As the three struggled toward the exit, Terminator X worked to clear a path, his reinforced frame absorbing hits from falling rubble.The tremors grew stronger, and a deafening roar signaled the Citadel’s imminent collapse.Just as they reached the threshold of the main hall, a massive beam fell, pinning Edward’s leg.He cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Juliet turned back, her expression torn."Leave me!" Edward shouted."Get Louis out of here!"Louis stopped, his body trembling as he looked at his father. The Heart’s energy surged again, reacting to his turmoil."No. I won’t abandon you.""You have to!" Edward yelled."The Heart is killing you! You can’t save me and yourself."Juliet grabbed Louis’s arm, desperation in her voice."Louis, we’re running out of time!"For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.The collapsing Citadel, the roaring energy, Juliet’s pleading eyes, and Edward’s resignation—all of it blurred as Louis made his decision.With a scream of effort, he

The Kindsor family’s ancestral estate loomed before them, its grandeur reduced to crumbling stone and overgrown vines.Louis hesitated at the wrought-iron gate, his hand lingering on the cold metal."You don’t have to do this alone," Juliet said, stepping beside him.Louis glanced at her."This place… it’s filled with ghosts. Memories I’ve spent years trying to forget.""Which is exactly why you shouldn’t face it by yourself," Juliet countered, her tone resolute. "Whatever’s waiting in there, we’ll face it together.""Juliet…" He sighed, running a hand through his hair."It’s dangerous. You’ve seen what the Heart’s power can do. I can’t guarantee your safety."She crossed her arms, a familiar stubbornness in her gaze."I’m not asking for guarantees. I’m asking to stand by you."Louis finally nodded, pushing the gate open with a creak."Stay close."Inside the estate, nature had reclaimed much of the grand halls and sprawling corridors.Leaves rustled in the breeze through broken wind

"This way!" Louis hissed, pulling Juliet into a narrow passage.Juliet winced, clutching her side. "I… I’m fine. Keep going."He glanced at her, noticing the blood seeping through her jacket. "You’re hurt. Let me—""No time!" she snapped, cutting him off. "If we stop, they’ll catch us."The sound of boots echoed from behind them. Louis’s jaw tightened as he scanned their surroundings. "There’s got to be another way out."Juliet leaned against the wall, trying to steady herself. "You’ve been here before, haven’t you? Think, Louis. Where would they not look?"Louis closed his eyes, forcing himself to remember. The estate’s layout was a distant memory, buried beneath years of trauma and abandonment. Then it hit him."The east wing," he said. "It’s partially collapsed. They’ll assume we’d avoid it."Juliet nodded. "Lead the way."As they navigated the debris-filled passage, the voices of their pursuers grew louder. Louis’s frustration bubbled over."Why won’t they give up?" he muttered, h

The air in the underground chamber was stale and heavy, lit only by the faint glow of Louis’s hands as his powers reacted to the ancient artifacts around them.Juliet leaned against the cold, damp wall, wincing as she clutched her side where blood seeped through her torn shirt.Despite her injuries, her gaze was sharp, scanning the room for any signs of danger.“Louis,” she said, her voice strained but firm.“Whatever we came here to find, we need to make it quick. This place feels like it’s holding its breath.”Louis nodded, his golden eyes flickering with determination.“I know. But look at this.”He pointed to a pedestal in the center of the room.Resting atop it was a broken amulet, its fragments faintly glowing.As he approached, the light grew brighter, pulsating in rhythm with his own energy.Juliet straightened, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her side. “What is that?”“I think it’s from the Eternals—their earliest days,” Louis murmured. His hand hovered over the ar

Terminator X, their intel specialist, stood at the center of the room, his eyes glued to the holographic display.The rest of the team, including Louis and Juliet, circled around him, waiting for the latest update.“So, what’s the news?” Louis asked, his voice low but sharp.Terminator X didn’t turn away from the display but nodded slightly.“We’ve just intercepted a transmission from The Seer’s faction. They’re developing a new weapon—an energy cannon. It’s powered by the remnants of the Mirror.”Juliet’s brow furrowed.“The Mirror? But that’s—”“Yeah,” Terminator X cut her off.“It’s dangerous, and they’ve somehow managed to harness its power. The cannon is aimed straight at Apple City. If it’s what I think it is, we’re in serious trouble.”Louis crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “How serious?”“The cannon’s power could rival the Heart itself,” Edward’s weak voice called from the corner.The group turned to see him sitting in a chair, looking far from his usual self.He was rec