The room fell silent.
Anna could not move her eyes away from the man standing at the entrance.
The candle flames flickered violently the moment he stepped inside, shadows twisting unnaturally behind him like living creatures crawling across the walls.
He was tall.
Far taller than Renji.
Long dark robes flowed around his body, decorated with strange silver markings that almost looked alive beneath the dim light. His presence alone felt wrong—heavy, ancient, dangerous.
Anna's heartbeat quickened.
She knew him.
Not personally.
But she had seen him countless times painted across temple walls, ancient scrolls, broken statues buried beneath ruins.
The snake man.
The cursed god from the legends.
The one even gods feared speaking about.
His golden eyes slowly landed on her.
And he smiled.
It was not warm.
Not kind.
It was the smile of something that already knew how your story would end.
Renji spread his arms dramatically.
"Anna," he announced proudly, "meet Orochi."
The name alone made the air colder.
Anna's throat tightened.
"Orochi…?" she whispered.
The man walked further into the room calmly, his footsteps soundless against the marble floor.
"So," his voice was deep and smooth, "you are the girl who crossed worlds."
Anna instinctively stood up.
Something inside her screamed to run.
But she stayed still.
Orochi stopped only a few feet away from her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"You smell like him."
Anna frowned.
"What?"
Orochi tilted his head slightly, studying her carefully.
"The celestial scent." His golden eyes narrowed. "Shou Feng."
Renji immediately groaned loudly.
"Oh gods, don't start."
Orochi ignored him completely.
"You spent too much time near him." His gaze sharpened. "Enough to stain your soul."
Anna's expression hardened instantly.
"What do you want?"
That smile returned again.
"Interesting," Orochi murmured softly. "Most mortals tremble before me."
"She's not exactly normal," Renji said casually while pouring himself another drink.
Anna crossed her arms.
"You still didn't answer my question."
Orochi stared at her for several seconds.
Then finally—
"I want revenge."
The room became silent again.
Renji leaned back lazily.
"And we have the same enemies," he added.
Anna slowly sat back down, her mind spinning.
"This is insane," she muttered.
"Oh, it absolutely is," Renji agreed cheerfully.
Orochi moved toward the window overlooking the kingdom below.
"The heavens are unstable," he said quietly. "The gods are beginning to turn against each other already."
Anna looked at him carefully.
"What do you mean?"
Without turning around, Orochi answered.
"Shou Feng taking the throne disrupted balance." His voice lowered. "The celestial court was never meant to be ruled by ambition."
Rain struck harder against the windows.
"The gods fear chaos," Orochi continued. "But fear creates desperation. Desperation creates betrayal."
Renji smirked.
"And betrayal creates opportunity."
Anna felt unease crawling through her stomach.
Everything was escalating too fast.
"What exactly are you planning?" she asked carefully.
This time, both men looked at her.
Renji's eyes glittered with excitement.
Orochi's remained unreadable.
"We destroy heaven," Renji answered simply.
Anna stared at him.
"You can't be serious."
"Why not?" Renji spread his hands. "The gods are corrupt. Selfish. Cowards hiding behind destiny and fate." His smile slowly disappeared. "Do you know how many kingdoms suffered because of their games?"
Anna stayed silent.
Renji stepped closer.
"Kazan used humans as entertainment."
His voice had become colder now.
"Tomika destroys entire villages whenever his temper breaks."
Another step.
"And Shou Feng…" Renji laughed bitterly. "Shou Feng believes sacrifice is necessary for peace."
Anna immediately looked away.
Because part of her knew—
that was true.
Renji noticed.
His expression softened slightly.
"You still care about him."
Anna clenched her jaw.
"I don't know."
The truth hurt more than anger.
Orochi suddenly spoke from the window.
"He cares about you too."
Anna's head snapped toward him.
"What?"
Orochi finally turned around.
"Shou Feng." His golden eyes narrowed faintly. "He's searching for you."
A strange feeling twisted inside her chest.
Relief.
Pain.
Fear.
