The fog in the forest grew thicker. From the damp ground, the faint tracks of skulls were visible: muddy ground was stepped on, branches broken, and a pungent, rotten smell pierced the nose.
Lazric closed his eyes, muttering softly. A pale blue light circled his head.
"Sensum Olfactus…"
A moment later, he took a deep breath, his face contorting.
"Ugh… it smells like stale meat mixed with frozen blood. But it's clear… I can follow them."
Altair stepped forward, one hand on the hilt of his sword. He glanced at Lazric.
"Guide us. If they're setting a trap, I'll be the first shield."
Feran had already drawn his dagger, his eyes narrowed.
"If it's a trap, let me be the one to break through first. I'm faster than you."
Quartzis patted his chest, trying to look confident despite his slightly trembling steps.
"Don't worry. If a large rock falls from above, I can make a quartz shield."
"A rock? Seriously, Quartzis?" Lazric snorted.
"Hey, there's always a possibility!" Quartzis reasoned, shrugging his shoulders.
They continued walking. The forest was silent, with only the sound of breaking twigs under their feet and an occasional distant hoot of an owl. The fog grew thicker, as if swallowing the light.
Lazric suddenly raised a hand, signaling a halt.
"Shhh… they're ahead. The smell is getting stronger."
Altair felt the ground, his finger touching a faint scratch mark. The muddy tracks were split as if something had been dragged.
"They're leaving the tracks on purpose… too obvious."
Feran snorted softly, his eyes never leaving the faint trail.
"Yes. They're not running away. It's like they're leading us."
They kept following. The fog began to thin as their steps led them out of the forest, back onto a stone path in city L. The two skulls walked casually, in no hurry—as if intentionally giving the four of them time to follow.
Quartzis leaned forward, looking at Feran.
"Is it true they want us to follow them?"
Feran nodded firmly.
"Yes. I'm sure. I've seen this pattern enough times… back in the war."
Lazric immediately retorted, his eyes narrowed with sarcasm.
"Well, I still find it hard to believe a nineteen-year-old can be a war commander of the Rasyidian Empire. Maybe they made a bad recruitment?"
Altair turned, his voice flat yet firm.
"It's the truth, Laz. I myself met Emperor Xarian, and I even stayed at Feran's house for a while. His house is big, full of servants, and Feran is quite famous there. So yeah… it's true."
Lazric snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Quartzis suddenly pointed ahead.
"Hey, look! Those two skulls are heading towards that big building."
His eyes widened, his voice full of recognition.
"That building looks like the Colosseum in Ironfall City… you remember, right, Feran? Duke Alvred's territory… where Lazric and I grew up."
Feran stared at the building for a long time, his voice heavy.
"It's true, that's the Colosseum. It used to be for strength tests, even competitions for Elemental races. Its walls are very thick, strong, almost impossible to breach. It makes sense that this building is still standing after fifteen years."
Lazric frowned.
"Then why are those skulls going there?"
Altair stepped forward first, his eyes sharp, staring at the Colosseum.
"I don't know. But we'll find out the answer… if we keep following them."
Without another word, the four of them walked on. The sound of their footsteps blended with the silent shuffle of the two skulls ahead—towards the towering shadow of the Colosseum, like a giant mouth waiting for its prey.
---
Meanwhile In Colosseum
The sky above the Colosseum was gray, with clouds swirling like a vortex. The building stood strong, its thick walls still towering after more than a decade had passed. There, the Villains were already waiting.
Kael folded his arms, his face expressionless but his eyes glancing at Rex with suspicion.
"Aaagh… are you sure your skulls can be relied on, Rex?"
Rex grinned widely, his teeth gleaming.
"Of course. Especially with two dozen zombies belonging to Nocturnus. It's impossible for them not to take the bait."
Sylvia snorted softly, her steps echoing on the arena floor.
"Hhh… skulls controlling skulls, zombies controlling zombies. It's truly unbelievable."
"Hahaha," Rex chuckled. "I am a skull—it's only natural for me to lead bones. The same goes for Nocturnus."
Veyron, who had been observing, finally spoke.
"I'm still curious about the underworld. You two are from there, but from different continents. If the history of the continental split is true, then the underworld must have been one too… that split was indeed a great tragedy. By the way, how old are you, Rex, Nocturnus?"
Rex patted his kneecap, as if trying to remember.
"Hmmm… I stopped counting a long time ago. Maybe seven thousand years. I don't know."
