Deep within the Nareth Forest…
there was a place long forgotten by the world.
Ruins of pale gray stone stood hidden among colossal trees.
Most of the walls had collapsed.
The once-majestic pillars were now covered in moss and tangled roots.
Ancient symbols were carved into every stone.
Yet…
no one remained who could read them.
At the center of the ruins…
a massive magic circle covered the stone floor.
Hundreds of ancient runes were interconnected, forming an intricate pattern.
Some had cracked with age.
Others still emitted a faint glow.
Surrounding the magic circle…
dozens of figures in black robes stood in formation.
Not a single symbol revealed their identities.
Only plain white masks concealed their faces.
In the middle of them…
dozens of Nareth villagers knelt with their hands bound.
The elderly.
Women.
Children.
No one had been spared.
Quiet sobs echoed through the ruins.
A small child called out to his mother in a trembling voice.
“Mom…”
The woman tried to move closer.
But her hands were tightly bound.
All she could do was embrace her child as best she could.
“It’s okay…”
“Mommy’s here.”
Even though…
she knew those words were nothing more than a lie.
Not far from them…
several large iron cages stood in a row.
From behind the bars…
low growls could be heard.
The creatures inside resembled wolves and deer.
But their bodies were covered in black flesh that slowly writhed beneath their skin.
Their eyes were completely black.
Dark purple Abyss Mana constantly seeped from their bodies.
A thin mist filled the air around the cages.
Strangely…
the mist never touched the black-robed men.
A transparent barrier surrounded their bodies.
Whenever the Abyss Mana drew near…
the dark mist split apart and vanished before it could touch their skin.
At the front of the magic circle…
a man in a white robe stood with his back to everyone.
His robe was far more elaborate than those worn by the others.
On both sides of his collar were circular emblems filled with intricate geometric lines.
In his hand…
he held a fist-sized black crystal.
The crystal pulsed continuously.
As if it were alive.
One of the black-robed members stepped forward.
“Lord Executive, Arc Sage.”
“All the villagers have been secured.”
The man in white did not turn around.
“Casualties?”
“Twelve.”
“Some of them resisted.”
“They have been eliminated.”
The man gave a small nod.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“The remaining Life Force is more than enough.”
He slowly raised the black crystal.
A dark violet glow spread throughout the ruins.
His gaze shifted toward the ancient magic circle beneath his feet.
He studied the ancient runes as they slowly began to glow.
His expression remained calm.
But…
his eyes could no longer hide his anticipation.
Executive Novus:
“…So it’s true.”
“…The seal has entered its weakening phase.”
He raised the black crystal in his hand.
His gaze remained fixed on the ancient magic circle.
After a moment…
he spoke.
“Begin the ritual now.”
“Yes.”
More than a dozen black-robed men stepped toward the edge of the magic circle in unison.
They raised both hands.
Mana filled the air.
Dozens of smaller magic circles appeared before them.
Rune after rune began to illuminate.
Hummm…
The entire ruin trembled softly.
The black crystal in Arc Sage’s hand shone brighter.
At the same time…
the Abyss Mana pouring from the cages began to gather.
It did not spread.
Instead…
it was drawn toward the magic circle.
The dark purple mist spiraled into a massive vortex.
The air grew heavier.
Several villagers began struggling to breathe.
An elderly man tried to stand.
“You…”
“…what are you trying to do to us!!?”
No one answered.
The ritual continued.
The runes grew brighter.
Then…
something began to happen.
The bodies of all the villagers began radiating a golden-white light.
The light slowly flowed out of their bodies.
Thin.
Soft.
Yet steadily increasing.
As if…
something were being pulled from within them.
A woman suddenly screamed in pain.
“AHHHH!!”
One by one…
more screams followed.
Children cried.
Adults gritted their teeth, struggling against the pain.
The golden-white light continued to flow.
It rose into the air.
Then…
was absorbed into the ancient magic circle.
Meanwhile…
Abyss Mana began entering their bodies.
Black.
Violet.
Slowly spreading through their veins.
The eyes of some villagers began to lose focus.
Their breathing grew heavier.
Black lines slowly appeared across their skin.
Finally, one of the black-robed members gathered enough courage to speak.
“Lord Arc Sage…”
“…is it true that this gate leads to the Elven World?”
Arc Sage continued staring at the glowing runes.
For several moments…
he said nothing.
Then he answered flatly.
“I don’t know.”
The answer left his subordinate slightly stunned.
Arc Sage continued.
“And it isn’t our concern.”
