"How did Kael manage to change for the worse after everything he’s already done?" Kaldrek muttered, unable to hide his disbelief as they made their way back. His face twisted with frustration, and each step seemed heavier than the last.

Thalion and Maike both nodded silently. Kael’s descent into darkness had been more than just a shift in morality. It was as if something had broken inside him. Whatever kindness or restraint he once had was gone, leaving behind someone manipulative and cold.

"We definitely dodged a bullet when we walked away from him," Maike said, her voice tense. She still hadn’t fully processed what they had witnessed. Kael’s behavior hadn’t just changed. It had corrupted something fundamental in him.

"Do you think he was always like this?" Thalion asked quietly. His voice carried an edge of doubt. "Maybe we just didn’t see it."

He remembered their reunion vividly. The warm embrace, the look of surprise in Kael’s eyes. It had all seemed genuine. Kael had even appeared naive around obvious threats like Garrick and Michael. Had he just been playing them all along? The same could be said about Sylas. Every interaction had been friendly, unassuming. It was hard to believe the man who once cracked jokes with him would later try to kill him over an item.

And the necklace had never been that powerful. Not at first. Its current strength only came after Thalion had invested time and magic into altering it. So what kind of man would go so far for something that, back then, was little more than a trinket?

"I’m not sure. Some people change when they’re blessed, but this feels deeper," Maike said with a frown. "Sylas and Kael weren’t just different. They were driven. Like someone was pulling the strings."

That caught Thalion’s attention. He hadn’t considered that before. It made a twisted kind of sense. When you accept the blessing of a god, maybe you also accept their will in subtle, corrupting ways. But if that was true, why didn’t everyone change? Kargul was still the same brute. Evelyn had even severed ties with her goddess for trying to control her. Maybe Kael and Sylas had chosen gods that didn’t just bless, but possessed.

"I’m just glad I met you two," Thalion said, his voice softer now. He gave them a tired smile. "We’re a little unhinged, sure. But we make a damn good team. Let’s just hope we all make it through this."

"We’ve already briefed the others," Kaldrek replied, regaining some of his composure. "They’re under strict orders not to overextend. If they run low on supplies or face anything unexpected, they need to send a distress signal. The only risk is that the communication crystals might not work underground."

The atmosphere grew heavier. This was the final confrontation. After this, they would either survive the tutorial or be wiped out in the catacombs. Thalion hadn’t planned for things to escalate into open conflict, but now that war loomed, he was ready to see it through.

"I hope those crystals hold," Maike muttered, clearly unconvinced. Her brows furrowed as she thought through worst-case scenarios.

"If they fail, then we tell everyone to stay in larger groups. We have the numbers. No one needs to go too deep. I’ll handle the pillar myself if things go wrong," Thalion replied calmly. "I’ll be able to protect myself if something goes wrong."

"Alright," Kaldrek said after a moment. "If communication breaks down, we’ll establish a recovery zone in the catacombs. It’ll act as a fallback point where we can regroup and support each other quickly."

They approached the looming gates of the Black Fortress in silence. Each step echoed in the gloom, tension crackling like storm clouds overhead. This final catacomb would be either a golden opportunity or a massacre. Thalion had already decided to stay quiet at the start. Let the elf and the vampiress clash first. With luck, they would weaken each other, and he could step in when it mattered most.

From the fortress wall, Josh’s voice called out.

"How did the meeting go? Can we finally wrap up this cursed quest?"

Thalion looked up. Fighters were already gathering atop the walls, weapons ready, eyes sharp with anticipation.

"Yes. Everyone prepare yourselves," Thalion said, his voice ringing with magical resonance so that all could hear. "We launch our attack on the undead in one hour. After that, all three factions will descend into the catacombs."

He swept his gaze across the gathered warriors, his tone turning hard.

"Stay sharp. Do not take unnecessary risks. And most importantly, be ready for betrayal. The elves and Kael’s fighters will likely try to stab you in the back the moment you lower your guard. Watch each other’s backs. Survive."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, yet no one dared to voice a question. They already knew fragments of the history between Kael and Thalion. Ascending to the summit of one of the obsidian towers, Thalion settled into a meditative stance. He needed to be prepared for any eventuality; a single misstep could spell death. Kael and the elves would offer no second chances, and that formidable vampiress who had decimated Logan's camp likely wouldn't either.

Time slipped by as Thalion refined his blood and reviewed the explosives stored within his spatial ring. There were three types: a grenade-like device that could be easily thrown, resulting in a 'minor' explosion—though by Lucan's standards, 'minor' still meant enough force to obliterate a house. The second resembled a torpedo, hovering in the air and capable of being launched over considerable distances, designed to pierce mana-based defenses. The third was a massive, one-meter-wide bomb intended to annihilate the pillar in a single blast. Lucan had advised Thalion to flee immediately after deploying it, a warning that carried significant weight coming from him.

