Encountering Linley

The night was deep.

Akes darted through the forest, magic surging beneath his feet, each stride covering several yards. The energy fluctuations in the distance were growing increasingly violent; the battle was clearly far from over. He could sense the stench of blood permeating the air, along with the lingering tremors of magic.

He sensed the situation as he traveled—at least three warriors of the ninth rank, one of whom possessed an aura that was both savage and familiar, carrying a faint trace of dragon might. It was the unique aura of a Dragonblood Warrior, wild and domineering, distinct from ordinary battle qi.

Linley.

Akes accelerated. The dead leaves beneath his feet were swept up by the force of his movement, forming a fleeting trail behind him.

Crossing a small hill, the scene ahead opened up. In the valley, the moonlit ground was a mess, with over a dozen corpses strewn about. In the central clearing, the battle continued.

Linley had transformed, his entire body covered in dark green dragon scales that shimmered with a cold, eerie luster under the moonlight. His hands had become sharp claws, and a thick, muscular dragon tail lashed behind him, each strike accompanied by a piercing shriek as it tore through the air. He was locked in combat with a ninth-rank warrior. The warrior was burly, wielding a greatsword with fierce, sharp technique; every swing whistled with wind, clearly the work of a seasoned veteran. Although Linley's strength had surged after his transformation, his opponent was evidently experienced, dodging Linley's sharpest edges with precise timing and focusing on his openings, leaving Linley unable to gain the upper hand for the moment.

Nearby, a massive Black-Striped Cloud Leopard was dealing with two ninth-rank mages. That was Halu, Linley's contracted magical beast. Its speed was like lightning, leaving only blurred afterimages in the moonlight. However, the two mages coordinated perfectly, one using a wind wall to block its advances while the other used ice arrows to restrict its path. Though Halu was ferocious, it could not break through for the time being.

Further away, a small black mouse—Bebe—was fighting several seventh and eighth-rank guards. The little fellow was shockingly fast, weaving through the crowd, each strike precisely severing a tendon in someone's hand or foot. Its size was so small that it was nearly invisible in the night, with only the continuous, overlapping screams of the guards betraying its presence. Over a dozen men already lay on the ground, but seven or eight remained, frantically swinging their weapons in a desperate attempt to fend off this unseen enemy.

Akes did not hesitate.

He raised his right hand, the Fallen Heart Flame coalescing in his palm. Crimson flames danced, the surrounding air warping from the intense heat. This time, he did not form a fire arrow; instead, he manifested two long spears of flame. The spears were entirely crimson, their surfaces flowing with a magma-like luster, dragging two dazzling trails through the night.

The two ninth-rank mages besieging Halu sensed the danger simultaneously. One turned back abruptly, panic flashing in his eyes, and raised his hand to erect a wind wall. The other quickly condensed ice armor on his body while diving to the side.

But it was too late to dodge.

The flame spears pierced through their chests.

The wind wall proved useless, evaporating the moment it touched the flames. The ice armor was as fragile as paper, failing to block the attack for even an instant. The terrifying temperature of the Fallen Heart Flame instantly burned through all defenses; the two mages didn't even have time to scream before being swallowed by the fire. Their bodies stiffened for a moment while burning before crashing to the ground. The edges of the wounds on their chests were charred black, yet not a single drop of blood flowed out—it had all been evaporated by the extreme heat.

Halu paused, turning its head toward Akes. A flash of human-like surprise crossed its beastly eyes, followed by a low growl that served as a sign of gratitude.

Linley sensed it too, forcing his opponent back with a sudden strike before turning to look.

Their eyes met.

In his transformed state, Linley's eyes were vertical slits, glowing with a faint golden light. The moment he saw Akes, the killing intent in those eyes visibly stalled, replaced by a look of surprise. He clearly had not expected to see Akes here—the last time they met was at the Ernst Institute, back when they were classmates, attending lectures and training together.

