Huo Feng jolted awake, startled by the kingdom's morning call.
They had no sun to guide the beginning of a new day—only the surge of blazing violet flames that erupted at dawn, releasing a thunderous roar that shook the skies.
Still shaken, she headed to the Throne Hall. There she found the masked Emperor waiting for her, his eyes heavy with unspoken words—words she understood the moment she saw the fear trembling inside the adviser standing stiffly beside him.
Huo Feng answered the question the Emperor had not voiced aloud.
"Yes… I discovered the location of the Soul Vessel last night."
The adviser blinked in confusion, wondering what he had missed.
Her faint smile only deepened his bewilderment. Turning back to the Emperor, she said quietly as her gaze drifted across the towering palace walls:
"And you also know I cannot enter without your permission."
The adviser leaned forward eagerly.
"Did you accept the price you must pay in return?"
He paused, then his tone brightened with barely contained excitement.
"It's the Forbidden Incantation… will you bring it back?"
Her voice was calm, her attention still traveling along the carved stone murals.
"Are you deaf? I told you yesterday—I am already here. And of course I'll bring it… right into your hands, Adviser. Oh? Or are you the one who wants it?"
The adviser stammered, shooting a terrified glance at the Emperor.
"N-No… it's not me."
She narrowed her eyes, a sly smile forming—
"Ah… so it's—"
But her words were cut short.
The Emperor flicked his hand, and a force hurled her violently into a black opening in the wall—as if the darkness itself swallowed her.
Inside the void
Huo Feng stumbled into a realm of absolute emptiness… an endless, devouring black.
There was no light—no shimmer, not even the faintest glow.
Only sound surrounded her: whispers, gasps, sobs… or were they laughter?
She couldn't tell.
It was chaos—pure, shapeless chaos.
Then she felt it.
Something was pulling at her very identity, trying to peel it away like a fragile layer of skin.
Fear struck deep.
Instinctively, she tried to spark a flame in her palm—just a spark to anchor herself.
That was when she heard it.
A voice.
Familiar.
Close.
Too close.
The void itself spoke to her:
"No need to summon light…
If your own spirit doesn't shine, no flame will survive here.
Your little tricks cannot disturb my darkness… old friend."
Huo Feng froze, eyes shutting tightly as the truth hit her—
The darkness was easier to face with her eyes closed than open.
But then the voice called again, deeper this time, almost amused:
"Old friend… have you come to settle our unfinished debt?"