A wailing cry exploded around the Blackscale Citadel as a falcon with dark-blue eyes shot up from the building’s roof and entered the sky.

Two brown feathers floated and landed softly on the outside sill of the third floor’s window.

Inside, through the transparent glass window, Lu Wang stood at the center, brushing his right index finger on his chin while squinting at the wall as if something was staring back at him.

"What actually happened at the Seol-Mujin?" He asked in a soft voice, then turned his gaze toward the closed door. ’Hei Yung needs to give me the full overview, whether they accepted it or not.’

Just as he went and sat down on the silver foamy chair arranged around the round, white table, footsteps echoed from the side of the door. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Hei Yung stopped by the door with the inscription, ’Authorized Personnel ONLY,’ then sighed heavily.

’Whatever the case, I have to let them know.’ He said low in his head, then pushed the door open.

His eyebrow raised slightly when he saw Lu Wang already seated. He closed the door behind him, then neared the table Lu Wang was at.

"I was about to call you." Lu Wang said as he turned off the screen of his smartphone and placed it on the table.

"Really? Then you wouldn’t have reached me. I didn’t carry it along today." Hei Yung said and laughed, shaking his head.

He pulled one of the idle chairs and sat on it, facing Lu Wang.

Air drifted between them as Hei Yung shifted his gaze to the brown feathers resting on the outside sill of the window, then took in a deep breath.

"You look a bit disturbed after returning from Seol-Mujin. Care to share what happened?" Lu Wang asked while slowly folding his arms on his chest, then focused on Hei Yung.

Two beads of sweat appeared on Hei Yung’s brow and traced thin lines to his cheeks when he shifted his gaze from the window and looked at Lu Wang. "Yeah. It’s true. I’ve been bothered by a lot of things, especially about the meeting that took place in Seol-Mujin."

Lu Wang unfolded his arms from his chest, then relaxed himself in the chair and smiled faintly. "I can say that’s why you even canceled the return instruction and ordered the Ghost Squad to continue searching for more Starfire stones, right?"

"Yes," Hei Yung said in a tired voice. He placed his right hand on the table, then rested his left on his lap, while staring and moving his fingers. "Without that, everyone is doomed."

"Doomed?" Lu Wang’s eyes widened as he looked straight into Hei Yung’s blue eyes. "How? Didn’t they accept our request?"

"Hmp!" Hei Yung shook his head, then took in a deep breath. He pulled out a letter that had been sealed in gold wax, then handed it to Lu Wang. "Read it yourself."

"What is this?" Lu Wang asked as he tilted the envelope sideways, but his eyes opened wide when he saw the name written boldly on it.

SUMMONING

SIGNED.

SEOL-MUJIN OFFICIALS.

’This won’t be good,’ he said low in his head, then slowly broke the seal while looking at Hei Yung. He lowered his gaze to the black sheet, then began reading the details that were written with white crystal moving ink.

To all officials of Agatha,

SUMMONED WITH IMMEDIATE ACTION

We the Warlords of the Dominance Continuum hereby give all officials of Agatha and its sub countries these measures.

Hand over your entire resources. Vacate all your citizens for us to use your country as a farmland. Work under us as slaves and among the low ranks of mankind (Grade B). All those below the rank would be either cast out or erased from existence if they fail to comply.

With sincere gratitude, we are granting you a period of five days, which is enough for you to produce a minimum of 1000 Starfire Opal stones.

There would be no excuses after the deadline.

Stay safe.

Stay healthy.

Stay humble.

Signed,

Lord Luo Feng

Master and inventor of lightning.

Lu Wang sighed heavily when he shifted his gaze from the sheet and looked at Hei Yung’s face. "Seriously?"

Hei Yung curled his lips inward and nodded once, while clenching his fist.

"Lord Luo Feng? Isn’t he the same person who told us to ’relax, the officials of Seol-Mujin are just playing and won’t do anything extraordinary’? This can’t be possible."

Lu Wang placed the sheet beside the envelope and stood. "Five days to collect one thousand Starfire Opals? Are they even serious?"

