A heavy shroud of darkness covers everything.

The sun shines high in the sky, yet its light never reaches the ground—it feels like the middle of the night.

Velshekar and Hakuto set aside their hostility for a moment.

Clarissa and Chantal do the same, glancing around with fear and disbelief.

At last, a figure rises from the ground. Cloaked in black, an old man with long gray hair flowing backward.

The moment he appears, Zhurvak drops to his knees—prostrating himself in the most servile way possible.

Velshekar begins to tremble with fear, frozen as if facing a nightmare so terrifying it could drive her insane just by looking at it.

Only ignorance shields Hakuto, Chantal, and Clarissa from the same horror crushing Velshekar.

That same ignorance spares Shin only halfway—he knows exactly who the dark mage Cassian Thalukvar is, even before Velune ever spoke his name.

He knows his role, and the kind of powers the old man wields, though not as deeply as Velshekar.

But one thing he knows for certain—the most terrifying truth of all: no one who has ever crossed paths with him has lived to tell the tale.

«Velshekar…»

Cassian's voice is calm and deep, but his gaze is cold and unnerving.

«…So, not only have you used the Cult of the Primordial Shadow just to seize new vessels for your spirit, but now I discover you've been plotting against me. Wrong. Very wrong. You betrayed me—and as a direct descendant of Nyratalir's will, it is as if you betrayed Nyratalir himself. Such an affront can only be punished one way.»

«N-No, Supreme Cassian, believe me. I never meant—»

Before Velshekar can finish her clumsy excuse, a black wind surges from nowhere and slams into her, sweeping away the hundreds of spirits she had summoned.

The phantoms vanish instantly, devoured by the storm, while Velshekar is hurled dozens of meters, crashing to the ground in a battered heap.

«Boss, I'm coming!» Clarissa cries, tears in her eyes at the sight of Velshekar broken so easily.

She rushes toward her without hesitation, while Chantal, watching, decides she has more pressing matters at hand.

«The famous Shin Tendo… at last, we meet. You know, I would have liked to face you in your prime, but time has been much crueler to you than to me,» Cassian remarks with composure.

«Oh, I don't think you'd have enjoyed it…» Shin replies, shaking his head.

The lit cigarette still hangs from his lips.

«That's the kind of line only someone says when they never fought me back when I was still in my prime.»

«And that's the kind of line spoken by someone who lives only on memories and the reflected light of his former self. Believe it or not, I have always admired you, despite the countless adepts of mine you slaughtered through your life. You are nothing but a human, powerless aside from the Sacred Flame, yet you rose above beings with extraordinary powers and became a legend, even in our world. But nothing is eternal—except the shadows. Not even you. Still, do not fear, Shin Tendo…»

Cassian extends his arm forward, solid shadows swirling around him.

«…I will ensure your death is as honorable as your life was.»

«Didn't think I had fans even inside the Cult of the Primordial Shadow—and no less than one of its twelve high priests. Now that's the kind of news that brightens your day,» Shin mutters with a crooked smile, exhaling smoke.

He looks utterly unfazed, not the least bit worried… or perhaps simply resigned.

Cassian does not answer.

The shadows rise around him, aiming straight at Shin.

But neither Hakuto nor Chantal stands idle.

From Hakuto's violet energy wings, a torrent of lightning bursts forth.

At the same time, Chantal casts the Blood Word Burst—both attacks aimed at Cassian.

And yet, despite the overwhelming power of their combined spells… it all amounts to nothing.

The shadows coil instantly into a solid shell around Cassian—a barrier that renders the assault useless.

But it gives Shin the chance to step back from the dark mage.

«I have no interest in harvesting your insignificant lives,» Cassian declares in solemn tones. «You could try for a hundred years and still never kill me. Hand over the two hybrids, and I will let you spend the end of time with your loved ones.»

«You may be a powerful mage, but you're not much of a negotiator,» Shin replies with light sarcasm. «You could've at least gone with something like: 'If you give me the two hybrids, I promise you'll all live happily ever after.' Maybe then we might've considered it.»

Hakuto doesn't flinch at his father's words. He knows perfectly well Shin would never hand them over—he's just stalling, likely to buy time for a plan.

But Cassian sees through it.

The shadows around him swell, towering even more menacingly.

«I am not one to give false hope. My offer was simply courtesy. I only need one of you—I'll force the truth from them with dark magic beyond your imagination. Magic that can break even the strongest minds. Since you won't cooperate, I must resort to such means.»

«Don't you dare let that old bastard capture you, or it'll be worse for you!» Velshekar snaps, her body riddled with wounds still regenerating, Clarissa at her side, also shaken from her battle with Chantal.

«You're a tough one. I didn't think you'd get back on your feet,» Cassian comments flatly. «I said I had no interest in killing Shin Tendo or the two children with him. But that does not apply to you, Velshekar. Betrayal against Nyratalir can only end in a gruesome death.»

Cassian turns fully toward Velshekar now.

His attention fixed solely on her, ignoring Hakuto, Shin, and Chantal.

A blast of Sanguis energy erupts from Velshekar's body.

Around her, new spirits emerge, shaped and defined like those she had summoned earlier to fight Hakuto.

But this time, there are more of them—many more—and far larger.

Not only that—their whitish, translucent forms burn with emerald flames inside.

As a Wandering Spirit, Velshekar can channel fragments of her own essence into her summons, making them far stronger and tougher.

Now, an army of these empowered spirits stretches as far as the eye can see.

«Cassian Thalukvar, you old bastard…» Velshekar growls. «I'll kill you with my own hands!»