The celestial spires of Celestial Heights gleamed faintly under the artificial starlight of Sky City. The Victor estate, an extravagant display of wealth and ego, stood as a shining beacon in the middle of the district. Mana-fueled drones hovered lazily around the sprawling grounds, their blue orbs scanning the area as if nothing could disrupt the serenity of this haven for the elite. Inside, the air was tense with expectation. Victor, with his characteristic smugness, paced the gleaming marble floors of his grand hall, awaiting the arrival of his most important guest.
But Victor's bodyguards—Ethan, Casper, and Rai—were notably absent from their post. Victor had sent them away with strict instructions not to return until his private meeting with the Alchemist King was concluded. "This is above your pay grade," Victor had said dismissively that morning, shooing them off with a wave of his hand. As far as he was concerned, this was his moment to solidify his dominance, to stake his claim as a true power in Sky City.
Unbeknownst to Victor, Ethan and his team were far from idle.
Deep beneath the Victor estate, hidden in an old maintenance tunnel, Ethan, Casper, and Rai worked with quiet efficiency. The dim glow of their mana constructs illuminated the narrow, cold space, reflecting off the metallic walls. Ethan knelt at the center, his hands glowing as he carefully traced the final runes of an intricate teleportation array. The symbols, a blend of ancient runic magic and modern engineering, thrummed faintly with power.
Rai adjusted a crystal node embedded into the floor, his sharp mind and technical skills making him indispensable to the operation. "Mana stabilization at ninety percent," he murmured, his voice steady as he checked the connections. "This array's going to hold, but this amount of output is going to burn through the energy reserves fast."
"That's the point," Ethan replied, his tone calm but purposeful. "We only need it to last long enough to pull him through."
Casper stood near the entrance, keeping an eye on the timer Ethan had set. His combat gear shimmered faintly with protective enchantments as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "And what if he figures it out before it's too late?" he asked.
Ethan smirked, his hands never stopping as he powered the last rune. "He won't. He's too arrogant to believe we're capable of this. That's why it'll work."
Casper gave a soft, dry laugh. "You really love underestimating people. Let's hope you're right."
Ethan didn't reply. He stood, mana still glowing faintly in his hands, and surveyed their work. The array was complete—an intricate circle of glowing runes and crystalline nodes designed to displace everyone within its field into a pre-prepared space. And that space was none other than The Verdant Fracture, the dimension fracture they had cleared months ago. Now emptied of its monstrous inhabitants, it stood as a desolate plain, its thick, mana-rich air perfect for the trap Elaine had set. All that was left now was for the Alchemist King to arrive.
Ethan straightened, his expression unreadable. "It's time."
Victor straightened his tie as the grand doors of his estate swung open. Two finely dressed attendants escorted the guest into the hall—a man cloaked in luxurious black robes adorned with golden runes that flickered faintly with their own internal mana. His presence commanded the room, the mana around him thick and oppressive, like a storm gathering strength. His pale, chiseled face was framed by shoulder-length hair, streaked with silver, and his eyes burned with an unnatural green light.
The Alchemist King had arrived.
Victor forced a broad smile, stepping forward with his arms spread wide. "Welcome! It's an honor to have you here. Please, make yourself at home"
The Alchemist King's eyes flickered with disdain as he cut Victor off with a gesture. "Spare me your groveling, Victor. I don't come to admire your tacky displays of wealth."
Victor's grin faltered, but he quickly recovered, bowing slightly. "Of course, of course. You'll find that I'm a man of practicality."
The Alchemist King didn't dignify him with a response. He stepped further into the hall, his boots clicking against the marble floors as his piercing gaze swept the room. The mana around him rippled, like a predator testing its prey. Then, his brow furrowed. Something was off.
The runes embedded beneath the floor began to glow faintly, their soft light spreading outward in an intricate pattern. The Alchemist King stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "What is this?"
Victor blinked, his confusion genuine. "What do you mean? It's nothing. Just—"
The air suddenly crackled with energy as the runes flared to life, forming a complete circle that encompassed the entire room. The Alchemist King's expression darkened with fury as he rounded on Victor, his hand snapping out to grab him by the throat. Victor yelped, his feet dangling inches off the ground as the Alchemist King's grip tightened.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?" the Alchemist King snarled, his voice seething with rage. "You dare betray me, you pathetic worm?"
Victor's face turned red as he clawed at the hand around his neck, sputtering incoherently. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" he gasped. "This… This isn't me!"
"Don't play dumb with me!" the Alchemist King roared. "Do you think this foolish plan would actually work?"
Before the Alchemist King could crush Victor's windpipe, a slow, deliberate voice cut through the chaos.
"I wouldn't underestimate it, if I were you," Ethan said, stepping into view. His expression was calm, but his eyes gleamed with quiet confidence.
The Alchemist King's eyes snapped to Ethan, releasing Victor, who crumpled to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. "Who are you?" the Alchemist King demanded, his voice laced with contempt.
Ethan smiled faintly. "Just because I'm a lower rank doesn't mean I should be taken for granted." He gestured to the glowing array beneath their feet. "You're not going anywhere."
The Alchemist King's fury intensified as he extended his hand, summoning a pulse of mana to disrupt the array. But as his magic collided with the runes, the disruption spell fizzled out, absorbed by the intricate design. Ethan's smile widened slightly.
"I poured a lot of mana into this," Ethan said, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "You'll find it's not so easily broken."
Before the Alchemist King could respond, the array activated with a blinding flash of light. The room vanished in an instant, replaced by the barren expanse of The Verdant Fracture. The oppressive jungle that once filled this dimension fracture was gone, leaving behind a vast, open plain under a perpetually green sky. The air was thick with mana, and the ground beneath them pulsed faintly with its energy.
The Alchemist King took a step forward, his expression turning to one of disbelief as he surveyed the new environment. And then his gaze landed on the figure standing in the distance—the one who had orchestrated this entire trap.
Elaine stood tall, her presence as commanding as ever. Her dark cloak billowed faintly in the mana-charged wind, and her sharp eyes locked onto the Alchemist King with a predatory gleam. Around her stood an army of Black Wind operatives, their weapons and spells at the ready.
The Alchemist King's lips curled into a snarl as he recognized her. "Elaine," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "I should have known."
Elaine's smile was cold and dangerous. "Welcome to the end of your reign," she said simply.
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