VAULT OF SUNDUSK.... WITHOUT PURPOSE OPENING

Time: Late Night — Perimeter of Vault of Sundusk #3

The wind howled across the ridge where Vault of Sundusk #3 lay embedded into jagged black stone. Shadows slithered unnaturally across the cliffs as Royal Guards on patrol stood still, spears in hand, cold breath visible in the freezing night air.

Suddenly—

KRROOOMMM—!!!

A deep metallic groan echoed as the Vault Gate began to shudder… then slowly opened.

> Guard 1 (nervously gripping weapon):

"T-The Vault… it's opening! Send a signal! Now!"

> Guard 2 (eyes wide):

"But… there's no one coming through—"

From the darkness of the Vault, a thick dark blue smoke began to pour out. It didn't swirl like normal mist… it flowed low to the ground, almost intelligent — creeping around the rocks before dissolving into nothing.

The guards looked around, panicked.

> Guard 1:

"No entity. No sound. No presence."

> Guard 2:

"Then who—or what—opened it?"

They quickly sent out a red flare — the Royal Signal for Vault Breach.

The moment the signal reached the capital, high alert was declared.

Squads of Apex and Zenith Knights were dispatched to surround the Vault. Magical surveillance orbs were activated. Even barrier mages began reinforcing the perimeter with divine threads.

Inside the Royal Tower, King Farhan, Julius, and other Council Members gathered around the illuminated crystal map.

> Julius (reading report):

"Gate opened for 27 seconds. Blue energy smoke released. No entry recorded. No attack. No echo signature."

> King Farhan (frowning):

"Something is changing."

> Councilor Rivers:

"Vaults don't open on their own. If a Vault opens… someone was either trying to come out—or was called from inside."

Sunlight cut through the fog. Inside the Mythic Base, Arslan was finishing his morning tea quietly in the hall, seated alone. He was calm — until he saw Julius approaching with urgency.

> Julius (serious tone):

"Arslan. I need you."

Arslan stood, immediately sensing something was wrong.

> Arslan:

"What happened?"

> Julius:

"One of the Vaults opened last night. Number 3. No demon crossed. But the smoke… it was blue."

Arslan's expression changed slightly. He glanced to the side — and Kar'Thæl's whisper came instantly.

> Kar'Thæl (in his mind):

"Vaults never open without a purpose. Someone must have approached it from the other side."

> Arslan (softly):

"But no one came out."

> Kar'Thæl:

"Which is what makes it worse…"

Moments later, Arslan, Julius, and a few Mythics arrive at the Vault. The area is now surrounded by magical wards, and dozens of guards patrol it tightly.

The massive stone doors remain half-ajar, blackened at the edges. The ground around it bears faint blue residue — almost spectral, glowing faintly like embers.

> Julius (to Kar'Thæl):

"Have you seen anything like this before?"

> Kar'Thæl (appearing as a flicker of flame behind Arslan):

"No… I haven't."

> Julius:

"Then what do you think this is?"

Kar'Thæl stepped forward slightly, eyes glowing — studying the blue dust, the scent in the air.

> Kar'Thæl (grimly):

"It's not demonic energy… this feels like something else."

Arslan narrowed his eyes, crouched to examine the stone floor.

> Arslan:

"The energy doesn't feel hostile. But it's not safe either. It's like... something is watching from the other side."

> Julius:

"Or waiting."

Kar'Thæl didn't answer. For the first time in weeks, he looked uncertain.

> Kar'Thæl (to Arslan telepathically):

"This wasn't a breach. This would be a worse."

As Arslan and Julius prepared to leave, a faint mark was spotted just inside the Vault — a circular symbol that hadn't been there before. It was etched into the inner wall, made of crystal-like veins that pulsed faintly in blue.

> Guard:

"Sir… this appeared after the Gate closed."

Arslan walked to it slowly, placed his hand near it.

> Arslan (confused):

"This symbol… it's not demonic."

Kar'Thæl's voice trembled slightly.

> Kar'Thæl:

"I've never seen this mark in the demon world."

> Julius (quietly):

"Then we may be dealing with something older… or newer than demons."

As the wind picked up around them, the Vault doors began to shut again on their own, as if no longer interested in visitors.

A chilling breeze passed.

Something had sent a message.

But from who?

And for whom?

IN DEMON WORLD

The chamber was vast, lit by a deep red glow rising from the cracks in the floor like breath from a slumbering beast. Seated on obsidian thrones, the Demon Lords—Lord Nyzora, Lord Shadrak, and Lord Valgorr—gathered in silence, the weight of their intent hanging heavy in the air.

Lord Nyzora, whose twisted horns glimmered with ember-like veins, finally broke the stillness.

"It has begun… The Vault opened, but none passed through. Let the humans believe it's a fluke... an error... a moment of confusion."

Lord Shadrak chuckled low, his voice like the grinding of rusted steel.

"Fools. They think because nothing walked out, they're safe. But what we've released is not one of us."

He leaned forward, shadowed wings twitching behind him. "This wild card will not march from the Vault… it will awaken within their lands."

Lord Valgorr, the most massive of them all, his arms coiled in flame and scaled armor, growled:

"Let them lower their guard. Let them laugh and feast. But soon, they will see their cities rot, their skies blacken. This world they cling to will become our domain—

a demon site."

The three lords nodded in unison.

"Let the wild card unfold," Nyzora said, "and let them crumble under their ignorance."

---

Scene: Back on Earth — Royal Capital, Council Hall

A golden dome crowned the capital's council hall, but inside, the atmosphere was far from calm. King Farhan sat solemnly at the round table, flanked by his top advisors—Julious, Parche, Rivers, and others from the Council of Surge.

Julious placed a crystal orb on the table, its surface still glowing faintly blue.

"The Vault of Sundusk opened briefly last night… but nothing emerged. Only a dark blue smoke. The guards saw no movement."

Parche frowned, fingers clasped together. "Then is it over? A failed summoning?"

King Farhan's gaze was steady but uncertain.

"Or something worse… Something we do not understand."

Councilman Rivers added grimly, "We've never seen the Vault react this way. It always delivers its monster. This silence is… unnatural."

Julious turned to the King. "We've tightened security near the Vault. Surveillance, magical barriers—everything. But this still makes no sense."

The King looked toward the windows where the sunlight bathed the distant hills.

"Perhaps the worst kind of danger is the one that doesn't show its face."

A long pause filled the chamber.

"We must remain alert," King Farhan finally said, rising to his feet. "Until we understand what truly happened, assume nothing. And prepare for everything."

The others nodded in tense agreement. Outside the windows, the sky was calm—but underneath, a storm was brewing.