CONVERGENCE (WARPED Book Three)

Prologue

(3rd Person's POV)

"That Kid. He sure left without even telling us, huh?" Jung Minsung commented after he, Hong Jong Suk, Juri, and the nine ladies of Fromis_9 returned to where the battle between him, Jongsuk, and Hirai Hatori took place. "Did he tell you anything, Jongsuk Hyung?" he asked.

"Nope. As if that Kid and I were connected in the first place," Jongsuk replied. "Yah. What's with the 'Hyung,' though? I just felt chills down my spine," he complained.

"Well...you're older than me, so you better bear with it from now on, Hyung," Minsung replied, smirking.

"Do whatever you like, then," Jongsuk replied. "But seriously, why is this cosmic storm not vanishing?" he asked, looking at the dark, thundercloud-filled sky.

"I don't know either. I'm not sensing any seam after sending the Queen of the Underworld back to the lifestream, but still, this...phenomenon worries me," Minsung commented. "But somehow, this feeling-" he said when both Opinicus and Fenrir suddenly manifested themselves in front of them.

"Stand back, Partner. I can clearly sense his presence approaching us," Fenrir commented.

"Presence of whom?" Minsung asked, equipping his Magetech armor while putting Jiheon and the other ladies behind him for protection.

"An evil god," Jongsuk answered, his Magetech armor also equipped. "And I thought I wouldn't be seeing him twice in this lifetime like a dream to me. That Loki," he added.

"Loki? You mean the father of Fenrir, Midgardsormr, and Hel?" Minsung asked, his armor also equipped now.

"Yes," Trelos the Phoenix replied. "Jongsuk and I fought and resealed Loki more than a decade ago when some Savants destroyed the seal of his tomb, hoping to control him but failed. He already devoured five cities' worth of people's souls before we find and reseal him."

"In that case, all we need to do is fight and reseal him as soon as possible---" Minsung said when suddenly, a dark ball flew towards him and Jongsuk.

Instinctively, both of them cast shields to protect themselves and everyone. However, the dark ball just broke it effortlessly, the resulting blast of the impact sending all of them sprawling on the ground.

"How feeble. I just used my weakest magic, yet you people are down like that? I don't understand why the other gods cherish you," a cold and terrifying voice commented, followed by someone looking like a demonic being.

"You're already thousands of years old, and yet, you're still behaving like a kid, Father," Fenrir replied, guarding as he stood up again.

"I'm just bored with this world, but you, my children, chose to fight me and have the other gods seal me inside a tomb for centuries. And yet again, I was sealed the second time in a decade, thanks to that person," Loki replied while pointing his finger at Jongsuk. "Fortunately, though, I had some...friends, and you three tasted defeat from the hands of those...weaklings. So partly, I'm thankful to them," he added before cackling.

"Looks like you came here just to get beat up again, Loki," Trelos said.

"No, no, no, no. I came here...to beat all of you up instead, pesky Phoenix," Loki replied as he summoned fourteen dark balls instantly. "I'm giving each one to all of you, so you don't have to share. Hahahaha," he added.

"Silver Wolf's Eyes," Minsung chanted as he locked on to each dark ball. "Dimension Breaker," he added, destroying them all instantly using his war scythe.

"OPPA!" Jiheon yelled upon seeing Minsung collapse after doing that.

"R-Run, Jiheonie. T-Take everyone...and go," Minsung said, struggling to stand up.

"You're stupid if you think I'd just let any of you escape," Loki commented. "May you all return to the Lifestream. Ciao," he added as the ground started breaking up into pieces.

"AS IF I'D JUST LET YOU!" Hatori yelled after appearing, taking a pure white book before chanting.

"T-THAT BOOK---!" Loki yelled and was about to cast another skill when suddenly, Jongsuk grabbed his left arm while Minsung grabbed his right arm.

"I call upon the power of the Creator who created us all, who created the Lifestream, who created all living things," Hatori started his chant.

"LET ME GO, YOU---!" Loki yelled.

"Adamantine Body," Jongsuk chanted, casting his skill to keep himself in place while holding Loki.

"Guilty Chains," Minsung added, binding Loki in place while still holding him.

"Be the avenger against this Heretic's wrongdoings, and give him the punishment he deserves," Hatori continued.

"ARGH!!!!!" Loki yelled, still trying to free himself as Minsung, Jongsuk, and Hatori started glowing.

"Let this humble body bear witness of this Heretic's sins, and let your life fill your creation once again," Hatori said. "ARCANA SANCTUM!" he yelled, casting the skill.

In an instant, numerous shackles and chains made out of light appeared from heaven, binding Loki's neck, arms, and legs right before he got encased inside a gigantic iron maiden. After that, the iron maiden was swallowed by a white and gold-encrusted gate that appeared behind it.

"OPPA!" Jiheon and Hayoung yelled as they ran toward the two men, who had difficulty standing alone.

"Are you alright, Hyungnim?" Minsung heard Hatori ask.

"I'm good," Minsung replied. "How about you, Jongsuk Hyung?" he asked.

"Kinda beat up and drained, but thankfully, I'm still alive," Jongsuk confirmed as Hayoung supported him.

"HATORI!" Jisun yelled as she and Nagyung started running toward him.

Hatori was about to reply when suddenly, Loki spoke.

"Do you really think that I'd just let you seal me away again without me putting up a fight?!" Loki said, prying the iron maiden open and hurling a dark ball toward Jisun and Nagyung, intending to kill them.

"NAGYUNG/JISUN!!!!" the rest yelled in unison as both Minsung and Jongsuk tried to transform, but to no avail due to lack of energy.

"Looks like I've no choice but to use my trump card until the last minute, eh?" Hatori commented, now wearing jet-black, European dragon-themed armor.

"T-That armor! W-Why?!" Minsung asked, surprised.

"I'm leaving the rest to you, Hyungnim," Hatori said before looking at Jisun and Nagyung. "I'm sorry to say this, but...farewell," he added before rushing towards Loki.

"You sure do like to commit heresy, eh?!" Loki commented. "You should have known the price---ARGH!!!" he yelled.

"I just used the book earlier to bind you on the spot. However, it's within my expectations that you still have tricks under your sleeve," Hatori said as his clawed right hand pierced Loki's heart with minimal effort.

"Stupid move, but I don't hate it," Loki said, chuckling. "But no matter. You dying here will definitely hasten this world's doom. No...death would be an understatement to describe your punishment," he added before the two of them eventually turned into stone statues.

The rest cannot do anything but watch the events unfold before the iron maiden and gate vanish, leaving the night sky in view.

***