Chapter 86
Silence didn't stay broken.
It fractured further.
BOOM
The ground where Vendetta stood finally gave in.
Golden light collapsed inward like dying glass.
Her barrier shattered completely.
Vendetta's body was thrown back through the dust.
Her arms went limp mid-air.
No resistance.
No control.
Only impact.
THUD—
She struck the broken stone hard.
And did not rise.
Princess: "…Vendetta!"
Her voice cut through the smoke.
She moved instantly—
But—
SHHHK—
A shadow crossed her path.
Guinevere.
She landed between Princess and the Lord.
Perfect timing.
Perfect distance.
Blade already drawn.
Guinevere: "…Stay back, Princess."
Her voice was calm.
But sharp.
Focused.
Alive in a way the battlefield itself wasn't.
The Lord stood ahead.
Still.
Watching.
As if nothing had changed.
As if everything had already been decided.
Lord: "You still stand."
A faint exhale left him.
Not surprise.
Not interest.
Something colder.
Almost disappointed.
Lord: "Even now."
He tilted his head slightly.
Lord: "You still want to try."
Guinevere tightened her grip on her sword.
Her eyes never left him.
Not even for a blink.
Guinevere: "If I don't try…"
A pause.
Then
Guinevere: "then there's no point in being here."
A quiet silence followed.
Chris coughed from the side, slowly pushing himself up from the rubble.
Chris: "…Tch… you're all insane…"
He wiped blood from his mouth, glancing at the Lord.
Then shrugged faintly.
Chris: "But standing back and watching? That's worse."
He raised his weapon loosely.
Still standing.
Still refusing to fall.
The Lord's gaze shifted slightly.
One glance.
Then away again.
As if they were already beneath his concern.
Princess stepped forward.
Slowly.
Not rushing.
Not attacking.
Just walking into the space between fear and resolve.
Guinevere glanced at her.
"…Princess—what are you doing?"
Princess: "It's fine."
Her voice was steady.
Different from before.
Clearer.
Stronger.
She looked directly at the Lord.
Princess: "I don't understand you."
A pause.
Princess: "I don't understand your reasons… or what you've gone through… or what you're trying to fix."
Her grip tightened on her sword.
Princess: "All I can do… is try to understand."
A breath.
Princess: "But one day, I will."
Silence.
Princess: "And I will bring peace to this world. No matter what it takes."
The Lord stared at her.
Quiet.
Still.
Then
a soft laugh escaped him.
Lord: "Peace."
He repeated it like something broken.
Like something he had already seen fail.
Lord: "…You don't even know yourself."
Princess frowned slightly.
Lord: "You don't even know what your own people have done to you."
Princess blinked once.
"…What?"
The air shifted.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
But heavier.
Like something unseen had leaned closer.
Lord: "You speak of peace…"
His voice lowered.
Lord: "…but you don't even know how your own people are keeping you in the dark."
A pause.
Princess: "…What are you talking about?"
Suddenly
Guinevere moved.
SHHHK
No hesitation.
No warning.
Only motion.
She stepped in instantly.
Blade forward.
CLANG—
Steel met steel.
A shockwave burst outward, cracking the ground beneath them.
Guinevere: "Shut up!"
Another strike followed immediately.
Faster.
Sharper.
CLANG—CLANG—!
Guinevere: "Fight!"
Her movements sharpened.
Each step forward heavier than the last.
The Lord blocked effortlessly.
Minimal movement.
As if reading her before she acted.
Lord: "Still persistent."
He shifted slightly.
One step forward.
The air bent.
Pressure deepened.
Guinevere's eyes narrowed.
"Tch."
She pushed harder.
Faster.
Stronger.
CLANG—!
But the Lord did not retreat.
Did not flinch.
Only stood.
a faint smile touched his face.
Lord: "…Let's see how long you last."
BOOM
A pressure wave exploded outward.
Guinevere was forced back several steps.
Her boots scraped across shattered stone.
But she stopped herself.
Immediately.
Head lowered slightly.
Breathing steady.
Guinevere: "Long enough."
She raised her blade again.
Guinevere: "That's all I need."
Behind her
Princess tightened her grip.
Chris adjusted his stance.
The battlefield held its breath once more.
And the Lord
finally stepped forward.
Slow.
Certain.
Grief still buried beneath his calm.
Lord: "…Then show me."
BOOM
The next clash began.
...CHAPTER 86 ENDS...