The corridor leading to Jake's prison pulsed with dark magic. Every step closer made Mona feel like her skin was crawling—like something inside her wanted to rip out.
Niki walked ahead, rune map glowing in his hand.
Sunghoon walked beside Mona, close but silent, his jaw locked tight since the kiss.
No one said anything.
Until they reached the chamber.
The doors opened on their own—massive, black stone creaking as if alive.
Inside, Jake hung in midair, chained by runes carved in blood. His head was slumped, his shirt ripped, wounds glowing faintly silver.
"JAKE!" Mona screamed.
She ran forward, but the second her foot touched the circle around him, a wave of force blasted her back.
And then he stepped out of the shadows.
Tall. Ancient. Pale as death.
Eyes like liquid gold.
The air turned icy.
"I was wondering when you'd come," he said, staring straight at Mona. "You look just like her."
"Who are you?" Niki growled, stepping protectively in front of Mona.
The stranger didn't flinch. "I go by many names. But to your mother, I was called Veylor."
Sunghoon stiffened.
"You're supposed to be dead," he whispered.
"I was," Veylor said with a wicked grin. "But when the last Bloodborn rose, I returned. That's how it works."
Mona's eyes narrowed. "Why do you know my mother?"
"Because she was mine," Veylor said simply. "My mate. Until she betrayed me and sealed away your power."
Mona's blood ran cold.
"You're lying."
"I don't lie, child," he said. "She feared what you would become. But I never did. You and I are the same."
"I'm nothing like you."
He smirked. "Then prove it. Free your friend. But you'll need to tap into the part of yourself you've been running from—the darkness."
Mona looked at Jake, still unconscious and growing weaker by the second.
Niki grabbed her hand. "You don't have to do what he says."
"I'm not afraid," she whispered.
"Mona—"
But she stepped into the circle.
The air screamed.
Her eyes turned fully red and silver. Her hands lifted. Light and shadow pulsed in waves—burning the rune chains.
Jake dropped, coughing blood, into Niki's arms.
"You did it," Sunghoon said softly.
But Mona wasn't done.
Her power surged. She turned to Veylor.
"I should destroy you."
"You can't," he said. "Not without becoming me."
Her hands burned.
And then—a crack.
The mark on her wrist split open, like it had awakened a new level.
And her knees buckled.
Niki rushed to her. "Mona! You're overheating—"
But when he touched her, she screamed—not in pain. In power.
The darkness inside her was no longer sleeping.
Sunghoon watched, eyes wide. "We need to get her out of here. NOW."
Mona looked up—eyes glowing white and red.
"I… can't hold it anymore."
And Veylor only smiled.
"Good," he whispered. "Let it out. Become what you were born to be."