They moved in a tight line through the tunnel Thomas and Luke at the front, Sophie close behind, then Ace, Eve, Ice, and the fearsome Blaze bringing up the rear. The air was damp, the walls close, their footsteps echoing in steady rhythm.
Sophie's voice broke the quiet. "Thomas… how did you do it?"
Thomas glanced over his shoulder. "Do what? I didn't make these tunnels."
Ace smirked. "Nah, she means Eden."
Luke chuckled under his breath.
"Oh… that," Thomas said. "Well… I don't really remember."
Luke turned toward Ace. "Thomas doesn't remember — but I do. It was remarkable."
Ace grinned. "Hell yeah, that's badass."
Thomas shook his head. "No, it's not. It's just what any one of you would've done if you were in my position. That's it."
Ice's voice came from the back, thoughtful. "Thomas… you have a gift the rest of us don't. That's true. But now I understand why everyone who's met you talks about you the way they do. There's this… universal admiration for your relentless attitude. And I can see why you're favored. You don't gloat where most men would. That's a leader. That's a hero."
Eve stepped closer to Thomas, a curious glint in her eyes. "So… how old are you, Thomas?"
Thomas turned toward her with a slow smile, about to answer — but Sophie cut in.
"Luke, can you tell us a story of Eden?"
Luke blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. The others looked at Sophie too, surprised — except for Eve, who stared at her with thinly veiled impatience.
Blaze's voice rumbled through the tunnel. "Where's this tunnel lead, anyway?"
Thomas cut through the chatter. "It goes to the Bearded Man's den. But he's not going to want a bunch of strangers dropping in without warning. He can be… cranky."
Luke laughed. "Yeah, tell me about it."
" ya I wasn't the teachers pet either," Thomas shot back He said jokingly.
Luke just grinned.
"Hey," Luke said, feigning innocence, "don't get mad at me just 'cause the teacher liked me best."
That left the militia staring — powerful figures, locked in bitter little jabs like kids on a playground. It was almost comical.
Thomas cleared his throat, cutting the moment short. "Let's go this way. We're almost to the end of the tunnel — should open into the woods."
They walked on, the air growing cooler. But when they emerged, it wasn't forest waiting for them. It was farmland.
Endless rows of green stretched out under a pale sky: corn swaying on one side, watermelons heavy on their vines, strawberries bright as drops of blood, wheat fields whispering in the wind. Dozens of crops — but no houses, no roads, no cars.
Thomas and Luke exchanged a wary look.
"That's… odd," Thomas murmured.
Luke nodded slowly. "Odd indeed."
"You think there's some if we head down that way?"
Luke shook his head. "No. Remember what the demon said — this is Lucifer's City. Population: one."
Thomas frowned. "How do you even know—"
Luke simply pointed past him. Thomas turned. A weathered sign read:
WELCOME TO NEW HEAVEN CITY — POPULATION 1 — HOME OF THE FREE
Blaze snorted. "That's why no one's heard of it. Nobody comes here."
Ice's voice was low. "With the vibe I'm getting… cold. Sinister."
Everyone murmured agreement.
"Okay, cool," Ace said. "Thought I was the only one."
Then Luke's gaze shifted. "Over there. On the hill."
They all followed his eyes — to a castle looming against the horizon, massive, dark, and unmistakable.
Thomas exhaled. "I'm no genius… but I think that might be his house."
Ace barked a laugh. Eve laughed even louder, looping her hand around Thomas's arm. "That's funny," she said.
Sophie's expression chilled, but Thomas only gave Eve a polite smile.
By the time they reached it, the castle's grandeur was overwhelming. A driveway fit for a king swept up toward crimson doors set into walls of black and grey stone. The structure was ancient in form, but modernized in detail.
Parked at its front: a 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, a sheen of deep black blended with regal purple.
Thomas eyed the massive doors. "Looks like the front door's open."
Ice frowned. "You seriously just want to walk in there?"
