Over the next week, Leo and the others spent every waking moment on preparation. Between organizing supplies, refining battle plans, and testing their abilities, there was barely any time to rest.
During that time, Leo finally succeeded in completing the basics of the spell of creation, his first true step toward mastering the art that no one reached before. The original version had been a disaster. It lacked boundaries, consuming all available mana in an instant as it tried to stretch across reality itself, giving him the theoretical power to create anything, anywhere, until he collapsed.
Now, with limits carefully inscribed into its structure, he could contain the effect. Even so, his current strength only allowed him to form a sphere of creation about ten centimeters wide, and only for less than a minute. It was progress, but it also made one thing painfully clear, if he wanted to truly wield this power, he needed to grow far stronger.
The changes in Elna and Briva were just as striking.
Briva, though still struggling to fully control her newfound blood powers, had grown physically formidable. Her strength, agility, and endurance had all surged. The transformation had even affected her companion, Ashen, whose body now radiated the same vampiric energy that pulsed within her. Both of them could use Vampire Gaze, allowing Briva to see through Ashen's eyes across vast distances, even within the dense gloom of the Shadowlands. With that connection, she could finally bring Ashen into combat without fear of losing him.
Elna's transformation, on the other hand, was seamless. The new powers felt almost natural to her, as if they had always been there. Her control over blood magic had sharpened, every ability refined and amplified. In battle, she moved like a phantom, her speed, strength, and shadow magic blending into a blur that left only an afterimage.
Leo had also taught her the Moonlit Gaze which extended her sight far beyond his own. Under the faintest trace of light, she could see everything with terrifying precision.
Among their allies, confusion spread. Only Arthur and Alina knew what was truly happening with Briva and Elna.
Luciana had tried everything she could to uncover how a vampire could possess crimson eyes, a trait unknown to her. Yet no matter what she did, the mystery only deepened her unease.
The group preparing to depart looked different this time. Alongside the previous group stood Alina and five elite warriors from the city's guard. Among them was Varic. Every one of them was ranked C-plus, their strength brushing the edge of B-minus, enough to make them valuable, but still far from the overwhelming power they might soon face.
Before they could begin the mission, however, Leo had one last thing to do.
The night before departure, he entered a dark chamber at the far end of the castle. He sealed the room with several layers of barrier spells, then asked Arthur to reinforce it with every protective spells he knew. Once the space was secured, Leo sat before a single candle, its faint light flickering across the cold stone walls.
For several minutes, he remained perfectly still, eyes closed, breath measured. Gathering his thoughts. Then, in a low whisper, he spoke a prayer that ended with a single name.
"Lilith."
At once, the air shifted. The light dimmed, and shadows stretched and twisted around him. The walls melted away, and the world became a vast darkness lit only by the pale silver glow of an unseen moon.
Before him stood a throne, wrapped in veils of mist and moonlight. Upon it sat the Goddess of the Moon, her figure half-hidden in shadow. The aura that surrounded her was stronger than before, still distant, still fragile, but undeniably regaining its former majesty.
Leo bowed his head in respect.
"What brings you here, successor of Selvanna?" Her voice was ethereal, echoing from every direction at once, calm and cold as starlight.
Leo lifted his gaze. "Soon, I'll lead an attack against Lucius, the leader of the vampires. We've prepared as much as possible, but facing three S-ranks is beyond our current strength. To fulfill the mission you gave me… I need your help."
A pause hung in the darkness before she spoke again. "Even with all your effort in my lands, my power is already at its limits. If I grant you more, I will fall into slumber. And when I awaken, this world may already have ceased to exist."
Leo didn't hesitate. "What if after this, I destroy the part of the dragon responsible for corrupting the Shadowlands? The fragment that's spawning all these creatures, will that help you recover?"
Her head tilted slightly, the shadows shifting with the motion. "You truly believe you can defeat a fragment of a god? Even one piece of him surpasses Lucius in strength."
"It's not about belief," Leo said quietly, his voice firm. "It's about necessity. I must. And I want you to trust me."
For a long moment, there was only silence. Then her voice softened, almost approving. "So be it. When the time comes, my shadows will rise to your aid."
The darkness around him began to dissolve, her form fading like moonlight through fog.
And then, with a quiet rush of air, Leo opened his eyes, back in the candle-lit room. The flame trembled as if stirred by a passing breeze, though the air was still.
He exhaled slowly, the weight of her words heavy on his chest. Tomorrow, they would march toward Lucius.
…
In a vast and barren desert, nothing broke the endless horizon except the spire of a single black tower, a needle of obsidian piercing the pale sky. It drew the eye instantly, though only one pair of eyes was there to see it. those of the man who owned it.
He stood at the highest window of the tower's summit chamber, gazing toward the colossal black wall that loomed far in the distance. His reflection in the dark glass showed a man who looked no older than his twenties, short black hair, dark eyes, and sharp but unremarkable features. Yet the stillness in his expression carried the weight of centuries. His was a face that had watched cities and empires crumble.
