Chapter 238 - Black Capital ( Part 5 )

There was no rest in the Black Capital.

Under its red sky, the huge metropolis lived with the rhythm of some huge beast. Dark towers rose from clouds, their surfaces shining with oily sheen, absorbing the surrounding light. Red lanterns glowed behind millions of windows, flooding the streets paved with dark stone with the blood-like rays. Demonic patrols passed along the streets in immaculate formation, their steps sounding in rhythmic cadence of metal, their eyes searching for any intruder.

At the heart of this nightmare there was the Imperial Palace.

Like a dark monument, it stood in the middle of the capital, rising into the sky with its high black towers covered with the flame of crimson color. Magic wards glowed on its walls and surface, filled with the ancient signs which power emanated everywhere.

And inside that dark structure, Lilia was waiting.

Jennie stared at the distant black tower from the shadows of the ruined building. Even from such distance she could feel the oppressive energy of magic pouring from that building like a physical weight, trying to discover something hiding under her disguise.

She squeezed the small crystal hanging on her wrist.

Roxy’s protective charm.

The small fox-like carving glimmered with crimson light, and suddenly, Jennie felt the warmth of Roxy’s touch putting that charm on her wrist, the trembling of her hands and unspoken words hanging between them.

I’m coming, Lilia.

I promised.

"You’re staring again."

The calm voice of Rudy broke Jennie’s thoughts. The Phantom Thief stood next to her, her blonde hair covered with the dark hood, her eyes constantly scanning the streets.

"What are you staring at?" Jennie asked, glancing sideways.

"The palace. For the last five minutes, you’ve been glaring at it."

"I’m choosing the way to break in."

"Sure. Because normal people always choose the ways to enter building looking at it for five minutes."

"Normal people don’t try to rescue kidnapped queen from the HQ of the Demon Empire."

"True."

Snow stood behind them, his white fur hidden under a special dark cloak, which had been specially enchanted to hide his divine aura. His nine tails were also covered with the illusion spell, and his aura had been suppressed so perfectly that even a skilled Demon couldn’t recognize what he was.

His gaze was focused on the palace, unwavering and calculating.

"We need to move," Snow said. His voice was low, just above the whisper. "The demons are changing formation."

Jennie nodded.

They had already spent several hours collecting the information from Vaelric. That former noble had given them the map of underground service tunnels of the capital, showing them the location of several forgotten openings used by the Imperial Guard.

According to him, those tunnels used to connect noble districts to the Imperial Palace, and most of them had been sealed after the death of the previous Emperor.

Supposedly.

Jennie wasn’t fool enough to believe in an old map fully, but it was better than storming the palace gates and declaring their arrival for every Demon General in the city.

She adjusted the illusion which hid her silver-white hair – now it looked dark, and her eyes were amber in color. Five Divine Swords were concealed in the spatial seal, their presence hidden so well that even Jennie hardly could feel them.

For now, she looked like an ordinary traveler.

An ordinary traveler, who decided for some reason to infiltrate into the most dangerous place in the whole continent.

"Let’s go."

The entrance to the underground passage could be found under the ruins of an abandoned watchtower.

Rudy carefully moved away the broken stone slab while Jennie studied the narrow staircase that went into the darkness. A chilly gust of wind emerged from the underground tunnel, bringing the smell of damp soil, cold stones, and metal.

Blood.

Jennie’s face hardened. "Someone has been there lately."

Snow bent his head and sniffed the air. His nose twitched, and he flattened his ears a little. "Several someones, demons by the scent, I assume. But it is an old trail."

"Patrols," Rudy offered.

"Prisoners," Jennie corrected.

Neither of the possibilities brought any relief to Jennie.

She went first.

The staircase was narrow, allowing Jennie’s shoulder to touch the wall. Odd symbols were carved into the black stone, glowing dimly every time Rudy’s mark passed nearby. Following Jennie, Rudy carefully placed the stone back in its place. The last one in line was Snow who silently stepped on the ancient steps.

The darkness swallowed them whole.

Jennie summoned a small sphere of magical light hovering in the air above her palm. It allowed to see the lengthy corridor leading to the darkness. Rusty pipes hung from the ceiling, and iron doors closed at irregular intervals.

Some were sealed with chains. Others stood wide open.

