In the grand space of the Bình Chánh headquarters, crystal chandeliers cast their light over a long table made of solid rosewood. Lita stood tall in the center of the hall, her hand gripping a scepter whose head swirled with a storm of black clouds, streaked with crackling purple lightning. Her voice rang out, arrogant and commanding, like the princess she was:
– “Once I strike, no one can stop me!”
Behind her, Erion lounged casually on a black velvet sofa, one leg crossed, his chin resting on his hand. His sharp eyes glimmered with a half-smile:
– “Amusing. Has she already forgotten I just sealed her inside the cube?”
The Demon King Satan shook his head, his voice low and gravelly:
– “The Queen has spoiled her too much. Proud, but lacking experience. Time is what she needs… and discipline.”
Erion’s right hand slowly shifted into black flame, the fire swirling into crystalline layers of warped space. On the Black Crystal Mirror, the image of the District 2 mansion came into view. From afar, his power pierced dimensions, coating the entire mansion with another layer of ice — thicker, harsher, more merciless than the one Trang had conjured before.
His voice carried like a measured incantation:
– “This time, I’ll reinforce it with spatial energy — reflecting ultraviolet rays. Sunlight will bend away, never touching anything inside. This is no ordinary frost; it will not melt so easily.”
Din, munching on potato chips, smirked:
– “An eternal ice palace, huh? At this rate, D?ng’s family might as well move out for good.”
The Demon King’s lips curled into a razor-thin smile:
– “Only for a few days. Too much too soon, and the centipede spirit will flee. That would spoil the fun.”
A chorus of eerie laughter echoed through the hall, like a thousand voices from the depths of hell, savoring the sight of prey sinking slowly into karmic punishment.
---
Meanwhile, inside C?u D?ng’s mansion, Tu?n was sitting in the kitchen slurping instant noodles when he suddenly sneezed loudly. Just moments ago, the pot had been steaming hot, but within seconds the broth thickened, the heat vanishing as if stolen by unseen hands.
Tu?n shivered, goosebumps rising across his arms:
– “What the… Why is it so damn cold all of a sudden?”
He shouted toward the living room:
– “D?ng! Did you crank the AC too low? Turn it off already!”
C?u D?ng rushed in, his face pale:
– “The kitchen doesn’t even have an air conditioner!”
At that moment, Dì T? stumbled in, wrapping herself in a thick wool sweater, her lips trembling, teeth chattering:
– “Last time this whole place froze solid until nightfall… And now… it’s happening again, master…”
Tu?n froze, remembering the “frozen mansion” scandal that had gone viral months ago. He leapt to his feet, eyes wide, and shouted:
– “Outside! Let’s see for ourselves!”
The three of them rushed to the main door. The sight before Tu?n and D?ng left them speechless.
The entire mansion was entombed in glistening white ice, shimmering blue like a winter fairytale. Tree branches bent under the weight, the ground slick with frost, the air so frigid it plunged below zero.
Tu?n lifted his gaze skyward, icy winds slashing across his face like blades. A deafening clap of thunder split the sky, knocking him to the ground. Above, black mammatus clouds churned violently, lightning tearing jagged scars across the heavens.
C?u D?ng turned his eyes to the neighboring houses, his voice trembling with panic:
– “Just like last time! It’s only my house! Look — everyone else’s place… perfectly normal!”
Indeed, the surrounding neighborhood lay calm. The sky was clear, stars twinkling in serene brilliance, the summer night untouched. Only D?ng’s mansion was swallowed whole in frozen darkness, as if a piece of space had been ripped away — severed from the world outside.
Tu?n immediately pulled out his phone, his hands trembling from the cold as he dialed the numbers of his two close friends, Ti?n and Deep.
– “You two, get over to Mr. D?ng’s house right now! The freezing phenomenon from last time is happening again!” Tu?n barked, his breath puffing out in white mist.
On the other end, Deep’s booming voice rang out:
– “What? Frozen over again? Are you sure about this?”