"Yeah, man," Ace said with a shrug.
Blaze's voice was low, edged with warning. "We shouldn't take him lightly, Thomas."
"He is the supreme ruler of the demons," Blaze said, his voice low and certain.
Thomas glanced at Luke.
"They're right," Luke said, "but I've always got your back. You know that."
"Likewise, brother." Thomas nodded once and pushed the door open.
They stepped into a grand hall. A massive chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, its crystals catching the dim light. Beyond that, nothing — just two sweeping staircases curling upward, and arched doorways to the left and right.
Blaze's eyes scanned the empty space. "Looks like we'll have to split up to find Edwin."
Ace shook his head. "I don't know, man. My bones are telling me we stick together."
And it wasn't just him. That thing in the air — a cold unease that seemed to leech at their lifespans just by breathing it — had settled over all of them.
"Yeah," Ice said quietly. "I'm with Ace."
Thomas pointed toward the stairs. "Then let's go up."
Luke's gaze sharpened. "You feel that?"
Thomas paused mid-step. "…Yeah. I can sense it."
"It's strong. Calling."
The militia exchanged confused glances; they couldn't feel what Thomas and Luke did. Only the two of them — trained by the Bearded Man to sense other living creatures auras — understood.
Without another word, the brothers ascended. The militia followed close behind.
Upstairs, the hallway stretched long and regal, its walls lined with paintings from civilizations and histories long erased — before the switch to the Light System that had rewritten the world's truth.
Ace tilted his head at one ornate frame. "These paintings are crazy."
"They are," Sophie agreed.
But Thomas and Luke didn't so much as glance at the walls. The aura was a thread, and they were locked on it.
They stopped in unison. The militia stopped with them.
Luke's voice was barely above a whisper. "You hear that?"
"It's Beethoven," Sophie said.
Ace's face drained of color. First the air. Then the castle. And now this. "This guy gives me the creeps," he muttered.
No one replied. But everyone felt what Ace said. They just kept moving until they reached a set of massive double doors — both standing open. The music was louder now, pouring from within.
They entered a cavernous chamber, nearly bare except for the throne at its far end. A lone spotlight burned in the darkness, illuminating a figure on his knees, head bowed.
They watched in silence as the man rose, unhurried. He turned — and Thomas's voice cracked the air.
"Edwin!"
He ran toward him, heart pounding. Edwin stood motionless, face blank, eyes shadowed. He wore a white silk robe tailored like ceremonial armor, a curved blade sheathed at his hip.
"Thomas, stop!" Blaze barked.
Thomas slowed, turning. "Why?"
That was when he saw the figure above — standing on an interior balcony, watching. No introduction was needed. The weight of his presence told them all.
Lucifer.
Thomas turned back. "Edwin, come on — we came to rescue you. Let's go, brother. We can all be together again."
Edwin kept his gaze to the floor.
Thomas stepped closer. "Can you hear me? It's me. Thomas. We came to save you."
A whisper: "Thomas?"
"Yes, brother. It's time to go."
Edwin raised his head, his voice suddenly steady. "Thomas… is this really a rescue mission?"
"Yes. All of us — we came to help you."
Edwin's eyes sharpened. "No. This is my mission."
The first punch hit Thomas's throat, folding him forward. Two more slammed into his chest, each blow bursting through the air like a drumbeat. A final kick cracked against his temple, hurling him to the floor.
"Thomas!" Sophie screamed.
"Go, militia!" Blazee roared.
They charged as one toward Edwin — all but Sophie, who stood frozen, too stunned to move after what she'd just seen.
Sophie stood frozen, her mind reeling. Edwin… why?
Ace was the first to charge. He swung his sword in a vicious arc — but Edwin slipped past the strike, carving a slash across Ace's leg and driving an elbow into his head in one fluid motion.
Ice rushed in, steel meeting steel. Three rapid clashes rang out before Blaze appeared at Edwin's back, blade raised. Edwin vaulted upward, twisting midair, his feet snapping against both Blaze's and Ice's faces, forcing them back.
