The figure dropped from the tree, landing directly in front of Jackson's horse.
"Whoa!"
Jackson yanked the reins, bringing the horse to an abrupt stop just before it could trample the boy.
"Watch where you're landing, you idiot," he snapped. "You could've gotten yourself killed."
"My bad, Jack." Marcel casually brushed the dust from his tunic, seemingly unconcerned. "But seriously, what are you doing here? You know this place is off-limits."
Jackson frowned.
"That's funny. I was about to ask you the same thing."
"I asked first, so answer me."
"And I don't have time for this nonsense."
Jackson pulled on the reins and urged his horse toward the Darkest Dungeon.
"Hey! Wait up, you idiot!" Marcel shouted, immediately chasing after him. "If you know what our fathers are planning, rushing in there without thinking could ruin everything."
Jackson abruptly brought his horse to a halt.
He looked down at Marcel, his expression changing.
"Wait a minute... You know what they're planning?"
"Yeah." Marcel stopped to catch his breath. "I overheard them talking after the meeting with the higher-ups ended."
Jackson quickly dismounted.
"Then tell me everything. What are they planning? And more importantly, is it something good or bad?"
His stern gaze made Marcel hesitate.
"Honestly? It's terrible." Marcel sighed. "But what can we do about it? We're nowhere near strong enough to confront our own fathers. Still, hearing my dad talk that way, knowing he has a son of his own... I never expected him to go that far."
"Stop beating around the bush and get to the point," Jackson snapped. "I know a little about what's going on, but not the details."
"Will you let me finish?" Marcel shot back.
He took a breath before continuing.
"After I finished training with Master, he gave me a letter to deliver to my father. He specifically told me not to open it, so I followed his instructions and headed straight to the meeting room."
"And?"
"I tripped just outside the door."
Jackson stared at him.
"You tripped?"
"Can you stop interrupting me?"
"Fine, fine. Keep talking."
Marcel clicked his tongue before continuing.
"When I fell, I heard my father say something that made my blood run cold."
His expression turned serious as he recalled the words.
"'Execute the woman. Bring me the boy. Do whatever you want with the girl... I couldn't care less.'"
Jackson's eyes widened slightly.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I moved closer to the door to catch more of the conversation, but they were already wrapping things up. Then I heard them mention opening the Darkest Dungeon and releasing Sasaki."
Marcel clenched his fists.
"That's when I realised something was seriously wrong. They're planning to use some kind of mind-control spell on Sasaki. I don't know who this boy is or what connection he has to my father, but why kill the woman? What if she's the boy's mother?"
Jackson lowered his head and released a slow breath.
"So I wasn't imagining things..."
He looked toward the distant dungeon.
"I overheard part of their conversation too. My father was speaking to a Special Darkside Knight through telepathy. That's why I came here in the first place."
Marcel's expression tightened.
"Then what do we do? We can't just stand here and let them carry out whatever they're planning."
Jackson's eyes narrowed as an idea came to him.
"We follow them."
"Follow them where?"
"My father and Sasaki will teleport to wherever that boy is. If we can establish a link with the spell, we might be able to tag along with the teleportation circle without being detected."
Marcel stared at him as though he'd completely lost his mind.
"Are you insane? Sasaki is going to be with your father. How exactly do you expect us to follow someone like him without getting caught?"
Jackson smirked.
"Relax. I've got a plan."
He turned toward his horse and gave it a gentle pat.
"First, I'll send this guy home. Then we'll continue on foot."
With another light slap, he sent the horse trotting away into the night.
Marcel watched it disappear before turning back to him.
"You'd better know what you're doing, Jack."
"Of course I do. Now move."
Without another word, the two boys raced toward the dungeon.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Darkest Dungeon...
Lyon stood beside the enormous stone tomb, his arms folded impatiently as he waited for Sasaki to emerge.
"Exca, how much longer is this going to take?" he asked through their telepathy link. "I thought breaking the seal was supposed to wake him up."
"It's not that simple," Exca replied. "Sasaki has been asleep for fifteen years. Even though the seal is broken, his soul still believes he's imprisoned. Someone needs to wake him up properly."
Lyon's expression changed.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"Give him a good Octo-push."
For a moment, Lyon said nothing.
Then...
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"
His shout echoed throughout the dungeon.
"What if he wakes up and immediately tries to rip my head off? Do you want me to die?"
"Stop overreacting. He's under control," Exca replied calmly. "Just give him a push."
"Then why don't you do it yourself?"
Lyon gritted his teeth, glaring at the motionless figure inside the tomb.
"I'm not touching a maniac who used to eat Alpha and Beta Darkside Spirits for breakfast."
"Lyon, you're a pro Darkside Knight. Surely you can manage something as simple as..."
Before Exca could finish, a faint sound interrupted them.
Creaaaak...
Lyon's entire body stiffened.
Inside the tomb, Sasaki's eyelids slowly lifted.
Lyon swallowed hard.
Oh, hell no... He's awake.
Sasaki slowly raised his upper body and sat upright. Despite the monstrous power hidden within him, his movements were strangely calm.
"Lyon? What's happening?" Exca asked through the telepathy link.
Lyon didn't dare answer aloud.
Instead, he activated Phase Two: Thought-Link, establishing a direct connection between their minds.
Exca, do you copy? Sasaki's awake... What the hell am I supposed to say to him?