Their steps were no longer hesitant.
The stone corridor that had felt oppressive earlier now transformed into a path not for escape, but for heading toward something greater.
Aurelia led the way ahead.
Not because she was asked to.
But because… everything was indeed leading to her.
The Blood Pact bond within her was now stable.
Yet that did not mean it was calm.
Something kept moving beneath the surface.
Like a current waiting for the right moment to turn into a storm.
"We can't look for the center without direction," Kael finally said, breaking the silence.
Aurelia did not stop walking.
"I know."
Ragnar scoffed.
"Then where do we start?"
Orion answered before Aurelia could open her mouth.
"From what we've already found."
He stared ahead.
"The seal beneath this palace is no coincidence."
Kael nodded.
"Seals like this are usually placed at important points."
Ragnar grinned.
"Like the heart of a territory."
Aurelia slowed down.
Her mind raced.
"If that's the case…"
She stopped.
Then turned to face them.
"…the center isn't just some random place."
She pointed downward.
"This is one of the points."
Then outward.
"The others… are scattered."
Orion continued,
"And all of them are connected to a single core."
Kael crossed his arms.
"The question is, how do we find it?"
Silence.
But this time.
It did not last long.
Aurelia slowly raised her hand.
Golden light appeared.
Finer than before.
More… controlled.
"It's not us who will look for it…"
She spoke softly.
"…let it show itself."
Ragnar raised an eyebrow.
"You talk like someone who has a plan."
Aurelia did not reply.
She closed her eyes.
Focus.
The Luna energy within her began to move.
Not spreading aimlessly.
But rather… flowing along something.
Like following a trail.
Like tracing a path that already existed.
The Blood Pact bond pulsed gently.
Kael felt it immediately.
"You're using that connection…"
Orion nodded.
"To track."
Aurelia did not open her eyes.
But she gave a small nod.
The energy within her spread out.
But not outward.
Instead… inward.
Into the ground.
Into the network of seals.
And in an instant—
She saw it.
Not with her eyes.
But with something deeper.
Lines.
Red.
Gold.
Connected to one another.
Like the veins of a giant creature.
And at the center.
One point.
Bigger.
Brighter.
More… alive.
Aurelia opened her eyes.
Her breath was slightly heavy.
"I've found it."
The silence immediately shifted to focus.
"Where?" Ragnar asked at once.
Aurelia stared into the distance.
Outside the palace.
Toward the dark horizon.
"Beyond Shadowlands."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"That means…"
Orion continued,
"We have to leave this territory."
Ragnar grinned widely.
"Finally."
Aurelia nodded.
"That place…"
She narrowed her eyes.
"…is hidden."
Kael let out a small laugh.
"Of course it is."
Orion asked,
"Can you see any details?"
Aurelia shook her head.
"It's not clear."
She looked at her hand.
"It's as if something is covering it."
Ragnar growled softly.
"Which means we have to find it directly."
Kael nodded.
"Or…"
He smiled slightly.
"…we can lure it out."
Aurelia looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Kael crossed his arms.
"If the center is connected to all the seals…"
He said casually.
"…then a change in one point will be felt there."
Orion understood immediately.
"We disturb one seal…"
"…and watch the reaction," Aurelia continued.
Ragnar laughed.
"Now that's a plan I like."
But Aurelia did not agree right away.
She looked at each of them one by one.
"The risk is high."
Kael shrugged.
"Everything we've done since the start has been like that."
Orion spoke softly,
"But this gives us direction."
A moment of silence.
Then.
Aurelia nodded.
"We'll do it."
Ragnar turned around immediately.
"I know a suitable place."
Kael smiled.
"Of course you do."
Before long.
They stood at the edge of Shadowlands.
There.
One of the energy points felt stronger.
Not as strong as the one beneath the palace.
But clear enough.
The ground in the area was slightly cracked.
Faint red light seeped through the small gaps.
Aurelia stared at it.
"A small seal."
Orion nodded.
"A branch."
Kael said,
"Enough to provoke a reaction."
Ragnar was already ready.
"So?"
Aurelia stepped forward.
"We won't destroy it."
She said firmly.
"We'll just… disturb it."
She raised her hand.
Luna energy gathered.
But this time.
Not to full capacity.
Just enough.
She directed the energy toward the crack.
Slowly.
With full control.
The golden light touched the red crack.
And.
A reaction occurred immediately.
BOOOM.
A small wave of energy exploded.
The ground shook.
The crack glowed brighter.
But it did not break.
Aurelia pulled her energy back at once.
"Now…"
She whispered.
"…we wait."
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Suddenly.
The Blood Pact bond pulsed violently.
Aurelia tensed up immediately.
"There's a reaction."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"From where?"
Aurelia closed her eyes again.
Following that path.
Clearer.
Stronger.
More… close.
Her eyes opened.
"It's moving."
Ragnar grinned.
"Finally."
Orion asked quickly,
"Which way?"
Aurelia turned to one direction.
Her gaze sharp.
"North."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Then we have our direction."
Ragnar stepped forward at once.
"What are we waiting for?"
But before they could move.
A voice suddenly rang out.
Not from the seal.
Not from the ground.
But.
From the air around them.
"…you learn quickly…"
Everyone tensed up immediately.
Aurelia stared ahead.
Thin mist began to gather.
And from within it—
The silhouette appeared again.
The red creature.
But this time.
It was not alone.
Behind it.
Two other figures stood.
Smaller.
But their auras… were no less dangerous.
Ragnar laughed softly.
"Good."
Kael grinned.
"Looks like we don't have to look too far."
Orion stared sharply.
"They came to us."
Aurelia stepped forward.
The golden light in her eyes flared up.
"If that's the case…"
Her voice was calm.
Yet full of power.
"…we start here."
The red creature smiled.
Wider than before.
"You're impatient…"
It opened its hands.
Red energy swirled.
"Good."
And beneath the sky that had grown dark again.
The next battle began.
Bigger.
More dangerous.
And this time.
They were not just fighting to win.
They were fighting.
To find the end of everything.