[Imperial Throne Hall — Continuation]

The alarm bells echoed violently across Silthara Palace.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

And for several horrifying moments the entire coronation hall froze. Nobles looked toward one another nervously. The ceremonial dancers stopped moving entirely, and even the musicians slowly lowered their instruments in fear.

Because the atmosphere had changed too suddenly and too violently, like something sacred had just shattered inside the empire itself.

And upon the throne, Slyvarakh paused midway through lifting his silver goblet, his silver eyes narrowed faintly.

"...what happened?"

The question sounded calm, and somehow that calmness terrified the hall more than shouting ever could.

Then suddenly—

SLAMMMMM!!!

The throne hall doors burst open violently as a Red Knight rushed inside desperately before dropping heavily to both knees. Forehead pressed against the cold marble floor.

"M-Malik—!" His breathing shook unevenly. "...the Malika’s chambers were found empty."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then slowly...very slowly, Slyvarakh rose from the throne, and the exact moment he stood, the atmosphere inside the coronation hall turned monstrous. The silver wine goblet cracked inside his hand instantly.

CRACKKKK.

Dark wine spilled slowly across his fingers like blood.

"...what."

The single word echoed across the hall coldly and deadly; the knight trembled harder.

"M-Malika Levin is nowhere inside the residency—"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOWHERE FOUND?!" Slyvarakh’s voice exploded across the throne hall violently.

BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

Rotten silver pheromones erupted through the palace like a cursed storm unleashed from ancient hell itself. Several nobles instantly collapsed onto the marble floor gasping, and others bowed so deeply their foreheads struck the ground.

Servants trembled violently, and even the ceremonial lantern flames flickered chaotically beneath the pressure because this was no longer anger. This was possession breaking into fury.

And far below the throne platform, Sharukh Varoth slowly glanced sideways toward Rakhane, and despite the chaos, a faint smile appeared across Rakhane’s lips.

"...I suppose the true celebration begins now."

Sharukh did not answer immediately; he only watched Slyvarakh descending the throne steps like a furious god dragged toward war.

Then quietly and almost thoughtfully, he murmured, "...the empire finally breathes again."

The trembling Red Knight forced himself to speak again.

"T-the attendants claim they saw nothing—"

"LIES."

The word sliced through the throne hall instantly. Slyvarakh’s silver eyes glowed violently, dangerously, and almost inhuman because he understood immediately.

Something is fishy about the disappearance. And worst of all, someone helped Levin escape. Then suddenly Slyvarakh unsheathed his sword violently.

SHIIIIIIIINGGGGG!!!

The sound echoed across the throne chamber like a death sentence.

"SEAL EVERY GATE OF SILTHARA!"

The storm outside exploded violently.

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

"Spread soldiers across every road surrounding Zahryssar’s borders!" His sword pointed downward furiously, his pheromones tearing through the atmosphere.

"Search every tunnel...every desert..." Another step descended from the throne platform. "...every hidden ruin..."

And then finally his silver eyes darkened completely.

"MAKE SURE..." The entire hall trembled beneath his voice. "...HE DOES NOT ESCAPE."

Immediately the coronation celebration collapsed entirely into panic. Nobles rushed away fearfully. Knights stormed through the palace. Servants scattered across corridors desperately.

And throughout Silthara alarm bells roared endlessly.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

Slyvarakh stepped fully away from the throne afterward, one hand gripping his sword tightly and the other trembling faintly with fury.

Then softly and dangerously he murmured to himself as his smile returned afterward, beautiful, possessive, and cruel, "...run as far as you wish, my dear."

"But once I find you...I swear upon the throne of Zahryssar...I will make your life a living hell."

And somewhere far beneath the storm-covered empire the Malika of Zahryssar continued fleeing through darkness...while the newly crowned Malik began hunting him like something stolen from his very soul.

***

[Underground Passage Beneath Silthara—Night]

The tunnels beneath Silthara trembled violently above them; alarm bells screamed endlessly across the empire.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

And Levin continued running through the ancient underground passageways or at least trying to. His breathing had already become painfully uneven. The heavy robe tangled around his legs, and the egg inside him shifted uncomfortably with every hurried step.

