The beacon's light swallowed them whole.
Z felt it immediately — that same sickening sensation he had experienced when they first left the Vatican. It wasn't pain exactly. It was worse. Like every cell in his body was being pulled apart, stretched thin across impossible distances, then slammed back together in the wrong order. His head spun wildly. His stomach lurched.
Then the world snapped back into place with a violent crack of displaced air.
Z hit the marble floor hard on one knee, coughing so violently his ribs screamed in protest. The transmission chamber spun around him. Blue runes flickered across the floor before fading. The air smelled of incense and cold stone. His ears rang.
He stayed down longer than the others, one hand braced against the ground, fighting the urge to throw up.
Eve was already on her feet, though she swayed once and caught herself against a pillar. Lucy remained on her knees, breathing hard, eyes wide as if still expecting something to attack them.
They were back.
The Vatican.
Creel stood near the center of the chamber, arms folded, his expression unreadable behind his glasses. Chrome leaned against the far wall, watching them with that familiar lazy but sharp gaze. Two armed Dream Shades flanked the exit like silent statues.
Creel's eyes swept over them, taking in the blood on Eve's torn shirt, the exhaustion etched into Lucy's face, and Z still kneeling on the floor.
'Well…I'm speechless,' he said. 'I wouldn't have bet a single shekel on all three of you coming back in one piece.'
Z finally drew in a shaky breath. 'Told you so.'
He forced himself upright, jaw tight. Creel stepped forward and held out a small black recording orb.
'The Ministry wants a full report. Immediately. Before any of you even think about resting.'
'What's that?' Z asked.
'A special recording mechanism made by Vince,' Lucy whispered.
Creel didn't wait for more questions. 'Start talking. The Elders are waiting.'
Before Z could speak, Eve took the lead.
'We arrived at the stronghold on the first day,' she said. 'The human world is still devastated, overrun with Man-eaters. We dealt with several lesser types over the first eight days.' She paused. 'On the ninth day, we encountered a Devil-type deep inside the forest. It was stronger than we expected. We would have died if two Dream Shades from Moby Dick hadn't arrived when they did.'
Creel's eyebrows rose. 'Moby Dick operatives? Inside Neutral territory? On whose account?'
'They were searching for a relic,' Z added, his voice rough. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. 'They didn't find it. But that's not what matters right now.'
He told them about Fred's human resistance group — how they must have been hunting Man-eaters with Miasma-coated weapons. Then he described the last thing he saw before the beacon activated: one of Fred's men standing in the ruins of the city, watching them. Cursed Miasma had been leaking off him like thick black smoke.
Creel went completely still.
Chrome pushed off the wall, all traces of laziness gone.
'Describe him,' Chrome said quietly.
'Tall. Same worn military gear as the others. But the Miasma on him was wrong. It felt rotten… like a Man-eater's. I couldn't get a clear look at his face. He was just standing there. Watching.'
Chrome and Creel exchanged a heavy look.
'A rogue,' Creel muttered. 'Operating inside a human resistance cell. That's a serious problem.'
'No kidding,' Eve said coldly. 'If Grey's people are already moving through human groups, then it's only a matter of time before they all get wiped out.'
Creel rubbed his temple. 'You three need medical attention. As for you, Z, the Ministry wants a word as soon as you're able to stand without having to pass out.'
Z didn't argue. He didn't have the strength.
They were escorted out of the chamber. The moment they stepped into the open air of the floating city, the Vatican felt smaller than Z remembered. Or maybe the endless trees and death of the forest had changed his perspective.
Lucy walked close beside him. She kept glancing at his face, like she wanted to speak but didn't know how. Her punishment was supposed to be over. She was supposed to be free now. But she didn't look free. She looked like someone waiting for the ground to open beneath her feet again.
Eve walked a few steps ahead, one hand pressed lightly against her side where the Man-eater had impaled her. The wound was gone. Not even a scar remained. But Z could feel her watching him every few seconds. She knew. She just hadn't said anything yet.
The infirmary was quiet, lit by soft lanterns. The medics moved between the beds with calm efficiency, their hands glowing faint green as they worked. They placed Z and Eve on neighboring beds near the back wall while Lucy was guided to the one directly across from them.
Lucy sat stiffly on the edge of her mattress, shoulders hunched. Even after everything, she still looked like she expected someone to drag her away at any moment. One of the medics gently examined the fading bruises on her arms and ribs — old marks from Conner — and began treating them without asking questions. Lucy didn't flinch, but she kept glancing over at Z every few seconds, like she needed to make sure he was still there.
Z sank onto his bed with a quiet groan. His body felt heavier than it should. The three years the Grail had taken from him sat like a weight in his chest, making every breath feel slightly shorter.
