As the dust and debris slowly vanished—
Cassian Nightmere stood amidst the ruined harbor silently.
Even after enduring such a monstrous attack—
he remained standing.
Though now—
blood slowly dripped down the side of his face.
His crimson eyes quietly scanned the destruction surrounding him.
The harbor had been completely devastated.
Ships destroyed.
Towers collapsed.
The sea itself had split apart earlier from the impact.
Yet—
the Verilian spy was nowhere to be found.
"…Tch."
For the first time in years—
genuine rage appeared on Cassian's face.
The surrounding soldiers slowly approached nervously.
None of them dared speak first.
Then coldly—
Cassian finally spoke.
"Send a letter to the royal palace."
"Tell them a Verilian rat has infiltrated Astryx."
The pressure around him intensified afterward.
"Put a bounty of thirty million gold on him."
"I want him alive."
His crimson eyes darkened.
"…I'll kill that brat myself."
SHIIIIING—
Cassian swung his sword once before turning away from the ruined harbor.
...
Meanwhile—
far away from the chaos—
Noctis had already returned toward the hidden corridor where Cedric remained unconscious.
But the moment he arrived—
his eyes narrowed slightly.
Because one person remained there.
The black-haired girl with sharp green eyes.
The other slaves had already escaped.
Yet—
she stayed.
"…Why didn't you leave with the others?"
The girl hesitated briefly.
Then slowly—
she spoke.
"…How?"
"How are you this strong?"
Noctis narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ignoring the question completely—
he calmly responded.
"The ship is going to depart soon."
"Hurry."
"There's still time."
He casually grabbed the unconscious Cedric afterward.
"The Verilian Empire has no place for—"
"What the hell do you mean?"
Suddenly—
the girl stepped forward and grabbed his hand tightly.
"My name…"
"…is Jasmine Kaelvaris."
Noctis paused.
"…Kaelvaris?"
"My full name is Jasmine Kaelvaris."
"I'm the Queen of the Kaelvaris Imperium."
Silence.
Then—
Noctis' expression slowly changed.
Kaelvaris Imperium?
What the hell?
Unlike Verilian and Astryx—
the Kaelvaris Imperium wasn't famous for fighting external enemies.
No—
they were infamous for something far worse.
Civil war.
For decades—
the empire had been split into two brutal factions endlessly fighting each other.
Every warrior born within Kaelvaris was considered a veteran of war.
Only the strong survived there.
Which meant—
the girl standing before him right now…
…the one chained aboard a slave ship—
was supposedly the Queen of that hell itself.
"…So?"
I stared at the girl silently.
Honestly—
nothing about this situation made sense.
The Kaelvaris Imperium wasn't some small kingdom.
It was one of the most feared empires on the continent.
An empire drowning endlessly in civil war.
For decades—
Kaelvaris had been split into two massive factions.
The Draven Court.
And the Eclipse Dominion.
Both sides constantly fought for control over the empire.
Cities burned.
Generals died.
Entire bloodlines vanished overnight.
And warriors born within Kaelvaris were considered monsters forged purely through war.
Which meant—
the girl standing before me right now…
…the one chained aboard a slave ship—
was supposedly their queen?
Jasmine slowly released my hand before speaking again.
"I led the Draven Court."
Her sharp green eyes darkened slightly afterward.
"We were winning the war."
"But…"
A bitter smile slowly appeared on her face.
"…the people closest to me betrayed me first."
Silence filled the corridor.
"The nobles under my command feared my rule."
"They believed the war would never end if I remained queen."
"So…"
"…they sold me to Astryx."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"They made a deal with several Astryx nobles."
"In exchange for military support and resources…"
"…they handed me over quietly."
No public execution.
No battlefield defeat.
No honorable end.
She was simply discarded.
Like property.
Honestly—
that sounded far more disgusting.
Jasmine slowly glanced toward the distant harbor lights afterward.
"To the world…"
"…I'm probably already dead."
I quietly observed her.
Despite everything—
despite betrayal—
despite chains—
her eyes still held pride.
No fear.
No weakness.
Interesting.
Then slowly—
her gaze met mine once again.
"You're heading deeper into Astryx, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then take me with you."
Silence followed afterward.
The ocean winds quietly echoed through the ruined corridors nearby.
Then—
I spoke calmly.
"If I help you…"
"…what exactly do I gain from it?"
Jasmine didn't hesitate even slightly.
"The Kaelvaris Imperium."
My eyes narrowed.
"If you help me reclaim my throne…"
"…then the Draven Court will stand beside you."
...
Slowly—
I raised Nocturne Veil.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A terrifying pressure instantly engulfed the entire corridor.
Black and white mana erupted around the blade violently while the surrounding walls cracked apart from the sheer force alone.
Jasmine's eyes widened.
Then—
her body was forced onto one knee.
"…Gh—!"
Even breathing became difficult.
The pressure pouring from me now was far beyond what I had shown earlier at the harbor.
Faint traces of chaos spiraled around Nocturne Veil while my golden eyes coldly stared down at her.
"You're the Queen of Kaelvaris."
My voice echoed quietly throughout the corridor.
"Someone with influence great enough to shake entire nations."