Renji scoffed loudly.
"Of course he is. He's obsessed."
"No," Orochi corrected calmly. "He's desperate."
That single word changed something.
Anna remembered the look in Shou Feng's eyes before everything collapsed.
Not hatred.
Not cruelty.
Fear.
As if losing her terrified him more than war itself.
Anna quickly pushed the thought away.
"He still killed Kazan," she said quietly.
Neither man answered.
Because they all knew the truth was far more complicated.
Suddenly—
BOOM.
The entire palace shook violently.
Anna nearly lost balance as thunder exploded overhead.
Outside, screams echoed through the kingdom.
Renji instantly stood up.
"What the hell was that?"
Another explosion shook the walls.
Candles crashed onto the floor.
Orochi's expression darkened immediately.
"They found us."
Anna's heart dropped.
"Who?"
Before anyone could answer—
The palace doors BURST open.
A blood-covered soldier stumbled inside breathing heavily.
"My lord—!"
He dropped to his knees before Renji.
"The barrier has fallen!"
Renji's face lost all amusement instantly.
"How?"
The soldier looked terrified.
"There's… there's an army outside the kingdom."
Anna felt cold.
"What army?"
The soldier swallowed hard.
"Celestial soldiers."
The room froze.
Renji cursed under his breath.
Orochi's golden eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No…" he muttered softly.
Anna looked between them.
"What's wrong?"
Then—
another voice echoed through the palace.
A familiar voice.
Cold.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
"Bring me the girl."
Anna stopped breathing.
Her entire body froze instantly.
Shou Feng.
Even from miles away—
she recognized his voice.
Rain exploded against the windows as panic spread throughout the palace outside.
Renji immediately grabbed his sword.
"Well," he muttered darkly, "this escalated quickly."
Anna moved toward the balcony before anyone could stop her.
The moment she stepped outside—
her breath vanished.
The entire kingdom was surrounded.
Thousands upon thousands of celestial soldiers filled the mountains below like silver waves beneath the storm.
Torches burned through the darkness.
Massive war beasts stood among the army.
The skies themselves looked split apart by lightning.
And at the very front—
stood Shou Feng.
Wearing black armor trimmed with gold.
Rain poured down his face as he sat atop a massive white horse, one hand resting calmly on his sword.
His silver hair moved wildly in the storm.
And his eyes—
his eyes were locked directly onto her.
Even from that distance.
He had found her.
Anna's heartbeat became deafening.
The wind around the kingdom suddenly grew violent.
Shou Feng slowly raised his hand.
Instantly—
every celestial soldier dropped to one knee behind him.
The mountains trembled beneath the force.
Then his voice echoed across the entire kingdom.
"Anna."
Her name alone sent chills through her body.
"I know you can hear me."
Rain poured harder.
Renji appeared beside her gripping his sword tightly.
"Don't answer him."
But Anna could not look away.
Far below—
Shou Feng's gaze never left hers.
His voice softened slightly.
"Come with me willingly…"
The skies darkened even further.
"…or I will burn this kingdom to ashes."
Gasps erupted behind Anna.
Renji's expression twisted with fury.
But before he could speak—
Anna suddenly noticed something.
Something horrifying.
Behind Shou Feng—
standing silently beneath black umbrellas—
were Tomika and Kiyoshi.
And between them…
dragged forward in chains—
was someone covered in blood.
Anna's eyes widened in horror.
No.
No no no—
The prisoner slowly lifted their head.
Silver fox ears.
Broken eyes.
Blood running from their mouth.
"Kitsune…?" Anna whispered shakily.
Renji froze.
"That's impossible."
Because Kitsune was dead.
Anna had watched him die.
But there he was.
Alive.
Barely.
Shou Feng's cold voice echoed again through the storm.
"You have until sunrise."
Then—
he slowly pulled out his sword—
and placed the blade against Kitsune's throat.
Anna stopped breathing.
Shou Feng's eyes remained locked onto hers as he spoke the final words.
"Choose carefully."
To be continued...