"What are you staring at?" Akes said. "Finish the fight first."

Linley's mouth twitched slightly in a smile before he turned back to lunge at his opponent. His movements were noticeably sharper, as if he had cast aside some hidden concern.

Akes did not interfere in Linley's fight, turning instead to the seventh and eighth-rank guards. He waved his hands repeatedly, firing off a series of small fire arrows, each one striking its target with precision. The arrows were small but moved with incredible speed and were impossible to defend against—ordinary battle qi shields were like paper before the Fallen Heart Flame. Already battered by Bebe's harassment, the guards stood no chance against such an assault, and they fell in droves.

Bebe took a moment to wave its little claw at him, its dark, round eyes filled with excitement. It squeaked twice as if to say hello, then continued to pounce on its next target.

In less than half an hour, the battle ended.

As the last guard fell, Linley decapitated the ninth-rank warrior with a single sword stroke. The head rolled to the ground, the expression on its face frozen in disbelief—the man likely died without ever understanding why this young man who had suddenly appeared possessed such terrifying flames.

Linley exited his dragon form, gasping for air. He had several wounds on his body that were bleeding profusely, though none were fatal. The dragon scales had blocked most of the attacks, but the ninth-rank warrior's sword technique had been truly formidable, and a few strikes had managed to pierce his defenses.

Halu returned to its normal size, crouching to the side to lick the blood from its paws. It had sustained some minor injuries, but nothing serious. Bebe hopped over, jumping onto Linley's shoulder and pointing its little claw at Akes, squeaking incessantly as if asking who this person was.

"Why are you here?" Linley asked. His voice was hoarse, likely from the exhaustion of the battle.

"Just passing through." Akes walked over and handed him a bottle of healing potion. It was a concoction he had obtained from Doehring Cowart; the potion refined by that Saint-level grand magus was far superior to anything sold on the market. "I sensed the fluctuations and came to check it out."

Linley took the potion without ceremony, pouring some directly onto his wounds. The moment the powder touched his skin, the bleeding stopped. He raised an eyebrow. "Good stuff."

"Given to me by an elder," Akes said.

The last time they had met was at the Ernst Institute.

"What about you?" Linley asked. "What brings you here?"

"Traveling," Akes replied. "I've been in the Yulan Empire for too long, so I decided to head out. I heard there are many experts in the O'Brien Empire, so I came to see for myself."

Linley nodded, not pressing further. He knew Akes's personality; asking about things he didn't want to share was useless.

Just then, a fit of coughing echoed.

Both men turned simultaneously to look at the ground nearby. An old man lay there, bound in chains and covered in blood, yet still alive. Throughout the battle, he had been tossed to the side, ignored by everyone. Both sides had likely deemed him insignificant—merely a prisoner.

Linley walked over and crouched to examine him.

Akes followed.

The old man looked to be at least sixty or seventy, with graying hair and a face smeared with blood, but his eyes were bright, filled with shrewdness and caution. He was also sizing the two of them up, his gaze lingering on Akes for a moment longer—likely because the flame from earlier had left a deep impression. The temperature of that fire was too terrifying; even from where he lay, he could feel the scorching heat. It was a magic that didn't seem like something a human could master.

"Who are you?" Linley asked. "Why did they capture you?"

The old man didn't answer immediately, instead looking at the corpses around them, then back at Linley and Akes, before speaking in a raspy voice: "You... you aren't with the Radiant Church, are you?"

"No," Linley said.

The old man let out a sigh of relief, a trace of a smile appearing on his face. "That's good, that's good. This old man is Sessler, a Necromancer."

A Necromancer.

Akes remained calm, but he understood. It was indeed this old fellow, one of Linley's important allies in the original story—insidious and cunning, but undeniably capable. In the original tale, this old mage helped Linley with many things; though his character was questionable, he was reliable when it mattered most.

Linley frowned. "A Necromancer?"

