Raven's POV
It was four in the morning. The sun had yet to rise.
The sky above Velmora was still cloaked in darkness, with only a faint silver glow stretching across the eastern horizon. The palace grounds were silent, the world suspended in that brief moment between night and dawn.
I sat alone on a weathered wooden bench in the training yard.
My breathing had finally slowed. My shirt clung to my skin, soaked with sweat from hours of training. A thin layer of steam rose from my body as the cold morning air met the lingering heat in my muscles.
Sleep had never come. So I had done what I always did whenever my mind refused to rest.
Footsteps echoed across the stone path. Before I even turned my head…I already knew who they belonged to.
They stopped several paces away. Both of them stared at me.
Kara blinked twice.
"…Raven? What are you doing here?" She looked up toward the still-dark sky. "It's ridiculously early." Her eyes dropped to my clothes. "and You're completely soaked."
I offered a small smile. " Good morning to you too , I couldn't sleep so I decided to train for a bit.
Kara rubbed her forehead.
"…Do you ever sleep?"
"Sometimes." I said with a smile . "But what about you two?"
Kalina walked over and sat beside me on the bench. "I have a lot to prepare." She stretched her shoulders. "If we're raiding Malvias' estate after sunrise, the soldiers need their orders before dawn." She smiled faintly. "and I found Kara awake already."
Kara scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. "I managed to sleep…" She paused. "…For maybe an hour or two ." She sighed. "I was too nervous. So I figured I'd come train for a bit."
Her gaze returned to me. "…Although judging by your shirt…" She shook her head. "How long have you been here?"
"For a while."
Kalina chuckled. "You know…" She stood and stretched. "We've never had a duel before, what do you say?, a few rounds."
"I've already trained eno—"
I stopped Mid-sentence. I felt a presence,a familiar one. I stood so abruptly that the wooden bench scraped loudly across the stone.
Both of them looked at me in confusion.
"Raven?" Kara frowned. "What is it?"
I didn't answer immediately. My senses expanded. Mana. Countless signatures filled the palace. But one signature…Was missing.
I slowly turned toward the palace. "…I can't feel Princess Lyria."
Kara frowned. "What do you mean?"
I whispered, "…She's gone."
Kara's eyes widened.
"What?"
Without another word…I ran. The palace corridors blurred past me. Servants jumped aside in alarm as I sprinted through the halls.
Behind me I could hear Kara and Kalina struggling to keep up.
"Raven!"
"Wait!"
I ignored them. I reached Princess's door within seconds. Locked. I didn't hesitate. My foot slammed into the wooden door.
CRACK!
The hinges exploded inward. The door crashed onto the floor. I entered immediately.
"…Princess?"
Silence. The room was empty. The bed. Untouched except for disturbed blankets. The balcony. Closed. No broken windows. No signs of struggle. No blood. Nothing.
Kara rushed inside moments later. Her eyes darted around the room. "Lyria?" Her breathing became uneven. "Where is she? where did she go?." She turned toward me desperately. "Raven!, Where is Lyria?!"
I closed my eyes. Searching. Searching farther. Across the palace. Across Velmora. Nothing. I slowly opened my eyes.
"I don't know. I can't sense her mana …anywhere in the city."
Kara stared at me.
Kalina froze. "…She was kidnapped." Her voice became almost a whisper. "But how…and by who?"
"We know who took her."
Both of them looked at me immediately.
"…Malvias. I feel his mana in this room."
Kalina's face lost all color. "Malvias?! , but…how did he even enter the palace? The entire estate is under heavy guard, no one can enter."
I answered calmly.
" Thomas ،The man Malvias sent to track down a princess, mentioned something last night. He said Malvias could move through shadows."
I looked toward the darker corners of the room. "He didn't walk past the guards.He simply appeared ."
Silence settled over the room.
Kara clenched both fists. "No. No, Lyria, she's in danger." Her voice shook. "We have to find her right now."
Kalina's mind was already racing. "But why did Malvias kidnap the princess now?." She frowned deeply. "He must have realized we uncovered his identity." She looked toward me. "but how did he find out? Who told him?"
Kara didn't even wait for an answer.
"This is not important now. We have to tell the Duke. We'll search every inch of Velmora if we have to."
Both of them rushed out of the room. Their hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
I remained alone. Leaning quietly against the wall. My arms folded across my chest. A small smile slowly appeared on my face.
Morivane materialized beside me. She stared. "What's with that smile?"
I didn't answer.
She narrowed her crimson eyes. "…Are you going to tell them?, …That you're the one who leaked the information about the raid?"
I looked toward the shattered doorway. "Maybe." A pause. "…No. I don't think I will."
Morivane folded her arms. "You knew." Her voice became quieter. "You knew he would kidnap the princess."
"…Yes."
She stared at me for several long seconds. "So. you used princess as bait."
I shrugged.
Morivane let out a slow whistle. "…That's cold." Finally she asked, "…Why?"
I looked toward the pale light beginning to appear outside the palace windows. "Because we can't catch him otherwise."
She waited.
"His shadow movement…It's almost identical to my teleportation. If we attacked him directly… He'd disappear ,hide and we'd never find him."
I looked down at my hands. "He also possesses a method of concealing mana. If he vanished…Even I wouldn't be able to track him."
I met her gaze.
"And while he hid…He'd send every monster he controls against Velmora. The city would fall. And he'd remain safely out of reach until everyone was dead."
Morivane nodded slowly.
"So instead…You forced him to take Something to track him, The princess."
"Exactly."
She frowned "You literally used the princess as a tracking device."
" Yes, that necklace that I gave to the princess is a necklace carries my teleportation marks. I have placed a part of my energy in a gemstone."
"No matter where he hides, as long as she still wears it I will find them."
Morivane's eyes widened. "…So you already know where they are."
"Not precisely. They're somewhere outside Velmora. The necklace hasn't been removed."
Understanding slowly spread across her face. "…So that's what you meant. When you said we had a long night ahead."
I nodded.
"I expected him to act sooner. He took longer than I anticipated."
Morivane drifted closer. Until she stood directly before me. She lifted one finger beneath my chin with a teasing smile. "…You really are heartless."
She leaned closer. Her voice became almost a whisper. "When your princess discovers…that you knowingly let yourself become her kidnapper's path to victory…"
"…her little heart is going to shatter."
I looked past Morivane. Toward the distant horizon. My voice remained calm. "If princess had known my plan…she would have volunteered to be the bait herself."
Morivane looked at me with that familiar, teasing smirk.
"So…" She folded her arms. "Is this how you're avoiding feeling guilty about what you did to your princess?"
I looked at her without changing my expression. "Guilty?" I repeated calmly. "Do I look like someone burdened by guilt?"
She studied my face for several long seconds. Searching. Trying to find even the smallest crack in the mask I wore. She found nothing.
I sighed quietly. "Are you finished interrogating me?, I have things to do."
Morivane chuckled. "Almost." She raised a finger. "One last question." Her crimson eyes narrowed. "You're going to save Princess Lyria…. aren't you?"
Silence. For a brief moment, I didn't answer. then A faint smile appeared on my lips. It never reached my eyes. "Of course I'll bring her back."
Morivane didn't smile back. Instead…Her expression became strangely serious. "Hm…I don't know why…but I don't like the way you answered that."
I pushed myself away from the wall. "I should go. I want to see how the Duke plans to deal with the army that's marching toward Velmora."
Morivane blinked.
"…Army?"
I stepped into the corridor. " Malvias's army. The one he'll send to destroy the city."
For several seconds…Morivane simply floated beside me. Then she asked quietly, "Why kidnap the princess? What does he even want from her?" A pause. "…What if he turns her into a monster too?"
"He won't." My answer came without hesitation. "He won't hurt her. He won't transform her. In the end…Princess Lyria is his greatest bargaining chip. He may use her to negotiate. Or perhaps…He has another plan entirely."
I glanced through one of the palace windows. "But whatever he's planning…He needs her alive. I'm certain of that."
The grand audience hall had become complete chaos. Knights rushed in every direction. Messengers sprinted through the corridors carrying sealed orders. Servants hurried to move supplies.
The Duke stood in the middle of it all. His calm composure from the previous night had completely vanished. His voice thundered across the hall.
"Search every district! Every street!, Every abandoned building!, I want every corner of Velmora searched!, If the princess is still inside this city…We will find her!"
"Move!"
The soldiers saluted. "Yes, Your Grace!" Within seconds they scattered in every direction.
The Duke turned toward one of his Knight. " you, Take a squad immediately. Go to Malvias' estate.and Arrest everyone. No exceptions and Bring them here."
The knight nodded. "What about Councilwoman lady Cecilia?"
The Duke's expression darkened. "Arrest her as well. Bring her to me for questioning."
The knight bowed deeply before disappearing through the palace gates.
The Duke turned toward Kalina. "Take half the knights. Search west of the city. I'll send another force north."
Kalina nodded.
"Understood."
Kara immediately stepped beside her. "I'm coming too." She looked toward me. "What about you, Raven? Are you coming?"
I shook my head. "No. I have something else to take care of."
She stared at me for a moment. As if she wanted to ask another question. Instead…She simply nodded and left with kalina.
Only the Duke and I remained. He looked at me carefully. "…You're surprisingly calm. Aren't you worried about Princess Lyria?" His eyes narrowed. "Or…Do you know something the rest of us don't?"
"I am worried." I answered honestly. "But panic won't help anyone. We need clear heads. and I'll definitely find her."
Before leaving, I stopped beside him. "I think you should strengthen security at the city borders."
His eyebrows furrowed.
"Why?"
"Just… as a precaution"
Without waiting for his response…I walked away.
I returned to my room. Gone were the elegant clothes from last night's banquet. Instead…I changed into the black combat attire I always wore on dangerous missions. Twin daggers strapped across my back. My sword resting comfortably at my left hip. Finally…I threw my dark cloak over everything.
When I stepped outside again…The sun had fully risen. Velmora was already descending into panic. Soldiers marched through the streets. Citizens whispered nervously. Merchants hurriedly closed their shops. Rumors spread faster than wildfire.
I borrowed one of the Duke's horses. Within moments…I was racing toward the cave Henry had described.
Half an hour later…I arrived. The cave entrance was silent. I closed my eyes. Expanded my senses. Nothing. No monsters. No humans. No mana. Empty.
I entered anyway. The cavern stretched deep beneath the mountain.
Gigantic claw marks scarred the stone walls. Dark stains of dried blood covered the ground. Broken chains. Shattered cages. The air still carried the faint scent of corruption.
Everyone was gone. Only abandoned armor…Rusting weapons…and belongings that had once belonged to kidnapped soldiers and hunters.
As I prepared to leave…I stopped. Something…A trace, Almost imperceptible. A strange magical residue lingered against the stone.
It didn't belong to a human. Nor a monster. It felt…Different. Older. Ancient. I touched the wall. "…Interesting."
But whatever had left that trace…Was long gone.
I returned to the city. This time…My destination wasn't the palace. It was Thomas' home. He had sent word that he'd discovered something important.
Finding his house proved harder than expected. It stood deep within Velmora's poorest district. Narrow alleyways twisted endlessly between crumbling homes.
