The remnants of the Heroes’ Slayer lay scattered like shattered glass, wisps of dark energy curling slowly into the void. And yet, even in defeat, the clone claimed the final word.

A low chuckle drifted from the dissolving fragments, distorted and fading as though pulled apart by the same abyss that birthed him.

“Beelzebul… has only begun… The chains of fate… will shatter… Nibelung… will rise…”

Then—silence.

A foreboding chill crept up Star’s spine. She exchanged glances with her companions—Siegfried’s jaw had tightened, Friedrich’s fingers were curled into fists, and Klara’s sharp gaze remained fixed on the fading remnants. Even Seth, usually the first to break tension with humor, stood uncharacteristically still.

Alioth’s expression was unreadable. The faint crimson flicker in his eyes suggested something deeper—something buried beneath his composed exterior.

“The war isn’t over,” he said at last. “This was only a fragment of what’s coming.”

Star swallowed, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword. The weight of the clone’s final words settled over them like a suffocating fog.

Beelzebul had only begun?
What did that mean?
And the chains of fate…

She turned toward Alioth, searching for answers, but he remained motionless, his gaze still fixed on the dissipating abyss.

Friedrich exhaled sharply, resting his greatsword against his shoulder.

“Well, that’s just fantastic,” he muttered. “We finally put that thing down, and now we’re already being warned about the next nightmare.” He nudged a cracked stone with his boot, frustration evident in the movement. “It never ends, does it?”

Alioth smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it.

“No,” he said quietly. “It doesn’t.”

His eyes flicked briefly toward Star—something unreadable passing through them—before he looked away.

Siegfried crossed his arms, his blue eyes dark with thought.

“Beelzebul… That was the name the Heroes’ Slayer mentioned earlier, wasn’t it? The Queen of Flies?”

Klara nodded.

“She created him. If she’s still capable of producing abominations like that…” Her voice trailed off, lips pressing into a thin line.

The silence that followed was heavy.

Seth finally broke it, his ears flicking as he exhaled.

“Alright, let’s acknowledge the obvious—we’re in trouble. Again.” His tone lacked its usual levity, replaced instead by weary acceptance. “And if this Nibelung guy is as bad as everyone keeps hinting, we’re going to need more than optimism to get through this.”

The air within the Tower of a Thousand Mirrors remained thick with residual energy. The mirrored walls reflected endless warped images of the group, their distorted doubles watching in silent stillness. The final traces of the Heroes’ Slayer dissolved into nothingness, yet his words lingered in Star’s mind.

She turned toward Alioth, suspicion sharpening her gaze.

“The Heroes’ Slayer said something earlier,” she said. “He claimed you were the one who sealed Beelzebul here. Is that true?”

Alioth did not answer immediately. His crimson gaze dimmed slightly, as though searching through distant memories.

At last, he exhaled.

“Yes. I sealed her here long ago.” His voice remained calm, though an edge lingered beneath it. “Beelzebul was too dangerous to remain free. Her power corrupts everything it touches. After Nibelung’s fall, I couldn’t allow her to roam unchecked.”

Klara crossed her arms.

“Then why does it sound like she won’t stay sealed forever?”

Alioth’s expression darkened.

“Because she won’t. Nibelung’s subordinates have been searching for ways to break the seals.” His gaze hardened. “And it isn’t only Beelzebul they’re after.”

Siegfried frowned. “What do you mean?”

Alioth’s eyes drifted briefly to the shattered remnants of the clone before returning to them.

“They’re searching for the Elemental Cores.”

Star’s breath caught.

“The Elemental Cores?”

Alioth gave a slow nod.

“The seven Cores form the foundation of this world’s balance. Each region safeguards one.” He placed a hand over his chest. “…And Valhalla holds the Light Core. I am its wielder.”

Silence fell over the group.

Friedrich broke it first, frustration threading his voice.

“So that’s why everything’s been moving in the shadows. The corruption. The wars. All of it’s been leading to this?”

Alioth’s expression remained unreadable.

“Yes. They require the Cores to break Nibelung’s chains completely. And if they succeed… he will rise again.”

Klara’s mind raced, assembling the implications.

“So that’s why Beelzebul was sealed here,” she said slowly. “You didn’t just imprison her—you hid her away from the Cores. But if her forces break the seal now…”

Alioth nodded grimly.

“She will return. And she will not come alone.”

A heavy silence settled once more, broken only by the faint, eerie hum of the surrounding mirrors.

Seth let out a low sigh, rubbing the back of his head.

“So let me get this straight. We just finished fighting a psychotic clone, and now we’re being told there’s an entire demon army trying to collect apocalypse keys?” He gave a short, humorless chuckle. “Yeah. Fantastic. Love that for us.”

No one responded.

The chamber had grown still—but it wasn’t relief that filled the air.

It was anticipation.

Because somewhere beyond the tower’s walls, seals were weakening, demons were mobilizing, and fate itself was beginning to fracture.

And for the first time since their journey began…

Star wondered if they had already arrived too late.