CHAPTER 1

Under the veil of an eerie darkness, Ethan woke with a start, feeling the icy embrace of cold water on his face. The scene was worthy of a nightmare: chained and vulnerable, one of Belial 's sinister minions had decided to give him an unconventional awakening with a bucket of ice-cold water. Immobilized, Ethan struggled to catch his breath, his hands imprisoned by thick chains hanging from above, a thick metal bar surrounding his waist, and his feet lying embedded in the wall, as if they were part of it. Coughing and gasping for water as it seeped into his nostrils, he tried to understand his grim reality.

From the shadows, a mocking voice echoed, tinged with malevolent glee. —It seems our sleeping beauty has finally awakened,— Belial said, approaching with a confident gait and a wry smile carved into his face. With a dominant gesture, he grabbed Ethan's chin, forcing him to meet those eyes that dripped with cruelty. —Now, boy, you will spill everything I wish to know.

Ethan, still fighting the cold that seeped into his bones, responded with a vigor that was surprising even in his precarious situation. —¡Never!— he exclaimed, his voice tinged with unwavering fury. —No matter what you do to me, I will never reveal anything about myself or my family!

Belial, without losing that smile that seemed carved in stone, stared directly into Ethan's eyes, as if trying to pierce his soul. Belial 's gray eyes were an abyss of shadows, bearers of death and desolation, a reflection of the ruins he left in his wake. Ethan felt a deadly chill; the darkness and devastation emanating from Belial seemed to want to devour him. —¿You feel it now, don't you, boy?— Belial whispered, his voice low and dangerous, as he pressed Ethan's neck against the wall, almost like a promise of torment. —You feel the darkness taking over you.

Despite the fear that fought to take hold of him, Ethan maintained his resolve. —I've already told you, no matter what you do, you won't get anything from me,— he replied determinedly, his words a challenge in the face of the darkest adversity.

At that moment, in the dark torture chamber, a game of wills broke out between captor and prisoner, a battle not only for information but for the indomitable spirit of a young man who refused to give in to the darkness.

Belial, with a calm that bordered on the sinister, leaned towards Ethan, his voice a whisper of dark intentions. —I could extract any information I want from you without trying too hard,— he confessed, —but where would be the fun in that?— A smile spread across his face as he caressed Ethan's cheek in a gesture that was intended to be admiration but that did not hide his true cruel nature. —You have too soft skin for this place,— he added in a tone that hinted at coming torments. —Get him out of here and take him to the wooden post. We will have fun today,— he declared between laughs that echoed throughout the vastness of the gloomy enclosure.

Belial 's minions, ruthless beings who obeyed his every sinister command, freed Ethan only to drag him away into a new stage of his ordeal. As he was led by the arm through the great room, Ethan tried to absorb every detail of his surroundings: the stone walls, the heavy atmosphere of a torture chamber adorned with instruments of pain and machines of inscrutable purpose, relics of a dark and forgotten past. They tied him to a pole, arms stretched toward the sky, and tore the top of his uniform apart, leaving him exposed and vulnerable under the expectant gaze of his captor.

— Let's see what color your blood is,— Belial murmured in a tone of morbid anticipation, brandishing a black leather whip that sliced through the air with a menacing hiss. The first lash tore at Ethan's skin, sending a wave of sharp pain through his body. He tensed, biting his teeth with all his might and clenching his fists, determined not to make a sound that would satisfy Belial 's cruel anticipation. After three lashes, bloody marks adorned his back, testament to the brutal punishment he had received.

Approaching again, Belial examined the wounds with an almost clinical interest. —You seem to have some guts, boy,— he said, his unwavering smile hiding the disappointment that he hadn't yet broken the boy's spirit. —But I wonder if they'll be enough.

Through the pain and effort, Ethan found the strength to speak, though barely audibly. —I won't tell you anything,— he stated, each word a challenge, each breath a reminder of the pain that lanced through his back. Despite his suffering, he struggled to hide his agony, refusing to give Belial the satisfaction of seeing him break. In this dark exchange, Ethan's courage shone through even in the shadows of despair, a beacon of resilience in the face of Belial 's overwhelming evil.

