Chapter 147: The Reunion of Shadows and Steel
[The English Text - Copy this to Inkstone]
The dust had barely settled when the heavy silence of the hall was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. I didn't need to turn around to know who they were; I could feel their unique mana signatures vibrating through the air.
Aki was the first to step forward. Her eyes, usually sharp and cold, softened for a brief second when she saw me standing amidst the ruins. She adjusted her blade, her voice a calm whisper. "You took your time, didn't you? The knights outside were starting to get boring."
Beside her, Anos let out a low, dark chuckle. He leaned against a half-broken pillar, crossing his arms. His demonic aura flickered like a dying candle, yet his eyes burned with pride. "I told them you wouldn't leave a single one of these Paladins standing. You've grown even more ruthless, my friend."
Alisa and Vanessa arrived next, moving like twin shadows. Alisa's hands were glowing with a faint, healing light, ready to support me, while Vanessa's grip on her daggers remained tight, her eyes scanning the corners of the hall for any hidden survivors. "The perimeter is secure," Vanessa reported, her tone professional yet filled with relief. Alisa simply nodded, her gaze lingering on the blood-stained floor. "The price of victory is always heavy," she murmured.
Then came the chaotic energy of Sasha. She didn't bother with silence. She walked right into the center of the destruction, her golden hair flowing behind her. She looked at the fallen commander and scoffed. "Is this it? This is the great hero the Kingdom was so proud of? What a joke." She turned to me, a smirk playing on her lips. "I hope you saved some fun for us, because I'm just getting started."
Finally, Karina stepped out from the shadows. She remained at a distance, her presence calm and mysterious. She didn't say a word, but the way she looked at me—with a mixture of fear and absolute loyalty—said more than any speech could. She bowed her head slightly, acknowledging the power I had just unleashed.
I looked at all of them—my loyal circle, my strongest weapons. "Aki, Anos, Alisa, Vanessa, Sasha, Karina," I called out their names, my voice echoing with a new authority. "The messengers have been sent. The King knows we are here. Now, we prepare for the true fall of this empire."