Still, he did not stop because behind him, Zahryssar itself had begun chasing him.

And ahead of him Raviel led the way quickly through the tunnels while Zyvera checked every corner carefully for traps.

"This way!"

The underground walls shook faintly again, dust falling from the ancient ceilings because somewhere above hundreds of knights were already moving across the palace, searching and hunting.

And behind Levin Iru stayed close protectively, watching Levin’s unstable steps with growing panic as his voice trembled softly.

"Malika...slow down."

But Levin immediately shook his head; his breathing cracked slightly afterward. "I cannot. If Slyvarakh catches us..."

His hand tightened protectively over his swollen stomach.

"...it ends tonight."

The words alone chilled the tunnel, then tiny Lyresaph peeked from beneath Levin’s robe again, his dragon eyes glowing brighter, restless and agitated now.

Because even he could feel it. That rotten silver pheromone is rapidly spreading across Zahryssar like poison.

Then suddenly Asha stopped growling, and everyone froze instantly. Silence swallowed the tunnel, and then...very faintly they heard footsteps behind them.

Immediately Zyvera grabbed Levin’s trembling hand tightly.

"We cannot stop now, Malika." Her voice came out urgent, almost panicked, as she tightened her grip harder. "I apologize beforehand...but even if you collapse, we must keep moving."

Levin did not answer because by now his body already felt close to breaking. The egg inside him shifted painfully beneath the stress; his lungs burned, and his legs trembled.

And yet he still forced himself forward because behind him waited a fate worse than death.

Then suddenly light appeared ahead. The tunnel exit. Immediately everyone rushed faster toward it until finally they burst out from the underground passage.

Cold storm winds struck them instantly; before them stretched an ancient hanging bridge, violent desert storms, and endless black dunes beneath the night sky.

Freedom was so close, but then a voice echoed softly behind them, beautiful, cold, and terrifying.

"...there you are."

Everyone froze instantly.

"...my bride."

Slowly they turned around, and there standing at the tunnel entrance was Slyvarakh. His silver ceremonial robes flowed violently beneath the storm winds; one hand rested upon his sword.

The other clenched tightly at his side, and his silver eyes burned with fury so deep it looked more monstrous.

Asha immediately stepped before Levin protectively. Fangs fully exposed now and growling viciously. Tiny Lyresaph climbed partially out from Levin’s robe too, his dragon eyes glowing sharply, ready to transform instantly.

But Slyvarakh did not look at them, not once. His entire attention remained fixed upon Levin, and for several horrifying moments, neither of them spoke.

Only the storm screamed between them.

Then finally Slyvarakh smiled, slowly and dangerously. "You truly intended to run from me, my dear? As a consort, you should always remain beside me."

Levin’s trembling fingers tightened protectively against his stomach, but this time his blue eyes no longer looked dead, only exhausted.

"...I never belonged to you."

The words sliced through the storm sharply. Immediately Slyvarakh’s smile vanished slightly. "You speak boldly for someone standing inside my empire."

"And you speak like a Malik..." Levin answered quietly. "...to someone who never accepted you as one."

The atmosphere exploded into tension instantly behind Levin. Iru visibly panicked because no one spoke to Slyvarakh this way and survived peacefully afterward.

Slyvarakh slowly stepped closer, one step and then another as his silver eyes darkened.

"You would abandon your kingdom...your position...your throne..." And then finally his gaze lowered toward Levin’s stomach. "...all for a dead serpent?"

Immediately Levin’s expression changed, and something dangerous flickered inside his exhausted eyes.

"...Do not speak of my husband recklessly.... You’re not even in a position to even call his name."

The storm roared louder. Slyvarakh chuckled softly afterward, but there was no amusement left inside it, only obsession.

"Your husband?" He tilted his head slowly. "...that corpse lying beneath the cliffs?"

Before anyone could react Levin pulled the dagger from beneath his robe instantly.

SHING!!!

Everyone froze as Levin pointed the dagger directly toward Slyvarakh despite his tired body, blue eyes burning now, filled with fury, grief, and love as his voice cracked painfully afterward.

