A wedding was taking place on the planet Neirva. It was a union between two people who had faced struggles all their lives, but who had found a peaceful sanctuary in one another. All they needed was each other, far from the troubles of the world. Neirva itself was divided into two halves, locked in long-standing conflict. Though efforts were being made to resolve these disputes, the two sides had never truly reconciled. The wedding was held in Devox, a region that values discipline and order, but where power is controlled by the military—a force considered oppressive by most common citizens. In response, Dark Devox was created as a resistance, developing its own weapons and research to fight the military's rule and escape the laws designed only to serve wealthy families and military leaders. The other half of the planet was Alveira, which respected only magic and rejected technology.

The wedding was held in the traditional Devoxian style. After the servants finished decorating the venue, Heath arrived first, followed by Jane. Heath wore a dark purple suit with golden buttons, while Jane wore a shining, cyan-red dress. Only Heath, Jane, and the servants were present at the wedding venue, so they decided to enter the main ceremony hall. A black and gold stage stood in the center, adorned with silver leaves, and the walls were painted in white and gold. Around the edges of the room, rose blossoms glowed softly. When they entered, they held hands, smiling, and stood in speechless awe of how beautiful each other looked.

"You are shining..." Heath said.

"You too, my love," Jane replied.

They danced and flirted like children, having waited for this moment for so long. But when their families and a group of wealthy Devoxian leaders arrived, they composed themselves and took their seats. The guests passed by to congratulate them as traditional Devoxian piano music played softly in the background, followed by a few romantic melodies. Soon, the couples and the newlyweds danced on the stage. After an hour, a monk from the military base arrived. The music resumed, and only the monk and the newlyweds remained on the stage. The monk stood in front of the couple, who faced each other, their eyes locked. The monk began chanting to the rhythm of the music. After a few minutes, the music stopped, and he delivered the acceptance speech.

"Dear Devoxians, we shall accept this new couple as husband and wife. May they build a strong family that will raise children to serve the military base—the sanctuary that guards our traditions, where our ancestors kept their secrets. Blood as roses, fire as air, as they used to say. May the creator in the heavens accept us and forgive the Alveirans," the monk said.

The monk then left the stage, and the guests gathered silver leaves from the floor, throwing them into the air with cheers and applause. They cleared a path for the newlyweds to leave the hall. Once they departed, the guests followed, heading to their respective homes. The couple went to their new house, which had been prepared by both of their families.

A few weeks after the wedding, on a bright morning, they received an invitation to a party hosted by the loyal families of Devox. The event was meant for newly married couples to introduce themselves and their work. Heath and Jane were surprised to be invited. They were simple commoners whose work did not support the military. Heath designed custom domestic robots for wealthy families, while Jane worked for a company that used Devoxian materials to manufacture affordable goods for common households. Since invitations to these exclusive gatherings usually went to military leaders and families connected to the sky world, they felt out of place. However, Jane suggested that Heath’s father might have arranged the invitation to mend their strained relationship, so they decided to attend.

When they arrived at the venue, a large gate was guarded by elite Xavadas whose uniforms set them apart from the regular guards. After checking the invitation, the guard allowed them inside. A red brick path led through a garden of glowing violet blossoms to a massive, midnight-black building illuminated by bright white lights. Heath held Jane's hand as they walked. Several times, Heath thought he heard footsteps behind them, but whenever he looked back, the path was empty. Inside, the hall was filled with bright white light, traditional Devoxian music, and a grand stage with stairs leading up. The doors were open, and the guests welcomed them. Heath’s parents were waiting, and the couple went over to greet them.

"Hello, son. Welcome to the party. And welcome to you too, Jane," the father said.

"Why are you so late? All the other newlyweds arrived before you. We have been waiting for a long time," the mother said, speaking aggressively but maintaining a calm face.

"Why were we invited? I mean, us and the other newlyweds?" Heath asked.

"Because you are my son, regardless of our arguments. You and your sister are the only ones who will carry on my bloodline, even if you married a lady who is not originally from main Devox. You should join the leaders as soon as possible to live peacefully. And of course, they will accept you into our peaceful Devoxian world, Jane," the father said.

"Father, please. I came here hoping we could be a family again, but you are still the same—always trying to control people and break their spirits just to make them obey you," Heath said.

"You should speak to your father with respect!" the mother snapped.

"You know, soft kid, if you weren't my foolish son, I might actually care about what you say. But you just sound like you need to man up and get tougher," the father replied.

Before Heath could answer, one of the Devoxian leaders took the stage to introduce the new members.

"Worthy Devoxians, we always cherish welcoming new families. As our current leaders see their bloodlines continue, we must show our respect. Please welcome our new leaders: Gin and Liza, Rachel and Axel, and finally, Heath and his wife. Please join us on stage!" the leader announced.

The crowd clapped and cheered. A masked couple stepped up, followed by another couple wearing traditional Devoxian gauntlets. Heath and Jane ascended the stairs with nothing to hide behind. As they walked, Heath heard a whisper from the crowd, though he couldn't make out the words. On stage, he looked out at the guests and noticed a hooded man who was not cheering. The man kept his head down, obscuring his face, but then slowly looked up and locked eyes with Heath, continuing to whisper. Heath was transfixed by the strange figure. Gin and Liza, followed by Rachel and Axel, spoke briefly about their honor in joining the leaders. Heath remained distracted until he was called to speak.

"Hello, Devoxians. I was expected to join you today as a leader. But my wife will not join me because she is not from the royal families, and I will never accept any role that harms Jane. Just because I don't work for the military base does not mean I am soft. I have been fighting against you monsters just to survive and be seen!" Heath declared.

His father was furious and began shouting.

"Get off the stage, you filthy animal! You are no son of mine!" his father roared.

The leaders and families began booing, throwing cups and food. Heath covered Jane's face with his hands, guiding her down the stage and out of the building. The hooded man followed them. As they ran along the red path, Heath feared the man had been sent to assassinate them.

"Hold my hand tight and run with me!" Heath whispered.

Jane held Heath’s hand, gathering her dress with the other to keep from tripping. They ran together, but the hooded man behind them suddenly vanished into thin air. They dashed past the gates, heading toward their vehicle, only for the hooded man to materialize directly in front of them. Heath and Jane skidded to a halt, looking desperately for an escape route, but fading, ghost-like silhouettes began to encircle them. The darkness deepened, and the shadow figures closed in. Jane was terrified, and Heath’s heart hammered against his ribs as he confronted the stranger.

"If you are here to kill us, just do it! Don't torture us!" Heath demanded.

The shadow figures stopped advancing. The hooded man stepped forward, allowing the faint light to reveal his face. When he spoke, his voice was sharp, layered with an unsettling echo.

"I am not here to fight or to kill," the hooded man said. "I am only here to make an offer."

"An offer to sell our lives to you, I assume?" Jane said, her voice trembling.

"No. An offer to help you survive in Devox," the hooded man replied.

"What kind of offer?" Heath asked.

"First, my name is Jarred," the man said. "Second, I am an underworld mage who walks with a purpose. I need you for that purpose, because it aligns with your own."

"An underworld mage does not offer help to strangers out of kindness. What are you really after? No games," Heath said.

"We are not friendly with those who hold too much power, nor do we care for heroic stories. That is why we are always painted as villains. But I want to help powerless people like you," Jarred explained.

"We do not seek power," Jane said. "It is obvious how that ends. We would only hate ourselves if we took up things that hurt others, especially since we have never known such cruelty."

"Regardless, you know my name now. If you find yourselves with nowhere else to turn, call my name aloud. Soon enough, we will need each other to survive here," Jarred said.

With that, Jarred turned and walked away, taking the unnatural darkness with him. The couple returned to their home, their minds racing as they wondered what Jarred meant by his final warning.

The next day, when Heath and Jane tried to return to their jobs, they found they had both been fired. Word of Heath's outburst had spread, and the citizens of main Devox refused to associate with them. Shunned and desperate, they recalled Jarred’s words. They considered calling him, but Jane urged caution. She insisted they try to handle the situation on their own and find a wiser way forward. Heath respected her advice, but that night nearly became their last.

While they were discussing their options in their living room, thick smoke began filtering into the house. As they went to investigate the source of the fumes, they heard the sounds of gunfire and choked screams outside. Frightened, they realized their house was being targeted. Bullets tore through the walls, forcing them to dive for cover. Suddenly, the gunfire ceased, and the smoke inside the house swirled together, condensing into Jarred’s form.

"You must leave now!" Jarred urged.

"What is happening?" Heath gasped.

"A military strike team has been sent to assassinate you. You need to escape while I deal with them. Follow me!" Jarred commanded.

Jarred led them out through the front door, shrouded by thick smoke. Jane noticed fading shadow figures taking bullets in their place, realizing the true gravity of the threat. Shaken, she kept pace with Heath. Jarred guided them through the narrow side streets, keeping them out of sight.

"The soldiers are leaving. They believe you are dead," Jarred whispered.

"Is all of this because of what I said on stage?" Heath asked.

"Yes, Heath. They execute anyone who refuses to submit, and that is exactly what you did," Jarred said.

"How do you know his name? Is that magic too?" Jane asked, eyeing him warily.

"No, I have simply been watching you both for a while. I knew this day would come because you are not like the rest of them. Please, accept my offer," Jarred said.

"Are you offering to help us fight back?" Heath asked.

"Yes. Leave the plans and strategy to me. We only need one successful mission to throw them into chaos," Jarred replied.

"What is the mission?" Jane asked.

"It is too early for that. There are other members we must recruit first," Jarred said.

"Can we know more about you first? More than just your name?" Heath pressed.

"I wield soul-collecting magic. No mage lives a normal human life once they embrace underworld magic. Secondly, I am one of the few underworld mages who can stand in the light without fading. We use this ability to move among society. Soul collectors are quite well-known in Devox," Jarred explained.

"Explain how soul-collecting magic works," Jane requested.

"We channel dark magic from the underworld to command the souls of the deceased," Jarred said.

"So you take souls from dead humans?" Jane asked, horrified.

"Some of them. Here on Neirva, everyone is born with a certain amount of magic. When someone possesses more than the average amount, I can sense their soul. Only native magic lords can extract the souls of the dead, and very few of us remain. Long ago, animals were common in Devox, but they were all consumed by soul collectors. That is why we are common here, whereas in Alveira, animals can naturally defend their souls."

"And you expect us to trust you after telling us this?" Heath asked.

"Take your time to accept that the coming era belongs to those who hold power. I am running from them, but I need allies. I cannot do this alone, and you need a way to survive. We can help each other. Please, accept my offer. I have spent my entire life in the shadows, waiting to build a team and fight these power-mad rulers. I lost everything for this cause. I cannot force you, but together we can break their system."

"Breaking the system will only bring chaos!" Jane countered.

"But one day the world will heal, and it will be better than this endless oppression. I did not choose my path any more than you did, but we are forced to walk it," Jarred said.

"Can you give us a moment alone to think?" Heath asked.

Jarred nodded and stepped back, disappearing into a pack of fading silver wolves that sat quietly on the ground. Heath and Jane turned to each other, speaking softly.

"What do you think we should do, Jane?" Heath asked.

"We cannot fully trust him, but we have no other choice. We have lost our livelihood, and while he is not forcing us, our circumstances are," Jane said.

"I agree, but we can't follow him blindly. We still know very little about him," Heath noted.

"True. We can ask him more questions as we go. We will have plenty of time," Jane suggested.

"You're right, love," Heath said.

Heath called out to Jarred. The mage rose from among the beasts. The fading wolves coalesced into a single, dark-silver wolf that stood alert at Jarred’s side, gazing calmly at the couple.

"What have you decided, my friends?" Jarred asked.

"We agree, Jarred. But do not be offended if we keep questioning you. We still don't fully know you," Heath said.

"I do not mind at all. Just do not judge me solely because I am a mage," Jarred replied.

"Fair enough. What is our next step?" Heath asked.

"There are twin teenagers who create weapons, a man named Carlos who adapts magic for technology and combat bots, and a woman named Antoinette. She uses physical and chemical magic to perform illusions. She makes deals with the military to host shows for wealthy families at The Queen Circus. She and her crew earn good money from it."

"What do we have in common with them?" Jane asked.

"They have brilliant ideas, but they operate underground and are targeted by the military. They are about to be crushed by the pressure, just as we were. We should move. Do not use your vehicle; they will track it."

"So we walk?" Heath asked.

"I bought a modified Devoxian vehicle that cannot be tracked. Follow me," Jarred said.

They followed Jarred through a maze of side streets until they reached a black vehicle parked in a dark alley. It resembled standard Devoxian cars but was heavily armored and built for combat. They climbed inside, and Jarred drove them toward the darker sectors of Devox. Jane continued to ask about the military and the ruling class.

"Who gave them the right to rule like this?" Jane asked.

"A great war fought long ago shaped Devox and Alveira. It was the only conflict where Alveira faced Devox and the guardians of the sky world. The magic lords had created the Magistical lands to experiment with offensive magic for the war, as no harmful magic existed in Alveira before then. The Devoxians fought with steel blades, axes, and shields, and were shocked by the magic they encountered. However, the sky world guardians ensured the Devoxians would not lose. The Alveirans refused to surrender and fought to the death, leaving only one surviving sky world guardian. Since then, the sky world has supported Devox, declaring Alveira an enemy and granting the military base and the leaders all the power they require. That is why they do as they please. But let us leave those grim memories aside. Who should we recruit first?"

