed.
"…and then he tried to tell me the fish wasn't fresh," he said, shaking his head.
The table erupted in laughter.
Food filled every surface.
Drinks flowed freely.
The Vixens were relaxed.
Happy.
Alive.
And then—
Jax froze.
His body went rigid.
Completely still.
His eyes—
Turned black.
Zee noticed first.
Her smile faded instantly.
"…Jax?"
Llandra's hand moved—slow, deliberate—toward her weapon.
Something was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
Jax didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
For a single moment—
The world seemed to hold its breath.
---
SYSTEM ALERT
[WARNING: EXTERNAL HOSTILE CURSE DETECTED]
[TYPE: CHAOS-ALIGNED DESTRUCTION CURSE]
[EFFECTS: NEURAL SHUTDOWN / PARALYSIS / ORGAN FAILURE / CONSCIOUS LOCK]
[STATUS: ATTEMPTING TO OVERRIDE HOST BODY]
A pause.
Then—
[NOTICE: HOST BODY CONTROL AUTHORITY = ABSOLUTE]
[NOTICE: FOREIGN INFLUENCE REJECTED]
[PROMPT: DISPENSE?]
---
Jax blinked.
"…Huh."
Inside his own mind, he casually selected:
Yes.
---
RESULT: CURSE DISPELLED
[ALL FOREIGN EFFECTS PURGED]
[IMMUNITY REINFORCED]
---
Back to Reality
Jax exhaled.
His eyes returned to normal.
The tension snapped.
"…Whoa," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That last shot hit me something fierce."
Nyxian raised an eyebrow.
"That wasn't alcohol."
Zee was already halfway standing.
"What just happened?"
Jax waved it off.
"Probably just me pushing my limits a bit. I'm good."
Llandra didn't sit back down immediately.
She studied him.
Carefully.
But—
He looked fine.
Felt fine.
Acted fine.
And Jax…
Didn't push it further.
Because he already knew.
---
Jax's Realization
Something had just tried to kill him.
Not physically.
Not directly.
Something deeper.
More invasive.
More dangerous.
And it had failed.
Completely.
Effortlessly.
Jax leaned back in his chair.
Smiling slightly.
So that's how it works…
Total control.
Over everything.
His body.
His system.
His existence.
Curses.
Poison.
Anything.
Didn't matter.
---
Final Beat
"Anyway," Jax said, grabbing his drink again, "as I was saying—the guy tried to sell me week-old fish like it was fresh."
Bunny laughed again.
Nyxian smirked.
Zee slowly sat back down—
Still watching him.
Llandra didn't smile.
Not fully.
Because she knew—
That wasn't nothing.
Far away…
In the depths of Alexandria…
Silence fell over the ritual chamber.
Not the suffocating kind from before—
But something different.
Something… satisfied.
The lead mage stood still at the center of the circle, her chest rising and falling as the last strands of chaotic energy faded into nothing.
The flames that had once roared now burned low and steady.
Controlled.
Contained.
Complete.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
A slow smile spread across her lips.
"…It's done."
The other mages looked at one another.
Exhausted.
Drained.
But alive.
And more importantly—
Victorious.
One of them stepped forward, voice shaky but hopeful.
"You felt it too… didn't you?"
She nodded.
"The connection held."
Her fingers curled slightly, as if remembering the sensation.
"The curse took root."
A ripple moved through the chamber.
Relief.
Excitement.
Vindication.
Another mage laughed under their breath.
"So the great Jax Darquebane… falls like anyone else."
The lead mage turned, her expression sharpening with pride.
"Not like anyone else."
She stepped down from the circle, robes brushing against the scorched stone.
"No… he will suffer."
Her voice lowered.
Measured.
Certain.
"Blindness will come first."
A few of the mages exchanged satisfied glances.
"Then silence."
"And then…" she paused, savoring the thought, "…his body will betray him piece by piece."
A quiet chuckle echoed from the back.
"Trapped in his own flesh."
"Fully aware."
"Unable to move."
"Unable to fight."
The lead mage's smile widened.
"Yes."
She turned toward the remains at the center of the circle—the ash and bone that had once been their sacrifice.
"A fitting end… for a man who thought himself untouchable."
One of the younger mages hesitated.
"…How long?"
"Time is not exact at this distance," she replied calmly. "But the effects will begin soon."
She looked toward the ceiling, as if she could see across kingdoms.
"By the time they realize what's happening… it will already be too late."
That was all they needed.
The tension broke.
Laughter returned.
Low at first—
Then growing.
Satisfied.
Cruel.
"We did it."
"He's finished."
"The United Kingdoms won't survive without him."
Another voice spoke, more cautious—but still hopeful.
"…Should we confirm?"
The lead mage shook her head.
"No."
A beat.
Then—
"Let them carry on."
Her eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light.
"Let them celebrate."
The chamber seemed to lean into her words.
Because to her—
That was the best part.
Hope.
Joy.
Victory.
All of it…
About to be ripped away.
"Send word to the generals," she continued. "Preparation phase begins now."
She turned, already moving toward the exit.
"In 60 days… we reclaim everything."
Behind her, the circle dimmed further.
The last glow of magic fading into darkness.
Leaving only the quiet certainty of those who believed—
They had already won.
Back in Solmere
Jax raised his glass.
"Next round's on me."
Cheers erupted.
But somewhere deep inside—
A quiet realization settled in.
They weren't just fighting a war anymore.
They were being hunted.
And whoever sent that…
Would try again.