Abyssal Throne

Choi Jina's curiosity was piqued by intercepted clandestine correspondence from a suspect. The words hinted at a mysterious, powerful throne. The elusive gateway remained hidden, defying the Stratus's relentless pursuit.

But Choi Jina was not one to be deterred. She suspected the Ebondrake were using a different method to access their hidden domains. She turned to an old ally, Minjae, a courageous defector who had made a daring escape from the clutches of the Ebondrake, albeit at the cost of his sight.

Minjae revealed that the Ebondrake leaders' insignias were gate keys. These symbols unlocked access to realms where secrets of darkness lay dormant. The throne, Jina learned, was never meant for mortal rulers; it had a more sinister purpose - to herald the coming of the malevolent 'Dragon of Darkness,' an entity that the cult fervently believed would descend upon the realm and plunge it into an eternal night, an unyielding darkness that would consume all.

Driven by an unwavering conviction, the Ebondrake pursued the creation of an avatar capable of harnessing the ancient dragon's power through grotesque mutations. With the Dowager's demise, Batara, a cunning military commander, saw an opportunity to fill the leadership void and transform himself into an abomination. He drew inspiration from the nightmarish experiments of Doctor Gyojak, a man whose name alone sent shivers down spines.

The Stratus embarked on their journey to the ancient temple complex that bridged the Dark Realm and the Earthen Realm. It was there that the transformed Ebondrake Hierarch awaited, ready to become the accursed avatar of the sinister Dark Lord, a figure worthy of the cult's deepest reverence and darkest ambitions.