The inside of the tree was packed. The sound of Amon slamming his sword resounded within, never reaching outside.

Vaelrix and Renard stood outside the tree. They were now close to its base.

Up close, the pressure was far worse. The air around the Celestial Tree felt distorted, heavy, as if space itself resisted their presence. Every step they took near the roots made the ground feel unstable, brittle, wrong. Even they felt some unknown danger emanating from the tree.

Vaelrix's dark blue eyes swept across the surroundings slowly. Massive black roots spread in every direction, overlapping, twisting, forming walls and natural barriers. Some were embedded deep into the earth, while others rose high above the ground like frozen waves.

"This place…" Renard muttered. "It feels hollow."

Vaelrix didn't answer immediately. He walked forward, boots crunching against cracked soil and dead bark, carefully observing the roots.

"We're close," he said finally. "The Emperor wouldn't send us here without a reason. That thing he was telling us must be really important. So naturally, this place has to be more dangerous and difficult."

They began moving along the base of the tree, circling it slowly. They weren't rushing.

Both commanders knew better.

If something existed inside the Grave of the Celestial Tree, it wouldn't be something you could face recklessly.

Their movements were controlled and deliberate, senses fully alert. They knew better than anyone. Years of experience had taught them to understand situations instinctively. Rather than understanding, it was something they felt.

Renard occasionally placed a hand against the roots, feeling faint vibrations within. "There's movement inside," he said quietly. "Or something like it."

Vaelrix's expression darkened. "Then there must be a way in."

They continued searching. They considered splitting up to look in different directions, but even beings as strong as them felt uncomfortable here. Moving alone felt wrong.

Minutes passed as they moved between towering roots, checking gaps, cracks, and unnatural formations. Many places felt wrong, but none led inward. Some roots were split open, revealing darkness, but they were shallow. Dead ends.

Then Renard stopped. His purple eyes narrowed.

"…Here."

Vaelrix turned.

Between several massive roots that had grown downward and inward, there was a depression in the ground. The roots curved unnaturally, forming a wide, sloping descent that led beneath the tree itself.

At the end of it, a massive opening appeared. Something that led inside the tree.

It looked like a cave entrance, carved deep into the roots and trunk alike. The opening was enormous, wide enough to swallow several beasts at once. Jagged edges of bark and wood framed it, as if something had torn its way through long ago.

Darkness poured out from within. Not ordinary darkness. It felt thick. Ancient.

Renard narrowed his eyes. "That's not natural."

Vaelrix stepped closer, stopping just before the edge. He stared into the black void beyond the entrance. Even with his enhanced vision, he couldn't see what lay inside.

"…This must be the passage," Vaelrix said.

The Grave of the Celestial Tree had finally opened a passage for both of them.

They moved toward the depression, their steps slow. Renard's purple eyes scanned the path ahead. It was filled with darkness. He raised his palm, forming a fireball in his hand, brightening the path forward.

But of course, it didn't erase all the darkness. Only their immediate surroundings. They walked through the tunnel made of tree and soil.

"Keep your senses alert," Renard said to Vaelrix as he walked behind him, a long sword held in his right hand.

They continued forward as the tunnel ended, moving deeper inside.

Crack!

A cracking sound came from beneath Renard's feet. He frowned and looked down. The surface beneath was wooden and layered with soil. Still, he didn't stop, because something ahead caught his attention. The end of the path.

He moved forward cautiously and saw it.

A huge hole. A humongous pit that didn't seem to have an end. It was pitch black and hollow. Renard gulped as Vaelrix slowly moved beside him.

"The surface is weak here," Vaelrix said. He also looked down into the abyss, chills running down his spine.

Both of them stared at it.

"Let's get away from this," Renard said. "It doesn't look good. Whatever lies down there is far more dangerous than we can imagine."

Just then, a dark sphere was thrown in their direction. It rolled toward them and stopped near Renard's feet. It made no sound.

The reason being the shadow covering it, cast by Amon, concealing the metal noise. The pin had already been drawn. While both demons were engrossed in the hole, their attention was drawn too late.

Vaelrix felt something wrong.

"Rena—!" Before he could warn Renard. Something explode beneath them.

BOOM!

An explosion erupted where they were standing, followed by another. The sound echoed loudly throughout the hollow of the tree.

BOOM!

The explosion lit up the darkness inside the cave for several meters. The surface beneath them shattered. It cracked opened.

"Vaelrix!" Renard screamed urgently as his footing slipped and he fell into the hole.

Vaelrix followed him. Their screams resounded in the darkness.

The fire in Renard's hand extinguished. Everything turned dark again, filled with smoke and soil in the air. Nothing cane been seen in darkness.

What did actually happend?

On one side, Amon lay hidden, watching everything with a huge smile. His plan seemed to have succeeded. He commanded the small shadow back. The one that had covered the grenade.

He clearly saw Renard falling, with Vaelrix behind him. But darkness swallowed everything soon after, and he couldn't see clearly anymore.

Amon frowned. He couldn't see anything, so he wasn't sure if they had actually fallen or not.

Amon remained there, in the same position, his sword beside him, tightly held in his right hand.

His hear started to beat louder. More faster.

'Did...I get them? Or not?' Amon thought gravely. His mind started to process in scenerio, what if they survive. He had no choice but fight agaisnt them.

That was the only choice he have.

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