Crow flapped in panic, shouting:

> "Boss?! What's happening to you?!"

Through clenched teeth, Nujah muttered:

> "Naraka… she took my powers. Said it was a punishment.

But not enough to kill me. My immortality's still intact."

The pain overwhelmed him, and he collapsed to the deck.

---

When he opened his eyes again, a long time had passed.

He was in a prison cell.

From outside the bars, a beautiful black-haired woman cried out in alarm:

> "He's awake!"

Almost immediately, a tall, regal-looking blonde figure appeared beside her.

Nujah gave a crooked smile and croaked:

> "I just heard there was free candy…"

They both entered the cell.

With a weak voice, he added:

> "Mabaka… Herinhard… I'd give you a hug, really —

if I wasn't tied down in a hundred chains right now."

Neither of them could make sense of what they were seeing.

Herinhard stepped forward, eyes wide with disbelief and anger:

> "What happened to you… little brother?"

Nujah smirked.

> "Give me the key, and maybe I'll tell you."

Herinhard snapped:

> "You're not going anywhere until we get answers."

Mabaka raised her hand between them.

> "Enough, Herinhard. Don't cross the line."

She turned to Nujah and softened her voice, calm but commanding:

> "Please, brother. Just tell us what really happened."

But Nujah chuckled darkly.

> "You're good, sis. But your persuasion doesn't work on me.

Whatever Mother told you — that's the truth.

Since when do the children of Naraka believe lies over her word?"

He raised his voice, the weight of accusation behind it.

Herinhard and Mabaka responded at once:

> "Because we know you!"

Herinhard's voice cracked:

> "Before we died… before all this…

We may not remember the war,

but the memories we do have —

they're burned into our souls."

Nujah's expression twisted into something cruel.

> "Then you didn't know me at all."

His eyes suddenly blazed yellow.

The flickering flames on his corpse surged —

and before they could react, his broken body healed.

The chains around him shattered like twigs.

In a flash, he lunged —

grabbing Herinhard by the throat.

With a snap of his fingers, a shadow rose like a serpent and wrapped around Mabaka, holding her in place.

She couldn't move. Couldn't fight.

Herinhard gasped for breath, eyes locked on Nujah —

and for the first time, saw fear reflected in himself.

Nujah's voice was cold, flat:

> "Where are the stolen keys?"

Herinhard, choking, reached into the air —

his fingers trembling, his will focused.

For a moment, nothing.

Then — light twisted and formed.

A satchel appeared in his hands, woven from glowing threads.

He pushed it toward Nujah with the last of his strength.

> "Take it," he rasped.

Nujah let go. Herinhard collapsed to the floor, coughing.

Then, slowly, Nujah dropped to one knee and opened his satchel.

He rummaged through old scrolls, scorched talismans, fragments of runes —

until his fingers found a small black case.

He opened it.

Six keys.

No — only five were whole.

The sixth was broken clean down the middle.

Its edges scorched. Ruptured.

Torn apart by fire… or something worse.

Nujah stared at it, voice low:

> "She has the other half.

She's had it this whole time…"

He held the shattered piece in his palm. It pulsed faintly with forgotten energy.

> "This changes everything."

Then Nujah stepped back and asked — quietly, but deadly serious:

> "Last question.

Where's my daughter?"

Herinhard smirked through the pain.

> "You think I'd tell you…

while you look like that?"

Nujah snapped his fingers.

The yellow in his eyes dimmed.

The fire faded.

Silence fell.

He stepped closer, and knelt down slowly.

> "Please, brother.

While I can still hold back…

give me her location.

For your sake.

And for hers."

Mabaka, her voice steady but serious, finally spoke:

> "She's in the home of the Alpha Vampire.

That's what we were told.

You'll find her there.

We can help you."

But Nujah turned toward her, eyes darker than before.

> "No.

This is between me and her.

No outsiders."

He stood tall once more.

Give Crow my regards.

His eyes burned gold one last time —

and in a flash of light, he vanished.

Destination set:

The home of the Alpha Vampire.