They walked past the first open door.

In front of them, there was an empty room with broken restraints and a blood-covered table.

Rudy froze. Her voice was soft. "These tunnels are not used only for transport."

"No," Jennie agreed.

Her eyes rested on the broken restraints, dark stains on the ground, the chains that were snapped by someone desperate enough to break free.

"They were used to keep the people."

Snow’s ears lowered. "Move on. The magical residue is unpleasant."

Jennie understood.

The tunnels were full of traces left by magic. Some of them were old enough to be merged with the stone. Others were disturbingly fresh, as if someone was transporting the prisoners towards the palace lately.

Her hands clenched into fists.

Stay safe, Lilia.

She imagined this moment countless times after leaving Seraiya. Sometimes she found Lilia unconscious. Sometimes surrounded by the enemy. And sometimes she watched helplessly as the ritual was about to take place.

Jennie shook away these images.

Thinking about the worst-case scenario wouldn’t do any good. She needed the information, a route, and the opportunity.

And then she would bring Lilia home.

They stopped at the junction of three corridors.

Rudy knelt by a set of symbols carved into the ground and traced them with experienced fingers. "These are the directional symbols. The old language is similar to the one used on Ashen Isle, but some of the characters have changed."

"Can you read them?"

"Most of them."

She traced one of the symbols with her finger. "This one leads to the outer barracks. That one goes to the western district. And this..."

Her expression changed.

Jennie looked down.

The third one had a symbol of a crown stabbed by a sword.

"The Imperial Palace?" Jennie asked.

Rudy nodded. "To be more precise, the inner palace."

Snow’s ears twitched. "Then we should take it before our presence will be discovered."

Jennie was already moving forward.

The moment she stepped onto the corridor, something stirred deeply within her.

She stopped.

It was faint—almost imperceptible. A warm glow that arose beneath her chest followed by a strange pressure coming from somewhere distant.

Jennie’s breath caught.

She knew what it was.

She has felt it many times on the nights when Lilia was sitting next to her under the palace windows. She has felt it on the nights when their fingers touched, when Lilia looked at her with those blue eyes, and when the memories returned.

It wasn’t a sound. It wasn’t a voice.

It was the presence.

Familiar. Precious. Alive.

"Lilia..."

The name escaped her lips unbidden.

Rudy instantly lifted her head. "What is it?"

Jennie pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart was beating—faster because of something other than fear.

"She’s here."

For a second the whole underground passage disappeared for Jennie. She could imagine Lilia standing in front of her with her golden hair shining in the sun, the expression of the queen mingled with exasperation.

You took your time, Jennie.

Almost breaking herself apart with those imaginary words.

She closed her eyes. "No," she whispered. "Not this time."

Rudy approached her. "Are you sure?"

Jennie opened her eyes. "I can’t explain this, but I can feel her."

Snow was carefully watching her. "The Sovereign Mark might be resonating with your Divine Swords. And if the Queen’s mark responds from the inside of the palace, then the resonance is much stronger than we assumed."

"Can you feel her?" Jennie asked.

"Not directly," Snow said seriously. "But I can feel that something responds to your presence."

Rudy suddenly gasped.

The golden glow was shining through the fabric over her chest.

Her Legendary Divine Mark.

It flickered once. Then again.

The light was faint, but when it appeared the symbols carved on the walls began to flicker.

Jennie turned to her. "Rudy?"

Rudy pressed her hand to the mark. "It feels like something is tugging at me."

"Pain?"

"No, more like..." She tried to find the right words. "Like the door opens somewhere and whatever is there knows my presence."

Snow’s face darkened. "The ritual system."

The golden light flickered again.

Somewhere above them in the Imperial Palace the bell rang.

Once.

Deep, resonant sound echoed in the stone, and then everything was silent.

The three glanced at each other.

Jennie immediately put out her magical light. "Did we activate anything?"

"Possibly," Snow answered. "Or someone noticed the resonance."

Rudy hid her mark under the clothes. "Then we should move faster."

Jennie nodded.

Her heart was racing now. Lilia was alive. Her presence was here, and their connection endured despite the distance between them.

However, the time they had left was shorter than she thought – if the palace detected their arrival.

"Do not go anywhere without me," Jennie whispered. "No unnecessary fights. If we meet any patrols, we will try to evade them. We will only attack them if evasion is impossible."

