Rosy rushed into the grand hall where the Celestial King stood, his imposing figure framed by the golden light of the castle's high windows. He turned toward her, his piercing gaze softening slightly at her distressed expression.
"My lord," Rosy began, her voice trembling. "I must confess something grave. Shan… Shan opened the Gate of Dark. The Dark Devil has been released."
The Celestial King's eyes widened, and his expression turned grave. "Why didn't you stop him, Rosy? The Dark Devil is far more powerful than any of us, even me. Without a solid plan, we stand no chance against him."
Rosy lowered her head, guilt weighing heavily on her shoulders. "I'm so sorry, my lord. I tried to convince Shan not to act, but… I failed."
The Celestial King sighed deeply, his demeanor softening slightly. "It's not entirely your fault, Rosy. Mistakes happen, but now isn't the time for regret. Wait here; I must retrieve my weapon. It's our only hope to seal the Dark Devil again."
As Rosy watched him walk away, her heart pounded with anticipation. She clasped her hands tightly, whispering a silent prayer for their survival.
The Celestial King entered his private chamber, his steps echoing in the quiet room. He approached the sacred pedestal where his weapon—an intricately designed staff glowing with celestial energy—was usually kept.
But it wasn't there.
He froze, his heart sinking. His piercing eyes scanned the chamber, but the staff was nowhere to be found.
"No…" he whispered, his voice breaking. "It's gone."
A realization dawned on him, dark and heavy. The ichor stealer, the chaos—it had all been a ruse. A carefully orchestrated distraction.
"The weapon…" he murmured, gripping the edge of the pedestal. "They stole it. The one and only key to seal the Dark Devil. This entire attack was just a setup."
For a moment, he stood in silence, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. Then, with visible sadness etched into his face, he turned and left the room.
Rosy stood outside, her face lighting up with hope as she saw him return. "My lord, what happened? Did you retrieve your weapon?"
He shook his head, his voice heavy with sorrow. "It's been stolen, Rosy. The weapon—the key to sealing the Dark Devil—is gone."
Rosy's face paled. "Then… then what can we do now, my lord?"
The Celestial King looked at her, his usually strong and commanding presence now tinged with despair. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "Without the weapon, I fear we have no way to stop him. The Dark Devil's power is limitless, and we're running out of time."
Rosy clenched her fists, fighting the panic rising in her chest. "There must be another way, my lord. There has to be!"
The Celestial King closed his eyes, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. "Perhaps… but I don't see it yet. For now, we must prepare for the worst."
Rosy stood frozen as he walked away, his heavy steps echoing down the hall. The castle felt colder, darker, as the weight of the impending doom settled over them both.
Elesta arrived at the Celestial King's chamber, her soft footsteps echoing as she approached him. She immediately noticed his furrowed brow and the way his usually commanding posture was weighed down by an invisible burden. His sadness was palpable, filling the room like a heavy fog.
"My lord," Elesta said gently, her voice carrying both respect and concern. "Why do you look so defeated? You are the Celestial King, the leader of gods. A mere stolen weapon cannot diminish your greatness."
The Celestial King let out a long sigh, his gaze fixed on the floor. "It's not just a weapon, Elesta. It is the only key to sealing the Dark Devil. Without it, I fear we've lost the only chance to contain his power. He is not an ordinary foe—he is the god of darkness, a force of chaos that no one can withstand."
Elesta placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her golden armor glinting in the dim light of the chamber. "My lord, it's true that the weapon was special. But don't let despair cloud your vision. This castle is filled with gods, each possessing extraordinary strength. Together, we are far more powerful than the Dark Devil or his minions. We can stop him, with or without the weapon."
The Celestial King finally lifted his gaze to meet hers, a flicker of determination returning to his eyes. "You're right, Elesta. This isn't the time for despair. We must act swiftly and decisively."
He straightened his posture, his commanding aura returning as he addressed her. "Summon all the gods. Inform them that we march into battle against the Dark Devil. We will protect this world at all costs. No devil, no darkness, will extinguish the light we guard."
Elesta nodded, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "It will be done, my lord. The gods will stand with you."
Moments later, the castle's great bell tolled, its resonant sound echoing across the celestial realm. Gods of every kind—wielders of fire, water, wind, and light—gathered in the grand courtyard, their weapons gleaming and their expressions resolute.
The Celestial King stood at the forefront, his presence commanding attention. He raised his hand, and silence fell over the crowd.
"Today," he began, his voice booming with authority, "we face a darkness unlike any we've encountered before. The Dark Devil seeks to plunge this world into chaos, to extinguish everything we hold dear. But we will not falter. We are gods—guardians of balance, protectors of life. Together, we are unstoppable."
A cheer erupted from the gathered gods, their voices ringing with unwavering conviction.
"Move out!" the Celestial King commanded, his voice filled with determination.
The celestial troops marched in unison, a dazzling army of divine power heading toward the battlefield. Elesta walked beside the Celestial King, her sword drawn and her expression fierce. Rosy and Shan watched from the castle steps, their hearts heavy with both guilt and hope.
As the army disappeared into the horizon, the air grew thick with anticipation. The stage was set for a battle that would determine the fate of their world—a clash between light and darkness, where every decision could tip the scales.