The entire battlefield was gradually swallowed by an unnatural darkness.
It was not the coming of night, nor the covering of dark clouds, but a deeper, more suffocating void. Shadows writhed like living beings, seeping from cracks in the earth, climbing along scorched tree trunks, and devouring shattered rocks.
Carlisle, or rather, the ancient dragon, slowly raised his head. His draconic eyes locked onto the figure that was gradually becoming clear.
His consciousness had not fully awakened, his chaotic mind dominated by primal dragon instincts. But if even a trace of rationality remained, he would undoubtedly be struck speechless by what he saw.
Because the woman's appearance was identical to that of his liege, Emilia.
Silver-white hair flowed like moonlight, and her purple pupils shone with an eerie brilliance. That face was undeniably Emilia's.
But the existence before him could never be her.
Who else in this world possessed such an appearance?
The answer was obvious.
Her very existence was a taboo within this world.
In the name of envy, she brought endless suffering upon all things.
Anyone who witnessed her directly would perish.
Her subordinates were monstrous entities far beyond human comprehension, feeding on fear and reveling in slaughter. Wherever those beasts passed, only ruins remained. Wherever the Witch of Envy set foot, all things were annihilated.
Those who survived could only glimpse her shadow through the ever-expanding map of destruction.
The Queen of the Shadow City.
The calamity that devoured the world.
Her name was Satella.
Carlisle, no, at this moment he had completely become the ancient dragon. Azure dragon flames coiled around the Flame Sword, its blade slicing through the air as it unleashed a blue sword aura spanning dozens of meters, striking directly at the Witch of Envy.
"Boom!!!"
The moment the sword aura detonated, the ground within several hundred meters was violently torn apart. Lava erupted from the fissures, and a scorching wave of heat vaporized everything in its vicinity.
However, when the smoke and dust settled,
The Witch of Envy still stood where she was.
Her silver-white hair remained untouched by the explosion's aftermath. Her purple pupils reflected Carlisle's figure, and her black robe showed not the slightest sign of damage.
The darkness on the battlefield began to stir.
Shadows spread like living creatures, seeping from beneath the ground and clinging to Carlisle's armor. At first, they appeared as thin black threads, but in the blink of an eye, they thickened into heavy chains, coiling around his limbs and neck, even attempting to invade through the gaps in his armor.
"Roar!!"
The ancient dragon's body erupted with overwhelming power, forcibly shattering the shadow chains. Fragments of darkness scattered like rain, yet in the next instant, even more shadows surged forth, wrapping around him once again.
He swung the Flame Sword, azure flames sweeping in all directions. Each strike erased vast swathes of shadow, but every time a portion was destroyed, new darkness flooded in from beyond.
At the same time, the Witch of Envy's shadows were eroding the entire land.
Forests, rocks, even lava, everything was being assimilated into the darkness. Trees twisted into grotesque black sculptures. Rocks melted into viscous sludge. The air itself grew heavy and murky, each breath carrying a sense of decay.
Carlisle continued his assault.
Every swing of his blade shattered the earth and dispersed the shadows. Yet no matter how much he destroyed, the darkness regenerated at an even faster pace.
The shadows had already climbed up to his chest. Like living organisms, they sought to invade through the gaps in his armor, corroding his body.
As for Pandora, although she had vanished from the battlefield, she had not truly left.
The Witch of Envy must still be observing everything from somewhere unseen.
Just as she had said,
"This state of yours… how much longer can it last?"
Her intention could not have been clearer.
The darkness surged like a rising tide, gradually forming countless pitch-black hands. They twisted and writhed, lunging toward Carlisle's waist like living creatures. The shadowy fingers tightly grasped the Tome of the Dragon of Hope at his side, frantically pulling at it.
"Creak, creak…"
A harsh grinding sound echoed as shadows collided with the dragon armor, producing a teeth-grating noise. The tome was slowly being pulled free, its pages curling under the corrosion of darkness.
The Witch of Envy slowly stepped forward, approaching Carlisle, who was bound by shadows.
Her movements were light and unhurried. Her purple pupils reflected the ancient dragon's desperate struggle. There was no emotion on her face, no anger, no joy, only those eyes.
Utter envy.
A pure, twisted, almost insane obsession.
As the shadowy hands continued tearing at him, Carlisle's body began to exhibit abnormalities.
"Crackle! Crackle!"
Azure electric currents burst from the gaps in the dragon armor, flickering wildly as though short-circuiting. His movements grew stiff, each struggle accompanied by violent surges of electricity.
The ancient dragon's roar gradually distorted, changing from a thunderous bellow into a pained scream. The azure dragon flames flickered erratically, and the sparks bursting from his armor resembled the final spasms of a dying beast.
"Roar!!"
His body trembled violently as he tried to resist the encroaching shadows, but
"Boom!!!"
A deafening explosion rang out.
The Witch of Envy's shadowy hands suddenly exerted overwhelming force, violently tearing both the ancient dragon manifestation and the Tome of the Dragon of Hope away from his waist.
The moment the ancient dragon separated, it transformed into a faint blue stream of light and flowed back into Carlisle's body. At the same time, the flames of the Flame Sword were extinguished. The sacred weapon reverted to an ordinary knight's longsword, dull and lifeless, drooping toward the ground.
Meanwhile, the Tome of the Dragon of Hope floated in midair. Its pages flipped violently, radiating a dazzling light.
"Subaru…?"
Carlisle's voice emerged, hoarse and weak. The dragon markings on his armor rapidly faded, and the pitch-black armor receded like a tide, revealing his original knight attire. He staggered and collapsed to one knee, barely managing to lift his head toward the sphere of light.
The light gradually condensed, its outline becoming clearer.
Black hair, pale skin, closed eyes. Subaru's figure slowly took shape, as if being born from the light itself. She floated in the air, her body slightly curled.
The Witch of Envy's pupils suddenly shrank.
"Finally…"
Her voice trembled. Her purple eyes swirled with indescribable madness and longing. She instinctively stepped forward, her pale fingers reaching toward Subaru's cheek, only to freeze just before making contact.
She slowly withdrew her hand, straightened herself, and turned her gaze toward Carlisle, who was kneeling on the ground.
Carlisle's armor had completely vanished. The dragon flames were gone, leaving behind a body riddled with wounds and exhaustion. He struggled to support himself, clarity finally returning to his blue eyes.
"Subaru!"
He called out hoarsely, attempting to stand, but his depleted strength caused him to collapse back onto his knees.
The Witch of Envy watched him silently.
The envy in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by killing intent.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.