Sia's heartbeat pounded in her ears. Her vision blurred at the edges as realization slammed into her like a tidal wave.
They were the ones trapped.
The suffocating darkness of the Black Star Lord's domain pressed in, distorting space itself. The once familiar castle grounds had transformed into an endless abyss of shifting black. The walls had vanished, the sky had disappeared—there was nothing but them, surrounded by an army of shadowy figures with no escape.
She forced herself to breathe. Forced herself to think.
The enemy had outmaneuvered her. Again.
And yet, she couldn't afford to hesitate.
Her fingers twitched at her side, ready to summon her power at a moment's notice.
But first—
"Why?" Her voice was quiet, but it carried through the still air like a blade.
The man who had betrayed her—General Veyron—didn't even look ashamed.
He stood beside the Black Star Lord, his stance relaxed, his expression devoid of regret.
"You already know why," Veyron said simply.
