After the blizzard subsided, a figure rose before Kevin.
The clothes were identical to his — except for the red markings running along the sides.
Kevin thought, tense:
"I've seen this guy before… is he the Second Sentinel?"
— What were you thinking when you attacked him?! — the man shouted.
The wall of ice around them shattered, revealing emptiness — and the worm had vanished.
Luis took a few seconds to answer; his eyes empty, distant. Ruby, uncomfortable, touched his arm lightly, bringing him back.
— Sorry... — he finally said. — Think twice before attacking people out of nowhere. I only defended myself.
The words, though spoken aloud, weren't meant for the Sentinel — but for Kevin.
Standing behind the Second Sentinel, Kevin simply nodded.
— My body's still shaking... — he murmured, staring at his hands.
— Kevin, right? — asked the Sentinel, without turning.
— Depends... who's asking? — Kevin replied, wary.
— The Second Sentinel of this kingdom, — the man said, firm and authoritative. — Come with me, boy. There's much I want to teach you.
Without waiting for an answer, the man began walking toward Luis and Ruby.
Kevin followed in silence.
— Luis, I'll be taking your cousin with me, — said Augusto.
— What are you talking about? — Kevin asked, confused. — I don't know anything about this!
— Shut up and listen, — Ruby muttered, impatient.
The conversation continued:
— Very well. Before I depart for my mission, I ask that you take me to the prison where Julian's being held, noble Augusto — said Luis.
— Do you have any idea where it is? — asked the Sentinel.
— None. — Luis's response was direct and stubborn.
Adjusting his hood, Augusto started walking — and the others followed.
---
Elsewhere, in a distant place, the space was dark — the walls rounded and damp, almost organic, like the inside of a living bubble.
At the center stood two figures: a masked man and a translucent humanoid.
From above, a slit of light tore through the ceiling, illuminating the chamber for a few seconds.
From it fell the creature that had attacked Kevin — feline in form, with long claws and shadowed skin.
Rising, it growled:
— What's the deal, guys? I was just about to kill that brat!
— There's no time for that, Garo, — the masked man replied calmly. — The two-headed dragon… was it taken care of?
— Yes, — Garo answered curtly. — Killed by the First Sentinel.
The translucent man, Juan, spoke in a cold, restrained tone:
— It's time to begin the second stage of the plan.
The masked man turned toward him.
— For that, I need to speak with him. Would you be so kind as to take us there, Juan?
Without a word, Juan placed his hands on their shoulders.
In seconds, the three became translucent — and vanished.
---
For a moment, everything turned darker.
The air grew thick, unmoving.
The three reappeared in a silent field — the ground white as bone, the walls black and pulsing with flashes of white light at uneven intervals.
They were in the depths of the sealed world.
A deep sound echoed from the void.
From the darkness, a figure emerged — a tall man with pale skin, four arms, and six eyes arranged around his face, resembling a distorted deity.
— What are these insects crawling into my home?! — the man roared, his voice vibrating through the chamber.
The masked man stepped forward, his tone calm, almost friendly:
— I came to speak with you, Leonardo… the man who once shaped an era by his own will. I have a proposal — care to hear it?
Leonardo clenched his teeth.
— Make it quick, boy. If your words displease me, I'll kill all three of you.
— Don't include me in that, — growled Garo, taking a step back.
Juan, as always, remained silent — merely watching.
The masked man stood firm.
— Before you resort to violence, listen: I want to help you... I want to free you from here.
Leonardo tilted his head slightly.
— And do you have any idea why I'm imprisoned in this place? — he muttered, his tone low and bitter.
— Your lust for killing — that's the reason, — the masked man replied, steady. — But that's exactly what I need.
Someone who kills without hesitation.
I want to free you… so you can destroy everything that still remains in this world.
Leonardo smiled — not with joy, but with pure hatred.
— That, I'll gladly do... but I'll have to kill you as well.
The masked man didn't flinch.
— Here's the deal: using the rings that seal your soul, I'll find a host. That way, you'll return to the living world… and kill whomever you wish.
Leonardo laughed, the sound echoing up to the white ceiling.
— Do it. I'm waiting… I'm waiting.
Then, he dissolved into the darkness — swallowed by the void.
The masked man crossed his arms.
— Alright then… — he muttered. — Time for the next step.
Juan approached, placing his hands on their shoulders.
In the blink of an eye, their bodies turned translucent — and vanished.
The field fell silent once more.