Although Aurelian could barely keep his footing amid the shaking, his face was full of mockery. That mysterious will was surely furious now.
Did it really think he was made of clay? That he had no temper?
But Aurelian had won. He had successfully escaped with his life.
"Blood sacrifice!"
The monster roared in rage and unwillingness. Then, streak after streak of black spread over it, gradually enveloping it. It was the void—the invisible void.
The void had found it, and swallowed it like a giant beast.
Black light flickered around Aurelian too, but it was much fainter than the light around the malformed monster.
He closed his eyes. It was obvious he didn't want to see what was about to happen.
He had once read in a book that you mustn't peer into the void, or you would meet a terrible fate.
So he decided that, while he was still weak, he shouldn't keep tempting fate.
The world spun around him. When it finally stopped and he felt safe at last, Aurelian opened his eyes.
Sunlight dappled through the forest canopy above.
"Phew, it's over."
Aurelian let out a sigh of relief and sat up in the mud.
The chaos-like mist that had once filled this place had vanished. Now there was nothing here, just a vast stretch of bare ground.
He looked at his armor. Much of it was battered and dull, its luster gone.
The blue cape on his back also had several gaping holes. It had lost all its former grandeur.
Aurelian felt his heart bleeding. His armor alone was worth half of everything he owned now.
Swallowing his grief, Aurelian pulled himself together.
He whistled, and George trotted out from a thicket.
Aurelian leaped onto him and galloped back the way they had come.
Dark fled frantically through the dense forest. He had no idea where his horned mask had gone.
His hair was grayish black, and his eyes were yellow, like a beast's. Several scars marked his rather ugly face.
His features were now twisted with fear. As he ran, he kept glancing back. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he finally stop to catch his breath.
Having escaped death, he couldn't help feeling a little glad.
"Hahahaha—"
There was a saying passed down among the tribes: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
"Looks like the shaman was right. I, Dark, really am the chosen one. I survived even this desperate situation. What a shame Lufa died just like that. I still wanted him to tell me more about the Star Empire."
"Damn Star Empire people! I'll remember this grudge. When I rise to power, I'll turn every last one of you into slaves of the Frost Tribe!"
Dark gritted his teeth. He had suffered heavy losses today; almost all of his loyal followers were dead.
But he was certain none of that could stop him. He was the chosen one, and he would surely rule the Frozen Land.
"Just you wait!"
He clenched his fist, his eyes filled with hatred.
As he vented his anger, he suddenly caught sight of a flash of cold light from the corner of his eye. He instinctively dodged to the side.
A violent gust skimmed past his ear, sending his gray hair flying.
"Who?!" he roared instinctively.
"Missed. What a shame. Let's try again."
A black-and-white figure emerged from the darkness. She had pale golden hair in a waist-length braid, and beautiful sky-blue eyes that were utterly cold. She was a beautiful young woman.
In her hand was a dazzling longsword shaped like a cross. Blood dripped from it, one drop at a time.
"You really don't give up. Don't tell me you think I have no way to deal with you?"
Dark sneered and pulled a dagger from his clothes.
"He said you have to die."
Jeanne approached slowly, expressionless, Redemption in hand.
"That guy's been targeted by the Wild Giant. The gods want him dead, and he can barely protect himself. Why don't you come with me instead? I can make you my queen. Heh, you're a lot prettier than the women in my tribe, with their arms as thick as barrels."
Dark sneered madly.
Jeanne said nothing. She answered him with action.
The gleam of Redemption's blade was impossible to follow. In an instant, it cut through the air and reached Dark!
Dark's pupils contracted. He let out a hoarse cry. He was the chosen one—how could he die here?
He still had a chance. The dagger in his hand had been given to him by his tribe's shaman. He could still fight back.
The dagger looked like a blade of black ice.
As Redemption drew near, the dagger emitted a streak of dark light, and a figure appeared.
It was blurry and indistinct, impossible to make out. It stood in front of Dark.
Dark's eyes lit up. His face broke into a delighted grin. He was saved! As expected, it wasn't his time to die.
The dagger came from a temple deep in the Abif Mountains. A powerful witch had blessed it. There was no way this woman could break through that shadow.
Redemption's silver blade struck the shadow, sending ripples of magical energy surging outward.
Jeanne's attack failed, and she retreated.
"Hahahaha! This is the witch's avatar. Looks like you won't be able to kill me today!"
Dark was overjoyed. He began taunting her, waving his arms wildly.
The shadow wavered but remained where it was. A twisted force of darkness clung to it.
Jeanne frowned. She loathed that aura.
But she said nothing, as taciturn as ever, and gripped Redemption with both hands.
Golden radiance spread across Redemption's bright silver blade. She was going to unleash her magic. Such power was generally accompanied by an incantation, allowing it to resonate with the flowing magic and multiply its strength!
"Gather, holy light! The gates of heaven have opened. Let this unclean evil pass away. Let the prayer of Redemption deliver judgment."
When she finished the incantation, golden light blazed from Redemption, gradually becoming a pillar of light.
An angelic hymn rang out. A beam of light from the distant gates descended from the dim sky, shrouding Jeanne as she held her sword aloft and making her seem even more holy. The pillar of light, swirling with an aura of destruction, was about to bring judgment upon everything.
"What is this?"
Dark's eyes widened. Before that golden radiance, he felt how insignificant he was.
The shadow was crumbling. It had encountered its natural enemy!
"Go to hell."
Jeanne spoke, and Redemption came down in a slash, carrying boundless golden light that purified all sin.
"No!"
Dark let out a despairing roar. He couldn't accept this ending.
But what did it matter? This was the Wrath of the Arbiter. It could not be avoided; all he could do was face it.
The pillar of light swept through everything, swallowing even the shadow before reducing it to nothing!
The rumbling finally stopped. The surging magical energy settled, and all was still again. Only a long trench remained in the ground.
Jeanne returned Redemption to its scabbard, her gaze calm, as if nothing that had happened here had anything to do with her.
"That shadow just now had the aura of the Abyss. Was it an Abyssal watcher?"
She looked north, toward the Abif Mountains. There was a hint of worry in her eyes.
Master had just finished dealing with the last barbarian. He looked at the bodies covering the ground. Some of them had been his brothers; others, his enemies.
"Sir Knight Commander."
Darwin walked over. His knight's armor was soaked in blood, and the knight's sword in his hand was broken.
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