On Highway 1A, two black BMW X7 SUVs glided like ghosts through the silent night. Their headlights tore through the thin mist, leading the way for Nicolas’s convoy, along with board members and his most trusted henchmen.

  Inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with exhaustion. Grimm held the steering wheel steadily, while Kane in the passenger seat kept his eyes glued to the electronic map on his laptop. He clicked his tongue, his face showing clear signs of boredom:

  – “A journey lasting nearly 40 hours just to sit in a car, and then once we arrive, we still have to rely on cable cars and hiking... Just thinking about it is exhausting.”

  Nicolas sat in the back row, shadows obscuring half of his face. He frowned slightly, his tone unable to hide his irritation:

  – “Do you think I want to drag myself this far? But the latitude for the space portal from the Dark Planet has been established. When activated, it defaults to connecting exactly to the coordinates of Fansipan Peak on Earth, without a millimeter of error.”

  Grimm tilted his head slightly, wondering:

  – “If my memory serves me correctly, can't Demon King Satan or even General Erion open space portals and choose any destination they want at will?”

  Nicolas slowly lit a cigar. The glowing red flame flickered, illuminating his somber expression. He took a long drag, his voice dropping with a hint of bitterness:

  – “That is the difference between the master and the borrower. We open portals using technological devices combined with black core energy — a power that is limited and dependent on machinery. But him and that General... they use their own innate abilities to bend reality. Those two levels are worlds apart.”

  ***

  Back in Saigon, District 1 at night was brilliant with light. Tall buildings glowed brightly, and the flow of traffic remained bustling. Neon lights reflected on the wet asphalt, creating the characteristic glamour of a city that never sleeps.

  At the casino, Huy had just arrived for his first working day. As soon as he parked his car in the basement, a service staff member approached him warmly and handed him a small bag:

  – “This is your uniform. Each employee is issued three sets; I believe this size will fit you.”

  Huy happily accepted it immediately:

  – “The boss is so thoughtful; I will try my best to work well so as not to let him down.”

  The server handed him an additional envelope:

  – “This is for your fuel costs, the boss is providing support for the first month, please take it. Now, go to the staff room to change and then go meet Manager Alistair Thorne, he will guide you through the work.”

  Huy held the envelope, a surge of excitement rising within him:

  – “Yes, I'll get ready right away. Please give my thanks to the boss and the manager.”

  Having said that, he quickly entered the elevator and headed toward the staff room, ready for his first shift.

  After changing into his uniform, Huy stepped out boldly. As someone with gambling in his blood, standing in the middle of a high-class casino made him feel more confident than nervous.

  Alistair Thorne was chatting with a VIP guest at the bar. As soon as he saw Huy, he waved him over:

  – “Huy, come over here.”

  Huy immediately walked over quickly and replied warmly:

  – “Yes, you called for me, sir.”

  Alistair Thorne held a glass of whisky in his hand, a calculating look crossing his eyes as he looked toward Huy:

  – “Do you know how to deal cards? I think you might be even better at this than serving.”

  Being asked about his specialty, Huy’s eyes lit up:

  – “Yes, I do. I can deal cards, sir.”

  Alistair Thorne signaled to a female Croupier:

  – “Let Huy deal, I want to see his skills.”

  A female Croupier stepped forward. Her seductive figure was clad in a slim-fitting white shirt with a sharp German-style standing collar, layered under a black vest with pocketless trousers and high heels. Her chestnut-brown hair was tied in a neat high bun, her red lips standing out under the lights.

  – “Follow me.”

  Huy followed eagerly. Reaching an empty table, she placed a deck of cards down:

  – “Perform a Riffle Shuffle.”

  Immediately, Huy took the deck in his hands, splitting it into two almost equal halves. His thumbs gripped the inner edges of each stack firmly while his remaining fingers supported the back, creating a slight curve.

  He slowly released the pressure from his thumbs. The cards flipped up one by one in tiny increments, falling and interlacing precisely, forming two streams of cards merging in thin layers. A crisp “fwick... fwick…” sound echoed, rhythmic and steady like a machine in operation.

