( ZENITHOR REALM )
The war council of Realm Leader's had just begun when a sudden presence darkened the air.
"Let the war meeting commence," Duke Austin declared, his tone calm but commanding.
Before any plan could unfold, the guard burst into the chamber. "Before that, sir—someone is here to see you all."
A short, cloaked figure stepped forward, the sound of boots echoing across the marble floor. The room tensed.
Elara Moonwhisper's eyes widened. "It's him… Maxwell Matsumoto, leader of Nova Heaven."
Maxwell gave a respectful nod. "Yes. Nova Heaven has come to offer its support in this war."
Sage Hinata gestured toward a seat. "Please, be seated, Maxwell."
But before Maxwell could speak further, Duke Austin frowned. "From my sources, they say—"
A chilling voice cut through the tension. "That the king has been captured?"
Everyone turned. A woman in shadowed cloth stood at the hall's entrance — the Usurper.
Maxwell stood abruptly. "How did you get in here?"
Swords and spells rose in defense as Hinata and Austin prepared to strike.
The Usurper chuckled. "If I wanted to kill you all, I would have done it before revealing myself."
Elara's voice sharpened. "Then state your business."
"Attack the castle two days from now," she said calmly. "I promise you victory."
Aurora Wynter's eyes narrowed. "Why help us?"
The Usurper gave no answer — only a faint smirk. "Do as I say."
Then, in an instant, she vanished.
---
Underworld Realm — Cocokoba
The ground trembled as rivers of red mist flowed across the dark caverns of Cocokoba.
"Ezra," Catherine demanded, her tone cold and direct, "explain what's going on."
Ezra's expression darkened. "They split the King into four… using that Tambo Altar."
Kyle's voice cracked. "But Paul is still alive, right?"
"I don't know," Ezra admitted.
Ashley's fists clenched. "What do you mean you don't know?"
Kyle took command. "Rahm, Maria, Riley, and Maya — head back to the castle. Sai Fujimoto, stay here."
Riley gave a short nod. "Yes. Good luck, everyone."
Sai stepped forward. "Of course."
Catherine raised her hand . "I'll handle Ukoballon and Cremoneth. Take care of the rest."
Kyle bowed slightly. "Yes, ma'am. Sai — do what Paul taught you."
Sai hesitated. "But you'll all get caught—"
"Do it now!" Kyle barked.
Sai spread his arms. "Elemental Release — Illusion Gate, Stage One!"
The battlefield blurred. Shadows folded into mirages, deceiving even the senses of the Underworld.
Valefar sneered. "Illusion, huh? You think you can deceive Underworld rulers with this?"
"Be careful, brother," Valecton warned. "This illusion… it's dangerous."
Kyle's hand glowed with cosmic energy as he launched his attack. "Universe Control Sphere!"
The impact shook the battlefield.
Valefar staggered, his sight fading. "Are you… okay, brother? I can't see through this!"
Catherine steadied her breath. Deep breath, Cate… you can do this.
Ezra's telepathic voice echoed in their minds. Listen, Creations. Paul's heart is still beating. We just need to bring him back.
Catherine's eyes burned with light. "Elemental Release — Waves of Death!"
Cremoneth countered instantly. "Cosmic Authority — Cancel Illusion Gate!"
Sai gasped. "My body… it's moving on its own, Kyle!"
"It's Cosmic Authority," Kyle shouted. "A power beyond even illusion!"
The spell broke — reality snapped back.
Valecton's claws struck, slamming Ashley through the air.
"Ashley!" Ezra called out.
Across the field, Ukoballon smirked. "You said you're my opponent, right, Catherine?"
"Yes," she replied. "And you too, Cremoneth — you're joining us."
"Fine," Ukoballon said darkly. "Follow me. I'll take you to my battlefield."
Catherine followed without hesitation.
---
Ukoballon's Battlefield — Gloria
A barren land of cracked crimson stone stretched under a shattered sky.
"How are we doing this?" Catherine asked.
"One-on-one," Ukoballon replied. "Cremoneth, stay out of this fight."
"Yes, Ukoballon."
Ukoballon's tone grew somber. "My father had thirty-two children. We all fought for the crown. That useless man… saw us as entertainment."
Catherine narrowed her gaze. "Yes, I know. You Underworld rulers were once humans. But your story doesn't concern me."
He smiled bitterly. "My last opponent, Adzai, killed himself. Said he didn't want the crown."
"How noble," Catherine said dryly, "or should I say pathetic?"
Ukoballon chuckled. "Harry said you had attitude problems. Seems he was right."
"Enough talking," Catherine said, power flaring around her. "Let's begin."
She raised her hand. "Grace Manipulation — Divine Punishment!"
The sky darkened. Energy weighed heavy on Ukoballon's shoulders, forcing him to his knees.
"Can't believe my sins are… this small," he laughed.
"You're insane," she said coldly.