"I think Carlos is our best starting point," Heath suggested.

"I agree," Jarred said.

"Where does he live?" Jane asked.

"He lives near Mezarah House in the eastern south side of Devox, in a district called Faqop," Jarred replied.

"That is deep in the underbelly. The eastern side is run by gangs and criminals," Heath warned.

"At least there, we stand a chance to survive," Jarred said.

An hour later, they arrived in a dim, unfamiliar district. Headlights suddenly cut through the darkness as several vehicles surrounded them, forcing them to stop.

"Stop your vehicle! You don't belong here!" a rough voice shouted.

"What do we do now?" Heath asked, his hands tense.

Jarred cut the engine. Armed men emerged from the vehicles, aiming gas-powered firearms at them. The street was deserted. Heath and Jane sat frozen in terror, unfamiliar with the lawless violence of the outer sectors, but Jarred stepped calmly out of the car.

"Who are you, and what is your business here?" a masked gang leader demanded.

"My name is Jarred. I used to live in the shadows of the wealthy sectors, but we realized we could no longer hide there. We came here to learn technological magic from Carlos," Jarred said.

Jarred then knelt before the masked men, showing submission. Heath found it strange that a mage would yield so easily, but he soon realized it was the only way to navigate the gang-ruled streets without triggering an endless turf war.

"Stand up, brother," the masked leader said, lowering his weapon.

Jarred stood up.

"Listen, brother, you are our guests, and we welcome you. However, you cannot stay long. We have a peace treaty with the local military base, and we do not want trouble. Take what you need and leave quickly," the masked leader said.

"I understand," Jarred replied.

"One question: who are the two in the car?" the leader asked, squinting through the windshield.

"My companions. They were also hiding in the wealthy sectors," Jarred said.

"Very well. Carlos lives two streets away, at house number thirty-one. Take this security card. It is valid for two days and will grant you safe passage through our streets. Now, move along," the leader said.

Jarred accepted the card.

"Thank you," Jarred said.

He returned to the vehicle and started the engine. As they drove toward Carlos's house,

"What is that card?" Heath asked.

"It's a relic from a wedding that never happened," Jarred explained. "Years ago, the gangs tried to ally with the common families. They organized a massive wedding and distributed these cards for safe passage. However, a traitor informed the Alpha Military Base. The military launched a surprise attack on the ceremony, slaughtering the bride, the groom, and the gang members within minutes. Since then, the gangs have kept these cards as a reminder of the military's treachery. The peace treaty the leader mentioned is nothing but a facade."

"How do you know all this?" Jane asked.

"I lived in these streets for fifteen years," Jarred said quietly.

"He said house thirty-one, correct?" Heath asked, looking at the passing buildings.

"Yes," Jane confirmed.

"I think it's that one on the left," Heath said, pointing to a dark structure.

"Wait here. I will check. Come when I nod," Jarred instructed.

Jarred approached the front door and knocked. A synthesized voice speaker answered.

"Identify yourself," the robot voice said.

"I need to speak with Carlos," Jarred said with a dry chuckle.

"He is in, but he has no desire to see ugly strangers," the speaker replied.

"Did he program you to say that?" Jarred asked.

"Do I sound like a simple machine to you?" the voice snapped.

"Yes, actually," Jarred said.

"What is your name, sir?" Jarred asked.

"My name is Jarred," he replied.

The door swung open, revealing a dark-skinned man in a blue suit. A small black-and-green drone hovered near his shoulder. Jarred signaled to the car, and Heath and Jane hurried over.

"Oh, Carlos, someone named Jarred is asking for you. It seems you actually have an acquaintance in this miserable world. How touching," the drone hummed sarcastically.

"Are you Carlos?" Jarred asked the man.

"No, he is just a lonely engineer," the drone mocked.

"Quiet, Unit," Carlos said, glancing at the machine.

"Apologies, boss," the drone replied.

"You asked for me. I am Carlos. How can I help you?" the engineer asked, addressing Jarred.

"My friends and I have a proposal for you. These are my companions, Heath and Jane," Jarred said.

"Nice to meet you. Speak freely," Carlos said.

"If you don't mind, could we discuss this inside?" Jarred asked.

"Of course. Come in," Carlos said, stepping aside.

Carlos led them into his house, which looked more like a laboratory filled with robots. There was only a single sofa facing two chairs in the corners of the lab. The three of them sat on the chairs, while Carlos sat in the middle of the sofa.

"What do you want?" Carlos asked.

"Have you heard about the peace treaty that your people and the other gangs are making with the military base?" Jarred asked.

"Yes, I support it, and I don't care at all," Carlos replied.

"Aren't we supposed to hate them?" Jarred said.

"We used to. But the people of Dark Devox and the underground scientists are just trying to manage the conflict between the commoners and the wealthy. We are trying to make them focus their attention on Alveira instead of us. That's why we're making this peace treaty. They still view us as the primary threat, but I don't care about that anymore. Is this the offer you came to make?" Carlos asked.

"No. We are offering a fight back against the military base," Jarred said.

"I don't care about their fights anymore," Carlos replied.

"Why not? Didn't you once work for the assassins of Dark Devox? Wasn't your family destroyed by them?" Jarred asked.

Carlos gave them a grim smile and tapped his foot against the floor.

"If you know that much about my life, why don't you just assassinate me in my retirement? I don't know what I did to offend either side of Devox, but I don't mind if my head satisfies you. You'll have to work to take it, though!" Carlos said, his voice rising in anger.

"I am not here to take your head. I'm here to save it," Jarred said.

"Well, you don't look like you're saving me. You sound like you're bringing up my past to threaten me, just like the military base Xavadas do," Carlos said.

"I knew your mentor. I knew your mother, and their history with the military base Xavadas. I know you still care, deep down," Jarred said.

"You keep acting like them, expecting me to believe you're here to help. Pathetic..." Carlos said quietly.

He clapped his hands twice. Suddenly, a group of robots emerged from the darkness. They moved silently, like walking corpses, with no lights showing. Heath pulled Jane close to protect her as the robots stepped out of the shadows, their blades gleaming.

"I don't mind dying, but I never had a chance to live!" Carlos shouted.

Jarred remained perfectly calm as the robots drew closer.

"Jarred, do something!" Heath screamed.

Suddenly, the robots froze, as if time itself had stopped. Jarred stood up, leaving Carlos staring in shock.

"I am a soul collector. Do you understand what that means?" Jarred said, looking at Carlos.

"I lost my life before I even had a chance to live it. None of us choose where we are born!" Carlos cried out in frustration, tears in his eyes.

Slowly, Carlos began to calm down.

"I am not a spy. I am the spark of a power that breaks cages, operating in secret because they do not know we exist. We are legends of the underground. I will defend everyone against the military base, and let them crawl in their own weakness while we rise. That is what I came to offer. Now, I will release the souls of my followers, but please, let us be allies..." Jarred said.

"Jarred, how will we fight them?" Carlos asked.

"Leave that to me. I just need to know who is with me. We are all facing the same enemy, and I cannot do this alone," Jarred said.

"I don't know what I can do for you. Since I left the assassins, I've lived in the shadows with my robots," Carlos said.

"Welcome, my friend. We are all in this together. But first, tell these children of a wealthy Devoxian family how corrupt the military base truly is," Jarred said.

"One day, five Xavadas were spending the evening at a house named Mystic, known for the beautiful young ladies who lived there. Xavadas frequently went there to dance, drink, and seek entertainment. That night, a Xavada named Patrick was spending his free time there. He was always smiling and laughing, known as a joyful but tough gentleman. At the Mystic house, he spent four hours talking, drinking, and dancing with a young woman named Fiora. She was renowned for her beauty and was a wonderful conversationalist. After four hours, the Xavadas began to leave, but Patrick remained. He had enjoyed his time with Fiora, but realizing how late it was, he knew he had to leave or face trouble with his commander at the military base," Carlos explained.

"I think I must leave now, Fiora," Patrick said.

"Very well. Visit us again, Patrick," Fiora said.

"Of course I will. Good night," Patrick replied.

He hurried out, feeling happy to have spent time with Fiora. He wondered if she truly liked him or if she was just being nice because Xavadas were perceived to have easier lives. However, she had spent more time with him than the other girls usually did. Intrigued, he returned the next evening after his duties, pretending his arrival was accidental. But when he met Fiora, they could not resist talking. It felt right, yet dangerous given their circumstances. They spoke about their lives and got to know each other. They found they had much in common, a realization they both cherished. During a quiet moment, as they drank and looked into each other's eyes, they tried to look away but couldn't resist the romance of the moment. Patrick smiled and asked her to dance.

"I want to know, Patrick, what really brought you back? I didn't believe that excuse about a casual visit," Fiora said as they danced, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"What do you think brought me back to you?" Patrick asked.

"Do you... feel the same way I do?" Fiora murmured.

"What is it that you feel, my dear?" Patrick asked.

"I think... I am falling in love with you," Fiora confessed, blushing as she forced the words out.

"I love you too, Fiora," Patrick said, smiling passionately and holding her hands.

He stayed with her as long as he could. They never grew bored, even when they ran out of things to say and simply gazed at one another. With only a few hours of sleep left before his next shift, Patrick handed her an invitation to the opera house in the wealthy sector of Devox, promising to meet her there after work. Although Fiora hesitated to leave the Mystic house and felt anxious about entering the wealthy sectors, her excitement won over. When they met, they walked hand-in-hand toward the opera house, acting like young lovers. Despite being a Xavada, Patrick had never visited the opera, and they marvelled at the beautiful venue. Patrick led Fiora toward the main entrance, but she hesitated at the gates.

"Come in, Fiora!" Patrick urged.

"Are you crazy? This place isn't for people like us!" Fiora protested.

"It is for me, and therefore it is for you," Patrick replied.

"But..." Fiora said.

"Just come in. There's no need to be afraid. You are with me," Patrick said, taking her hand.

They spent a wonderful evening watching the opera. After the show, the stage lowered, and the music shifted to a romantic melody. The singers moved among the audience, rhyming together. They encouraged the couples in the crowd to dance, and Patrick took Fiora's hands. Smirking shyly but happy, they began to dance. Patrick wrapped his hands around her waist, and she rested her hands on his shoulders. Patrick leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Consider me a crazy admirer that loves you. I will not let you go back tonight to the Mystic house!" Patrick whispered.

Fiora smiled, feeling cherished, though a small doubt lingered in her mind. *Can I really trust him? If this is a trick, it would ruin him too. He seems sincere, and though it is dangerous to love a Xavada, he loves me.*

"What are you thinking about, my love?" Patrick asked.

"Don't you think people will find out about us? A Xavada and a common girl... it is strictly forbidden," Fiora said.

"Look at it differently. We are just two hearts. We don't choose who we love; it just happens. Even if they find out, I will protect you no matter what," Patrick promised.

They danced and flirted through the night, and afterward, Patrick took her back to his quarters. In the morning, they wanted to stay together, but they had to return to their duties to keep up appearances. Patrick walked in the shadows to ensure Fiora reached the Mystic house safely. When she returned, she found everyone looking for her; she had never stayed out all night before. The workers told her that her aunt, the owner of the house, was waiting for her upstairs.

"May I come in?" Fiora asked, knocking on the door.

"Come in, Fiora," her aunt replied.

Fiora entered with a smile.

"Fiora, are you alright?" her aunt asked, rushing over to hold her hands.

"Yes, Aunt, don't worry," Fiora said.

"I must worry. Your parents left you in my care, and if anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself," her aunt said.

"Don't worry, Aunt. Sticking with a regular guest is good for the house," Fiora reasoned.

"But staying with one guest is dangerous, especially a Xavada. The other girls noticed you spending too much time with him. Is there something you aren't telling me?" her aunt asked.

Fiora's face flushed with a mixture of anger and anxiety.

"Aunt, I just went out with a guest. What is the big deal?" Fiora asked.

"The big deal is that you are seeing the same man. I need to know if you have feelings for him," her aunt said.

"I don't. He is just a guest. But what would happen if I did fall in love with him?" Fiora asked.

"We don't turn away visitors, but we protect our girls. We would let you see him for a few more nights until you saw his true, dark side. Then, we would send you to work on our farms in the far east of Devox, where you would remain," her aunt warned.

"I'm glad I don't love him, then. But isn't that a harsh punishment?" Fiora asked.

"It is better than being led by a foolish heart into dangerous decisions. We do not trust Xavadas. They are raised in facilities governed by the wealthy to become weapons of the military, stripping them of their humanity. We cannot trust them," her aunt explained.

"I understand, Aunt," Fiora said.

"Now, return to your work," her aunt concluded.

"Thank you, Aunt," Fiora said.

Outside the office, Fiora ran into an old friend, Adwelle. She was not happy to see him. When they were teenagers, they had been close, but Adwelle had used her secrets to manipulate her and make himself seem like the perfect match for her. When she discovered his schemes, she distanced herself. Soon after, Adwelle fled the house, fearing Fiora's family since they owned the estate. However, her aunt was kind and allowed him to visit occasionally.

"Hello, Fiora. It has been a long time," Adwelle said with a faint smile.

"Hello, Adwelle. You rarely visit anymore," Fiora replied coldly.

"I'm still trying to find my way. How have you been? We haven't spoken in a long time," Adwelle said.

"I'm sorry, Adwelle, but I am late for work. I must go," Fiora said.

She walked away without waiting for a reply. Adwelle knew she would not make it easy for them to reconcile. Fiora soon heard her aunt shouting at Adwelle from her office, telling him he no longer belonged there. Curious, Fiora asked one of the workers what had happened.

