The moment Sosuke's feet touched the ground, his heart sank. It wasn't just the air—thick and oppressive, tasting faintly metallic—that struck him. It was everything.
The sky, if it could even be called that, was a swirling void of deep crimson and black, like blood mixing with ink. Massive floating islands drifted lazily across the heavens, their sheer size unfathomable. Some were cracked and jagged, with chunks of rock crumbling away into the abyss below, while others bore sinister structures—spires and ruins that looked long abandoned. The ground beneath him was barren, a mix of cracked stone and deep grooves that resembled scars on the land. Pools of some glowing, greenish liquid dotted the area, pulsing faintly, as though alive.
"This is… where they come from?" Rin whispered, her voice barely audible as her eyes darted around. Her usual confidence was replaced with unease, her arms folded tightly as though shielding herself.
"Looks like hell decided to upgrade," Reid said, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders, though his grin was subdued. His cocky demeanor faltered slightly as he gazed at the red sky. "Pretty cozy place, huh? Who's up for a vacation?"
Ren scoffed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You don't have to joke about everything, Reid. This is serious. Look at it—this place is a nightmare." He kicked at a nearby stone, watching it tumble off the edge of a platform into the endless void below.
Lyra stepped forward, tilting her head back as she scanned the floating islands above. Her dark cloak fluttered slightly in the stagnant air. "It's incredible, in a horrifying way. Makes you wonder if there's any logic to how this place was built… or if it's just chaos."
Elowen crouched down, running her fingers across the ground. Her usually calm face was tight with concentration. "It's not natural. None of it. This entire realm feels… fabricated. Like it was molded for a purpose."
"Yeah," Arthur added, adjusting the strap of his sword across his back. "A purpose like hosting the things that have been trying to kill us. So far, it's doing a pretty damn good job."
In the distance, far down a jagged, messy path, lay a massive castle, dark and foreboding. Its towers stretched toward the bleeding sky like skeletal fingers, and faintly glowing veins of green ran along its stone walls. The structure seemed alive in its own way, pulsating faintly with the same eerie energy as the pools around them. What appeared to be guards—hulking blights clad in blackened armor—patrolled the perimeter, their movements eerily synchronized.
"Is that—" Sosuke started, his voice barely audible.
"A castle," Rafael finished for him, his golden eyes narrowing. He gripped his spear tightly, his usually calm demeanor showing signs of tension. "And it's guarded. Figures."
"They look… stronger," Rin muttered, her gaze fixed on the patrolling blights. Her fists clenched at her sides.
Reid gave a low whistle, squinting toward the castle. "Guards, huh? What are they guarding? Some grand treasure? Or is it, like, the VIP lounge of this dump?" He smirked, glancing at Sosuke. "Bet you're itching to bust in there already, huh, Lightning Boy?"
Sosuke ignored him, his focus locked on the castle. Something about it called to him, a strange pull in his chest that he couldn't explain. His hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his katana. "We don't have a choice. That's where we need to go."
Arthur frowned. "You don't even know what's in there."
"No, but it's the only structure that stands out," Lyra said, stepping beside Sosuke. "If there's any clue to what's happening here—or a way to end it—it'll be in there."
Ren sighed, his shoulders tensing as he glanced at the endless void surrounding them. "Yeah, because walking into the most obvious trap imaginable sounds like a great plan."
"It's not like we have other options," Elowen said, standing. "The way back is gone."
The group turned, and their breath collectively hitched. The portal they'd stepped through moments ago had vanished, leaving nothing but an empty void behind them.
"Fantastic," Reid muttered, spinning on his heel. "Guess we're moving forward."
Sosuke took a deep breath, his purple eyes narrowing as he stared at the castle in the distance. "Then let's get moving. Stay sharp. We don't know what else is waiting for us out here."
The group set off, the weight of the realm pressing down on them with every step. Each footfall echoed across the barren ground as the castle loomed closer, its dark presence growing more oppressive with every passing moment.
