AQW: Dark Night of the Soul (Chapter 5)

Sera resided in the Shadow Realm, successfully defeating a Shadow Lord.

Vahin, on the other hand, still searched for a clue.

"Well, Sera, if you want to show yourself, don't puzzle me." he said.

A brightest star in the night sky allowed Vahin to be guided, as the Evolved Shadow blended with the surrounding darkness.

From the distance, an abandoned floating fortress was visible, containing the ray of light in the center.

"The Shadow Realm... Sera is there, I knew it." Vahin perceived.

Meanwhile in the same map, the current Lightguard leader heard some strange noises. No shadow monsters were present, since they were already slain.

Sera went to where the chest was located.

More rustlings were heard, and Sera was not noticing what was going on in the realm.

"Is the Shadow Lord resurrecting?" she was perplexed.

Sera attempted to gaze at the Shadow Lord's lair, but there was no boss present. She became anxious and curious at the same time.

"You hear rustling inside this chest! Run away!!" Sera read the chest inscriptions. "Who's responsible for this? I won't run until I knew anything!!"

A black mist dominated the Shadow Realm, trying to fit in with the map's name.

"Vahin?" Sera attempted to guess if someone is taking the Shadow Lord's place.

A moment of loud noises were still heard, followed by a moment of silence. Sera was perplexed, shivering while slowly walking around the realm.

A shadow tentacle was spawned from below and exploded right in front of the Lightguard leader.

"What's the meaning of this?" Sera was frightened.

As she gazed again at the Shadow Lord's location, a different Shadow Lord took over.

The shadow suddenly jumped and landed exactly where Sera was positioned.

A Shadowblast was invoked, forcing her to run away in fear. Little did she knew that the shadow chuckled in a sinister manner.

"You are trapped in my invocations, Sera. Surrender now, or you will be doomed to die." the shadow warned.

"I know you are trying to get my attention, Vahin. Don't mess with me!!"

Sera spotted a black circular area in front of where she ran. As soon as she turned back, Vahin appeared and cast Shadowblast Flames at her.

The Lightguard leader successfully dodged before Vahin started talking.

"I'm not here to kill you, Sera. I'm here to have a request."

"What has gotten into you?"

"Look at your friends in the Dark Fortress, they are in need of your assistance. I have subdued one of my officers, but another one escaped. The third ShadowScythe officer was under attack, but the last one still stayed in our base of operations."

"How come? You are the leader of the ShadowScythe council, and yet you betrayed your own comrades?"

"You still don't know my intentions yet, Sera. Better call your assistants and let them meet you in the fortress. I'll go back to our council immediately."

"Vahin..." Sera grabbed his arm.

The Evolved Shadow fiercely faced at the Lightguard leader straightforwardly.

"Leave me alone, and do what I just said."

Vahin continued walking with his arm released from Sera's clutch. Upon flying, Sera left a message.

"I will go with you after I follow your request!! Remember that!!"

---

Meanwhile in the Dark Fortress...

"Going for vengeance can't give you justice, ShadowScythe lieutenant." the last Lightguard officer demanded while in a clash against Milric.

"How long can you have mercy and patience towards the Lore inhabitants?"

"If someone has sinned you, are you demanding fairness just through letting them feel the same pain you felt?"

"That's exactly what our council always stated!!"

"Tell to your ShadowScythe leader... that their mentality is not worth the Lore inhabitants think!!"

Constant rays of light flashed at Milric, blinding him and allowing Sera to appear behind the Lightguard officer.

"Pause your battle for this moment. I will let that ShadowScythe officer receive Vahin's messages." she interrupted.

"You're the leader of the Lightguard council, aren't you?" Milric responded.

"Well, you can identify me through that title, but your leader has a message to four of you."

"Once I received that, leave us alone with your fellow officer."

"Just call me Gil." the last Lightguard officer called out his alias, while Milric continued the clash against him.

Gil became under attack and Milric cast a Bloodrage magic at him.

"GIL!!!" Sera witnessed the brutal magic.

Jase and Gio, who were also witnessing Milric's blow, came to the rescue with their leader.

Sera just blocked their way, unfortunately.

"Why do you let our fellow officer Gil be in trouble with that ShadowScythe lieutenant? Are you crazy?" Jase responded.

"Wait, there's another enemy right here!!" Gio interrupted.

Meanwhile...

Gil successfully got up in place and parried Milric's slashes. In response, the latter cast Shadowblast Flames at him.

However, the Lightguard officer used an Arcane Shield to defend himself.

"What the..." Milric was shocked.

Gil uses a Piercing Light pistol and effortlessly fired at him with his predicted Edited Timeline.

"My mind is clear, Milric. I accepted the negativity, but I ignored the worries."

Milric responded through deflecting Gil's gunshots.

"Is that all you've got, Gil?"

The pistol was reloaded in response.

Gio and Sera spotted Cleavone's helpless, bloody body.

"What's happening?" Jase also joined them.

The Infernal Caladbolg sword suddenly glowed, harnessing dark magic to revive Cleavone. After the resurrection, Sepulchure's dark-infused skulls haunted Sera, Gio, and Jase.

"PREPARE YOUR SHIELDS!!" Sera screamed, as the three all cast an Arcane Shield to defend themselves.

"Hahahaha... what the hell are you doing here? Do you think you can foil Vahin's plans to purify the corrupted Lore? The inhabitants are full of sins, and we HAVE to cleanse the souls of Lore through MURDER!!!" Cleavone warned.

"Someday, Vahin will change his mentality. He will protect the innocent inhabitants!! You have nothing to do with them, even if you want to kill them for your council's purgation." Sera countered.

"Well, we will tell him about your make-believe messages, Sera. I'll relay his message to you AFTER Vahin announced our council's matters. Still, you cannot stop Vahin from leading the ShadowScythe council!!"

"A leader executes the FINAL decision, Cleavone."

Gio attempted to launch an attack at Cleavone but the latter suddenly disappeared in the dark and laughed.