The palace was burning.
The flames licked the banners hanging from the walls, casting dancing shadows on the cobblestones strewn with bodies. The air was thick with smoke, mixing the smell of charred wood with that of still hot blood.
Ghadib's soldiers resisted, but it was no longer a battle. It was an execution.
A group of guards attempted to break through the rubble. They were running towards a side exit, hoping to escape this hell.
But before they could reach the broken archway leading to the outer quarters, a wall of shadow rose before them.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then, darkness fell upon them.
A flash of chaos swept across the passage, and their screams died away before they could call for help.
The captain of the guard, still standing in the center of the main courtyard, saw his men fall one by one.
His fingers clenched around his sword, he took a step back.
There was nothing left around him.
Just corpses, fire and them.
The mercenaries in black and gray, advancing like a relentless tide, methodical and merciless.
The leader of the attackers emerged from the carnage, his metal mask reflecting the glow of the flames.
He stopped in front of the captain, observing him with icy calm.
—Why continue? he asked in an even voice.
The captain did not answer.
His gaze swept over the faces of his fallen men, the cobblestones soaked with their blood.
He knew.
Everything was lost.
But give up...
Non.
Not while Ghadib lived.
He tightened his grip on his sword and growled through his teeth:
— Because I don't surrender.
The leader of the mercenaries bowed his head.
— A mistake.
With a fluid movement, a blade bursts out of nothingness.
The captain only saw the reflection of the fire on the metal before pain pierced him.
He fell to his knees.
His fingers slowly let go of the hilt of his sword, which fell to the cobblestones with a metallic clang.
The mercenary pushed him roughly, and his body collapsed on top of the bodies of his comrades.
An overwhelming silence fell on the courtyard.
The leader of the attackers observed the scene, indifferent to the massacre.
Then he raised a hand.
— Burn the rest.
The mercenaries nodded wordlessly.
One of them stretched his hand towards the sky, and a black flame burst into the air before falling on the palace.
The last screams died away under the rain of ashes.
And, as the fire finished its work, the leader of the attackers murmured:
— Make sure no one survives.
The fate of Ghadib's domain was sealed.
****
Aisha and Raikuto ran through the ruined corridors, their footsteps echoing on the cracked tiles of the palace. Every breath was a burn in their lungs, every explosion a stark reminder that they had nowhere safe to run.
They had to find Ghadib.
But as they reached the great hall, a figure stood out from the flames and blocked their path.
Abraham.
There he was, standing, still impeccably dressed, his expression serene despite the chaos around them. He seemed completely indifferent to the screams, the flames, the bloodshed. As if he was watching a show whose ending he already knew.
— You went to so much trouble to escape... But why?
His voice was soft, almost amused.
Aïsha stopped abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest.
– It's you…
Abraham bowed his head slightly.
- Yes.
Raikuto clenched his fists.
—You opened the doors to mercenaries.
The steward sighed, running a hand over his coat as if to brush away invisible dust.
—They would have come in anyway. Might as well save them time.
Aïsha felt a dull anger rising within her.
"You betrayed my father.
Abraham raised an eyebrow slightly, as if the accusation didn't affect him.
—Do you really think it was still worth being loyal?
Aisha opened her mouth to reply, but Abraham cut her off sharply:
"You don't know anything about what he was doing.
The tone was harsher.
—Your father told you that he was preparing for the future, didn't he? That he was looking for a way to protect you?
He let out a slight laugh.
- Lies.
Aïsha felt her stomach knot.
Raikuto frowned.
- What are you talking about ?
Abraham looked into Aisha's eyes.
— He wasn't trying to protect anyone. He wanted to bring your mother back to life.
The ground seemed to give way beneath her.
- …What ?
—Your mother died a long time ago, Aïsha. But he never accepted that.
Abraham took a step towards her.
— He wanted to recover the Gem of Memories. He thought that with her he could rebuild his spirit and infuse it into a new body.
Aïsha felt her breath catch.
—It's impossible...
— And yet, he believed it. So much so that he sacrificed everything for it.
Abraham smiled slightly, relishing the break he saw in her eyes.
— Even you.
Aïsha took a step back, unable to take her eyes off him.
Raikuto remained silent.
Because it all made sense.
Ghadib's medallion. His absent gazes. The receptacle.
Everything was linked.
Abraham continued, ruthless.