Luke came next, his strikes crisp and measured. Edwin grinned as their blades collided — a warrior's smile — then deftly knocked Luke's sword off-line and kicked him square in the chest.
Ice recovered and came in again, his swings relentless. Edwin swayed and stepped aside, dodging with nothing but subtle head tilts and footwork, as if reading each blow before it landed. Then, in a blur, Edwin backflipped, his heel smashing into Ice's jaw with brutal force.
He landed low, palms flat on the floor. The purple-black aura surged from his frame like living smoke. When he moved again, he was faster, heavier, unstoppable.
He carved into Ice's side — not killing him, but dropping him. Ace tried to counter with an elbow and headbutt, but Edwin smashed him down, blood spilling from the wound on his scalp. Eve fired arrow after arrow, but Edwin wove through them, closing the distance in seconds. Three brutal strikes — bow shattered across her head — and she crumpled.
Blaze charged. Steel clashed. For a moment, he kept pace — until Edwin's onslaught drove him to the floor with a single crushing kick.
Luke was there again, fists and feet and blade trading blow for blow with Edwin, the rhythm almost hypnotic. But power won out. Edwin's blade crashed down, snapping Luke's sword in half. A headbutt staggered Luke, but he fired back with his own punch, forcing Edwin to release him. They traded strikes barehanded — Luke precise, Edwin overwhelming — until a savage jab lifted Luke's head, a body blow stole his breath, and an uppercut dropped him to the marble.
Sophie's voice cracked. "Edwin!"
He turned and, in one motion, punched her. She stumbled, eyes wide. "What… happened to you?" was all she could manage before he drove her to the ground.
Edwin drew his sword, raising it over Sophie.
"Edwin, this isn't you!" Thomas's voice rang out as he staggered to his feet.
From the floor, Ice wheezed, "He's gone."
"No. He's in there," Thomas said, eyes locked on his brother. "Come out now. I won't fight you."
Ace groaned, "Thomas… you're gonna get us killed."
"Edwin, stop this. Come home."
Edwin began walking toward him. Then, in a blur, he leapt, blade aimed to kill. Thomas didn't move couldn't believe his brother would strike.
The slash came down.
Gasps filled the chamber.
Blood dripped from Edwin's sword… but it wasn't Thomas's.
Blaze had stepped between them at the last instant.
Thomas caught him as he fell. "Blaze—"
Blaze managed a faint smile. "We… believe in you." His last breath left him, and he went still.
Edwin pulled his blade free and laughed, looking at the fallen captain. Grief and rage twisted through the militia.
"Thomas, finish it now!" Ice shouted.
Something inside Thomas broke. A vision of Blaze's sacrifice ignited a fire so intense it cracked the floor. The walls trembled. The chandelier above swayed, crystals shattering.
A golden-platinum blaze erupted around him, searing hot, flames roaring to the vaulted ceiling. The castle shook under the weight of his fury. Lucifer, watching from above, simply motioned to Edwin — who stood there, blank-eyed — and Edwin turned and walked away.
No one tried to stop him.
Thomas's aura raged out of control. Luke's face tightened. "It's too much power. He can't hold it."
The ceiling began to collapse.
"Ice, grab Blazee's body. We've got to get out of here."
"What about Thomas?"
"He's going to burn out but he'll destroy everything around him first. It's uncontrollable."
Ice nodded, hefted Blaze's body gently. "I've got you, my friend." Sophie rose, helping Ace to his feet, Eve under his other arm.
"Ice?" Luke said.
"I have to see this through. I'll make sure Thomas survives. Go!"
They fled the castle.
From a safe distance, they watched the golden fire devour everything it touched. Stone blackened, crops burned. The earth itself seemed to cry out.
When at last the flames died, nothing remained but ash. The castle was gone.
Luke emerged from the haze, Thomas limp in his arms.
"He's alive," Luke said quietly. "Barely."