Eve refused to lie down. She sat on the edge of her own bed, one hand resting over the place where the Devil Man-eater had run her through.
For a while, none of them spoke. The only sounds were the soft murmurs of the medics and the occasional hiss of pain from other patients.
Eventually, Z turned his head toward Eve.
'Hey,' he said quietly. 'The Grail selection contest… you're gonna compete too right? I mean what if we have to fight each other?.'
Lucy's head lifted at the mention of the contest. She looked between the two of them, eyes wide but silent.
Eve was quiet for a moment, then exhaled through her nose.
'That's not important right now. For now we have to prepare. Training comes first,' she said. 'Real training. Not the classes we've been doing. They'll push us hard — daily combat drills, Miasma control, perseverance exercises, everything. It usually goes on for a few weeks until they decide we're ready.'
Z nodded slowly. 'And after that?'
'They choose,' Eve continued. 'Not everyone gets to enter the contest. The Ministry and the heads of the other domains pick a limited number of candidates from each domain — usually the strongest or the ones showing the most potential. Once the selections are made, the actual contest happens in a neutral dimension. Somewhere outside any domain's territory. No outside help. No interference. Just the chosen Shades fighting until only one is left.'
Z stayed quiet for a few seconds, processing everything. A neutral dimension. That explained why the other domains were so tense about the Vatican possibly winning back-to-back.
'And the winner becomes the next Sage,' Z said.
'Not just that,' Eve replied. 'It also means the person is the next in line to challenge Grey and might just be the last.'
Z swallowed.
'You're going to have to train harder than anyone,' she said softly. 'You're still relatively new and Kaelen's put a target on your back. The Moby Dick contestants are gonna be keeping an eye on you .'
'Great.'
Z turned his head toward Lucy. Even in the dim light, he could sense the tension in her shoulders. She had only just been freed from her own punishment, and now she was already worrying about his future.
Then, the infirmary doors suddenly burst open with a loud crash.
Conner stormed in with two of his usual lackeys trailing behind him. His face was red with fury, eyes wild as he scanned the room.
'Lucy!' he barked, voice echoing off the walls. 'Where the fuck is that dumb bitch?!'
The medics and a couple of wardens immediately moved to block his path.
'You can't just barge in here like this,' one of the medics said firmly. 'This is a treatment ward—'
He slapped her ruthlessly across the cheek drawing everyone's attention.
'Shut up,' Conner snapped. 'My father is Bartholomew Vilix. You want to get banished from the Vatican? Keep talking.'
The threat worked. The wardens hesitated, and Conner's friends shoved past them, clearing the way. One of them even grabbed a medic by the collar and pushed him aside.
Lucy sat up straighter on her bed, her body going rigid. Conner's eyes locked onto her almost instantly.
'There you are,' he sneered, marching over. 'Thought you could hide in here after crawling back from that little trip? Just because you survived doesn't change a damn thing. You're still a filthy hybrid. You're snothing.'
Before Lucy could react, one of Conner's friends grabbed her by the arm and yanked her off the bed. Another shoved her shoulder hard, making her stumble.
'You think coming back makes you one of us now?' Conner continued, stepping in close. 'You're wrong. I'm still going to treat you like the trash you are. Maybe even worse now that you've got people thinking you're worth something.'
Lucy's face twisted with a mixture of fear and rising anger. She tried to pull her arm free, but the guy holding her only tightened his grip.
Z started to rise from his bed, fists clenched.
'Z, don't,' Eve said quietly but firmly. She reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. 'Let her handle it.'
Z looked at Eve, then back at Lucy. His jaw tightened, but he stayed where he was.
Conner laughed when he saw Z sit back down.
'What's wrong, blind boy? Finally learning your place too? What a fucking loser.'
His friends jeered hysterically.
But that was the last straw.
Lucy's eyes flashed. A massive burst of Miasma flared around her. With a sudden burst of strength, she twisted her body and drove her fist straight into Conner's stomach. The punch landed with a heavy thud. Conner let out a sharp wheeze and doubled over.
Before he could recover, Lucy followed up with a sharp kick to his chest, sending him stumbling backward into one of his friends.
'Divine Ability: Astral Chains,' she growled.
'Oi, oi, oi! That's not allow --,' one of Conner's friend yelled.
Thick, glowing chains erupted from the floor around Conner and his group. They snapped around their legs and arms, yanking them off balance. Conner crashed to the ground hard, clutching his stomach and gasping for air.
The chains tightened for a moment before Lucy released them. Conner scrambled backward on the floor, eyes wide with shock and pain.
'You… you bitch!' he spat, voice hoarse. 'You're dead! My father's going to hear about this! You're all going to regret this!'
His friends helped him up, none of them looking eager to keep fighting. Conner continued yelling threats as they backed toward the door.
