"This was a bad idea… I should just go back," Alfie muttered nervously, turning around inside the endless void. But no matter how many steps he took, the same suffocating darkness pressed in from all sides, swallowing him deeper. His breath became short, his legs weakened. "Wh-what's happening…?" His voice cracked, echoing back at him from the abyss.
The more he struggled, the heavier his body became—until at last the darkness consumed him whole. He collapsed unconscious, falling endlessly into the void.
---
Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Lucy's hands trembled as she ripped the chain from Fushira's neck. The locket swung open, glowing faintly as images of the Dreamland shimmered within. Without hesitation, she pressed Fushira's finger against the locket and channeled raw Renshi into him. The air vibrated as ancient glyphs lit up.
A tear in space cracked open—a teleportation portal ripping reality itself. Alfie's limp body spilled out, falling into Lucy's arms.
"What the hell…?!" Lucy gasped, clutching him tightly. But before she could steady her breathing, the ground quaked violently. A colossal teleportation circle materialized high above, shaking the entire forest. The skies warped with blinding Renshi, strong enough to be felt across neighboring kingdoms.
From the circle, six figures descended: five men draped in black Renshi cloaks and a young woman in white robes.
Lucy's heart stopped. Her eyes locked on the woman.
"…Amanda."
Her sister smiled faintly, calm as a sleeping flame. "Long time no see, little sister. And here you are again—protecting another child. Tell me… do you really think you'll succeed this time?" Her tone was mocking, yet steady, cutting deeper than any blade.
"You bastard!" Lucy's voice shook the trees. "If you dare touch a hair on her body—I swear I'll kill you myself!"
Amanda tilted her head, smirking. "Relax. I only took her in… to protect her. To make her an elite. You should be thanking me." She turned away as the circle beneath her began to glow again. "Anyway, have a nice life. I'll be taking another student away from you again, dear sister."
"AMANDA!!!" Lucy screamed. She thrust her wand forward, unleashing a beam of pure dark Renshi, a ray so sharp it split the night sky in half.
One of the five men leapt in front of Amanda, conjuring a massive shield. But the shield cracked like glass and shattered instantly. The dark beam pierced through—slamming directly into Amanda's chest.
Her body flickered… then dissolved into black smoke.
"Did you think I would really come to face you in person?" Amanda's laughter echoed as the smoke scattered. "Don't push your luck, sisi. I'm still your sister—but I'm far more than that now."
With a snap of her fingers, the five men seized Romero, Pascal, Onamuchi, Fushira, and Voldigo, vanishing back into the teleportation circle. Within seconds, they were gone.
---
Lucy trembled, rage boiling within her veins. She hoisted Sasaki onto one shoulder, Alfie onto the other, and sprinted with switch-mode speed. Her bloodline form faded, her long ears shrinking back as her tattoos dissolved. By the time she returned to the ruins of the battlefield, the area was unrecognizable—trees uprooted, stone shattered.
"Rebekah…?" Lucy shouted, voice breaking. But instead, she found Bash tending Lyon's wounded shoulder. Marcel and Jackson sat silently nearby, the destruction around them heavy as silence.
"Where is she?" Lucy demanded, eyes blazing. "WHERE IS REBEKAH?!"
Lyon swallowed hard. "…A strange man came. He took her. We fought—we tried—but he was too strong."
Lucy's knees buckled. She fell forward, screaming in anguish as tears streamed down her face. Her fists pounded the dirt.
"Damn you, Amanda… DAMN YOU!!!"
---
Lucy wiped her tears roughly and stood, her aura flaring dangerously. "Enough of this! Lyon, take your boys and return to your kingdom. I'll get my student back myself. I don't need anyone else slowing me down." She lifted Alfie and Sasaki again, her eyes like burning coals.
But before she could depart, Jackson stepped forward, voice loud and resolute.
"Wait! Take me with you. I want to travel with you!"
Lucy blinked, shocked. "What?"
Jackson clenched his fists. "I don't want to sit around cutting dolls all day. I can't protect my sister or father like this. Please… don't promise to protect me—just accept me. I'll fight. I'll try my best not to die!"
Lucy turned her face away, shaking her head. "…Go home with your father, kid. I can't endanger any more children. Rebekah and her brother were the only survivors of their family, and now… now I don't know what Amanda plans for her. I won't make the same mistake again."
But Lyon stepped forward, his eyes heavy. "He's already convinced me. I won't object anymore. Please… just let him follow you. It's what he wants."
Lucy fell silent. For a long moment, the only sound was the wind across the broken forest. Finally, she exhaled. "Tch… Fine. But know this, boy—I won't be babysitting you. From today, you'll address me as Master."
Jackson's eyes widened. He dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. "Thank you… Master!"
---
Later, Lucy led them toward the Celestial Kingdom, the nearest border to Ashura. Exhausted but resolute, they teleported at last to the kingdom's gates.
The night sky glowed silver as four Shinra guards in shining white capes rushed forward with spears aimed at them.
"Who goes there?! State your business! Why teleport to our kingdom?" one demanded.
"We're travelers," Lucy answered, steady but stern. "We seek only refuge for the night. We'll leave by morning if need be. If you want, we'll drop our weapons to prove we mean no harm."
The guard sneered, stepping forward and snatching Alfie's sword from Jackson's back looking at them suspiciously with their torn clothes from the battle. He held it up, examining the scabbard. "Travelers… who wield Renshi? Don't insult me. I've seen people like you before—heading for Ashura, always stopping here, always with stories. But today…" His eyes narrowed. "…today is not your lucky day. Whatever you've done to that boy—you've made a grave mistake bringing him here."
He snapped his fingers. "Arrest them."
Three guards stepped forward, reaching for Lucy. But before they could touch her—
Jackson caught the first Shinra's wrist in a flash, squeezing until the guard's armored gauntlet shattered under his grip.
"Don't you dare touch my Master," Jackson growled. "You're not worthy."
The other two lunged with their spears. Jackson twisted, launching into the air. He spun gracefully, grabbing both spears mid-flight and infusing them with his Renshi. With a burst of raw force, he spun his body, hurling both Shinras crashing into the gate itself.
"You brat!" the commander shouted, veins bulging. Thirty copies of his spear materialized in midair, forming a deadly halo above him. "I'll kill you all for this!"
But just as he prepared to unleash the strike—
"That's enough!" A thunderous voice echoed from the watchtower above. "No more fighting!"
All eyes turned upward. A shadowed figure stood at the top of the Celestial wall, cloak fluttering in the moonlight.