•~○Cursed castle[NCT]○~•

•○°'~

Chapter 11

Lucas’s sharp gaze flicked forward as his voice lowered, almost reverent.
"I never thought those two would know anyone… especially out of this world. But I think I saw them moving a few weeks back. Their cave collapsed — they had to find a new place to live. I think they were hurt because of it."

Yang’s head whipped toward him.
"Wait. They got hurt?!"
Lucas gave a half-shrug. "I don’t know for sure. I just… think so."

Yang’s jaw tightened. "Then we have to find them. Now."

The taller werewolf nodded, quickening his pace. He didn’t just walk — he prowled — nose lifted slightly as he followed a scent he clearly knew by heart. The others trailed behind in tense silence, the sound of crunching dirt and shifting debris their only soundtrack in this broken land.

"We’re close," Lucas murmured, nostrils flaring. "I can smell them."

Yuta frowned. "Isn’t that… not a good thing?"

Kun gave him a sideways look. "He’s a werewolf. He remembers smells better than you remember faces."

"Oh," Yuta muttered, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. "Right."

They emerged into what looked like a battered village clinging to life — small caves carved into stone, some glowing faintly with firelight. Hope flickered in the group’s chests for the first time in hours.

"Y–Yang? YangYang?!" a voice cracked through the air, raw with disbelief and joy.

From the shadows stumbled a small male, face streaked with grime, his body a map of cuts and bruises. He bolted forward without hesitation, flinging himself into Yang’s arms. The impact made both of them stagger, but neither let go.

Yang clung to him as if afraid he’d vanish. "I’m sorry… I couldn’t help you sooner. I was cursed. But these people—" he pulled back just enough to gesture at the group — "—they’re here to save your world. Everyone… this is Renjun. My boyfriend."

Renjun’s smile was faint but warm as he bowed in gratitude.
Mark stepped forward. "Hello. I’m Mark. This is Jeno, and this is Jisung — we’re the chosen ones. With us are our guardian angel and best guard, Leeteuk and Johnny—"

"Why are you all here?" Renjun interrupted, curiosity and confusion knitting his brow.

Jeno took over. "It started with just us five. But the deeper we got into finding our loves, we met Yuta — a nature inventor, Kun — king of the Forgotten Forest, Doyoung — king of the sea, and here in your world… Lucas."

Jisung added quietly, "We need to get to the Underworld. To do that, we needed a book. It was hidden in the sea… YangYang stole it. He said if we wanted it, we had to save your world first."

Renjun’s gaze softened. "I’m sorry about your loved ones. If I can help—"

Leeteuk stepped forward. "Actually… I heard of a cave that leads straight to Hell. Is it real?"

Renjun hesitated. "It’s an old legend… but yes. I don’t know the details though—"

"I can tell you. Once you save this place."

Yang’s head snapped toward the voice. "Sicheng!" He embraced the newcomer briefly.

Yuta arched a brow. "And you are…?"

"Sicheng. I know everything about this town, its legends… its ghosts. But I won’t tell you until it’s safe." His tone was firm — the kind of voice that didn’t entertain negotiation.

Kun finally spoke. "The spell to heal this world either requires a rare plant… or six people. And…" His pause was heavy. "…a sacrifice."

The group stiffened. The air felt colder.

An elderly man stepped forward from the watching crowd. His back was bent, but his eyes were steady. "I’ll do it. I’m dying anyway. Let me go with purpose — for my people."

Kun’s voice softened. "Are you sure, sir?"

"There is no greater honor than leaving the world better than I found it." He placed his weathered hand in Kun’s, smiling faintly.

The villagers’ murmur spread like wind through dry grass. Some bowed their heads. Others bit their lips to hold back tears.

Kun addressed the group. "Circle up. Hold hands. When the echo comes… sir, take a deep breath, then release it. There will be no pain."

They formed the circle. Fingers linked, and as the king began chanting in a language older than the stones beneath them, their hands seemed to fuse — an unbreakable chain.

Light began to pulse in the air, starting from their joined hands and spilling outward in slow waves. The old man inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and exhaled — his body going slack as he sank to the ground, a faint smile still on his lips.

Kun lifted his hands; the others mirrored him, magic coursing between them.
"On three. One… two… three—"
"Save it!"

The world erupted.

Light swept over the land like a tidal wave, bursting into gold dust that spiraled upward into the bruised sky. Caves rebuilt themselves as if time reversed. The cracked earth sealed shut. Clouds formed above, and the first fat drop of rain splashed onto Renjun’s cheek.

Gasps rippled through the villagers.
"It’s raining!"
"We have our land back!"

Some fell to their knees. Others rushed forward, clasping the hands of the six, pressing their foreheads to them in thanks. Tears streamed down weathered faces. Children clung to legs, whispering “thank you” over and over.

"Our world… it’s alive again," an old woman wept, pressing flowers into Lucas’s hands.

Sicheng stepped forward, bowing low. "You’ve given us back our future. We owe you more than we can ever repay."

Leeteuk, still catching his breath, straightened. "Then tell us about the cave."

Sicheng nodded gravely and led them to one unlike the rest — half-collapsed, its jagged entrance like a wound in the stone.

"When the devil first died, he was sent here. But he hated it. Wanted Heaven. So he dug a path to run to whenever his heart broke. Then… one day, our world fell apart. He vanished."

Yuta’s jaw clenched. "So he escaped through it. And you want us to use it to find Ten? Then why the book?"

"This isn’t Hell’s gate. It’s a shortcut."

Leeteuk’s gaze sharpened. "We use it, and then we can finish the spell and bring the angels back."

Jisung grinned. "Then why are we still talking? Let’s go!"

Sicheng stopped them with a raised hand. "The cave is locked. It needs a spell."

Yuta groaned. "Another one?"

Johnny clapped his hands together. "Finally, something I’m built for."

Leeteuk gave him a pointed look. "We’ll need real power. Not magic. Five giant rocks. You can’t lift them with spells here. So—"

Lucas cracked his neck. "Let’s move. We’ve wasted enough time."