Deep underground…
In a forgotten prison buried in darkness—
Chains echoed against stone.
A weak figure sat in the shadows.
Skin and bone.
Breathing slowly.
Ernos.
One hundred years had passed.
And he had been left there to rot.
Footsteps approached.
Calm.
Measured.
The darkness itself seemed to part.
Lord had arrived.
He stood before the broken warrior.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
He placed his hand on Ernos' head.
A pulse of dark energy surged through the chamber.
Flames reignited.
Muscles reformed.
Eyes began to glow once more.
Ernos' body returned to its former power.
He gasped.
Then anger filled his voice.
"You…"
"Why did you betray me?"
"Why was I imprisoned for a hundred years?!"
He lunged forward in rage.
But before his strike could land—
He froze mid-air.
Lord stopped him without effort.
His voice was calm.
"I thought you were weak."
"But I was wrong."
He stepped closer.
"You are my most valuable piece."
A pause.
"Let us stand together again."
Ernos slowly stepped back.
The rage in his eyes dimmed.
"Give me your command."
Lord turned away.
"Destroy WHU headquarters."
"Kill Sebastian."
"Bring Asher to me."
A slight smile formed on his face.
"Observe them first. Analyze them."
"Then strike."
"I will be behind you."
"I will support you."
The flames around Ernos burned brighter.
"As you command."
WHU Headquarters
Elsewhere—
Sebastian was standing beside Asher.
The atmosphere was calm.
Peaceful.
For now.
Asher suddenly spoke.
"Sebastian… your child will be a girl."
Sebastian blinked in surprise.
Asher smiled softly.
"I want to see you as a father."
Sebastian chuckled.
"And what do you think her name should be?"
"What will you name her?"
Sebastian looked forward thoughtfully.
"Agatha."
Asher smiled.
"That's a beautiful name."
Sebastian nodded.
"The meeting is starting. Let's go."
Asher frowned slightly.
"Meeting? What meeting?"
They entered the conference hall.
All the heroes were gathered.
The room felt serious.
Heavy.
Asher sat down.
Sebastian stood at the head of the table.
"Today's assembly…"
"Is about Vale Ashborne."
Asher's eyes widened.
Shock filled his face.
Sebastian continued:
"We've located them."
"They're hiding in a cave."
"Vale is there."
A pause.
The room grew silent.
"The rescue operation begins in three days."
Asher's fists slowly clenched.
Outside—
Far beyond the city—
Flames flickered in the distance.
Ernos had begun watching.
And the countdown had started.
WHU headquarters had turned into a battlefield of preparation.
Heroes were training everywhere.
The sound of impacts echoed through the halls.
Energy waves clashed in the air.
The entire base was moving at full speed.
Questions were pouring onto Sebastian.
"What's the full strategy?"
"Will Lord be there?"
"Is this a trap?"
Sebastian remained silent for a while.
Asher stepped forward.
"Why are we moving this fast, Sebastian?"
Sebastian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned toward everyone and spoke loudly:
"In this battle, heroes from all around the world will stand with us."
The room went quiet.
"The purpose of this mission is not only to rescue Vale."
"Lord has a plan."
"And we will crush that plan."
His eyes hardened.
"And we will destroy Lord there."
His words echoed heavily.
Hundreds of heroes pushed themselves harder in training.
This wasn't a simple rescue.
This was war.
Asher slowly stepped away from the crowd.
He needed air.
He moved to a quieter area.
Julia followed him.
"Asher…"
"What do you think will happen?"
Asher stared ahead for a moment.
"I don't know."
"But something feels wrong."
"This decision… might be a mistake."
Julia looked at him carefully.
"Are you afraid?"
Asher shook his head slightly.
"No."
"It just feels too direct."
"Like we're walking exactly where he wants us."
A short silence formed between them.
Asher turned to her.
"Stay behind me."
Julia's expression softened.
She stepped closer and hugged him.
"Wherever you are… I'll be there."
Asher held her gently.
Below them, hundreds of heroes were preparing for war.
And somewhere far away—
Flames burned quietly.
Watching.
Waiting.