"Little humans, I know you aren't dead! I can feel your fear; just come out here before I grasp you myself and make your death more pathetic!" Luminox mocked loudly, his voice slicing through the darkness, sending shivers down Arwen's spine. The cruel laughter of the other chthonians joined in, a cacophony of malice that echoed through the damp, cold corridors.
Arwen pressed herself against the wall, her heart pounding like a war drum. The fear was a living thing, wrapping around her like a vice, but she couldn't let it consume her. "Juno, we have to be brave," she whispered, glancing at her sister, who lay still, a fragile figure against the stone floor.
"Come on, little humans! Don't keep us waiting! I promise, it'll be a show worth watching!" Luminox's taunts filled the air, and the laughter of his companions grew louder, drowning out her thoughts. The tension in the air was suffocating as Luminox's mocking laughter echoed ominously, each sound a dagger to Juno's heart. She felt a rush of fear and anger surge through her as she bolted from the room, desperately locking the door behind her. "You came out respectfully," Luminox jeered, a twisted smile spreading across his face, his hands poised for a fight.
"Bastard!" Juno screamed, throwing a vase at him in a futile attempt to distract him. She raced toward Arwen's room, her heart pounding in her chest. "Arwen, please wake up! Just for your little sister and mum, please!" But as her voice broke through the silence, a chilling sound pierced the air—a blade slicing through flesh, echoing with a finality that made her blood run cold.
Arwen was jolted awake, her heart hammering in her chest as she registered the horrifying scene unfolding outside her door. Panic gripped her as she flung it open, only to find Juno crumpled on the floor, her face pale and lifeless. "Juno!" Arwen cried, rushing to her sister's side, her hands trembling as she cradled her in her arms. "No, no, no! Please, wake up! I had so many plans for us! I was going to tell Lord Eamon to find you a room in the sanctum so we could be together again. Don't leave me, Juno! I can't do this without you!"
Tears streamed down Arwen's face as she felt the warmth of Juno's blood seeping into her clothes. "Please! Just hold on a little longer! I'll get Astra; she can heal you! She has the technique, I know she does!" But deep down, Arwen felt the weight of despair settle in her chest as Juno's eyes began to glaze over, the light fading from them.
With trembling fingers, Juno pressed a delicate ring into Arwen's palm, her voice barely a whisper. "Where do you think you're going? I know you have a bad headache right now because of me. I'm so sorry, Arwen. I didn't want to wake you, but Mummy and little sister need you. Keep this ring with you wherever you go. I love you so much, Arwen. You have to be careful; he's a second upper tier. I trust you to kill him."
As Arwen clutched the ring, the world around her blurred into a haze of grief. "Juno, please! You can't leave me! I need you!" But as the last breath escaped Juno's lips, Arwen felt her heart shatter into a million pieces, the weight of loss crushing her spirit. The darkness closed in around her, and in that moment, she knew she would never be whole again.Arwen felt a surge of fury as she watched her sister take her last breath, the hope that once filled the room now replaced by a heavy silence. Disappointment weighed on her heart, transforming her sorrow into a burning desire for vengeance. Words failed her; all that escaped her lips were silent cries of anguish. Luminox, sensing the shift in her energy, felt a flicker of fear—something foreign to him, a human emotion he could not grasp.
With a fierce determination, Arwen extended her hands toward the room. In an instant, the sword flew to her, drawn by an unseen force, and she grasped it tightly. Her grey eyes shifted to a pale blue, a reflection of the power surging within her. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Luminox, delivering a swift kick that sent him tumbling down the stairs. The impact cracked the floor beneath him, and the shockwave killed a quarter of the chthonians in the vicinity, their forms disintegrating as the chaos unfolded. Arwen stood tall, her heart racing, ready to unleash the full extent of her wrath.Luminox's golden eyes roamed over Arwen's body, a flicker of desire igniting within him. But before he could act, Arwen lunged at him, her knees crashing into his chest with a sickening crack that echoed through the room. The lesser chthonians, relentless in their interference, swarmed around them, allowing Luminox to unleash a series of powerful strikes against her.
Arwen, undeterred, let go of her sword, trusting it to fend off the lesser chthonians as she faced Luminox head-on. "You think you can take me one on one with—" she began, but before he could finish his mocking remark, she landed a fierce blow to his cheek, distorting his features. The look of arrogance on his face morphed into one of disbelief as he realized the wound was not healing.
Suddenly, the air around them thickened, a bone-chilling cold enveloping the room. Arwen felt a transformation surging through her, her skin turning as pale as ice while her irises faded to a haunting white. "Why has the weather turned this cold? It's abnormal," Magnus asked, concern etched across his face.
"Even if there are demons around, the shadow reporters are the fastest element, and we should have been notified," Astra added, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
Just then, a young boy, his clothes drenched in blood, stumbled into the room, breathless. "There's an outbreak of chthonians in the next community where Arwen went!" he exclaimed, panic in his eyes.
Without wasting a moment, they quickly informed Lord Eamon of the dire situation and rushed toward the sanctum's great doors. As they stepped outside, the massive doors creaked open, revealing a blinding light. This event was supposed to happen only once a year for the celebration of the first new moon, but it seemed like this was the second time in a short span. The radiant light forced everyone to bow their heads, awed by the unexpected spectacle that unfolded before them."Greetings, Lirael Shadow Dancers. It is of my great happiness that I'm here to see you as the Judge of Realms, and from where I'm standing, I can see you are all in great hurry," the tall ethereal man said, his eyes almost transparent.
"We received a message from a boy about the invasion of demons in the community," Lord Eamon stated firmly.
"Have you received a message from the shadow reporters?"
"Not yet, my Lord," Magnus replied, anxiety creeping into his voice.
"Then there is no need to go there," the man condemned.
"But there are people out there dying, and if we can reach them before the reporters, we could save many," Astra interjected passionately.
"I repeat, until we get information from the reporters, nobody is leaving here," the man declared with finality.
"Then I guess we have to disrespect your order," Lord Eamon said, rising defiantly.
"How dare you disrespect me, you human? Nobody disrespects the great Aetherion! Don't you know I can judge you to death? You think Lirael Shadow Dancer is the only corps in the world? Then you've got to be joking!" Aetherion exclaimed, clapping his hands together.
At that moment, soldiers from the great gate rushed in, pinning everyone down with swift precision.
"Why don't you judge your life first, disgraceful figure?" Lord Eamon shot back, his eyes ablaze with fury.
The two beings clashed, their powers colliding with such force that it shook the very foundation of the house. The great fog enveloped them as she slowly dissolved into the mist; the highest technique of ice veil breathing. Fear gripped Luminox as he activated chill of despair breathing, realizing he couldn't strike back—both of their powers stemmed from the same icy element. He swallowed hard, bracing for an attack, but only silence filled the air.
Out of nowhere, he was kicked to the ground with force, and Arwen reemerged, sword raised high, ready to behead him. Panic coursed through Luminox, his skin crawling as he braced for the blade's descent. Just as he felt the cold steel approaching, a sudden force knocked Arwen to the ground, rendering her unconscious.
As the fog began to dissipate, Luminox's heart raced, and he scanned the surroundings for the source of the intervention. The atmosphere crackled with tension; he knew he had to seize this moment. The battle was far from over, and the fate of their world hung precariously in the balance.