Malrec stood alone in the seal chamber, watching fractures spider across the glowing sphere.

  The demon’s voice vibrated through stone.

  “You feel it slipping.”

  “I feel opportunity,” Malrec replied.

  “You cannot command what you do not understand.”

  Malrec placed both hands upon the pillar anchoring the seal.

  “Power is never understood. It is seized.”

  He had studied ancient texts in secret for years—rituals describing the Ash Crown, an artifact capable of binding infernal will to mortal command.

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  The kingdom feared the demon.

  Malrec would master it.

  Above, Arin fought alongside soldiers as Kael carved through Atmas with ruthless precision.

  Yet for every spirit they destroyed, two more emerged.

  Kael felt it clearly now.

  This was no accident.

  The demon was not merely breaking free.

  It was being allowed to.