The time in Al-Munira is now 11:50 PM.
A chilling echo rang through the hall, as if time itself was warning them of what was to come.
Malakar stretched out his right hand, his fingers curling like talons. A swirling black spell formed in his palm, pulsing with sinister energy that made the air tremble. His hollow, ancient eyes locked onto Ryo.
Ryo gasped at the sight, his instincts kicking in.
'Bang! Bang! Bang!' He fired round after round, bullets tearing through Malakar's body—but it was useless. The wounds closed almost instantly, as if the damage had never existed.
Then, Malakar extended his hand further, his spell surging. Before unleashing the attack, he spoke—calmly, almost amused.
"You've made a fool out of me enough, you wretched detective."
And then—he fired.
A swirling, malevolent mass of darkness shot toward Ryo like a death sentence. Ryo tried to move, but the attack was impossibly fast—too fast.
Just as he braced for impact…
A golden blur flashed before him—it was Sultan Malik, appearing like the wind, like lightning, like pure, unshakable force, his right arm pulled back, fist shimmering like a celestial jewel, and with one mighty strike—BOOM!—he punched the attack out of existence.
The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling through the throne hall. The black spell didn't just deflect—it disintegrated, swallowed whole by the raw power in the Sultan's fist. Dust and sparks filled the air. The room trembled.
Holding his pose, his glowing fist still humming with energy, Sultan Malik smoothly declared..
"You are not touching our Detective."
Ryo, knocked onto his back from the shockwave, gawked in awe. The raw power—was this what a true Ruler looked like?
Malakar barely had time to react before Sultan Malik launched himself forward.
His fists became blurs—strike after strike, faster than the eye could follow. Lightning-speed punches pummeled Malakar, shredding through his flesh, breaking and reforming him over and over. But Malakar didn't falter—his cursed regeneration refused to let him fall.
Ryo, still on the ground, couldn't tear his eyes away. He had seen fighters and criminals before—but this was beyond anything he had ever witnessed.
Then—Shahira's hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"Ryo, MOVE! Either hide or get the hell out of here before you die!" she snapped, her sharp eyes blazing. "You're not a Mage! You're just a normal human! Going head-to-head with a sorcerer is suicide!"
Her words hit harder than any punch.
Ryo had always been the type to throw himself into danger, to take the hits, to push forward even when it meant getting beaten bloody. But now, in the face of a true battle between warriors of magic, he felt—helpless.
His jaw tightened. His fists clenched.
But… she was right.
With hesitation, he exhaled and said. "Alright, Sha… I'll leave this to you guys."
But as he turned away, his resolve burned. "I won't be dead weight."
His mind sharpened. If he couldn't fight Malakar head-on—he'd find another way.
"Guess I'll try to find Malakar's weaknesses instead," he thought.
Without another word, Ryo bolted toward the throne hall's entrance, keeping to the walls to avoid Malakar's line of sight. If he could get outside, maybe he could come up with a strategy—a way to defeat an immortal enemy.
But Malakar… had no intention of letting him leave.
Even as he endured Sultan Malik's relentless blows, Malakar clicked his fingers.
A deafening crack split the air.
Above the entrance, the ceiling collapsed. Before Ryo could react, black flames erupted from the wreckage, blocking his way out with fire and debris.
He came to a sudden stop, his eyes widening in frustration.
"ARE YOU FREAKIN SERIOUS!!" he shouted, throwing his hands in the air.
Behind him, Malakar merely grinned through the storm of Sultan Malik's punches.
The battle was far from over.
Malakar took aim once more, his eyes locking onto Ryo. His hand rose, miasma swirling around it—ready to fire another devastating attack.
"Oh, COME ON! Give me a damn break!" Ryo yelled, his eyes wide as he dashed behind a pillar.
But before Malakar could release his spell—
WHOOSH!
Shahira's dagger shimmered, the blade glowing as water surged from it, twisting and morphing into a massive water cobra. With a deadly hiss, the serpent launched forward like a geyser at full force.
BOOM!
The impact sent Malakar crashing against the wall, shattering it into a massive crater. Dust and debris flew as cracks spread like a spider's web across the throne hall.
Ryo, still catching his breath behind the pillar, peeked at the destruction and groaned in panic—
"He keeps aiming at me…"
"Did I piss this guy off too much?!"
His answer came when Malakar locked eyes with him before launching another blast of dark energy his way.
"Oh, FOR FU—!" Ryo ducked just in time, the attack narrowly missing him and shattering a chunk of the pillar behind him.
Meanwhile, Shahira's water twisted around Malakar, suspending him midair like a massive serpent tightening around its prey.
"Now! Hit him with everything!" Shahira commanded.
And then, chaos erupted.
Guards unleashed their elemental magic, each spell struck Malakar like a relentless storm. All striking at once.
Sultana Zafira's flaming arrows rained down on him like a meteor shower, her fury visible in her eyes.
Amina sliced the air, sending wind-blades cutting into Malakar like invisible scythes.
