"Why...?"
Aether stared at his sister Lumine's cold expression. He wanted to speak, but the undeniable truth left him speechless. He could hardly accept that the leader who sought to overthrow the rule of the gods and destroy two nations was truly his own sister, Lumine.
"Dainsleif, your resistance against the Abyss has long reached a stalemate. No insignificant ripple will bring about new variables... The Abyss cannot be stopped!"
Listening to the words of the Abyss Herald before him, Dainsleif let out a cold snort and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I've long known your goals. Before the Abyss consumes me, I will continue to obstruct your plans—until my demise."
Lumine slowly drew her sword, and behind her, the teleportation gate floated two Abyss Lectors—one Pyro, one Electro.
"Brother, we will meet again on our journey. For now, do not interfere. He remains a variable, and only by eliminating variables can your path proceed as fate dictates."
Aether gritted his teeth, the Dull Blade already in his hand. He couldn't stand by and watch his comrades be surrounded by enemies—even if that enemy was his own sister.
"Sister, if what you say is true, then my journey was already predetermined from the start, wasn't it?"
Lumine hesitated for a moment but nodded.
"Because our choices will ultimately be the same."
Dainsleif stepped forward, refuting her words.
"No, he is not like you. He has already made a different choice."
As soon as he finished speaking, Aether felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Rover looking at him.
"Finished talking?"
Aether glanced back at Lumine. The surrounding Abyss Heralds and Lectors were closing in on them. He knew that the brief moment of dialogue had only been possible because Rover allowed it.
"Mn."
Aether pursed his lips together and nodded heavily. His sister Lumine and Rover were now locked in a fight to the death. On one side was his family, on the other was a dear friend—he was already torn.
Suddenly, three Abyss Heralds slashed out blades of Cryo, while above Rover, a barrage of Pyro projectiles came crashing down.
Watching the Electro strikes bombard Dainsleif as he dodged and weaved, Aether stood frozen, his mind blank. He didn't understand why they had to fight.
"Aether!"
Paimon frantically shook his head. Aether looked up to see a Hydro blade descending upon him and instinctively raised his sword to block.
Now fully alert, Aether hesitated no longer. Since they stood on opposing sides, they had to be treated as enemies.
But the clash of Cryo and Pyro triggered an explosion. Aether whipped his head toward Rover's direction—the violent shockwave forced everyone to shut their eyes as thick smoke billowed into the air.
It wasn't over. Lumine clenched her fist toward the center of the smoke, and the power of the Abyss condensed into black cubes that crushed downward.
Even Dainsleif was stunned by the force of the attack. After a brief pause, he kicked away the Cryo Herald approaching him and pointed his sword at Lumine.
The next moment, the Abyss Lector beside Lumine opened its tome and began chanting. The overwhelming surge of Abyssal energy forced Dainsleif to evade once more.
After a long while, Lumine patiently waited for the smoke to clear—only to find that Rover was nowhere to be seen. Frantically, she scanned her surroundings.
"Your Highness, behind you!"
The Herald's warning came too late. Lumine's eyes widened as she turned—only to come face-to-face with the icy visage of a humanoid monstrosity.
At that moment, Lumine's blood ran cold. A primal terror seized her from the crown of her head, slowing her breath to a crawl. Her heart pounded violently, her mind wiped blank in an instant.
"Have you seen my crown?"
Under the creature's gaze, Lumine's body felt as though it had been plunged into an icy abyss, forcing her to meet its hollow stare.
A pillar of flames erupted beneath the monster. Spreading its wings, it ascended into the air, gazing down at Lumine as the Pyro Abyss Lector swiftly pulled her behind it.
"Your Highness, retreat at once!"
Lumine clutched her chest, gasping for air as she stared at the skyborne horror—something far more terrifying than any ordinary monster. Without hesitation, she opened a teleportation gate.
Aether looked up as well. He recognized this creature—Rover had once shared stories about it during their travels. This was no mere monster, but a Tacet Discord known as Crownless.
Seeing Lumine attempt to flee, Crownless moved. Its spear lashed out—the first strike a sudden thrust that pierced straight through an Abyss Herald before it could react.
In the next instant, Crownless withdrew its spear and swung horizontally. All the Heralds and Lectors braced for impact, raising their defenses.
But the expected attack never came. As one Herald lowered its guard, a black afterimage flashed past—and the Herald slowly looked down to see a deep gash carved into its chest.
Before anyone could react, a black whirlwind shot forward like lightning, scattering all the Heralds like leaves in a storm.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Lumine had only just opened the teleportation gate when an immense force seized her and hurled her into a wall.
She let out a muffled groan, collapsing to the ground alongside a shower of rubble. Struggling to push herself up with one hand, she stared at Crownless—and for the first time, a trace of despair flickered in her eyes.
"So this was your ambush?"
Crownless slowly descended, reverting to Rover's form. His eyes held nothing but the cold indifference of one facing the dead.
"Power from beyond this world... cough... far stronger than I anticipated."
Rover stepped toward Lumine, the glint of his blade reflecting her battered figure.
Lumine braced herself against the wall, forcing herself to stand. Aether's heart ached—he was about to speak when another disturbance erupted.
A triangular portal materialized before Rover. From it emerged a towering black figure—four arms, a glowing violet core pulsing faintly in its chest.
"Iniquitous Baptist... I didn't expect even you to be forced out."
Dainsleif spoke languidly, crushing a fallen Herald beneath his foot. The Abyss rarely suffered setbacks—he had no qualms about adding insult to injury.
The Baptism of Sin raised its four arms, each wielding a different element, and unleashed a cataclysmic surge. The ancient ruins, unable to withstand such force, trembled violently as the ground shook.
Seeing the structure on the verge of collapse, Rover had no choice but to relent. They couldn't stay any longer.
Without hesitation, Rover sprinted toward the exit. Aether cast one last glance at Lumine before turning to follow.