“Mirin?” Dan repeated, his voice low, almost like an echo. “What does he want?”

  “To finish what was started,” Bark replied. His voice was heavy, as if with every word he was reliving the pain of his defeat.

  He looked grim. The Lord of Beasts, accustomed to solving everything with his fists, was despondent—not so much from the wound received in the scuffle, but from the very fact of his defeat. Memories of a battle similar to the one they had fought against the Creator brought him only bitterness. And now he was the first to face a power akin to that which all the Lords had once united against.

  “It’s hard to even call it a battle,” Bark continued. “They kicked me around like a kitten. I barely escaped.”

  Alishem’s eyes widened. "Bark? Like a kitten?! He was always the most resilient among us, he doesn't even fall short of Dan, rather, he even surpasses him in physical stats. His body could withstand almost any blow. What kind of enemy is this, if even he was defeated?"

  “Recently, I felt a powerful surge of magical energy,” Bark went on. “I followed the trail and ended up here. Deep in the forest, I saw a Rift. It wasn't ordinary… a perfect circle… a whirlpool of pure energy, shimmering with all shades of purple, almost pink light. Mana seeped out, but it was viscous, sticky, vile... For the first time in my life, I caught myself thinking of calling for help…” Bark bared his teeth in a smirk. “Can you imagine? Me, asking for someone…”

  He closed his eyes for a second.

  “And when I entered, I saw no one… No monsters, no familiar landscapes… rather, I found myself in a corridor… a dark, stone corridor. Only purple-pink veins webbed the walls like a spiderweb, and they illuminated this gloomy dungeon. With every step, it became harder to breathe. The cold penetrated to the bone, the air felt as if it was being pumped out of that place. I walked for a long time, it seemed this corridor had no end… but still I kept going, until I saw it…”

  “Mirin?” Alishem couldn't help but ask.

  Bark’s shoulders tensed. His voice became sharp.

  “A throne.”

  “A throne?! In a Rift?!” Alishem jumped to his feet, and the campfire flame, as if sensing his surprise, shot high into the sky like a pillar.

  Dan listened silently, only a slightly raised eyebrow betraying his attention. He was comparing Bark’s story to what he had seen in the recent rift in the city. No, that was something else, a mistake, a glitch. But this—was a creation. Nature doesn't have perfectly straight lines.

  “Yes,” Bark continued, “I entered a wide stone hall. Against the center of the wall stood a throne, and on it—a being. Humanoid. But taller. Broader. Its skin was like bone, white, rough, and shining. Dressed in white. It looked right through me, as if I weren't even there. But the moment I called out to it… its gaze, and everything around seemed to freeze, the atmosphere became heavier than before, its aura pressed me to the floor. Even for me, it was hard to stay on my feet. I only feel something similar near you…” Bark raised his eyes to Dan. “For a second, I thought it was you…”

  Alishem exhaled through his teeth. Dan merely raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn't stand on ceremony and rushed him immediately,” Bark continued. “Gave it my all, held nothing back. But he didn't even flinch. Just raised his hand, and threw me into the wall like a doll…”

  He looked at Dan for a second.“He is strong.”

  Dan remained silent. He didn't take his eyes off the Lord of Beasts.

  Bark took a deep breath and went on.

  “That's when I realized—without the Fang, I couldn't defeat him...”

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  Alishem quickly shifted his gaze to Bark's chest. On the broad chest, adorned with various pendants of fangs and claws, the Lord of Flame could not spot the main one—the Predator's Fang. One of the most ancient artifacts owned by Bark.

  “Yes…” Bark drawled quietly, thereby confirming his brother's fears, “it's gone…”

  “How is that possible?!” Alishem exclaimed in bewilderment. “It can't be… if you had used it… no one could have gotten close to you… Bark… how?”

  The Lord of Beasts shifted his gaze to the fire. The sparks flying in all directions reflected in his yellow eyes.

  “So you didn't have time to activate it,” Dan said quietly. “Which means Mirin knew about the Artifact.”

  “Maybe…” Bark whispered, “Or maybe not… maybe he realized I was going to use it…”

  “But how? Activation takes a fraction of a second…” exclaimed the Flaming Lord.