“The branch headquarters has only one task.”
“…Open the gate.”
“Everything that comes after…”
“…will be handled by the main headquarters.”
“Do not question the organization’s orders.”
The black-robed man immediately lowered his head.
“…My apologies, Lord Arc Sage.”
Arc Sage raised the black crystal once again.
“Continue the ritual.”
“Do not stop.”
“That gate…”
“…must open today.”
The ruins shook even harder.
Ancient runes that had lain dormant for hundreds of years…
began glowing one after another.
At the center of the magic circle…
the empty space slowly rippled.
As if…
something on the other side…
had begun responding to the ritual.
Eastern Nareth Ruins
Their footsteps never stopped.
Finn remained at the very front.
Five percent Overdrive was still active.
His eyes scanned every trace across the ground.
Footprints.
Wheel marks.
Drag marks.
Every trail led in the same direction.
The deeper they ventured into the forest…
the clearer it became that none of this was a coincidence.
The tracks were organized.
Deliberate.
As if the entire operation had been planned from the beginning.
Rowan studied the ground for a moment.
Then spoke quietly.
“They’re clearly an organization.”
Lyra turned toward him.
Rowan continued.
“They’re moving far too systematically.”
Lyra gave a small nod.
“The tracks aren’t random either.”
“But… why…”
“…would they bring all the villagers to the same place?”
Silence fell again.
No one had an answer.
They continued running.
But…
a few minutes later…
Mira suddenly slowed down.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
“…Ugh…”
Finn frowned as well.
“My breathing…”
“…It’s getting heavy.”
Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The evening air should have been cooling by now.
Yet every breath suddenly felt suffocating.
The forest around them had begun to change.
The grass was drying out.
Leaves fell despite the lack of wind.
The soil hardened.
Small cracks began spreading across its surface.
Between the trees…
thin purple-black mist slowly drifted through the air.
Thin.
But growing denser by the second.
Abyss Mana.
Lyra tightened her grip on her bow.
“…It’s getting denser.”
Rowan stopped.
His expression turned serious.
“This is Abyss Mana.”
“Don’t breathe it in!”
“The longer you remain inside this corrupted area…”
“…the greater the chance it will affect your bodies.”
Finn nodded.
“Damn it, old man! If we stop breathing, we’ll suffocate anyway!”
“Do something!”
At that moment…
Rowan slowly closed his eyes.
Mana flowed throughout his body.
Then…
something invisible began to surround him.
Aura.
Its pressure was calm.
Yet incredibly firm.
The Aura was not released to suppress anyone.
Instead…
it wrapped around Rowan’s own body.
Then slowly expanded.
Hummm…
The steady pressure spread several meters outward.
It did not directly shield them.
But it was enough to repel the Abyss Mana attempting to enter the area around Rowan.
The Abyss Mana that had been drifting closer…
was pushed several inches away from their bodies.
The mist approaching Rowan slowly recoiled.
As if…
an invisible boundary stood between them.
A boundary that could not be crossed.
Rowan opened his eyes.
“If you ever reach the Grandmaster realm…”
“…you’ll be able to protect your own bodies with Aura as well.”
“That’s why…”
“…ordinary Abyss Mana can no longer easily infect someone who has reached Grandmaster or a higher realm.”
Lyra watched the thin Aura surrounding Rowan.
Only now did she truly understand.
Aura was not merely pressure.
It was…
the result of self-mastery becoming one with a Vestiger’s body.
Rowan and the others quickened their pace once again.
Not long after…
screams began echoing through the forest.
Distant.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
“AHHHH!!”
Mira froze.
“That…”
“…That’s the villagers…”
The cries of children followed.
Then came the screams of adults.
Everyone’s heart began pounding faster.
“FASTER!”
Kael immediately sprinted ahead.
Doran followed.
Finn activated Overdrive once again.
Five percent.
His body shot between the trees.
The group charged through the forest.
Then…
the trees began to clear.
Ancient ruins appeared before them.
Everyone fell silent.
Dozens of black-robed figures occupied the area.
A massive magic circle glowed brightly.
The entire population of Nareth Village knelt within it.
Their hands were bound.
Some were crying.
Others could only scream in pain.
Golden-white light continued flowing from their bodies.
Rising toward the sky.
Then being absorbed into the ancient runes.
Meanwhile…
purple-black Abyss Mana continued entering their bodies.
Black veins began appearing beneath their skin.
Their bodies slowly began to change.
Mira covered her mouth.
Tears immediately streamed down her face.
