Ryo, seeing his comrades in grave danger, took off his helmet and forced himself back to his feet, clutching his waist where the pain still lingered.
He gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath. "I... gotta do something!"
With a trembling hand, he pulled out his gun. Through blurred vision and heavy breathing, he carefully aimed into the chaotic air battle, locking his sights on Malakar, who was just about to rip through the magic carpet.
Amina and Aladdin both screamed.
Malakar's claws closed in—
BANG!
Ryo's bullet hit dead center, striking Malakar's eye, forcing him back.
Amina, panicked but relieved. "Thanks, Sherlock!"
She quickly took the opportunity to speed up the carpet, flying higher and farther from Malakar's reach.
Ryo exhaled in relief, watching them fly to safety. But something caught his attention.
As Malakar's eye slowly healed, he remained afloat, frozen, with his head lowered and his face hidden in shadow.
Then, slowly…
Malakar lifted his head and slowly turned toward Ryo, his mouth curling into a grotesque, devilish grin aimed directly at him.
Ryo's heart sank, his breath caught.
A chill ran down his spine.
Ryo's eyes widened, whispered to himself. "Oh no…"
Back at the Palace of Al-Munira, the royal family gathered for a meal.
Yet the atmosphere was anything but comforting.
The air was heavy, the weight of missing people was felt at the table.
King Malik and Queen Zafira noticed their daughter not eating, looking even more worried than usual.
Her eyes remained glued to her plate, untouched food sitting cold before her.
Queen Zafira, concerned. "Honey, you haven't touched your food yet. You need to eat."
But Shahira remained silent, staring downward.
King Malik spoke gently. "That's right, Shahira. You can't perform your duties on an empty stomach."
Still, no response.
King Malik sighed softly, then spoke again. "I know you're worried about Ryo and Amina. We all are. But you can't stay like this forever."
He offered her a reassuring smile. "Have faith in the detective and Aladdin. And when they return, welcome them back with a smile."
Shahira slowly lifted her head, taking in her father's words.
With a worried but determined expression, she nodded. "You're right, Father... I have to stay positive."
The King and Queen smiled back at her, though their hearts remained heavy.
Then—
Shahira reached for her glass of water, but just as her fingers touched it—
CRACK!
The glass split suddenly, startling her and everyone at the table.
Queen Zafira stood up. "Oh dear! Let me get you another glass!"
But Shahira's eyes were wide.
She began to tremble, holding herself tightly, her breathing quickened.
King Malik's expression stiffened. He could feel it too.
The cracked glass was more than an accident—It was an omen.
Shahira softly whispered, horrified. "Ryo..."
Her instincts screamed.
Something terrible… was about to happen to him.
Back in the chamber of the gate, Malakar was still staring at Ryo with that chilling, devilish grin. From a distance, Amina and Aladdin noticed how Malakar wasn't moving, and it instantly put them on edge.
Aladdin, squinting. "Why… why isn't he chasing us anymore?"
Amina narrowed her eyes, carefully observing Malakar. "It's like… he's just standing there… watching."
Her stomach dropped, she noticed Malakar wasn't just standing still — he was staring directly at Ryo with that terrifying grin. A terrible realization hit her.
Amina's eyes widened in panic. "RYO! YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL!"
Ryo, startled and confused. "Huh!? What do you mea—"
Suddenly, Malakar vanished — like smoke dissolving into thin air.
Ryo gasped in horror.
Aladdin, panicking. "Eh?! Where did he go?!"
Amina clenched her fists, trying to think. Then her eyes widened again as a horrifying thought crossed her mind. "RYO! MALAKAR JUST USED ILLUSION MAGIC TO DISAPPEAR!"
Indeed — one of Malakar's most feared abilities was illusion magic, allowing him to become completely unseen.
Without wasting time, Amina closed her eyes and cast a wind magic detection spell across the entire chamber, searching for any trace of Malakar's presence. When she opened them again — her face turned pale with dread.
Amina screamed, desperately. "RYO!!"
Ryo turned to her, confused.
Amina cried out. "RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!"
But it was too late.
Malakar reappeared out of nowhere, materializing inches in front of Ryo. Before Ryo could even blink, Malakar's massive dark claws gripped his entire body, lifting him up effortlessly and squeezing him tightly.
Ryo, squeezed in pain. "NGH—AAAH!"
Aladdin shouted in panic. "NOOO!!"
Malakar raised Ryo high into the air while grinning like a demon savoring victory.
