Arriving at the castle, uncertainty clouded their intentions as they lacked a clear plan. It felt like they were entering a battle armed only with courage, lacking the necessary strategy.
"Fred, earlier you mentioned Ryujin and Council Jaehyun trying to break the spell?" Jaemin inquired.
"Yes," Fred confirmed.
Jaemin glanced at Haechan, hinting at a possibility.
"I understand, Jaemin. But for now, let's aid the other councils," Haechan decided.
Hurrying towards the castle's prison, they discovered Councils Johnny, Taeil, and Doyoung confined within. The three councils were bound by some form of magical lasso, their hands tied behind their backs, likely a creation of Council Jaehyun to prevent their escape.
"Are you all alright, councils?" Renjun asked upon seeing them.
"We're fine," Taeil assured them.
"Step back a bit. I'll handle the bars," Jeno instructed.
As they stepped back, Jeno flexed his strength, gripping the thick metal bars of the prison. With a powerful exertion, the bars groaned and creaked before giving way, breaking apart and creating a sizable opening—an unsurprising display of sheer physical prowess from the group's strength alpha.
"Easy," he quipped with a smirk.
Approaching the three councils, Jeno took on the task of freeing them from the magical lassos. As he attempted to rip them apart, he encountered an unexpected challenge—the lassos felt scorching hot, burning whenever he tried to tear them. Despite the discomfort, Jeno persevered, offering a reassuring smile to his brothers as he continued to struggle against the restraints. With unwavering determination, he persisted until he finally succeeded in freeing all three of them from the burning restraints.
"Your hands are burned," Haechan expressed worryingly as he carefully held Jeno's hands to assess the extent of the damage.
"No, I'm fine, really. My sister's slap burns my skin worse than this," Jeno jokingly quipped, attempting to alleviate the concerns of the others with a light-hearted remark.
Their eyes widened in surprise as the three councils, having been rescued, knelt before them.
"We're sorry, alphas. We didn't give you a chance to explain," Johnny expressed remorsefully.
"Please forgive us. We were consumed by grief over the loss of our brother, and that's why we acted that way," Taeil added, seeking understanding.
"Councils, please stand up. We understand the situation, and we harbor no ill feelings towards you or even Council Jaehyun," Haechan reassured them, extending understanding and compassion in the face of their tumultuous circumstances.
With the councils now standing, they faced the group with genuine gratitude.
"Thank you for coming back. We truly need your help," Doyoung expressed, the urgency evident in his tone.
"Jungwoo is gone, and now Jaehyun is attempting to break the spell to access the heart," Johnny elaborated.
"He wants it to regain his immortality," Johnny added, revealing Jaehyun's intentions.
"We're aware. That's why we must leave immediately," Jaemin asserted, the urgency echoing in his words.
The group sprinted towards the chamber housing the Heart of Lucullan, only to encounter Ryujin and Council Jaehyun in the midst of breaking the protective spell. A formidable gust of wind encircled them, impeding the group's progress. Within moments, a shockwave rippled through them, sending waves of nervousness and concern coursing through their bodies, causing them to shiver uncontrollably.