I finally found it. A tiny, aging house stood behind a worn wooden fence. Despite its condition…Someone had cared for it. A small vegetable garden flourished in the front yard.
Tomatoes. Carrots. Beans. Simple things. Evidence of people trying their best.
I knocked twice. After a moment…The door opened. A woman in her thirties stood before me. She looked exhausted. Dark circles rested beneath her eyes.
"How Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Thomas."
Before she could answer…A familiar voice came from inside. "Who's at the door, dear?"
Thomas stepped into view. The moment he saw me…His eyes widened. "Lady Raven?! What are you doing here? I thought we agreed to meet tonight at the tavern."
"We don't have until tonight. I need the information now."
His expression immediately became serious.
The woman looked between us. "…Thomas? What's going on?"
He quickly stepped aside. "Please. Come inside. I'd rather no one sees us talking."
The house was small. Simple. Clean.
Thomas closed the door behind us. He turned toward his wife. "This is the lady I told you about. The one who's going to help our daughter."
"Just call me Raven."I looked back at Thomas. "Tell me what you found."
He nodded immediately.
"I discovered who hired me."
"It was Malvias Orian the merchant. He is a well-known man in Velmora. I've been following him for some time and discovered that there's a place he goes to secretly every night."
"Where?"
"It is located far outside a city in the middle of a forest and it is like a very old castle, but half of it is buried underground and it is said that the castle has hidden powers."
Thomas reached into his coat. He unfolded an old map across the table. His finger pointed toward a dense forest far outside Velmora. "Here. An ancient fortress. I marked the exact location."
I memorized it before folding the map and slipping it into my cloak.
Thomas looked at me nervously. "I kept my part of the bargain. I hope…you haven't forgotten yours."
"I haven't. and I'll help your daughter. But not today."
His expression stiffened.
"Right now…You need to take your family to the Duke's palace."
He frowned.
"…Why?"
I looked at both him and his wife. "Because within the next few hours…A army of monsters will attack Velmora. and this area will be the first to be attacked."
Both of them turned pale.
"W-What?"
"There will be a battle. Take your family and go immediately, if anyone tries to stop you tell them Raven sent you."
Thomas stared at me in horror.
"Monsters…Today?"
"Yes." I placed the reins of my horse into his hands. "I will leave my horse with you since your daughter is ill and may not be able to walk that far."
For several moments…Neither of them spoke. Then both bowed deeply. "Thank you…Lady Raven."
I gave a small nod. Then turned toward the door.
By the time I reached the merchant district, the city had become almost unrecognizable. Rumors spread faster than wildfire. Fear had infected the city far more efficiently than any plague ever could.
I ignored the chaos. There was still one thing I needed before confronting Malvias.
The sign above the old shop creaked softly in the morning breeze.
Wilson's Arms & Elixirs.
The moment I stepped inside, the familiar scent of steel, leather, herbs, and alchemical ingredients filled the air.
Behind the counter sat an elderly man with a thick gray beard. He was reading a newspaper without the slightest concern for the panic consuming the city outside.
Without looking up, he spoke. "Yes?, What can I help you with?"
I stopped before the counter. "Are you Jonathan Wilson?"
The old man turned another page. "I am. And who might be asking?"
"I was sent by Francis for the First Temporal Scroll."
That finally caught his attention. He lowered the newspaper just enough for sharp blue eyes to study me. "So… You're the girl the old fool mentioned , the one who searching for the Aetherion scroll."
I gave a small nod. "Do you have it? Or at least any information about it?"
Jonathan slowly folded the newspaper and set it aside. Instead of answering…He asked a question of his own.
"Do you know that the Aetherion Scroll isn't actually a scroll?" He leaned forward. "It's actually a tool. And do you know what that tool is capable of?"
Of course I knew. That was the entire reason I had spent years searching for it. But I remained silent.
Satisfied with my lack of interruption, Jonathan continued.
"They say it was discovered centuries ago within the Ashfall Wastes." His expression became unusually serious. "The power hidden inside frightened every king of the old kingdoms."
"They feared that if a single ruler possessed it…the balance of the world would collapse."
"So…They dismantled it. They divided the artifact into four separate pieces." He counted them slowly on his fingers.
"The First Temporal Scroll was entrusted to Aurelia."
"The Scroll of Forgotten Dimensions was given to the Noctharyn Dominion."
"The Scroll of Cosmic Fractures was entrusted to Sylvarien."
"And…"
"The Scroll of Seven Gates was sealed within the Kingdom of Vilara."
He leaned back. "That happened three hundred and forty-six years ago." His voice grew quieter. "They say that when all four pieces are reunited…they form a key."
"A key to a gate hidden somewhere within the Ashfall Wastes." He laughed softly. "Of course…Most people consider it nothing more than a fairy tale."
"No one has ever seen the gate. No one has ever proven the legend." Jonathan's eyes met mine. "But you…You know what the Aetherion artifact truly does…don't you?"
"I do." I answered calmly. "And I also know it isn't a myth or fairytale."
For several seconds…The old merchant simply stared at me. Then he nodded. "I thought so. Good. Then I won't waste your time anymore."
He reached beneath the counter and pulled out several weathered notes. "I investigated the First Temporal Scroll. The one believed to have belonged to Aurelia."
He unfolded one of the papers. "According to old royal records…It was stolen from the palace two hundred and thirty-seven years ago."
"The thief vanished. The Scroll vanished with them. It remained lost for one hundred and fifty years."
My attention sharpened.
Jonathan continued. "Then one day…A wandering traveler appeared before the king. He handed over the Scroll."