“…No…”
“…Everyone…”
Finn’s eyes widened.
“…The children…”
Doran clenched his jaw so hard that it creaked.
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
Lyra could only stare in silence.
Aether…
stared at the villagers of Nareth.
His gaze stopped on the children who had been running around that morning, carrying little branches.
Their bodies were trembling now.
They were crying.
Calling for their parents.
His chest tightened.
Severely.
Yet he forced himself to remain calm.
Meanwhile…
Rowan’s gaze swept rapidly across the ruins.
Several people were maintaining the magic circle.
The rest stood guard around the area.
Most carried swords.
Several others were nowhere to be seen…
but his instincts told him…
there had to be Assassins strong enough to conceal their presence from even him.
And…
The man did not move at all.
His gaze was fixed solely on the gate that was slowly beginning to open.
After analyzing the situation…
Rowan immediately made his decision.
“There are fourteen Mages!”
His voice was firm.
“Kael.”
“Finn.”
“Draw the attention of their fighters.”
“Doran.”
“Protect Mira.”
“Don’t let anyone get near her.”
“Lyra.”
“The moment I create an opening…”
“…take out the Mages.”
Lyra nodded firmly.
“Understood.”
“Aether.”
“You’re with me.”
Aether nodded.
“…All right.”
Rowan drew a deep breath.
Mana surged throughout his entire body.
Authority of Steel.
The Vestige Mark on the back of his right hand began to glow.
Hummm…
Old swords.
Axes.
Chains.
Steel spikes.
Fragments of armor.
Even pieces of metal embedded within the ancient stone ruins…
all began to tremble.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Dozens.
Every piece of metal slowly rose into the air.
Finn’s eyes widened.
He stood frozen.
“…Sir Rowan…”
For the first time…
he was witnessing Rowan fight with his full power.
Every piece of metal within the ruins began to shake.
Rusty swords.
Broken spearheads.
Chains.
The swords carried by Novus Vestigers.
Even the daggers of the hidden Assassins were dragged into the air…
revealing their positions.
Even iron spikes buried deep within the ruins…
were ripped straight from the stone.
Dozens of pieces of metal began changing shape.
Stretching.
Sharpening.
Merging.
Within seconds…
the sky above the ruins was filled with hundreds of steel projectiles.
Rowan raised his hand.
His gaze locked onto the Mages.
“STOP THE RITUAL!!”
His hand swept forward.
Hundreds of metal projectiles launched at tremendous speed.
Like a massive artillery barrage covering the entire battlefield.
They tore through the air with deafening force.
The steel barrage pierced through the Novus fighters.
Even the Assassins who had been concealing their presence…
were swept away by Rowan’s storm of steel.
Several Novus Mages began to panic.
On the other side…
the man in white did not even glance away from the gate.
He simply spoke.
“Continue the ritual.”
The Mages maintained their magic circles.
Even as the steel barrage came dangerously close to piercing their bodies…
not one of them moved.
Because they knew…
they didn’t have to.
The next second…
the hundreds of projectiles were only meters away.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!!
The sky seemed to shatter beneath three deafening sonic booms.
Three shadows fell from above and slammed into the ground.
The earth beneath them collapsed.
A shockwave tore through the ruins.
Several of Rowan’s projectiles were sent flying in every direction.
Three massive explosions shook the sky.
Three figures in white robes landed directly in front of the Mages.
The shockwave shattered the surrounding stones.
Dust rose into the air.
The three figures stood without saying a word.
A massive amount of Abyss Mana filled the ruins.
Yet…
not a trace of it touched their bodies.
Aura.
The Aura surrounding them repelled every trace of Abyss Mana that came near.
The mist touching their Aura…
simply split apart and vanished.
Rowan attacked again.
Meanwhile…
the man in white remained perfectly calm.
Unlike the three Executives…
there was no visible Aura surrounding his body to protect the Mages.
Instead…
a transparent dome-shaped Barrier surrounded the entire ritual circle.
The Barrier separated the Mages from the Abyss Mana continuously released by the Abyss Creation cages.
He himself had no need for it.
His Paragon-level Aura was more than enough to protect his body.
The Barrier…
existed solely so the Mages beneath it could continue the ritual without being infected.
At that moment…
the three figures raised their hands simultaneously.
The Vestige Marks on the backs of their hands emitted an intense light.
The clang of metal filled the air.
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
Hundreds of Rowan’s steel projectiles were sent flying in every direction.
Not a single one managed to penetrate their defenses.
The dust slowly began to settle.
