"Your test ends here," said AZRAEL, the leader of the Sabbahs, cutting in.
He was watching Asmodeus and Aeris from above.
Asmodeus drew Excalibur and charged forward,
and in that very moment, ten separate shadows placed blades against Asmodeus's throat.
"I said I would only accept you here, cursed child."
"Kill the one you brought with you."
The instant he heard those words, purple mana spread out from Asmodeus's body.
"If a single hair on her head is harmed, I will bury all of you right here."
Asmodeus was used to having a blade pressed against his throat.
Azrael withdrew the order he had given.
"There is no need to turn our guest into an enemy from the very first minute.
Both of you, come to my room," said AZRAEL.
"Yes, cursed child. I summoned you here to make a deal with you."
"Normally, I should have killed you, but I do not wish to waste such potential."
Asmodeus interrupted.
"Your time is limited, Azrael. Say what you're going to say."
"First, our other guest will leave the room."
The shadows swarmed around Aeris.
Aeris drew Balmung and spoke.
"I will leave on my own."
AZRAEL began to speak.
"Do you have any idea who your family is?" he asked Asmodeus.
Asmodeus did not answer.
"Then, do you want information?" Azrael asked.
Asmodeus nodded in agreement.
They had lands, banners, and their own training system.
The dark techniques were not merely a hidden legacy, but a path of warfare perfected over generations.
The swordsmen born from this family were measured not against armies, but against masters.
The Church declared them enemies not because they were weak, but because they could not be controlled.
The dark techniques were effective against holy magic.
Divine shields were cut apart, sacred vows shattered by sword strikes.
On several occasions, high-ranking inquisitors of the Church clashed with this family and suffered losses.
That is why the Church did not declare open war.
Instead, it prepared patiently.
Treaties were made, alliances were formed, other noble families were provoked.
The Black Sword Dynasty was left alone.
Then the mark of "heresy" was placed upon them.
When the war began, the dynasty had not collapsed.
They endured for days.
Swordsmen empowered by dark techniques slaughtered holy knights and drove inquisitors back.
However, the Church did not retreat.
With seals, curses, and superior numbers, the dynasty was slowly torn apart.
Eventually, the lands fell.
But the dynasty did not perish.
Some fled.
Some hid.
Some survived by changing their names.
That is why the Church is afraid.
Because this is not a story of revenge.
This is the continuation of an unfinished war.
"And you, cursed child, are one of what remains of that family."
"There is a cursed island that only those of this family can see, and that is where I come into play."
"If you swear a sword oath to enter that island and bring me what I desire,
I will give you the location of the island."
Asmodeus spoke.
"What do you want?"
"The legendary assassin Hasan Sabbah's relic, the Black Dagger."
Asmodeus did not know much about this world, but he knew Hasan Sabbah.
"And if I refuse?" Asmodeus asked.
Hundreds of shadows appeared around him.
"Neither you nor your companion will leave this place alive."
As the shadows filled the hall, the air came to a complete standstill.
Asmodeus did not lower his sword.
His eyes were fixed on Azrael.
"So I have no choice," he said in a calm voice.
Azrael smiled.
"You do have a choice," he said.
"Either you walk for us… or you are buried here."
At that very moment—
The sound of chains breaking echoed.
A shadow fell onto the floor of the hall.
Then a second.
And then—
"There is no need to be this dramatic," said a familiar voice.
TIME WAS TORN APART.
Mana flowed back.
The seals cracked.
A figure stepped forward as if he belonged there.
"Merlin…" Azrael whispered.
Merlin smiled as he brushed the remnants of chains from his shoulder.
"Galion's Trap was impressive," he said.
"Three-layered seal, time stabilizer…
but you cannot hold me for more than half an hour."
The relaxed expression on Azrael's face disappeared.
"This is Sabbah," he said sharply.
"This is not your playground."
Merlin inclined his head.
"True," he said.