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"Which race do you think will aid the vampires this time?" Evelyn inquired, settling beside him. Within minutes, several skyships began drifting closer to the undead stronghold. Evelyn was the first to join, soon followed by the rest of the team: Kargul, Vorlok, Josh, and Jack. Annie would be part of a different group, primarily to send a message to Kael suggesting she wasn't aligned with Thalion—a calculated deception to ensure safety, given Kael and Sylas's recent behavior. This strategy might also facilitate contact with Jakob, who remained with Kael. Interactions between the camps had been minimal, likely due to Kael indoctrinating his followers into believing Thalion was a monster, fearing the truth would emerge through frequent encounters.

"I have no idea. Hopefully, it's something as ineffectual as those stonefolk who couldn't even utilize the walls to their advantage," Thalion replied, opening his eyes. He wasn't particularly concerned about the types of enemies awaiting in the catacombs. The primary threats were the powerful vampiress, the female elf, and Kael with his team. Ordinary soldiers posed little danger. His power ensured he could escape before being overwhelmed.

"I'm betting on grasshoppers, just so I can showcase how weak Josh's form is," Jack joked.

"Or perhaps some fishmen floundering helplessly without water," Kargul laughed.

"Alright, let's maintain some seriousness. Things could go disastrously if we're not vigilant," Thalion interjected, his tone colder than intended. He wasn't in the mood for levity; too much was at stake. The group fell silent, observing as the armies from each base advanced toward the undead fortress. Thalion had considered using the light pillars, but with the defenses nearly devoid of undead, it didn't seem worthwhile. Better to reserve that tactic for a potential future assault on the elves or the battle for Ankhet's palace.

"We should probably head down and ensure we appear more formidable than the other elite scouts," Jack suggested with a grin, noting the other leaders assembling before their armies.

"You're right. Let's descend. By the way, how do you think the others plan to attack? They can't just charge in, can they?" Thalion asked, rising and stretching his shoulders.

"Why not? That's the best approach when you want to smash something," Kargul interjected loudly.

"But they're not orcs and certainly not expert smashers," Josh added with a shrug as they began their descent to the sandy terrain. Some floated down gracefully, while Kargul leaped in a single bound, creating a small crater upon impact. Thalion paid little attention to their methods. The plan was to utilize skyships and magic circles to attack from a distance, gradually weakening the defenses while healers remained on standby. With so many healers present, it should be nearly impossible for a soldier to die unless their entire body was obliterated or they suffered a fatal headshot.

The walls were nearly devoid of undead, leaving the defenders heavily outnumbered. However, this also implied that most of the undead beasts and vampires were lurking within the tunnels, posing significant challenges. There were likely as many undead beasts remaining as had been used against his base during the earlier attack. These catacombs were probably much larger than the ones they had previously explored.

Thalion descended swiftly and caught up with the vanguard of the army as they advanced across the cracked, sun-scorched earth. The heat shimmered around them, distorting the horizon where the undead base loomed like a jagged wound upon the land. He positioned himself at the front, ready to initiate the assault. A small part of him was curious—eager, even—to test the limits of his divine skill. How far could its influence reach? He had never truly measured its range, and in hindsight, it was foolish not to have done so. That kind of oversight could cost lives.

The hour had struck. No more delays. Thalion raised his arm, eyes gleaming with resolve, and gave the command to attack. He wasn’t about to wait for the elves or Kael’s forces to make the first move. Time was precious—roughly thirty hours remained before Ankhet’s resurrection could no longer be stopped. There was no margin for hesitation.

A sudden roar shattered the tension as spells, arrows, and even cannon fire erupted toward the crimson barrier encircling the undead bastion. The magical shield pulsed, absorbing or deflecting most of the initial barrage. In response, the undead retaliated with an array of arcane and physical projectiles, launched from atop their skeletal walls. But their efforts were ineffective—Thalion’s troops evaded the clumsy counterattacks with ease, aided by barriers and reflexes honed in blood and fire.

Simultaneously, the elves and Kael’s warriors joined the fray, their assaults streaking through the sky. The air itself screamed as torrents of fire and magic tore toward the undead defenses. Explosions flashed in the distance, coloring the haze with bursts of green and gold.

Thalion, however, wasn't watching for the damage. His smile formed not from the seeming success of the offensive, nor from the unity of the three rival forces. It was something far more personal—more profound.

Every fire-based spell, every flame cast into the sky, twisted and shifted mid-flight. Their colors warped, dyed in the hue of his dominion. Flames once golden, blue, or white burned crimson red under his unseen influence. As far as his eyes could see, the battlefield glowed in his color. His divine skill was reaching farther than he’d ever imagined and it was glorious.