"No, I sense a strange presence," the young girl said, hesitating. "A strange presence? Where?" A few particles shimmered into existence as Melina appeared on Throne's back, one hand wrapped around his neck while the other pointed forward. "Over there."
The mist remained, and Throne narrowed his eyes to look. In front of a massive temple stood several people, all wearing the uniform attire of the Nox, distinguished only by slight differences in their white headscarves. Three Night Maidens, two Nox Swordsmen, and two monks—certainly enough to withstand a decapitation strike from the Tarnished. Guided by Melina, he saw a shadow appear behind the group.
Its presence was extremely obscure; without the wooden Melina's guidance, even he would not have been able to spot it. "They certainly have some clever tricks, but there are things they cannot stop!" "We've won." Annelina clenched her fists. The Dragonkin Soldier stood at the exit like a mountain, raising its hand to unleash a massive spear of ice lightning.
The pool turned a ghastly white, and a powerful Tarnished was killed on the spot. The rest were forced to retreat, and they were on the verge of being overtaken by the pursuers. "Sister, we have no way to wipe them all out, and we've revealed our trump card too early," a Nox Swordsman guarding her complained.
"Alia, my foolish sister, what does it matter if one or two people escape? It serves to spread the terror. Once they realize that breaking into Nokstella is hopeless, I do not believe these despicable people will dare to linger underground for long." "Then you should have voluntarily cleared the perimeter, drawn them all in, and finished them off in one blow." "You want to let these filthy people contaminate our city?" "But someone has already contaminated it just now."
"I am a Night Maiden, if I say they are contaminated, then they are contaminated!" The other two Night Maidens remained silent, as if they knew this pair of sisters had started their daily bickering again. In truth, they had never supported using the Dragonkin Soldier from the start. The tranquility of Nokstella was not due to strength, but because no one noticed it in the corner of the world.
How many Gold Heroes could a single Dragonkin Soldier stop? Only these young people fantasized about restoring the glory of the past. The Nox Swordsman, being the younger sister, clearly could not win the argument against her sister, so she closed her mouth and stopped responding, her ears twitching slightly. Someone? She turned around and saw a dark figure emerging from the shadows.
The person was not yet clearly visible, but the greatsword in hand, burning with red-black flames, was striking. "Who!?" With a sharp shout, she threw the sword in her hand, but saw the figure flicker, and a gust of wind rushed toward her face. So fast... With a leap, the attacker instantly arrived before her.
Two monks swung their flowing hammers to meet it, but heard a 'clang'—the greatsword, with unstoppable force, shattered their bodies and was raised above the attacker's head to spin. Woo-woo-woo—
Like a wheel of death, including the two Night Maidens, the Nox who could not dodge in time were cut down one after another. Only Alia managed to tackle her sister to the ground.
She looked up and revealed an expression of disbelief. The wounds were burning. Even though the injuries were not severe, the powerful Night Maidens screamed and collapsed. "It is Destined Death!" Annelina clearly recognized this thing, but it no longer mattered what it was. The wheel of death stopped, was raised high, and slammed down heavily. Boom!
The Nox sisters did not meet the blade; a comet of azure blue grazed their scalps, and a thunderous roar echoed in their ears. The attacker was gone, or rather, it had vanished before the comet arrived. Its speed was indiscernible to the naked eye. It crouched on the ground, glanced at the massive crater on the wall behind it, and slowly stood up.
The wolf's head emerged from the shadows, its gaze dripping with malice. A killing intent surged toward him, sharp and suffocating. Throne's muscles coiled, but he exhaled slowly, letting the stale air escape. Luck was on his side today. A jackpot, truly.
Though it resembled Blaidd, Throne wasn't fooled. The sword gave it away—a Baleful Shadow, a lackey of the Two Fingers. Directly under their command. He didn't know how many existed or if it shared Blaidd's lineage, but one thing was clear: it was Ranni's enemy. And Ranni's enemy was his. Mercy wasn't in his vocabulary. "Strength's inferior to the wolf-brother," he muttered. "But that sword's the problem."
His eyes locked onto the red-black flames dancing along the blade. Destined Death. Not some mere flame effect. The Nox had barely touched it and were left half-dead. It struck at the soul, something even demigods couldn't escape. He'd seen its kind before—Mortal Blades. Trouble, indeed.
The Baleful Shadow didn't disconnect. It stood there, confused. Why would a Tarnished help the Nox? Weren't they supposed to be killing them together? It didn't bother with reasoning. Its greatsword rose, deliberate and menacing. "Die or get out," it growled, voice low and final.
Throne raised his staff. A Carian Phalanx materialized above his head. The Baleful Shadow paused, silent for a heartbeat. Then—
Footsteps. The killing intent hit him like a wave. Throne leaped back just as the greatsword shattered the ground where he'd stood. Five light blades erupted in succession. Bang, bang…
Five crisp cracks echoed as the blades shattered. The Baleful Shadow lunged, a killing machine unleashed. Its horizontal slash came fast. Clang! The force traveled up Throne's wrist, sending him flying. He landed lightly, skidding against the wall, circling behind the enemy. His staff crossed his chest defensively.
Swish—
The greatsword swept backward, cleaving the glintstone staff in two. The Baleful Shadow turned, unhurried, only to see Throne, now disarmed, raise his left hand. A meter-long spear of light materialized. "A staff's just decoration," he said. Carian Piercer!
He hurled the spear with all his might. The wolf-man ducked, sliding forward like it was skating, ignoring the singed fur on its head. It wasn't fazed by the flashy move. Slaughter instincts left no room for thought. The greatsword tucked under its ribs, red-black flames blazing.