Amina screamed. "LET HIM GO!"
Malakar burst into maniacal laughter, sounding like a devil who had finally caught his most hated prey. He shoved a claw toward Ryo's throat, stopping just inches away from piercing it.
Malakar, with a chilling, low voice. "If you want me to release this foolish detective…"
His eyes glinted with dark pleasure. "Then return the Celestial Compass."
Amina and Aladdin's eyes widened in horror.
Ryo, shouting in desperation. "DON'T DO IT!"
But Aladdin, trembling and sweating, slowly took out the compass hidden under his robe.
Amina, frozen, didn't even try to stop him. Her trembling lips betrayed her fear. Both knew full well — if they refused, Ryo would be killed instantly. But if they complied, Malakar would claim the compass and open the gate… spelling doom for the world.
It was the ultimate dilemma.
Malakar, with a smooth yet threatening tone. "Come now... surely you don't want this little pest to die, do you?"
Amina, heart racing but unable to ignore her care for Ryo, clenched her trembling fist, then softly placed a hand on Aladdin's shoulder. With a hesitant nod, she signaled him to hand over the compass.
Aladdin gritted his teeth even harder, his knuckles tightening with tension.
"This... this is insane", he muttered under his breath. He knew giving up the compass could doom everything, but Ryo's life hung by a thread.
Ryo, struggling against Malakar's crushing grip, noticed Aladdin's trembling hand slowly stretching forward, holding the compass, while Amina cautiously moved the carpet. His eyes widened in disbelief.
His voice cracking. "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! I MEAN IT! PLEASE, DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM! LEAVE ME!"
His desperate plea echoed through the chamber. He was willing to die if it meant saving the world—but Amina and Aladdin? They weren't willing to lose him.
The carpet edged closer, closing the distance.
Malakar, sinister grin widening. "Yes... that's it… there we go…"
Ryo, fighting back tears, gritted his teeth, his voice nearly breaking. "GUYS... PLEASE... don't…!"
Amina and Aladdin exchanged a glance of pure regret, their hearts torn apart, feeling powerless in this moment.
Then—before Aladdin could fully extend his arm—Malakar's free hand stretched unnaturally, dark miasma pouring out to form a monstrous clawed hand. It surged forward and, before they could react—
SNAP!
It snatched the compass right out of Aladdin's palm.
Amina gasped
Aladdin in regret. "Damn it!
The claw quickly pulled back, returning the compass to Malakar's devilish grip.
Ryo, eyes wide with horror. "SHIT!"
Malakar admiring the compass back in his hand. "Ah… finally, my precious compass is back where it belongs."
Aladdin, feeling defeated, clenched his fist and demanded. "You got what you wanted…"
Amina shouted. "…Now let him go!"
Malakar ignored them at first, his grin widening. Then, without warning, he looked back at them again and cruelly squeezed Ryo's body even tighter. Ryo screamed in pain.
Amina shouted furiously. "WHAT THE FUCK, MALAKAR?!"
Aladdin followed, his voice trembling with rage. "YOU PROMISED YOU'D LET HIM GO!"
Malakar chuckled mockingly. "Oh please… when has trusting the villain ever ended well?"
Aladdin, furious, pulled out his sword, engulfing it with wind magic, ready to strike.
But Malakar squeezed Ryo even harder, making him scream louder, his head thrown back in agony.
"Don't get any clever ideas, or I'll crush him until he vomits blood."
Aladdin froze, trembling, then slowly lowered his sword, helpless.
Malakar, amused. "Atta boy…"
Then, the Celestial Compass in Malakar's clawed hand began to glow, pulsing with a sinister purple-black light. He raised it high while still holding Ryo in his grip.
Amina and Aladdin knew if they tried to stop him, Ryo would die instantly.
Malakar grinned wider and chanted. "OH, GATE OF MALEVOLENT SPIRITS, I HEREBY UNLOCK YOU AND RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR RESTRAINTS!"
The massive gate shook and slowly opened with a deep, heavy sound. A burst of purple and black light exploded out, pouring thick, choking miasma into the air. The sheer force threw Amina and Aladdin backward, slamming them against the sealed entrance. Their magic carpet couldn't even resist the blast.
And then, the horror.
A wailing, terrifying cry — like demons screeching and clawing to escape — echoed from the gate. It wasn't even halfway open, but the pressure alone was overwhelming, nearly suffocating.
Ryo, crushed in Malakar's grasp, weakly muttered. "N...n...no..."
