CHAPTER 13

—We already have a way to help him— Elian said. —Now we have to get him out of there and, most importantly, first locate where Belial is.

—It won't be difficult— Rodrick said. —That guy likes caves and, besides, even if Safiro's soul isn't in his body, the chip is still inside him and we can track him.

—That's true— Marcus added. —That chip will tell us his exact location.

—Yes, we just have to wait a bit— Terry warned. —Remember that Belial now has a more powerful ally, one that is equal in strength to ours. It is not a matter of going in without a strategy. That demon has no control; Sapphire is not there to control him. We may not be able to harm him, but he cannot harm us either. Still, our forces are now equal. It is not like before, when Belial was at a disadvantage.

—I agree,— Francisco Javier nodded, putting his hand on his chin as he thought. —It's not the same as before. Now our forces are equal, as Terry says, and it won't be as easy as before.

—¿So we're just going to let him keep holding my brother? — Dennis asked.

Claudius explained . —But now the whole picture has changed. Remember, we already knew that our brother was different from us. But with this demon he created, he's more than different; he's brutal. He has our same strength and power. We have to be careful.

In the soft twilight of the room, lit only by the diffuse light of a few LED lamps, whose glow cast soft, playful shadows on the walls, Dennis looked up, his eyes reflecting determination and a spark of hope. —I understand,— he said in a firm voice, drawing everyone's attention. —We will get him out of there, but we need to come up with a more solid plan than we have now,— Rodrick intervened , his deep, calm voice cutting through the air with the precision of a sword. —And we must be prepared to face that demon, for it has strengths and spells on par with our own.

Silence fell over the room for a moment, everyone pondering the gravity of his words. It was Elara , with her characteristic sweet and witty voice, who broke the silence. —Maybe the only way is to enhance our abilities,— she suggested, her eyes shining with the light of an idea. —We could build a machine that amplifies our powers, it would be the only way to defeat him.

Ashtar, ever the pragmatist with a touch of genius for inventions, nodded enthusiastically. —It would be no problem to create such a machine,— he stated. —But we must proceed with caution so as not to damage Sapphire 's body in the process. If we manage to recover her soul, she must have a healthy body to return to.— At this, everyone nodded, the gravity of the situation uniting them beyond their differences.

Kyran , whose warrior spirit never wavered, stood up, his imposing figure silhouetted against the candlelight. —We can adjust the intensity of the machine,— he proposed in a confident voice. —This way, we can ensure that we only affect the demon, without causing harm to Safiro .— His proposal was met with nods of agreement and murmurs of approval.

The atmosphere was charged with renewed energy, a mix of determination and hope filled the air. Each of them, united by their love for Safiro and the desire to bring him back safely, was ready to face the challenges ahead. With their plan laid out and their team spirit strengthened, they were ready to face the demon, armed not only with their powers, but also with the power of ingenuity and family unity.

Sapphire 's soul and body and confront the cunning demon, Belial was already in his secret refuge on the planet Elarion . Within his hidden laboratory, Belial had erected an ingenious artifact: the Stellarium . This vertically oriented dome glowed with an ethereal light, designed not only to house, but to nourish the captive soul with revitalizing energy.

The Stellarium, a masterpiece of crystal and energy, stood majestically. At its heart, a central core suspended Sapphire 's soul, encapsulated and visible as a glowing nebula that gently pulsed to the rhythm of a beating heart. Pulsarix gems , embedded at strategic points throughout its structure, functioned as catalysts; they not only contained the soul within its crystal prison, but also fed it a life energy, allowing it to remain in a state of dormant existence.

Belial , with almost ceremonial precision, placed a bottle containing Sapphire 's soul within the Stellarium. As he released it, the soul dispersed like a mist of light, finding its new confinement within the dome.

Pulsarix gems , upon coming into contact with this essence, began to emit an intensified glow, absorbing the cosmic energy of the surroundings and channeling it into the soul. This exchange created a light show, where Sapphire 's soul danced and writhed, fueled and sustained by the powerful energy of the gems.

The Stellarium was not just a vessel; it was an altar of survival, a bastion against oblivion. In this sanctuary of light and crystal, Sapphire 's soul remained, suspended between life and eternity, awaiting the moment of its release or its inevitable consummation.

Belial watched with a mixture of fascination and pride as the ethereal projection of Sapphire floated within the Stellarium . The translucent figure of the warrior captured in the act of a noble warrior was of an overwhelming and unearthly beauty. Her complexion, though pale as the full moon, was of a pure whiteness that seemed to emit its own source of faint light. Her eyes, two living emeralds, glowed with an inner fire that reflected the intensity of her confined spirit.

Sapphire 's hair , now floating strands of golden light, moved with an ethereal grace, as if an invisible breeze were playing with it. Her silhouette, though immaterial, was clearly defined, outlined by the soft glow emanating from her being.

Sapphire 's soul suspended in the verticality of the dome, with the Pulsarix gems embedded in the crystal structure around her, shining like stars captured just at the moment of their explosion.

Sapphire 's essence, channeling cosmic energy directly into him. Each gem pulsed in unison with the rhythm of his soul, as if they breathed together, fueling his presence with their latent power. The Stellarium seemed less a prison than a chrysalis prepared for Sapphire 's rebirth , guarding his essence until it could be released and rejoined with his physical body.

Belial , with a Machiavellian smile, looked at the figure trapped in the Estelarium. —You will remain here until I decide how to use your energy,— he said coldly.

Sapphire demanded , her voice reverberating within the dome. She pressed her transparent hands against the glass, a gesture as desperate as it was futile.

Belial leaned forward, his grin widening with cruel delight. —You are a being of immense power, and you are now mine to wield as I please. You are my captive, and your family can do nothing to protect you. Even less so now that I possess your daemon, that creature of magic and strength, perhaps even more powerful than I, but who now serves me. I will use it to annihilate those you love, and especially your father,— he said, letting out a sinister laugh.

—¡Leave them alone!— Sapphire pleaded, pounding the dome with his fists, his voice cracking with anguish. —Do not hurt my father, I beg you. I will do whatever you ask,— he offered, feeling an overwhelming helplessness that forced him to lower his head. He still rested his hands on the glass, and tears born of despair rolled down his transparent face, as he imagined how Belial could unleash the ferocity of his demon against those he loved.

—Pleas and tears are useless here,— Belial murmured in a cold, merciless tone. —You will witness the fate of your loved ones, and not only that, you will feel every moment of their agony. I will personally make sure of that,— he said sternly before walking away, abandoning Sapphire to her heartbreaking solitude.

Sapphire was left alone, imprisoned in the heart of the Stellarium, tears flowing bitterly as fear for his family's future consumed him. Helplessness enveloped him as visions of what Belial might unleash upon his loved ones tormented him endlessly.