Rudy gave her a reassuring smile. "Got it, partner."

Snow sighed. "I miss those times when the main challenge I had to face was to keep you two from making a mistake."

"You still do have that responsibility."

"Unfortunately."

And they kept going deeper into the tunnels.

The corridor ended in a round room.

Unlike the other abandoned rooms that they’ve already passed, it was perfectly preserved. Black stone pillars supported its ceiling, and the walls were covered in crimson runes, forming complicated patterns. There were seven round indentations carved into the floor.

Five of them were shining dimly. Two remained dark.

Jennie knew this combination well. "Legendary Divine Marks."

Rudy walked up to the rim of the formation but did not go inside. "The same symbols as the ones that we met under Ashen Isle."

Five glowing circles matched the marks captured by the Demon Empire. The other two belonged to the Sovereign of Dominion and to the mark belonging to Rudy.

Jennie looked at the runes. Something was bothering her about them. They were active, but incomplete. The magical energy was flowing towards the center of the room and stopped abruptly in the empty black platform.

There was no trace of completed ritual. There was no concentrated burst of power. There was no indication that seven marks were gathered in this place.

Jennie crouched down and put her palm on the stone. She could feel the vibrations caused by the flow of energy, but there was no violent pressure like there was supposed to be in case of the ritual used to awaken the Demon Emperor.

"This is not a ritual chamber," she muttered.

"Then what is it?" Rudy asked.

"A preparation place. Maybe some kind of control formation."

Snow walked towards the far wall and looked at the inscriptions there. His crimson eyes narrowed.

"The ritual has not started yet."

Jennie looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"The five marks are linked to the Imperial Palace, but their energy is collected, not expended. Had the ritual begun, the entire formation would draw the energy into one point."

Snow turned towards the empty platform. "Whatever the demons prepare, they have not got to that stage yet."

For several moments, Jennie did not say anything.

Her tension lowered a bit. The ritual was not performed yet. Lilia was still alive, was herself, and it was possible to save her before the demons used her mark.

However, the sense of relief was quickly replaced by another thought.

Then why are they waiting?

The Demon Empire prepared for Zuko’s return for centuries. They captured five Legendary Divine Mark bearers, brought Lilia to the capital, let Jennie travel to Ashen Isle.

Even the fact that they allowed her to survive the battle at Ashen Isle was no proof of impatience.

They were waiting for something or for someone.

Jennie got up on her feet. "Whatever they are preparing, we will stop them before the start."

Rudy nodded. "Let us find Lilia."

She turned towards the next corridor. Then stopped.

"Jennie?"

"Yes?"

"If we find her, what will happen then?"

Jennie looked at her.

Rudy was looking at her seriously now, her usual teasing absent. "The palace is full of Demon Generals. Even if we save Lilia, we will not be able to get out of the palace with her."

"I know."

"And if the ritual starts while we are trying to escape..."

"I know, Rudy."

Jennie’s voice was soft, but there was no hesitation in it. "I will not leave her behind."

Rudy looked at her for a moment and nodded. "Neither will I."

Snow stepped between them and began walking ahead. "How touching. Really. But maybe you can discuss your declarations of loyalty once we will leave the underground prison."

Jennie followed him. "You are just jealous because nobody is making declarations of loyalty to you."

"I am the Ancient Divine Wolf. I do not need such declarations."

"Of course."

"I need respect."

"Naturally."

"And occasionally proper food."

Rudy snorted.

Jennie almost smiled.

Almost.

Then she felt warmth in her chest.

It was stronger this time. Closer.

She stopped suddenly, and Rudy almost bumped into her.

Here it was again. Lilia’s presence. It was no longer a distant echo. The pulse under her ribs was warm, alive, and impossibly close.

Jennie’s eyes widened. "This way."

She started moving towards the narrow corridor hidden behind the damaged pillar. The moment she entered it, the faint warmth became a steady pulse under her ribs.

She was getting closer every step.

The corridor went downwards, then made a sharp turn to the left. Crimson runes appeared on the walls, becoming more complicated with each step. Unlike the inscriptions in the preparation chamber, these runes were meant to suppress something.

Or someone.

Jennie’s jaw tightened.