  When the two halves had completely merged, Huy gently closed the two ends of the deck, letting the cards slide down and stabilize into a perfect block — neat and tight as if they had never been separated.

  Observing from the bar, Alistair Thorne nodded slightly, curling his lip:

  – “This kid is truly skilled.”

  But immediately after, his gaze turned sharp and cold, gleaming with a sinister air:

  – “But this isn't a professional Croupier, it's... an addict.”

  At the foot of the Hoàng Liên S?n mountain range in Lào Cai province, Vietnam, lies a primeval forest submerged deep within the silent night.

  Towering ancient trees stand still like giant pillars supporting the thick, black sky. Dense foliage obscures the moonlight, leaving the space below so dark that only overlapping layers of shadow remain. A chilling mist creeps through every rocky crevice, coating the damp earth and aged moss in a thin, hazy veil.

  There is no sound of footsteps.

  No sound of insects.

  Only the faint rustle of wind gliding through the canopy — a sound as thin as a breath.

  Suddenly…

  The air vibrates.

  A low, deep rumble resonates from the void — like the sound of massive metal being bent. The ground trembles slightly, and dry leaves begin to rustle even though no one has moved.

  The wind rises.

  Initially just a gentle swirl…

  It quickly intensifies into invisible cyclones spiraling around the clearing in the forest.

  Tree branches shake.

  Dry leaves are sucked upward from the ground.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Night mist is stretched into thin ribbons, circling as if governed by an invisible gravitational pull.

  A shrieking howl begins to echo — not from the wind, but from space itself being torn open.

  Right in the center of the void, the darkness suddenly dents inward.

  A rift appears in the air — thin as a thread, yet emitting a somber black-purple light. From that crack, streaks of dark energy spread out like electrical circuits, crawling along the invisible void.

  The rift expands.

  Space is stretched taut… then splits apart.

  A black-purple vortex erupts open, rotating slowly in a terrifying silence. The edges of the portal ripple like molten liquid, a deep violet hue blending into a hollow, bottomless black.

  The whirlwind breaks out violently.

  Leaves, dust, and mist are sucked toward the vortex, spinning around the portal’s rim like fragments of reality.

  The space portal has opened.

  As soon as they stepped through the portal to set foot in the Hoàng Liên wilderness, a blast of freezing air immediately struck, surrounding the entire group.

  H?u K? scanned the surroundings, unable to stop himself from letting out a loud sneeze:

  – “It’s freezing… This season, the temperature probably only fluctuates between 12°C and 15°C. Everyone, pull up your collars quickly before the cold soaks in.”

  L?p Thành, hurriedly adjusting his scarf while shivering, added:

  – “It might even drop below 10°C late at night. This is the deep cold of the old forest… it carries moisture that seeps into your bones, not like the dry cold of the city.”

  The thick, misty air made Trúc Di?n, Nh? Phu, and ??i Ng?c feel their bodies become heavy; their reflexes slowed down noticeably. Their vision was also stifled by the dense night fog, as hazy as a dream.

  Meanwhile, Bách Di?n’s body began to undergo bizarre transformations to adapt. His naturally fair skin gradually turned to a dark brown-grey tone to absorb and retain heat. His heterochromatic eyes, usually sharp, became glazed; his eyeballs moved heavily, lacking their usual agility.

  In total contrast to his teammates' struggle, Phong Túc appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. His two-colored eyes glowed in the night, seeing through the darkness as clearly as day. The low temperature and high humidity only seemed to exhilarate him. His footsteps remained light, swiftly gliding over the damp, decaying earth.

  He tossed his long black hair, glancing at Erion with pride:

  – “I was born to conquer such harsh climates and treacherous terrains. This is my sanctuary.”

  Bách Di?n, now looking like a dark ghost, spoke with a voice trembling violently from the effort of regulating his body temperature:

  – “That is why... Phong Túc and I must... always go together to compensate for each other.”

