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The dimly lit throne room of the Kingdom of Ruins stood silent as High Mage Zack stepped forward, the weight of his betrayal cloaking him like a shadow. Malumnox, the enigmatic ruler of this forsaken place, eyed him with a mix of curiosity and caution.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9atPugAKb
"Welcome... Rogue High Mage," Malumnox intoned, his voice echoing slightly off the ancient stone walls.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqPqALO8Aw
"Thank you for hearing me out," Zack replied, his tone respectful yet firm. He paced slowly, absorbing the gravity of his own decisions. "I often wondered where you disappeared to after the Siege of Areala. Never imagined you'd choose the Land of Spade."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD97y5lbnfO
Malumnox leaned back, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Life is full of surprises, isn't it? Now, tell me, why seek an alliance with an enemy of your universe?"289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HwyeyOdJ6
Zack’s expression hardened. "Because, Malumnox, I'm no longer part of the Areala Universe. Not anymore."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5HHOFf1od
The revelation seemed to take Malumnox aback. "Really? I thought 'Rogue High Mage' was just a title others branded you with. Didn’t realize you’d embraced it fully."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VpyMlCumN
Zack nodded solemnly. "It's more than a title. It's my new reality. I’m here because I need to ensure my survival—and perhaps yours. Can you feel that?" He paused, letting the ominous energy permeate the space between them.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvPKW592G1
Malumnox frowned, sensing the disturbance. "That’s Kaipo’s aura, isn't it? He's here, in the Land of Spade, and he’s not pleased."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBzba1Sx1O
"Exactly," Zack confirmed, his gaze steely. "Sooner or later, he'll discover this place. We need to be ready, or the Kingdom of Ruins will live up to its name once again."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg6zg5MzDS
"But why turn against the High Mages? Against Kaipo?" Malumnox questioned, genuinely puzzled by Zack's drastic shift in allegiance.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQem3aGfARu
Zack sighed, a trace of bitterness creeping into his voice. "I was never truly with them. I played along, biding my time, waiting for the right moment to break free."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡockQMYVdkl
"And the StarGuard Squads? The ease with which I found them...?" Malumnox inquired, piecing together the depth of Zack's deception.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lGP3pSCCo
"I enhanced their auras without their knowledge," Zack confessed. "Made them shine like beacons for you to find and extract those with Jewels. It was all part of my plan."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15XTwPUPoj
Malumnox whistled softly, impressed despite himself. "So what do you really want, Zack?"289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FqQqedn7j
"The destruction of the Areala Universe," Zack stated flatly. "They claim to uphold balance and protect realms, but in truth, they manipulate and control, bending the cosmos to their will under the guise of guardianship. Their hypocrisy must end."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqi7pKdsYZ
Malumnox leaned forward, intrigued. "And you think by tearing it down, we can build something better?"289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dqIrIJTsw
"Exactly," Zack replied. "We'll create a new order from the ashes, one where true freedom and balance prevail. No more hidden manipulations, no more guardians who become dictators."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW7c8eDQbH
Malumnox considered this for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "You have a radical vision, Zack. It’s risky, dangerous even. But there’s a certain... purity in your conviction. If we can manage the chaos that follows, perhaps the cosmos really can be reshaped for the better."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVylIWS2v5M
Zack extended his hand, a pact forming in the shadows of their conversation. "Together, Malumnox, we can forge a new future."289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliOACCasuH
Malumnox grasped his hand firmly. "Then let’s begin the end of the Areala Universe. And let no one stand in our way."
As they sealed their alliance, the air around them seemed to thrum with the power of impending change, the quiet before a storm that could reshape the very fabric of the universe.289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcViTHFcyc
