The Knight's Opponent Appears

Ragunna, Lament Valley...

This was a coastal valley, its rocks covered in white calcified patches left by the black tide's erosion.

Broken walls and ruins lay scattered across the valley floor, dim blue-black tidal light spread throughout the wreckage, and Tacet Discords wandered about, lending the place a desolate, mournful atmosphere.

"Rover, why do we have to wear these strange masks?"

Abu circled around Rover, asking in some confusion.

"To make them lower their guard, of course. We're Phrolova's subordinates now, so don't blow our cover."

Rover's voice was calm, but it carried a chilling edge.

Those Fractsidus scum actually wanted to revive Imperator and make her fall into becoming a Threnodian. That had crossed his bottom line!

He was ready to go on a killing spree!

"Buzz!"

Just then, the petals of the Other Shore Flower reacted.

"Over there!"

At that moment, the two stood atop an observation tower, gazing toward the distant Ananke Abyss.

It was a gigantic cavern filled with seawater, where dark currents churned. Countless Tacet Discords had once poured out of it, and it was also a point where the black tide leaked out.

"I never expected the Fractsidus to hide their base there. Without someone to lead the way, we might never have found it."

"Hold on tight!"

Without another word, Rover gathered Abu in his arms and stepped forward.

He vanished from the spot...

He had not used his single-winged flight form, but had crossed space directly.

This was "Shunpo"!

On Solaris, very few methods of movement could rival it.

"Stop!"

The moment he landed, he ran into an obstacle.

Blocking his path were the Artisans guarding the entrance, seventeen in all, forming a special squad.

Among them were eight Thornblade Artisans, whose arms had mutated into blades and who handled close combat.

Six Owl-Faced Artisans carried Stellar Rail Heavy Cannons and provided ranged suppression.

There were also two Deep Sea Artisans who controlled the battlefield with ice.

Besides them was their squad leader, Jie Commander, a Shadow-Peering Artisan responsible for assassinations and ambushes.

It was quite a formidable lineup. Working together, they could even take down an Overlord Class Tacet Discord.

But in Rover's eyes, they were nothing more than a bunch of lowly Ninth-Level Spiritual Pressure users.

"State your name. Why have you come here?"

The speaker was the Shadow-Peering Artisan. Shrouded in black mist, he gave off a mechanical, disjointed impression, though he retained a small measure of humanity and intelligence.

"You don't know who I am?"

Rover asked coldly.

"So what if I don't?"

"Then I'll introduce myself today!"

"Smack!!"

He delivered a heavy slap, shattering the Shadow-Peering Artisan's mask and sending him flying like a cannonball through a nearby stone pillar.

That was with Rover holding back. Otherwise, the blow would have been enough to smash him to pieces.

"You blind fools look down on people and don't even recognize me. What use are you?"

As he spoke, the Other Shore Flower glowed faintly, releasing a familiar aura.

"Greetings, Lord Envoy!"

The Artisans all dropped to their knees, their postures submissive and their voices respectful.

He was Phrolova's envoy. He was indeed not someone they had the right to question.

"Keep your eyes open. If you dare block me again, I won't let you off lightly!"

Rover waved a hand and made to enter the base.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, the Shadow-Peering Artisan flashed forward and blocked his path again.

Beneath the shattered mask was a pair of scarlet eyes, filled with madness and venom.

"If you want to enter, give me the password first!"

"Do you want to be destroyed?"

"Hmph, you can try. Even if you're the Fractsidus Overseer's envoy, you'd best not get too arrogant. In this place, even a dragon has to coil up, and a tiger has to lie down!"

The other man spoke arrogantly, as though he had something substantial to back him up.

What's this guy's background? How dare he disregard the Fractsidus Overseer's envoy?

Looks like I'll have to force my way in...

Rover made his decision in an instant.

"Listen up. The password is: the Fractsidus leader is a bastard!"

As the words left his mouth, Blood Oath Covenant was ready to go.

It was easy to imagine that the other side would immediately go berserk and attack.

But things went entirely against his expectations.

"Password correct!"

"What!!"

Rover's heart jolted. The whole thing seemed absurd.

Could this guy be bluffing me?

There was never any password, and answering was falling into his trap.

But it doesn't matter. The result is the same either way. I'll just crush my way through.

Suddenly, the door opened. The other man showed no sign of attacking and instead gestured for him to enter.

"Please come in, Envoy!"

Rover was shocked once again. Could the password be real? What was the master of this base playing at, daring to insult the Fractsidus leader so openly?

Just as he hesitated over whether to attack, a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"The knight's opponent has appeared!"

With a whoosh, a fierce wind sprang up, and a blonde figure descended from the sky. Though petite, she seemed to carry the storms of all the heavens with her.

"Enemy attack!!"

The Shadow-Peering Artisan suddenly roared, directing his subordinates as they entered battle readiness.

He moved quickly, but his opponent was faster. A powerful pressure descended from above!

The ordinary Artisans could not withstand it at all and were forced straight to their knees.

The rest trembled as though trapped in a quagmire, barely able to move.

"It's Cartethyia!"

Abu's eyes lit up as he spoke excitedly.

As a dual Resonator of a Threnodian and a Sentinel, Cartethyia was as powerful as Jinhsi. Both had one foot in the ranks of Second-Class Reiatsu users. Dealing with these small fry wouldn't take her even a single breath.

"Three swords as one, annihilate!"

The greatsword fell, and the Artisan squad was reduced to ashes!

"One left!"

Cartethyia looked at Rover and swung her sword at him without hesitation.

"Wait, I'm..."

Before he could explain, the sword was already in front of him.

"Bakudō #61: Six-Rod Light Prison!"

Rover struck first with Kidō.

Six rays of light closed in from every direction to bind her, but before they could fully converge, an even more overwhelming force erupted from her petite body.

"Break!!"

The prison of light shattered, and she continued her attack unabated!

"Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan!"

Rover's techniques came one after another. Suddenly, five enormous chains appeared out of thin air and wrapped tightly around Cartethyia, restraining her movements.

"Righteous one, it's you!!"

Cartethyia recognized him in an instant. Such overwhelming strength could belong to no one else.

"Why are you here? I remember you should be at the Black Shores right now, balancing the powers of the Sentinel and the Threnodian in your body."

Hearing this, Cartethyia smiled a little shyly.

"Hehe... I got thrown out. The Shorekeeper doesn't seem to like me very much, so she sent me back to the Tower of Reversal."

"Buzz!!"

Before the two could catch up, a dazzling red light rose from the base.

The alarm had been triggered!