"The Xavadas came searching last night. Our aunt is making Adwelle leave so they don't find out he was here," the girl explained.

Adwelle emerged from the office, drawing his black hood over his head. It was clear now that he was part of the Lokai, the assassins who worked for Dark Devox. While the others weren't surprised, Fiora was shocked to see how much he had changed, though she tried not to care. By evening, guests began to arrive. Fiora expected Patrick to visit, but he never showed. As the guests began to leave, Fiora worried that Patrick had abandoned her. Determined to find out the truth, she slipped out with the departing guests, making sure none of the staff saw her. She walked for half an hour to the Xavada quarters, a risky move since commoners were forbidden there. Fortunately, the guards were absent, and the area was strangely quiet. When she reached Patrick’s house, she saw Xavada guards investigating the premises. Recalling a back door, she sneaked around the yard, distracted the few guards there, and slipped inside. She found Patrick in his Xavada uniform, pacing anxiously. When he saw her, he gasped, rushed forward, and covered her mouth, holding her close.

"Fiora, you must leave! If they find you here, we are dead!" Patrick whispered.

"What is happening?" Fiora asked, pulling his hand away.

"One of the Xavadas that work with me saw us last night. It's forbidden for us to associate with commoners. They discovered I have been visiting you at the Mystic house. I am being grounded, and I may not be allowed to leave the base for years. If they prove we are in a relationship, they will kill us. Please, leave! When I am free, I will find you. Don't forget me, Fiora!" Patrick urged.

A harsh voice called Patrick's name from inside the house.

"Follow me!" Patrick whispered, guiding her to the backdoor.

He went to distract the backyard guards so Fiora could escape. The voice calling him grew louder, but he had to pretend he was checking the guards. Fiora ran as fast as she could. As she approached the Mystic house, she noticed the night sky glowing red. Smoke filled the air, turning everything a hazy crimson. She heard screams and heavy footsteps. She feared for her aunt and sister. As flames engulfed the entrance, Fiora hesitated, torn between running inside or escaping. Suddenly, five hooded figures dropped from the roofs around her.

"Fiora, give me your hand! We can get you to safety!" one of them said.

"Adwelle? Is that you?" Fiora gasped.

"Fiora, there is no time! The others are trying to save anyone they can. Come with me!" Adwelle urged.

"You are a liar! You and your people did this because my aunt threw you out! Let me go, I would rather die with her than be saved by you!" Fiora cried.

"We don't have time for this, Fiora! Let us help you, and I will explain everything later!" Adwelle insisted.

"No!" Fiora said.

"You leave me no choice," Adwelle said.

He stepped forward, caught her hands to prevent her from resisting, and hoisted her over his shoulder. The other hooded figures helped him climb onto the roof, moving quickly to escape the collapsing structure.

"Move fast, Adwelle, before the building collapses! We must help the other Lokai escape!" the leader shouted.

Adwelle carried Fiora across the roofs, leaping safely to an adjacent building. He set her down, and she glared at him in fury.

"Don't you ever touch me again! What do you think you're doing?" Fiora spat.

"I went through fire to save your life, and this is how you thank me?" Adwelle replied.

"I would rather die with my family than be saved by the filthy Dark Devoxians! You started this fire just to play hero!" Fiora accused.

"Do you really think the Dark Devoxians started this? The Xavadas set this fire, Fiora! You've made up a story to fit your own prejudices. You haven't changed at all," Adwelle countered.

Fiora was stunned. She had always believed the Xavadas were protectors and the Dark Devoxians were villains. She struggled to accept his words, but wondered why he would lie now. Suddenly, the burning building collapsed, burying those inside. Watching the destruction, Fiora broke down, tears streaming down her face. Adwelle shed a single tear, turning away from the flames. Fiora walked to the edge of the roof and sat down, her legs dangling over the street. Adwelle sat beside her.

"What brought you back, Adwelle? You showed up like an omen, and now look at this," Fiora said quietly.

"I wanted to see you. I always thought you were the most beautiful person I'd ever known," Adwelle admitted.

"We can never be together, Adwelle," Fiora said firmly.

"I know. That's why I'm not afraid to say what I feel anymore," Adwelle replied.

"Why did your people burn my family's house? I would rather have died than live like this," Fiora sighed.

"We arrived too late. The military had been watching the area. When I came to warn your aunt, she threw me out. We found out the Xavadas discovered Patrick seeing a common girl at the opera house," Adwelle explained.

Fiora stopped listening as the pieces fell into place. She realized her relationship with Patrick had caused this disaster, bringing ruin to her family and Patrick. Yet she remembered his promise to find her, and she vowed to wait for him.

"Fiora, are you listening?" Adwelle asked.

"You can leave, Adwelle. I will manage my own life. I don't want you in it anymore," Fiora said, changing the subject.

"You can't escape me, Fiora. It is neither of our choices. I will protect you, whether you like it or not. I'll see you when the next storm hits," Adwelle said.

He stood up, leaped to the next roof, and disappeared. Fiora climbed down from the roof. The area was deserted; everyone had gone to help fight the fire. The monks were summoned to treat the flames, as fire is a holy symbol to Devox, used to contact deceased sky world mages. Fiora walked through the ruins, thinking of her next steps. She remembered an old family friend whose household, though allied with the Xavadas, remained independent. Fiora went to them for shelter. They recognized her and offered her a place to stay. She insisted on working for her keep. As the months passed, she missed Patrick terribly and decided to check on him. She sneaked toward the Xavada quarters after work, but the area was heavily guarded. A guard spotted her and sounded the alarm. Fiora was surrounded. The guards beat her, leaving her bleeding on the ground. As she drifted into unconsciousness, she saw a figure clash with the guards.

When she woke, she heard Adwelle's voice. She opened her eyes to find herself in a medical facility, with Adwelle sitting nearby.

"Where am I? What did you do?" Fiora asked.

"You are in the main hospital of Dark Devox. I saved you from the Xavadas. You're welcome," Adwelle said.

"Why do you keep showing up in my life?" Fiora sighed.

"To keep you safe. And you aren't leaving Dark Devox, Fiora," Adwelle said.

"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?" Fiora asked.

"Fiora, listen to me. The Xavadas are purging the non-Xavada houses. They wanted you dead. In Dark Devox, you are safe—especially now that you are pregnant," Adwelle said flatly.

Fiora was stunned, her mind racing. Adwelle left to give her space. Fiora panicked, realizing she was carrying Patrick's child while being protected by the Dark Devoxians. Over the next few weeks, Adwelle and a blindfolded man named Qila took care of her. She eventually gave birth to a boy, whom she named Carlos. Adwelle visited occasionally, respecting Fiora's wish not to train Carlos as an assassin, but encouraging them to socialize in Dark Devox. One morning, Qila approached Fiora.

"Fiora, I have information about Patrick. Meet me in the backyard tonight. Don't tell Adwelle," Qila whispered.

Fiora waited for nightfall. In the yard, Qila appeared with a torch.

"Follow me," he said.

He led her to a dark, remote area.

"Will you kill me now?" Fiora asked.

"I am an informer, Fiora. The man keeping you safe, Adwelle, is the one who murdered Patrick," Qila revealed.

Fiora refused to believe him, but Qila dug into the earth and produced a bloodied knife and Patrick's Xavada badge. Stunned and betrayed, Fiora returned home, resolving to escape. When Adwelle visited a few days later, he found the house silent. Fearing the worst, he broke in. As he searched, Fiora jumped him from behind, pressing a knife to his throat.

"Who are you? A traitor?" Adwelle shouted.

He managed to grab a dagger from her belt and stab her in self-defense. As she collapsed, he pulled off her mask.

"Fiora!" he gasped, horrified.

"Let me die, Adwelle. Qila told me you killed Patrick. I failed to avenge him. Why did you kill him?" Fiora cried.

"I was defending myself, Fiora! He was going to kill me! I did it to keep you safe!" Adwelle pleaded.

He tried to help her, but she stabbed his shoulder, preventing him from carrying her.

"I hid Carlos in the backyard. Please, help him survive," Fiora whispered before passing away.

Adwelle wept over her body. He buried her in secret and took Carlos in. He told the boy his mother was hiding so he could grow up strong. Carlos grew up, joined the Lokai, and became a skilled assassin. But at eighteen, Qila approached him and revealed the truth. Carlos confronted Adwelle.

"Is it true you killed my mother?" Carlos asked.

"So Qila told you," Adwelle said.

"You don't even deny it! I hate you! You used me!" Carlos yelled.

"I told Qila to tell you, and I told Qila to tell your mother. But Patrick was going to kill me at the military camp. Here, take your revenge," Adwelle said, handing Carlos his blades.

Carlos thrust the blades forward, but Adwelle dodged, kicking Carlos to the floor.

"Passion and focus matter more than weapons, Carlos. Use your anger, don't let it consume you," Adwelle said, testing him.

Carlos fought back, using Adwelle's own advice. He threw his blades as a distraction, then punched Adwelle. They clashed in a brutal duel. Carlos dodged Adwelle's counter, swept his legs, and delivered a knee strike to his face. As Adwelle fell, Carlos grabbed the blades and stabbed him in the chest.

"I did it all... I taught you well. I kept her safe... in the end, I won. I spent my life trying to prove I wasn't a monster. But I fear I failed..." Adwelle whispered before he died.

"That is my story," Carlos concluded.

"But what does this have to do with the military base?" Heath asked.

"Everything. I killed Adwelle, but the common families of Devox have similar stories. The military houses kicked people out, while Dark Devox took them in. That is why the outer sectors belong to the Dark Devoxians," Carlos explained.

"We are forming a team, Carlos, to destroy the Nu Military Base. If it falls, the other bases will turn on each other, as it acts as their coordinator. Many are seeking the power behind it," Jarred said.

"Are you insane? A military base is nearly impossible to take down," Carlos said.

"Everything is planned, my friend. We just need to gather our team, and you are one of us," Jarred said.

"Who is left?" Carlos asked.

"Two teenagers and a young woman. The woman will be difficult to convince because of her past," Jarred said.

"Why her, then?" Heath asked.

"Because when we are together, we will be unstoppable," Jarred replied.

"Why now?" Heath asked.

"Because the leaders are preparing to purge the dark sectors and gangs. The commoners will celebrate, thinking the military is bringing peace. Then, the leaders will declare war on Alveira. We must stop them. You, Jane, and the others all have reasons to fight," Jarred said.

"How do you know all this?" Jane asked.

"I am stronger than I appear," Jarred replied.

"What you are asking of us is dangerous. Answer our questions. We have no choice but to follow you," Carlos said.

"I am in contact with allies in the sky world who seek to balance power. They have gathered information on the leaders of Devox and the sky world," Jarred revealed.

"Where is this sky world?" Carlos asked.

"They live in the high mountains. After the Ruination War, they isolated themselves, keeping all magic to themselves. Only self-taught magic users can locate them. The underworld mages live in deep caverns," Jarred explained.

"When do we move?" Carlos asked.

"Now. Let's get to the vehicle," Jarred said.

They stepped out of the lab into the blinding darkness. The faint lights of the surrounding buildings flickered, and the sound of suffering beasts echoed in the distance. A few kilometers behind their vehicle, they heard the voice of an old man. Sitting in a wheelchair, barely visible, was a pale, thin figure.

"Help me, please! Help!" a voice called out in agony.

"It's the missing collector!" Carlos exclaimed.

"We need to leave. Everyone, get in the vehicle now!" Jarred ordered.

They all rushed to the car, but in their path was a large snake coiled tightly around a hyena. The hyena was struggling for breath, losing its balance directly in front of the vehicle.

"Two soul collectors are fighting," Jarred said, his voice grim. "My friend is dying. This hyena and the snake represent their souls. But the snake is too powerful, too foreign. It must belong to the missing collector."

"Can't the two of you defeat him?" Carlos asked.

"I don't think we can," Jarred admitted.

Suddenly, another voice screamed through the night: "Jarred!"

"He's calling for your help," Jane said.

Jarred stepped out of the vehicle and shut the door behind him. A man dragging a hyena in chains stumbled toward him out of the shadows.

"Jarred... take my souls," the man gasped. "Fight back against Wilson..."

"You did exactly what I told you not to do," Jarred said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why? Why couldn't you understand that nobody can defeat him?"

"Jarred, there is no time to argue. Just absorb the hyena's soul and go. Meet me at the peace end, brother..." the man whispered.

"Don't leave me, brother!" Jarred cried.

The man's body began to dissolve into the air. Jarred let out a cry of anguish as the hyena evaporated, its essence swirling into steam and entering Jarred's chest. Overwhelmed by the influx of soul magic, Jarred collapsed to the ground.

"Carlos, get him inside!" Heath urged.

Carlos leaped out of the vehicle and carried the unconscious Jarred back inside. Heath accelerated into the dark, ignoring the chaotic noises outside. Jane and Carlos tried desperately to revive Jarred. Five minutes later, as Heath raced through the darkness, Jarred suddenly sat up and shouted: "Stop the vehicle!"

Heath slammed on the brakes. Jarred stepped out of the car into the dark road.

"Wilson! I offer you a deal!" Jarred yelled into the shadows. "Grant me more time, and you shall have my soul in return!"

The distant sounds of animal fighting fell silent. Out of the darkness, a wheelchair was pushed forward by a faint, shadowy figure. Sitting in the chair was a pale man with a gaunt face, pitch-black eyes, and dark hair.

