Prelude!

"I see," Harry muttered, his eyes widening as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place in his mind.

It was all becoming clear now. The Black Council's actions, their strategic kidnappings, it had all been part of a grander plan. The more elaborate the ceremony, the greater the power required to fuel it. And the Black Council's ceremony was going to be massive. To initiate the ritual they were preparing, they needed to light up each of the altars scattered across the city, one by one, gathering immense power with each activation.

Harry's eyes darkened as he connected the dots. The fighters they had kidnapped weren't just pawns, they were essential sacrifices, their blood and life force crucial to the success of the ceremony. Now, it was all making sense.

Bang!

The sudden sound of cracking stone pulled Harry from his thoughts. His gaze snapped to the largest altar in the central area, which had just taken shape. The ceremony had officially begun.