— He bought Raikuto as a simple tool. He knew he was special. He knew he possessed a unique energy.
His smile grew crueler.
— He intended to use it as a catalyst to complete his ritual.
Aisha shook her head.
— Non.
— Open your eyes, Aïsha. Your father didn't prepare you to be his heir. You were just a pawn on his chessboard.
Raikuto met Aïsha's gaze.
She was pale.
She wanted to deny the truth, but she knew that Abraham was not lying.
Not on that.
A long silence hung between them.
Then Aïsha clenched her fists.
—And you, Abraham? For what ?
The steward shrugged his shoulders.
— Because I didn't serve Ghadib. I served Azrael.
Raikuto felt a shiver run down his spine.
The name had been dropped.
Azrael.
The one who ordered all this.
"You were with him from the beginning…" Aïsha whispered.
Abraham nodded.
— Ghadib was a weak man. Obsessed with the past. It was time for a true leader to take his place.
Aïsha felt rage overwhelming her.
She grabbed her dagger and brandished it in front of her.
— Traitor!
Raikuto placed a hand on his arm.
— Aïsha… he is stronger than us.
—I don't care! she hissed through her teeth.
Without waiting, she lunged at Abraham, the blade ready to strike.
But he didn't even back down.
A simple fluid movement, a wave of invisible energy...
And Aisha was thrown against a pillar.
Raikuto had no time to hesitate.
He grabbed Aisha's dagger and gripped it with all his might.
The steel burned his fingers.
Then, a spark.
The air was charged with electricity.
A blue flash illuminated the corridor, and a lightning wave burst from the blade.
Abraham raised one hand slightly.
The wave hit an invisible barrier and exploded with a brutal crackle.
Raikuto grimaced.
He didn't have enough power.
Abraham surit.
- Interesting.
He held out a finger towards them.
An invisible pressure pressed them against the ground.
Raikuto struggled. He felt his own chaos trying to awaken under the influence of Abraham.
But it was useless.
Abraham dominated them without the slightest effort.
He knelt next to Raikuto, observing the electric glow that still danced at his fingertips.
"This power…" he whispered.
Then he slowly turned his head towards Aïsha, still on the ground, panting.
— You always thought your father was watching over you.
He touched his own chin thoughtfully.
— But tell me... If I spare you this evening, what are you going to do?
Aisha struggled to get up, her gaze burning with anger.
—Kill you.
Abraham surit.
—That's what I wanted to hear.
Then he got up and suddenly released them.
Raikuto and Aisha collapsed to the ground, out of breath.
Abraham watched them for a moment, like a predator assessing its prey.
Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the shadows.
Aisha, her chest heaving with rage, stared at the spot where he had stood.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm.
"I swear…" she whispered.
Raikuto slowly looked up at her.
— Aisha…
She was trembling.
With rage.
Of pain.
Of clothes.
But before they can say another word...
An explosion shook the foundations of the palace.
The fight had reached the throne room.
Ghadib was in danger.
****
Transition to the stage
The palace was burning.
Flames licked the walls, the screams of soldiers echoed in the gutted corridors.
Idriss walked quickly, his sword drawn, his jaw clenched.
All this... this massacre...
He had sensed that something was up, but he had arrived too late.
And now he had only one option left: reach Ghadib before it was too late.
As he turned into a side corridor, a shiver ran down the back of his neck.
An instinct honed by years of combat.
He stopped.
A shadow was silhouetted in the glow of the torches.
A massive figure, armed with a huge two-handed sword, blocked his path.
The man wore dark armor, marked with chaotic symbols, and a helmet with a slit visor, from which two eyes like burning embers shone.
His presence alone seemed to weigh down the air around him.
The man placed his sword against his shoulder, a grin on his lips.
— Idriss from Samakhrystal.
His voice was hoarse, heavy with contempt and amusement.
—I was wondering when we would finally meet.
Idriss tightens his grip on his weapon.
—And you, who are you?
The man tilted his head slightly.
—Karnak, the Breaker of Wishes.
He slowly lowered his sword, letting his chaotic aura intensify around him.
—And I have come to complete what should have been completed a long time ago.
Idriss did not answer.
He knew how to recognize a dangerous opponent.
And this man...
Was not a simple mercenary.
The duel begins
The clash of blades echoed violently in the corridor.
Karnak struck with crushing brutality, each blow vibrating the flagstones beneath their feet.