"What is your offer, Jarred?" Wilson asked, his voice weak but carrying a chilling, deathly resonance.

"I am on a mission to defeat the Devoxian military base. Let me finish it, and I will surrender my soul to you. I will even give you the souls I collected from Jacob. We will all be yours. Just let me complete this mission," Jarred pleaded.

Wilson remained quiet for a moment. "Very well, Jarred. But remember... I am always watching. If you try to escape, I will let you keep your soul, but for the rest of your existence, you will serve me in a far more agonizing game."

"Do not worry, collector," Jarred said.

Wilson and the surrounding darkness faded away like a dissipating nightmare. The group found themselves parked in front of Carlos's laboratory. Jarred climbed back into the vehicle, exhausted.

"Let's keep moving, Heath," Jarred said.

"Where are we heading this time?" Heath asked, restarting the engine.

"Since we entered the gates of Faqop, we have safe passage through the dark sectors. We need to go to Ranam Street in the northeastern side of Devox. It will take about half an hour from here," Jarred explained.

Heath drove toward the destination. After five minutes of silence, Carlos and Jane noticed a deep, dark wound on Jarred's neck.

"Brother, you are injured," Carlos said.

"Jarred, are you alright?" Jane asked, looking back anxiously.

"Damn it... this is Wilson's doing," Jarred muttered, touching his neck.

"Does it hurt?" Heath asked.

"No. And that is the problem," Jarred said.

"It's strange. It isn't bleeding," Carlos noted.

"That is why we must act quickly. Wilson killed me, but he bound my soul to my body as a trick. If we don't finish this soon, my flesh will decay and my magic will fade. The souls I collected, and my own, will belong to him. I fear he will take your souls as well; his hunger is insatiable," Jarred warned.

"Who is this Wilson? Why do you call him the missing collector when he is near, but Wilson when he is away?" Carlos asked.

"He is the most powerful soul collector in history. Some say he has existed since the magic was first discovered. He was the first to manipulate dark magic to capture souls. He takes no apprentices, and anyone who tried to learn his secrets ended up serving him. He is called the missing collector because decades ago, he was defeated by a group known as the Master Collectors. They sought to unite the mages and find a peaceful purpose for collected souls, hoping to bring an end to soul collection. Rumor has it they were Wilson's own family. He ran away as a boy because they isolated him, and he learned dark magic on the streets to survive. A group of dark mages used him as their weapon. After their deaths, Wilson claimed the title of the Missing Collector and began hunting other mages for their souls. Some say the Master Collectors went to extreme lengths to stop him, and the people eventually rose up and destroyed them," Jarred explained.

"How could Wilson create soul magic and then be banished by it?" Jane asked.

"The magic was discovered by accident through flawed rituals, but Wilson was the one who mastered it. He can curse others, turning them into soul collectors against their will," Jarred said.

"How is gaining power a curse?" Carlos asked.

"It corrupts the mind, leaving you with an insatiable hunger for more," Jarred replied.

"Just like you, right?" Heath remarked with a dry chuckle.

"I only seek the power of vengeance. That power will be realized once the military base is destroyed," Jarred said.

"So what exactly does that injury do to you, brother?" Carlos asked.

"It leaks my magic. Every time I use magic now, I consume my own flesh. Underworld magic is bound to our lifeforce; it is what keeps us animated. This leak is slowly killing me, and upon my death, my soul will belong to Wilson. He has set a silent deadline for our deal," Jarred explained.

"Don't worry, Jarred. We won't leave you behind, even if we have to face the missing collector himself. But I have one question," Heath said.

"Ask," Jarred replied.

"You recruited Carlos for his technology, Antoinette for her illusions, and the twins to build weapons. What about Jane and me? What is our role? Are we just here for moral support?" Heath asked jokingly.

"Heath, I need you and Jane to be our connection to the common people. You represent what we are fighting for. The twins will build armor and weapons for you. You will choose your roles when I reveal the final plan. I am preparing a great deal, and I know the danger I've brought into your lives. I won't just apologize; I will make amends through my actions. I need your humanity, because when this is over, you must show the world the truth about the military's cruelty," Jarred said.

"I respect that," Heath said.

An hour later, they reached the gates of Ranam Street. Masked guards, similar to the ones in Faqop but wearing different colors, blocked their path.

"Are you visitors, or were you summoned?" one guard demanded.

"We are visitors. We have a pass," Heath said.

"We have a card that grants safe passage through the gang sectors for three days," Jarred clarified, showing the card.

"Where did you get it, and when did you enter?" the guard asked.

"Faqop, earlier today," Jarred said.

"Who are you visiting?" the guard asked.

"Bob and Fred," Jarred replied.

"They live two streets over, house number thirty-two. Move along," the guard said.

The guards cleared the way. Heath drove through the narrow streets. Fifteen minutes later, they arrived in front of the house. Jarred knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He waited a few seconds and knocked again. Before he could knock a third time, armed men emerged from the shadows, surrounding them. A man in a black suit stepped forward, unarmed.

"Look what we have here. Do you know Bob and Fred?" the gang leader asked.

"No, sir. We are lost in the gang sectors and were just looking for shelter," Jarred lied.

"Wrong answer. I can smell a lie from a mile away. If you know where they are, you might live. Otherwise, you're dead," the leader threatened.

"I swear we don't know them. Just let us leave," Jarred said.

"Are you deaf? You aren't leaving until they show up..." the leader began, but was cut off.

The lights of the nearby houses flared brightly. Sparks showered from the vehicle and the gang's weapons, and the front door of the house creaked open.

"It's a trap! Kill them!" the leader roared.

"Run into the house!" Jarred screamed.

They bolted for the door. The gang tried to shoot, but their weapons backfired and shattered at the first pull of the trigger.

"Get them out of there! Finish this!" the leader ordered.

The gang rushed the house. Inside, Jarred and his friends found two figures wearing clown masks.

"Hurry, this door won't hold long! We need to move!" one of the masked figures said.

The other pulled off his mask. "Fred, take them and run. I will hold them off," he said.

"What are you going to do?" Fred asked.

"No time to explain. Go!" the twin replied.

The gang broke through the door. The unmasked twin threw himself into the fray, punching and throwing the attackers to block the hallway. Fred, still masked, led Jarred and the others through the back of the house. After a minute of running, they reached the rear exit, but a group of gang members who had bypassed the unmasked twin were close behind.

"This way!" Fred yelled, opening the back door. "Damn it, he's late. We can't escape on foot."

"We can't wait here! They'll surround us!" Carlos yelled.

"If we run, they'll target our car and blow it up," Fred said.

"Let me handle this, but I need you to stand your ground," Jarred said.

Jarred chanted, and three ghostly figures materialized at his side. As the gang members burst through the backdoor, a chaotic melee ensued. Heath, Carlos, and Jarred's spirits clashed with the attackers. Heath took a hard blow to the face and stumbled, disoriented.

"The vehicle is here! Let's go!" Fred shouted.

Fred ran toward the armored car, while Jane waited for the others. Jarred's spirits managed to push the gang back, allowing them to retreat. Jarred and Carlos scrambled into the car. Heath, dizzy and bleeding, ran toward the door. Jane stayed behind him to guide him, but she tripped and fell. The gang members grabbed her. Heath, in his concussed state, didn't realize she had fallen, thinking she was right behind him. Once they were all inside, the vehicle sped away. Heath looked around, realized Jane was gone, and fainted from shock and blood loss.

Fred pulled off his mask, revealing a face identical to his brother's.

"I'm Fred. It looks like your friend has passed out," Fred said grimly.

Jarred and Carlos leaned over Heath, checking his wounds.

"Do you have any bandages?" Carlos asked.

"We will find some at the hideout. Don't worry about the girl; my brother Bob is tough. He will keep her safe," Fred said.

"Was this part of your plan? Where are we going?" Jarred asked.

"To our workshop. Bob will send me a message once they reach the gang's base. He'll tell me the details of their layout so we can rescue them, take out the boss, and get your girl back," Fred explained.

"How will he message you?" Carlos asked.

"Our ears are connected. We engineered a receiver system so that whatever he hears, I hear, and vice versa. We have Eddy to thank for the design," Fred said, nodding toward the driver.

"That's me," the driver with the mechanical eye said quietly.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" Fred asked.

"We lost one of our own, and when Heath wakes up, he is going to be furious with us," Jarred said quietly.

"We failed her," Carlos muttered.

"Failed? That's a strong word. We will get her back, destroy the boss, and settle the score. We just need to regroup at our hideout first," Fred said.

"When will we arrive?" Jarred asked.

"We're here," Eddy announced, parking in a dark, secluded alley.

Fred stepped out, connected a series of hidden wires on the wall, and pressed a button to open a concealed steel door.

"Come on in, guys," Fred said.

Jarred and Carlos carried Heath downstairs into a spacious underground room. The space was filled with wires, two sofas, a large metal workbench with a sink, and shelves cluttered with components.

"Pardon the mess. Lay him on the sofa. Eddy, close the door behind us," Fred directed.

They laid Heath down. Carlos brought a wet cloth to clean Heath's wounds and help him wake up. As Carlos pressed the cold cloth to his forehead, Heath opened his eyes.

"Where are we? Where is Jane?" Heath demanded, struggling to sit up.

"The gang took her, but we are going to rescue her. Don't worry!" Jarred said.

"Don't worry? How can I not worry when she is in danger? I won't rest until she is safe! Who is this clown?" Heath snapped, pointing at Fred as he regained his bearings.

"I am Fred. A pleasant surprise, isn't it?" Fred replied with a smirk.

"An annoying one," Heath muttered.

"Stop bickering. Fred, are we ready to move?" Jarred interrupted.

"Yes. But we need proper gear. These gang members are heavily armed, though they lack technology. That will be our advantage. I have a few inventions we can use," Fred said.

"Show us," Carlos said, interested.

Heath stood up, his bleeding finally stopped.

"Who wants to test the gear?" Fred asked.

"Heath and Carlos should. I will rely on my magic," Jarred said.

"You're a mage?" Fred asked.

"Yes. Heath, what do you say?" Jarred asked.

"Fine. Show me what you have," Heath said.

Fred went into an adjoining room and returned with a metal case.

"I have these target-seeking daggers and a targeting visor. Put on the visor, lock onto your target, and throw the daggers. They will track the target automatically. I also have sound-dampening boots to keep you fast and silent," Fred explained, handing the case to Heath.

"We'll wait for you in the car. Let's move," Jarred said, heading out with Carlos.

Fred grabbed a pistol and some explosive charges, then followed them.

"We will breach the front gates. The visors have built-in communicators so we can stay in touch. Heath, you will take the stealth role. Sound like a plan?" Fred suggested.

"Sounds good. What do you think, Jarred?" Carlos asked.

"It puts too much pressure on Heath for his first real fight. I will watch his back," Jarred said.

"The visor will let us track his position at all times," Fred assured.

Heath emerged from the hideout, wearing the visor and gear.

"What is my role?" Heath asked.

"You are the assassin. The visor will help us guide you," Fred said.

They piled into the vehicle and drove toward the gang's headquarters.

"Five minutes out. We should get to know each other better. Who are you guys?" Fred asked.

"I am Jarred, a soul collector from Alveira," Jarred said.

"I am Carlos. I specialize in technomagic and robotics. I design combat bots and synthetic systems," Carlos said.

"I'm Heath. I'll be the one testing your gear," Heath said.

"Nice to meet you, test subject," Fred joked.

"Can you take this seriously?" Heath sighed.

"Let's focus on the mission. Fred, what do you know about this gang?" Jarred asked.

"They deal with the military. I tricked them recently by selling them old weapons rigged to explode. Their boss is my uncle, Marley. He aligned with the military to secure his own survival when the war against the dark sectors begins. My father tried to stop him, so Marley betrayed and murdered him. Now, I'm going to return the favor," Fred said, his humor fading into cold resolve.

"Good to know you have a personal stake in this," Carlos said.

"That's one way to put it," Fred replied, stopping the vehicle in a dark alley. "We go on foot from here to avoid detection."

"I have a plan to create a diversion," Jarred said. "I will summon two spirits disguised as military soldiers. Heath, once you locate Jane and Bob, notify us through the communicator. We will launch a frontal assault, drawing the guards away from the cells. That will give you a clear path to free them and strike from behind. Do not kill Marley; we need him alive for information."

"Agreed," the others replied.

"Heath, come with us. We'll get you into position before the diversion begins," Jarred said.

Jarred summoned the two spirits, speaking to them in a low, resonant language. The spirits marched toward the main building—a dark green structure marked with a symbol of two fingers pointing at each other, the gang's emblem. The team ran through the shadows. The building had four floors, with two guards stationed on each level.

"You guys handle the diversion. I'll clear the guards on the stairs," Heath said.

"Good luck," Fred said.

They split up. Heath waited for the right moment. He approached the first two guards on the ground floor. They spotted him and ordered him to halt. As they closed in, Heath dropped to his knees and threw his daggers. One struck a guard in the throat; the other disarmed the second guard. Using his boots, Heath closed the distance instantly, knocking the guard down and finishing him with a dagger. Heath stared at the dying guard, feeling a wave of shock as the man's life faded. Shaking off his fear, he reminded himself he was doing this for Jane. He crept up the stairs, resolving to remain focused. On the other side, Jarred saw through his spirits' eyes as they entered the building, demanding to see Marley. They were told to wait.

