Volcannus led Luna and Abbigail to a Nether portal outside Azilton. Clearing away the wither skeletons on guard, they stood before the obsidian gateway.
"Why this portal?" Abbigail asked.
"The Nether and overworld are connected." Volcannus explained. "Each location here corresponds to a location in the Nether. This one happens to lead to the outskirts of our capital city, Nazgard."
"If that is true, then why don't you open Nether portals right in the capitals?"
"The beacons in your capitals destabilize Nether portals nearby." Volcannus explained. "Even if we open one, there is the chance that it will collapse when one of us go through it. Getting split across dimensions is a painful way to die."
"So you did not only take down the beacons to control the conduits." Abbigail said. "You intend to come into the capitals directly."
"Well, enough of that, let us go through. After you, my lady." Volcannus bowed as he stepped to the side, extending his hand towards the pulsating portal.
Luna roared. "I'll be fine." Abbigail reassured her. "I know, I know, last time I went through a new portal without you I got stabbed, but I promise I'll return unscathed this time. Right, Volcannus?" He nodded.
"Just wait for me here, alright?" Luna grudgingly sat down, growling at the Netheran.
Abbigail stepped through the portal and found… a squadron of piglins, all armed to the teeth and brandishing gold swords and axes, waiting for her.
"I'm sorry, Queen Abbigail. There is still one final task I need you for, Although the majority of forces are currently in the Overworld, the remaining troops and civilians will be on high alert after having destroyed a Nether Star." Volcannus stepped out of the portal behind Abbigail.
"You TRAITOR!" Abbigail drew her sword and drove it straight towards Volcannus's chest. He closed his hands before him and held the point inches from his skin. She tried to pull away, but her blade was stuck in his hands.
"This is the final task I needed you for," Volcannus smiled, an evil grin amplified by the colors of the Nether around him. "As well as the answer to your questions. King Pythus assigned me to eliminate the Enderknights by any and all means necessary." He kicked Abbigail away into the hands of two Piglin generals. They cuffed her hands behind her back and held her before Volcannus. "With two of your knights in our prisons, and the other two dead, there is only one source of power remaining for the End: yourself." He swept her away. "Take her to the dungeons."