The valley had become a storm of chaos. Quadrillions of slimes rained down relentlessly, targeting the Dark Knight Lucifer, and for a moment, it seemed as if nothing could withstand the legendary onslaught.
But Lucifer was no ordinary opponent. With a roar that seemed to swallow the light, he countered, moving with terrifying speed and precision. The slime waves shattered against him, distorted, but did not stop him.
Then, in an instant, everything changed.
Sylvia—sword raised, fighting valiantly—was suddenly yanked off her feet by an invisible force. The world blurred around her as Lucifer enveloped her in a swirl of dark magic, vanishing from the battlefield.
"No!" Rocky shouted from the palace window, his voice cracking with fear and fury. His heart lurched. The woman he loved—the knight who had stopped his dragon and commanded armies—was gone.
Below, soldiers froze, unable to comprehend the sudden disappearance. The valley, once chaotic, seemed to fall into an eerie silence. The slimes, sensing their target gone, writhed in confusion, melting into puddles of colorless, magical sludge.
Rocky's fists clenched. He took her… he took her to the Dark Castle.
In the distance, atop a jagged cliff shrouded in shadows, a massive fortress loomed. Dark towers pierced the clouds, surrounded by swirling black mist and rivers of molten magic. Lightning flickered along the ramparts, illuminating the grim banners of Lucifer's dominion.
Sylvia struggled against the magical bindings, her sword glowing faintly as she tried to break free. But Lucifer's power was absolute. His voice, cold and commanding, echoed through the dark winds of the castle.
"You fight well, knight, but your loyalty blinds you. Come willingly, or all you love will be crushed beneath your feet."
Sylvia's eyes burned with defiance, though a flicker of fear betrayed her. Rocky could see her from the distance, powerless to intervene… and it tore him apart.
He gritted his teeth, turning away from the window. The Empire's walls, the gilded halls, the royal treatment—it all meant nothing now. The only thing that mattered was her safety.
Rocky's mind raced, calculating every possible strategy. Slimes? Too slow over this distance. Army intervention? Risked Sylvia's life. Magic? He had to conserve it, to strike with precision… and maybe, just maybe, he could turn the dark castle itself against Lucifer.
One thing was clear: the next move would define everything. The legendary summoner could no longer watch. He had to act, and he had to act now.
The Dark Castle loomed over the horizon, a black stain against the dying light. And inside its walls, Sylvia struggled, heart blazing with defiance… and hope that Rocky would come for her.