Sand King, monarch of stones and soil, stepped into the grand library. His brown, muscular form was adorned with sands whirling around his lower body, shoulder plates made of bone, and a crown of turquoise with horns twisting backward from above his ears. His silent aura and footsteps hid his presence from the detective magicians. He reached up, pulled the door handle down, and opened the doors to the grand hall.

  Lionye, staring from the window into the endless sky, slowly turned to look at him. Sand King stepped closer, his posture tense as a slight tremor ran through his body.

  Sand King: Lionye...

  Lionye: Sand King, welcome.

  Sand King: No need to greet me at the moment.

  Lionye: What's wrong?

  Sand King's voice trembled. His eyes filled with shame. "The ritual... is completed."

  Lionye's eyes widened in shock behind his hood. "Ritual...?"

  Sand King: Yes... I've arranged a meeting with... Him.

  Lionye took a half-step back, his fist clenching around his cane. "You mean... The one who controls the afterlife...?"

  Sand King nodded. "I had to... Another Chaos Bringer has also been freed..."

  He took a deep breath, steadying his posture. "The one we sealed with his help."

  Lionye: The Eye... Author of Reality...

  Sand King: I assume this can only mean one thing... Hinima is also...

  Lionye continued the thought, the anger and shame in his voice palpable. "Freed. Yes."

  Sand King: I'm sorry... This was the only way I could think of.

  Lionye: I... I can't deny your words... It is the only way...

  Sand King: Undead Depth... Temple of Souls. Tomorrow, midnight.

  Lionye: Let's hope it won't end in genocide...

  Sand King: We've had worse in the ancient war. I know we can handle it. Even if it costs our own lives.

  Lionye's grip tightened on his cane. "Yes... With our own lives..."

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  Sand King turned away, opening a portal to his throne of stones and sand, awaiting tomorrow's meeting—a destined doom he had brought upon them.

  ---

  The darkened sky, shining with endless stars, was visible over the Undead Depth, the valley of lost souls and undead creatures. Deep in the valley, dark-green mists blurred vision, corrupting sanity and soul with every breath. This was a world of fears, nightmares, and souls. The smell of rotten flesh and bone filled the air. Giant spiders wove webs near the surface, hunting any living creature in their sight.

  Lionye and Sand King slowly walked toward the Temple of Souls. Innocents crying in pain gripped Lionye's sleeve, begging for redemption.

  "Please!... I can't take it anymore...! Help me!" a child's soul screamed as her body faded near the temple. Her scream echoed through the valley.

  Lionye's grip tightened in anger. The sound of his teeth grinding together made Sand King take a half-step back in shock. "Sand king..." he whispered, his voice filled with rage and agony.

  Sand King's head fell in shame. "I'm... I'm sorry, Lionye..." He didn't even try to defend himself. They both knew what stepping inside the temple meant for them...

  They walked deeper into the Undead Depth, finally arriving at the Temple of Souls. Lionye stepped onto the wooden stairs. His weight caused the old wood to let out a squeak, as if in pain. They both stepped inside. There were no doors, only broken pieces on the ground and a torn veil at the entrance. Inside, faceless stone statues the size of humans, with raised hands in prayer, all pointed toward three larger figures: one made of obsidian on the left, one of alabaster on the right, and one of malachite in the middle.

  Sand King stepped forward, bowing toward the middle statue. "Monarch of Souls, we are at your service..."

  A howling wind tore through the temple. The air seemed to shift. Breathing became hard, the weight of the air suddenly heavy. Then, the ground in front of the malachite statue began to shine. A corrupted emerald light lit up the ground in a circle. A dark-green portal swirled before the statue. Bones crawled from the earth, tearing through the temple's wooden floor to form the rim of the portal. The sound was torture to the ears.

  Lionye slowly kneeled, his voice trembling. "Soul King... Welcome to the living world..."

  Soul King stepped out from the world of the afterlife. His body was a huge mountain of screaming faces, the chilling color of corrupted olive. Obsidian bracelets chained to his shoulder-plates; an obsidian upper skeletal demon jaw rested on his right shoulder plate, and a normal horned plate on the left. A necklace of bones shone on his chest and around his neck. One hand held the greatsword of torment, while the other moved freely at his side. Souls of countless monsters screamed to be let out. Finally, a crown drowned in the depth of hatred shone with dark crimson above his forehead.

  He exhaled, a fading green steam issuing from his mouth. He glanced down at them, his gaze seeming to tear at their flesh. A tremor ran through both of them. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the temple as he emerged fully from the portal.

  Soul King: Lionye, all-knowing veteran of the ancient war. And the ruler of deserts... Sand King.

  Lionye's body trembled. His words came out hesitantly. "Soul King... We... We demand your help... Your old foe..."

  Soul King's grin widened, his pale eyes alight with joy. "The Eye... So his seals are broken... I've been waiting for this."

  Sand King's eyes widened in panic, his head still bowed, his grip tightening on his knee.

  "What... What price do you demand for our alliance?" Lionye asked, his voice hushed.

  Soul King's grin turned into a grim smirk. He stabbed his blade into the ground and raised both hands in a welcoming gesture. "All the lost lives on the battlefield... will belong to me."

  Lionye: We cannot afford that...

  Soul King: Then the deal is off.

  Lionye stood up, all fear gone from his voice, replaced by fierce determination. "Take my soul. In exchange for theirs."

  Sand King's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Lionye with awe. The act was unbelievably selfless, seeming to evaporate all authority and fear in that moment.

  Soul King's eyes widened in shock, his smirk slowly fading. His hands fell to his sides. "You would... give your ancient and eternal soul... in exchange for them to live peacefully in the afterlife?..."

  "If I die, you shall claim my eternal soul forever," Lionye's voice was fierce. He let go of his cane, bit his thumb, and tore the skin. Blood dripped slowly onto the ground. "And I will sign the contract with my blood."

  Soul King: Then the contract is made...

  He snapped his fingers, opening the dark-green portal again. Lifting his blade, he faded within it. The only evidence of his presence was the torn floor where the bones had crawled forth.

  Sand King, still clenching his fists on his knees, slowly raised his head toward Lionye. His lips parted slightly, shaking with silent grief. "Why...?"

  Lionye: Because it...

  Sand King lunged toward him, hands gripping the collar of his clothes. Sand-streaked tears fell from his eyes. "Shut up! This was not supposed to end like this! This wasn't part of the plan! It wasn't!..."

  Lionye's voice was warm and comforting. "It was the third plan. Sometimes, sacrifice is needed." His grip tightened around Sand King's wrist—not to push him away, but to comfort him. "Regretting an act that is..."

  "Already done is a waste of time... I know..." Sand King's grip loosened, and he let go of the collar.

  Lionye: I need to meet Mikolash now.

  Sand King: The Ink Magician? Why him?...

  Lionye: Because it's good to visit old friends sometimes...