Rowan narrowed his eyes.
For the first time…
the veteran’s expression changed.
His gaze locked onto the glowing Vestige Marks on the hands of the three men.
He recognized that level of mastery.
Mastery Level Six.
Apex.
And…
judging by the Mana pressure they released…
all three had reached the Intermediate Stage.
Rowan was slightly stunned.
Three Apex…
And one Paragon…
Why would an organization this powerful attack a small village like Nareth…?
What are they really trying to accomplish here…?
Meanwhile…
the man in white standing before the magic circle did not turn around even once.
His attention remained fixed on the gate, which continued to ripple.
Arc Sage did not so much as glance at the battlefield.
His Aura remained around his body.
The Barrier continued protecting the Mages.
His hand never stopped controlling the ritual.
His entire focus remained on the gate…
which was slowly opening, little by little.
The dust finally began to clear.
The three figures in white stood firmly before the ritual circle.
None of them spoke.
Their eyes were fixed solely on Rowan.
The atmosphere within the ruins suddenly changed.
Even Kael, Doran, Finn, Lyra, and Mira could feel the Mana pressure.
It was unlike anything they had ever encountered before.
Rowan tightened his grip on his spear.
His eyes never left the three men.
“…Fall back.”
Kael immediately turned toward him.
“Sir Rowan…”
Rowan kept his gaze forward.
“They’re not opponents you can handle.”
“Your task…”
“…is to stop the ritual.”
“No matter what happens to me.”
Before anyone could respond—
BOOM!!
One of the Executives vanished from his position.
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
Kael could only catch a glimpse of his silhouette.
But…
Rowan had already moved.
CLANG!!
His spear collided with the enemy’s sword.
The resulting shockwave swept across the entire ruin.
Ancient stones were sent flying.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“…He’s fast…”
The Executive spun.
His sword came down again.
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
Sparks filled the air.
Within seconds…
dozens of clashes had already occurred.
Finn couldn’t even follow their movements.
All he could see…
were flashes of metal.
And explosion after explosion.
Meanwhile…
the other two Executives did not remain idle.
One immediately charged toward Kael and Doran.
The other…
leapt toward Lyra.
“LYRA!!”
Finn shouted.
Lyra immediately released three arrows at once.
But…
her opponent didn’t even dodge.
His sword flashed.
CLANG!!
All three arrows shattered in midair.
Kael charged forward.
Doran followed from the left.
Another explosion shook the ruins.
The great battle had begun.
On the other side…
Aether moved as well.
The sword Rowan had given him clashed against the weapon of one of the Executives.
CLANG!!
His hand instantly went numb.
His body was thrown several meters backward.
He landed, dragging his sword across the ground.
“…!”
The difference in power…
was overwhelming.
His opponent possessed more than just skill.
He had a Vestige.
Mana.
And the physical strength of an Apex.
Even so…
Aether stood again.
Without hesitation.
He charged once more.
In the distance…
Rowan glanced at him.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
He’s still moving forward…
Even knowing he’s hopelessly outmatched.
But…
that faint smile lasted only a moment.
BOOOM!!
Rowan’s body was sent crashing into the ancient ruins.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
One of his arms began to tremble.
For the first time…
he was being pushed to his limit.
The three Executives gave him no chance to breathe.
One attacked from the front.
One from the side.
The third from above.
Rowan forced his Authority of Steel beyond its limits.
He pushed Overdrive to its maximum.
Dozens of metal blades filled the air once again.
But…
every time he stopped one attack…
two more were already coming.
CLANG!!
BOOOM!!
CRAAAK!!
Cracks spread across the ground beneath them.
Kael gritted his teeth.
“…Sir Rowan!”
He tried to help.
But…
one of the Executives immediately intercepted him.
One swing.
Kael was thrown backward.
Doran caught him before he crashed into the stone.
On the other side…
Lyra continued firing arrows.
Finn moved with Overdrive.
Mira desperately tried to keep everyone standing.
Aether kept searching for an opening.
But…
they were all slowly being pushed back.
Only then did they realize the truth they had never encountered before.
The difference of a single Mastery level…
wasn’t just a number.
It was a chasm.
In the middle of the battle…
Rowan rose again.
His breathing was becoming heavier.
His eyes moved toward Kael.
Doran.
Finn.
Lyra.
Mira.
And finally…
Aether.
His gaze slowly softened.
As if…
he had made a decision.
He released a long breath.
Then…
a faint smile appeared on his face.
His eyes returned to his five students.
Kael.