"He claimed he'd found it hidden inside an dungeon ." Jonathan shrugged. "Since that day…The artifact has remained in the possession of Aurelia's royal family."
"But… No one knows where the current king hides it."
Silence settled between us.
"…Is that everything?" I asked.
He nodded. "That's everything. Nobody bothers researching something they don't believe exists."
I slowly extended my hand. A small wooden box materialized from empty space, resting neatly upon my palm.
Jonathan's eyebrows rose.
I placed it gently on the counter. "As agreed. Your Payment."
He carefully lifted the box. His fingers trembled slightly as he opened it. The moment he saw its contents…His eyes widened.
"Impossible…You actually have one…" He looked back at me in disbelief. "I never imagined I'd see the heart of a Caelum Beast in my lifetime."
I simply smiled. "It was a pleasure doing business with you." Without another word…I turned and left the shop.
Morivane appeared beside me almost instantly. She glanced back toward the store. "What did you give him? He looked ready to faint."
"Do you remember the monster I killed near border?, The one whose ice ability I copied?"
She nodded. "The Caelum Beast."
"One of the rarest monsters in existence. I gave him its heart."
Morivane let out a low whistle. "That's… quite a payment."
"The beast's hide alone is worth a fortune. It can be forged into nearly indestructible armor. But its heart…"
She looked at me. "…that's the truly priceless part."
I nodded. "Alchemists use it to create the highest-grade mana elixirs. A single dose can multiply a mage's mana reserves several times over. It can also produce potions that temporarily grant affinity with ice magic."
"The whole heart sells for enough to buy an estate."
Morivane laughed. "And you just handed it away."
"I had no further use for it."
She shook her head. "You really are terrible at valuing money." After a moment, her expression became thoughtful. "So…"The king possesses the First Scroll." She folded her arms. "Do you think Princess Lyria knows?"
"I honestly don't know."
"If she's the future queen…" Morivane said. "…then protecting one of the kingdom's greatest treasures would eventually become her responsibility."
She looked at me. "In that case…Wouldn't it be wiser to rescue your princess before she gets herself hurt?"
I looked toward the distant palace. "…I know. and I'll go. But first…I need to tell Kara and the others where Malvias is hiding." I slipped Thomas' map securely beneath my cloak.
By the time I returned to the Duke's palace, the entire estate had transformed into organized chaos.
I pushed open the doors to the sitting room. Everyone was already there. The room fell silent the moment I entered.
The Duke was the first to speak.
"You're back, Raven." His normally composed voice carried unmistakable strain. "Where have you been all this time?"
Before I could answer, Kara rushed toward me. Her face was pale. Her eyes red from exhaustion.
"Raven!, We searched the entire western forest." She shook her head desperately. "We couldn't find Lyria."
She grabbed both of my shoulders. Her grip was painfully tight. "Where were you?, What were you doing while we were searching for her?"
Her voice cracked. "What were you doing, Raven?, Aren't you worried about Lyria?"
I looked down at her hands grabbing my shoulders. Without force…I gently removed them.
"Calm down first." My voice remained quiet. "Then we can talk."
Her eyes widened. "…Calm down?" She suddenly grabbed the collar of my shirt instead. "How can you tell me to calm down?!, We don't know where Lyria is!, We don't know what she's going through right now!, How can you stand there acting like this?!"
Kalina hurried over and pulled Kara away from me.
"Kara!, Enough. This isn't helping."
Kara struggled against her. "What do you mean enough?!" She pointed at me. "Where was Raven while we were searching for Lyria?. Wasn't protecting the princess her responsibility?"
Kalina looked equally exhausted. "What happened isn't Raven's fault. None of us expected Malvias to possess a shadow transportation. He entered a heavily guarded palace without anyone noticing."
Morivane laughed. She covered her mouth, barely hiding her amusement. "She's right. The kidnapping definitely wasn't Raven's fault."
Another laugh escaped her. Then she leaned close and a smirk formed on her lips. "But…What do you think they'll do when they learn what you actually did?"
I ignored her.
The Duke finally raised his voice. " Lady Kara. That's enough."
His gaze shifted toward me. "Raven…. Answer me. Where did you go this morning?, And what were you doing?"
I straightened the collar Kara had wrinkled. "I was looking for Princess Lyria."
Kalina stepped forward. "…Did you find her?"
"I believe…"I found where Malvias is hiding."
The Duke's eyes widened.
"You did?, Where?"
Before I could answer—The doors burst open. A knight stumbled inside, breathing heavily.
"Your Grace!" He dropped to one knee. "My apologies for interrupting. But we've spotted them!" He struggled to catch his breath. "A massive monster army is advancing toward Velmora." They'll reach the city in less than twenty minutes."
The atmosphere inside the room changed instantly.
The Duke didn't hesitate.
"Kalina."
She stood immediately.
"Take the knights. Establish the first defensive line inside the city. Do not allow the monsters to reach the civilians."
"Yes, Your Grace."
He turned toward another commander. "Marcus. You'll take another company. Begin evacuating every civilian. Move everyone to the palace."
Marcus saluted.
"At once."
The room exploded into motion. Captains hurried outside. Soldiers began shouting orders through the halls.
I stepped toward Kalina. "I'm coming with you."
Kara stared at me. "…What about Lyria?" Her voice was almost pleading. "Aren't we going to rescue her?"
"We will." I answered. "But first. We stabilize the city."
Her fists clenched. "And what if we're too late?, What if something happens to her while we're wasting time here?"
"Nothing will happen to her." There wasn't the slightest hesitation in my voice. "I promise. I'll bring her back safely."
"The civilians come first. If Velmora falls…Thousands will die."