Heath reached the roof and found a key on a guard's belt to unlock the door. Inside, he searched the rooms. He spotted Marley walking toward a room and hid in the shadows to watch. Downstairs, Jarred, Carlos, and Fred breached the entrance, sparking a chaotic firefight. Smoke bombs filled the hall. Carlos protected Fred while Jarred moved through the haze, taking guards out.

Hearing the noise, Marley and the remaining guards rushed downstairs. Heath slipped into the room Marley had left. He found Jane chained to the floor. When she saw the masked figure, she gasped, but Heath removed his visor, and they embraced tightly. He cut her ropes with his dagger, and after some effort, they broke her chains. They moved to the adjacent room, finding Bob asleep. They woke and freed him. Heath gestured for them to follow.

As the noise downstairs subsided, they crept down. Through the smoke, Heath launched a surprise attack on the remaining guards. The guards surrendered, but Marley tried to escape. He ran straight into Jarred.

"Fred, clear the smoke," Bob called out.

Fred detonated a dispersal charge, clearing the hall.

"Trying to run, Marley?" Jarred asked.

Marley swung a punch at Jarred, but Carlos and Fred pinned his arms.

"You think stopping me will stop the military? You're fools," Marley spat.

"Fools, perhaps. But we aren't the ones who surrendered to the military," Jarred said, punching Marley to the floor.

"I did what was necessary to survive. The military is the real power," Marley muttered.

"You aligned with tyrants for scrap power. They will consume you when you're no longer useful," Jarred said. "Fred, Bob, he is yours. Do not kill him, but make sure he can't run."

Fred gave Bob a pistol. They stood over their uncle.

"You would do this to your own family?" Marley gasped.

"You lost that right when you murdered our father," Fred said, shooting Marley's right arm.

"We will not fall," Bob added, shooting Marley's right leg.

Fred shot Marley's left arm, and Bob shot his left leg, and finally Bob shot his left shoulder.

Marley collapsed. Jarred stepped forward, his eyes dark.

"I am running low on magic. I need your strength," Jarred said.

Jarred raised his hands, and Marley screamed in agony. His skin decayed, and his body crumbled to ash, his soul leaving a small glowing essence that drifted into Jarred's chest. The hall fell silent. Jarred exhaled, his strength restored.

"Let's go," Jarred said.

And while they are leaving Fred asked,

"So that’s what being a soul collector is about?"

"Yes," Jarred replied.

"How do we know you won't do the same to us?" Heath asked.

"I got power from the wolves, and I know they are rare to them here, so let me tell you about them, they move in packs and they are so bonding with their packs, so you are my pack," Jarred said.

"So, Jarred tell us about your plans about taking out a military base that you mentioned earlier?" Fred asked.

"There is a military base called Nu. That is our target," Jarred said. "It serves as the central coordinator for all the local bases. If we destroy it, the others will turn on each other in the ensuing power vacuum. I have gathered intelligence on its vulnerabilities, but I can't share them until our team is fully assembled. Bob, Fred, now that you know our plans, will you join us, or must we silence you?"

"There's no need for threats," Bob replied. "We want to finish what our father started. We are with you."

"Where are we heading next?" Heath asked.

"Out of the dark sector, south to a place called Clown Street," Jarred said.

"That drive will take three to four hours," Heath noted.

"I will drive," Jarred offered. "You have been awake for two days."

"What about you?" Carlos asked.

"I am a wielder of underworld magic. I don't require sleep in the same way humans do. The magic changes your nature," Jarred explained.

"Before we leave, we need to stop by our workshop," Bob said.

"And we should let Eddy know we are departing," Fred added.

"We will gather some weapons and meet him there," Bob said.

"I've already messaged him to meet us at the house with our latest prototypes," Fred said.

"Excellent," Bob agreed.

They climbed into the vehicle Fred had brought and drove back to the twins' workshop. When they arrived, the others waited in Heath's vehicle while Bob went inside. He emerged after a few minutes carrying a backpack and a heavy metal crate. He placed the crate in Fred's vehicle, left a note on the dashboard, and then joined the others in Heath's car.

"What was in the crate?" Fred asked as Bob got in.

"Eddy wasn't there, so I left our prototypes in the car with a note explaining the situation," Bob explained.

"Good," Fred said.

Jarred took the wheel and drove out of the sector. Within half an hour, Heath and Jane fell asleep, exhausted from the ordeal. For Jarred, staying awake for weeks was simple, but he knew the toll it took on ordinary humans. The vehicle fell silent, each passenger lost in their own thoughts and pasts.

Jarred watched the dark road ahead. *Every step closer to my goal brings me closer to my own demise,* he thought. *I must face Wilson. But will the others help me when they discover the truth? I don't know if they believe my only goal is to destroy the military base. Perhaps they are right to doubt me. I cannot tell them why we must strike now. I will surely perish if I face Wilson alone. Perhaps I can strike a bargain with them: I will lead them to the architects of the revolution, and in return, they will help me defeat Wilson. If they refuse... they will make easy prey. But their curiosity should work in my favor.*

The air grew cold, and the darkness outside became absolute. Jarred knew it was a sign of Wilson's presence. He brought the vehicle to a halt while the others remained asleep.

"Wilson!" Jarred called out into the dark. "What do you want?"

A young boy emerged from the shadows, holding a single candle. His face was pale, his eyes pitch-black.

"Please... do not speak that name," the boy whispered, trembling. "It is like summoning a storm."

"I need the road cleared," Jarred demanded.

"He smelled a hint of betrayal... so he sent me. But he knows your betrayal is not yet ripe," the boy said.

"Fine," Jarred muttered.

He stepped back into the vehicle and began chanting a low incantation. The boy let out a piercing scream as the magic took hold. Jarred raised his voice, chanting louder as a cold rain began to fall. The boy shrieked and dissolved into the dark mist, and the unnatural shadow lifted from the road. Jarred restarted the engine and drove on. Half an hour later, they encountered a military checkpoint. Soldiers were searching every vehicle entering the wealthy sector of Devox.

Jarred decided to run the checkpoint. He floored the accelerator. As the car sped toward the barricade, the soldiers screamed warnings and opened fire. Several guards stepped directly into the road to block them, but Jarred did not slow down. The vehicle plowed through the barricade, and the muffled impact of bodies echoed as the soldiers were thrown aside.

The gunfire and the collision woke Carlos, Heath, Jane, and the twins. Behind them, military sirens wailed as pursuit vehicles gave chase.

"What's happening?" Carlos yelled over the sound of gunfire.

"The military forces are chasing us! They don't want us crossing the border!" Jarred shouted.

"What are we going to do?" Heath asked.

"Heath, take the wheel. We need to drop Carlos off before we reach our destination. We can't lead them to the circus," Jarred said.

"We can help. We brought smoke canisters," Fred said to Bob.

Bob pulled a metallic canister from his bag. "Ready, Carlos?"

"Jarred, steady the car!" Carlos called out.

Jarred tapped the brakes. "Now!"

Bob threw the canister out the door, and Carlos jumped after it. A thick screen of smoke erupted, masking the road. Carlos rolled into the shadows and slipped away into the alleys to avoid the passing military vehicles. Heath took the driver's seat and accelerated through the winding streets.

Carlos made his way toward a brightly lit establishment called The Queen. Seeing a military patrol heading in the same direction, he realized they would arrive before him. He fired a quick distraction shot at their vehicle and ran through the side alleys, slipping inside the circus tents undetected. Inside, he heard a gunshot and crept closer to the main stage to investigate.

On the stage, a woman wearing a tailored white suit and a black top hat stood over a man bound to a chair.

"So, you told them what I was planning?" the woman asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"I... I did. But they would have killed me if I hadn't!" the man cried, terrified.

"Why?" the woman sighed, cupping his face in her hands. "Is it my fault for trusting one of my own crew?"

"It's not your fault, my Queen... but they threatened my life!"

"Do you think your life matters to me now?" she asked.

"Please, don't kill me! I'll do anything!"

"The only thing I need from you is to leave my sight. But you ruined everything. You leave me no choice but to destroy you. Killing someone breaks a piece of me too. I am not always the monster I appear, but this world requires us to be heartless. Goodbye, Jafaar," she whispered.

She pressed the barrel of her pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. Blood spattered across her white suit.

Hearing the approach of the military soldiers outside, Carlos stepped out of the shadows and onto the stage.

"Queen Antoinette, you need to leave now!" Carlos urged.

Antoinette looked at him, unfazed. "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"

"Your crew member must have told them. The military is surrounding the tent. I tried to distract them, but they're here," Carlos explained.

"So, you've been spying on me. I can't leave with you until I know who you are... but it seems we have company. We need to fight our way out," Antoinette said as soldiers stormed the entrances.

"They've surrounded the stage," Carlos whispered, pulling his gauntlets on.

"Then let's see what those gauntlets can do," Antoinette said.

Gunfire erupted from all sides. Carlos leaped in front of Antoinette, raising his gauntlets to activate a localized energy shield. A stray bullet grazed Antoinette's right shoulder. She winced, pressing her hand to the wound to stem the bleeding. Realizing they were cornered, she decided to trust him.

"Can that shield move?" Antoinette asked.

"Yes, but not far," Carlos replied.

"Get us to the center of the stage, on the trapdoor circle," Antoinette directed.

Carlos moved slowly, keeping the shield active while Antoinette followed close behind, dragging Jafaar's chair with her. When they reached the center, she pushed the chair just outside the circle. She retrieved a metallic card from her pocket and threw it toward the stage lights, igniting the chair. At the same moment, the trapdoor elevator dropped beneath them, carrying them into the darkness below as bullets struck the stage above.

Carlos deactivated the shield. Antoinette leaned against the wall, her face pale from blood loss.

"Are you alright, Queen?" Carlos asked.

"Quiet, stranger. Whoever sent you, tell them I am retired. Once this elevator stops, you leave," she said through gritted teeth.

"Sit down and let me look at the wound," Carlos insisted as the elevator ground to a halt.

Antoinette stepped out into a large underground hangar, removing her hat. Carlos followed her, taking off his gauntlets. As she collapsed onto a nearby workbench, Carlos approached her.

"Leave, stranger. You shouldn't be here," she muttered.

"I was an assassin before I became an engineer. I know how to mend wounds just as well as I know how to cause them. Let me help you," Carlos said.

"You show me mercy only to demand something in return," she said, her strength fading.

Carlos gently moved her hand away to inspect the wound. Antoinette tried to resist, but she was too weak to fight him off.

"I work alone, though the man who led me here wants to recruit you for a mission. You can refuse, but first, you need to survive," Carlos said.

She reached for the bullet herself, attempting to pry it out, but Carlos caught her wrist.

"Stop! A military round isn't a standard bullet. It's designed to expand when it contacts blood. Pulling it out raw will tear your shoulder apart. Let me find the control mechanism," Carlos explained, examining the metal lodged in her flesh. He disassembled the thumb component of his gauntlet.

"What is that?" she asked.

"A surgical laser. It can interface with the bullet's control point and shrink it so we can extract it safely," Carlos said.

He projected a thin blue beam onto the bullet. The metal contracted. Carlos adjusted the frequency, locking onto the bullet's core, and pulled it out cleanly using the laser's magnetic field. He dropped the bullet to the floor and crushed it underfoot. Antoinette wrapped a clean cloth around her shoulder.

Carlos reassembled his gauntlet, looking around the hangar. The space was filled with machinery, chemical storage tanks, heavy electromagnets hanging from the ceiling, and workbenches cluttered with magnetic cards like the one she had used to ignite the stage.

Antoinette stood up. "Thank you for the help, Carlos. But you've seen my secrets now. I must ask you to go."

"I will leave, Antoinette. But please, listen to the offer. It could change everything," Carlos urged.

"Change the world? Fine, speak. But call me Queen. Nobody here knows my real name," she said.

"You can call me Carlos. I will explain how I know your name. There is a faction of mages called soul collectors. Have you heard of the missing collector?" Carlos asked.

"I've heard the rumors. They say he wields ancient underworld magic," Antoinette said.

"Yes. One of those mages is gathering a team to destroy the Nu Military Base," Carlos explained.

"Are you insane? You trust an underworld mage? Even if we ignore the military's sheer strength, how do we infiltrate a fortress without layout plans?" she asked.

"He claims allies in the sky world gave him the maps," Carlos said.

"Have you seen them?" she asked.

"No, but..." Carlos said.

"Shh. Listen," Antoinette interrupted.

Faint footsteps echoed from the elevator shaft. Carlos raised his gauntlets, and Antoinette slipped her cards between her fingers. The sound suddenly stopped. After a tense silence, a black crow flew erratically into the room, crashing against the concrete walls before falling dead on the floor. As they watched, the crow's body began to decay into ash.

The footsteps sounded again, directly behind them. They spun around to find Jarred standing there, a calm smile on his face.

"Hello, Queen. I am Jarred. Did Carlos explain the mission?" Jarred asked.

"Not enough details, mage," Antoinette replied coldly.

"Ask whatever you wish," Jarred said.

Antoinette smirked. "I doubt a sky world faction would hand over military secrets so easily. Underworld deals always come with a price."

"You may believe what you wish, but my record speaks for itself," Jarred said confidently.

"You're an underworld mage. You can create clones. Being in two places at once is simple for you," she noted.

"Do not presume to understand underworld magic," Jarred retorted.

"I know magic. I am Alveiran, and I've worked with mages before. I know when someone is hiding the truth," Antoinette said.

"Be careful, Antoinette. I am not the threat here. The military base is," Jarred warned.