Doran.
Finn.
Lyra.
Mira.
And…
Aether.
For a brief moment…
time seemed to slow.
Rowan remembered the first time he saw Kael lift a sword.
Doran, who was always far too enthusiastic.
Finn, who could never stay quiet.
Lyra, who carried a book wherever she went.
Mira, who cried whenever she saw someone hurt.
And…
the strange young man who had arrived in their village only a few days ago.
Aether.
Someone who didn’t even possess a Vestige…
yet had still stood beside them until this very moment.
The corner of Rowan’s mouth lifted again.
Deep down…
he felt proud.
They…
had grown into people far better than he had ever imagined.
His gaze sharpened again.
Mana surged throughout his entire body.
Authority of Steel.
Overdrive.
Maximum.
Every vein in his arms began to strain.
But…
he continued forcing himself forward.
Every piece of metal still remaining within the ruins began to shake again.
Swords.
Axes.
Armor fragments.
Chains.
Even the smallest scraps of metal…
rose into the air.
There were…
far more than before.
The three Novus Executives immediately noticed.
One of them frowned.
“He’s forcing his body beyond its limits.”
Rowan did not answer.
His eyes remained fixed on his students.
Then…
he spoke firmly.
“…Listen carefully.”
The clash of metal still echoed through the ruins.
Yet…
all six young people heard every word.
Rowan looked at Kael first.
“Kael!”
“You always try to carry everything by yourself…”
“That isn’t the way a leader should act!”
“A leader isn’t the strongest person!”
“…A leader is someone who understands their team…”
“…and takes responsibility for them.”
Kael gritted his teeth.
“…Sir Rowan…”
Rowan’s gaze shifted to Doran.
“Doran!”
“Your strength is incredible.”
“But!”
“Never rely on strength alone.”
“Use your head.”
“Muscles can’t solve every problem…”
“…but your mind will always be there for you.”
Doran tightened his grip on his spear.
Tears began to fall.
Rowan looked at Mira.
“Mira.”
“Even if you can’t save everyone…”
“Never stop trying to heal others.”
“A Healer…”
“…can sometimes be worth more than a hundred warriors.”
Mira bit her lip.
Tears fell one after another.
Then…
“Lyra.”
“You’re too hard on yourself.”
“Learn…”
“…to trust your companions.”
Lyra could only nod.
Her chest felt tight.
Rowan continued.
“Knowledge…”
“…is a weapon that even a sword cannot break.”
“Keep learning.”
Lyra lowered her head.
Tears slowly fell from her eyes.
Then…
Rowan looked at Finn.
The young man was still darting around, avoiding attack after attack.
Yet…
he still managed to smile.
“Heh…”
“I thought I was going to get scolded again.”
Rowan smiled faintly.
“Never lose that smile.”
“It’s what keeps this group’s spirit alive.”
Finn let out a quiet laugh.
“…Got it.”
Finally…
Rowan’s gaze settled on Aether.
For several seconds…
he simply stared at the young man.
He said nothing.
Then…
he smiled.
“Thank you…”
“…for protecting them alongside me.”
“Aether.”
“You may not realize it yet.”
“But…”
“You possess a talent for the sword…”
“…unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
Aether fell silent.
Rowan continued.
“Keep living.”
“Don’t stop swinging your sword.”
“One day…”
“…you’ll find your own answers.”
Those words…
for some reason…
shook Aether to his core.
Aether froze.
His chest tightened.
He didn’t understand why…
but those words felt unbearably heavy.
Before he could answer—
BOOOM!!
One of the Novus Executives charged forward again.
Rowan met him head-on.
CLAAANG!!
Sparks filled the air.
The second Executive appeared from the right.
The third followed from behind.
Three directions.
Impossible to evade.
Rowan pulled every remaining piece of metal toward himself.
Dozens of steel blades formed a wall.
CRAAASH!!
The wall shattered instantly.
The first sword pierced his left shoulder.
THUD!!
The second drove into his side.
Meanwhile…
the third strike slammed into Rowan’s chest with tremendous force.
BOOOOM!!
The veteran’s body was hurled dozens of meters away.
Several ancient pillars collapsed beneath the impact.
“…SIR ROWAN!!”
Kael screamed the loudest.
He and Doran immediately charged forward.
But…
the two Executives intercepted them.
The clang of weapons once again filled the ruins.
Rowan slowly tried to stand.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His hands trembled.
He coughed.
More blood escaped his lips.
Then…
his gaze sharpened for the final time.