Hei Yung also stood up and walked toward Lu Wang. "We’ve got no choice now. The only option we have to keep our resources and our land is to give them what they want."

He tapped on Lu Wang’s shoulder, then walked toward the window.

Outside, a gust of wind blew and carried the two brown feathers along while the late afternoon sun shone through the streets ahead.

The room remained silent as Hei Yung left the window’s angle and exited, closing the door behind him, while Lu Wang’s hands remained on the opened envelope.

...

The ground at the front of the training bay of the Agatha Special Forces shook as a wave of air passed through it and cracked it in seconds.

Dust exploded in the air as Tiger’s boots missed Samir’s head and slammed into the earth, cracking it deep and sending spider webs of cracks outward.

"That was fast," Samir said in an approving voice as he clapped, congratulating the improvement in Tiger’s attacks.

Sharp breath exited from Tiger as he bent down slightly and breathed. "That wasn’t anything to be praised. This is lesser than what I aimed for."

When Tiger dashed forward for a second attack, Samir sidestepped and pushed his back. "I thought we’re done for the day. Why are you rushing toward me again? After all the countless improvements you have gained, why?"

Tiger clenched his fist and dashed toward Samir. "Because I want to be far stronger when he returns."

Samir blocked the attacks then laughed cunningly. "Then you’ve got to train more, because if Leon Storm does return, he won’t be the person you’ve cracked all your bones to kill."

Tiger dashed for a low kick, then screamed. "Then I shall burn my body till there is nothing left to burn."

As soon as Samir dodged the kick and grabbed Tiger by the hand, they saw Hei Yung passing.

"Another day left for them to return. Huh!" Tiger said as he stood and spat warm blood on the ground.

Just as he turned and was about to attack Samir, the right pocket of his trousers vibrated. "Who is trying to destroy my training?"

He neglected the call and dashed forward while Samir had crouched down brushing the sweat off his face.

Tiger smiled when his cupped palm reached Samir’s head, but frowned and screamed in pain when Samir grabbed the arm and threw him aside.

"Fuck! How did you see me coming even when your eyes were closed?"

Samir looked at Tiger, then smiled. "The eyes are just to make you see. They’re not needed when fighting."

"Is that so? Then close them and let’s see if you can block these moves," Tiger said in a loud voice, then dashed forward, using the sky skipping technique.

He managed to hit Samir with three kicks, but on the fourth, the vibration echoed again and made Samir block the kick and land a slap on Tiger’s face.

"Seems someone important is trying to reach you. Answer." Samir said in a playful voice, then sat down, watching Tiger’s furious face.

"Fine!" Tiger said in an angry tone, pulled out the smartphone from his pocket.

He stared at the unknown number for a while before placing it on his ear.

Before he could say a word, his eyes widened when he heard the voice from the other end, mentioning his name.

"It’s been a while, Kang T."

"Hello, Jade."

"Sorry to bother you, but I want you to relax on whatever you’ve planned for that rat."

Tiger’s face glowed with a silent joy but he maintained his composed stature. "What do you mean by that, Jade Baek?"

Samir raised his gaze slightly when the name flew into his ears and caused his expression to shift from tired to fearful.

"You mean one of your best men is already inside Tartarus handling Leon, and I should stand down?" Tiger asked in a confused voice, then began moving slightly away from Samir.

"Yes."

Silence ruled on the phone for a moment while Tiger squinted at the birds flying in the sky.

Immediately after he hung up the call and went back to Samir’s side, Samir laughed, then stood up.

"I know the Baek and what they can do. But sending someone to a place like Tartarus to kill Leon was a dumb thing to even think of." Samir said as he stood up and began rubbing his fist, while watching the ground beneath his boots.

"Why?" Tiger asked, then frowned.

"He’s already dead." Samir said while rushing toward Tiger. "It’s my turn now."

Samir’s fist landed on Tiger’s cheek and sent him stumbling three feet back while the words replayed in his head. ’He’s already dead.’