Inside the provisional command post in Breeze Town, candles wavered in the draft, throwing restless shadows across the canvas walls.
Aurelius sat at the head table in rigid control. Jared stood at his right, while Yuliana waited a respectful half-step behind them.
Between the three lay a detailed relief map of Celestia City and its surrounding passes, the parchment holding more weight than any throne. Aurelius spoke again, softer this time. “Mr. Chance is right… Only unity can break the current deadlock.”
He tapped the map with a finger. “To the west, Sunset Pass is held by Brendon Velez, my own protégé. His loyalty is ironclad… In the southeast, Purdina Barracks answers to Rodney Decker, whose family has long prospered under the crown and will never bow to Ieuan. And though Tredarin, commander of the Intelligence Agency, remains in Celestia City, has just sent word that has covertly secured half the secret agents. He awaits only a signal to snap into action.”
“All you need to do is write a few orders, King Aurelius. Yuliana will deliver them herself,” Jared replied, his tone clipped with purpose. “She’s already at Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine. Ordinary checkpoints cannot stop her, and special status makes it unlikely to arouse Ieuan’s suspicion.”
“Rest easy, King Aurelius,” Yuliana said, bowing deeply. “I will not fail you!”
Without hesitation, Aurelius reached for brush and ink.
Three swift strokes, a flourish of the Dragon Royal Seal, and the letters were ready. He placed them in Yuliana’s hands as though entrusting the kingdom’s heartbeat itself.
Yuliana tucked the missives next to heart, leapt through the tent flap, and shot into the night, like a comet swallowed by the moonless sky.
Outside, Jared watched the streak fade, lips pressed tight as though in silent prayer.
Soulless Valley nearly took once, and the Pentacarna Tower scarred spirit… I will not let harm touch Yuliana again, not after the closeness we have shared…
“King Aurelius, I must return to Roaring Storm Church,” Jared said, turning back. “The Dragon Bell is suppressing it for now, but if anything falters, those demonic souls will burst free.”
Aurelius rose from his seat. “Travel carefully, my friend. Shall I send a detachment of the Imperial Guard with you?”
“That won’t be necessary, King Aurelius. Keep them at your side. Ieuan is the greater threat here,” Jared answered. With that, vaulted into the air.
Flames curled beneath his boots as be activated Blazing Stride at full force and, in barely a few hours, the distant spires of Roaring Storm Church pierced the dawn haze.
To Jared’s shock, a black tide of demonic aura had already gripped the church.
Infinides, along with the disciples of Roaring Storm Church, guarded the Dragon Bell, faces flushed as they channeled their dwindling spiritual energy into its bronze walls.
Sweat streamed from Flaxseed’s brow as slapped charm after charm onto the bell. Alas, each sigil merely burned bright for a heartbeat, then shriveled beneath the demonic aura.
It was clear that the Dragon Bell was losing the battle of suppressing the demonic souls, and the souls were about to break through.
“How did it go, Jared? Did you find the Roaring Storm Bell? Please tell me you brought it!” Flaxseed shouted over the roaring haze.
Infinides turned his weary eyes toward Jared. Strength had deserted the old master, each ragged breath a battle, yet still clung to fierce vigilance, unwilling to loosen his grip on the fragile barrier holding the darkness at bay.
“No…” Jared murmured, shaking his head. As the lone syllable left his lips, Jared hurled ribbons of the Power of Dragons into the Dragon Bell.
The bronze shell quaked, released a furious draconic roar, then erupted in searing gold light that smashed the demonic aura back toward the abyss.
Still, no one dared relax. Every cultivator on the platform bled the last of their strength into shackling the writhing demonic souls below the bell.
***
Meanwhile, deep within the Prime Minister’s Office in Celestia City, Ieuan Chapman faced a silhouette woven from shadow.
Viscous black energy draped the stranger from crown to heel, yet twin crimson eyes blazed inside the haze. The man was none other than Stebarin Hemato, grand elder of Malevolent Path Hall.
“Mr. Chapman, did you summon me only to attempt some ridiculous ‘forced unsealing’ of the demonic soul seal?” demanded, voice rasping like rusted Iron. “The Ritual Manual is a divine item and the key to breaking the seal. Without it, not even our powers combined can do anything. Stop your wishful thinking!”
Ieuan’s jaw tightened, though his tone remained silk. “Must you dismiss me so quickly, Mr. Hemato? That stubborn geezer Aurelius will never surrender the manual, and time Is ticking away…”
“Yes, the princess is in my custody, but that leverage cannot last. The Third Hall’s lord has been pounding on my doors for an answer to the marriage alliance. If we don’t reply soon, it will only raise his suspicion. Once Celestial Palace and Aurelius join hands, you and I will be ground to dust!”