Sultan Malik vanished from sight—only to reappear in bursts of light, delivering solar-infused punches, each one blindingly powerful.
It was chaos.
Malakar's body was ripped apart, burned, shattered—but every time, his black miasma swirled, sizzling as his flesh stitched back together grotesquely.
He just stood there, not fighting back—only enduring the attacks.
Ryo, still hidden, peeked at the battlefield—his face drenched in sweat.
"I hate this Fantasy-style villain b*llsh*t!" he muttered under his breath, pressing his back against the pillar.
As the battle raged, Amina lashed out mid-attack—a burning question clawing at her mind.
"Why the hell did you do something as creepy as installing bugs throughout the palace?! You ALREADY knew how to activate the celestial compass! What was the point?!"
Ryo's deduction had already exposed Malakar's knowledge of the compass's activation, yet the spy games still didn't make sense.
Then, slowly—he grinned. "Like that wretched detective said…" he said, his voice low and satisfied.
"I already know how to activate it." His grin twisted, eyes glinting with something far more sinister. "But… keeping you all in check… slowly turning you into my allies… breaking you apart, piece by piece… and watching you all suffer at my hands?"
He chuckled darkly. "Now that—" His expression darkened—eyes wide, smiling like a maniac, his voice dripping with black venom. "—is the most JOYFUL part of my revenge!"
Amina's stomach churned.
Malakar's tone shifted from sick pleasure to pure rage.
"But then—" he growled, eyes snapping to Ryo. "that IRRITATING detective got in my way and RUINED everything! Especially before I reached that CERTAIN moment!"
Ryo, still hiding, groaned in regret. "Ughhh… so I DID piss him off too much."
Sultan Malik, stepping back from his punches, narrowed his eyes.
"What moment?" the Sultan asked cautiously.
But Malakar only smiled.
Instead of answering, he raised his arms and thrust his hands into the water serpent.
With a burst of dark magic, he SNAPPED Shahira's water bindings and landed effortlessly on the floor—completely unharmed.
Shahira's eyes widened. "No way…" she whispered.
Two guards lunged at him, spears aimed straight for his stomach, and in an instant, they stabbed him—sharp ends piercing through his flesh, blood dripping onto the stone floor.
But Malakar didn't flinch.
Instead—he grabbed both guards by their faces, pressing against their eyes.
The moment their skin touched—
A horrifying realization sank in.
"NO!" Amina gasped.
Malakar's curse.
The guards froze.
Their bodies stiffened.
Then—slowly—they pulled their spears out of Malakar's body.
And then…
They turned.
Standing side by side with Malakar like soldiers awaiting orders.
As they opened their eyes, a black, spiked circular mark appeared, their faces empty and their will gone—The Royal Family's own men were no longer theirs.
A horrifying silence filled the air.
Malakar grinned, then with an elegant yet cruel bow, he spread his arms, his voice rich with amusement as he said…
"Everyone... let me introduce them... your guards... or should I say—MY guards now…"
The two cursed royal guards took battle stances, their weapons now aimed—not at Malakar, but at their own allies and the royal family.
"The newest members…" Malakar grinned wider. "…of The Ravens."
The time in Al-Munira is now 11:55 PM.
Malakar raised his hand calmly, an eerie smile curling on his lips. "Attack," he ordered.
The cursed guard on his left lunged forward, spear thrusting toward one of his former comrades.
The targeted guard froze, eyes darting between his friend and the weapon coming straight at him. His hands trembled—could he raise his blade against his own ally?
But before the spear could pierce him—CLANG!
Amina stepped in, her katana intercepting the attack at the last second. Sparks erupted from the clash of steel.
She gritted her teeth. She couldn't kill him. She couldn't hurt him too much.
He was still in there.
They exchanged blows, their blades clashing furiously, but Amina could only fight defensively. The hesitation in her movements was painfully clear.
Yet… the other cursed guard—the one standing on Malakar's right—remained perfectly still.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
Everyone in the throne hall hesitated.
Their hands trembled, if they attacked Malakar now, would that second cursed guard move? Would they accidentally kill him?
Malakar's grin widened. With both hands casually clasped behind his back, he radiated an air of absolute control.
And then, he spoke. "Now then… wretched detective…"
Ryo, still hidden behind the pillar, peeked cautiously.
Malakar turned slightly in his direction, his smirk dripping with amusement.
"How about we piece together one final puzzle?"
"One last piece you haven't fully solved."
The air in the throne hall grew tense.
Ryo's mind raced. "One last piece? What was I missing?"
The time in Al-Munira is now 11:58 PM.
Malakar smiled softly, a chill in his voice. 'You said I can just kill anyone, and the compass would activate, right?'"
Ryo furrowed his brows.
"That's... half true," Malakar said.
A strange dread crept up Ryo's spine. "Half?" he asked cautiously.
Malakar chuckled, lifting a single finger. "Or should I say…" His eyes gleamed. "98% true."
A ripple of confusion spread through the throne hall.
The Sultan and Sultana exchanged wary glances. The guards remained on edge, their stances tightening.
