Azul Deep, Northern Border of the Blinding Mist
"What in the name of Solmara is that…?"
Rhydar whispered in disbelief, voice muffled by the press of water around him.
From the deepest trench of Azur Deep, he had surfaced cautiously, only to be met with the sight of something monstrous breaching the veil of the Blinding Mist. A massive shadow hovered just above the ocean's surface, black and unnatural, slowly emerging from the cursed fog.
A floating vessel. Enormous. Silent.
It drifted across the sea like a leviathan born of nightmares, forged not of flesh but of black mana steel, its shape reminiscent of a whale, but far more sinister.
Using his Currentspeak ability, Rhydar immediately sent a ripple-coded warning to the nearest Narf patrols in the area.
Still, he didn't dive back into the deep. His eyes never left the vessel.
With a silent command, Rhydar activated his Stillwater Cloak, shrouding himself in invisibility. His heartbeat remained steady, but tension coiled in every muscle. This was not a thing to be ignored. This was a harbinger.
A few heartbeats later, powerful waves parted as Prince Azul surfaced, flanked by a unit of elite Narf Fighters, all bearing the same expression: grim, cautious wonder.
"Rhydar," the Prince called, his voice barely a ripple through the water.
"My Prince. Look."
Rhydar pointed.
Gasps erupted among the newly arrived fighters. Even Azul, descendant of the Deep Kings, was momentarily speechless.
"It came from within the Blinding Mist," Rhydar reported, voice low, clipped.
Azul's eyes narrowed as he raised a hand, summoning his Abyssal Echo, a gift from his bloodline that allowed him to see through the thickest of barriers, into the heart of the vessel.
A chill spread down his spine.
"Demi-humans," he said. "At least a thousand of them. Shapeshifters. Nightdwellers. Demons. Elves. All aboard."
And then, without warning, a figure emerged from the front of the vessel.
Tall. Still. Radiating a silent, terrifying authority.
He was too far to be seen clearly. And yet, as if sensing their eyes, the man turned his gaze directly toward Azul.
Despite the distance. Despite the shadows. Despite the magic hiding them.
He saw them.
And then, he smirked.
It wasn't a gesture of threat. Nor of welcome. It was indifference. A predator acknowledging the mice in his field, and choosing not to strike.
He turned his back to them.
"Warn the others," Azul said quietly, barely managing to control the tremor in his voice. "Tell them…
the Black Panther has arrived."
Then, without waiting for a response, he dove deep into the water once more and began swimming toward the Narf Palace.
"Mother!"
Azul reached out through the bloodbond, a sacred telepathic link that only the royal line of Narfs shared.
"The Black Panther is here."
When Azul emerged into the grand hall of the Coral Throne, Queen Azura was already waiting. The shimmering opalescent patterns of her skin reflected the throne room's glow as she sat among the seated Narf Elders.
"Do you think he is here for diplomacy, Prince Azul?" asked Kaelen Stormwake, one of the oldest council members, his voice deep and slow.
"I don't know, Elder," Azul answered. "But he's aboard a massive black vessel. Inside were a thousand demi-humans, Shapeshifters, Nightdwellers, Demons, Elves. A full army."
He paused.
"And I believe… he saw us. He did nothing."
"Then it seems Aquilonis is his target," murmured Serenya Tidewhisper, her silver hair flowing like current around her shoulders. "But what if he's not here for peace, Your Majesty?"
Queen Azura stood from her throne.
And though her face remained serene, her voice carried the weight of the deep.
"Then we will fight. We will aid Aquilonis."
Gasps and murmurs swept through the council.
"I understand your hesitation," Azura said firmly. "We did not join the wars before. We stayed in the shadows when our brethren rose against the human empires. But this time… this time, we owe Aquilonis at the very least, their Empress."
Her words echoed through the chamber.
"If not for Empress Ceres of Aquilonis, we would still be frozen in time. Mind awake, but bodies trapped in stasis, silent witnesses to a world that forgot us."
