"So that’s everything from Red’s report, boss," concludes Amelia Smith — Clarissa Felmon’s very young personal assistant.

"I see..." Frank Pyton murmurs over the phone while walking alone through an underground tunnel carved into the rock beneath Iceland’s frozen mountains. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Raelor was right. That boy really is a tough bastard — I’m not surprised Red failed to eliminate him. And I’m even less surprised that Orange turned out to be a traitor. He is Zayn Thzraneel’s younger brother, after all. Apparently betraying the people who trust them runs in the family. As much as I’d love to make them pay for it, if not even the strongest of my subordinates was capable of killing them, then there’s no point wasting any more time or resources on this.

"Should I relay any orders from you, boss?"

"That won’t be necessary, Amelia — there are more important matters at the moment. More importantly, how far along are you with the growth forecast for the investors’ meeting the day after tomorrow?"

"I just finished it, boss. The results turned out even better than we expected."

"Have you already sent it to Blue for review?"

"Yes, boss. She confirmed everything is correct."

"Excellent work, Amelia. So young, and yet already this capable — Blue is truly doing an excellent job training you. I have an important meeting now, and I’ll be back in New York tomorrow late afternoon. Make sure you’re at my villa so I can take a look at the report."

"As you wish, boss. Good luck with your work."

"You too."

When Frank Pyton ends the phone call, he has just finished crossing the long rocky tunnel. In front of him stands a massive stone gate with no handle.

At the center of the gate is a circular indentation. And the moment Frank places his hand inside it, the gate opens on its own.

Beyond the threshold stands a large elongated semicircular table. Six armchairs occupy the curved side of the table, while only one sits on the straight side.

Six of the seven seats are already occupied, and he takes the only remaining empty one.

From left to right, seated at the table are:

An elf with skin as black as pitch and long silver hair, perfectly straight and impeccably groomed. Eshkari Xhiltar, a dark elf.

A woman with flowing burgundy hair. The Archwitch Veronica Lustsilk — Axel Volkom’s mother, as well as the woman in the photograph inside his pendant.

A little girl with pink curls and completely black eyes. Despite her childish appearance, she is far older than she looks. Velune Necrozh. Standing behind her is a hulking figure wrapped in a long cloak. Beneath the hood concealing his face entirely, glowing crimson irises shine through the darkness.

A very tall incubus with a sculpted physique and long black hair — Raelor Valraen.

A vampire with orange hair falling to his shoulders. Zayn Thzraneel.

Facing them, seated in the chair on the straight side of the table, is an elderly man cloaked in black — Vadim Thalukvar.

And finally, Frank.

Of the seven present, only Zayn, Raelor, and Frank are physically there. Velune, the cloaked giant standing behind her, Eshkari, Veronica, and Vadim are present only as magical holograms, since they are not physically on Earth.

"You’re late, Oktavian Azuralis — we’ve been waiting for you for a whole three minutes already!" Velune grumbles in a childish tone.

"Shut the fuck up, you little brat," Frank snaps back, irritated at being called by the name he left behind long ago.

"Who the fuck are you calling a brat?! Let me remind you that when your mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother was sucking cocks on N’Raeth, I was already the strongest necromancer of them all!"

"You two, cut it out," Vadim interrupts them.

The two fall silent instantly. And while Velune continues glaring at Frank and making faces at him, Frank’s gaze remains fixed on the heavy tome opened before Vadim.

It is the Rithzargul in its original and complete version.

The tome in Frank’s possession is only a copy and contains only the part concerning the genesis of the multiverse and ancient history up to the extermination of the race that wrote it.

Vadim’s copy, on the other hand, is one of the three surviving originals that escaped the purge because of both the dangerous spells and rituals contained within it and certain events tied to the genesis of the multiverse that were altered or omitted in later transcriptions.

(Note: to refresh your memory on what the Rithzargul is, I recommend rereading the first half of the epilogue of Volume 2.)

Frank stares at the tome with the gaze of someone standing before a treasure of immeasurable value, yet completely out of reach.

As soon as silence falls, Vadim begins to speak.

"It has been two years since the last time I summoned you here. I hope that since then progress has been made regarding the location of the Tear of Azkarith, the recovery of the two still-missing divine artifacts, and the hybrid required for the ritual to awaken the Primordial Shadow."

After saying this, Vadim’s gaze moves from one to another of the six individuals seated before him, waiting for their response.

"No, Supreme Vadim," they answer one after another.

Finally, Vadim’s eyes settle on Frank.

"The same goes for me, Supreme Vadim. My subordinates are searching this world far and wide, but unfortunately without success."

"How strange that you know nothing about it, Oktavian," Vadim murmurs suspiciously. "And yet, I’ve heard rumors of a large-scale attack that took place in the most important city on Earth precisely because of Mia Valakis’s presence. Coincidentally, the very same city where you live. You boast about having connections even inside HESPARC, and now you’re telling me you knew nothing about Mia Valakis being right under your nose?"

"She must have hidden herself well, evidently."

"You’re playing with fire, Oktavian. Do I need to remind you why I haven’t personally come to tear the Scale of Urvoras away from you yet? I allowed you to keep it until I manage to recover the other three divine artifacts only because it’s the only way an incompetent without magic like you can be useful to me. But it’s obvious that without that ring none of your men would obey you anymore, which means it’s against your own interests for me to obtain the other artifacts. You have two months starting from now to find Mia Valakis, or I will erase you and all your insignificant subordinates from existence."

"Almost all of his subordinates, you mean, Supreme Vadim," Veronica Lustsilk intervenes.

"Do not worry, Archwitch Veronica — naturally I have no intention of laying a finger on your precious son," Vadim clarifies before turning back to Frank. "So? I’m waiting for your answer."

"I will find Mia Valakis, Supreme Vadim. I assure you."

"Perfect."

Vadim’s dark and severe gaze now turns toward the others present as well.

"And you will continue searching every corner of the multiverse for the hybrid. Gathering all the divine artifacts will not be enough to free the Primordial Shadow from the dimension in which it was sealed if one does not also possess the blood of the one in whose veins flows both the blood of the Valakis and the Narkhalis. Only with the four divine artifacts and the hybrid’s blood will it be possible to complete the ritual."

Everyone except Veronica Lustsilk lowers their heads reverently.

"As you wish, Supreme Vadim."

🔶️END OF VOLUME 3🔶️