Saruto and Lucian set off, having confirmed that their plan was proceeding as intended. The air in the Sand Kingdom was hot and dry, and the sun had not yet risen, yet the sand reflected a faint golden sheen under the moonlight. The two walked swiftly through hidden alleyways until they reached the perimeter of the palace, which seemed to have sprung from the desert itself, its high sandstone walls and towers like sentinels.
"Now we begin," Saruto said firmly, looking towards the side gate. "Remember… there is no room for error."
Lucian nodded confidently, then closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply. In a brief moment, a chill enveloped his breath, and steam escaped his mouth. The air grew suddenly cold, and thin layers of ice spread across the passages leading to the treasure chamber, transforming the floor into a frozen glass surface, slowing the movement of everyone in the palace. This was the skill of Ice Breathing.
Saruto exchanged a quick glance with Lucian, then tried to use his teleportation skill, but it didn't work; something seemed to be blocking his movement. He decided to use his energy to speed up his body so that Lucian wouldn't be affected by the skill. They moved like fleeting shadows between the columns, silent and unseen. The soldiers scattered throughout the corridors moved slowly. One of them tried to shout, but only a muffled groan escaped him before he succumbed to the cold.
After a few moments, Saruto and Lucian found themselves before the massive gate that separated them from the treasure chamber. Saruto paused, his eyes shining a deep purple. He murmured softly, "Stop, Lucian. It's the two generals."
Two enormous shadows appeared at the gate, moving heavily. The effects of the magic were already slowing them down. Without hesitation, Saruto raised his hand, and a vortex of darkness appeared around him, trapping them both inside a dark sphere. Saruto and Lucien followed them directly into the sphere. The moment Saruto pressed his hand, focusing energy into the sphere's center, the four of them were transported to another world, before any of them could catch their breath or activate the alarm.
In an instant, the scene transformed. There were no longer stone pillars or a treasure-room gateway, but a vast arena beneath a star-filled sky. The ground was made of dark rocks punctuated by cracks from which violet light emanated. The air was thick with a strange, chilling energy, and a purple moon illuminated the world. This was the Warrior's world.
The two generals appeared bewildered by what had transpired, one wielding a black iron spear, the other a broadsword. "Who are you?! Where are we?!" one of them shouted hoarsely.
But Saruto didn't answer. In an instant, he shot forward like an arrow, his swords piercing the air toward his opponent. Lucien, on the other hand, moved swiftly, leaving a trail of ice that formed with every movement. The four forces collided, creating a storm.
Explosions rocked the arena, and the rocks crumbled beneath their feet. One of the generals tried to strike Saruto, but the latter dodged the attack with a swift dive, then moved over him, grabbing his helmet and severing the soldier's head from his body. Lucian, meanwhile, froze his opponent's weapon with a single blast of ice breath, then delivered a punch enveloped in aura directly to his chest, freezing his heart and causing it to stop beating.
Silence fell, broken only by their heavy breathing. Saruto advanced toward the two bodies, his throat slowly changing, and markings resembling dragon scales appeared on his neck. Then he opened his mouth and exhaled a burst of intense purple fire that engulfed the bodies, burning them to ashes until they vanished, leaving only black ash that vaporized into the air.
"We must leave no trace," he said calmly, returning to his normal form.
"As expected of you, Saruto," Lucian replied with a slight smile of admiration. "You plan for everything."
They returned to the real world, finding themselves once again before the door of the treasure room. The place was completely silent. Saruto slowly opened the doors, and together they stepped inside.
The room overflowed with the glitter of golden chests, jewels that shimmered like stars in the depths of the earth, and ancient weapons bearing magical auras. The two began carefully searching through their family's treasures. After a few minutes of searching, Saruto stopped before a small black chest. He opened it and found inside a key carved from pure darkness energy, pulsating like a living heart. He smiled. "This is… the Luin family treasure."
On the other side, Lucien found a gleaming white robe that reflected a snow-blue light, with ancient symbols inscribed along its edges. He couldn't help but whisper in amazement, "The robe of the tenth founder… our family treasure."
They exchanged a silent, triumphant glance. This was their first real success on their journey, but they knew the road was still long… For there in the jungle kingdom, Ryan and Kyle were facing another destiny, in a place where the Sand Princess and the Jungle Princess met, where the threads began to intertwine towards a confrontation greater than anyone could imagine.