Belial, in a moment of rare eloquence, shared a glimpse of his vast, dark odyssey. —You know,— he began, his voice carrying an echo of grim triumph, —I have traveled through countless universes, roamed galaxies without end, claiming every jewel, every essence of power I found. In all those worlds, the guardians, the so-called bearers of the gems, posed no real challenge. Yes, they offered resistance, but they lacked the true essence of warriors. And their cosmic architects, those entities charged with weaving the fate of the cosmos, fell easily under my hand.— His tone was tinged with wicked satisfaction. —But with you, and with this universe, ah, yes! Here I have found a true challenge. You are testing my wits, making the conquest of your gem a true odyssey.

Belial 's smile widened, reflecting not only his cruelty but also a twisted respect for the resistance he encountered. —Once I have the gem, once your family and the architects of this cosmos fall, this universe will become the jewel in my crown. It will be the only one that will endure after the destruction of all others. I will begin my empire here, on this fertile land that you have so diligently cultivated. It will be, indeed, a shame to raze such beauty. The funny thing is, when you are gone, I will miss you. ¿Who will provide me with such entertainment then?— he concluded with a mocking laugh, dripping with sarcasm and disdain.

Ethan, despite the pain and despair, found within himself a shred of courage to verbally confront his captor. —You are a bastard,— he spat with contempt. —Rot in hell.

Belial, far from being offended, spread his arms in a theatrical gesture, as if embracing the desolate surroundings that surrounded them. —¿And where do you think we are, boy?— he replied with a laugh that echoed off the stone walls, a laugh that spoke of centuries of cruelty and disdain. —This game, this battle of wills, is but an echo of the hellish flames in which we both find ourselves.

In that exchange, the true nature of the confrontation was revealed: not just a fight for the fate of a universe, but for the very essence of the human spirit against the overwhelming darkness of unbridled ambition. Ethan, still in chains, represented the last light of hope against the maelstrom of destruction Belial wished to unleash.

Aboard the ship —Wandering Star— a state-of-the-art VX-Quantum model, Ethan's brothers and their brave family sailed through the emptiness of space, their destination: the distant planet Dyronia.

The mission was clear, but the emotional burden weighed like an anvil on their hearts. Rescuing Ethan, their brother held prisoner by the ruthless Belial, was not just a goal; it was a fight to redeem their honor, to save their family from the clutches of hell.

In the quiet observation room, Rodrick stood in front of the large window that offered an endless view of the cosmos. His crossed arms and tense posture revealed the mix of determination and anxiety that consumed him. The dance of stars and nebulas in the distance seemed oblivious to his inner torment.

Terry approached silently, stopping a few feet from his brother. He watched him for a moment, reading the tangle of emotions stirring in Rodrick. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft but laden with concern.

—¿What is it, brother? — he asked, though the answer seemed obvious. There was a connection between them that required no words to understand the weight of the moment.

Rodrick turned his head slightly; his eyes meeting Terry's before disappearing back into the endless stellar void. His lips moved, and his voice emerged as a whisper filled with anguish.

—It's Ethan, — she said at last. —I can feel his suffering echoing through the void, as if calling to me from the depths. Every moment he spends there, in the claws of that monster, burns me up inside. I wish with every fiber of my being that we were there already… that we had him back, away from the jaws of that demon.

Terry nodded slowly, his own eyes reflecting the same uneasiness. His voice, though calm, was imbued with a vulnerability he rarely showed.

—I feel the same way,— he admitted. —It's like waves of cold and pain are hitting me inside. A feeling that comes and goes... it's unbearable.

Rodrick clenched his fists and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to contain the frustration that was boiling inside him. When he spoke again, his voice was a low growl, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

—I don't want to even imagine what that bastard is doing to her. I just... I just hope Ethan is still alive when we get there.

Terry, with a calm that surprised even Rodrick, took a step forward and spoke firmly.

—He won't kill him,— she said, her tone confident and defiant. — Belial delights in suffering, not death. If Ethan dies, his game is over. He needs us alive… all of us. It's part of his damned trap.

Rodrick looked at him, his eyes searching for some of the reassurance Terry seemed to offer. He nodded, though his jaw remained clenched, his mind racing through a whirlwind of possible scenarios.

—I know,— he admitted at last, his voice heavy with resignation. —But that doesn't make things any easier. When I have Belial in front of me, I will make him understand something he has never known: the true meaning of pain.

Rodrick 's shoulder, a simple gesture but one filled with a silent promise. They knew the road ahead would be dark and dangerous, but in that instant, in that room filled with uncertainty, one thing was clear between them: they would not stop until Ethan was safe and Belial paid for every second of suffering he had caused them.