"Do not use my name," she snapped.

"Very well, Queen. What is it you want to know? Who my sky world contacts are?"

"Yes," she said.

"They are an organization seeking to balance power between the military and the sky world. They recruit people like us to perform the necessary tasks. It benefits all of us," Jarred explained.

"And you met them through your clones while you were hospitalized?" Antoinette asked, sitting on the workbench.

"That is none of your concern," Jarred said, his voice tightening.

"Wait. Did you tell Heath and Jane any of this?" Carlos interrupted.

"I told them what they needed to know," Jarred replied.

"What exactly did you tell them, Jarred? Because if you lied, this alliance ends now," Carlos demanded.

"Why do you care so much about those wealthy Devoxians?" Jarred sneered.

"Can you speak honestly for once?" Antoinette asked.

"I gave them a motive they could understand," Jarred admitted.

"Where are they now?" Carlos asked.

"At Fred and Bob's house," Jarred said.

"So that is our team. The twins, Heath, Jane, and us," Antoinette said.

"Yes," Jarred said.

"We need to meet these sky world contacts," Antoinette insisted.

"In due time. For now, we must leave," Jarred concluded.

They rode the elevator back to the stage, passing Jafaar's charred remains.

"Why did you burn his body?" Carlos asked as they walked out of the circus tents.

"To fake my death. The military won't be able to identify the remains," Antoinette explained.

Carlos recalled her conversation with Jafaar. "Did you kill the rest of your crew as well?"

Antoinette paused, looking at him. Jarred continued walking ahead.

"Are you not afraid to ask such questions?" Antoinette asked.

"Why should I be?" Carlos asked.

"Let's not speak of my crew. You don't know what they did. That question only shows how much you want to judge me," she said, before continuing after Jarred.

They reached the vehicle Jarred had parked a block away. The drive to the twins' house was silent. Carlos wanted to learn more about Antoinette, but he knew she resented the situation. Jarred had lied to the entire team, and it was clear he was using them for his own ends.

"We will stay here for a few days until we receive the signal to move," Jarred said as they arrived.

Antoinette and Carlos got out, while Jarred remained in the car. As they walked toward the front door, Carlos spoke.

"Why do you look at me like that?" Antoinette asked.

"I just want to understand you better," Carlos admitted.

"You're foolish. I don't want you knowing my past. Don't play the innocent technician with me. We are all monsters here. We've done terrible things, and now we are a suicide squad, choosing between a dangerous mission or a slow, boring death. This organization knows our secrets, Carlos. They know our stories. And you're acting like a child, trying to fix each other instead of focusing on the enemy," Antoinette said sharply.

They reached the door. Carlos smiled faintly.

"You're right. We all followed him because we had nothing left. I was only curious about the story behind your strength. I thought a softer approach might help, but I see I was wrong," Carlos said quietly.

A gunshot echoed from inside the house, followed by a cry of pain. Carlos and Antoinette pounded on the door. After a tense moment, Fred opened it, his face pale and sweating.

"What happened?" Carlos asked, pushing past him.

Inside, Bob was kneeling next to Heath. On the floor lay Jane, blood pooling beneath her neck. Heath looked up, his eyes bloodshot.

"Carlos... you know about wounds from your assassin training. Help her," Heath pleaded, his voice shaking.

Carlos knelt beside them. Jane was unconscious, her face pale, her red-stained hair splayed across the floor.

"Is there a weapon that leaves no bullet?" Heath asked.

"If there's no bullet, it might have been an energy round designed to dissipate after impact," Carlos said, trying to steady Heath.

Carlos and Heath worked to stop the bleeding while Bob and Antoinette watched.

The house fell silent. A few moments later, Jane slowly opened her eyes.

"Jane, are you awake?" Heath asked, relief flooding his voice.

"Heath... my neck feels like it's burning," Jane whispered.

"Don't worry, you're safe. What do you remember?" Heath asked.

"I was... in the yard... and then..." Jane began, but her voice trailed off.

The front door opened, and Jarred walked in, looking relaxed. When Heath saw him, he stood up, his face dark with rage.

"WHERE WERE YOU?" Heath demanded.

"I was coordinating with my sky world contacts. We move in a few days. What happened to Jane?" Jarred asked.

"You don't care about this team, Jarred. You only care about your mission," Heath spat.

"I am securing the path for us. That is why we are here," Jarred retorted.

"You never told us the truth," Heath said.

Carlos stood in the side of Heath looking angry for the first time, facing Jarred.

"Hey Heath, Jarred wants to tell you something..." Carlos said, speaking in a sharp tone.

"Me? No, I don't..." Jarred said.

"No, you will tell him the truth, because I am not in, unless we all see everything clearly, thanks to the Queen pressuring that magician," Carlos said.

"What are you talking about?" Heath asked.

All the team started paying attention on what they are saying, even the ill Jane.

"Jarred is not the noble person you think. The people who he calls friends are not friends," Carlos said.

"I hate you, Carlos. Remember it, because you will pay for it. Ok, listen everyone, because I am not repeating this. I am Jarred, from a secret organization in the sky world. They have gathered from everywhere on this planet—even Alveira and the underworld. They seek to neutralize the power wielded by the military base and by the sky world. They use agents like you to carry out the tasks. Once the military falls, the balance of power will shift," Jarred explained coldly.

Heath and Jane were shocked.

"So you're just another mage looking for power," Bob said.

"It is the only way to secure freedom," Jarred replied.

"We don't have to do this. We can leave," Heath said.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

"Are you that foolish, Heath?" Carlos sneered. "If we leave, nothing changes. The military will hunt us down, and we'll die in the shadows. This is our only chance to strike back, even if we are tools."

"I thought we were fighting for something better," Heath said quietly.

Before the argument could escalate, Fred called them to the dining table. "We have a long journey ahead. Let's eat and rest."

The group moved to the dining room, except for Heath, who stayed by Jane's side. Bob sat beside them.

"Do you feel any better, Jane?" Bob asked.

"Yes, thank you, Bob," she said.

"Join us when you're ready," Bob said, leaving them.

Jane touched Heath's cheek. "Let's go eat, Heath. We need to stay strong."

Heath embraced her, tears spilling over. "I'm afraid of what's coming, Jane. I don't want to lose you."

"We will face it together, Heath. Now, let's join the others," Jane said with a reassuring smile.

Heath helped her up, noticing how pale she looked. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I will be fine," she insisted.

They entered the dining room. The team sat around the table in silence. Heath and Jane sat next to Fred, while Carlos sat opposite them.

"Let's introduce ourselves properly," Jarred suggested.

Heath spoke first, explaining his background with the wealthy weapon manufacturers and his decision to leave. Jane shared her past as an Alvieran orphan adopted by a Devoxian family. The twins spoke of their father's work with the Dark Devox resistance, and Antoinette described her journey from Alveira and her work with Blox magic. Carlos explained his training as an assassin and his use of tech-magic.

After the meal, Carlos left for the backyard. Antoinette followed him.

"Why are you here?" Carlos asked.

"I wanted to apologize for being harsh earlier," Antoinette said.

Carlos looked at her. "You were right. We aren't heroes. But we can choose what we fight for."

"How is that if I actually said those words in a tense situation where I actually killed my crew, and there is another crew asking for me in a mission? And one of this crew is a mage that thinks he is so smart. But I wonder what made me interesting to you, that you couldn't even shut up until you fired at everyone," Antoinette said.

"I saw a lot in you that I wish I was. You had the people that were following you, that's why I kept asking about them. I saw the good in you. Though you killed Jafaar, he was actually dead, either by you or by the military forces. You perform to entertain people in a circus, and you don't need anyone to rely on. But on the other side, I am always staying in the shadows," Carlos said.

"But what about my words? I was just saying any words to shut you up, and you are saying those words made sense?" Antoinette asked.

"Yes. That's what I needed to shut up and stop thinking that I am a good person by how I act with people. People don't see me actually. We are all bad people, that's why we are here together. Bad people, useless people in life. The Xavadas, the wealthy families, and those mages just got powers to defend themselves. What about us, the Dark Devoxians? We are just forced to keep up with their powers to defend ourselves and not get controlled. I have done things that evil people do, so why am I still acting as a good person? What's the difference between us and them?" Carlos asked.

"We are creating our own power, Carlos. Mages got magic, wealthy families got wealth, Xavadas got weapons, and we got weapons just to defend ourselves from the Xavadas. And the point is not just to own power, the point is what will we use the power for. And about us being here together as bad people, it doesn't mean that we really have to be bad. We are just outlaw people because those laws help to serve people we don't care about, and being outlaw people is not supposed to affect our good personalities. We have done evil things, and we know it's evil to understand what is the difference between what's evil and what's not evil! And though we have to forgive ourselves, we must never forget the lesson," Antoinette said.

Carlos just hummed without replying, but he was listening to her clearly.

"And enough of these big talks. I just came here because I was rude to you by not answering your question, so I am here to answer your questions, and I think we can work together after this mission. So, what was your question?" Antoinette asked.

"I was asking about your crew, your family. I really see a strong person in front of me, so why can't I ask these questions?" Carlos said.

"Thanks, Carlos. I was born Alveiran, but unfortunately, I wasn't interested in learning about magic. It would be a shame for the family if I was born to other parents, but my father and mother didn't care about raising a non-magician kid, though they both were magicians. I was a lost and lazy person and didn't know what I would do for my future. So my father helped me when I got to thirteen years old. My father took me to all the people that secretly work without magic in Alveira, but I felt that I was breaking my father's life as a magician, and still didn't find what I wanted by the time I reached fourteen. I got a lot of friends that year that had the same situation, so I asked my father to leave the house and be at their labs so I might find what I liked. He refused at first, but when he thought of it, he helped me to reach them secretly. Years passed and I was still bored, until some of the doctors came up with making an anti-magic organization to fight back the magic lords like the Dark Devox here. I got excited and joined, and a lot of their students joined that organization. But it didn't last long until the magic lords knew and started hunting the people of this organization and the doctors. I was about to be killed in one of these hunts, but after five years without seeing my father, he saved me that day. He talked to me and told me that my mother died, and my being his daughter put me in danger. He said he would visit me from time to time, but now he had to go hide and live in a place between the underworld and Alveira called Lowveira. He advised me to go live in Devox, because Alveira would no longer be a peaceful place. And that was the first time I met my crew, when I was lost in Devox. They were from the gangster kids. They found me lost, and I hid the fact that I am Alveiran, told them I couldn't remember my name, and said I was just lost and would never be found. I asked if I could join them, but they were just stealing to live those days, so they led me to the Dark Devox to find my way at one of the well-known houses. But I kept spying on them until I found them using a type of magic I learned about at the labs named Blox. They used it to make small, non-hurting explosions just to make a cover for themselves whenever they were stealing. I knew at that time they didn't know much about what they were using, so I went back and made an offer: I was going to let them learn more about the Blox magic, and in return, they would make me one of them, and maybe we could work on more than just the streets. They accepted the offer, and since then we became a crew. From that time, they granted me the name Queen. Although the Blox magic is popular on the gangster streets, there was no gang that knew how to use it all until my crew and I existed. That's all about my family and my crew," Antoinette said.

"What about the circus? And the maps?" Carlos asked.

"The circus we built by getting popular among the wealthy families, making magic tricks in front of them by using Blox magic. Because they didn't know about Blox magic, it was a worthy thing to watch. At that time, I made my magnetic Blox cards. And the maps my father and I created... I used to disappear from Devox to visit my father at Lowveira, and at those times, I was able to discover a lot of places. It was when everything was stable. We created those maps just for fun, to find him a place to live away from Alveira and Devox. But due to an agreement made between the magic lords of Alveira and the military base, only they were allowed to make maps. I showed the maps by accident to my crew, and then the problem began. They offered to sell those maps to the Xavadas, and when I refused, they told the military I was Alveiran, and then they went to talk to the magic lords at Alveira, and then they knew about my father. I think the rest is known," Antoinette said.

Antoinette took off her hat, placed it over her heart, and closed her eyes, looking down. Carlos put his right hand on her left shoulder.

"I am sorry for your loss, Antoinette. May he find the peace he deserves for being a great father," Carlos said.

"Of course. Are you satisfied now, Carlos?" Antoinette asked.

"I didn't mean to remind you of your pain. I just wanted to understand why you killed that man the first time I saw you. Thanks for trusting me and telling me all of this, Antoinette," Carlos said.

"Nothing stays secret forever. My father is dead, my crew is dead, and I am dead to the military. Nothing is alive anymore, so they aren't secrets. And we are going together if we survive this mission, so you would have known sooner or later. And you can call me Antoinette, without the 'Queen,'" Antoinette said.

Antoinette opened her eyes and saw an invisible shape moving in the air, shifting the wind around it to show that something was moving close. Her eyes followed the invisible movement until it drew her attention to the back of a crying kid sitting near the yard.

"Look at that!" Antoinette said, pointing at the kid.

Carlos looked, but he didn't know what it was. The kid's cries grew louder.

"Why don't we try to help him?" Carlos asked.

Antoinette moved toward the kid, and Carlos followed. When they got close enough to speak to him...

"Why are you crying?" Carlos asked in a low voice.

The kid was startled. When he heard Carlos, he spun around, his face pale. Seeing it was just a man and a woman, he ran toward them.

"Are you both alive?" the kid asked, wiping away his tears.

"Yes. What happened? Why are you crying?" Antoinette asked.

