Three months had passed since the festival that illuminated the lands of Vrasnia.
The celebration had faded into memory, and the endless night of the planet once again embraced the kingdom. Beneath the faint glow of distant stars, the streets of Vrasnia remained peaceful, its silver towers and crystal structures shining beneath the eternal darkness.
Among those quiet streets walked Neve.
Her long white hair swayed gently with the cold breeze, each strand moving like falling snow beneath the moonless sky. Her footsteps were calm, but her thoughts were far away.
Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword.
Slowly, she pulled the blade slightly from its sheath, staring at her reflection upon the polished steel.
For a moment, she saw not herself...
But memories.
Memories of countless battles.
Countless days of training.
Her clashes with Kazimir.
"I've watched you grow stronger and stronger..." Neve thought.
"Or at least, that's what I believed."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"You never truly understood your own power. Your abilities, your potential... you always held yourself back."
"But even then, your raw combat skills were something beyond me."
Neve lowered her gaze.
"Then again... you are Karah's son."
The thought lingered.
"Perhaps you truly are her descendant. The same blood, the same overwhelming potential..."
"But unlike her... you chose a different path."
A sudden gust of wind swept through the street.
Neve's expression changed.
The atmosphere shifted.
Her instincts immediately reacted.
Someone was there.
Behind her.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the empty street.
Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows.
A woman dressed in elegant yet intimidating armor walked forward.
A black corset-like breastplate covered her body, reinforced with dark armor plating. Sapphire-blue veins of energy flowed across the armor like living currents. Wing-shaped pauldrons rested upon her shoulders, while her skirt-like armor shifted with every step, colored in deep black and sapphire blue.
Her thighs and forearms were protected by armor engraved with glowing blue sigils.
Then came the most recognizable feature.
Her long white hair emerged from the darkness.
Neve narrowed her eyes.
Vanessa.
The Imperator of Vrasnia.
The Warden of Nullity.
A Disciple of Nebula.
"I've been looking for you, Neve."
Vanessa's voice carried through the silent streets.
Neve turned toward her, her eyes shimmering slightly.
"What is it?"
Vanessa walked closer.
"It's about that white hole."
The moment those words left her mouth, Neve's expression changed.
She remembered.
The strange phenomenon that appeared across the galaxy.
A massive white void that consumed the skies.
A sight that even the strongest beings had struggled to understand.
"I remember," Neve replied.
"But I haven't heard any updates about it. I assumed it was just some kind of phenomenon."
Vanessa remained silent for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"It's not a phenomenon."
The air grew heavier.
"That was caused by a Disciple of Nebula."
Neve froze.
"A Disciple?"
Vanessa nodded.
"More specifically... an Overseer."
Confusion crossed Neve's face.
"Overseer? I've never heard of that."
Vanessa looked toward the endless sky.
"An Overseer is someone who possesses authority above the other Disciples of Nebula."
Her voice became more serious.
"They are not simply followers. They are beings who stand at the highest level among the Nullities."
She looked back at Neve.
"And that Overseer..."
A pause.
"His name is Rygar."
Neve's eyes widened.
"Rygar..."
Vanessa nodded.
"The white hole you witnessed across the galaxy wasn't a natural event."
"It was the aftermath of his battle."
"Rygar was fighting against the angels of Heaven."
Neve clenched her teeth.
"Then..."
She looked directly at Vanessa.
"Who won?"
A heavy silence followed.
"Did Heaven stop him?"
Vanessa's expression darkened.
"No."
Neve's eyes widened.
"They never stood a chance."
The wind became colder.
"They all died."
Neve remained silent.
"Right now, Heaven is in a critical state. Elysia is maintaining the barrier that prevents Nebula from escaping and becoming fully free into this world."
Vanessa looked down.
"Because of that, she cannot assist them."
The weight of her words settled.
"But I needed to tell you this because..."
Vanessa looked toward the horizon.
"The Great War that occurred two thousand years ago..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Will happen again."
Neve's grip tightened around her sword.
"We are enjoying peace right now..."
Vanessa continued.
"But soon, disaster will arrive."
"Kazimir, Riah, and everyone else already know."
Neve's eyes widened.
"What do you mean... already begun?"
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Right now..."
"Earth is facing a tragedy."
Neve froze.
"Abiba has appeared."
The name alone carried weight.
"Kazimir is already on his way there."
Vanessa's expression softened slightly.
"The woman he has hunted for years..."
"She has finally been found."
Neve understood immediately.
"Kazimir..."
Vanessa nodded.
"He is going there to kill Abiba."
"For the death of his mother."
A moment of silence passed.
Then Vanessa looked at Neve.
"And I'm asking you..."
"Please go with him."
"Assist him."
Neve stared at Vanessa.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she tightened her grip around her sword.
Ice crystals formed around her hand.
Her answer was clear.
She turned away.
"I'll prepare."
Her footsteps echoed as she began walking toward the palace.
Behind her, Vanessa spoke once more.
"I can't accompany you."
Neve stopped.
"I am currently focused on stopping Cytherea."
Vanessa's energy began to rise.
"I will be traveling through multiple dimensions. The paths around her cause entire realities to collapse. If I bring anyone else, they won't survive."
Dark abyssal energy gathered around her.
"Only Kazimir and Riah are capable of handling threats like that."
She looked toward the sky.
"And they already have their own missions."
A small smile appeared.
"Riah was the one who informed us about what happened in Heaven."
"She will assist against Rygar."
A portal began forming behind Vanessa.
A swirling gate of abyssal energy opened, distorting the air around it.
Vanessa looked back at Neve.
"Good luck."
"Stay alive."
"Make sure Kazimir stays safe..."
"And make sure you survive as well."
Neve glanced back.
But before she could respond—
Vanessa stepped into the portal.
"Goodbye."
The abyss swallowed her figure.
The portal vanished.
Neve stood alone beneath the eternal night of Vrasnia.
The peaceful streets suddenly felt much colder.
She looked toward the palace in the distance.
Kazimir.
Earth.
Rygar.
Abiba.
A war from two thousand years ago was returning.
And this time...
The fate of every world was at stake.
Without wasting another moment, Neve turned and headed toward the palace.
She needed to find Kazimir.
Because the storm had already begun.