"And once people realize you're alive…"
"…they'll send monsters after you."
The pressure intensified slightly.
"Do you understand how dangerous your existence is?"
Jasmine gritted her teeth silently while enduring the overwhelming mana crushing against her body.
Then—
I slowly glanced down at her kneeling form.
"And right now?"
"You can barely even hold a sword."
Cold winds quietly blew through the ruined corridor.
"To me…"
"…you currently look like nothing but a burden."
Her sharp green eyes trembled slightly hearing that.
But she still didn't look away.
Interesting.
"Even if I gain the Draven Court's support…"
"…what's the point if we die before reaching that stage?"
Then slowly—
I stepped closer.
Closer.
Until eventually—
I knelt directly before her.
The pressure surrounding us distorted the air itself.
My golden eyes met her sharp green ones directly.
Cold.
Calm.
Absolute.
And despite the pressure crushing down upon her—
despite kneeling—
Jasmine Kaelvaris still held my gaze without backing down.
"…Then teach me."
I blinked once.
For the first time since meeting her—
genuine surprise appeared in my eyes.
Jasmine slowly lifted her head despite the crushing pressure surrounding her.
Her body trembled.
Yet—
those sharp green eyes never wavered.
"…Teach me the sword."
Silence filled the ruined corridor afterward.
The ocean winds quietly echoed outside while traces of black and white mana still spiraled around Nocturne Veil.
I quietly stared at her.
Honestly—
that wasn't the answer I expected.
Most people would beg.
Or bargain.
Or try appealing to emotion.
But this woman—
the betrayed queen kneeling before me—
instead asked for strength.
Interesting.
Jasmine gritted her teeth harder before continuing.
"I know I'm weak right now."
"I know I'm a burden."
"But if strength is the problem…"
"…then I'll become stronger."
Her fingers slowly clenched against the ground beneath her.
"I survived Kaelvaris."
"I survived betrayal."
"I survived Astryx."
Her voice became sharper afterward.
"So I refuse to die here like this."
The pressure around us quietly trembled.
Then—
slowly—
a faint smile appeared on my face.
Not mockery.
Not pity.
But genuine interest.
Because for the first time—
I finally understood why this woman had managed to survive Kaelvaris.
Even after being betrayed.
Even after losing everything.
Her spirit still hadn't broken.
Then calmly—
I asked.
"…Do you know what the sword truly is?"
Jasmine remained silent.
So I continued.
"The sword isn't talent."
"It isn't status."
"It isn't bloodline."
My golden eyes quietly stared into hers.
"It's conviction."
"A sword without conviction is nothing more than metal."
The black blade in my hand slowly lowered afterward.
Then—
I stood back up.
The crushing pressure engulfing the corridor slowly disappeared.
Jasmine quietly exhaled in relief while still staring at me.
Then finally—
I spoke.
"…Fine."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I'll teach you."
"But understand this first."
I slowly turned toward the distant harbor lights outside.
"My training…"
"…is hell."
I slowly glanced toward Cedric—
who still sat chained against the broken wall nearby.
Surprisingly—
the knight suddenly laughed quietly.
"To think…"
"…the package we were supposed to secure was actually the Queen of Kaelvaris."
"Tch."
"Shut up."
"Now speak."
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly afterward.
"I want to understand the Astryx Empire."
"Tell me everything you know."
Cedric remained silent briefly.
Then eventually—
he sighed.
"…Fine."
"The Astryx Empire is divided into three major cities."
"The one you're currently in is called Valorheim."
His gaze shifted slightly toward the distant skyline outside.
"The second city is Rosefall."
"And the final one…"
"…is Noctara."
"The capital of the Astryx Empire."
"The royal palace is located there."
I quietly listened while memorizing everything.
Then calmly—
I asked.
"And the Valen Family?"
Cedric's eyes immediately narrowed.
"…You're looking for the Valens?"
A faint scoff escaped him afterward.
"Tch."
"Seems like you really do want to die."
My golden eyes coldly met his.
"…Speak."
Cedric clicked his tongue.
"Fine."
"The Valen Family resides in Noctara as well."
Of course they did.
Then—
another name surfaced in my mind.
"And Count Veritas?"
"The one you serve?"
Cedric answered immediately this time.
"He's here."
"In Valorheim."
"I see."
Interesting.
Honestly—
things were beginning to connect faster than expected.
Then slowly—
I stood up.
"Anyways we sho—"
THUK!!!
An arrow suddenly pierced directly through Cedric's forehead.
Silence.
His body immediately went limp afterward.
Dead.
"Tch."
My eyes instantly narrowed.
Without hesitation—
I grabbed Jasmine's arm and pulled her backward.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Another arrow exploded into the wall behind us.
Snipers.
The harbor had already been sealed.
"MOVE!"
CRACKLE!!!
Lightning erupted around my body instantly as I dashed away from the ruined harbor alongside Jasmine.
Behind us—
multiple figures rapidly descended across the rooftops.
Meanwhile—
the massive futuristic city of Valorheim stretched before us beneath the night sky.
Towering skyscrapers illuminated with mana circuits glowed across the city while transport rails moved between buildings high above the streets.
And somewhere within this massive city—
countless enemies were already beginning their hunt for Noctis.