The man quickly climbed the stairs two at a time. His chest was heaving rapidly, and with each step, the anger inside him grew stronger. Rex and Ran's injuries, the woman's escape... He was determined to end this here and now.

  When he reached the end of the corridor, he suddenly stopped. Before him stood a high-security metal door. The blinking lights and card reader on the panel beside the door indicated this was no ordinary entrance.

  He leaned toward the card reader and read the text: "Authorized personnel card required." He needed an access card to open the door, but he knew he didn't have time. Every passing second could make retrieving the crown more difficult. He hesitated for a moment, then decided.

  "Sometimes the shortest path is straight through the middle," said Geminga.

  He took a deep breath and stepped back. He tensed his large frame, spread his arms wide, then lunged forward with all his might. When his solid fist hit the door, the metal first rang out, then buckled. The man raised his fist again and delivered a second blow. This time the metal door collapsed in the middle. With the third strike, a deafening screech was heard as the hinges broke. As the door toppled inward, the man quickly entered.

  Inside, an elderly man sat behind a large wooden desk. He must have been in his seventies; his thin, long white hair was combed back, with sharp facial features and penetrating eyes. He wore what appeared to be an expensive black suit, and on his desk stood a gold-embossed nameplate: "LORD THORNE".

  The elderly man showed no reaction to the door being destroyed. He was looking into a small hand mirror, stroking his chin with his other hand. He acted as if his door being shattered to pieces was just an ordinary part of his daily routine.

  By the desk stood a familiar face — Seraphina. The woman who had last been seen vanishing, who had wounded Ran and Rex. She was here now, her wounds still fresh, blood stains visible on her dress, yet wearing a strange smile.

  When the man entered, Lord Thorne finally lifted his gaze from the mirror and slowly turned to him. He had piercing eyes. But upon careful observation, something superhuman could be noticed in his eyes — his pupils were different from a normal person's. His black pupils were slowly rotating in a spiral pattern, hypnotically, as if containing a dark, space-like vortex within them. This unnatural sight suddenly made the atmosphere in the room heavier and more threatening.

  "Ah, so they've finally found us," said Lord Thorne, his voice surprisingly calm and melodic. He slowly placed the mirror on the desk. "Such a shame about the door. It was made of special alloy metal, quite expensive."

  The man lunged forward angrily, but Seraphina quickly stepped forward, holding a small snake-engraved dagger he hadn't seen before.

  "Take one more step, and this dagger goes through your throat," said Seraphina, her voice determined despite her injuries.

  The man hesitated, alertly scanning the room. Just then, a dazzling gleam on the desk caught his attention - an object glowing with bright purple lights as if it were alive — the crown! The precious treasure they had been searching for so long, at the center of this whole adventure, the Queen's stolen crown was there. This valuable item was proudly displayed in the middle of Lord Thorne's desk, like a trophy, a spoil of war. Adorned with dazzling purple crystals, the crown flickered with thousands of different shades in the room's light, making the ancient power within it palpable.

  "I suggest you hand over the crown immediately," said the man, his voice low and threatening. "We can resolve this matter peacefully, or..."

  Lord Thorne suddenly laughed, but this laugh wasn't cheerful; it was cold and eerie. "Or what? You'll harm us? I don't think you fully understand who you are and what you're up against, my friend."

  Lord Thorne slowly stood up. His build was slim, but his posture was powerful and authoritative. "This crown, as you know, is no ordinary jewel. Along with the other pieces, it's the key to our plan. And you..." He slightly raised his hand and pointed his finger at the man. "You're just a small obstacle in our path."

  The man gritted his teeth. "I'm much more than an obstacle. You'd be surprised to learn what I'm willing to endure to get that crown back. I'm leaving this factory with that crown."

  A thin smile appeared on Lord Thorne's lips. "Seraphina, our friend doesn't seem to understand who I am. Perhaps we should explain to him who we are and our plan, to be fair."

  Seraphina, holding her wound, leaned slightly forward but still held the dagger threateningly. "He's just a pawn, my lord. It doesn't matter if he understands. Let's eliminate him and continue with our work."

  Lord Thorne slightly shook his head. "No, Seraphina. Every opponent deserves respect, especially one who has managed to come this far." He turned his gaze back to the man. "We are the Mist Thieves. For centuries, we have worked in secrecy, for power and vengeance. When I became the head of the alliance, our goal became obtaining the crown. We worked for years to acquire this crown."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The man, while listening to Lord Thorne's words, was scanning the surroundings from the corner of his eye. He was looking for an opportunity, an opening to get the crown. However, Seraphina's dagger and Lord Thorne's dangerous stance forced him to remain cautious.

  "This crown," continued Lord Thorne, pointing to the crown, "is not just a symbol. It's the key to an ancient force, an ancient power source. Since the founding of the Kingdom of Gradya, this crown, passed down through generations, is actually part of a very old and great power, Cintara's. Cintara was the most powerful sorcerer who lived centuries ago. She possessed power that could even alter the fabric of the universe. Many events that are dismissed today as 'legend' or 'myth' were actually her work."

  Lord Thorne slowly picked up the crown, his fingers tracing over the precious stones. "This crown carries a piece of her power. Before Cintara died, she inscribed the essence of her power into five unique items. This crown is one of them."