'This isn't over! You hear me?! This isn't fucking over!'
The moment they were gone, the infirmary fell into an uneasy silence. The medics and wardens slowly returned to their posts, though they kept glancing nervously at Lucy.
Z stared at her, genuinely surprised.
Lucy stood there breathing hard, fists still trembling at her sides. The chains had already faded. She looked like she couldn't quite believe what she had just done.
Eve let out a low whistle.
'…Damn,' she muttered.
Z slowly got up and walked over to Lucy. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
'You okay?' he asked.
Lucy nodded, though her breathing was still shaky.
'Yeah… I think so.'
Z gave her a small, proud smile.
'That was a hell of a punch.'
Lucy looked up at him, and for the first time since they returned, a faint, tired smile crossed her face.
Eve walked over and crossed her arms, nodding in approval.
'Took you long enough,' she said. 'But better late than never.'
Lucy let out a shaky laugh, rubbing her knuckles.
'I'm probably going to get in trouble for that…'
'Definetely,' Eve said. 'But it was worth it.'
Lucy looked between the two of them, then down at her hands. The fear that had been clinging to her since the forest seemed to have loosened its grip, if only a little.
For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel like she had to just take it.
***
The chamber was buried deep beneath the ruins of an old cathedral, far from the reach of sunlight. Blackened stone pillars rose like the ribs of some long-dead beast, wrapped in thick veins of cursed Miasma that pulsed faintly with a sickly violet glow. The air was cold and heavy, thick with the scent of iron, old blood, and something sweeter — like rotting flowers. Shadows clung to the corners, moving even when nothing stirred. From the ceiling hung the preserved remains of lesser Man-eaters, their twisted forms swaying gently from rusted chains like grotesque chandeliers.
At the center of the room sat Grey upon a throne carved from the fused bones of Shades and humans alike. He leaned back lazily, one leg crossed over the other, his dark suit immaculate despite the grim surroundings. His expression was calm, almost bored, but his eyes held the cold sharpness of a predator that had already decided who would die next.
Seated in a half-circle before him were his elite — the highest-ranking members of The Voidbound. Five of them in total. Among them sat Amy, her posture straight, face carefully blank.
She wore a dark coat over her usual attire, hands resting on her knees. The others all wore twisted and grim expression as if wondering what method they would use to torture their next victim. But they remained silent, their presence alone enough to make the air feel tighter.
Grey finally spoke, his voice smooth and unhurried.
'A Devil-type was killed inside my stronghold.'
The words hung in the cold air. No one interrupted.
'A group of Shades wandered in,' he continued, tapping a finger against the armrest. 'They weren't supposed to be there. Yet not only did they survive… they managed to kill a Devil-type. There are fewer than seven Dream Shades that can do that.' His lips curved into a faint smile. 'Impressive. Annoying, but impressive.'
He let the silence stretch for a moment before his gaze swept across the room.
'Fortunately, Joker has been busy. He's finally uncovered Sage.'
A low murmur rippled through the elites. Grey raised a hand and the sound died instantly.
One of the seated members leaned forward — the scarred man in rough clothes. His voice was rough, like gravel under boots.
'I saw him,' he said. 'In the stronghold. I was disguised in one of the human's resistance groups. His name is Z.'
At the mention of the name, Amy's fingers twitched against her knee. A cold shiver ran down her spine, but she kept her face perfectly still. She didn't blink. She didn't breathe differently. She simply stared ahead as if the name meant nothing.
'And how do you know this?' Grey questioned.
'Because I am in possession of the Rebirth Stone.'
Grey's smile widened.
'Z, huh?' he said. 'How delightfully simple. No records in any Domain registry. No bloodline. No history. Just… Z.' He let out a soft chuckle, low and amused. 'I was right. I told you all, didn't I? I knew Mike wouldn't trust another Shade. Someone the Domains wouldn't even have under their watch.' His eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. 'My genius never fails me.'
He rose slowly from the throne, the bones beneath him creaking. The violet glow from the walls seemed to brighten slightly as he moved.
'The boy carries the Grail,' Grey said, voice dropping into something colder. 'And now that we know his name, the game has finally begun to move.'
He looked over his elite forces, lingering for a second on Amy before moving on.
'Preparations begin immediately. I want eyes on every Domain. I want the boy's movements tracked. And I want the other rogues mobilized.' His smile returned, sharp and vicious. 'Because we no longer have to wait.'
He stepped down from the dais, hands sliding into his pockets.
'We are going to war.'
The words settled over the room like frost.
Grey's gaze swept across them one final time.
'Dismissed.'
The elites rose without a word. Chairs scraped against stone. One by one, they left out of the chamber, their footsteps echoing down the long corridor until only silence remained.
Amy was the last to stand. She kept her head down as she turned to leave, but Grey's voice stopped her.
