ANMELDENPOV Aria One month later. Life had truly returned to normal. Or perhaps, it was a better version of normal. The city was bright and lively again. No more shadows, no more nightmares. People were smiling, working, and living happily, not knowing that they had been saved by a group of legendary warriors. I was sitting in the garden of the mansion, reading a book under the big tree. The weather was perfect. Warm breeze, golden sunshine. "Aria! Come inside! Cake is ready!" Mom's voice called from the porch. "Coming!" I closed my book and ran inside. Today was a special day. It was a celebration party for our victory, but it was just us family and close friends. The dining table was filled with delicious food. Dad was sitting at the head, looking relaxed in a casual white shirt. He wasn't the scary Mafia King or the Shadow Lord right now. He was just my dad. "Eat up, everyone," Dad said, cutting his steak elegantly. Next to me, Kai and Rex were fighting over the last piece
POV Alexander The next day. The entire Volkov forces were gathered. But this time, we were not alone. Through the Alliance connection, help arrived. Lord Ignis came with his elite Flame warriors. Lord Golem brought his Stone guards. And Lord Azure sent his best water users. We were an army of legends. Standing ready to wipe out the darkness. "Listen up!" I shouted, my voice booming over the crowd. "The enemy hides in the 'Old Ruins City', an abandoned sector in the north. It is corrupted and filled with traps. But today... we bring the storm!" I pointed forward. "Flame Clan! You are the vanguard! Burn through any obstacles! Clear the path!" "YES SIR!" roared the red-armored warriors. "Stone Clan! You protect the flanks! Create walls and shields! Don't let anyone surround us!" "Understood!" grunted the stone warriors. "Azure Clan! You provide support and intelligence! Freeze their defenses!" "Right away!" "And my family and I..." I looked at Isabella and Aria. "...we
POV Aria The next few days were intense. I didn't go to school. Dad said it was too dangerous until we figured out what the Order of Nightmares was planning. Instead, I was in the special training room deep underground. Master Shen was standing in front of me, looking very serious. "Listen carefully, Aria. Physical strength is useless if your mind is broken. These enemies attack the soul, not the body. So we must build a fortress inside your head." "How do I do that, Master?" I asked, sitting cross-legged. "By creating your own world," Master Shen explained. "Inside your mind, you are the God. You decide what is real and what is not. Fear is just an emotion. You have to learn to turn it off like a switch." He closed his eyes. "Now... close your eyes. Clear your mind. Imagine a place where you feel safest. A place where nothing can hurt you." I did as he said. I closed my eyes and relaxed. In my mind, I created a beautiful garden. Bright sun, soft grass, and my family ther
POV Aria The next few days were intense. I didn't go to school. Dad said it was too dangerous until we figured out what the Order of Nightmares was planning. Instead, I was in the special training room deep underground. Master Shen was standing in front of me, looking very serious. "Listen carefully, Aria. Physical strength is useless if your mind is broken. These enemies attack the soul, not the body. So we must build a fortress inside your head." "How do I do that, Master?" I asked, sitting cross-legged. "By creating your own world," Master Shen explained. "Inside your mind, you are the God. You decide what is real and what is not. Fear is just an emotion. You have to learn to turn it off like a switch." He closed his eyes. "Now... close your eyes. Clear your mind. Imagine a place where you feel safest. A place where nothing can hurt you." I did as he said. I closed my eyes and relaxed. In my mind, I created a beautiful garden. Bright sun, soft grass, and my family ther
POV Aria Two weeks later. We were finally back home in the city. The Gathering was over, the Alliance was formed, and life was supposed to go back to normal. But nothing felt normal anymore. I walked through the halls of the Volkov Mansion. It was big, luxurious, and safe... but I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching me. "Aria! Breakfast is ready!" Mom called from the dining room. "Coming!" I shook my head, trying to get rid of the creepy feeling. I walked into the dining room. Dad was reading the newspaper, Mom was preparing juice, and everything looked exactly like it used to. "Eat well, baby," Dad said without looking up. "School starts again tomorrow. Don't be late." "I know, Dad," I sat down. "But... is it really safe? Silas is still out there somewhere." Dad lowered the newspaper, his eyes serious. "The city is my territory, Aria. No one enters or leaves without my permission. If Silas dares to come here... he is digging his own grave." The next
POV Aria Three days passed at the temple. Everything seemed peaceful on the surface, but the air still felt heavy. Like the calm before a real storm. Suddenly, an elder came running into the main hall, looking panicked. "My Lords! Bad news! The village at the foot of the mountain... something is wrong!" Everyone stood up. "What happened? Speak clearly!" Lord Azure demanded. "The villagers... they are not moving! They are just standing or sitting... staring blankly! They are alive, but they don't respond! It's like... their souls are trapped!" the elder explained, trembling. Silas, who was sitting in the corner, just smirked and looked away. But I noticed it. His reaction was too calm. "We will check it out!" I stepped forward immediately. "Me, Kai, and Rex will go! We are fast and we can handle it!" Dad looked at me, hesitating for a second, then nodded firmly. "Be careful. It sounds like some kind of curse or mass hypnosis. Do not touch anything suspicious. Come back i