  "And you plan to use this crown to take over the world, right?" asked the man, with a tone weary of this all-too-familiar scenario.

  Seraphina let out a mocking laugh. "Take over the world? What a shallow thought. My Lord's plan is much more noble, much deeper."

  Lord Thorne raised his hand to silence Seraphina. "No, Seraphina. Our guest deserves to know the truth." He turned his gaze back to the man. "I am the former guardian of the city of Hatrugar. Once, Hatrugar was one of the most magnificent cities in the Kingdom of Gradya. A center of science and art, home to sorcerers and craftsmen... As long as people were happy, the mist posed no problem."

  Lord Thorne's voice trembled, a moment of genuine pain flashing in his eyes. "However, a hundred years ago, a great disaster struck. When a dark force descended upon Hatrugar, we appealed to the kingdom for help. Queen Eridani Beid, one of Cintara's descendants who now rules, could have helped us using this powerful crown she possessed. But she refused."

  His voice hardened, and he slammed his fist on the desk. "While they lived in luxury in their palaces, the people of Hatrugar suffered and died! In their hands, the crown was merely an ornament, a symbol of status. They refused to use it for its true purpose."

  "That's why you stole the crown," said the man, beginning to piece things together.

  "Stole?" Lord Thorne's lips twisted. "No, we returned it to its rightful owners. Cintara's power should exist to serve her people. Beid used this crown only to reinforce their own power. They weren't even aware of the crown's true power."

  "Well, what is the crown's true power? What do you plan to do with the crown?" asked the man carefully. He was trying to buy time while attempting to inch closer to the desk where the crown lay, making small movements without alerting Lord Thorne and Seraphina.

  Lord Thorne's eyes gleamed, his spiral pupils beginning to spin faster. "This crown contains some of Cintara's magical remnants. The essence of the universe's most powerful sorcerer is trapped within these precious stones. Anyone who uses it can create miracles. This is exactly what Hatrugar needs."

  "You're going to use the crown to save the people of Hatrugar, is that it?" asked the man skeptically.

  "Not just Hatrugar," said Lord Thorne, his eyes seeming to gaze into the distance, "I will save the entire kingdom. I will end this unjust order that has lasted for centuries. Gradya's selfish rulers will no longer be able to use the crown's power for their own interests. The kingdom will be reborn under my rule. A just, powerful, and merciful kingdom."

  Seraphina nervously interjected. "My Lord..."

  Lord Thorne nodded. "You're right, Seraphina. We've extended our chat with our guest." He turned to the man. "You see, this crown can only serve its true purpose in my hands. For hundreds of years, while Cintara's descendants wore this crown, cities like Hatrugar, outcasted and forgotten, begged for help. But they turned a deaf ear. Now the tide has turned. The crown will now be used to deliver justice."

  The man paused, then spoke slowly. "Maybe you're right. Maybe the kingdom really does need change. But how is seizing a power source and imposing your will on the entire kingdom any different from the current rulers? Isn't this just replacing one tyranny with another?"

  Lord Thorne's expression hardened. "You don't understand. You weren't born in Hatrugar, you didn't see the suffering of our people. Those who live in Gradya's luxurious palaces can never understand our pain. They used the crown's power for their own benefit; I will use it for everyone's good."

  "Tell what you feel... I know you're tired of all this nonsense..."

  "So-called heroes like you always repeat the same nonsense!" the man burst out, clenching his fist. "As if you would be any different! You're all the same - first you say 'justice,' then 'order,' and finally you demand 'obedience!' Power is poison, Thorne. It corrupts even the noblest ideals, even the purest hearts. You'll be no different from other tyrants!"

  "What nonsense are you talking?"

  Seraphina impatiently swung her dagger. "Enough! We're wasting time with this empty talk. My Lord, everything is ready for the transformation. The other members of the Mist Thieves are waiting downstairs. We're only eighty percent ready, but we're out of time. We need the crown's power."

  Lord Thorne nodded and turned his back to the man, stepping in front of the table. "I don't want to kill you. You're just a brave warrior on the wrong side. But if you try to stop us, I'll have no choice."

  The man carefully studied the two figures before him. Lord Thorne, though old, was powerful, looking dangerous with that strange spiral pattern in his eyes. Seraphina, despite being wounded, was still a deadly threat. And now, they were preparing to leave the room with the crown. This was his last chance to act.

  He lunged suddenly toward the old man, but Seraphina swiftly intercepted him. There was a wild glint in her eyes. She wielded her dagger skillfully and with lethal intent, but the man blocked the strike with his hardened hand at the last moment. The sound of metal cutting through air echoed in the room.

  Despite his hands being strong enough to bend metal, Seraphina's dagger had managed to break through his defense and left a red line on the side of his hand. He watched as blood slowly began to seep. The wound wasn't deep or life-threatening, but this unexpected damage had surprised him. His hands, strong enough to bend metal, hadn't provided complete protection against this agile woman's dagger. This situation had unexpectedly shaken his confidence, causing him to reconsider his thoughts about the course of the battle.

  "You need to deal with the woman first. She won't let you get close!"