"What, does my young friend have a prejudice against Necromancers?" Sessler chuckled. "If I hadn't been holding those guards back from the inside, you wouldn't have had such an easy time of it."

That was true. Akes had noticed earlier that before the fight began, the guards had indeed been acting strangely, their movements sluggish as if influenced by something. He had assumed it was due to injuries, but it seemed Sessler had been pulling strings in the shadows. Necromancers did indeed possess such methods, using death energy to affect the minds of the living; while not powerful, it often played a critical role in battle.

Linley said nothing, reaching out to snap the chains binding Sessler. Although his dragon transformation had faded, his strength remained, and the steel chains were as fragile as hemp rope in his hands.

Sessler stretched his limbs, stood up, and cupped his hands toward the two men. "Many thanks for saving my life. May I ask how to address you both?"

"Linley."

"Akes."

Sessler nodded, his gaze lingering on Akes. "In all my years, this is the first time I have seen such tyrannical flames. Those two ninth-rank mages were burned through before they could even react. Impressive, truly impressive. May I ask who your master is, young friend? My experience is limited, but such flames are rare indeed; they are almost like the legendary..."

"Get to the point," Linley interrupted. "Why were they capturing you?"

The smile on Sessler's face faded, and he sighed. "Because I know too much. I happen to know a few things about the Radiant Church's unspeakable deeds."

Linley's eyes narrowed.

Sessler caught the shift in his expression and understood. He scanned the two men, then lowered his voice. "Gentlemen, this is not the place to talk. I suggest we leave immediately. With so many of the Radiant Church's people dead, experts will arrive to investigate soon. We are not far from their stronghold; in half an hour at most, someone will be here."

Linley looked at Akes.

Akes nodded. "He has a point. Let's move. We can talk on the way."

Linley did not hesitate. He signaled for Bebe and Halu, and they followed Sessler out of the valley. Despite his age, Sessler moved with surprising speed, clearly possessing some foundation.

The group vanished into the night.

Half an hour later, they took shelter in a hidden cave. The cave was well-concealed, its entrance obscured by vines; had it not been for Sessler leading the way, it would have been impossible to find. According to him, this was a former hideout he used to evade pursuit.

Sessler was elderly and wounded, and the exertion left him gasping for air. He slumped to the ground, leaning against a rock, breathing heavily. Blood still seeped from the wound on his chest, and his face was deathly pale.

Linley sat at the cave entrance, his back to the outside, allowing him to observe the surroundings while remaining ready to strike. It was a habit formed from years of combat. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, his small eyes scanning the area vigilantly.

Akes sat slightly further inside and took a sip from his waterskin. He surveyed the cave; it was small but dry, with some hay and dry rations in the corner, suggesting Sessler did indeed frequent this spot.

Bebe remained on Linley's shoulder, his small eyes fixed on Sessler, ready to act at any moment. Halu lay outside the cave entrance, his massive body blocking most of the opening, his eyes glowing with a faint, eerie green light in the darkness.

Sessler caught his breath, looked at the defensive formation, and gave a bitter laugh. "Are you two afraid I might run, or that I might suddenly turn on you?"

"Caution never hurts," Linley said.

Sessler nodded. "True, true. If I were a few decades younger, I might do the same. When traveling, caution is paramount."

He paused, his expression turning serious. "Since you saved me, there are things I should make clear. The Radiant Church captured me because I know their secret—the secret regarding the descent of the angels."

Linley did not react, but Akes noticed his fingers twitch slightly. It was a sign of suppressed emotional turmoil; Akes remembered that back at Ernst, Linley always reacted this way whenever the Radiant Church was mentioned.

"The descent of the angels?" Akes asked. "Explain."

Sessler glanced at him and spoke slowly. "The Radiant Church possesses a secret technique that can summon angels from the Radiant Plane to the Yulan Continent. But the descent requires a vessel—it must be someone with a pure soul, preferably a child, the younger the better. Those chosen children are sent to a secret base of the Church, where they undergo a special ritual to become vessels for the angels."