  “That instant was more than enough for him,” Bark grinned, baring his teeth. “Because at the very moment I decided to use it and directed the magical flow into the relic… at that very moment, this bastard was right in front of me and was already clutching the Fang in his fist…”

  Alishem let out a noisy exhale, while Dan frowned but remained outwardly calm. Only inside, something stirred—heavy, alien.

  "Fast. Even if he didn't know about the Fang, he had enough time to figure it out. Incredible… what is he?..." Dan thought to himself, peering into his brother's distressed eyes. "And if he knew… does that mean Mirin is a Lord like us and knows about the Ancient Relics?…"

  Bark snorted, the air from his nostrils raising dust from the ground, and continued his story.

  “I didn't have time to do anything… Apparently, his aura blocked the mana flow into the Fang. Mirin squeezed it so tightly that it crumbled to dust… Pffft, and then he added: "Insufferable children. Still playing with toys?" And at that same moment, I felt a burning in my stomach. A dagger. I guess that shard Ligar pulled out of me is a piece of that very dagger.”

  "To surpass Bark in speed, disarm him… and even land a blow… He is truly strong. But… apparently the weapon that pierced Bark isn't very durable, since it shattered in his stomach… but it doesn't need to be durable - one hit is enough. Plus, he called one of the mighty relics a 'toy'"... Dan analyzed what had happened to his brother.

  Alishem couldn't take it anymore. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. The campfire seemed to respond to his fury, tongues of flame lashing skyward. The Lord of Flame's aura, like a sun, illuminated the valley. The earth under his feet charred, the water in the lake hissed and began to evaporate from the heat emanating from Alishem.

  "Alishem," Dan said quietly, "enough."

  The Flaming Lord blinked and, as if snapping out of it, looked around at his brothers. Dan still sat motionless on the grass, his gaze fixed somewhere into the distance, beyond the lake. Bark, on the contrary, jumped up, growling, covering his face with his hand. Black smoke rose from his wrist—the thick hair on his arm had been scorched by his brother's fiery aura.

  "Alishem! Damn you!", roared the Lord of Beasts, "what the hell?!"

  He slapped his arm, knocking off the sparks and burning ash that had settled on his skin. The smell of burnt skin and singed hair hit their noses.

  "Sorry… I got a bit carried away…", Alishem exhaled, his shoulders slumping. The aura, heated almost to its limit, began to fade, like a sun hiding behind black clouds. The heat around subsided, the earth stopped smoking, the lake was once again covered with a light mist.

  "Well, at least you didn't activate the Ring of the Sun… for that, thanks", Bark barked, throwing a glance at his brother's hand. On his finger, a stone glowed dimly—a fire opal, as if a tiny, living bonfire burned within the depths of the mineral. Its sparks trembled, as if waiting for the slightest push to break free.

  Alishem gave a crooked grin but didn't answer. He slowly clenched his fist, covering the relic with his other hand. The Lord of Flame, having finally regained control of his emotions, slowly sat down on the ground next to the others.

  They sat in silence. Only the crackling of the logs and the quiet lapping of the lake broke the stillness. Sparks, flying into the sky, melted into the starry abyss. Bark heavily lay down on his back, looking at the stars. His breathing gradually calmed.

  Dan stood up. His silhouette stretched against the backdrop of the fire.

  "I'm going.", he said quietly, looking towards the forest where the Rift was hidden.

  Alishem immediately jumped up:

  "No way! I'm coming with you! I'll teach that scoundrel some manners!" His aura flared up again.

  "No," Dan cut him off, "Look after Bark. I'll go alone."

  The Flaming Lord wanted to object, but feeling his brother's resolve, he only chuckled merrily:

  "Then be back by morning!"

  Bark raised his head. His voice sounded low, hollow, but confident:

  "That won't happen. He won't be back by morning."

  Alishem spun around sharply:

  "What?! You doubt him?!"

  "No," Bark grinned crookedly, "I don't doubt him for a second. It's just that time flows differently there. One day in that place—is a week in this one."