—You have to keep a cool head, Rodrick ,— Terry advised, his voice firm but understanding. —Don't let him touch you or take your shard away.

Rodrick turned around completely, his figure radiating a mixture of determination and suppressed fury. His eyes locked onto Terry's with an intensity that seemed to pierce through any barrier.

—I don't know what awaits us when we get there,— he said, his voice firm as thunder anticipating a storm, —but of one thing I am absolutely certain: my anger is not something that can be ignored. It is a raging storm that knows no mercy.

He paused, letting his words settle in the air, like the echo of thunder rumbling on the horizon. Then, in a darker, more determined tone, he added:

—I will not allow Belial to get away with this. If he thinks we are easy prey, he is gravely mistaken. I will not rest, Terry, not until he understands that underestimating us was his greatest mistake.

Rodrick 's words , a mix of fear and confidence building within him. In that moment, he knew that nothing, not even the darkest shadows of Belial , would be able to stop them.

Rodrick 's shoulder, a gesture of solidarity and unwavering support. —Together we will face whatever comes. Ethan will return to us, I assure you. We will save him.

In the silence that followed, the brothers shared a look of determination. The Wandering Star continued its journey through the cosmos, carrying on board a family united not only by blood, but also by courage and the resolve to face together the darkest shadows of the universe.

Rodrick nodded, his hand instinctively seeking comfort on his chest, where a tumult of emotions was raging like a storm. —I hope so,— he murmured, his voice tinged with a concern that seemed to spread through every fiber of his being.

Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of the universe, Ethan struggled to stay conscious. Each lash was a brutal reminder of his captivity. After the tenth lash, his mind

He began to float away from the agony, seeking refuge in some peaceful corner of his being.

—Boss,— one of the demons said, looking at Ethan with a twisted gleam of respect in his eyes. —The boy can't take it anymore, it seems.

Belial, with a smile that dripped with cruelty, turned to his subordinate. —He has endured more than others.— He laughed disdainfully. —The important thing is that his brothers have felt his pain. That is what I wanted, for them to lose control. Take him to his cell and leave him there until further notice. We will use this to our advantage, a strategy to catch them all.

Back on the Wandering Star, the atmosphere was one of focus and determination. Francisco Javier, with the authority of one who had faced countless challenges, began issuing instructions. The crew gathered around the HoloTable —3000 in the briefing room, where an image of the planet Dyronia was projected.

—According to our observations, the planet seems uninhabited, at least by humans. There are only animals and vegetation— explained Francisco Javier, manipulating the images on the hologram to show a detailed map. —Here— he pointed, marking a specific point— is where the signal from Ethan's chip is. That's where we have to go to free him from that demon—

—¿So what's the plan of action?— Aiden asked , his voice reflecting the urgency of the situation.

—First, we need to assess the presence of guards or any kind of security in the area. It seems that Belial is using the caves as his refuge—said Francisco Javier, outlining the initial approach.

—That makes sense. He is a demon, after all,— Darius commented , his tone carrying a tinge of contempt mixed with the expectation of an impending challenge.

The conversation continued, with each crew member contributing ideas and strategies, uniting their minds and hearts in the mission to rescue Ethan. In the darkness of space, the Wandering Star was not just a ship; it was a beacon of hope, moving boldly forward to confront the evil that awaited Dyronia .

Rodrick couldn't help but frown, the disgust clear in his voice. —If these beings like that kind of accommodation,— he commented disdainfully, —it's even more repulsive considering the nature of these beings.

Francisco Javier nodded contemplatively before laying out a definitive plan. —We will survey the area to assess the presence and number of guards. Our approach will be to split into teams of two to maximize our cover and maintain a low profile. The objective is to enter undetected, locate Ethan, and effect the rescue,— he explained, his voice carrying an undeniable weight of command.

Marcus, with an intense look, added his perspective, adding a layer of caution to the plan. —We have to consider that Belial is probably expecting our rescue attempt. Even though he knows the caves better than we do, our advantage will be stealth and the element of surprise. We must use that to our advantage.

The room was filled with a determined silence as the team digested the strategy. It was clear that despite the unknown odds and dangers that awaited them in the shadows of Dyronia , the resolve of each team member was unwavering.