Idriss, faster, dodged and countered with precision, looking for an opening.
But he already knew that.
A fight of endurance would be fatal to him.
Karnak was an experienced warrior, and his raw strength surpassed that of Idriss.
He had to unbalance him.
Jumping back, Idriss held out his hand.
A blue glow intensified in the air around him.
— Chaos Spell: Death Tide.
Water erupts from the ground like a liquid blade, heading straight towards Karnak with devastating pressure.
But the leader of the mercenaries smiled.
He spread his arms, and a pulse of chaotic energy shot out around him, dispersing the attack.
—A water mage, huh?
His gaze darkened slightly.
—Let's see how you handle drowning.
He brought his blade down on the ground.
— Chaos Spell: Devouring Abyss.
The ground collapsed beneath Idriss, transformed into a black, moving pool that engulfed him up to his knees.
An icy feeling immediately invaded him.
His breathing became shorter.
Chaos was sucking away his life energy.
He tried to move, but his legs refused to obey.
Karnak approached slowly, enjoying his advantage.
— You see, Idriss…
He raised his sword above his head.
— That's why we don't play with water…
The weapon fell.
But Idriss reacts at the last moment.
He concentrated all the chaos he could manipulate and raised a trembling hand to the sky.
— Chaos spell : Azure's vortex !
A column of water gushed around him, propelling him out of the black trap and pushing Karnak back with a powerful wave.
The mercenary stumbled back from the impact, but stuck his sword into the ground to keep his footing.
His gaze met Idriss's.
- Not bad.
Then he put himself on guard again.
— But that won't be enough.
A strategic fight
The two warriors looked at each other.
The duel was no longer just a clash of strength, but of control and endurance.
Idriss knew he had to avoid direct attacks and use the terrain to his advantage.
He created thin streams of water on the ground, slippery like ice, hoping to force Karnak off balance.
But the latter immediately understood the trap.
He stepped back slightly, scanning the terrain.
— Malin…
Then he gave a powerful kick to the ground, kicking up rubble and dispersing the water around him.
Idriss curses his intelligence.
This guy was too experienced.
But he hadn't played everything yet.
He took a deep breath and released his last card.
— I'm going to finish it.
He held out both hands in front of him, and a watery sphere began to form.
Karnak narrowed his eyes.
- Oh ? Do you want to play this?
His chaotic aura grew in turn.
Both spells charged at the same time.
Then they attacked.
Two forces collided.
Water and chaos.
Pressure surged through the corridor, shaking the walls.
The outcome
A thick cloud of steam rose as the two powers canceled each other out.
A figure appeared in the fog.
Faculty.
He moved forward, injured, but still standing.
Idriss was on his knees, exhausted.
He tried to get up...
But his body no longer responded.
Karnak stopped in front of him.
He tilted his head slightly, as if sizing up his opponent.
Then, slowly, he lowered his sword.
—You fought well.
A chaotic burst hit Idriss head on.
Searing pain.
Then, black.
The road to Ghadib
Karnak looked at Idriss's body lying on the ground.
He wiped the blood from his breastplate, then turned toward the hallway leading to the throne room.
Ghadib was nearby.
The last obstacle had just fallen.
He raised his weapon, then advanced into the darkness.
****
The shadow approaches
Aïsha and Raikuto were running out of breath, chaos devouring the palace behind them.
The explosions echoed through the shattered corridors, shaking the walls beneath their power.
They no longer had time.
—The throne room! Aïsha panted, quickening her pace.
She refused to accept what she already knew.
She had to see her father.
She had to save him.
Raïkuto followed, breathing short, a strange discomfort oppressing his chest.
Something was happening.
Something irreversible.
They took a final turn...
…and saw the large doors of the throne room explode under a chaotic wave.
The last fight
The plumes of dust slowly dissipated.
In the center of the ruined throne room, Ghadib waited.
He stood tall, alone, his sword in hand, the blade reflecting the flickering glow of the flames.
In his left, he clutched his medallion.
His last connection to what really mattered.
Facing him, Karnak, the leader of the mercenaries, advanced slowly.
His black cloak slid across the smoking rubble, his dark armor still bearing traces of previous battles.
— Ghadib from Samakhrystal.
He stopped a few steps away, scanning the soiled gilding, the torn carpets, the shattered rubble.
—Did you really think you'd get the Gem of Memories?
His voice was calm, almost amused.
Ghadib did not answer.
