As Aizen prepares to unleash a devastating beam of power, he focuses everything—condensing his storm-like rage into a single strike. His hair whips wildly from the magical energy swirling around him. A moment of silence... then a colossal beam crashes down upon the Crimson Hand's castle, annihilating it completely. The entire city shakes.
But in the aftermath, Aizen freezes.
"Did I... hit them too?"
Panic creeps into his heart, but before he can spiral out of control, Mikaela gasps—"I hear Theo's breath! They're near the Black Tower at the edge of the city!"
Aizen vanishes in a blur of lightning, his fury unleashed on anything blocking his path. Roads crack, buildings tremble. Citizens scream in fear—not at monsters, but at the black-haired beastman blazing through like a storm.
Meanwhile, deep underground, Lyra, Theodore, and Amethyst are barely keeping ahead of Esdarte. Their bodies ache, their breath ragged.
Suddenly—the ceiling bursts open. Blinding light. The dust clears... revealing a terrifying figure.
Aizen.
But to Amethyst, it's not a hero—it's a monster cloaked in thunder.
Aizen sees Lyra and Theodore unharmed and exhales. But then his eyes lock onto the unfamiliar boy.
"Who's this?" Aizen asks, eyes glowing faintly.
Amethyst steps back nervously but straightens. "My name's Amethyst. I helped them escape Esdarte... I know this castle inside out."
A moment of silence. Then—
"You saved them?" Aizen nods. "Thanks."
Before more can be said, Esdarte attacks from behind, shouting, "You think you've won?!"
But his strike hits Aizen's back and... nothing. No scratch. No movement.
Aizen's voice is cold. "You're not worth a second attack."
With a flash of lightning, Aizen raises his hand and smashes Esdarte with a single lightning strike. The villain screams, then vanishes into nothingness.
The threat is over... but half the city is gone.
---
(END of Chapter 20)