In a palace of unparalleled opulence, a tall man clad in black stood amidst riches that would make kings weep. Every surface shimmered with precious metals and gemstones. The lights were colossal pearls, each glowing softly, illuminating the grand space like an eternal twilight. Seated on a throne of solid gold, encrusted with diamonds and rubies, the pale man held a teacup of dark red liquid. A closer look revealed it was not wine but blood—its origin unidentifiable, yet its viscosity betrayed its unsettling nature.

  The man’s slick black hair gleamed as he swirled the cup absently, deep in thought. Then, as if struck by revelation, he stood abruptly, his ornate throne toppling backward with a resounding crash.

  “That’s it!” His voice boomed, echoing across the chamber. “Urgam, your presence is required!”

  From the shadows, a figure emerged, its form undefined, shifting like living smoke. The being’s voice was an unsettling whisper, reverberating as though spoken from the depths of a hollow cavern. “Yes, my lord?”

  The man grinned, his white teeth sharp and predatory. “I have devised the means to destroy that mortal.”

  Urgam tilted his smoky head. “The one hidden by Arcway’s veil? How, my lord? His protections render him invisible to our scrying.”

  The dark lord’s grin widened, his pale face twisting with a sinister glee. “Arcway’s meddling may shield him, but there is another way. The system logs record that it was a male elf infant who shattered my curse. Only a reincarnated soul could wield such power and knowledge. Among all souls who vanished from Earth’s records, there was only one man with the capabilities and intellect for this task: Rick.”

  Urgam hesitated, his voice laced with doubt. “Rick? Are you certain? And what of the ghost girl the log also recorded? She vanished soon after the curse was broken.”

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  The dark lord’s confidence did not waver. “Exactly! We have overlooked her for too long, assuming she was irrelevant. But her connection to him in his previous life makes her the key. If she was bound to him in the past, she is likely with him now. While Arcway’s protections may shield Rick, I doubt they extend to her.”

  Understanding dawned upon Urgam. “So, by attacking her, we draw him out?”

  The lord retrieved a weathered photograph from his pocket, staring at it intently. The man in the image bore scars from a life of hardship. His hair was grown long on one side, attempting to conceal burns that marred his scalp. One of his eyes, dulled to a silvery hue, seemed almost lifeless. Yet, there was a quiet strength in his gaze—a stubborn determination that made the dark lord’s hatred burn brighter.

  “When Rick fell in his last life, it was that woman who picked up his shattered pieces,” the lord explained, his voice dripping with venom. “If she is his lover in this life, he will sacrifice everything to save her. Even if he isn’t with her now, he will come for her. And when he does, I will ensure he falls beneath our guillotine, just as I intended.”

  Urgam nodded slowly. “And once the chosen one is dealt with, the elves will be yours to annihilate.”

  “Precisely,” the lord hissed, his face contorting with hatred. “The elves were doomed from the moment their goddess Aeris interfered. Her existence is tied to theirs. The last remnants of her power linger in their blood, keeping her from the true death she deserves. And yet, that wretched mortal dared to cleanse one of my curses! His defiance cannot go unpunished.”

  The air in the palace grew colder as the man’s rage boiled over. His pale face twisted further, taking on a beastly, monstrous quality that would send even the bravest soul fleeing in terror. “He made it personal.”

  Urgam’s shadowy form shifted, his laughter echoing through the golden halls. “To use a man’s beloved to destroy him... truly, my lord, you are the pinnacle of evil.”

  The lord turned away, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. “It will not take long. Arcway’s protections are formidable, but they cannot shield every inch of the wildlands. We will scry for landmarks—a great river, a vast valley, or a towering mountain. And when we find them... we will find him.”

  The shadows thickened, and the palace seemed to shudder under the weight of the lord’s wrath as his plan began to unfold.