"Faelar… you should know what it is you truly want."
Dan's voice was low and resolute. Though a long spike had pierced his chest and blood was pouring from the corner of his mouth, his eyes remained clear and filled with trust. His words seemed to cut through the chaos, stirring something in everyone's hearts.
Faelar stood frozen, the long spike in his hand trembling slightly, his iridescent wings beating slowly. He stared blankly at Dan, that simple yet heavy question echoing endlessly in his mind.
"What I truly want… what is it…"
At that moment, the emptiness in his eyes faded. A faint crack appeared in the pure white of his pupils, and through it, emotions—his own—emerged, along with deep confusion. His body began to tremble violently, and a searing pain tore through him, forcing a tormented scream from his throat.
His wings twisted and writhed, then began to dissolve, transforming into black butterflies that scattered into the air. The long spikes that had bound everyone also crumbled one by one, turning into dust.
Dan collapsed heavily to the ground, a low groan escaping his lips. His chest heaved with effort, blood staining his clothes, but the breath of life had not yet left him.
The others finally broke free from their bindings. Luna rushed to Dan's side, trying to assess his injuries. Faelar, having returned to his normal form, stumbled forward and fell to his knees before Dan. Trembling, he bit his finger and let his blood drip into Dan's wounds.
"Wake up… you can't die…" Faelar whispered, remorse etched across his face.
As his blood seeped into the wound, Dan's injuries began to heal at a visible rate. Torn flesh regenerated, and the gaping hole in his chest slowly closed.
"How is this possible…" Luna's eyes widened. "An elf's blood has such healing properties?"
"This is the legacy of the royal bloodline," Faelar murmured, "but the price is my own vitality… It doesn't matter, as long as he survives…"
Just as the group began to relax, the black butterflies in the air did not vanish. Instead, they gathered into a dark storm and surged toward the group.
"Fall back!" Vivella shouted, pulling Luna away.
Faelar raised his hand and cast a blue shield, trying to block the storm. But the butterflies passed through it like ghosts, unaffected by the barrier, and flew straight toward Leo.
"They're coming for me…" Leo tensed, and the Void Ring emitted a low hum.
In that instant, a swirling vortex appeared at the center of the ring, as if leading to a bottomless abyss. All the black butterflies were pulled into it without resistance, as though returning to their true home.
"What was that?" Luna stared at Leo in disbelief. "Your ring…"
"The Void Ring activated on its own," Leo said quietly. He gazed down at it, unease flickering in his eyes. "I still don't know what it's truly capable of… but it seems to be protecting me."
Once the last butterfly was absorbed, the Void Ring fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.
The group stood in silence. Even though the danger had passed, the battlefield still reeked of tension.
Dan slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Faelar returned to his senses, he smiled faintly.
"Thank goodness… you've come back." His voice was soft, yet it hit Faelar like a blow to the heart.
"I'm sorry," Faelar said, voice thick with pain and guilt. "It was me… I was tempted by that thing. I thought it would give me the strength to protect everyone…"
"But you've already done more than enough," Dan replied gently. "We all know you're not a bad person."
They carefully carried Dan back to the castle. Cohen took out his portable medical kit and began treating Dan's wounds.
"Luckily, his vitals are still stable. He just won't be able to move much for a while," Cohen sighed in relief. "Royal blood really is something else…"
Leo then turned to Faelar, voicing the question on everyone's mind: "What exactly is that black crystal?"
Faelar took a deep breath, his face pale. "It's something the Mechanical Court buried here in secret centuries ago. It's not a natural stone, but an experimental creation called the Core of Tainted Thought. They tried to make it absorb negative emotions, but it mutated… and began devouring all darkness in the mind."
"Why bury it beneath Black Mountain City?" Vivella pressed.
"Because there's an ancient energy vein here, allowing the crystal to slowly absorb the psychic essence of the elves. It was all part of a grand conspiracy… and I had no idea back then." Faelar gave a bitter smile.
He paused, his eyes landing suddenly on Luna. "And you."
Luna blinked. "Me?"
"You said you came from the Mechanical Court. But do you really not know about their plans?" Faelar's tone remained calm, but the suspicion was unmistakable.
Luna replied anxiously, "I truly don't! I only remember leaving the Mechanical Court—everything else, I'm still searching for answers myself."
Faelar frowned but said no more, though it was clear he remained skeptical.
"We can't keep focusing only on the threats right in front of us," Leo interrupted. "If the Mechanical Court is involved in all this, we need to uncover the truth."
Everyone nodded silently.
Once Dan was deemed stable enough for limited movement, the group gathered their supplies and prepared to leave Black Mountain City.
