Karnox, reclined on his throne with feet nonchalantly perched atop his desk, erupted into uproarious laughter. "Hahaha, those fools won't see it coming. I can't believe Norvax was gullible enough to fall for it," he remarked. His laughter, tinged with scorn, spread across the room. To his guards, the sight of their king so amused was both displeasing and a stark reminder of the power he wielded within his own kingdom. A glare of displeasure from one guard was met with a swift and fatal response from Karnox, while the remaining guards were split between loyalty and fear, choosing either to stay or flee.Turning to the ones who remained, Karnox questioned, "Why did y'all choose to stay?"  One guard, bold and unflinching, stepped forward. "You're a tyrant and an asshole. But your gold weighs heavier than our disdain for you. I stay, driven by duty and coin, despite my deep-seated hatred. And it's not 'we'—I speak for myself," he declared.Intrigued by the guard's audacity, Karnox, unaware of the elite knight's name, asked for it. "I am Theo Odore. I pledge to serve you with unwavering honesty, which includes expressing my hatred directly to you," Theo responded. Karnox, amused by such frankness, laughed heartily. "Your honesty is refreshing,Theo. Join me tonight in my chambers, just the two of us."Theo, undeterred, warned, "Should you attempt any harm, know that I won't go down without a fight."

As midnight cloaked the kingdom, the tension palpable, Theo entered Karnox's chambers. A clash of auras ensued, so powerful that the room's glass windows shattered. Karnox, called Theo a "monkey." Theo, not missing a beat, retorted with "Okay, swine!"Karnox, getting straight to the point, said, "I require a favor. Rally the troops under the guise of a coup. Report back on those who support the mutiny and those who stand by me.""And my reward?" Theo challenged."Your life, spared here and now," Karnox replied, a sinister undertone to his voice.Theo's eyes blazed with defiance. "I'd like to see you try, you son of a bitch." In a continuation of their complex relationship, Karnox revisited their earlier confrontation. "Calm down, I'm not attempting to kill you, you fool. Do you truly seek conflict?" Karnox paused, then proposed a deal, promising anything in return for Theo's compliance. "Anything, you say?" Theo pondered, then laid out his terms, "After I've done what you ask, I challenge you to a spar. Defeat me, and I live. But if I emerge victorious, I claim your life."Karnox's response was a smile, simple yet profound, "Done." 

In the aftermath of a near-fatal conflict instigated by Karnox’s deception, Jason, Norvax, and Ava found themselves united in a common cause: the search for Polo. Despite their diligent inquiries, they were unable to find any trace of him, leaving them at a loss for what to do next. After waiting for several days and forming a bond, Jason and Ava found themselves growing closer and rekindling their intimacy. Norvax, on the other hand, had grown weary of love until he spotted his son, Harry.

Norvax rushed towards Harry, brimming with excitement. However, Harry grunted in anger and brushed off his father’s hand. He confronted Norvax, “What kind of father never checks up on his child?” Norvax, with a smile, responded, “Well, my son, you’ve grown to be quite the man you were supposed to become.”

Harry retorted, “Oh, I am definitely a man, and I am here to kill you.” Norvax was initially shocked but then laughed it off, thinking it was a joke. However, Harry wasted no time and lunged forward. Harry was much stronger than before; he could anticipate almost every move Norvax made, managing to injure Norvax’s left arm.

Norvax then unleashed 50% of his power, and a fierce battle ensued between him and Harry. Their swords clashed, causing a massive wind break and ground shattering that sent each of them backward. Jason and Ava were stunned to witness this.

Finally, Norvax said, “I’m glad you got stronger. This is why I left you on purpose.” Harry, crying out loud, responded, “Yes, you son of a bitch, it made me stronger, but do you know the cost? Do you know Ethan, your other son?” Norvax replied, “Yes, I bet he became…” Before he could finish, Harry interjected, “He’s dead! I wasn’t strong enough to protect him!”

Norvax, shocked and saddened, asked, “How could you let him…?” Harry, raising his voice, cut him off, “Shut up! Don’t you dare blame this on me, you stupid beast! At least I was by his side and fought there beside him!”

