The Shield continued their desperate sprint through the palace halls, their concern for Princess Athena mounting with each passing moment. Isolde's face contorted with worry, prompting Thane to inquire about her well-being.
"I'm worried about Princess Athena," Isolde confided. "Ever since Luisa told us about Project Paragon, I've had an ominous feeling. If those two monsters have been subjected to the experiment, it's only logical to think they might be stronger than Athena right now. The implications could be dire."
"That's a valid point," Princess Alexandra agreed, her own concern evident in her voice.
"We must have faith in Athena," Valerus asserted, his tone unwavering. "She stayed behind, fully aware of the danger. Let's focus on our mission and trust in her strength!"
A moment of silence hung heavy in the air as they continued their relentless pursuit through the seemingly endless halls.
"Besides," Valerus continued, his voice ringing with determination, "we have the Seven Days to contend with. Let us believe in Athena and fulfill our duty!"
"Right!" The Shield responded in unison, their resolve steeled by Valerus's words.
Just as their determination peaked, a glimmer of light beckoned from the end of the hall, illuminating their path. "There's a light ahead!" Elara called out, her voice filled with a renewed sense of hope.
"I was beginning to think this tunnel was endless," Caius admitted, his tone tinged with relief.
As they emerged into the light, they found themselves surrounded by an array of doors, each one holding the potential for unforeseen danger. "Which door should we open?" Princess Alexandra wondered aloud, her voice laced with caution. "Choosing recklessly could prove disastrous."
"A valid point," Caius agreed, acknowledging the gravity of their predicament.
"So, which door should we select?" Elara inquired, looking to her companions for guidance.
Orion, ever the optimist, replied with a smile, "Any door is fine by me."
Silence settled among the Shield as they carefully weighed their options. With the stakes so high, they couldn't risk selecting the wrong door.
Breaking the quiet, Elara posed a thoughtful question, capturing everyone's attention. "Come to think of it, why have we been running deeper into the palace instead of trying to escape? We're free now, so why don't we run away? Why are we running further into Vylonia's grasp?"
"I've been wondering the same thing," Caius admitted, echoing Elara's concerns.
"Isn't it obvious?" Thane interjected, his voice firm with resolve. "Our people are still enslaved and imprisoned, some even subjected to the horrific experiments of Project Paragon. We can't abandon them; we must rescue them."
"Isn't that what Luisa set out to do?" Elara asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes," Princess Alexandra confirmed, "but there's more at stake here."
Elara pressed for more information. "What else is there?"
"Athena and Luisa," Princess Alexandra explained. "They seek to save their family, the Seven Days. We owe it to them to offer our help. They're Thorenzians now."
Understanding dawned on Elara's face. "That's true; we can't leave them behind after all they've done for us."
Valerus spoke up, his voice heavy with revelation. "There's more to this than you realize."
The Shield exchanged questioning glances, a chorus of curiosity and concern rising among them.
"More?" Isolde questioned, her brow furrowed.
"Yes," Valerus confirmed. "Have you heard of the Oathkeeper's Shadow?"
Elara's curiosity was piqued. "The Oathkeeper's Shadow? What's that?"
Princess Alexandra's eyes widened in shock at the mention of the legendary artifact. "The Oathkeeper's Shadow? You mean the Black Edit? The fabled black blade once wielded by the ancient Emperors of Thorenzia Empire?"
Valerus nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, the very same. The Oathkeeper's Shadow was brought here 500 years ago when Thorenzia fell. It's imperative that we find it."
The Shield's gaze was fixated on Valerus, their minds buzzing with questions and trepidation.
"As Alexandra mentioned, the Oathkeeper's Shadow is a legendary black blade wielded by Thorenzia's ancient Emperors," Valerus explained. "It holds the power to prevent corruption and grant immense strength to its wielder in battle as long as the wielder remains just. Our mission is to retrieve this blade."
Princess Alexandra voiced her concern. "But after 500 years since the Great Fall, can we be certain the blade still possesses the power described in legends?"
Valerus's expression was resolute. "There's only one way to find out. That said, this is where we must split up."
The Shield snapped to attention, a wave of surprise rippling through the group. "Why?" Thane questioned, his brow furrowed.
"It will be more efficient this way," Valerus reasoned, his confidence unwavering. "Each of us will explore a different door. Some, if not all, may encounter members of the Seven Days. I believe in each and every one of you. So let's survive and return home together!"
"Right!" The Shield chorused, their voices united in determination.
Valerus nodded, a fierce glint in his eyes. "We may be taking different paths, but our goals remain the same. Let's reunite once this is all over!"
"Right!" the Shield affirmed in unison, their collective resolve palpable.
As the Shield dispersed, each member ventured through a separate door, their search for the ancient artifact, the Oathkeeper's shadow, now in full swing.
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Luisa made a grand entrance into a room filled with various scientific equipment, skeletal remains of ancient beasts and humans, and Thorenzian prisoners awaiting their fate as test subjects. With urgency in her stride, Luisa set about freeing the captives, her movements a practiced dance of defiance.
No sooner had she began to free the prisoners than a forceful kick landed square on her face, sending her flying into the wall. A familiar voice cut through the haze of pain, its tone laced with contempt.
"How many times must you fall?" Sariel's cold words reached Luisa's ears.
Eyes burning with fury, Luisa recognized her attacker. "You!" she seethed, her voice trembling with rage. "You'll pay for what you've done to my family!"
Sariel's menacing laughter echoed through the room. "Oh? Who will make me pay? You?" She busted into another menacing laughter "I needed your family to achieve my goals, but now, they're no longer necessary."
"You monster!" Luisa snapped, her anger palpable.
Unfazed by Luisa's wrath, Sariel clicked a button on a remote, activating the room's sinister secrets. The skeletal remains of humans and beasts began to stir, the human clones stored in water-filled containers broke free, and the entire room was filled with water. Surrounded by a legion of clones, ancient skeletal beasts and ancient skeletal human figures, Luisa found herself trapped in a suffocating nightmare.
"I wonder how your daughter will feel when she discovers your lifeless corpse, bloodied and motionless on the floor," Sariel's taunting voice echoed as she left Luisa to her fate.
Alone and vulnerable, Luisa faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge, her love for her family and determination to save them fueling her will to survive.
In another part of the palace, the once-majestic halls were marred by destruction. Broken stones and walls littered the area, the ground torn apart and drenched, as if a violent storm had passed through. Small fires burned around them, casting eerie shadows that danced along the ravaged scenery. The devastation was a testament to the ferocity of the ongoing battle.
Sir Leviathan's voice cut through the cacophony of the turmoil surrounding them. "What is our next move?"
"I'm uncertain," Sir Kraken replied, his tone mirroring the confusion of the situation.
Sir Leviathan, his voice tinged with regret, spoke again. "It pains me to cut down such a promising prospect."
"Do not burden yourself with guilt," Sir Kraken said, attempting to alleviate his comrade's remorse. "Lady Athena is responsible for her fate. Why couldn't she have reconciled with Lady Sariel and accepted her as Vylonia's new Empress?"
Their focus shifted to Princess Athena, who lay on the ground, her body wracked with pain, her determination wavering as she struggled to overcome the injuries she had sustained in the brutal fight.