Linley's expression darkened.

"What happens to the children used as vessels?"

Sessler was silent for a moment before saying, "Most of them die. The angel's soul is too powerful for the vessel's body to withstand. If one or two out of ten survive, it is considered a success. Even those who survive are no longer themselves—their souls are replaced by the angels, and their bodies are modified into half-human, half-angel monsters. They lose all memories and all emotions, knowing only how to obey the Church's commands."

The cave fell silent.

Linley did not speak, but Akes could feel the oppressive rage radiating from him. The anger was almost tangible, making the surrounding air feel heavy.

He knew what Linley was remembering—Linley's mother had also been sacrificed and killed by the Radiant Church. That event was the deepest scar in Linley's heart and the reason for his intense hatred toward the Church.

"Why were you captured?" Akes asked, steering the conversation away.

Sessler gave a bitter smile. "I have been investigating the Radiant Church for years, collecting evidence of their crimes. I will not hide it from you two: when I was young, I had a daughter with great talent. The Radiant Church took an interest in her, claiming they wanted to train her. I was overjoyed, thinking she had a bright future. And yet? Years later, when I went to find her, I learned she had long since died—sacrificed as a vessel for an angel's descent during a ritual."

His voice turned hoarse, and pain flashed in his eyes. "From that day on, I swore to expose the true face of the Radiant Church. Over the years, I have traveled everywhere collecting evidence, infiltrating their bases, and investigating their secrets. Not long ago, I infiltrated one of their secret bases and saw things I shouldn't have. Although I escaped, they pursued me relentlessly, and I was eventually caught. If not for meeting you two, my life would have ended today."

He looked at them, his gaze filled with a certain scrutiny. "Do you two have a grudge against the Radiant Church?"

Linley did not answer.

Neither did Akes.

Seeing this, Sessler smiled. "It is only right that you don't say. However, I can tell you this: my life is yours now. If you need anything in the future, just ask. I may only be a necromancer, but I am useful in certain areas. For instance, gathering intelligence, infiltration, or—killing."

"You want to come with us?" Linley asked.

"That is my intention," Sessler admitted frankly. "You two possess formidable strength and have a history with the Radiant Church. I am alone and weak; staying with you increases my chances of survival. Besides—" He paused. "I know many of the Radiant Church's strongholds in the O'Brien Empire, their transport routes, and their secret bases. These things should be useful to you."

Linley was silent for a while, then looked at Akes.

Akes thought for a moment and said, "He is right. The Radiant Church's influence is too vast for us to handle alone. But if we can find their weaknesses and slowly weaken them, we might have a chance. Besides, a necromancer's methods are indeed useful, at least for gathering information."

Linley nodded and turned to Sessler. "Fine. But remember, if you try to play any tricks—"

"Understood, understood," Sessler waved his hands hurriedly. "This old bag of bones still wants to live a few more years; I won't go looking for trouble. Rest assured, while I may not be a saint, I understand the principle of repaying a debt of gratitude."

The matter was settled.

After dawn, the group left the cave and continued their journey.

Sessler was injured and could not walk fast. Linley had Halu carry him, and the old man was flattered, offering repeated thanks. Bebe jumped onto Halu's back and stared at Sessler, the two of them locking eyes until the old man chuckled.

"Is this little thing your magical beast?" Sessler asked, looking at Bebe with curiosity. "What species is it? I have lived for so many years and have never seen such a beast."

"Bebe," Linley said. "He is my brother."

Sessler was stunned, then smiled. "A brother? Interesting."

Akes and Linley walked side by side in the lead.

"Where to next?" Akes asked.

Linley thought for a moment. "Sessler says there is an important Radiant Church stronghold in Basil, the capital of the Northwest Province. Let's head there first."

His voice was calm, but Akes could hear the resolve behind it.

"Good," Akes said.