Faelar activated an ancient teleportation gate, sending himself back to Peach Blossom Village.
When the elves saw Faelar had returned, they gathered to welcome him. After so long under the shadow of war, their faces finally lit up with long-lost relief.
In the distance, the dwarves had begun cleaning the battlefield and rebuilding the castle. For the first time in a long while, they could look forward to a life no longer overshadowed by the threat of monsters.
The morning sunlight spilled across the ruins of Black Mountain City, illuminating the heavy gates of the castle. Leo, Luna, Dan, and Vivella had already packed their belongings and now stood at the entrance, ready to depart. Their eyes gazed into the distance—though the road ahead was uncertain, after the events with Faelar, they were all more cautious and yet filled with anticipation.
Cohen, carrying his toolbox, came to see them off at the gates. There was fatigue in his eyes, but his expression remained energetic. "I'll see you off here. Take care of yourselves. Especially you," he looked at Luna, "Stop being so impulsive."
Luna laughed awkwardly, "I'm not the impulsive maniac you think I am."
They were still teasing each other when the sky suddenly tore open with a brilliant flash of light. A massive teleportation magic circle slowly emerged in the air above. From within the light, a group of cloaked mages floated down, followed closely by a sharp-eyed, imposing middle-aged man.
"Look!" Dan called out, "That's advanced teleportation magic. Not something ordinary."
The middle-aged leader landed swiftly and strode directly to Cohen, kneeling on one knee with a respectful tone. "Master Cohen, YaDu City urgently requires your assistance. The situation is critical. Please come with us immediately."
"Wait—" Cohen didn't even have time to respond before several mages around them raised their hands and began chanting.
"Hey! Wait a second!" Vivella shouted, but the dazzling light had already flared again. The teleportation magic engulfed everyone in an instant.
When the light faded, the five of them found themselves inside a vast hall. The domed ceiling was embedded with magical crystals, and the walls were adorned with the crest of YaDu City: an upright sword and a soaring eagle.
"Where are we?" Luna looked around.
"Looks like… the auction pavilion of YaDu City," Vivella whispered.
On a high platform, the elegantly dressed head of the pavilion was already waiting. Seeing them appear, he immediately stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome, Master Cohen."
"You just pulled us all here without warning?" Cohen frowned, clearly displeased.
The head of the pavilion hurried to explain, "Our sincerest apologies. The spellcasting team was too anxious and failed to control the range of the teleportation." He turned to Leo and the others, full of remorse. "Honored guests, we will provide you with gold as compensation for the inconvenience."
As he spoke, an assistant approached, carrying heavy bags of gold coins and distributing them among the group.
"Well… I guess that's a silver lining?" Luna accepted hers with satisfaction.
The pavilion master got to the point. "Master Cohen, we recently discovered a broken sword in an ancient ruin. It is said to be of great age and extraordinary value. If it can be repaired, it will be the highlight of our next auction."
As he spoke, he handed over a blueprint. Cohen examined it while nodding. "The structure is indeed complex, but intriguing. Since I'm here, I'll take the job."
The group soon exited the auction house, met by the bustling noise of the streets. Dan rubbed his eyes, staring at the vibrant city before them. "This… is YaDu City?"
"Yes," Vivella nodded. "This is the central hub of the entire continent—merchants, adventurers, and nobles from all regions gather here. It has the busiest auction houses and the largest Adventurer's Guild."
Leo looked up to see that the city's structure was incredibly unique—it seemed to cling to the side of a canyon cliff, layered vertically like a colossal city built upward. Massive suspension bridges, elevators, and spiral staircases connected each level.
"The architecture is amazing," Luna remarked in awe.
The streets were crowded—carriages, giant lizards hauling goods, dwarven handcarts, and flying machines all came and went. Street performers and magical clowns entertained on every corner. Despite the diversity of races and cultures, everything was orderly.
Dan took it all in with delight, then suddenly commented, "No wonder they value that broken sword so much… In a place like this, it could sell for a fortune."
"What should we do next?"Luna asked.
Leo thought for a moment. "Since we're already here, we might as well stay a few days and explore."
"I've heard YaDu City's Adventurer's Guild is very famous," Vivella suddenly suggested. "The four of us could register a team and take on some missions to earn money."
"Great idea!" Dan clapped his hands. "Ever since we disbanded the Silver Pentagram. I've never officially joined a guild before."
Luna nodded. "Then it's settled."
But a hint of hesitation lingered in Vivella's heart. She glanced at Leo, who was walking ahead, her gaze complicated. "But… who exactly are you?" she wondered silently.
The group stepped through the inn's doorway, beginning a new chapter in this bustling and unfamiliar city.