  On the other side, Erion remained nonchalant in a thin sweater, as if strolling on a sunny beach:

  – “Cold only becomes noteworthy at tens of thousands of degrees below zero, like in the black core of the Dark Planet. As for the temperature of liquid nitrogen... at most, it’s only enough to cool me down a little.”

  Chen snorted at Erion’s peculiar anatomy. He unwrapped his thick scarf, tenderly placing it over ??i Ng?c’s shoulders before asking:

  – “So, how do the masters intend to plan this now?”

  Din glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist, his lips curling into a leisurely smile:

  – “It will take those bastards at least another 40 hours to crawl their way here. Let's head into Sapa town for a bit of a stroll, to see the sights.”

  Join exclaimed in surprise:

  – “What about the ambush? Aren't we going to the summit right now?”

  Yin replied calmly, her demeanor completely composed:

  – “From here to the summit is only a single step for us. There is no rush; let’s just go.”

  By now, the little demons had begun to yawn widely, their small eyes glazed over as sleepiness hit them after the space journey.

  Seeing this, Professor Charles urged them on:

  – “Everyone, back to the cars. We’re moving to Sapa town to rest. Wait until tomorrow morning when the sun is high and the air is warmer before we take action.”

  On the Dark Planet, the night gradually faded as the pale purple rays of dawn began to seep through the thick cloud layer. An old horse-drawn carriage, carrying the “destiny” that would decide the survival of an entire underground criminal force, quietly came to a halt before the Mayor’s manor gates.

  Standing by the window, Amanda could not hide her joy upon seeing the important object arrive. She called out softly into the room:

  – “Victor! It’s here, the thing we’ve been waiting for has arrived!”

  Victor was sitting on the sofa, submerged in a cloud of grey cigarette smoke. Hearing his wife’s voice, he sprang up like a coil, rushing to the window with his eyes fixed on the carriage below:

  – “Finally... This time, our luck truly hasn't run out yet.”

  Down in the courtyard, the butler was already waiting to open the gates. A cunning gnome stepped down, carefully handing him a sphere made of metallic glass. Inside, the black core energy — a mysterious, pitch-black liquid — was constantly oscillating according to the rhythm of sound waves and external forces. The butler raised the sphere to eye level; as the purple dawn light hit it, the object emitted a haunting glow:

  – “Each of these spheres is measured in micrograms. This amount is equivalent to three drops of water, but it is more than enough for a single activation of a space portal.”

  Afterward, he handed the gnome a heavy black velvet bag filled with gold coins. The gnome’s eyes sparkled as they touched the money bag:

  – “Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Madam, and Mr. Butler. Next time you have need, please do not hesitate to summon me; I certainly will not disappoint you.”

  The butler carefully tucked the sphere into the inner pocket of his vest and slammed the gate shut. The gnome also quickly spurred his horse and departed, vanishing into the early mist to avoid any attention.

  Just as he entered the living room, the butler faced Victor and Amanda, who were standing there restless. Amanda placed her hand on her heaving chest, taking a deep breath to suppress her excitement:

  – “Finally... we have it firmly in our hands.”

  The butler formally presented the sphere to Victor. He squinted at the thick black liquid “dancing” inside the glass shell:

  – “The Satan Royal Family holds this peculiar energy, which is why they can dominate the entire planet. And it is because of this very substance that a being was created with power equal to even the Demon King.”

  The butler’s gaze sharpened as he pressed:

  – “Is the Master referring to... General Erion?”

  Victor nodded slightly. He walked toward the main door, looking up at the deep purple sky and reminiscing with a hint of trepidation:

  – “He is the black diamond, crystallized from this pure energy over billions of years. A being who simultaneously possesses three unique abilities. I am worried for Nicolas; if he happens to clash with Erion on Earth, I fear he will have no choice but to surrender.”

  The butler could not hide his concern either:

  – “And then there is Demon King Satan and the Royal Mafia network present there. If Nicolas is caught and the secret is exposed, we certainly will not escape the death penalty.”