"My brother sent me to deliver a message to a mage. I did as he told me. But when the mage received it, he got mad. He screamed unknown words that broke the skies above me. When I ran back, my brother was gone, and my father and mother were dead. Since then... I have never seen a real human. Only shadows..." the kid said.

Carlos listened, a shock of recognition hitting him.

"Are you working for the missing collector?" Carlos asked.

The kid started crying again.

"What is it, kid?" Carlos asked.

"The missing collector was the mage that corrupted my family. The shadows... I saw my father's shadow repeating that name..." the kid sobbed.

"That is terrible. I am sorry," Carlos said.

"Have you seen the collector?" Antoinette asked Carlos.

"He made a deal with Jarred. And what the kid is seeing are not shadows; they are souls," Carlos explained.

Antoinette was about to speak, but the kid cut them off.

"Never trust any of them. They are all hungry for souls. They never have enough. Your friend is the foe of tomorrow," the kid warned.

"But why hasn't he taken your soul too?" Antoinette asked.

Suddenly, a loud scream interrupted them, coming from inside the house. Antoinette and Carlos looked back toward the door. When they turned back, the kid had vanished. They ran inside, finding the room in chaos. Jane was lying unconscious on the bed, her face pale, though there were no visible wounds.

"What happened?" Carlos asked.

"The pain in her is unstable. It rose until she couldn't hold it, and she fainted. I don't know what is happening. I feel she is not fine. The bullet? I don't know what to do," Heath said, panicked.

"The sun is rising soon, Heath. You can go to visit a doctor in the wealthy sector, not the dark side," Bob said.

"Will Jarred be late?" Heath asked.

"He took the vehicle. I forgot. Fred, get some of the Lawrence water. It might help her wake. I will go borrow a vehicle from a friend," Bob said.

"Got it, brother," Fred said.

"Does the Lawrence Blossom grow in Devox?" Antoinette asked.

"It grows, but only at the edge of the Devoxian lands," Fred said.

Bob left the house, and Fred went to the kitchen. Carlos and Antoinette sat near the bed, while Heath cradled Jane's head on his lap, staring at her face, waiting for any sign of movement.

A few minutes later, Fred returned with a bowl of purple water filled with pale golden seeds. He handed it to Heath.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Heath asked.

"Make her drink the seeds and the water. When the seeds are gone, splash the remaining purple water from her forehead down to her throat," Fred explained.

"How will that help?" Heath asked.

"The golden seeds will melt once they enter her mouth, absorbing the harmful magic that entered her body. The water will help return her body to its normal state and dull the pain. Splashing it on her face and throat will clear those pathways. She should wake within an hour or two, assuming the water reaches her heart before the corruption does. It's a rare kind of floating magic, but it happens," Fred said.

Heath tilted Jane's head back and carefully made her drink. Once the seeds were gone, he closed her mouth and began splashing the purple water on her forehead, wiping it down to her throat. He repeated the process until the bowl was empty, then handed it back to Fred.

"You should rest now. She will wake in a couple of hours. Don't worry, she will be alright," Fred said.

"I prefer to stay next to her," Heath said.

"As you wish. Carlos, Antoinette, we should rest too. When they return, we must speak with Jarred about whether to postpone the mission or let Jane stay behind. There are two empty rooms next door. I will be upstairs," Fred said, leaving them.

Ten minutes later, Antoinette decided to head to her room. "I am going to get some rest, Heath."

"What?" Heath said, looking up.

"Jane is beautiful. She will be fine. I haven't spoken much with her, but she is a strong person. See you after sunrise, friends," Antoinette said.

"Thank you, Antoinette," Heath said.

"Goodbye," Carlos added.

Carlos stayed for a while. He sat in silence, staring at the floor, lost in thought. Heath decided to break the quiet.

"Carlos... does it always feel this hard to kill someone?" Heath asked.

Carlos looked up. "What do you mean? When did you kill anyone?"

"At the gang's base. I was the assassin, remember?" Heath said.

"I remember," Carlos said.

"I had to kill the guards to reach the top. It felt entirely wrong. How can you and Adwelle believe that killing grants peace?" Heath asked.

"We don't believe it's a good thing, Heath. Adwelle believed they find peace after death, but I am not a believer, which is why I left him. He believed that at a certain point, life becomes a torture, and death is a release. He knew the killer is a monster, but he believed there was a purpose. The danger in that belief is that it justifies the murder. It makes killing look like an easy escape. But we are supposed to fight for our lives, not end each other's. Why do you ask this now?" Carlos asked.

"I've wanted to speak to you since that night. I have this feeling... that what is happening to Jane is my punishment for taking a life," Heath confessed.

"No, man. The guard was brainwashed by Marley. If you hadn't killed him, he would have killed you. Jane will be fine," Carlos reassured him.

"I hope so," Heath said.

Carlos stood up. "I'm going to get some rest in the next room. If you need anything, call me, brother."

"Thanks, Carlos. Good night," Heath said.

Carlos left, and Heath lay down beside Jane. He was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep. He watched her face, wondering if she was hiding something from him, though he trusted her completely. As he placed his hand on her cheek, she smiled softly in her sleep. Relief washed over him, and he closed his eyes. As the sun began to rise, he felt her squeeze his hand. He opened his eyes to see her looking at him.

"You're awake," Jane said softly.

"Yes. Did you think I was sleeping?" Heath asked.

"I didn't want to wake you," she said.

"I couldn't sleep while you were in pain," Heath said.

"You're so kind, Heath. I love you," she said.

"I love you too, Jane. When you're hurting, a part of me feels completely lost," Heath said.

"You must be strong, Heath. Even if something happens to me," Jane said.

"Nothing will happen to you. I don't want to think about it. Without you, I'd go back to the person I was. You're everything to me. Please stay with me, Jane," Heath pleaded.

"I will never leave you, Heath. But I need to tell you about a deal I made with the mage..." Jane whispered.

Before she could finish, her hand went limp.

"Jane?" Heath called out.

When the sun fully rose, Bob returned to the house, and the others began to leave their rooms. Suddenly, they heard Heath's voice cry out from the living room. Carlos and Antoinette ran in to find Heath sitting on the floor, cradling Jane in his arms. She was cold, her eyes closed, her face pale. Heath's tears fell on her cheek.

"What happened to her?" Carlos asked.

Heath looked up with hollow eyes. "She is... at peace."

Antoinette and Carlos realized she was dead. Antoinette's face fell, while Carlos grew quiet, his expression blank as his training took over.

"But how?" Antoinette asked.

"We went out to get some fresh air in the backyard. She just collapsed. Her heart stopped, and her breathing faded," Heath said, his voice quiet. The grief inside him was hardening into something cold and dangerous. The gentle parts of him were fading, replaced by a dark resolve.

Fred came downstairs and gasped, realizing what had happened. Carlos sat beside Heath, while Antoinette and Fred stood nearby.

"Heath... are you okay?" Fred asked softly.

Heath looked up. "I should be glad she found peace. But who will I be without her?" He hugged her close. "I will miss you, Jane."

Carlos placed a hand on Heath's shoulder. "Her struggle is over, Heath. Let her rest. Rest in peace, Jane."

"What will you do with the body, Heath?" Antoinette asked quietly.

"Is there a Black Yorlix garden nearby?" Heath asked.

"Yes, in the south of Dark Devox. Why?" Carlos asked.

"If we aren't starting the mission tonight, I will take her there. I don't know how I'll pass the gates, but until I find a way, she will stay in the gardens," Heath said.

"Is it open to the public?" Fred asked.

"Yes, though we'll need to set the body correctly near the blossoms. I can handle it," Carlos offered.

"No. I will do it myself," Heath said.

Heath stood up, lifting Jane in his arms, and walked out of the house. The others watched him go. A few hours later, the front door opened, and Jarred and Bob returned. Fred let them in.

"Hey," Jarred said, looking around. "Where is everyone? Are they still asleep?"

"Carlos went back to his room after sunrise, and Heath went south with Jane’s body," Fred said.

"Why did he go south? And wait... what? You said Jane’s body?" Jarred asked.

"Yes. Jane died. After that injury she suffered on her neck yesterday, her health deteriorated. She kept losing consciousness, and when the sun rose, she passed away. Do you think it was floating magic?" Fred asked.

"It is possible. Floating magic rarely strikes a person, but when it does, it destroys their insides and targets the heart, corrupting it from within," Jarred replied. "We had better hope it wasn't floating magic. If it is, she will be stuck between life and death, her soul tortured indefinitely. But it could also have been the military base's secret agents."

"Why didn't they just kill us all?" Bob asked.

"The secret agents aren't always authorized to kill. Instead, they play mind games with us. Nobody knows what they are permitted to do, nor what they truly know. They simply use their power to toy with us, showing their reach. They likely know what we are planning and are trying to manipulate us. But why did Heath go south?" Jarred asked.

"He wanted to lay her body to rest in the Black Yorlix gardens," Fred explained. "He knows the mission is close, so he wanted to complete it before trying to take her body to the other side of Devox."

"Bob, go south and catch him before he does that," Jarred ordered. "I can help him transport her body to the other side today, before the mission starts. Move now!"

Antoinette stepped in to stop them. "I think we need to give Heath some space, Jarred. His lover just died. He needs time alone to settle his mind."

"I understand, Queen. But if we help him during this dark hour, he will remember who stood by him when we finally finish the mission. That will keep him focused. Bob, go now!" Jarred insisted.

Bob ran out of the house, climbed into his vehicle, and sped south. Halfway there, he spotted Heath walking on the pavement through a small crowd, heading back toward the house. He was not carrying Jane's body. Bob stopped the car and ran over to him.

"Heath! Wait!" Bob called out, catching his breath.

"Hey... Bob, right?" Heath said.

"It doesn't matter. Where is Jane's body? Jarred said he can help you transport her to the other side of Devox today."

"It's taken care of. I ran into an old friend of mine by chance. I asked him to inform her family, and he will ensure her body rests in the Black Yorlix gardens. We can head back now," Heath said quietly.

"Alright. Let's get in the car," Bob said.

They drove back to the house under the slow-moving afternoon sun. The team was quiet, weighed down by thoughts of the imminent mission. Memories of their past trials and shared losses fueled their resolve. As they neared the house, Bob decided to share Jarred's theory about Jane's death.

"Heath, there's something Jarred mentioned that I agree with," Bob said.

"What is it?" Heath asked.

"He thinks the military base's secret agents were behind Jane's death. What do you think?" Bob asked.

"I don't know," Heath replied, staring out the window. "But the weapon left no bullet, and her condition was changing strangely in her final hours. It must have been an energy round infused with magic. It could very well have been them."

"Jarred says their spies are highly skilled and hidden. One of them must have targeted her," Bob said.

"I wish we could start the mission right now," Heath muttered, his voice cold. "I want to make those Xavadas regret everything."

"We all do," Bob agreed, pulling up to the house. "Let's go inside, man."

Heath and Bob got out of the vehicle and entered the house. Jarred opened the door with a sympathetic smile.

"Where is Jane's body?" Jarred asked.

"I took care of it. Let us in so we can go over the plan," Heath said, brushing past him.

Jarred stepped aside. In the living room, the rest of the team sat in tense silence, waiting. Once everyone was seated, Jarred prepared to present the plan.

"First, Heath, I want to say how sorry I am for Jane. Those responsible will face justice very soon. Second, let me show you the layout of the military base," Jarred said.

He clapped his hands, conjuring a faint black light that materialized into a holographic map in the air, controlled by his gestures.

"The Nu Military Base is located on an island in the far north. Fortunately, we won't need a ship to reach it. My contacts in the sky world have provided a teleportation portal. The base itself is one of the few that relies heavily on melee combat. Here are the front gates," Jarred said, pointing to the projection of a heavily guarded entrance. "Tonight, a large gathering of wealthy families will arrive to watch a wrestling tournament between the Xavadas. They call it the 'Final Punch'—an event where the winning soldiers receive promotions. Antoinette, you will approach a prominent family leader under the pretense of performing a magic trick. You must pickpocket his invitation before he reaches the security cameras. He will have guards, but Heath will accompany you, disguised as your personal guard. If his guards try to stop you, Heath will pretend to confront them, and Antoinette will step in to diffuse the situation, offering to show the leader a quick trick. During the performance, you will slip the invitation from him, use your Blox magic to alter the name, and enter before he does. You will have thirty minutes to shut down the alarm in the western building. The security cameras will search for the registered guest if they don't see him inside, and those cameras feed directly to security rooms in both the western and eastern buildings. Simultaneously, Carlos and the twins will enter through the sewers. I will use my magic to corrupt the bodies of two patrol guards in the sewer system. One corrupted guard will accompany Antoinette and Heath, and the other will guide Carlos. Meanwhile, the twins will disguise themselves as sewer guards to cover their absence, ensuring nothing looks suspicious on the monitors. I will maintain contact with you all through the corrupted soldiers."

"Why can't we use our Blox communication earpieces?" Antoinette asked.

"Because the base scans for foreign frequencies. If we use them, they will track us immediately. The camera alarms in both buildings must be deactivated at the exact same moment. Any delay will trigger a security lockdown. Once the cameras are down, we will regroup outside the main wrestling arena. There is a hidden security room that controls the main weapon vaults and camera feeds. We don't have its layout, but we know it's located somewhere near the central library. While you navigate the library, I will corrupt more soldiers to clear your path. However, you will have to handle the guards inside the hidden security room yourselves. My souls and the corrupted soldiers will be busy creating a distraction. Once the security system is down, Fred and Bob will plant explosives throughout the facility. The rest of you will eliminate high-ranking officers in the chaos. When the wealthy families begin to leave, we will detonate the charges and engage the remaining forces. Our target is the commander and his elite guard. Afterward, my souls will cover your retreat, and I will meet you in the surrounding forest to teleport us back to Devox. Is everything clear?"