And the truth of her words settled like stone.
They had been frozen in time, spirits awake, bodies trapped, for over a thousand years, cursed and bound beneath their own seas. Their minds had remained alive, tortured by stillness, unable to scream, to breathe, to move.
Until she came.
Empress Ceres.
And now, that same woman faced the most dangerous children of the Demon Lord.
They all fell silent, the weight of their Queen's words sinking in.
Whatever the Black Panther's intentions were, diplomacy or death, there was one truth they could no longer deny:
They would not let the one who freed them face him alone.
"How long until the Black Panther reaches the gates of Aquilonis?"
Queen Azura's voice cut through the silence, sharp and steady.
"I am not certain, Mother," Prince Azul replied. "But judging by the vessel's movement... before the morning breaks."
"Then we must not waste time."
Her tone grew colder, edged with authority.
"Summon all warriors. Have them on alert here in the deep. We still do not know the Panther's true purpose, so we cannot make the first move. Not yet."
She turned toward her son, the weight of leadership pressing on both their shoulders.
"Azul, go to the Empress Palace at once. Take your finest warriors. Alert the Empress, and stay with her. If this turns into war... send word back immediately."
"Yes, Mother."
Azul gave a deep bow and vanished in a whirl of abyssal energy, his most trusted Narf fighters following close behind.
In the shadowy silence of the pre-dawn hour, light burst suddenly into the marble halls of the Empress Palace.
Azul and his warriors materialized in the central grand atrium, the lingering sea-mist from their teleportation curling at their feet like living fog.
Above them, standing calmly at the top of the sweeping staircase, was Seiryu, his silver-blue hair glowing faintly in the moonlight, arms crossed as though he'd been awake all night.
"Prince Azul," Seiryu called out, voice smooth as still water. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"The Black Panther is on his way here," Azul said without preamble. "Tell the Empress."
The words struck harder than any alarm bell.
Even Seiryu, ever composed, blinked in stunned silence.
His expression darkened, and he gave a single, clipped nod before turning.
Elsewhere in the palace, a sudden pulse of mana stirred.
Legion, resting lightly in his chambers, had already sensed the arrival of an unexpected force, his marionette knights, connected to every corridor, had relayed the presence of intruders. When he heard Azul's voice echo from the hall, his eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the hallway and knocked once on Delphine's door as he passed. Then he turned toward the Empress's chamber.
But Legion didn't knock.
He knew it would be useless. She rarely woke from knocks, and time was of the essence.
He entered... then froze.
There, nestled in the grand bed draped in silk and twilight shadow, lay Ceres, still asleep.
But not alone.
Aurelian lay beside her, arm draped protectively around her waist, his body curled along hers in an intimate spoon. His eyes were closed, breath even. The scene was tender, almost too much for Legion to look at.
But this was not the time for jealousy.
And besides, he had no right.
Still, the ache in his chest was hard to ignore.
He approached quietly, kneeling beside the bed and gently placing a hand on the mattress near Ceres's shoulder.
"Your Highness," he whispered.
Ceres stirred faintly but only let out a soft groan of protest, curling closer to Aurelian's chest.
Instead, Aurelian was the one who woke, eyes narrowing at the sight of Legion so early, his body instinctively tightening protectively around the Empress.
"What is it?" Aurelian asked, sitting up slowly so as not to wake her fully. His voice was already laced with suspicion.
"It's urgent," Legion replied, voice low but insistent. "Prince Azul has arrived. He says the demi-human Prince is on his way."
The words cut through the fog of sleep like a blade.
Aurelian's eyes sharpened. Instantly awake.
"Empress," he called softly, brushing her hair away from her face. "Wake up."
She groaned again, clearly irritated.
"What?" she muttered, her voice thick with sleep and annoyance. Her lashes fluttered as she blinked against the dim room, sitting up only halfway.
"The demi-human Prince is on his way here, Your Highness," Legion repeated, more firmly this time.
That got her attention.
