Edward lay unconscious in a dimly lit place, his face twisted in a frown, grunting as if trapped in a bad dream. In his mind, he was back on the airship, reliving the moment he tried to escape Skyland with Nailah, only to face Hercules’ devastating arrow.

  The wind howled around him as he stood firm, sword raised against the incoming projectile. His muscles tensed, his grip steady. With a powerful leap, he met the arrow head-on, swinging with all his strength, bracing for the impact.

  The force behind the shot was monstrous. The impact sent him flying across the deck, his body slamming into the wooden boards with a sickening crack. Pain flared through his limbs, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back, still trying to hold off the attack.

  His sword trembled under the immense pressure, cracks spreading along the steel like spiderwebs. His heart pounded.

  No… It won’t hold.

  Then, with a final, deafening snap, his blade shattered.

  The arrow tore through his defense and struck. Agony exploded through him as his right arm was severed, the force of the impact launching him off the ship.

  Edward crashed violently into the forest below, his body twisting as he hit the ground. The pain was unbearable, a fire raging through his nerves. Blood poured from his wounds, soaking the earth beneath him. His vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges.

  I can’t… pass out…

  He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay conscious. He had to find her.

  Mistress… She’s alone. She won’t survive the Lowlands on her own.

  Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up. His legs felt like lead, his remaining arm barely able to support his weight. Each step was a battle, his strength slipping away with every drop of blood lost.

  Keep moving. Find her. Protect her.

  But his body refused to obey. His knees buckled. The world spun.

  Mistress… be… safe…

  Edward collapsed.

  Darkness swallowed him whole.

  Edward opened his eyes. His body ached, and as he tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through his side. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, only to freeze in shock.

  His right arm was gone.

  His breath caught in his throat, panic rising in his chest. Before he could fully process the loss, a voice cut through the silence.

  “You shouldn’t move too much.”

  Edward turned his head towards the voice. Sitting in a chair across from him was an old woman wearing a lab coat. She watched him with calm, knowing eyes.

  “Who are you?” Edward asked, his voice rough.

  “My name is Scapela, but everybody calls me Doc.”

  A small, grateful smile crossed Edward’s face. “Thank you for saving me. I’m in your debt.”

  He forced himself to stand, ignoring the lingering pain. “But there’s somewhere I must be.”

  Doc frowned. “I can’t let you leave like that.”

  Edward turned to face her. “Do not worry. I will never forget what you did for me, and I swear I will repay you.”

  He reached for the door, but as soon as he stepped forward, a sharp sting pricked his neck. His vision blurred, and his body grew heavy.

  “What is th…? Why?” Edward slurred as his knees buckled beneath him.

  The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Doc, still seated, holding a blowgun.

  “Like I said,” she murmured. “I can’t let you leave like that.”

  Edward groaned, clutching his head as he regained consciousness. Darkness surrounded him, and a cold chill settled over his skin. He forced himself up, his hand pressing against a rough stone floor.

  A prison cell.

  He staggered to the door and peered through the iron bars. The dimly lit corridor stretched into shadows, filled with the sounds of sobbing, prayers, and quiet murmurs of despair. From somewhere down the hall, a man’s agonized screams rang out.

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  “Please! Stop! It hurts!”

  Edward’s stomach twisted. “What is this place?”

  “You’re finally awake, old man.”

  Edward turned. A man lay on the bench in the corner of the cell, staring at the ceiling.

  “Where are we?” Edward asked.

  “The Liver Gang Dungeon.”

  Edward’s brows furrowed. “Liver Gang?”

  The man sighed. “Yeah. Those bastards want to sell our organs.”

  Edward’s eyes widened. “What?!”

  His cellmate chuckled bitterly. “I tried everything to escape. Nothing worked. So, all I can do now is accept my fate.”

  He sighed again. “I wish I was living when the Robbing Hood ruled the underworld. My father told me the Lowlands weren’t as violent back then.”

  Edward clenched his jaw. “I must get out of here before they come for me.”

  His cellmate scoffed. “Escape? It’s impossible. They’ve got men everywhere. You’re going to fight them all? With one arm?”

  Edward smiled. “Just wait. You’ll see.”

  Determined, Edward pushed his body to its limits. He did push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, training his remaining arm. He couldn’t afford weakness. He had to be ready.

  The moment came sooner than expected.