"He is alive and even if the entire empire calls me mad..." A trembling breath escaped him. "...I will continue believing it."

Silence.

Then suddenly Slyvarakh laughed softly, lowly, and dangerously.

"...you truly love him that much." The words sounded almost fascinated.

Almost jealous. Then slowly his expression darkened completely. "Which is exactly why..."

Silver pheromones exploded violently around him.

BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

"...I cannot allow you to leave."

And the moment those words fell, the bridge beneath them shook violently because somewhere behind Slyvarakh, hundreds of Red Knights were already arriving through the tunnels as Slyvarakh had finally cornered its prey.

Or at least that was what Slyvarakh believed.

Standing upon the storm-drenched bridge, Levin slowly glanced downward; far below the bridge, violent black waters crashed between the cliffs furiously.

A deadly river, cold enough to kill, wild enough to swallow armies. Then suddenly Levin turned toward Raviel and Zyvera, and quietly he asked, "...Can you both swim?"

For one brief second even Slyvarakh looked confused. Raviel stepped toward the bridge edge and glanced down toward the raging river beneath the cliffs.

Then slowly a grin appeared across his face, dangerous, playful, and wild.

"Malika..." He twirled the dagger lazily between his fingers. "...do not worry about us."

Zyvera smirked beside him afterward. "We are professionals when it comes to escaping beautifully."

Despite everything, despite the storm, the pursuit, and the fear, the corner of Levin’s lips trembled faintly.

Then finally he nodded once, and then tiny Lyresaph suddenly leaped down from beneath Levin’s robe, landing directly upon the bridge.

And then—

ROOOOOOOOARRRRR!!!

Silver scales exploded outward violently; his body expanded larger, longer, and monstrously within seconds. Lyresaph transformed into his true form completely.

A massive silver dragon, blue eyes glowing brilliantly beneath the storm, ancient, terrifying, and beautiful. The bridge trembled violently beneath his enormous claws.

Meanwhile, Iru immediately transformed beside them.

SWISSSSHHHH!!!

Huge wings burst outward as his body shifted into a massive eagle beneath the rainstorm. And nearby Asha growled sharply before Lyresaph carefully grabbed her by the scruff within his jaws protectively.

And far across the bridge Slyvarakh’s silver eyes widened slightly for the first time that night because suddenly he understood exactly what Levin intended.

"STOP THEM—!"

But before the Red Knights could even rush forward Levin climbed carefully onto Lyresaph’s massive back, one hand holding tightly against his stomach and the other gripping the silver scales desperately beneath the rain.

Then slowly he turned his head toward Slyvarakh one final time. Rainwater sliding down his pale face endlessly.

And quietly and beautifully he spoke, "...see you never."

For one horrifying second Slyvarakh froze. Then his fury exploded completely.

"LEVIN—!"

But it was already too late.

CRAAAAAAASSSSHHHHHH!!!

Lyresaph leaped directly off the bridge beneath the violent storm. Massive silver body disappearing into the darkness below at the same exact moment Raviel grabbed Zyvera’s arm, both siblings smirked shamelessly toward the furious emperor.

Then waved mockingly. "Bye bye, Malik."

And together they jumped directly into the raging river beneath the cliffs.

SPLAAAAAAASHHHHH!!!

Everything descended into chaos instantly.

"CATCH THEM!"

Slyvarakh’s roar shook the entire canyon violently; his rotten silver pheromones exploded across the storm.

"FIND THEM!"

The Red Knights rushed toward the bridge desperately. Torches illuminated the violent black river below but there was nothing left to catch.

Only stormwater, crashing currents, and darkness swallowing the escaping figures whole. And standing upon the trembling bridge, Slyvarakh slowly stepped toward the edge afterward.

Rain soaked his silver robes completely. Sword clenched tightly within his hand, and beneath the thunderstorm, his silver eyes burned with something far more terrifying than rage.

Obsession.

Because for the very first time since reclaiming the throne, someone had escaped him.

And worse?

It was the one thing he desired most. Far below the cliffs, through storm-covered rivers and endless darkness, the Malika of Zahryssar vanished into the night.

While behind him an empire began chasing its stolen bride.