She blinked once, then sat up straighter.
"Where is he now?" she asked.
"Prince Azul is in the grand hall," Legion replied.
Ceres didn't wait for further details.
She took Legion's offered hand and stepped down from the bed, her bare feet touching the cold marble floor without hesitation. Her mind was already racing.
Behind her, Aurelian moved quickly, already halfway dressed by the time Ceres, now clad in her silken nightgown, reached the door.
She didn't look back.
Didn't speak.
She simply descended the staircase, regal even in sleepwear, the cold marble under her bare feet grounding her as a flicker of fire bloomed in her golden gaze with each purposeful step.
"Your Highness!"
Delphine's voice echoed softly as she caught sight of Ceres descending. Beside her stood Arwen, already alert.
Without hesitation, Ceres took Delphine's hand, steady and warm, and continued her descent, each step echoing like thunder in the silence.
"Prince Azul," she called, her voice calm, commanding.
"Empress," Azul responded with a respectful bow, his warriors mirroring the gesture behind him.
Gathered in the hall were already the high-ranking mages, the Knight Commanders, and Captain Hugo with his squad, alerted by Seiryu the moment he sensed Legion moving to awaken the Empress.
Ceres wasted no time.
"How long until the Demon Lord's son reaches the capital?" she asked.
There was no doubt in her tone, no need to confirm if the threat was real. The presence of the Narf Prince and his warriors at such an ungodly hour was evidence enough.
"Before the morning breaks," Azul answered.
"And he brings with him at least a thousand demi-humans."
A breath passed through the room, shared among warriors, mages, and soldiers alike.
A thousand.
And though no one said it aloud, the thought settled heavy in their hearts, this wasn't diplomacy.
"Alert everyone," Aurelian said, his voice as sharp as a blade.
"Be in position. Be ready."
Heads bowed. No hesitation. The command was understood.
Preparations began instantly.
The Noble Knights under Aurelian's banner moved with precision. The Holy Knights, priests, and priestesses under Lady Layla and Delphine began casting protective enchantments. Celion's mages summoned elemental barriers. Captain Hugo's commoner soldiers armed themselves with unwavering determination, and the elite Starlight Knights led by Legion moved into their designated positions, silent and efficient.
Each group had already changed into their newly designed battle garments, a lightweight bodysuit of white and blue, adorned with glowing mana lines crafted by Ceres and Seiryu themselves.
No more heavy robes. No restrictive armor.
These suits allowed fluid motion, protected both body and soul with mana-activated shields, and most importantly, their mana circuits allowed spells and physical attacks to be cast with minimal energy and maximum output.
They weren't just prepared.
They were reborn for battle.
As the final preparations were underway, Aurelian approached Ceres once more. He reached for her hand gently, fingers brushing hers.
"Empress…" he began softly.
"No."
She didn't let him finish.
Because she already knew what he would say.
And so did Legion, watching silently from across the room.
"I will not hide," she said, firm but calm. "Seiryu and I are this kingdom's greatest weapons right now. We agreed on this before."
She met his gaze directly.
"Even if you're the one to speak to the Demon Lord's son, I will stay nearby. Just in case."
"You need to be safe," Aurelian insisted. "If anything happens to you… Seiryu and the commoners in the labyrinth would be in grave danger. Their lives are tied to yours."
Ceres's expression softened.
She reached out and brushed her fingers along his cheek, a fleeting gesture filled with gentle defiance.
"Nothing will happen to me," she promised. "That, I can assure you, Duke."
"Trust me," she said again, firmer now. "I don't want you, or any of you, distracted by fear for my safety. I need your full focus. I need your strength."
"I will be fine."
Aurelian could only sigh, his shoulders tense with unspoken frustration. But he did not argue further.
He knew her.
And when she decided something… no one could sway her.
And so, they all moved into place, a kingdom holding its breath.
Waiting.
Watching.
Prepared to greet their guest, the Black Panther, as the final shadows of night gave way to the first light of dawn.