"First, We must stop the monsters army. Then we go after Malvias."
Kara lowered her head. She hated the answer. But she knew I was right.
"…Fine." She whispered. "But the moment this battle ends…We're going after him"
"You have my word."
Less than fifteen minutes later…We stood inside the heart of Velmora. The city's main avenue had become a battlefield before the battle had even begun.
Knights formed disciplined ranks across the wide stone road. Tower shields slammed against the ground in perfect unison. Archers climbed rooftops overlooking the streets. Mages stood behind the shield wall, preparing defensive circles.
Far behind us…Citizens fled toward the Duke's palace. Children cried. Parents carried whatever belongings they could. The entire city had become a river of frightened people flowing toward safety.
Kalina walked along the defensive line. "The monsters have broken through the first line of defense at the city's borders, and now they are heading here."
"Hold formation!, No one breaks ranks!, The monsters do not pass this street!"
Every soldier answered with the same determined shout.
"Yes, Commander!"
I stood quietly near the front. One hand rested on the hilt of my sword. The other inside my cloak. The necklace's faint connection still pulsed in the back of my mind.
The signal hadn't disappeared. Good.
Morivane floated beside me. "So…How many do you think are coming?"
I closed my eyes for only a second. Feeling the corrupted mana approaching. "…Several hundred."
"That's quite the welcome party."
A cold wind swept through the empty streets. Then…One by one Every bird in the city suddenly took flight. Silence followed. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Every soldier instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons. Far beyond the city gates…A deafening roar echoed across the plains. The ground began to tremble beneath our feet.
They had arrived. Thousands of footsteps pounded against the earth in perfect chaos. Beyond Velmora's eastern gate, an endless sea of monsters emerged from the morning mist.
Some were massive enough to tower above the city walls. Others still carried distorted human forms—their eyes empty, their skin blackened by corruption, their movements unnaturally violent.
Kalina stepped to the front of the defensive line. Her voice echoed across the street.
"Archers!"
"Ready!"
Every bowstring tightened at once. More than a hundred archers standing upon rooftops and defensive platforms drew enchanted arrows from their quivers.
Fire. Lightning. Wind and Ice. Every arrow shimmered with mana.
Kalina never took her eyes off the charging horde.
"Hold…"
The monsters came closer. Their deafening roars shook the walls.
"Hold…"
Closer. I could already distinguish individual faces. Some still resembled humans. Some had become almost completely monstrous.
Kalina raised her sword.
"Release!!"
The sky exploded. Hundreds of arrows shot forward simultaneously, streaking across the battlefield like falling stars.
The first volley struck.
Flaming arrows erupted into massive explosions, hurling monsters through the air.
Bolts infused with lightning pierced flesh before releasing violent currents that reduced entire bodies to ash.
Wind enchantments accelerated arrows to terrifying speeds, allowing a single shaft to pierce ten… sometimes more monsters before stopping.
Screams filled the battlefield. Bodies collapsed. The first ranks were obliterated.
Yet…The monsters never slowed. They simply climbed over the corpses of their fallen and continued charging.
Kalina's expression hardened. "Swordsmen!, Draw your blades!"
Steel rang through the city. Thousands of swords left their scabbards at once.
I looked toward Kalina.
"Tell your soldiers, If they encounter monsters that still resemble humans…Don't kill them."
She frowned.
"…Why?"
"We can still save them. They can be turned back."
For only a heartbeat…Hope appeared in her eyes. She immediately shouted toward the knights.
"You heard her!. If they still have human forms—capture if possible!, Don't strike fatal blows!"
The soldiers answered with determined voices.
"Yes, Commander!"
Beside me, Kara tightened her grip around her sword. "Let's finish this quickly." Her eyes never left the approaching army. "Then we'll bring Lyria home."
I nodded once.
I slowly reached toward the sword hanging at my waist. The moment my fingers wrapped around its black hilt…The weapon almost seemed to breathe. I drew it from its sheath.
Abyssdrinker.
Its blade was unnaturally dark. Like a fragment of endless night forged into steel. Faint violet veins pulsed beneath its surface. Everything around the blade felt…Empty.
Even the surrounding mana instinctively flowed toward it before disappearing into the sword itself. As always…It hungered.
Morivane floated beside me. "…It never gets any less unsettling. The thing eats magic like it's starving."
The first wave arrived. Kalina moved first. She launched herself high into the air with explosive force. For a brief moment…She disappeared above the battlefield, Then…She descended like a meteor.
Her sword pierced straight through the neck of the leading monster. The impact shattered the cobblestone beneath them.
Before the corpse had even finished falling…Another beast lunged toward her. Its enormous claw swept through the air. Kalina met it head-on. Steel collided against claw with a deafening crash.
She twisted her wrist. Redirected the attack. Then, in one clean motion—
Slash.
The monster's arm spun through the air. A second strike followed immediately. Her sword plunged deep into its chest. The creature collapsed without another sound.
She didn't pause. She was already moving toward the next enemy.
Watching her…I thought quietly, She'll be fine. She doesn't need help.
I shifted my gaze toward Kara. She wasn't as overwhelming as Kalina. But she was fast. Two corrupted humans had surrounded her. One attacked from the front. The other from behind.
She barely ducked beneath the first strike. The second monster's claws tore through empty air only inches from her shoulder. Kara spun. Her blade flashed. A deep wound opened across one creature's neck.
It staggered. She immediately stepped inside the second monster's reach before it could recover. A precise thrust. Straight through the chest. The creature froze. Collapsed.
The first monster tried to rise again despite its wound. Kara ended it with a swift slash across the throat. She exhaled heavily.
