The battlefield froze.
Clashing steel, roaring flames, and cries of the wounded all stopped as a jagged portal ripped itself into existence above the blood-soaked earth of Wind Veil.
Black and gold energy swirled violently within it, bending the air around the edges.
From the crack in reality came a familiar voice—one that made friend and foe alike stop breathing.
"I’M BACKKKKKKKKKKK!"
Zane stepped through, stretching his arms like someone waking from a long nap. "What the Void is going on here...?" His sharp eyes swept over the ruined village, the armored mercenaries, and the blood on the ground.
Across the field, Astrid’s lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. "Finally."
Before Zane could speak again, a gasp rang out from behind Sera.
Praise—sweet, timid Praise—had her arm locked tight around Sera’s neck, the cold kiss of a dagger pressing against her skin. Belle, the loyal dog, stood unnaturally still beside her.
"Zane," Praise said, her tone dripping venom, "surrender yourself to the Crimson Shroud... or watch her die."
Before anyone could react, Praise’s hair bled into black and crimson streaks, the same as Astrid’s. Belle’s body dissolved into a swirl of dark smoke, sliding into Praise’s chest until she exhaled in satisfaction.
"Ohhh, Sera... Sera, Sera, Sera," she purred, tilting her head. "Do you have any idea the patience it took to deal with someone like you? To smile. To comfort. To make you trust me? You’re just a naïve, helpless little sheep..."
Astrid lifted one gloved hand skyward. Space shimmered, and in an instant, dozens of Crimson Shroud agents materialized around the village—blades drawn, eyes locked on their prey.
"You can fight," Astrid said, her voice carrying a mocking softness, "but it won’t matter. This is a battle you cannot win."