Jed and Munfa crouched behind a ruined wall, scanning the heavily guarded entrance of the Dark Side's base.
Dark warriors stood at every corner, armed and ready.
Munfa narrowed his eyes. "We have to get in without alerting them."
Jed nodded. "Stealth, then. No unnecessary fights."
But suddenly—Munfa tensed.
A presence was rushing toward them.
"Watch out!" Munfa slashed his wrist blade mid-air.
Splat!
His blade sliced into something—but instead of flesh, a thick, sticky substance burst from the wound, splattering onto Munfa's arm.
"Tch—! Glue again?!" Munfa grunted, struggling to pull free.
A familiar laugh echoed through the darkness.
The real Hook appeared, grinning. "Surprise, surprise."
Jed quickly ripped the sticky clone off Munfa's arm, freeing him.
Hook crossed his arms smugly. "You again, thief? And you brought a friend?"
Munfa's eyes burned with fury. "Where is Luz?"
Hook's smile widened. "Oh, he's dying. Very, very soon. And when he's gone, Aetheris will belong to us."
Munfa tightened his grip on his blades.
Jed stepped forward. "We don't have time for your games. Where is he?"
Hook chuckled, twirling a kunai in his hand. "Oh, you're mistaken. Before you even reach him… you'll both be dead."
Without warning—he lunged.
Munfa blocked a strike, then turned to Jed. "Go! Find Luz! I'll handle this fool."
Jed hesitated. "But you're still injured—"
Munfa smirked. "I'm Munfa. That's all that matters."
Jed nodded once, then vanished into the shadows.
Hook's eyes followed him briefly before snapping back to Munfa.
"You think you can take me alone?" Hook laughed. "You're nothing."
Munfa's wrist blades gleamed in the moonlight. "We'll see."
---
Far from the battlefield, Kael sat hidden within Biringan, wrapped in a cloak, listening to the whispers of the city.
The streets were filled with fear.
Citizens spoke in hushed voices.
"Luz was captured…"
"The Dark Side is winning…"
"Den will take over soon…"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He had stayed neutral for long enough.
Luz's capture had shaken the balance of power.
Kael clenched his fists. "Tch. So the great Light Descendant is in trouble? Foolish."
He turned away.
But for some reason, he didn't leave.
Not yet.
---
Munfa and Hook clashed, their weapons striking in a blur.
Hook jumped back, creating multiple clones.
Each clone rushed at Munfa.
Munfa darted backward, slicing at the clones
But something was wrong.
His vision blurred.
His limbs felt sluggish.
A wave of dizziness hit him.
Munfa staggered, gripping his head. "An… illusion?"
Hook laughed. "Too easy."
Before Munfa could react—
BOOM!
The sticky clones exploded, covering his entire body in glue.
Munfa struggled, but the substance hardened instantly.
He gritted his teeth. "Damn it..."
Hook walked up slowly, chuckling. "Looks like the great thief got caught."
He raised a kunai—aiming for Munfa's throat.
"Any last words?