At the end of the corridor stood the large iron door. Chains were attached to the frame, and golden seals were carved on its surface. Powerful barrier shimmered over the entrance, glowing crimson with the authority of the ancients.

Behind it, Jennie could feel the faint traces of Lilia’s magic.

Her hand was trembling, but not from fear. From the effort to restrain herself from breaking the door to pieces.

"She is there," Jennie whispered.

Rudy’s mark flared under her clothes. The golden light spread over her fingers, illuminating the darkness around her.

Snow’s fur stood on end. "Wait."

Jennie froze. "Why?"

Snow was staring at the door. His crimson eyes narrowed, and for the first time since they entered the Black Capital, he looked alarmed.

"Someone is coming."

Footsteps echoed along the corridor stretching beyond them.

Heavy. Slow. Relaxed.

Every step was delivered with such strength that it caused slight vibrations running through the stones underfoot.

Jennie put out the golden aura circling Rudy’s hand and dragged both companions into the shadows near the door entrance. Her heart was beating frantically, and her hand was unconsciously reaching for the place where Excalibur was contained inside her spatial seal.

The steps grew closer.

A gigantic silhouette appeared at the end of the corridor, shoulders filling most of the width of the passage. Its body was covered in dark armor, and there was a giant sword hanging on one of its shoulders. The figure stopped near the iron door.

A deep, resonant voice cut through the silence.

"So..."

The figure turned its head a bit to reveal two eyes peeking out from under the helmet’s shadow. They glowed with the predatory wisdom, and the air around the creature was growing heavy with each passing second.

"Someone was wandering around places where he shouldn’t be."

The blood froze in Jennie’s veins.

This voice... This voice she heard before in the reports about the Demon Generals.

Grom.

The Beast King. The Sixth Demon General.

This creature was standing right in front of the chamber where Lilia was being held.

And he did not come alone.

Behind the Beast King, the darkness started moving. The shadows were breaking away from the walls and starting to take shape of huge beasts with glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws. Giant creatures emerged from the tunnels, growls reverberating through the stones like distant thunder.

The pack of demonic creatures surrounded Grom, their bodies covered in black scales and crimson veins. These beasts varied by sizes, from the size of a horse up to the height greater than the Beast King’s own.

Grom smirked. He looked hardly friendly.

"Did you think you could sneek into the heart of the Demon Empire without being noticed?"

He took a step forward, crushing the old stones under his feet.

"Did you think the Generals would just let you wander to the cell of the Queen?"

Jennie’s hand closed around the hilt of Excalibur inside her spatial seal. She felt how the other four Divine Swords responded to her nervousness and were starting to stir.

Grom’s eyes switched to the shadows where she was hiding.

"I can smell you, human."

His smile only grew broader, revealing the rows of sharpened teeth.

"And I can smell the Divine Swords."

Rudy’s hand went to his dagger. Snow’s fur started trembling, and his nine tails moved beneath the illusion, getting ready to break free from the illusion anytime.

Grom laughed.

This sound was horrible – deep and rumbling, promising violence and pain. It echoed through the passage, shaking the dust from the ceiling and making the iron door shake with each step of the Beast King.

"You came all this way to save one woman."

He lifted his weapon from his shoulder. It was a giant axe, chipped and splattered with the blood of his numerous victims.

"How unfortunate that you will die before you ever saw her."

Jennie stepped out of the shadows.

Her illusion flickered and collapsed, exposing her silver-white hair and golden eyes. Her spatial seal containing her Divine Swords loosened, and the lights of five familiar presences exploded in existence behind her.

Excalibur. Leviathan. Tempest. Eclipse. Gram.

Their light lit up the passage, dispelling the darkness and forcing the demonic beasts to retreat.

Grom’s eyes widened.

Then he laughed again.

"Five."

His smile turned into predatory expression.

"The incomplete crown."

Jennie raised Excalibur. Her golden eyes were cold and firm.

"Move."

Grom tilted his head.

"Or what?"

"Or I will make you."

The Beast King’s smile vanished.

For a moment, the passage became totally silent. Even the demonic beasts ceased growling and were watching those five Divine Swords floating behind Jennie.

Then Grom spoke.

"You have spirit."

He raised his axe.

"I’ll enjoy breaking it."

The beasts started rushing forward.

And Jennie drew her sword.