Annoyed, Tu?n stomped his foot against the ice-covered floor, the sharp crack echoing like shattering glass:
– “I’m standing in his house right now! Get over here, both of you!”
Deep quickly replied:
– “Alright, I’ll call Ti?n too.”
After hanging up, Tu?n stepped further into the garden. Each footprint pressed deep into the transparent ice, releasing sharp tch… tch… sounds like shards of glass splintering. A shiver ran through him as the cold pierced straight into his bones.
He moved closer, studying the ice spreading over the bonsai trees, unable to believe his eyes:
– “The ice… it’s still growing, D?ng!”
C?u D?ng and Dì T? hurried over. Right before their eyes, the bonsai trees and miniature garden were rapidly thickening with frost. On the second floor, Anh ?ào’s room suddenly lit up. She flung open the door, the icy wind whipping her nightgown, and screamed in terror:
– “What’s happening? The villa… it’s freezing over again, just like last time?!”
Her younger sister, Anh Th?, rushed behind her, hastily pulling on a wool sweater. She gazed at the stormy sky with wide eyes:
– “Look, sister! Why is the storm only surrounding our house? Everything outside is perfectly normal. What’s going on here?”
At that moment, a loud shout echoed from the gate:
– “Mr. D?ng! Open up for us!”
It was their neighbor, Mr. Tài, with his teenage son Hi?u. D?ng quickly ran to open the gate. As soon as it creaked open, a gust of icy wind blasted through, making both father and son shiver violently, their eyes widening in shock.
Crossing the threshold was like stepping into another dimension: beneath their feet lay a solid sheet of ice, and above their heads swirled a raging storm. At its center churned a massive vortex of black clouds, lightning flashing like the fangs of a beast, illuminating a surreal and terrifying scene.
Hi?u clung tightly to his father’s coat, stammering:
– “Th-this… this is like… like actual hell…”
Soon after, more curious neighbors arrived, only to freeze in disbelief at the sight. Some shivered uncontrollably, while others pulled out their phones to record, caught between terror and awe at the supernatural spectacle unfolding in the heart of Saigon.
---
Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, the grand hall was filled with laughter. The images of the frozen villa and hellish storm were streamed live from satellite feeds, displayed vividly across the 180-degree curved screen and the Black Crystal Mirror — a breathtaking, sinister masterpiece.
The Grand Thái S? delicately bit into an apple tart, her hawk-like eyes narrowing:
– “Magnificent imagery… both beautiful and chilling, like witnessing an ancient sacrificial rite.”
Trúc Di?n sipped jasmine tea, a faint smile tugging at his lips:
– “Exquisite indeed. Without a doubt, that centipede spirit will come crawling here by dawn.”
From the corner, Yin sank his teeth into a fried chicken drumstick, the crunch echoing through the hall. Chewing noisily, he chuckled:
– “Marvelous! I’ll use this scene as inspiration for my next product’s packaging. Just slap ‘Frozen Villa’ on it, and it’ll sell out instantly.”
Beside Erion sat Trang, her blood-red eyes blazing, fixed unblinkingly on the Black Crystal Mirror. Her voice trembled, laced with deep resentment:
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– “I want… more than this. That family must suffer an even harsher punishment — to avenge the deaths of my foster parents.”
The air in the hall grew colder still. Silence blanketed the space after her words, as though a grim verdict had just been pronounced, waiting to descend.
In the courtyard of C?u D?ng’s villa, more and more neighbors were gathering. Some pointed in disbelief, others held up their phones, recording frantically. Every face carried the same expression of awe, as though they had stumbled onto the set of a Hollywood film.
A young college student raised his phone excitedly:
– “I’m posting this online! This scene is guaranteed to go viral!”
But as soon as he opened the camera, the screen filled with jagged static, the image flickering like a broken VHS tape. Nothing at all could be saved.