"What about you, Nocturnus?"
Nocturnus laughed lowly, his voice deep.
"Haha, younger than you. About four thousand years."
Kael snorted, narrowing his eyes.
"Four thousand, seven thousand… it doesn't make sense. I thought the underworld was full of demons, but it's full of undead instead. So is there a history to that, Rex?"
Rex chuckled softly, then looked down as if arranging his words.
"Hmmm, there's a reason. Do you want to hear it?"
Kael immediately leaned against a Colosseum pillar, his eyes narrowed.
"Of course. We want to hear it."
All eyes—even Fulguran's—turned to him.
Rex began in a serious tone.
"Haha, I haven't told you guys yet, so here it is. Basically, there's a reason why the underworld is called the Nether or Hell. So, a very long time ago, millions of years ago, Humans and Races on the surface discovered a new world underground or you could say at the earth's core. They found life there. There were flying creatures like Griffins, and various strange beings with human-like bodies, etc. You could say it was a new tourist destination for adventurers. Until one time, the underworld was made a prison for all those considered evil. One of them was the Lord of the Underworld. Well, I don't remember his real name, but another name for him is The Wither God. You could say he was accused of a crime and was exiled to the underworld along with many people from various Races who were considered evil."
Nocturnus continued the sentence, his voice flat but deep.
"Yep, that's right. Even though we're from different continents, the story is the same, and The Wither God is the Lord of the Underworld of my continent and our current continent. What about you, Rex?"
"The one who replaced The Wither God on the continent there was Balak, The Wither God's right hand when the continent was still one, before it split."
Nocturnus nodded slowly.
"I thought so."
Riftbreaker, who looked agitated, sighed.
"Hey, hey! Don't stop. Continue the story!"
Rex scratched his skull.
"Ah yeah, where was I?"
"The Wither God when he was cast down below," Veyron quickly replied.
"Oh, that's right. Ehm, many people died in the underworld because they couldn't survive, but there were also those who evolved and were able to survive, like Balak, The Wither God, and his other followers. They awakened their powers there and became invincible. They also made the corpses there come back to life to serve them, and that's how it's been until now…," Rex continued.
"Hey Rex, don't forget the underworld's invasion of the surface, remember?" Nocturnus reminded Rex.
"Oh, that's right, that's a very important world history. Good thing you reminded me, Nocturnus. How about you continue that part of the story, I've forgotten most of it," Rex continued.
Immediately, everyone began to look at Nocturnus seriously.
Nocturnus bowed for a moment, then continued with a rising tone.
"So, a long time ago, due to the underworld's revenge on the Surface, they launched an Invasion, and it was truly like an apocalypse. The underworld was invincible under the leadership of The Wither God and his followers."
Everyone fell silent upon hearing that.
"Until all the races united," Nocturnus continued. "But it wasn't enough. Because they were undead. The longer the war, the stronger they became. Until finally—demons and angels intervened."
Sylvia almost screamed.
"WHAT?! Aren't demons evil and the arch-enemies of angels?!"
Nocturnus smiled faintly.
"Hahaha, this underworld invasion happened long before the war between Demons and Angels. In the past, Demons were good and interacted normally like other Races, but perhaps the reason they became evil is because they weren't appreciated."
Fulguran raised an eyebrow, his voice heavy.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, it's like this, Lord Fulguran. So there's a theory that the reason Demons became evil and preyed on mortal Races is because the other Races only praised Angels for successfully driving out the underworld Invasion, even though the biggest contribution was from the Demons. Demons considered humans, elves, dwarves, and other mortal beings to only worship appearances," Nocturnus continued.
Umbranox added briefly.
"More of a fact than a theory."
Nocturnus just nodded.
"Yes. That's how it is."
—CRACK. CRACK.
The sound of bones clashing echoed in the middle of the Colosseum.
The two skulls that had baited Altair and his brothers… now stepped into the arena, rattling softly.
Rex laughed with satisfaction, his arm raised.
"Hahaha! See? My skulls are back perfectly. Now… we just have to wait for the fish to walk into the trap."
---
The Colosseum arena seemed to hold its breath. The torches mounted on the walls crackled softly, casting long shadows onto the sand floor.
Rex smirked with satisfaction, his empty eyes staring at the two skulls that had now stopped in front of him.
"Hah… perfect. Now we just wait for the little fish to walk into the net."
Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice cold.