He had recovered completely from the wounds of the last battle, an attack upon his domain, where an unexpected power had interfered and stopped him mid-strike. That power, he knew, belonged to someone who had no right to possess it. One of his own members called Mr. Clone.
He himself was none other than Mr. Sage. For all the endless years of his existence, he had clung to one wish, to lead his people to a place where they could live without hunger or suffering. But the world had betrayed that dream. The earth around him was poisoned and lifeless; the forests had turned to dust, the rivers to sludge. Only a few small pockets of land survived, kept alive by magic.
And still, he had not given up. Now, his strength was great enough to glimpse beyond the Shadowlands. Through that vision, he had reached out to another. Mr. Immortal. But that link was gone now, severed without warning.
For a time, he had nothing. No path forward. Now, fully healed and burning with new resolve, Mr. Sage turned his gaze once more toward the distant wall.
Soon, he would cross into the Shadowlands himself.
…
That morning, the day of their mission, Leo sat quietly in his domain's gathering hall. The vast chamber was still. Across from him, Ilandra sat, her expression thoughtful yet firm. She had questions.
"Why haven't you brought the other two illusionists here?" she asked at last, her voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"You mean Ryan and Edgarth?" Leo replied.
"Yes. Their strength could increase your chances of success, if they were to become… whatever it is you've become."
Leo let out a slow sigh and leaned back slightly, his gaze falling to the roofless sky as he considered his words. After a moment, he said, "You're right. If I brought them here and had them pledge their loyalty, their power would grow, our odds would improve. But the truth is, I can't."
Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean, you can't?"
"When I bring someone into my domain," he explained, "it places a burden on my mind. I didn't notice it at first, not until you made your pledge. Then, when the people of Hope began their prayers, the pressure grew worse. It's… constant. Like a thousand faint whispers I can always hear, or threads I'm forced to hold in my hand. The members affect me far more than the citizens, at least tenfold. And right now, I'm not powerful enough to bear more."
Ilandra tilted her head slightly, studying him. "But still… why didn't you choose them over the others?"
Leo gave a faint, tired smile. "A few reasons. If this were only about winning, then yes, bringing them instead of Elna and Briva would make sense. But I'm not here just to win. I want us to survive. And I won't risk losing the women I love in this fight."
Her expression softened slightly, though her tone remained dry. "That's not a very logical answer for a man who calls himself the Creator."
Leo raised a hand, stopping her. "I'm not finished. The other reason is that Elna and Briva are both warriors. The first thing this power grants is physical enhancement, it benefits them the most. It would help Ryan and Edgarth far less. And finally," he added, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I don't know how many people I can safely bring into my domain as members. If there's a limit, I can't afford to fill it entirely with illusionists."
Ilandra was silent for a long while, her gaze distant as she absorbed his words. Then she nodded slowly and rose, her form glowing faintly as she began to drift toward the gardens. Leo watched her go, the fog parting around her.
After spending some more time in his domain, He finally withdrew his mind back into the real world. Today was the day of their mission. Everything had been prepared, supplies gathered, weapons sharpened, plans memorized.
He rose from his seat and left the chamber.
Descending the stairs, he entered the main hall. The place was alive with motion, his allies moving briskly, checking gear, exchanging final words. The air was heavy with focus and restrained tension, the quiet hum before battle.
"Are we ready?" Leo asked as he reached the base of the stairs. Arthur stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room.
"Almost," Arthur replied. "Arlasan is giving the final instructions to the elders. Once he's done, we depart."
Leo nodded once. Together, the two men stepped out through the main doors, into the pale light of the city.
Arlasan was finishing his instructions to the elders when Leo and Arthur stepped outside. The old warrior's voice carried across the courtyard, steady and commanding.
"Remember," he said to the gathered soldiers, "don't step beyond the barrier around the city."
The men and women before him nodded sharply, armor glinting faintly under the pale light.
"Use arrows and spears to drive them back. Don't give them a chance to get close," Arlasan continued, his tone like iron.
One by one, the others began joining Leo and Arthur near the gate. When Arlasan finally turned, his eyes met Leo's, calm and certain.
"I'm ready," he said.
Leo gave a single nod. "Then let's not waste any time."
With that, the group began their march, toward the most dangerous mission they had ever faced.
Unlike before, when they used the teleportation circle to bring Luciana after them, this time she traveled with the group. They were hoping to encounter vampires along the way, each battle would decrease their numbers and only strengthen their chances later.
As they moved through the dark plains, Leo silently reviewed their plan again. Despite all their preparation, they had only one real opportunity. Lucius would have to remain within the ritual to sustain it, that was their moment to strike. The plan was simple but deadly, eliminate his followers first, then converge on him together.
Even so, Leo couldn't shake the unease in his chest. Against an enemy like Lucius, there were no guarantees. Not only was Lucius powerful, but he also possessed items of power, capable of turning the tide of any battle.
No matter what waited ahead, Leo had already made his choice. There would be no turning back.