The night sky above the Shadow Domain was still calm when Vale finally met the lone Chaos Immortal.

The being stood quietly behind a large boulder.

This boulder was, of course, a formation node that was disguised to look like a normal rock.

It was also one of Magnus' creations in order to put a clear line on their territory.

The Chaos Immortal who was waiting for him looked human enough. He was tall, gray-skinned, with white hair reaching his shoulders, but his eyes were different.

There were two pupils in it, and it was quite an unusual sight…

Vale stopped about ten meters away, still within the boundary of the Shadow Domain.

Behind him were Magnus and Cyper. They were ready to assist in case it was needed.

"…You came alone?" Vale asked.

"I don't need guards to talk," the man replied calmly.

It was as if he was not worried about being captured by his group.

"If I did, you wouldn't have made it this far." He added.

His voice wasn't that deep, and Vale felt that he was talking to someone in his twenties. It was an interesting contrast in his appearance.

Vale gently nodded as he was now curious about the man's plans. "So you're the representative of the Chaos Immortals."

The man nodded. "You may call me Rhaziel. I speak for my kin who've returned from the wastelands we call Shattered Expanse."

Magnus felt curious about this Expanse, but there were other things they must learn first. "There's about three hundred of you, right? You all crawled back after being sealed for ages. That's impressive."

Rhaziel didn't even look at him. "We didn't crawl… After fight against many other Immortals exiled in that place, Mennena freed us."

Vale's expression darkened. "So it's true. Mennena is with you."

"She's more than 'with us,'" Rhaziel said. "She's the one who opened the path back to this world. Without her, we'd still be rotting beyond the Void."

"And you expect me to thank her for that?" Vale asked.

Rhaziel gave a faint shrug. "No. Gratitude is a mortal habit. We came here to claim what was lost and to warn you, before our kind loses patience."

Magnus spoke again, irritated. "Warn him about what? You've already made a mess just by returning."

The Chaos Immortal's gaze shifted toward him. "Don't speak if you don't understand what's at stake."

Vale raised a hand slightly, stopping Magnus from responding. "Go on. What do you want from me?"

"Simple," Rhaziel said. "Stay within your domain. You control your lands, your shadows, your people… that's fine. But do not expand. The rest of the world belongs to us now. And the Red Crown you sealed away… must be returned."

Vale's tone turned sharp. "You think I'll hand it over? That crown nearly tore through the realm's space. Why do you even want it?"

Rhaziel smiled faintly, though his eyes didn't show any amusement.

"You already know, don't you? Mennena needs it. That crown isn't just a relic… It's the foundation of her new form. Without it, her return will remain incomplete."

Vale's expression hardened. "So she really plans to return in a physical body."

"That's right," Rhaziel replied. "And when she does, this world will finally be set right. The current Will of the Realm is decaying. Mennena will replace it, and she will rebuild this world the way it was meant to be… free from false gods, false laws, and false balance."

Vale was shocked. He didn't know whether these immortals got brainwashed by Mennena or what.

Magnus scoffed quietly. "So her idea of rebuilding is controlling everything again."

Rhaziel ignored him. "She saved us. For centuries, we endured in the Shattered Expanse… Starving on fragments of broken realms. Now that we are free, we owe her our allegiance. Whether you like it or not, she will reign."

Vale shook his head. "Then you'll have to find another vessel. The Red Crown stays sealed."

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Mennena still had other means to form her body but usurping the Will of the Realm wouldn't be that easy without the Red Crown.

The wind from the wasteland outside the Shadow Domain blew cold, rustling through the black stones beneath their feet.

Rhaziel's faint smile faded. "Then your domain will burn with her anger."

Magnus's hand twitched, ready to draw his blade, but Vale didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on the Chaos Immortal. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a warning," Rhaziel said, his tone calm again. "Mennena doesn't want war. Not yet. She understands your strength… The Shadow Domain still houses several Immortals, and she knows many of them used to serve the old order. So she gives you seven days."

"Seven days?" Cyper repeated quietly.

"Yes," Rhaziel continued. "Seven days to return the Red Crown… or to swear allegiance to her. Refuse both, and the next time you see us, it won't be a messenger standing here."

Vale frowned slightly. "That's not a request. It's an ultimatum."

"You can call it whatever you want," Rhaziel replied. "But understand this… Three hundred Chaos Immortals stand ready behind her. Even if you destroy me right now, it won't matter. The decision has already been made."

Vale slowly exhaled. "Then you'd better hope those three hundred are ready for what comes next."

Rhaziel stared at him for a moment longer. At this time, his expression was unreadable.

He couldn't understand why Vale could be so confident despite having so many Chaos Immortals on their side.

'Did he really think that his Dragons would be more than enough to fight us?' He mused…

Then, he turned his back and began walking toward the edge of the formation. His form started to distort as he was already planning to leave.

"Seven days, Lord of Shadows…" Rhaziel said without looking back. "After that, your darkness will meet our chaos."

There was only a cold breeze, and in the next second, he was gone.

Magnus, on the other hand, analyzed their situation.

"…Seven days. That's enough time to gather their forces. I guess they're not ready to fight yet. Are they waiting for something?"

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