In the depths of an unknown underground ruin, the Augustus family's "Chaos Hunter" grew anxious upon realizing that even with the combined efforts of himself and the "Imperative Mage" Teste, they still couldn't subdue Azik. The place had already been exposed, and powerful figures from the Churches could arrive at any moment.
After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally made a decision. He drew out a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact under his control, and with Teste's desperate effort to restrain Azik, successfully linked it to him...
The next moment, Mr. Azik let out a muffled grunt, his spirit turning dazed. Even the "Gate of the Underworld" could no longer be maintained, allowing Teste—who had nearly been dragged into it—to barely escape with his life.
However, the "Chaos Hunter" who activated the Grade 1 Sealed Artifact met a far worse fate. The skin on his face began to crack, as if it would shatter into fragments at any moment.
"You... you're not..." He hadn't even finished speaking when blood burst forth from the cracks in his skin, as though every vein in his body had suddenly ruptured.
This sudden turn of events made both the "Eye of the Goddess" and Ince—who had been fiercely battling—pause in surprise, glancing over with uncertainty.
The first to recover was the "Imperative Mage" Teste. Seeing the duke's miserable condition, he knew silencing witnesses was no longer an option. Taking advantage of Azik's dazed state, he decisively grabbed the blood-soaked "Chaos Hunter," rushed over to Ince—whose pants had fallen around his ankles during the battle—and pointed at Ilya across from them, declaring:
"Banish!"
Caught off guard, Ilya was hurled into the void, her destination unknown.
However, such "banishment" was only temporary. It wouldn't be long before the target found their way back.
So Teste gestured for Ince Zangwill to grab him, then activated "Teleportation" without hesitation.
.....
Within the abstract world above, where seven rays of pure light intersected, Ince immediately checked if "0-08" had randomly written anything again. Confirming it hadn't, he let out a breath of relief. Then, he used "Fallen Morning Star" to bestow "Evans's Hidden Barrier" on both himself and Teste to prevent the "Eye of the Goddess" from tracking them through sacred items. Only afterward did he ask in puzzlement, "Why didn't you take the chance to kill that Azik guy?"
"There wasn't time, and it wouldn't have worked... Don't be fooled by how he looked powerless after the duke's strike. In reality, killing him is extremely difficult!" Teste glanced at the "blood man" he was carrying and spoke grimly.
According to his judgment, calling Azik "He" might be more accurate!
But that was something Ince didn't need to know.
Ince Zangwill dropped the question, nodded, then picked up the shredded pants bunched around his feet during the battle...
.....
At the Red Rose Manor, the witch Trissy looked at Prince Edessak, who was blocking her path. Her expression was half desolate, half bitter, as she said:
"You should have already received a warning from another witch—'Ailment Maiden' Tracy, right? I remember you mentioned it to me... and your guess back then was correct. Just like that Prince of Mountbatten, you were considered expendable. As for me, I'm both the hostage required for the royal family's cooperation with the Witch Sect, and a necessary disguise for deception.
"I carry important items from the Witch Sect, yet remain under your strict surveillance, always at risk of destruction, always on the brink of losing them. That's how we show our sincerity in cooperation. But if anything gets exposed, if the three major Churches or another faction within the military finds out... then things become very simple. Prince Edessak, blinded by lust, secretly shelters a witch. Overwhelmed by guilt, he shoots himself. And then, everything is swept under the rug."
"No!" Edessak blurted out.
He couldn't believe his father would treat him so ruthlessly...
But reality didn't allow him to keep denying it. His face twisted as he asked:
"What are they cooperating on with the Witch Sect?"
"How could a hostage who could be abandoned at any time possibly know?" Trissy laughed at herself. "That's the only reason I wanted to run."
She lowered her head, laughing softly again and again, her body trembling slightly.
After a few seconds, she looked up again, a faint curve at her lips:
"What do you plan to do with me?"
Prince Edessak's round, delicate face remained dark. He silently looked at Trissy for nearly a full minute.
Suddenly, he closed his eyes and pointed to the side:
"Leave.
"Leave through that door."
Trissy raised her eyebrows in shock.
"You're letting me go?"
She subconsciously asked again, "What about you?"
"Mm." Edessak turned to gaze out the window, his eyes lingering longingly on the golf course outside and the horses strolling leisurely. He answered slowly, "As for me… I'll live within this story others have so carefully woven for me, and meet the ending they've prepared…"
Trissy looked at him deeply, forcefully cutting off the surge of emotion in her heart, then turned and left.
Prince Edessak sat beside the tall French windows, watching her departing figure. His eyes were extraordinarily hollow, as if lost in unknown thoughts.
Until a pleasant voice rang softly by his ear: "Edessak, what's wrong?"
His eyes came alive again. He turned toward the voice and saw his childhood friend standing before him—although in her female form. He couldn't help but let out a bitter smile and said, "Lina… I forgot the heartfelt warning you once gave me. I even forgot you at one point… Didn't expect it would be you seeing me off in the end… But this place isn't safe. You should leave quickly…"
As he spoke, he pulled a card from his pocket and placed it in Lina's hand. He continued, "Also, this is the only card I have now that might be of use to you… Take it as a keepsake."
Lina hadn't figured out what was going on yet, and instinctively glanced at the card. What she saw was an illustration of a woman with chestnut-colored hair, her body bare, wrapped only in countless strands of spider silk… Her face looked strangely familiar.
.....
Ebner had just regained his thoughts when he found his vision engulfed in darkness. His entire being felt as if it had lost all sense, like sinking into the deepest slumber without dreams.
This feeling was not unfamiliar to him. Every time he entered that nightmare realm connected to the Underworld through the hot springs in Indor Harbor, he would experience the same sensation.
Why did the Goddess "hide" me too?Is it because She feared I wouldn't be able to escape easily, so She deliberately placed me under protective confinement?Or… does She have deeper plans at work?Well, at the very least, She likely wouldn't harm me…
As his thoughts rapidly turned, Ebner sensed that he was regaining control over his body. He immediately activated the mystical art that came with his advancement—Shield of Glory—and used a thread of "Twilight" power to ward off the icy wind that brushed against him.
Then he opened his eyes and found that his fusion with the bone dragon had already ended. At some point, the latter had quietly returned into that exquisite card crafted by Roselle…
Clutching the card tightly, not daring to relax for even a moment, Ebner looked around, confirming both his surroundings… and the location of the Demoness of Despair.
What met his gaze first was the dense mist and the deep, cool night. Not far off was a small town.
The most striking building in the town was a sharply pointed, old-style church. Entirely black, it lacked a bell tower, and circling above its spire were numerous ravens whose eyes shimmered like starlight.
Scattered around the church were various buildings—ordinary two-story homes, simple wooden huts, bakeries with hanging signs, and ash-white mills powered by water wheels. But not a single pedestrian was in sight. It seemed the townsfolk had all fallen into a deep slumber on this quiet and peaceful night.
It matches the description from the original work…
Without doubt, this was the Nation of the Evernight.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a figure suddenly appeared not far from Ebner.
That person had a beautiful appearance, but their clothes were in tatters, their spirit visibly waning, and blood still lingered at the corners of their mouth—clearly seriously wounded.
Mister A? He's in much worse shape than he was in the original story!
Having instantly grasped the situation, Ebner didn't hesitate. He activated the Lava Sword wielded by the "Demon" in the Magic Mirror's pasture!
At the same time, he simulated the Lethal Strike ability he'd learned from the Red Angel and imbued it into the sulfurous, molten greatsword.
(End of Chapter)