Dark warriors rushed toward Luz, their weapons gleaming in the dim torchlight.
Luz stood his ground, gripping the Sword of Light.
With a single sweeping strike, a radiant arc of energy tore through the battlefield—cutting down multiple enemies at once.
"Come!" Luz roared, his aura blazing.
More warriors attacked, but Luz dodged and countered with precision, cutting them down one by one.
Bodies fell around him—yet the army was endless.
Den watched from afar, his expression cold.
"Liu."
Liu nodded.
With a single motion, she raised both hand
A massive tornado erupted around Luz.
Flames swirled within it, turning it into a storm of destruction.
"Tch—!" Luz tried to leap away, but the inferno engulfed him.
Smoke filled the air—then suddenly, chains shot through the flames.
Den's chains wrapped around Luz's arms and legs, tightening like a vice.
The Sword of Light flickered—then vanished.
Luz gasped. "No…!"
Den smirked. "Yes… We captured the Light Descendant."
---
Jed burst into Biringan, carrying a severely burned Marcus.
"Elena! We need to help Luz—he's facing them all alone!"
Elena gasped, quickly rushing to heal Marcus.
Munfa, still bandaged and weak, sat up from his bed.
He reached for his wrist blades, strapping them on.
"I'm going."
Elena turned sharply. "Munfa, you're still recovering!"
Munfa glared. "Luz is my friend. he's the only thing stopping the Dark Side from destroying everything. I won't sit here and let him die."
Jed nodded. "Elena, stay here and heal Marcus. We'll bring Luz back."
Without another word, Jed and Munfa dashed out of Biringan, heading for the Dark Side's base.
---
Inside a dark chamber, Luz sat chained to the floor, his body covered in bruises and wounds.
Den stood over him, arms crossed.
"Come on, Luz. Surrender yourself."
Luz lifted his head weakly, his vision blurry.
"Never…"
Den's expression hardened.
Without warning, he struck Luz across the face, sending blood splattering onto the stone floor.
Luz coughed, his body trembling.
His voice was barely a whisper. "W-What happened to you, my friend…?"
Den's eyes narrowed.
Luz's voice cracked with pain. "You're not the Den I once knew. You wanted to protect this world. Now, you're nothing more than a power-hungry tyrant…"
Den's expression twisted in rage.
"I AM saving this world."
He delivered a brutal kick to Luz's mouth, knocking him onto his side.
Den loomed over him. "The Light has done nothing but bring suffering. Remember that."
Luz spat blood, but his eyes never wavered.
Den turned away, his voice bitter. "You had your chance, Luz."
The door creaked open.
Hook stepped in, his injuries now fully healed thanks to Matthew's advanced healing inventions.
He grinned. "Oh, the great Luz… completely helpless."
Hook knelt beside Luz, whispering.
"You're going to die here."
Den cut him off. "Not yet. He has 24 hours."
Hook raised an eyebrow. "Why wait?"
Den's eyes glowed darkly. "I'm giving him a choice. Give me the power of light… so I can rule Aetheris."
"And kill everyone who stands in my way… even Kael"
Den smirked.
Without another word, Den and Hook left the chamber, leaving Luz alone in darkness.
---
Jed and Munfa reached the outskirts of the Dark Side's territory.
Munfa suddenly halted, kneeling down.
He picked up something—
A piece of Luz's garment, torn and dirtied.
Munfa's eyes narrowed. "He left this behind… as a trail."
Jed clenched his fist. "Then let's follow it."
With silent determination, the two continued forward—toward the heart of enemy territory.