A blood-red sun rose over the war-torn capital of Velgrath, a city that had once stood for honor, now ruled by fear.
Lucius stood on a cliff overlooking the city gates, cloak fluttering in the ash-filled wind. Behind him, the girls gathered like a team of very beautiful, very emotionally unstable Pokémon.
Claire looked nervous. Lilith looked angry. Zara looked like she was hoping for a bloodbath. Velda? Already munching on a mana biscuit.
"We're not here to start a war," Lucius said calmly. "We're here to take something back."
Zara cracked her knuckles. "Define 'something.'"
Lucius pointed toward the central cathedral glowing faintly with divine energy.
"Inside that building," he said, "is the last surviving shard of my soul. Sealed during the first betrayal."
Velda choked on her biscuit. "Wait—what?! There are soul shards now?!"
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm this messed up with just one timeline?"
---
Mission Objective: "Retrieve the Tyrant's Soul Fragment"
Location: Cathedral of Velgrath
Difficulty: S+
Threats: Chosen Hero Detected
Reward: +10 Tyrant Levels, +1 Hidden Trait, ???
---
As they descended into the city, Velda cast an illusion field over them, making the group look like traveling monks and one very cursed intern (Zara was not happy).
They slipped through the city gates unnoticed.
For now.
---
Inside the cathedral, the atmosphere shifted.
Holy light pulsed from every wall. Statues of the "Divine Order" lined the halls, their eyes glowing blue.
Claire started to tremble. "This place… it's sacred."
Zara spat. "It reeks of cowardice."
Lucius walked forward until he reached the altar.
Then he stopped.
Because someone else was already there.
A tall man in golden armor. Snow-white hair. Calm blue eyes.
A sword in one hand. A torn locket in the other.
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
"…Takeshi."
His brother turned.
"Well," Takeshi said, voice calm as frost, "you took your time."
---
> [New Character Encountered: Takeshi Nachtveil – Chosen Hero of Light]
[Level: ??? | Status: Calm, Prepared, Ruthless]
[Relation to MC: Brother / Betrayer / Former Friend]
[Emotion Reading: Regret – 1% | Duty – 99%]
---
The girls froze.
Lilith: "That's your brother?"
Velda: "Okay but like… why is he hotter than you?"
Claire: "He gives off final boss energy, too…"
Zara: "Can I punch him now?"
Lucius raised a hand. "No one interferes."
Takeshi stepped forward. "This ends here, Lucius. You were never meant to return."
Lucius smirked.
"You really think I came this far just to stop here?"
His eyes glowed red. His aura exploded like a dying star.
"I'm not done until this world begs me to die."