  Hearing this, Amanda felt her limbs go weak. She slumped onto the sofa, her hands trembling and her eyes vacant:

  – “We should have stopped... I have ventured too far. Even though I am his niece, if the Demon King investigates this betrayal, the punishment will spare no one.”

  Victor whipped around, looking at his wife with a cold and determined gaze:

  – “It is too late for regrets now. We’ve thrown the spear, so we must follow it. Just finish this last job, grab a massive fortune, and then we will retreat... and wipe out every trace.”

  Amanda widened her eyes at her husband, her voice shaking:

  – “Wipe out every trace? Do you mean getting rid of everyone involved? How can you do such a cruel thing...”

  Victor let out an arrogant laugh, reeking of money and ruthlessness:

  – “In this world, money is all that matters. No one can resist the allure of money — not even justice, nor compassion.”

  Victor looked up at the sky, where the purple dawn was deepening, and the corners of his lips curled slightly:

  – “Go get ready. In a little while, we will head to the Chairman’s manor to finalize the plan for tonight.”

  The butler immediately bowed respectfully:

  – “Yes, Master, I will prepare the car at once.”

  Meanwhile, in the deep basement beneath the Chairman’s villa, the space portal machine — a cold, gray mass of metallic architecture — was being awakened for its decisive operation.

  The Chairman scrutinized every minute component, his eyes narrowing with caution. He knew all too well that in a game involving Black Core energy, a tiny flaw in the microcircuitry would be enough to turn the space portal into a black hole, devouring everything before they could even set foot on Earth.

  Behind him, his wife could not hide her agitation. She clenched her hands until her knuckles turned white, her high heels clicking against the stone floor in sharp, dry echoes that resonated throughout the basement.

  Annoyed, the Chairman snapped:

  – “Can you sit still? Don't distract me at such a critical moment!”

  His wife stepped closer, her eyes trembling with fear:

  – “If the Satan Royal Family discovers this betrayal... death is our only path. Why don't we cancel this shipment? We could gather our assets and flee elsewhere, couldn't we?”

  The Chairman paused and let out a mocking laugh:

  – “If you're so scared, feel free to run first... but do you really think you can escape? Don’t forget that beyond this atmosphere, dozens of Royal military satellites are pointed down at us. Even if you crawled into the earth, they would snatch you by the neck!”

  – “If I had known... I would have stopped you long ago, before you sank so deep into this mire!” his wife screamed in despair.

  The Chairman whipped around, his eyes blazing with fury:

  – “Look at yourself in the mirror! From your expensive gowns and makeup to that pile of magnificent jewelry on your body... is there anything that wasn't bought with blood and money from deals like these? And now you stand here playing the saint to reproach me?”

  Her husband's rage left her stunned, her voice fading into helplessness:

  – “Then what is your plan? You said yourself that we can't escape their hands...”

  The Chairman gave a lopsided smile, his eyes flashing with a cunning and confident light:

  – “Have you forgotten we still have an ace up our sleeve? We won’t be hiding around here. We are migrating to another planet. The power of the Satan Royal Family only dominates this star system... In another galaxy, their influence is a big fat zero.”

  His wife was still in shock:

  – “What about Amanda and her husband? Are they coming with us?”

  At this moment, the old fox's true face was revealed without cover:

  – “I couldn't care less if they died. To put it bluntly, both sides are just using each other. We must look after our own lives first. Besides, Amanda is the Demon King’s niece; no matter how cruel he is, he wouldn't strike down his own blood. As for us... we are nothing to him.”

  Thinking of the horrific punishments of the underworld laws, the Chairman’s wife shuddered:

  – “Then I beg of you... just this one last time, and then find a way out for our family. I don't want to be banished to the Avici Hell... I am terrified of that place.”

  As the machine continued to be calibrated for the “final mission,” a different, extremely ruthless calculation flickered deep within the Chairman’s eyes.

  He didn't just want to escape.

  He wanted to take all his accumulated power and wealth and vanish completely from the chessboard of power... before any of his companions could realize they had been turned into his sacrificial lambs.