Lightning continued to strike the barren ground of the underworld. There was no greenery left here, only wasteland and the dried remains of every plant that had once lived there. Food had become scarce, and looting and theft were an everyday sight.
Amid the devastation, a new laboratory stood. Its purpose was to awaken the dark king who had disappeared long ago. Two centuries had already passed. Yet not a single person had possessed the purification ability—the primary requirement for a king in this world—while the underworld continued to die.
"Are you sure about this, Xavier?" Rafael looked at his friend doubtfully. He knew Xavier loved research and wanted a laboratory of his own. However, a laboratory funded directly by the royal family made Rafael anxious. It was far too risky.
"I'm sure. Trust me. This time, it will definitely work. The dark king will rise again," Xavier replied confidently.
"But what if it fails? What if it's not a king, but a monster?" Rafael was extremely worried. The cells Xavier had taken from the kings' tombs could have been the wrong ones.
"Calm down. Trust me," Xavier said.
Reluctantly, Rafael allowed Xavier to continue his research. He visited Xavier almost every day to make sure his friend did not take a wrong step. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, but nothing produced the expected results.
"What's wrong?" Xavier muttered. He checked all the compositions and equipment again.
"The cells aren't developing. They should be dividing," Xavier explained.
Rafael thought for a moment, then muttered, "Maybe they need regenerative abilities. Usually, healers or medical practitioners are the ones capable of that."
"It's worth a try."
Xavier began gathering every medical practitioner, healer, and physician with such abilities. They all tried, but not a single one could make the cells regenerate.
"I think you need something stronger," one of the medical practitioners suggested. "Something like dragon blood or the blood of another creature capable of restoring them."
Xavier and Rafael fell silent, each sinking into his own thoughts.
"Yuasa," Rafael murmured.
"What?" Xavier turned when he heard a name being mentioned.
"Ah, nothing." Rafael shook his head as if he had never said the name.
Xavier knew Yuasa. He was the owner of a yellow crystal and was rumored to be a healer as well. Without Rafael's knowledge, Xavier began watching Yuasa. In secret.
Several of his right-hand men infiltrated the palace, forged their identities, and kept watch over the prince.
"Reporting, sir. Prince Yuasa has a unique condition," one of Xavier's spies whispered. A grin appeared on Xavier's face.
"I'll handle it myself. I'll make sure."
With the help of his men, Xavier infiltrated the palace disguised as a servant. He watched Yuasa all day. Security was tight, and kidnapping him without facing the guards would not be easy.
"There he is," Xavier muttered when he saw Yuasa in the palace garden with his servants. The young man looked charming and striking, with his golden hair.
"Prince, it's time to train." The man's voice was hoarse. He was tall and broad-shouldered, accompanied by two other young men.
"All right," Yuasa replied. His golden hair fluttered in the wind. He followed every movement of the trainer carefully until they began sparring.
That intimidating stare was all it took. The two young men attacked at the same time without warning. Yuasa was startled and unable to dodge.
Yuasa fell, scraping his knee against the gravel until it bled. He gently touched the wound on his bleeding knee, and in an instant, the injury vanished.
"Prince! Are you all right?" His sparring partner helped Prince Yuasa to his feet.
"You must always stay alert for attacks, no matter when they happen. Our training hasn't made any progress. I think you'd be better off finding another trainer, Prince."
Yuasa remained silent. That trainer's gaze was the same as the others': cynical and condescending.
"Thank you for all the lessons you've given me." Yuasa could only swallow the words stuck on his tongue. A yellow crystal was not a fighter; his body was too weak.
They left the palace, while Yuasa returned to his room, feeling crushed yet again.
That was when Xavier took the drop of Yuasa's blood from the stone where he had fallen earlier. The blood had already dried.
In his laboratory, he tested Yuasa's blood. It reacted exactly as he had hoped. The dark king's cells began to regenerate.
"Amazing. Even a single drop has produced a reaction. I have to get more of it—Prince Yuasa's special blood," Xavier muttered.