– “Let me try!” Hi?u, Mr. Tài’s son, chimed in, pulling a mini camcorder from his backpack.
The moment the lens pointed toward the villa, the screen went pure white, then pitch black, accompanied by a shrill, grating static that sent shivers down the spine. Hi?u swallowed hard, whispering:
– “This is weird… wherever I aim the camera, it just turns to static. Nothing records.”
The crowd grew restless. Some shook their phones violently, while others whispered in panic, as if facing a supernatural phenomenon they couldn’t comprehend.
---
Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters, the atmosphere was the complete opposite.
On a luxurious black velvet sofa, Erion leaned back, raising the Black Crystal Mirror in one hand. His eyes, sharp as blades, gleamed coldly:
– “I’ve cast a spatial veil. No lens can capture this. Stop wasting your efforts.”
His voice echoed deep and resonant, carrying the weight of inevitability.
Ahead of him, Lita stood tall, her storm scepter blazing with furious light. Her face hardened as she strode forward, defiant:
– “I want the humans to witness and share this storm! Don’t interfere with my power! I order you — withdraw your spell at once!”
The hall fell utterly silent.
Erion still wore his disguise: Fair skin, amber-brown eyes, gentle as any mortal man. But the instant the words “I order you” rang out, his entire body radiated black energy that glittered like diamond dust.
He rose to his feet, walking slowly toward Lita. And then, his true form was revealed in full:
Skin as dark and smooth as obsidian.
Ruby-red eyes blazing, their gaze scorching the souls of the guilty.
Twin spiral horns stretching high, sparking with otherworldly fire.
Upon his brow, a crown of black diamonds materialized, glowing with a sinister violet hue.
A body of rippling muscle, brimming with power, majestic as an ancient god of war.
Lita froze, her face draining of color as she stumbled back. Until now, she had only known Erion as refined, warm, almost human. She never imagined it was merely a fa?ade. Her voice faltered, trembling:
– “Th-that’s you? But… why…?”
Erion locked eyes with her, his tone as frigid as eternal night:
– “I tolerated you because you seemed wiser, thinking you might change. But now, you persist in arrogance. If I don’t act, you will never learn respect.”
The air tightened, heavy with storm, as if the hall itself braced for an explosion.
Trúc Di?n leapt up, trying to intervene:
– “What do you intend to do?!”
But the Demon King Satan, lounging on his redwood throne with one hand propping his chin, merely smirked:
– “Let Erion discipline her. If the family can’t teach her, then let someone else do it.”
The Grand Thái S? nodded gravely, her gaze stern:
– “Indeed. Sometimes, only an outsider’s lesson leaves a lasting mark. Remember this, little princess: in terms of power, Erion stands equal to a lord. Never make the mistake of provoking him.”
Lita trembled, but pride still flickered stubbornly in her eyes.
Just then, Trang stepped forward, resting her hand gently on Erion’s arm:
– “She’s still young, still na?ve. We must be patient.”
Erion’s gaze softened slightly. He gave a small nod:
– “You’re right. But if she clings to this arrogance, I won’t hold back. And when that time comes, no one will be able to stop me.”
H?ng Nhung quickly moved in, tugging at Lita’s arm:
– “Go back to your seat. Erion doesn’t take kindly to defiance — don’t provoke him further.”
The Master V?nh also spoke gently:
– “Princess, please sit down. We still have more pressing matters — dealing with D?ng’s family. Let’s focus on that first.”
At last, under Erion’s unyielding glare, H?ng Nhung guided Lita back to her seat. Trang pulled Erion back as well. The tension slowly eased, yet the chill in the air lingered, sharp and unforgiving as ice.
The ice around the mansion grew thicker by the minute. Under the golden glow of the streetlights, each white block gleamed like crystal. Cracks echoed through the night as a bone-piercing chill spread out, making those nearby shiver uncontrollably.
It was close to 3 a.m., yet neighbors still gathered outside, each with a phone in hand. But whenever they pointed their cameras, the screens showed nothing but static and blurred shadows.
