The Everila Empire was now drenched in unrest. Every street, every alley, and every home was under investigation. Countless people were executed by the cultivators—anyone even suspected of being connected to the Dark World met a merciless end.
Those who brought back the heads of Dark World members—be it soldiers or cultivators—were rewarded with gold and honor.
And so, years passed… eight long years of blood and silence.
On this day, Queen Elara finally learned the truth — a woman named Yuar was the one controlling the remnants of the Dark World, hiding somewhere within a cave deep inside their own kingdom.
Elara's eyes blazed with fury as she gave the order,
"All loyal soldiers and cultivators of the kingdom — gather! We march together to that cave.
Tonight, we will erase this darkness forever!"
The cave was surrounded from all sides. The soldiers stood in formation as Elara entered, flanked by Minister Thalorin and General Kaelthorn.
Inside, Yuar was sitting calmly, alone. She didn't move — didn't even seem afraid. She simply smiled.
Elara's voice echoed cold and sharp:
"You've spilled too much blood. Tonight, your reckoning has come."
Yuar raised her eyes slowly and said, almost mockingly,
"Queen… you can never win this war. I'm just a pawn.
The true master — is never caught."
Elara's patience snapped. She raised her hand, summoning a thin, glowing spiritual needle that shot through the air and pierced Yuar's chest.
Yuar gasped, coughed blood, and collapsed to the ground.
Elara turned to her guards and ordered,
"Take her. Show her face to the entire Everila Empire.
Let it be known — the Dark World is no more."
The minister and general grabbed Yuar's lifeless arms and dragged her out. She was tied to a royal chariot, paraded through the streets, and lashed with whips as the crowd watched.
By the end of the day, she was thrown into the deepest prison — her screams echoing faintly in the cold corridors of Everila's dungeons.
The queen had won her battle…
Or so she thought.
Yuar was lying in the dark prison, tied up with thick chains. Her breathing was slow, and silence surrounded the place.
Then, the lock on the prison bars suddenly opened, and some words were heard.
A man said,
"Your Majesty… you can talk to her. And yes… here, take this whip. It will be better if you use it."
Elara said in a serious voice,
"Yes, I will need it. Give it to me. And yes, while leaving, tell the prison officers that no one should enter until I am here."
The man bowed his head and replied,
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yuar slowly lifted her head. She could hear faint voices outside and saw a shadow moving near the bars.
Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed — heavy, firm, royal. The prison door creaked open.
In front of Yuar stood Queen Elara — holding a leather whip in her hand.
There was both anger and cold control in Elara's eyes.
She stepped closer and said calmly,
"Tell me… who is behind all this?"
Yuar gave a faint, tired smile — as if she had heard this question many times before.
Elara lost her patience.
She swung the whip in anger and struck hard.
The sharp sound echoed through the cell, and Yuar groaned — but her lips still carried that smile.
"He will destroy you…" Yuar said softly.
"Remember that boy… the one who stole the Scroll of Fate from your palace eight years ago?
He will come — and he will take me away from here."
Elara's eyes blazed with fury.
She wrapped the whip around Yuar's neck and pulled it tightly with both hands.
Yuar struggled to breathe, yet her smile only grew wider.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty?" she whispered hoarsely.
"You call yourself a queen… and yet you fear death?"
Elara suddenly let go and stepped back.
Her voice turned cold and firm —
"Fear? No… now I'll wait for him.
And when he comes — I'll lock him in this very cell with you.
Then I'll make sure his screams echo across the entire kingdom.
If I fail… then I'm not Elara."
A dark glint appeared in Yuar's eyes as she laughed softly —
"But tell me, Queen… how will you even recognize him?
He could already be very close to you…"
Elara slammed the whip onto the ground. The sound thundered through the stone walls.
"You don't need to worry about that."
With that, Elara turned and walked away.
The prison door closed again — and as her footsteps faded into the distance,
Yuar's laughter filled the dungeon…
A laughter deeper than darkness itself.