Mana surged throughout his body.
Authority of Steel.
Hummm…
Every piece of metal remaining within the ruins began to tremble again.
Swords.
Spearheads.
Spikes.
Armor fragments.
Chains.
Everything rose into the air.
More.
Denser.
Far more ferocious than before.
He tightened his grip around his spear.
Then spoke without a trace of hesitation.
“Your final lesson.”
“No matter what happens…”
“Never leave someone behind.”
BOOOOOOM!!
Mana exploded from Rowan’s entire body.
Authority of Steel reached its absolute peak.
Every piece of metal filling the sky…
transformed into a devastating storm of steel.
Not hundreds anymore.
But…
thousands.
The three Novus Executives charged simultaneously.
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
Explosion after explosion shook the ruins.
Ancient stones shattered into pieces.
Cracks spread deeper across the earth.
For a moment…
even the three Apex were forced back.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“…Sir Rowan…”
Doran clenched his fists.
“He…”
“…He’s pushing them back…”
But…
it lasted only for a moment.
Rowan’s body was reaching its limit.
The Overdrive he had forced for too long was beginning to tear his body apart.
Blood ran from the corners of his eyes.
His nose.
His mouth.
Both arms began splitting under the overwhelming pressure of Mana.
But…
he did not stop.
He continued controlling the thousands of pieces of metal.
Until…
CRAAAK!!
The sword of one of the Executives pierced his left shoulder.
Rowan remained standing.
CLANG!!
The second strike shattered his spear.
He continued moving.
THUD!!
The third sword pierced through his abdomen.
Rowan finally stopped.
The three Executives surrounded him.
One of them spoke coldly.
“It’s over.”
Rowan only smiled faintly.
“…Not yet.”
With the last strength he had…
he clenched his fist.
Hummm…
All the metal that had filled the sky…
suddenly moved again.
Authority of Steel was forced far beyond what his body could endure.
Every piece of metal transformed into a rain of enormous spears.
All aimed at the three Novus Executives.
“…GO!!”
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
A massive explosion of steel engulfed the entire ruin.
Dust erupted into the sky.
Kael.
Doran.
Mira.
Lyra.
Finn.
Even Aether…
were pushed back by the shockwave.
For several seconds…
no one could see anything.
When the dust finally began to clear…
Kael froze.
“…”
Rowan was still standing.
But…
a sword had pierced through his chest.
A second sword had entered through his back.
A third…
had pierced beneath his ribs.
The three Executives…
were still alive.
Their robes were torn.
Their bodies were covered in wounds.
Their breathing was heavier now.
But…
they remained standing.
The difference in Mastery…
was simply too great.
Rowan looked at his students one final time.
His smile remained the same.
Warm.
The three Executives surrounded him.
One of them spoke coldly.
“It’s over.”
Rowan only smiled faintly.
“…Not yet.”
With the last strength he had…
he clenched his fist.
Hummm…
All the metal that had filled the sky…
suddenly moved again.
But this time…
it did not fly toward the three Executives.
Instead…
it moved toward Kael.
Doran.
Finn.
Lyra.
Mira.
And Aether.
Dozens of swords.
Axes.
Shields.
They formed a massive steel wall.
A barrier against the shockwave of the next collision.
Rowan had used the last of his Authority…
not to attack.
But…
to protect them.
He turned his head one final time.
Looking at the six young people.
His smile remained warm.
“…Live.”
Those words…
became his final ones.
The next moment—
CRAAAK!!
Three swords pierced Rowan’s body simultaneously.
The veteran’s body slowly lost its strength.
Yet…
until his final breath…
he remained standing.
Like a wall…
that had never allowed an enemy to pass through him.
Several seconds later…
Rowan’s body finally collapsed to the ground.
Silence engulfed the ruins.
“…Sir…”
Kael’s voice trembled.
Doran stood frozen.
His spear slipped from his grasp.
Mira covered her mouth.
Tears immediately streamed down her face.
Lyra could only stare, unable to speak.
Finn…
who had always been smiling…
for the first time…
tears streamed freely down his face.
Meanwhile…
Aether could not take his eyes away from Rowan’s body.
A man he had only known for a few days.
Yet…
a man who had treated him like family.
In the distance…
Arc Sage remained standing before the ritual circle.
His gaze never left the gate that continued to open.
He spoke quietly.
“Get rid of them.”
The three Novus Executives raised their weapons once again.
Without giving the six survivors even a moment to mourn…
the battle…
had only just entered a far more brutal stage.
ENJOYY