"If they get here… we'll make sure there's no way out."
Nocturnus bowed his head slightly, his pale fingers already dancing in the air, as if weaving an invisible thread. A dark aura flowed from the floor, seeping into the Colosseum sand.
"The trap is ready. As soon as they step inside… their own bodies will reject the light."
Sylvia, with a wry smile, looked at the circular arena.
"How ironic. This place used to be a witness to grandeur, now it's turned into an open grave."
Footsteps approached. Four shadows began to appear at the large gate of the Colosseum—Altair, Feran, Quartzis, and Lazric. Their steps were firm, though the silence made every footfall echo.
Lazric narrowed his eyes, seeing the shadows lined up in the middle of the arena.
"Damn… don't tell me all this was planned."
Feran took a deep breath, his fingers tightly gripping his dagger.
"There are no coincidences in war, Laz."
Altair stopped right in front of the arena entrance, his gaze fixed on the figures waiting in the middle.
"So this… was the purpose of all that bait."
Quartzis glanced around—the sturdy walls, the tightly closed gate, the circular arena without a single opening.
"It's like we're walking into a lion's den."
Across from them, Rex opened his arms wide, laughing with a terrifying echo that bounced off all the walls of the Colosseum.
"WELCOME, FOUR BROTHERS. THIS ARENA… IS YOUR FINAL STAGE!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA—cough, cough!"
Rex's explosive laughter turned into a hard cough.
"Hah, look at this skull now, it's even coughing," Umbranox sneered with a lazy tone.
Quartzis took a step forward, his voice cracking with tension.
"WHO ARE YOU ALL!"
But Altair and Feran paid no attention. Their gazes were locked on a single figure. A thick, dark aura enveloped him, deadly. A single glance was enough to press down on their chests.
Altair's finger trembled as he pointed.
"YOU… there's no mistake. You're the one who was there during the massacre fifteen years ago!"
Fulguran looked on blankly, his lips curving into a thin line.
"Exactly, boy. And now… I will finish what was left undone: making your race extinct."
He turned his gaze away, as if bored.
"Alright. Who wants to play with them first?"
Nocturnus stepped forward lightly, his head bowed respectfully.
"With pleasure, Lord Fulguran."
Rex chuckled too, his eyes gleaming.
"Don't forget me. It'll be fun to see their faces shattered."
Quartzis swallowed hard, turning quickly to Veyron.
"You… you're the one who met us in the forest near Ironfall that time!"
Veyron smiled broadly, a smile that held no warmth at all.
"That's right, boy. You went on a rampage there without control. But now? I don't need to get involved. Without me, you're just toys here."
"You… you bastard!" Quartzis hissed, clenching his fists.
Suddenly Lazric's spell exploded.
—BOOOM!
The sound of a collapse shook the Colosseum. Solid pillars crumbled, dust billowed. Lazric laughed loudly, his breath ragged.
"Hahaha! Feel that! Ugh… but damn, my energy is drained."
The smoke began to thin. The Villains' silhouettes appeared one by one again—whole, untouched.
"Good job, boy," Riftbreaker laughed lightly.
"You almost caught me off guard."
"Hehehe… next time, make the explosion bigger, okay?" Umbranox whispered in a mocking voice.
Fulguran stood in the middle, dust settling on his shoulder. He just patted it off gently, completely unharmed.
"That's enough playing. Rex, Nocturnus… and it's time to show them our surprise gift."
Spectralis emerged from behind the shadows, his steps silent. His voice was calm, yet it was cutting.
"Very well, Lord. Behold—a gift for our guests."
A silhouette slowly walked out of the darkness. Its steps were heavy, a long shadow stretching on the ground.
Altair tensed. His eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat.
"T-t-no… it can't be… Am I hallucinating?!"
Feran, usually composed, now had a frozen face. His jaw trembled.
"F… father?"
Quartzis's eyes widened, his heart feeling like it was being pulled out.
"WHAT?! So that's… Father?"
Lazric swallowed hard, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"He… he really looks like people on the picture Professor Aldemar showed us…"
Spectralis patted the figure's shoulder calmly.
"Exactly. Right now… I am the one controlling your father." He smiled maliciously. "Right, Valerian?"
The figure raised his face. His eyes were empty, his face full of shadows. Valerian.
And that night, the four brothers felt something they had never known before—a mixture of pain, fear, and rage.
But for Altair and Feran, it was more than just shock. It was a blow that tore their very souls.