"My father was worse. The Underworld is filled with sinful humans whose spirits refused to pass on. I've killed more than any ruler before me."
"Enough chit-chat, Ukoballon. I win."
Ukoballon's soul began to waver, slipping from his form. "When… when did you do it?"
"I used Mercy Accumulation — Soul Separator."
"You're… trying to separate that brat's soul from me!"
Catherine lunged, uppercutting his stomach and striking his ribs. He blocked her third blow with a roar.
"You pack a punch, woman. No wonder Harry fears you. Grand Chaos — Sterling Infinity!"
Catherine smirked. "Sterling Infinity… a dream world that traps your opponent forever."
Ukoballon froze. "Impossible! No one has ever survived Sterling Infinity! What are you?"
She smiled faintly. "People keep asking that. But I'm just normal."
Her form blurred. "Get ready, Ukoballon. Here I come."
She vanished.
"Where is she? Above or—"
A fist struck his face. A knee crushed his chest.
"Grand Chaos — Jug Jail!"
"Grand Chaos — Jug Jail!" Ukoballon countered.
The two forces collided, a massive explosion shaking the heavens.
They clashed again — strikes, kicks, and chaos weaving together like a storm.
"You're quite formidable," Ukoballon said, bleeding, "but it ends here! Grand Chaos — Peak of Destruction!"
The explosion tore the battlefield apart, leaving a massive crater.
Ezra's voice echoed from afar. "That explosion… it came from Catherine's direction!"
Ukoballon coughed, laughing weakly. "All talk and no action. Look at you, burned already— Wait… what!? You're a clone!?"
A blade pierced through his chest.
---
Valefar & Valecton vs The Creations
Kyle squared his shoulders and met the two underworld rulers without flinching. "We'll take you both on," he announced. "Valefar and Valecton — we're your opponents."
Valefar smiled, something like amusement and hunger in his eyes. "Interesting." He breathed the words and then unleashed it — a pulse of raw, warped energy that slammed into the air between them. The sky split with electric sound.
"Grand Chaos — First Shock," Ezra warned, voice low and urgent. "Brace yourselves."
Lightning cracked across the ground. Throbbing arcs danced along the stones and lit every face in the courtyard with stuttering blue fires.
"Thanks, Ezra," Kyle said through the roar, wiping rune-scorch from his forearm. "That lightning was powerful."
Ashley's eyes narrowed as she assessed the phenomenon. "Grand Chaos… what sort of spell is that?"
"They're siphoning Paul's negative energy to boost their strength," Ezra said, already shifting, fingers weaving air into counter-runs. "Something is wrong." His mind ran on in a private tide. Why would the Underworld strike before our war with the Realm Leaders? Who ordered the assault, and what do they hope to gain?
"Ezra — watch out!" Ashley snapped just as Valecton answered with his own titanic strike. A thunderwave rolled outward from the ruler's palms, a pressure front that pushed at the bones.
Ezra moved, canceling the worst of the concussion, muscles and will a perfectly timed lattice. "They are still feeding on the King's essence," he panted. "They've weaponized it."
Valefar's grin widened. "Even at your peak, cosmic being, you are… entertaining."
Ezra's jaw tightened. "What are you after, rulers?"
Valefar answered simply. "Supreme Being awakening."
"That's nonsense," Ezra spat. "A supreme awakening requires the King to reach his true pinnacle. He is nowhere near that."
Valecton's face twitched. He placed a hand against his chest as if feeling a new, strange cadence beneath his ribs. "What do you mean?" he asked, voice thin.
"Brother—" Valefar's tone slid from amusement to alarm. "What is wrong?" He reached for Valecton, but the second ruler's eyes rolled back in sudden agony. He screamed, a sound like metal tearing.
Ashley rushed forward. "Ezra, is he— is everything all right?"
At that moment Valecton's body folded in on itself, a grotesque contraction that made the onlookers stagger back. Flesh and armor compressed like a living coil, as if the ruler were collapsing into a tight, quivering sphere.
Kyle's face contorted with disgust. "What the hell is that?"
"It looks like the ritual was manipulated," Ezra said. He took in a lungful of air, palms sparking with defensive energy. "The King's essence was not supposed to divide. Someone—someone altered the ritual parameters."
Sai's voice was small but taut with disbelief. "Is that—Paul's hand?"
The thing that writhed within Valecton's contracted form gave a sick, unnatural lurch. Kyle's stomach turned. The image of a severed limb—familiar and wrong—skittered across his vision like a nightmare.
"No time," Kyle barked. "Everyone, attack Valefar with everything you've got!"
"Elemental Release — Universal Control!" Kyle roared, unleashing cosmic light.
Valefar stepped forward, shielding his brother. "Someone tampered with the ritual… but I won't hand my brother over to the likes of you. After everything we've endured, never!"
The sky tore apart as creation and chaos collided — and the war for the King's soul began.