Sosuke's attention shifted to Rin, his purple eyes flicking toward her briefly before returning to the uneven path ahead. "You've been quiet. You alright?" His voice was low, careful, like he didn't want to push too hard.
Rin's eyes stayed on the jagged terrain around them, her right hand absently gripping the pendant around her neck. "Yeah. I'm fine," she replied quickly, too quickly.
Sosuke frowned but didn't press right away. The silence between them stretched, filled only by the faint crunch of their boots on the cracked ground. After a moment, he sighed. "Look, about the warehouse… I'm sorry. I lost control, and I shouldn't have. I don't know how bad I hurt you, but—"
"It's nothing," Rin interrupted, her voice steadier than she felt. "That doesn't matter now."
"It does," Sosuke insisted, his gaze briefly dropping to the ground. "I feel terrible about it. I just—"
Rin's hand suddenly wrapped around his, pulling his focus back to her. She smiled, soft but sincere, though her grip wasn't as firm as she wanted it to be. "I promise, it's okay. You don't need to keep apologizing."
Sosuke hesitated, searching her face for any sign of doubt, but her expression didn't waver. "Alright," he said finally. "I just had to make sure…" He shifted his attention back to the castle in the distance, but he didn't pull his hand away. He didn't notice how Rin's hand trembled faintly in his grasp.
The group trudged forward in tense silence, the oppressive red sky above bearing down on them. Reid, as usual, was the first to break it.
"So, anyone else notice how none of this place makes sense? Floating islands the size of countries, creepy green lava pits… What do you think, Lyra? Cool backdrop for a story or what?"
Lyra tilted her head, giving him a sidelong glance. "Story? More like a nightmare. But sure, if you want to turn our impending doom into art, be my guest."
"See? That's why I like you. Always thinking outside the box." Reid grinned, skipping ahead a few steps to scout out a glowing crack in the ground. "Wonder what happens if I poke one of these."
"Reid!" Ren barked, his silver eyes sharp. "Stop screwing around! You don't know what that is."
Reid paused, glancing back with a mock hurt expression. "Relax, I wasn't actually going to. It's called keeping things light, Ice King."
"Keep it light somewhere else," Ren muttered, dragging a hand through his white hair.
Arthur sighed, shifting the sword across his back. "I'd appreciate it if we focused. There's a literal death castle in front of us. Maybe don't poke the glowing death rocks."
"I second that," Rafael added, his calm tone cutting through the group. His golden eyes flicked toward the castle. "Whatever's in there… it's not going to wait for us to get comfortable."
"Comfortable?" Reid smirked. "You guys are wound so tight I'm surprised you're not snapping. Loosen up! We're already here. Worst-case scenario, we die horribly, but hey, we gave it a shot, right?"
Rin's steps faltered slightly, and she tightened her grip on her pendant. Sosuke caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and gave her a sidelong glance, but said nothing.
Lyra slowed her pace, walking beside Rin. Her sharp eyes softened slightly. "Don't let him get to you," she said quietly.
"Him?" Rin asked, blinking.
"Reid. His jokes. They're… well, him." Lyra gave her a faint smile. "Doesn't mean you have to match the energy."
Rin shook her head quickly. "It's not that. It's just—" She paused, biting her lip. "Never mind. You're right. I'll keep up."
Lyra gave her a long look before nodding and falling back into step with the others.
Ahead, Sosuke raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "We're close," he said, his voice quiet but firm. The castle loomed above them now, every detail of its eerie, pulsating walls clear.
The group exchanged glances, the gravity of their situation settling in as they drew closer. The guards at the castle's gate moved in eerie unison, their hulking forms patrolling the entrance. One of them turned its head, and for a moment, its glowing eyes seemed to pierce through the gloom, locking onto the Starborn.
"Anyone got a good plan for this part?" Lyra asked, gripping her weapon tightly.
"Charge and hope for the best?" Reid offered, though his grin had faded slightly.
Sosuke's jaw tightened. "We'll figure it out. Stick together. No one gets left behind."
One of the guards stabbed its weapon into the ground in front of the group, its eyes examining each and every one of them.