In another corner of existence, far from Azaviria, in a world opposite to it—dark, bleak, and suffocating—lay the world of Asomia.
Twisted laughter mixed with malice echoed through the surroundings. Strange, terrifying birds whistled in the void, while floating black spheres hung in the air, dripping despair. Red lanterns drifted slowly, casting a suffocating glow over black castles suspended like ghosts, never touching the ground. The atmosphere was thick with deception, cold, and terrifying. Here, danger was not seen… it was felt, crawling into the heart without permission.
At the heart of this abyss stood a being made of smoke and dark energy, unmoved by storms or earthquakes. Tall and rigid, with almost deceptively soft features: an oval face, full cheeks, and dimples that appeared with a cunning smile that narrowed his eyes into slits. But there was no mistake—this was pure evil.
He was Tibar, the King of Asomia.
He looked like a man in his thirties. His long black hair was carefully tied into a thin braid reaching his neck, every strand completely obedient to his will. Confidence flowed from him as though entire universes lay beneath his feet.
His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet filled with poison. Every word was sharp, calculated, and contemptuous. He did not need to shout; he could shatter souls with a single sentence spoken through curved, childlike smiles. His black eyes, devoid of mercy, pierced through any being as if it were nothing but dust.
He wore his malice with pride, like a crown. And as his slender fingers brushed his braid, he whispered coldly:
"Finally… the prophecy has begun to unravel."
From the shadows, Miniyana appeared, trembling in her dark embroidered clothes. She bowed deeply, her voice filled with fear and reverence:
"Finally, my noble lord… the beginning of the end of the prophecy."
Tibar turned his fox-like eyes toward her, his smile widening:
"Shhh… don't spoil it. I want to taste every tremor… every scream that comes from its fall."
Miniyana immediately stepped back, covering her mouth, afraid to utter another word.
Moments later, the air tore open. From the void, Reberus appeared, dragging Elena violently, surrounded by shadows.
Tibar's voice slid through the silence like a blade:
"Fool. Don't you understand? She is precious."
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then, without raising his voice, he ordered:
"Leave. All of you."
The shadows vanished instantly without hesitation, leaving Elena alone before him—a mixture of false charm and absolute cruelty.
"Come closer, Elena," Tibar said softly, his tone poisoned. "Don't be shy. You and I… we are more alike than you think."
He moved lightly, every gesture like an actor on a stage.
"Do you see? Inside you is light… and inside us is endless darkness. Just a difference in color. Nothing more."
The black marks on his arms began to move like living smoke. In an instant, he vanished and reappeared right in front of her. His breath touched her skin.
"My beautiful, pitiful Elena…" he murmured coldly, running his fingers through a strand of her hair and inhaling its scent. "Ah… you are still pure. Your human blood has not yet been covered by the scent of light. Purity. Loyalty. Devotion… how these words disgust me."
Elena stood motionless, like a rock in the storm.
Tibar walked through his vast palace as if dancing, mocking the world:
"Poor Elena… Elena… Elena the miserable. What a masterpiece I created."
He laughed sharply, then said coldly:
"Not only miserable, but foolish too. All because of that piece of flesh you call a heart. That pathetic human boy. Your attachment to him made capturing you so easy."
He leaned closer, smiling with poison:
"There is still much human stupidity in you. If you were a pure shadow of light, you would never have allowed this. But I am grateful… he serves me well."
He paused, then smiled wider:
"I love watching the tormented burn. Ah, and how that human suffered when you disappeared into nothingness… I could see the fire burning inside him. So I thought it only fair to make him burn outside as well. Hahaha… see how fair I am?"
Only then did Elena speak, her voice calm but trembling with restrained rage:
"Remember this… I will make you suffer, and I will enjoy it. Your torment will be carved into every dark mark on your filthy body… even if it is the last thing I ever do."
Tibar's palace shook with laughter:
"Wonderful! A shadow of light speaking such poison. Ah, I understand… this is your human side. It has taken over you."
He approached again with a sadistic smile:
"Don't you like my justice, Elena? From bad… to worse. This is you—a mix of corrupted light and rotten blood. But it's fine… hahaha…"
At that moment, while Elena faced Tibar, Rash stared into the void, searching for a solution, his anxiety eating him alive.
Meanwhile, Ryo was still trapped inside the simulation, trying desperately to escape.
The streets of London around him were no longer the same. They had once symbolized freedom, but now they were a suffocating prison. He screamed at the top of his lungs:
"Get me out of here! You, Rash… get me out!"
But his cries continued. Every time he tried to break the walls, they rebuilt themselves instantly. Even the rain falling on him felt cold, yet his body remained completely dry.
He collapsed to his knees, his face shattered, his voice reduced to a whisper:
"I have a message… I must deliver it to Rash. It is from Elena."
The place asked him in a calm voice:
"What is the message?"
Ryo lifted his tired head and said:
"Before Rash reached the hospital, Elena whispered to me: 'Rash, trust me. Cover for my absence. I will return before morning.'"
The place glowed with strange signals and sent the message directly to Rash. He froze in place. He had been about to tell Raphz despite Elena's request not to tell anyone, but those words were enough to calm him.
The message was proof that her disappearance was not without reason. So Rash decided to wait until morning, as Elena had asked.
Now we return to Asomia, where Elena struggled against herself, holding back her hand from killing Tibar. Her breathing was uneven as she fought to stay calm.
"I hear your sighs, little one," Tibar said softly, full of mockery. "Your sighs feed my dark markings and increase the density of darkness within me. But let me remind you of something… I am not evil. I am just."
He laughed quietly, his voice slicing through the void.
"Ah, my dear… what was the name of that woman who raised you?"
Elena remained silent.
Suddenly, Tibar shouted, his voice shaking the corners of existence:
"You there!"
Reberus appeared from nowhere and bowed:
"Yes, Lord Tibar."
Tibar's gaze froze on him:
"Her name… is Rosie."
A cruel smile formed on his face:
"Ah… Rosie."
Then his smile vanished, and he looked at Reberus with a gaze that made him disappear instantly.
Tibar joined his slender fingers together and said in a terrifying calm voice:
"My apologies, Elena… I distracted you. Now… let us return to our subject."