He knew it was over.
His expedition…
Had failed.
And now…
He was going to pay for his mistakes.
Karnak tilted his head slightly.
—It's almost sad.
He raised his sword, pointing the blade at Ghadib.
— Let's get this over with.
Ghadib closed his eyes briefly.
Then he took a deep breath and loosened his grip on his locket.
His fingers slid slowly over the hilt of his sword.
He refused to die without a fight.
Then he raised his weapon.
Steel versus chaos
The first clash of blades exploded through the air, resounding like a clap of thunder.
Ghadib barely blocked, his arms shaking from the impact.
Karnak gave no respite.
His attacks were relentless, precise, crushing.
Each blow threatened to break Ghadib's guard.
But he held on.
He dodged, stepping back, looking for an opening.
For a moment, he glimpsed a flaw.
He leapt forward, aiming for Karnak's exposed flank—
—and knocked.
Steel bit into flesh.
A trickle of blood flowed onto the mercenary leader's dark armor.
Karnak grimaced...but didn't flinch.
Now, the answer.
His sword sliced through the air at lightning speed.
Ghadib raised his blade just in time, but the impact threw him backwards.
He rolled on the ground, his breath taken away.
"You're tougher than I thought.
Karnak advanced slowly, his blade dripping onto the mottled ground.
— But you're tired.
Ghadib stood up with difficulty, one hand on his side.
He knew it.
His body couldn't keep up anymore.
But he wouldn't back down.
A slow applause broke the silence.
Karnak stopped.
Ghadib turned his head slightly, breathing short.
In the shadow of the broken columns, Abraham appeared.
Always impeccable. Always calm.
His gaze swept across the scene, analyzing the situation with cruel detachment.
—I must admit that I am surprised, Ghadib.
He approached slowly, his footsteps echoing against the cracked tiles.
"I thought you would have run away.
Ghadib clenched his jaw.
—And I thought you would have at least had the decency not to show yourself like a traitor.
Abraham smiled.
— Oh, let's see.
His tone was light, almost mocking.
"You already knew I was a traitor.
He stopped a few meters away.
Then, with a fluid gesture, he raised a hand.
A chaotic circle appeared beneath his feet, pulsing with dark light.
Ghadib immediately put himself on guard.
Karnak raised an eyebrow.
—Are you planning to join me?
Abraham shrugged his shoulders.
- Why not ? This is a rare opportunity to dispose of a walking corpse.
Without warning, he held out his right hand.
A blade of pure chaotic energy formed around his arm, crackling, unstable.
A two-on-one duel had just begun.
A merciless fight
Karnak attacked head on.
Ghadib raised his sword, barely blocking.
But a chaotic explosion erupted on its side.
Abraham threw a wave of energy at him at point blank range.
The shock threw him backwards, his back violently hitting a broken pillar.
He caught his breath, the pain searing his muscles.
But he got up.
- You are tenacious... observed Abraham, his tone almost admiring.
Karnak approached, his sword dragging on the ground.
—It's useless. You cannot win.
Ghadib gritted his teeth.
—But I can slow you down.
He threw himself at Karnak with all the strength he had left.
The mercenary parried skillfully, but Ghadib used his weight and experience to throw him off balance.
Abraham immediately intervened, projecting a new chaotic wave.
But this time, Ghadib dodged.
He lunged at Abraham, striking with a sideways blow.
The blade lightly cut the steward's arm.
Abraham grimaced, but did not flinch.
Then, in a cold voice:
—You are already dead.
The moment when everything changes
Aïsha and Raikuto entered at the precise moment when Karnak delivered the fatal blow.
The blade pierces Ghadib's flank.
Aisha screamed.
Raikuto, paralyzed, felt an unknown pain twisting his stomach.
Ghadib fell slowly, his body shaking with pain.
His gaze drifted to his daughter.
He opened his mouth...
But no sound came out.
He squeezed the locket one last time...
Then, he weakly handed the object to Raikuto.
The boy hesitated, shocked.
"Take it…" Ghadib whispered.
Raikuto reached out his hand, closing his fingers on the object.
One last sigh.
One last regret.
Then Ghadib collapsed.
Aisha screamed.
Raikuto squeezed the medallion in his palm.
Behind them, Abraham sighed.
- Finally.
The mercenaries were approaching.
Aïsha and Raïkuto were alone.
And the fight was only beginning.