I watched for another moment. She'll manage too. Neither of them required assistance. Which meant…My attention could remain where it belonged.
Far beyond the battlefield. Toward the one controlling all of this. Malvias.
"…Enjoy your little distraction." I whispered beneath my breath. "I'm coming for you."
I stepped forward. The monsters standing before me instinctively froze. because Abyssdrinker had already begun devouring the mana surrounding them.
The air itself grew heavier. Even the corrupted magic flowing through their bodies started being pulled toward the blade. One monster roared and charged.
I didn't move until it was close enough for its claws to almost touch my face.
One swing. A silent, horizontal cut. The monster stopped moving. For a heartbeat…Nothing happened.
Then its body split cleanly in two.
The black mana flooding its flesh poured into Abyssdrinker, disappearing into the blade as though swallowed by a bottomless abyss. The sword gave a faint hum. Satisfied.
Compared to Kalina and Kara…My battle was effortless. Not because the monsters were weak. But because none of them could keep up with me.
One after another, they rushed toward me with mindless fury, driven only by the corruption coursing through their bodies. The first monster lunged from directly ahead.
Before it reached me—Another leaped from behind, its enormous jaws opening wide enough to swallow my head whole, rows of jagged fangs glistening with black saliva.
I didn't even bother turning around.
"Slow."
The world fell silent. Time itself crawled. The monsters became little more than statues suspended in the air.
I stepped backward. Drove Abyssdrinker cleanly through the heart of the creature behind me. Dark mana surged from its body, flowing greedily into the blade.
I pulled the sword free. Time resumed. Without missing a beat, I pivoted toward the monster in front of me. Its claws were inches from my throat.
One upward slash. A clean arc of black steel. The creature split from its waist to its skull before it even realized I had moved. Its body fell apart on either side of me.
I kept walking. Three more charged at once. One raised both hands, forming an enormous sphere of fire. The blazing projectile roared toward me.
I simply lifted my sword. The fire struck the blade—And vanished. Every fragment of mana composing the spell was swallowed whole by Abyssdrinker.
The monster's eyes widened in confusion.
I met its descending claw with my sword, knocked the attack aside, and carved a deep wound across its abdomen. It collapsed onto one knee, roaring in agony.
One thrust. Straight through its open mouth. The blade emerged from the back of its neck. Instead of pulling the sword free…I raised my arm. The monster's skull split apart from jaw to crown. Its lifeless body slid from the blade.
Another beast rushed me from the left. I didn't block. One horizontal swing severed both its arm and head in the same motion. Its body continued running two more steps before collapsing.
Movement. Right side. I ducked beneath sweeping claw. A quick thrust pierced the creature's knee. It screamed as it crashed forward. I left it alive. For now.
Another monster appeared directly ahead. I drove the sword into its eye. Twisted. Pulled free. Then turned and finished the wounded one with a single strike that removed its head.
The battlefield blurred around me. Every movement flowed into the next. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
Another creature lunged. Instead of drawing my blade back…I caught its wrist with my free hand. Twisted. Its elbow shattered with a sickening crack.
At the same instant—I threw Abyssdrinker. The spinning blade pierced the chest of a monster attempting to ambush me from behind.
Without even looking…I drew one of the daggers from my back. The creature in front of me roared. I drove the dagger into its chest.
It staggered. A second strike buried the blade through its ear and into its brain. The monster collapsed instantly.
I sheathed the dagger. Walked calmly toward the corpse impaled by my sword. Wrapped my fingers around the hilt. Pulled Abyssdrinker free.
A piercing screech echoed overhead. I looked up. A winged beast dove toward me from the sky.
I bent my knees. Jumped. The force shattered the cobblestones beneath my feet.
Midair—One slash. Its left wing separated cleanly from its body.
The creature spiraled helplessly toward the ground. Before it could rise—My sword pierced its throat.
Then…Two familiar figures appeared. Not monsters. Humans. Or rather…Humans transformed into monsters. Their faces were still visible beneath the corruption. They could still be saved.
I lowered my stance. The first charged recklessly. Instead of aiming for a killing blow…I thrust my sword through his thigh. He collapsed immediately.
I kept the blade embedded. Dark mana poured from his body into Abyssdrinker. His violent struggles weakened. Then stopped altogether.
His monstrous muscles shrank as the corruption drained away. Once he was completely powerless…I struck the back of his head with the pommel of my sword. He fell unconscious.
The second attacked from behind. I grabbed his arm. Turned my hips. Using an old judo throw I'd learned years ago at the police academy…
I flipped him clean over my shoulder. His body slammed into the stone street hard enough to crack it. Before he could recover…I planted Abyssdrinker against his chest. The blade began drinking away every trace of corrupted mana inside him. His struggling ceased. He lost consciousness seconds later.
"…That should do."
A whistle sounded behind me.
I turned.
Kalina stared at me with open disbelief. "…Well…" A grin spread across her exhausted face. "You're terrifying."
She glanced around. Dozens of monster corpses littered the street around me. "You defeated all of them…in less than a minute. And you don't even have a scratch."
I looked at her.
"Unlike you."
She was breathing heavily. Cuts covered both arms. Blood soaked one side of her armor.
"You seem to be having considerably more trouble."
Kalina looked down at herself before shrugging with a crooked smile. "They're just scratches. I can still fight."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?, You look exhausted."
She laughed. "I'll admit…I'm a little tired. But there are still monsters out there. I'll manage."
I sighed softly. Then walked toward her.
She frowned.
"What are you—"
I placed my hand on her shoulder.
She blinked.
"…Raven?"
I didn't answer. A faint dark light spread beneath my palm. The cuts across Kalina's body slowly disappeared. The bloodstains faded.
