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Chapter 5 - prologue 5

Chain Hopper stood and bowed deeply. "My king, the twenty individuals are ready and aligned. How may I serve you further?"

Amos's lips curled into a grin, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Chain Hopper, do you have them prepared? I want this to create the strongest entity ever!"

Chain hesitated but maintained his respectful posture. "Yes, Your Majesty, the twenty individuals with the required abilities are ready, but I must warn you—"

"I'm aware of the potential consequences," Amos interrupted, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. The atmosphere grew tense.

Chain tried again. "Your Majesty, the cost—these individuals will lose half their lives, their energy reserves will be depleted, and they'll lose the ability to learn new skills."

Amos's expression hardened, but his conviction didn't waver. "Then it is a sacrifice we must make! Their families will be compensated. Once the ritual is complete, return them home and grant them rewards. Take them to the Ability Caster to choose new skills if they wish."

Chain's head lowered further. He had hidden the full extent of the ritual's demands, hoping to sway Amos's mind. But it was futile.

"Ready the individuals and bring the energy orbs," Amos commanded. "We will begin immediately."

Before Chain could reply, the doors flew open, and a tall, majestic woman entered. Her wings spread behind her, casting faint shadows on the walls. Her eyes glowed a sharp yellow, radiating anger.

"Amos!" Sarah Sunheart's voice thundered, her wings flapping slowly but powerfully. "Must you go this far? These people have families!"

Amos turned sharply, his jaw tightening. "Address me as your king, Sarah."

"And I am your wife, the queen," Sarah retorted, her voice unwavering. "And you will respect me! Don't take fathers away from their children for your greed!"

Amos's knights, Joseph and Nathaniel, tensed but stayed silent. Amos inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on Sarah. "Where are your knights, Sarah? You know better than to roam without them."

Sarah glanced at the knights flanking Amos and then back at him, her expression sharp. "They are where they should be—with their families."

Amos exhaled slowly. "Sarah, this is not a time for emotions. We are at war with other galactic warriors. Anything could happen."

A loud clang echoed in the background, and the faint metallic scent of blood mixed with paint lingered in the air. Sarah's fists clenched, her eyes glistening. "You are sacrificing these people for your greed, Amos!" Her wings flared as her voice rose. "All for what? A prophecy that warns of your fall?"

Amos turned to Chain Hopper, ignoring Sarah's words. He leaned close to Chain and whispered, "Proceed." Light enveloped Chain, and he vanished.

A booming voice echoed through the castle. "Begin the ritual!"

Loud noises followed—moans, screams, and the thuds of bodies hitting the floor. Another voice echoed. "You will all be remembered. May you rest in peace." Moments later, silence filled the room.

Amos turned to Sarah, a triumphant smile on his face. "Thirty years of waiting," he murmured, "and finally, the time has come."

Chain reappeared, kneeling before Amos with trembling hands. He held a glowing sun pendant, his voice cracking. "It is finished, my king."

Amos took the pendant with a satisfied nod. "You've done well, Chain. You are dismissed. Your family will live in the towers, and you will be remembered as a great scientist."

Before Amos could admire the pendant, Sarah stretched out her hand. The pendant disappeared in a flash of light. Her wings glowed brilliantly as she vanished without another word.

Amos clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he looked to his knights. "Joseph, Nathaniel. Prepare for my ascension."

Suddenly, Sarah materialized in another chamber, her wings dimmed. She stood with Enoch and Ezekiel, two Lutherial Knights clad in golden armor. "Knights," she began, her voice firm, "we're going to the Heartstone Temple. Amos's ritual must be undone."

The knights bowed, but Sarah quickly stopped them. "No bowing. Rise, and let's begin."

A loud clang startled them all. Sarah turned to see a small boy clutching a teddy bear, his eyes heavy with sleep.

"Mommy?" he whispered, tears pooling in his eyes.

Sarah knelt, her radiant demeanor softening. "Yes, sweetheart. It's me."

The boy ran into her arms, holding her tightly. "I missed you, Mommy."

Sarah hugged him, her voice trembling with emotion. "I missed you too, baby."

All five suns had dipped below the horizon, plunging the world into night. The four moons hung high above, their glow casting a brilliant silver light across the cities. The Heartstone Temple gleamed in the distance, its spires illuminated by the moonlight, yet shrouded in an eerie stillness.

On a rooftop overlooking the city, Sarah, Ezekiel, and Enoch materialized silently. Each was clad in dark clothing, their faces hidden by balaclavas. Enoch raised his hands, casting a luminous veil to mask their presence, while Ezekiel activated Aura Radiant, a powerful skill that cloaked their energy signatures. Sarah extended her arms, activating Luminous Flight, ensuring they moved undetected through the sky.

Gliding over the city, they reached the Heartstone Temple. Sarah's sharp eyes scanned the structure, her jaw tightening at the sight of Amos's guards stationed at every entrance and along the perimeter. She kissed her teeth in frustration. "It's too heavily fortified," she muttered, her voice low but edged with determination.

Without hesitation, she teleported the group back to her hidden room.

As they reappeared, the room was warm and dimly lit, a stark contrast to the cold night outside. In one corner, little Erie sat on the floor, stacking wooden blocks into a towering structure. Beside him was Knight Leviathan, seated cross-legged and smiling faintly as he helped the boy balance another block on the stack.

Sarah placed the sun pendant carefully on the table near Erie and turned to Leviathan. "We need to talk," she said, motioning him to join them in the adjoining room. Leviathan glanced at Erie before nodding and rising to his feet.

In the next room, Sarah and her knights huddled, their voices low as they discussed a plan to reverse the effects of the pendant Amos had created. Meanwhile, Erie's gaze drifted toward the pendant on the table. He blinked, captivated by the faint, swirling light emanating from within.

The pendant seemed to hum softly, its colors shifting like liquid fire. Erie reached out hesitantly, his small hand hovering just above it. The air grew thick, and time seemed to slow. As if sensing his presence, the pendant began to glow brighter, and a soft beam of light reached out, encircling his wrist. Erie gasped, stumbling back, but the pendant floated into the air and moved toward him.

The boy stood frozen, his eyes wide as the pendant fastened itself around his neck, forming a delicate chain. A warm, golden light enveloped him briefly before fading into a soft shimmer. Erie touched the pendant with trembling fingers, his small chest rising and falling rapidly.

From the shadows, Chain Hopper and Daniel watched the scene unfold, their expressions unreadable.

"Daniel," Chain said, his voice low, "have you used your ability to foresee what lies ahead for this child?"

Daniel hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Chain. In all twelve directions I've seen, Erie will face trials that could break even the strongest of men. He will have to make decisions that will shape the fate of this world."

Chain's brow furrowed, his hands clenched tightly. "Then we don't tell him," he said firmly. "But we must inform the queen before she thinks he simply took the crystal off the table."

Daniel nodded again and turned toward the adjoining room, where Sarah and the knights were still deep in discussion. As he approached, his thoughts were heavy. This pendant chose him, he thought. I only hope it serves the young master well.