'Amy.'
She paused.
Grey didn't turn around. He simply stared at the swaying remains of the Man-eaters above.
'Make sure your heart stays where it belongs,' he said quietly. 'I'd hate to have to rip it out myself.'
Amy didn't answer. She stared down at the ground and walked out, her footsteps steady even as her hands trembled at her sides.
Grey remained alone in the chamber, the violet light pulsing softly around him like a heartbeat.
He smiled to himself.
'Z…' he murmured. 'Let's see if you can entertain me.'
***
After the medics finished their work, the three of them stepped out of the infirmary into the cool evening air of the Vatican. The floating city's lights had begun to glow softly against the darkening sky, casting long shadows across the white stone pathways.
Eve stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as if testing the healed wound. 'I'm heading back to the dorms. Need to clean up and check my gear.' She glanced at Lucy. 'You coming?'
Lucy nodded. She turned to Z with a small, grateful smile.
'We'll see you tomorrow, Z. Try to get some actual rest.'
'Yeah,' Z muttered. 'You two too.'
Eve gave him one last lingering look — the kind that said she still had questions she wasn't ready to ask yet — before the two girls turned and walked off together toward the Combat sect dormitories.
Z watched them go for a moment, then started walking in the opposite direction, toward the inn where he was still staying. His body felt lighter after the treatment, but the weight in his chest remained.
The path back wound through the heart of the Vatican. He passed the bustling night market where Shades haggled over glowing crystals and Miasma-infused weapons. Vendors shouted prices for floating lanterns that drifted lazily above their stalls like captive stars. Further along, he walked by the grand training arenas, where even at this hour the clash of weapons and bursts of elements lit up the sky. A group of younger Shades practiced under harsh lights, their laughter mixing with the sharp crack of practice spells.
He turned down a quieter street lined with ancient-looking libraries and archives. Towering shelves visible through tall windows held books that seemed to shimmer with their own inner light. A massive statue of Konstantin stood at the crossroads, the first Sage's bronze figure staring down sternly, one hand resting on the hilt of a sword.
Z kept walking. The streets grew narrower and quieter as he neared the inn district. The air here smelled of fresh bread from a late-night bakery and the faint metallic tang of nearby forges. He passed a small park where floating orbs of soft blue light hovered between trees, illuminating couples and lone readers sitting on benches.
He was almost at the inn when a familiar voice cut through the quiet.
'Z.'
Creel stepped out from the shadow of a nearby building, hands in his coat pockets, glasses catching the glow of a passing lantern.
Z stopped, letting out an exhausted sigh. 'Of course it's you.'
'The Ministry needs to speak with you,' Creel said, voice flat. 'Urgently.'
Z rubbed the back of his neck. 'Right now? I just got back from hell and you people can't even give me one night?'
Creel didn't smile. 'They don't care how tired you are.'
Z let out a bitter laugh. 'Am I the only one they send you to chase around like a damn dog? I'm getting real tired of seeing your face everywhere I go.'
Creel ignored the jab completely. He fell into step beside Z as they began walking toward the Parish.
'How was the forest?' he asked after a moment.
Z glanced at him sideways. 'You already know, don't you?'
Creel adjusted his glasses. 'I know none of you died. That kind of survival doesn't happen by accident against a Devil-type. You used the Grail, didn't you?'
Z didn't bother denying it. 'Yeah. But no one saw me do it. They were all unconscious.'
Creel was quiet for several steps. Then, 'What exactly did you use it for?'
Z hesitated, then answered honestly. 'Eve got run through. Straight through the torso. She was dying. I had to help her.'
Creel stopped walking.
He turned fully toward Z, eyes wide behind his glasses. 'You healed a fatal wound? Already? How soon after the injury?'
'Pretty much right after,' Z said. 'The Grail didn't give me much of a choice.'
Creel's expression darkened. 'Did it say anything about a drawback?'
Z looked away. 'It said it would shorten my lifespan.'
For a moment, Creel looked genuinely angry. Not at Z — at the situation. He ran a hand through his hair, muttering a curse under his breath.
'Listen to me, kid. Do not use that power again. Not until you're officially pronounced as the Sage and the other domains have no choice but to accept it. That power is too advanced for you. You're going to be burning through your own life.'
Z didn't argue. He was too tired to.
They continued walking in heavy silence until the towering spires of the Parish came into view, looming against the night sky like a judgment waiting to be passed.
Creel stopped at the base of the wide marble steps.
'Go on,' he said. 'They're waiting inside. And Z… watch what you say in there. Things are moving faster than any of us expected.'
Z stared up at the massive doors, the weight of everything pressing down on him once more.
He took a deep breath, adjusted Amaterasu at his side, and began climbing the steps.