Malakar stood victorious, arms stretched wide as if welcoming the destruction with open arms. His laughter echoed through the chamber, tears of twisted joy streaming down his face.
"YEEEEEEEEESSSSS!!!"
"OH, GREAT SPIRITS… COMPLETE MY REVENGE! TEAR DOWN THE KINGDOM OF AL-MUNIRA AND THIS WORLD!!"
Then, a massive, ghastly hand — black and purple miasma —reached out of the gate. Amina and Aladdin, on their knees, barely able to stand, could only stare in pure horror.
Aladdin's voice trembled. "No…"
Amina's eyes wide with despair. "It's over… we've lost…"
And Ryo, witnessing all the horrors unfolding before him, could only feel regret. His heart sank deeper with every second.
"No... not again..." he thought, clenching his teeth, helpless in Malakar's grip. "I'm... useless… I couldn't stop him. I couldn't protect anyone."
His mind raced as despair took over.
"Was I ever a match for him?"
"An immortal… a devil… I never stood a chance from the start."
He trembled, feeling the crushing reality.
"I should've known better. I'm just... just a normal human."
His gaze fell on Amina and Aladdin, barely holding themselves together against the demonic force.
"And now... because of me... it's over."
The world is on the brink of ending. Ryo's vision slowly began to blur as he was about to pass out from Malakar's crushing grip.
Yet, before blacking out completely, Ryo took one final breath and let out a desperate, furious declaration.
Ryo started off quietly. "I'll kill you…"
Malakar turned his head slightly, raising a brow. "Huh?"
Ryo's eyes burned red with rage, veins visible, adrenaline overriding the pain.
"I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU, MALAKAR! I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO CRAWL OUT OF MY OWN GRAVE! I'LL HAUNT YOU! I'LL RIP YOU APART PIECE BY PIECE! I'LL MAKE YOU BEG FOR DEATH, AND WHEN YOU DO— I'LL KEEP YOU ALIVE JUST TO MAKE YOU SUFFER FOR ETERNITY!"
And just like that, with every ounce of energy drained from that final outburst, Ryo passed out, his body going limp.
Malakar smirked darkly, speaking with amusement. "Heh, is that so? Such a hopeless little detective you are… clinging to empty threats."
Then, with a careless shrug, he muttered. "Meh, guess I don't need you anymore."
Without hesitation, Malakar did the unthinkable — he threw Ryo upwards like a ragdoll, sending him spiraling into the dark pit below.
Aladdin and Amina's eyes widened in horror. The man they risked everything to save was now falling into the abyss.
Amina shouted. "NO!"
She sprinted to the edge of the entrance platform, reaching out helplessly for Ryo, tears already spilling from her wide, horrified eyes.
"RYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Aladdin, on his knees and trembling, watched helplessly as his two-man-team partner fall into the abyss.
"SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR!!"
The magic carpet was pinned against the sealed entrance, crushed by the force of the gate's sinister energy, making rescue impossible. All they could do was watch helplessly as Ryo vanished into the pit — gone.
Amina whimpered, then broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Aladdin, trembling and just as shattered, placed his arms over her shoulders and pulled her close. Together, they mourned in silence.
It was over.
The world is ending.
Dark clouds twisted wildly in the sky above the black pyramid, thickening by the second. Sinister purple rays spilled downward, bathing the land in a sick, eerie glow. The storm spread fast, swallowing the sky until not a single ray of sunlight remained.
All of Al-Munira lay beneath its shadow.
From the palace rooftop, Shahira, King Malik, and Queen Zafira stood frozen, their faces pale as they stared into the heart of the disaster.
They had realized it — Ryo and Aladdin had failed.
The city was drowning in terror—mothers clung to their children, men fell to their knees, pleading to gods who would not answer.
The darkness wasn't just spreading—it was alive, watching, waiting. Judgment day had already fallen. The end wasn't coming—it was already here.
Shahira fell to her knees, her trembling hands bracing against the cold floor as tears dripped beneath her.
She sobbed softly. "Amina… Ryo… they're gone…"
It was hopeless.
Armageddon has finally come.
King Malik and Queen Zafira sank to their knees beside Shahira, embracing her tightly. All they could do now… was wait for the end.
As for Ryo — as he fell deeper into the abyss, unconscious — his mind was dragged into another terrifying dream. There, waiting for him, stood…
…The same grinning skeleton, draped in a crimson-red cloak.