"My playground is much larger."
Then he looked at Asmodeus.
"Am I late?"
Asmodeus exhaled for the first time.
"Perfect timing."
Aeris was not looking at Merlin—
she was looking at Asmodeus.
Her gaze was confused.
Suspicious.
And for the first time… fearful.
"Merlin," Aeris said slowly.
"Can you tell me something?"
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?"
"This…" she said, pointing at Asmodeus.
"Who is he, really?"
The hall was swallowed by silence.
Azrael's eyes gleamed.
"So you noticed," he said mockingly.
"His mana is not ordinary."
Merlin fell silent for a moment.
Then he looked at Aeris.
"It is not time yet," he said.
"But you should know this, young lady."
Behind Asmodeus, the purple mana briefly took shape.
An emblem.
Ancient.
Cursed.
"The child you are standing beside," Merlin said,
"is the legacy of a dynasty history failed to erase."
Aeris's hand trembled.
"You…" she said, looking at Asmodeus.
"You never told me."
Asmodeus did not turn his head.
"If you had known," he said quietly,
"I could not have kept you by my side."
Azrael laughed.
"Good," he said.
"So everyone is at the table."
He fixed his gaze on Asmodeus.
"The deal still stands," he said.
"Either you bring me the Black Dagger—
or this place becomes your grave."
Merlin struck his staff against the floor.
"We will add one condition," he said coldly.
"The child goes of his own free will."
Azrael narrowed his eyes.
"…Accepted."
Asmodeus slowly sheathed his sword.
"Give me the island's location," he said.
"And I swear."
The purple mana fell silent.
But everyone knew—
That oath
was the beginning of a new war.
Azrael raised his hand.
The shadows retreated, but did not vanish.
As if they would latch onto throats again with a single signal.
"An oath," Azrael said.
"Words are not enough. It will be sealed with blood."
Asmodeus did not hesitate.
He reversed Excalibur.
Pressed the sharp edge into his palm.
BLOOD FLOWED.
The moment the purple mana touched the blood, it came alive.
The drops did not fall to the ground—
they hung suspended in the air.
For the first time, Azrael's eyes grew serious.
"Say your name," he said.
"Asmodeus," he said in a calm voice.
"In the name of the remaining blood of the Black Sword Dynasty, I swear."
Aeris was seen flinching, but Azrael continued.
"Upon what?"
"That I will go to the Cursed Island," Asmodeus said.
"And that I will find Hasan Sabbah's relic, the Black Dagger, and bring it to you."
The blood took shape like a seal in the air.
Ancient runes appeared.
Azrael extended his hand and sealed the blood.
"The oath is accepted."
At that moment—
Aeris stepped forward.
"The Black Sword Dynasty…?" she said.
"What does that mean?"
Asmodeus's shoulders stiffened.
Merlin immediately stepped in.
"An old name," he said with a faint smile.
"One that almost no one remembers anymore."
Aeris looked at Merlin.
Then back at Asmodeus.
"You're hiding something from me," she said.
Asmodeus did not avert his eyes.
"Everyone hides something," he said.
"Some do it to survive."
Aeris did not reply.
But it was clear she did not believe him.
Azrael chuckled softly.
"Do not worry," he said.
"If he survives…
you will learn anyway."
Merlin struck his staff against the floor.
"The deal is complete," he said firmly.
"Now give the island's location."
Azrael snapped his fingers.
In the center of the wall,
a dark map opened.
A black island.
Nothing surrounded it.
"Only those who carry that blood can enter," Azrael said.
"Others… cannot step inside."
When Aeris heard this, she looked at Asmodeus.
"I—" she began.
Asmodeus slightly shook his head.
"I will enter," he said.
"You will stay outside."
Aeris's hand clenched into a fist.
"You are not the one who decides that."
But Asmodeus did not answer.
Because he knew—
This island
was not a place he could leave while hiding who he was.