  Liver Gang members approached their cell, pointing at Edward’s cellmate. “You! Come with us!”

  The man recoiled in terror. “No! It can’t be my turn!”

  Edward smiled. “Young man… This is your lucky day.”

  His cellmate glared. “Are you stupid!? I’ll kill you!”

  Edward’s expression darkened, his voice cold. “Today’s the day, young man.”

  Realization dawned in his cellmate’s eyes just as Edward sprang into action.

  In a blur, he struck a gangster in the eyes, seized his sword, and slashed the second man before turning to finish off the first. Blood pooled at their feet.

  His cellmate let out a low whistle. “Wow. You weren’t joking.”

  Edward searched the bodies, retrieving a ring of keys. “I lost my strong arm, so I had to train my weaker one.”

  His cellmate’s jaw dropped. “That was your weak arm?! Who are you?”

  Edward handed him the keys. “I’m Edward. What’s your name, young man?”

  His cellmate grinned. “I’m Andy.”

  Edward nodded. “Andy, I need you to free the prisoners. I have some housework to do.”

  Edward carved his way through the Liver Gang, slicing through their ranks with ruthless efficiency. When he finally reached Doc’s room, she tried to shoot him again, but this time, he was faster. The dart ended up in her own shoulder.

  As she collapsed, Edward smirked. “I guess I did repay the favor.”

  Returning to the prisoners, he found Andy waiting. “Old man!”

  Edward grinned. “All clear! Let’s go!”

  Together, the freed captives emerged from the dungeon. Andy looked at Edward with admiration. “I can’t believe you wiped them all out alone.”

  Edward chuckled. “I was lucky.”

  Andy shook his head. “How can I ever repay you?”

  Edward grew serious. “I’m looking for someone. She may have crashed near a shore. Do you know any nearby towns?”

  Andy nodded. “We’re near Smallbury. The closest places to the shore are Sihampton and Scrapville.”

  Edward smiled. “Thank you. You don’t owe me anything.”

  Andy frowned. “That’s all? I can’t accept that!”

  Edward laughed. “You helped me more than you think.”

  Andy grinned. “If you ever need help, I live in Oxmoor.”

  Edward nodded. “Very well. I should leave now.”

  As he turned, the freed prisoners bowed in gratitude. “THANK YOU SO MUCH!”

  Edward smiled and walked toward a sign pointing the way to his next destination: Scrapville.

  Meanwhile, in Skyland, Bors stood in the grand hall of the Order of the Golden Retrievers, facing Agravain and his Platinum Knights. They sat at a long table, their expressions unreadable, like judges passing a verdict.

  Agravain’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Together, with Elysium, we have come to agree on your punishment.”

  Bors kept his posture firm, but his stomach twisted. Punishment?

  Agravain’s cold gaze met his. “You are to be demoted.”

  Bors blinked, his confusion evident. “I don’t understand, Sir… I am a Bronze Knight. How can I be demoted? Are you sending me back to the Knight Academy as an initiate?”

  Agravain shook his head. “That wouldn’t be harsh enough to punish your failure.” His tone was steady, but there was a sharpness to it. “You failed a member of Elysium. And your failure most likely created deviants. Therefore…”

  The room seemed to shrink as Agravain’s next words landed like a hammer.

  “You are to be sent to the Lowlands as a guard.”

  Bors felt his breath catch. His body tensed.

  “That’s not a demotion!” His voice wavered slightly, but he pushed through. “I won’t be a Knight anymore!”

  Agravain exhaled, his expression shifting to mild annoyance. “It seems that even at the academy, you weren’t listening.” He lifted a finger, as if lecturing a child. “Very well, I’ll refresh your memory.”

  His tone turned almost condescending. “Ever since Sir Mordred was knighted, Lowlander guards were integrated into our ranking system as Lead Knights. Although they are useless, Lowlander guards are technically part of the Order of the Watching Owl, tasked with patrolling the Lowlands and preventing crime.”

  Agravain’s lips curled into a cruel smirk. “So, you’ll still be a Knight. Just a useless one, like you already are.”

  Bors stiffened, his fists clenching.

  Agravain leaned back, his voice laced with mock generosity. “As a courtesy to the Young family, we have not dismissed you from your duties”

  Bors’ stomach churned. His mouth went dry.

  He had lost everything.