Moonlight spilled across the endless desert as the wind whispered through ancient stone pillars, carrying with it the soft flutter of wings.

High above the dunes, two luminous figures glided through the night sky.

Prince Astor flew with effortless grace, his butterfly-like wings catching the pale light as they shimmered in hues of gold and sapphire. His posture was noble, alert—every movement practiced, every glance scanning the horizon for danger. Beside him drifted Princess Verbina, her wings glowing in softer tones, trailing motes of light like falling stars. Though her expression remained calm, her eyes held quiet concern.

Below them, the land was broken and scarred—another region poisoned by Aku’s corruption.

“This land grows darker with each passing cycle,” Astor said, his voice steady but troubled. “Aku’s reach spreads faster than even our scouts predicted.”

Verbina nodded, folding her wings slightly as they descended toward a ruined spire jutting from the sand. “The balance weakens,” she replied. “And where balance fades, Jack is never far behind.”

As if summoned by her words, a lone figure emerged from the shadows at the base of the ruins.

Samurai Jack stepped forward, his white robes stirring in the wind, hand resting calmly on the hilt of his katana. His eyes lifted to the sky, instantly recognizing the royal Lepidopterins.

“Prince Astor. Princess Verbina,” Jack said with a respectful bow. “It is good to see you again… though I sense your arrival brings grave news.”

The prince and princess landed lightly before him, wings folding behind them like radiant cloaks. The air around them hummed with ancient energy—old magic tied to sky, light, and freedom.

“Our people have seen visions,” Verbina said softly. “Shadows moving where none should exist. A creature born of Aku’s will… yet not bound to him.”

Astor’s jaw tightened. “If it is not stopped, it will hunt the skies themselves. Our kingdom would fall—and soon after, many others.”

The wind howled suddenly, carrying with it a distant, echoing laugh—deep, warped, and unmistakably Aku’s.

Jack’s grip tightened on his sword. “Then we must act swiftly.”

Above them, the stars flickered, and far away, something unseen took flight—something watching.

The prince and princess had returned not as messengers…

…but as allies in a battle that would decide the fate of the skies themselves.