At the same time…Fresh wounds opened across my own arms and shoulder. The pain arrived an instant later. Warm blood slid beneath my sleeve.
Then I transferred a small portion of my own mana into her.
Kalina's eyes widened. She stared at her healed hands. "…What…" She looked back at me in complete shock. "My wounds…They're gone."
Then she noticed the blood now staining my clothes. "…Raven. Your injuries…What did you do?,And why do I suddenly feel…" She clenched her fist. "…stronger?"
I removed my hand. "It's not important. There isn't time to explain." I looked toward the battlefield, where more monsters continued pouring through the shattered gate .
"How about you put that strength to good use?, For now…Why don't you go and help Kara? She seems to be having some difficulty fighting alone."
Kalina remained frozen for another few seconds. Then determination replaced her confusion.
"…Right." She nodded firmly. "…Thank you."
Without waiting for another answer, she sprinted toward Kara, joining the battle once more.
I watched them for a brief moment.
The wounds I'd taken onto myself were already knitting shut. The cuts closed. The blood stopped flowing. Within seconds…There wasn't even a scar left behind.
I flexed my fingers around the hilt of Abyssdrinker. I turned toward the next wave of monsters advancing through the smoke. "Let's finish this quickly."
The battle refused to end. Every time we cut down a wave of monsters…Another emerged from the forest. Then another. and another. It was as though the earth itself continued giving birth to them.
The streets were drowning beneath corpses. Black blood and red flowed between shattered stones. Smoke covered the sky.
The soldiers were exhausted. I could hear their breathing growing heavier with every passing minute. Their sword swings had become slower. Some could barely keep their shields raised.
"They're breaking through!"
A knight's desperate scream echoed across the battlefield.
I looked up. The eastern barricade had begun collapsing beneath the relentless assault. Several monsters forced their way through the defensive line, charging deeper into the city.
Before they could advance—The ground trembled. Stone erupted upward. Massive pillars of rock burst from beneath the streets, twisting together into an enormous wall that completely blocked the avenue.
Kara. She stood several streets away. One hand extended. Sweat streamed down her face as she maintained the spell.
The stone barrier stretched nearly twenty meters high. The monsters slammed against it over and over, but the wall held…For now.
Another cry reached my ears. "There are too many!, We can't hold them!, We have to retreat!"
More voices joined in.
"We're exhausted!"
"They're too strong!"
Kalina immediately stepped onto a pile of rubble. Her sword pointed toward the enemy.
"No!"
Her voice carried across the battlefield. "If we retreat now…Velmora falls." She looked at every soldier. "We are the last line. If we break…There will be no one left to protect the civilians behind us. If we withdraw now, your family, friends, and loved ones will die.
She raised her blade.
"So stand and Fight with everything you have!"
The soldiers answered. But…I could hear it. The hesitation. The fear. They were reaching their limits.
I looked toward the endless tide of monsters. Then toward the city behind us. Then…Toward the invisible direction where princess Lyria had been taken.
Every minute spent here…Was another minute she remained in Malvias' hands.
Enough.
I slowly wrapped both hands around the hilt of Abyssdrinker. The sword trembled. Almost expectantly.
"You've been hungry." I whispered. "So…You have my permission."
The blade pulsed. A deep vibration travelled through my arms.
"For this battle…I release every restriction. You may devour. Everything."
I closed my eyes for a brief second.
"But listen carefully. You are not to touch a single human. If your hunger reaches even one innocent…I'll drain every drop of mana inside you."
Silence. Then—The sword answered. A powerful heartbeat echoed through the blade. As if acknowledging my command.
"…Good."
I lifted Abyssdrinker high overhead. Then drove it into the ground with force
BOOM!
The impact shook the entire battlefield. The earth cracked in every direction. An enormous wave of black mana erupted outward like an expanding storm. The air became impossibly heavy.
Everyone froze. The soldiers. The monsters. Even Kalina and Kara instinctively looked toward me.
Dark currents spread from the buried sword, racing beneath the streets like living veins. Within seconds…The entire battlefield had been swallowed by its presence.
The mana in the atmosphere was disappearing No, not disappearing but Being consumed with terrifying speed.
The monsters suddenly staggered. Their movements became sluggish. Their roars weakened.
Black streams of corrupted mana were being forcibly ripped from their bodies and pulled toward the sword.
Hundreds of violet threads became visible across the battlefield. Every one of them connected to Abyssdrinker.
Kalina ran toward me first. Her eyes were filled with disbelief. "Raven…What did you just do?"
Kara arrived moments later. She recognized the sword immediately. Unlike Kalina…She understood exactly what she was looking at.
I released the hilt. The sword remained deep in the ground. Still devouring. Still feeding.
"We don't have time." I reached behind my back. Both daggers slid into my hands. "If this continues…We'll still be here by sunset. And every second we waste…The princess remains in danger."
Kalina frowned.
"What are you planning?"
I ignored the question. Instead, I looked at Kara. Without even turning completely toward her.
"Guard my sword. Make sure No one touches it. You know what happens if someone else does, And I will take care of these monsters."
Kara answered immediately.
"I know. and I'll protect it ."
Kalina looked between us in confusion. "What are you two talking about?" She glanced toward the sword. Dark mana continued swirling around it like a black hurricane. The pressure alone made breathing difficult.
"…What is that thing?, And how are you planning to fight that entire army by yourself?"
Kara rested a reassuring hand on Kalina's shoulder. "Don't worry. Raven can handle this. I'll explain later."
Kalina still looked unconvinced.
But before she could ask another question…
I activated my mana. Black flames erupted around the dagger in my right hand. Not ordinary fire. The flames consumed mana first, and then the body burns as easily as paper.
