"You’re back, Tong? What’s the news!" Syla demanded, briefly forgetting that she was talking to a demon; her anxiousness and desperation let such things too easily skip her mind.

For his part, Tong didn’t count it, or even act against or for it. After all, it was his lord that ordered him. "We have been given the go-ahead by Lord Vale. Their battle on the other side seems to be starting as well, and I’ve learned a crucial information. In the Capital, we’ll find the Akatsuki throne; it’s what we must destroy... or hold."

Syla digested the information and then nodded. Now they had a clear objective of what they were to do. "Then, lead the way."

Tong frowned and turned away from her, his hands raised, slender fingers curling in the air as if gripping invisible strings. And although others couldn’t see what he was doing, Syla and the rest could feel the power in the air get heavier and heavier.

Then suddenly, the empty space in front of the ship shuddered and cracked, collapsing inward and then twisting before turning into a gaping dark hole that seemed to hungrily drink the light.

"I have been able to secure one of the cracks in the shroud covering the capital; we can sneak in through this," he said.

Syla looked at the hole that just hung there with open skepticism, but it didn’t last since she knew Vale wouldn’t send her something dangerous. Although she had little faith in the demon, she had plenty for Vale.

With a sharp raise of her hand, she pointed and then commanded, "We move! Brace yourselves!"

The warriors shared hesitant looks as they stared at the black hole, but they could see the determination on their Captain’s face. And so the ship hummed to life and shot forward, into the hole and within.

It was strange.

Syla didn’t know what she expected, but not what she was seeing and feeling. Absolute nothing. Darkness was all around her; the ship was moving, but she didn’t feel it. It was as if she just hung there in total darkness.

"Tong...." She gritted her teeth as she turned to the demon, only for her to flinch.

Tong was still wearing his human form, but for some reason that she couldn’t put her finger on, he looked even more demonic. His eyes carried a sinister glint, and the shadows on his face were deep and seemingly endless. He appeared as if he was one with the Void darkness around them.

But then the moment passed, and everything seemed to return to normal. "Captain Syla, we are here...."

Syla was still startled by what she saw, but she did not have the time to properly process it as she saw something up ahead. A light, piercing through the dark like a knife cutting through the air, cleaving the darkness into two.

"This....."

"This is the crack opening, Captain Syla."

"Everyone get ready! Things are about to get really dangerous!" Syla shouted. Her own sword was in her hand, and her eyes were intent on the bright rays in the dark.

The bright light got closer and closer, and then close enough that they could see the edge like a luminous tear in space. Their ship swept through without hesitation, and the crack unceremoniously closed behind them.

Syla raised her sword, her eyes sharp and her heart beating fast as she looked at her new destination, ready to defend herself at any moment.

But.

What she saw wasn’t what she expected. She blinked several times. "What....?"

They were floating above the capital of Akatsuki.

The city was big.

Tall and small sprawling blocks of red and gold stone, flat-topped buildings and several others made up the capital, with the palace dominating the center like a queen spider.

It was the biggest city Syla had ever seen, even far bigger than that of the Athrimir. So many buildings, so many grand buildings. And so many people just going about their day-to-day activities.

It was strange. With the way others talked about the Akatsuki, she thought she would meet a starving city full of grief and sadness. But she didn’t know what to think of something... so ordinary. So normal.

"Now what?" one of the warriors muttered.

And Syla was inclined to agree.

"Captain Syla, you have to look up. Look at the gigantic shield covering the whole city. Both to keep the harsh sandstorms away and to gentle the sun," Tong said.

The shield seemed like a combination of wind and water bubble fused together. And it was so big that it blotted out the sky.

"The energy that’s creating the shield is coming from the palace. That’s where the throne is," Tong continued.

Syla didn’t have to say anything as the ship angled towards the palace. And by now, people were starting to notice them. They pointed up at them with confusion and excitement from the children, while those who recognized the crest painted on the ship began to run in panic.

Syla didn’t bother with the ordinary people. She was concerned with the guards that were flying towards their ship, carried by a storm of wind and sand. They shot towards the speed ship, trying to attack it, but the ship was simply too fast and left them in the dust as it sped towards the palace.

She expected a grand shield to stop them as they approached the palace, but nothing. "Is their Clan leader so confident in his power, or is there simply no one who expected anyone to be stupid enough to attack their palace?"

"I’ll say it’s the latter. I can feel the power of the throne and other powers here," Tong said.

The ship now hovered close to the palace, where a dramatic scene promptly played out.

At first, Knight and Errant Knight warriors of the Akatsuki were already waiting for them in military formation, their weapons out and their gazes steady.

But just as the ship pressed closer, and Syla’s warriors were getting ready to attack, the Akatsuki warriors suddenly broke formation and scattered. They ran away as if something was chasing them, and soon they were out of the palace.

Syla was stunned. "What the....."

She didn’t have to wait long to understand what was happening. It seemed they had received an order, and the one who gave it soon appeared.

Eirikr Akatsuki.

He floated through the air, flanked by two women who rode two drakes.

"I’ve seen how strong this ship and its occupants are. Why should I waste my warriors when I can kill you myself? All my warriors will be needed to maintain order in my new Athrimir Clan."

Syla’s heart skipped a beat. ’....wait....this bastard, isn’t he supposed to be on the frontline fighting Vale and the others? What’s he doing here now? How did he get here?’

A horrible feeling began to unfold in her mind before she froze. "What? Your Athrimir Clan?"

Eirikr spread his hands. "You don’t know? I have defeated your Clan leader and his rebellion supporters. Now I just have to clean the slate."

Syla shuddered, and her hands tightened. Her eyes narrowed. "You....are lying! Vale can never fall to the likes of you. He can never fall!"

Eirikr looked at her with pity. "Is that so? Then I’ll give you time to heal before I kill you. I’ll let you see the broken form of the one you thought so unbroken. I will let you...."

Tong ruthlessly interrupted him. "The Master is alive."

Silence.

Then he continued, gesturing at the Clan leader. "And that is nothing more than an illusion. The bulk of its power is with the other at the frontline. Those two Master Knights are real, though. Also, don’t worry, he can’t easily transfer his power, not without damage. He won’t be at full strength here for some time."

Everyone was left speechless by what Tong just said.

Eirikr’s face suddenly clouded with fury. "How did you know all of that! I have a traitor—no, that’s not possible. Nobody knew how to get here..."

"So that’s how you also got here. You, what are you?" His finger stabbed angrily at Tong.

But Tong simply ignored him. "Although the throne is here, most of its power has also been transferred, so it’s easy to destroy. If we do that, we’ll save the Master."

Eirikr’s eyes widened with shock and surprise. He flinched. "What...."

Tong smiled without joy. "The throne’s enchantment is a powerful but crude thing, with little refinement. Like this, even the illusion clones that were created can’t share memories in real time. They have to be actively sent and accepted, and it takes time. So, the news that we’re here is going to take some minutes to reach the other side, and I expect that he already sent it. Captain Syla, we must fight."

Eirikr had lost all expression as he stared with a wooden expression at Tong. "So you are Vale’s plan, you scrawny bastard. I’ll extract every information from your brain. Decapitate his limbs and bring him!"