Throne's pupils contracted. He felt the fatal threat before the blade even touched him. Bloodhound's Step. He leaped back repeatedly, escaping the attack range. At that moment, the Nox Swordswoman threw her longsword in a sneak attack. The Baleful Shadow caught it effortlessly.
Ignoring the blood dripping from its cut hand, it dragged her forward with brutal strength. The greatsword rose. "Alia!" Starlight particles flashed before the Baleful Shadow. It dodged the thrusting blade with a tilt of its head, but the kick that followed sent it flying meters away.
"Get lost. Don't get in the way," Throne growled, tossing the slender swordswoman aside. He wouldn't risk Melina, let alone these fools. The Baleful Shadow stood, brushing dust from its chest. "Tarnished, you're strong," it said, voice steady. Stronger than any Tarnished it had faced. Even among the Gold Heroes, he'd rank high.
"That doesn't require your applause," Throne said with a grin. Limgrave's slaughter hadn't been wasted—its carnage had fueled him. A shame he hadn't suited up in heavy armor today. Otherwise, he wouldn't be scrambling like this.
"Do you need my help?" Melina's voice cut through the chaos.
"Since when are you so eager to lend a hand? Trying to rack up favors?"
"Don't flatter yourself. You're in over your head."
He leaped back, narrowly avoiding the blade that plummeted from above. Rolling across the ground, he watched Destined Death erupt repeatedly in front of him. "Not yet!"
The swordsman wasn't the same man he'd been moments ago. The Baleful Shadow hesitated, then hurtled toward him with terrifying speed.
Throne pushed off his toes, charging headlong into the fray. The force of their clash tore the veil from her face, revealing the Night Maiden's wide-eyed shock. Two streaks of light flashed, vanished, and reappeared at the corridor's center—blade meeting blade.
Bang!
A shockwave erupted, blasting bluestone fragments into the air.
Their swords locked briefly before crossing. The greatsword's reach gave its wielder the upper hand—even simultaneous strikes wouldn't match its impact. But Throne's left hand clenched into a fist.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The airborne bluestone fragments shot forward, disintegrating against the Baleful Shadow's breastplate.
It staggered back, just as Throne raised his right foot. A whirlwind of force gathered around his boot before he slammed it down. Purple gravitational energy surged outward.
Ground Slam!
The entire Eternal City shuddered.
The corridor buckled, collapsing beneath them. Throne descended slower, his left hand extended toward his opponent buried under rubble.
Dark Star Barrage.
Black comets streaked forward, bombarding the debris-strewn ground. Dust exploded in every direction.
Throne landed lightly, rapier leveled. His eyes narrowed.
"It's retreating," Melina said instantly.
Beast-like intuition, indeed. He exhaled sharply.
As he straightened, a dozen figures emerged around him. The Nox closed in, their glares venomous. Two massive black iron spheres rolled in from either side.
He didn't raise his sword. Instead, he tilted his head, coldly meeting the Night Maiden's gaze through the hole above.
"Do you intend to kill me?"
Her breath hitched. It felt like being stared down by a predator. She looked away, raising a hand.
"Stand down. He's not our enemy."
She wasn't a fool. If this strange Tarnished hadn't intervened, she'd be dead. That power… Only the Dragonkin Soldier could rival it.
The Night Maidens were the highest clergy. Normally, decisions required consensus. But with only her left, her word was law.
The swordsmen exchanged glances before retreating. Throne ignored them. When he first awoke, caution had been necessary. But now, with the great rune fueling him, his strength grew by the moment.
In all of Nokstella, only the Dragonkin Soldier posed a threat.
And after the Tarnished fled in the chaos, this killing machine had fallen silent. Even if activated, it couldn't stop him if he chose to leave.
The silence grew heavy, awkward. The Night Maiden approached, heavily guarded, unsure where to begin.
A Tarnished burst into the Eternal City and aided her—regardless of perspective, it reeked of conspiracy. Yet, what conspirator would willingly confront Destined Death? Silence stretched, thick and heavy, as more Nox gathered in the corridor. Finally, Annelina broke it. "May I ask… why did you intervene?"
Her surface tongue stumbled slightly, awkward but clear. Throne turned his head, his gaze indifferent. "Do you know who that was?" "A blade of civilization, a servant of the Fingers. They are a race, but that sword… it's peculiar." The answer wasn't hard to accept. Ranni's war with the Baleful Shadow had raged for years.
Only after the Tarnished arrived did one remain. Blaidd didn't just materialize out of nowhere—a blade of civilization, yet bearing the form of a beast. Interesting. Throne nodded, too weary to explain further, and pulled a badge from his chest.
"Carian Knight?"
Annelina's astonishment was palpable, her recognition of the Carian Royal Family's emblem immediate. No surprise there. Throne knew Ranni's sorcery tower housed a portal leading straight to the Ainsel River's main current—clearly, connections existed. "Do you understand my position now?" "Yes. At the very least, you're an enemy of those surface invaders."
The Night Maiden lifted her skirt, curtsying with practiced grace. The Nox had lingered underground too long, their past buried in dust. Yet, through captives, they'd learned Caria maintained ties with Raya Lucaria Academy. Even without delving into history, the other party had reason to aid them. "And that shadow… how did it find its way to Nokstella…"
"Do you intend to discuss this here?" Throne interrupted. He'd noticed their hostility waning after he proved his identity. "My apologies. Please wait a moment while I finish these matters." The Nox were polite, their urgency evident. The perimeter battle demanded attention, and recalling their forces took time. Throne was left to wait.
They led him into a grand hall, its dome soaring ten meters high. Eerie blue flames clung to the walls, casting flickering light into the pitch-black chamber. Throne ignored the guards at the door, his interest drawn to the murals adorning the walls.