Around my left dagger…Violent violet lightning exploded into existence. The air cracked beneath its power.
I inhaled slowly. Then whispered a single word.
"…Slow."
The world slowed Only for me. Raindrops of blood hung motionless in the air. Monsters appeared frozen mid-charge. Even falling debris barely moved.
Then…I stepped forward. To everyone watching…I vanished. No footsteps. No silhouette.
Only flashes of violet lightning…And trails of black fire…Dancing across the battlefield like ghosts heralding death.
Wherever those lights appeared—Monsters collapsed. Heads rolled. Limbs scattered.
Corrupted mana was torn from their bodies before they even understood they had been struck.
The soldiers could do nothing except stare. They couldn't see me. Only the aftermath. Only death moving faster than their eyes could follow.
For everyone else…The battle lasted five long minutes. For me…It felt like seconds. The world remained painfully slow beneath my ability. Every heartbeat stretched into eternity.
Every monster became nothing more than another obstacle standing between me…And Princess.
A beast twice the size of a horse charged through the smoke, its massive claws tearing apart the street beneath its feet. Black flames erupted around my right dagger. I stepped forward. One slash. A thin line appeared across the monster's chest.
Nothing happened at first Then…Black fire bloomed from the wound. It spread silently across its body.
The monster screamed. Not from heat. But from something far worse. The flames devoured mana itself. The more mana the creature possessed…The faster the fire consumed him.
It clawed at its own flesh. Rolled across the ground. Smashed itself against ruined buildings. Nothing stopped the flames. Within seconds…Only black ash remained.
Another monster leaped from above. Before it landed—Purple lightning exploded around my left dagger.
I swung once. A single crescent of violet light crossed the battlefield. The monster froze in midair. Its entire body became illuminated from within. Cracks of violet energy raced across its skin.
It simply…Disintegrated. No blood. No corpse. Only drifting gray ash carried away by the wind.
The monsters never understood what was happening. Some burned. Some vanished into dust. Others fell before they even realized I had moved.
Whenever I encountered one of the transformed humans…Only a precise strike to cripple them. A stab through the leg. A cut across the shoulder. Enough to force them down.
Then Abyssdrinker, even from dozens of meters away, answered my call. Dark threads stretched from the sword embedded in the ground.
The blade greedily drained every trace of corrupted mana from their bodies. Their monstrous forms slowly weakened. Their roars faded into exhausted groans.
Once they could no longer move…I struck the back of their heads with the pommel of my dagger.
I dismissed my Time Slow. The world snapped back to its normal pace. Exactly five minutes had passed.
I looked around and there were no more monsters left. I was standing amidst their corpses, covered in their black and red blood. Just when I thought I had finished with all the monsters, I saw a large wave of monsters coming from the direction of the gate.
I couldn't use my time-slowing ability because of the rest period between uses, and there wasn't time to fight each of them individually.
I unleashed my absorption abilities and absorbed mana from the corpses of dead monsters around me, replenishing the mana I had consumed for my slowing ability.
I raised my right hand and combined my explosion ability with my black hellfire ability. Black flames mixed with lightning condensed in my palm, and the pressure emanating from them was so heavy that I saw some soldiers running in another direction, and I strengthened my body to become more like a weapon than flesh.
A massive wave of pressure erupted from my body, violent and suffocating, overflowing with power. I unleashed it towards the monsters that were approaching me in large numbers. The flames exploded in violent vortices, and the air screamed as the heat and mana collided. The buildings and the stone floor melted and turned black, and all the monsters vanished into dust in less than a second.
The battlefield gradually fell silent. Only smoke drifted across the shattered streets. The smell of burned stone. Blood. Ash. and my black flames that were devouring stones and buildings.
"…Finished."
I walked calmly back toward the center of the battlefield.
Abyssdrinker still stood where I had left it. Dark streams of mana continued flowing into the blade from every unconscious transformed human scattered across the battlefield.
I slid both daggers back behind my waist. Then wrapped my hand around the sword's hilt. The moment my fingers touched it…The violent pressure surrounding the battlefield disappeared.
I pulled the blade free from the earth. The ground stopped trembling.
I lowered my voice.
"…Good work."
The sword gave a soft pulse beneath my hand. Like a content heartbeat.
" When we reach Princess Lyria…I'll reward you. I'll let you taste far better mana."
The blade pulsed again. Stronger this time. Almost…Excited.
I returned it to its sheath. Only then did I notice the silence behind me. I turned. Every soldier was staring.
No one spoke. Some still held their swords halfway raised towards me . Others had taken a step back away from me.
Kalina stood frozen. There was unmistakable admiration in her eyes…But also something new…Fear. She looked at me as though she were seeing a different person entirely.
"…how…" she whispered. "She ended an entire army…in less than five minutes."
Even Kara looked stunned. She had seen my strength before. She knew I was powerful. But…She had never seen me fight seriously. For a long moment…Neither of them said anything.
I reached into my cloak and unfolded the map Thomas had given me. Without a word, I handed it to Kara. I pointed toward a single mark deep within the forest.
"Princess Lyria is here."
Kara quickly studied the map before looking back at me. A small frown appeared. "…Why are you giving this to me?, Aren't you coming too?"
I fastened the sheath at my waist. Then looked toward the distant forest beyond Velmora. "I am." My voice remained calm. "I'm leaving now."
I took one step forward. "You two…" I glanced over my shoulder. "…try to keep up."
Before Kara could answer—
Lightning burst beneath my feet. The ground exploded. And I disappeared toward the horizon, leaving behind only a fading streak of dark light.