Hi?u sighed in frustration and tossed his camera into his backpack:
– “This camera is top-notch… why does it have to break down today of all days?”
An elderly man trembled from the cold, his thin hands rubbing together for warmth:
– “Maybe this place… doesn’t want to be recorded. Everyone, just stop trying.”
Hearing that, the crowd lowered their cameras and phones all at once. Their eyes were filled with both regret and fear. The scene before them was breathtaking, mesmerizing even—but it felt as though some “invisible will” forbade them from capturing it.
---
The roar of an engine broke the silence. A black Lexus pulled up at the gate. From inside stepped Ti?n and Deep.
C?u D?ng and Tu?n immediately ran over to greet them. Shivering from the cold, D?ng pointed at the mansion with trembling fingers:
– “There! Do you see that? Last time the whole house froze solid, but tonight… there’s even a storm on top of it!”
Ti?n froze in place, his eyes locked on the swirling black vortex in the sky. He had to grip Deep’s shoulder to keep his balance:
– “What… am I even looking at? This is still… Earth, right?”
Deep rubbed his eyes repeatedly, his voice hoarse:
– “We’re still on Earth. But that phenomenon… it’s definitely the work of a mutant.”
Tu?n’s eyes bulged in disbelief:
– “A mutant? I thought… that kind of thing only existed in movies!”
---
Inside the District 7 mansion, Anh Tú’s family of elves watched everything unfold through their magical orb.
Anh Tú leaned back in his chair, laughing with delight:
– “Din just texted me. He said this time Erion unleashed even more power than Sister Trang did before!”
The butler Anna, calm as if watching a stage play, sipped her hot tea:
– “That D?ng family has committed countless cruel deeds, without conscience. This… is still merciful compared to what they deserve.”
Mr. ??c rested his chin on his hand, eyes sparkling in the purple glow of the orb:
– “Not yet… this is only the beginning. Slow strikes are always the most entertaining.”
---
Back at the Bình Chánh headquarters, the ethereal glow from the Black Crystal Mirror gradually faded.
Erion turned, noticing Trang’s exhaustion after the long day. Her eyes were heavy with fatigue. Gently, he wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders, his deep voice warm and steady:
– “Let’s rest. We’ll handle the rest in the morning.”
Trang nodded softly.
From his throne, Satan the Demon King smiled faintly, a smile concealing countless secrets:
– “Yes. My daughter should rest. Time… is something we have in abundance.”
Trang rose and bowed to her father and the others. Erion followed close behind, escorting her to her chambers.
Inside the warrior princess’s room, the air was warm, bathed in the gentle glow of golden crystal lights upon the carpet. From her bag, Trang took out a velvet-pink box. Inside lay a black diamond heart-shaped necklace, shimmering with an iridescent violet glow — the gift Erion had given her earlier.
She admired it tenderly, her eyes sparkling.
Erion stepped up behind her, his voice soft as the wind:
– “Let me put it on for you.”
He brushed aside her long, silky black hair, his large yet gentle hands fastening the clasp. His touch against her neck carried a strange warmth, the fire and frost of his being mingling within her.
Trang turned to face him. Her clear eyes shone like autumn waters as her voice trembled with emotion:
– “It’s so beautiful… No one has ever made me this happy. For the first time in my life, I feel truly cherished.”
Erion cupped her face in his hands, gently pressing his forehead to hers, his voice deep and solemn as though making a vow:
– “As long as you stay by my side… I’ll give you everything. Everything I create… belongs only to the one black diamond in my heart.”
In that warm space, he pressed a tender kiss upon her lips — soft, reverent. Two souls long frozen were suddenly ablaze again. Two black flames intertwined, warming the hearts that now beat wildly together, resonating with the sound of pure love — belonging to two black diamonds who had finally found each other after a thousand years.