"Tell me what happened," Norvax demanded, his voice cracking as he dropped his sword, collapsing to the floor with tears streaking his face. Harry responded, a heavy weight in his voice, "He was battling against incredibly powerful forces. He yearned for recognition, desired to be celebrated. So, he sought to bounty hunt something extraordinary. He delved into books about opening purgatory and such." "Wait, wait," Norvax interjected, astonishment and disbelief lacing his words. "These books exist? What in the world have you two been up to in my absence?"Harry replied, a mix of defiance and sorrow in his eyes, "Dad, you barely checked in on us. Naturally, we acted out, got entangled in bizarre tales and books of that ilk. I withdrew, but Ethan... he was too far gone. What happened was, Ethan opened the gates of purgatory using a spell. The spell was deceptive; it promised immense power upon opening the book. However, it turns out one can only gain such power if they already possess significant abilities and can control the souls and beasts within."Norvax, struggling to comprehend, pressed further, "What beasts? What are you talking about?"Harry continued, "I don't know the specifics. The point is, he did it. I witnessed him perform the act. I assisted him in fighting them off, but it was futile. They killed him and spared me, simply because he was the one who activated it. I stayed and fought, but they vanished," Harry concluded, his voice a whisper of despair. 

"So then," Ava inquired, "do you have any idea where the book is now?" Norvax gave her a look that could chill blood. "You want to get killed too, Ava?" "No," Ava quickly responded, her voice firm yet cautious. "If we can find where it is, then we can either destroy it or hide it, ensuring no one else can be harmed again.""Good thinking," Norvax conceded, a hint of approval in his tone. Then, Jason turned his gaze towards Harry. "Harry, why are you silent? Where's the book, man?"Harry began hesitantly, "I—" "Son, why do you speak and stutter as if you've seen a ghost?" Norvax interrupted, his concern evident. "The book is not in safe hands," Harry admitted, his expression grave. "I'm afraid that after we fought off the monsters and opened purgatory, it sent out a shockwave to those with ultimate power, challenging them. That's what I read in the book. And then... I saw an individual snatch up the book and take it. He vanished before my eyes, but before he did, I managed to catch a glimpse of his name on his shirt. I think it was something like Karklox, though I didn't get a good look." Everyone froze, the weight of the revelation settling in. With Karnox, as it may have been—now in possession of this power, the world faced a threat unlike any before. The realization that this entity now held such formidable power left them with a profound sense of doom.

  Polo's thoughts raced as he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with Garland's supposed S++ ranking. Why had Garland refused to reveal his true strength or join forces with Polo? Surely, together they could face the remaining monsters in the swamp. Polo suspected there was more to Garland's story than he let on. As Polo made his way towards the swamp, a troubling message flashed before him: "Error Error - System Failure." It was Clave, an AI system imbued with remnants of a soul. Polo inquired about the issue, only to be met with a dire revelation: the world was in peril, with Karnox poised to attain unimaginable power. Clave urged Polo to level up quickly to confront this looming threat.Polo's anxiety surged as he sought guidance on Karnox's whereabouts and how to thwart him. However, Clave's sudden departure left Polo feeling stranded and exasperated. Amidst the chaos, Polo grappled with a decision: confront the swamp's monsters, pursue Karnox, or reunite with his comrades? Lost in uncertainty, he resolved to tackle each challenge methodically, starting with the creatures lurking in the swamp. Upon reaching the swamp's entrance, Polo encountered an elite guard demanding to see his credentials. Without warning, the guard lunged at Polo with his sword, triggering a surreal moment where time seemed to slow. Reacting swiftly, Polo incapacitated the guard, leaving him bewildered. Inquiring about the guard's aggression, Polo learned of the card's significance in preventing fraudulent entries. Despite the misunderstanding, Polo's display of skill convinced the guard to permit his passage.Contemplating his next move, Polo proposed a partnership with the guard to confront the impending dangers. However, the guard declined, citing his duty to protect the area's inhabitants. Understanding the guard's reluctance, Polo pressed on, determined to confront the challenges ahead, one step at a time.