"Ehem…" Malakar cleared his throat dramatically. "You see, in order to activate the Celestial Compass, I can't just kill anyone randomly, at any time."
The time in Al-Munira is now 11:59 PM.
Amina was still locked in battle, struggling to hold back her cursed opponent without hurting him.
"That's the annoying restriction imposed on me by the Ancient Jinn." Malakar's grin stretched unnaturally wide. "But… in ONE minute…"
The air turned heavy.
Malakar's fingers twitched in anticipation. "In this ONE final minute, if ONE more person dies in this hall…"
The realization hit like a shockwave.
Ryo's eyes widened. "No…" he whispered.
Malakar chuckled. "Then… and ONLY then…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "I can FINALLY activate it."
The weight of his words sank in.
The chilling horror of it.
"Because…" Malakar lifted his gaze, his expression twisted in sick delight. "When I killed my wife… that foolish traitor… it was on August 18th, 405 AD."
A deadly silence fell over the throne hall.
Malakar exhaled deeply, almost nostalgic. "And now… it's August 17th, 2025."
The realization hit everyone at once.
Malakar sighed casually. "For 1620 years... I've been killing, gathering souls one by one to feed the Ancient Jinn."
The guards visibly tensed, their faces paling.
"But each year…" Malakar sneered, his fingers twitching with irritation. "If I tried to take more than one, the Jinn rejected the excess souls."
His expression suddenly twisted in rage. "I thought I could speed things up! Gather enough souls to DESTROY THIS KINGDOM AND THIS MISERABLE WORLD!"
The time was ticking.
Only 20 seconds before midnight.
Then—Malakar's gaze shifted.
His grin darkened as his eyes locked onto the cursed guard standing on his right.
Ryo's stomach dropped.
His face darkened in realization. "EVERYONE!" Ryo shouted desperately. "MAKE SURE THAT GUARD ON HIS RIGHT DOESN'T GET KILLED!"
The countdown began.
10 seconds before midnight.
Slow motion.
The room exploded with action.
Everyone unleashed their spells at Malakar.
5 seconds before midnight.
Malakar's grin turned sinister, his hand already close to the cursed guard's head.
Amina was still fighting, unable to help.
1 second before midnight.
The magic attacks were still halfway—too slow to stop him.
And finally…
AUGUST 18TH.
Malakar's eyes widened in euphoria. "It's finally time..." his voice was low, chilling, hungry.
A dark whirlwind of energy exploded from his palm—
And then—KRACK!
The cursed guard's head blew apart.
SPLORTCH!!
Blood splattered the stone floor. The body collapsed limply, unmoving.
And then, for the first time, Malakar shielded himself, blocking the incoming attacks with his dark barrier.
The entire throne hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Amina struck the cursed guard she was fighting, slamming the back of her katana against his neck. He collapsed, unconscious.
The guards—who moments ago had hesitated to attack their ally—stared in horror.
Then, with a cry of pure agony— "QAAAAASSIIIIIIIIM!!!!" Their screams of grief pierced the air, shaking the hall with pain.
Qasim…
Their comrade.
Their brother.
Their best friend… Died.
Ryo felt sick…
Amina clenched her teeth so hard they nearly shattered.
The Sultan's fists shook with rage.
The Sultana's expression darkened, eyes filled with hatred.
"HOW DARE YOU!" the Sultan roared.
"YOU MONSTER!" the Sultana hissed.
But Malakar? He only laughed. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
A crazed, maniacal laugh— He pressed his hand to his forehead, enjoying the tragic sight.
And then—
A dark magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
A low, rumbling sound filled the throne hall.
The air shifted.
The dark magic circle glowed, its energy crackling with malevolent power. Then, from its depths, something began to swirl—crimson and dark, like a vortex.
Slowly, something massive began to materialize, an ancient skeletal figure clad in a flowing crimson cloak, rising from the circle with an ominous, chilling presence.
The Ancient Jinn.
Its skull-like face loomed over them, empty sockets glowing crimson.
Everyone stared at it, frozen in absolute horror.
Shahira took a step back. "No way…"
No one could speak, their fear consuming them as the Ancient Jinn hovered above, its menacing presence casting a suffocating dread over them, utterly horrifying.
Ryo's breath hitched as he recognized the figure—he had seen it before, in his dream, after falling unconscious at the marketplace plaza.
The Ancient Jinn… the skeleton in Crimson cloak…
The one who had once offered him the compass—the very one he had rejected.
"It can't be…" Ryo whispered.
Malakar took out the artifact from his robe beneath his armor, and lifted…
…The Celestial Compass—a centuries-old artifact, its golden frame intricately carved, its surface cracked with age, yet pulsating with dark energy.
He raised it high and shouted. "I HEREBY GRANT YOU THIS FINAL SOUL!"
The Ancient Jinn slowly nodded and extended its skeletal hand, sucking Qasim's soul from his lifeless body into its bony palm.
And then—
The Celestial Compass BURST TO LIFE, dark purple energy erupting in a violent surge.
At last… it's been activated.