The morning sunlight filtered through the arched window, spilling golden rays across the folds of silk curtains. In the stillness of the room, Trang remained fast asleep, her long black hair gleaming like silk, cascading across the pillow like a springtime stream. The warrior princess’s bronzed, flawless skin radiated a wild, untamed beauty — both simple and deeply alluring.
Beside her, Erion sat leaning back, his warm, fathomless gaze fixed on her pure, serene face. In his right hand, the Black Crystal Mirror glowed faintly violet, showing a vision of D?ng’s mansion: The entire building still sealed under layers of ice, remnants of the storm Lita had summoned the night before swirling above it.
His lips curved into a cold smile:
– “Let’s sweep away this troublesome storm. Today’s a beautiful day… my masterpiece should shine, gleam like a palace of winter.”
With a flick of his finger against the mirror’s surface, the raging black storm vanished in an instant. Dark clouds unraveled into wisps of smoke, revealing a crystal-clear turquoise sky.
Erion’s ruby eyes flashed with scorn:
– “Such pitiful power… and yet she flaunts it so. A little brat with a runny nose… dares to challenge me?”
---
District 2 mansion.
As the storm dissolved, everyone thought the nightmare of the night had finally passed. But then… something even stranger occurred.
Morning sunlight flooded the streets, yet not a single ray penetrated the mansion. It was as though a colossal invisible dome had descended, bending and deflecting every shaft of light, leaving the house cloaked in gloom.
In the living room, C?u D?ng, Dì T?, and the three old friends huddled close to two heaters running at full power. On the stairs, Anh ?ào, Anh Th?, and M? Linh descended, each bundled in thick wool sweaters, lips trembling, teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Having just awakened, M? Linh was still shaken by the punishment she had witnessed the night before. But with so many people around, she quickly composed herself and asked the three men:
– “When did you all get here? I was so tired last night, I went to bed early. I thought you’d gone home already!”
Tu?n’s voice quivered with the cold:
– “I forgot my USB drive. By the time I came back for it, it was late. D?ng told me to stay until morning. But then I saw strange things happening, so I called these two to come over as well.”
Wrapped tightly in a blanket, Ti?n shook like a scorpion:
– “The last time I heard about this place freezing over, I thought D?ng was exaggerating. But today… I saw it with my own eyes.”
Deep frowned at his wristwatch:
– “This makes no sense… it’s already seven in the morning, but outside looks as dark as five a.m.”
Tu?n jumped up, his voice urgent:
– “Let’s check the yard!”
The group stepped outside — and froze in shock. Before their eyes, the storm was gone, but sunlight was being blocked by some unseen force, unable to enter the mansion’s grounds. The earth still emitted a frosty mist, ice spreading as though seeping into every grain of soil.
At that moment, Mr. Tài, their neighbor, appeared at the gate, struggling as he stepped inside. Every movement required effort, his feet sliding over the slick ice coating the tiles.
He shuddered, his voice cracking from the cold:
– “C?u D?ng… it’s like your house is trapped under a giant dome. From my place, I could see the sunlight stopping right at the edge—none of it gets through!”
M? Linh’s face turned pale. She tugged at her husband’s sleeve, whispering nervously:
– “Could it be the spirits of H?nh and Qu?c? We just saw them appear last night… and now this is happening.”
A chill raced down C?u D?ng’s spine, his skin breaking out in goosebumps:
– “Don’t talk nonsense! They’ve been dead for years. And even if their spirits linger, how could they cause something like this?”
M? Linh frowned at him:
– “Then who else could it be? Only the dead have supernatural powers. Oh, right… Master B?y told us yesterday to prepare an offering meal for them.”
C?u D?ng nodded repeatedly, almost frantic:
– “Right, I forgot… tell Dì T? to prepare it immediately!”
Both C?u D?ng and M? Linh remained convinced that all the strange events were the doing of Qu?c and H?nh’s spirits — the gentle, kind-hearted couple who had been murdered by the greed of their own blood relatives.