"Are we leaving now?" Carlos asked.

"We move at sunset. Until then, prepare your gear and rest. Carlos, can you deploy some of your automated drones?" Jarred asked.

"Yes, but what is their role?" Carlos asked.

"When the fighting starts, we will be outnumbered. We need your drones and Antoinette's explosives to help clear the field. And Heath, you will be our primary assassin. Can you do this?" Jarred asked.

"I can," Heath replied with a grim smirk. "I'll use the twins' gear."

"Excellent. I will prepare the portal in the backyard," Jarred said, leaving the room.

Heath turned to the twins. "Do you still have the curved daggers and the helmet?"

"We've upgraded them," Fred said. "Follow me to the workshop, and we'll show you."

"I'm coming too," Bob offered.

"No, stay here and finish the disguises," Fred told his brother.

Fred and Heath went downstairs to the workshop. Fred opened a flat metal case containing a half-face mask, a reinforced carbon-fiber vest, and two curved, blackened daggers. The mask covered the right side of the face with a slate-grey visor, while the rest was a deep matte blue with twin white stripes.

"It will cover your hair entirely," Fred noted.

"I'll have to shave my head to wear it comfortably, won't I?" Heath asked.

"Yes, but you can try the rest of the gear now," Fred said, lifting the daggers. "The blades are curved to slice through the air faster, with a high-frequency edge that can cut through reinforced alloy. The hilt syncs directly with the mask's targeting array. When you throw them, the sensors will track your gaze, ensuring a perfect strike. The gauntlets use a localized magnetic anchor, allowing you to recall the daggers from up to five yards away. Just be careful not to damage the vest's lining—if the power conduit inside breaks, it becomes useless. The boots are reinforced to absorb the impact of high falls and grant you silent footsteps."

Fred handed the box to Heath, his expression serious. "You're the first to field-test this suit, Heath. If we survive tonight, it's yours. Take care of it."

"You're getting soft, Fred," Heath remarked.

"Just trying to keep the mood light. My brother and I weren't called the 'Clowns of the Underworld' for nothing," Fred smiled.

Heath took the gear and returned to his room. He stood before the mirror and shaved his head, feeling the physical change mirror the cold resolve hardening inside him. With Jane gone, he felt he had nothing left to lose. He put on the suit and visor, feeling the hum of the armor's power. He spent the remaining hours training on the roof, acclimating to the weight and speed of the new gear. When sunset arrived, Jarred called the team to the backyard. When they saw Heath, they were taken aback by his altered appearance—his shaved head and the sleek armor giving him the look of a cold, professional killer.

"A fitting look for what's to come," Jarred remarked.

"It will keep me unrecognized," Heath replied.

"The portal is stable," Jarred said, gesturing to a swirling ring of pale gold light. "Let's move."

"Once the portal is open, we will have a fifteen-minute window to cross," Jarred instructed. "The passage is narrow. We will cross a spectral bridge. If you see a figure with a porcelain-white face watching us, ignore her. She is a sky mages' guide, and she is maintaining the anchor for us."

"How can she anchor the portal from within the rift?" Antoinette asked.

"Teleportation magic requires a heavy toll. The anchor must leave a portion of her soul within the rift to bridge the physical world and the void," Jarred explained.

"What is the void like?" Carlos asked.

"It is a reflection of the planet's past. The sky tribe used to dwell there in peace, but they were hunted down by other factions seeking control of the rift pathways. This guide is one of the last survivors. Are you ready?" Jarred asked.

"Let's go," Heath said.

Jarred chanted a low incantation, and the portal flared with bright, warm light. They stepped through one by one. The transition was blinding, and the path was narrow, forcing them to walk in single file. Heath, bringing up the rear, caught sight of the porcelain-faced figure floating in the mist. He hesitated, mesmerized by her lifeless eyes.

"Heath! Keep moving! Don't look at her!" Jarred shouted from ahead.

Heath shook off the chill and sprinted forward. They emerged into a dark, damp forest just outside the Nu military base. The sound of distant patrols echoed through the trees.

"Antoinette, Heath, head to the main gate," Jarred whispered. "Do not approach the security rooms until the corrupted guards are in place."

Antoinette and Heath slipped out of the trees, blending into the crowd of wealthy families arriving for the tournament. A young woman in the crowd recognized Antoinette from her circus days and began walking toward her. Realizing this could be a useful distraction, Antoinette guided Heath toward a wealthy noble who was surrounded by guards.

As they drew close, one of the noble's guards stepped forward to block them.

"Pardon me, sir. May I show you a quick demonstration of my craft?" Antoinette asked.

Heath intercepted the guard, placing himself between them.

"No street magic here, girl," the guard growled, pushing Heath back.

"My magic is harmless, sir. A simple trick of the mind," Antoinette insisted, smiling warmly.

The young fan caught up to them. "Are you the Queen of Tricks? From the Devox Circus?"

"Indeed I am," Antoinette replied. "The circus is currently closed, but we are planning a grand return."

The noble, intrigued by the interaction, gestured to his guard to stand down. "Show us, then."

Antoinette drew a single card, showing it to the noble and the young woman. With a swift flick of her wrist, the card disappeared, only to reappear in her palm a moment later. The young woman gasped.

"A simple illusion, sir," Antoinette said. "But tell me, do you feel something in your left pocket?"

The noble reached down and felt the shape of a rose. He checked his other pocket, relieved to find his invitation card still there. He pulled out the rose.

"Remove the petals, sir," Antoinette suggested.

As he did, the marked card fell from the center of the flower. The noble smiled, impressed. "Very clever."

"Enjoy the show, sir," Antoinette said, bowing slightly before walking away with Heath.

Once they were clear of the crowd, Heath looked at her. "Did you get it?"

Antoinette slipped the real invitation card from her sleeve. "Replaced it with a dummy card. Now, let's alter the name."

She drew a specialized cartridge from her belt, rubbing it across the printed name. The ink dissolved under the chemical agent. Using a stylus, she inscribed her own name in its place.

"Let's go," Antoinette said.

They approached the gate keeper.

"Invitations, please," the soldier demanded.

Antoinette handed her card over. The soldier frowned at the smudged ink. "What happened here?"

"A spill at the carriage, officer. My apologies," she said smoothly.

"And your guard?" the soldier asked, looking at Heath.

"He is with me," Antoinette confirmed.

The soldier waved them through. "Enjoy the event."

Meanwhile, Carlos and the twins navigated the sewer system. Jarred summoned several spectral beasts to draw the attention of the patrol guards. The beasts attacked the guards, infecting them with Jarred's dark magic. Within minutes, the guards collapsed, their bodies turning pale as they fell under Jarred's control. Fred and Bob quickly changed into the guards' uniforms to maintain appearances on the cameras. However, the sudden silence from the patrol raised suspicions in the main monitoring room. When the sewer cameras went dark, the security team triggered a localized alarm and dispatched reinforcements.

Carlos and Antoinette split up to target the camera rooms. Carlos, accompanied by a corrupted guard, fought his way into the eastern monitoring room, using his gauntlets to disable the operators. In the western room, Heath and Antoinette confronted the security officers. A brief struggle ensued, but Antoinette managed to shoot the remaining guards before they could sound the alarm.

With the cameras disabled, the team regrouped in the central library to search for the hidden security command room.

"There is a hidden sensor grid on the library door," Carlos warned.

"Where are the corrupted guards, Bob?" Heath asked.

"They're holding off the reinforcements in the lower levels," Bob replied.

"We have to move fast," Antoinette said. "How do we bypass the lock?"

Carlos pointed to a terminal near the door. "It requires an administrator card. If we trick the guards outside, we can take theirs."

Fred and Bob, dressed as patrol officers, approached the library guards, claiming they had lost contact with the main office and needed to verify security protocols. While the guards were distracted, Antoinette slipped behind them and pickpocketed their keycards. Heath and Carlos neutralized the guards quietly, hiding their bodies inside a shipping crate. They entered the library, where a female officer was managing the desk.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"We are looking for the historical archives," Carlos replied.

As soon as the library was clear of visitors, Heath threw a dagger, silencing her instantly. Carlos found the release mechanism behind a bookshelf, opening a hidden passage leading down a steel ladder. Carlos went down first, immediately drawing the attention of the security team inside. A fierce firefight broke out. Antoinette fired from the ladder while Heath and Carlos engaged the guards in close-combat. Heath's curved daggers struggled against the guards' reinforced armor, but Carlos managed to shatter their shields with his gauntlets. After a brutal struggle, the remaining guards were neutralized, and Carlos began hacking into the main terminal.

"This room is rigged with a self-destruct sequence," Carlos warned. "We have forty-five minutes before the charge detonates."

"Let's finish the job and get out," Antoinette said.

The team spread out across the facility. Fred and Bob planted explosives in the armory and structural pillars, while Heath eliminated high-ranking targets in the chaos. When the arena tournament ended and the crowds began to leave, Antoinette detonated her traps, filling the main halls with thick, debilitating smoke. A fierce battle erupted in the courtyard. Carlos's drones and the corrupted guards fought the remaining garrison. During the clash, Bob was mortally wounded by a stray blade. Carlos and Antoinette dragged him to safety as the remaining soldiers retreated.

Bob held Fred's hand, his breathing shallow. "I won't leave you, brother... but it's time for me to rest. Tell mother... we did it."

Bob took his final breath. Fred wept over his brother's body.

Suddenly, the spectral shapes of children appeared in the courtyard, their dark eyes fixed on the surviving team members. One of them, a tall girl with pale skin, spoke to Heath.

"We have fulfilled our end of the bargain. Master Wilson has sent us to ensure your victory. The mage Jarred awaits you in the forest."

The spirits dissolved into the air. Heath helped Fred to his feet, and they carried Bob's body out of the base as the sun began to rise.

Jarred was waiting for them in the trees. "Are you alright?"

Fred looked up, his face dark with anger. "We were just pawns in your game, Jarred. My brother died for your war."

"I am sorry for your loss, Fred," Jarred said quietly. "But the foundation has been laid. The military's hold is broken. If you join my organization, we can ensure your safety."

"No," Antoinette said. "I am done with your wars. I am leaving Devox."

"I'm going too," Carlos said. "I want no part in this bloodshed. I will find a way to use my skills to build, not destroy."

"I have no family left," Fred muttered. "I will go where the wind takes me, far from Devox."

They turned to Heath, who stood in silence. After a couple of seconds, he spoke.

"I am staying," Heath said. "I have nothing left. Jarred, I will follow you to the end of this road."

"A wise choice," Jarred said.

Jarred helped the others reach the docks, where they boarded separate ships. Carlos and Antoinette sailed for Alveira, while Fred took a transport to the southern islands.

Heath and Jarred boarded a vessel heading east. During the voyage, Jarred asked Heath why he had decided to stay.

"Jane would have wanted me to fight for a purpose," Heath replied. "I want to ensure her death wasn't in vain."

A week later, they landed near a dark mountain forest. Heath followed Jarred to a secluded stone building. "We are here to eliminate Wilson," Jarred whispered.

"Why? He helped us," Heath questioned.

"He seeks my soul, and he is a threat to the balance," Jarred said.

They entered the building. A pale child opened the door, leading them to a grand hall where Wilson sat. "You came," Wilson said, his voice a dry whisper. "Show me the souls you promised."

Jarred closed his eyes, summoning three powerful spirits. But instead of delivering them, the spirits attacked Wilson's guards.

"Do you think I would submit so easily?" Jarred sneered.

"I expected nothing less," Wilson replied.

"Heath, kill him now!" Jarred shouted.

Heath stepped forward, but instead of attacking Wilson, he turned his blade toward Jarred.

"Why did you kill Jane?" Heath demanded.

"What are you talking about? Kill him first!" Jarred panicked.

Heath struck Jarred, sending him to the floor. "You poisoned her. You told her the magic would save her, but you just wanted to create a weapon."

Jarred tried to summon his magic, but Heath drove his dagger into Jarred's heart.

As the life faded from Jarred's eyes, a surge of dark energy flowed into Heath. He felt his bones harden, his senses sharpening as the soul collector's power merged with his own. He tore off his vest and stood over the body, breathing heavily.

"You do not need to follow her into death," Wilson said, his voice now deep and resonant.

Heath turned to him, blood dripping from his hands. "She gave me a reason to live. Without her, I am just a monster. It is better that I end it all."

"You have inherited the magic of a soul collector," Wilson said. "You are immortal now. If you join me, we can purge this dark magic from the world."

"I will not serve another master," Heath said coldly. "I will find my own way, and I will destroy the organization that sent Jarred."

"I am not your enemy, Heath," Wilson insisted. "The other collectors use my name to justify their greed. I hunt them to protect the innocent. The Diamond Skulls are already working to restore balance. Train with me, and I will show you how to find them."

Heath agreed to the alliance. He stayed with Wilson for months, mastering his new abilities before departing to seek his vengeance.

In Alveira, Antoinette and Carlos fought against the magic lords, using their combined skills to protect the weak. Fred found peace on a remote island, leaving his past behind. And Heath, now a soul collector, walked the path of shadow, searching for the Diamond Skulls and the vengeance he craved.