The mont the twins erged in the cave, Carn’s heart pounded. Demonic mana was unmistakable—an aberration that the natural world instinctively sought to repel. As a super-inheritor with heightened sensitivity, she imdiately detected the surge in its presence. Though her duty was to guard and secure the rear against potential intruders, the vile energy seeping from the cave was impossible to ignore.
"We’re going in!"
"W-What?"
"There’s no ti to explain; they are in danger!"
Carn took a deep breath, and two gauntlets appeared on her muscular arms. Solar mana that encapsulated the power of the Sun covered her entire body as an adorable pinkish-golden Aura empowered her. That image was an effect of equipping her Legendary-grade gauntlets, the Fallen Stars.
A monstrous weapon that boosted Carn’s bloodline and strengthened her arms and entire body. With the Fallen Stars covering her fists, the Amazonian woman could turn from a barbaric warrior into a draconic-human hybrid, essentially becoming the natural predator for all Demons.
Hence, with Fallen Stars and her solar mana spiking, Carn could sense things that no regular human could dream of. Including…
"... wait!"
Rather than rush into action as she desired just seconds ago, the Black Dragon Order Commander stopped in her tracks. Her slit golden eyes traced to a remote corner of the forest, drawing question marks from her confused subordinates.
"What’s wrong?!"
Arya, the only one with the personality to question the Grand Commander, stepped forward with a baffled expression. She followed Carn’s line of sight, only to be t with the serene whistles of crickets in the forest. With a blind eye, there was nothing unusual about the pristine state of the mountains. However, Carn’s senses were cranked up to eleven, and she spat coldly.
"I don’t fancy peeping toms. Why don’t you show yourself?"
"... Impressive, you managed to sense my presence? I’d thought I hid it well."
As if on cue, a hooded figure erged from the shadows of a nearby tree and sauntered confidently towards the large group. Although there was just one person, his sudden appearance put everyone on edge, particularly the youngsters.
Arya, Adelia, Gale and Rufus ford a defensive formation around the three civilians.
Though Kaya, Mirka, and Jacek were part of the "resistance," none possessed real strength. Kaya was rely an ignorant child, while Mirka was a fallen noble burdened by her handicap. As for Jacek, he was just a drear—a teenager with ambition but no proper training. He wouldn’t last a second against the formidable enemy that had just arrived.
But then again, the four young Apprentice Knights wouldn’t be helpful in the battle either.
"You may be able to hide your face, but your disgusting stench will give you away… Demon."
"Demon? I’m hurt."
The man pulled his hood and unveiled his striking face. A distinguished, handso but slight old figure whose re presence commands fear and admiration. His fiery red hair, wild yet effortlessly stylish, cascades in sharp layers down to his shoulders, starkly contrasting his piercing erald-green eyes that glow with an otherworldly intensity.
The man, likely a seasoned martial artist in his sixties, carried himself with the unmistakable poise of a master. An ornate, Eastern-style sword rested at his waist, its pristine white hilt hinting at its rarity and imnse power. Yet, even without drawing his blade, the air around him was suffocating. An invisible pressure coiled around the youngsters like a taut piano wire, as if the slightest lapse in focus would see their heads severed instantly.
And finally, the distinct sharp horns that protruded from his forehead were a dead giveaway that the man was anything but a regular human.
"I’m still human… at least, for the foreseeable future."
"You dare call yourself a human with that disgusting mana swirling in your body?!"
"Swirling? Ah, you can see it, can you? My internal core!"
The Demonic Human’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. While he hadn’t known what to expect upon encountering so many humans outside Agva’s lair, he certainly hadn’t anticipated anyone of this calibre. Detecting his presence was one thing, but peering into his mana core? Outside of the Demon Cult, fewer than ten individuals in the entire world could manage such a feat.
"Who are you? There’s no way soone of your calibre would be unknown."
"Carn Solaris. Grand Commander of the Black Dragon Order."
Carn answered the Demonic Human’s question with true honesty. She wasn’t one to beat around the bush, and judging from the man’s deanour, she was confident that he was much the sa.
"Oh, the Black Order’s Commander! Yes, I’ve heard of you before! The super-inheritor and the woman poised to take over as the next Solaris Lord! I didn’t expect soone of your calibre to be here!"
The Demonic Swordsman’s eyes widened in shock, his brows knitting together. He was telling the truth—he had only expected to find the young Hero alone.
"Then again, the Solaris House would be insane to let the Hero travel alone. I should have expected this…"
Hearing the word: "Hero" coming out of the man’s mouth was enough to send Carn into a defensive edge. She readied her fists and took deep breaths to prepare for the inevitable battle. But before that…
"Who are you?"
"Malachi. Just a nobody swordsman."
Malachi introduced himself like a coworker would. Nothing impressive and nothing too flashy. And for those from the younger generation, that na would have slipped by their minds. But for Carn, her eyes widened as she said:
"Malachi, as in, the Bone Sword? You’re that Malachi?"
"Oh? To think my na still carries weight in this world—enough for even a Grand Commander of the Solaris House to rember it. I must admit, I’m a little touched."
"You were one of the greatest Knights of your generation! You were part of the sword trinity with the Sword Saint Kassadin and the Sun Sword Alrock. Of course, I would rember your na!"
Before the luminaries that this generation enjoyed, a previous batch of shining talents ruled the world. Among them, two Knights shone brighter than any: Alrock Solaris, the one who climbed to the zenith of the Solaris House with his untouchable sword and the Sword Saint, the man who surpassed the limits set by the human body and reached the pinnacle of what it ant to be a swordsman.
These two Knights went on to rule Hyades, crushing their opponents with raw strength and overwhelming talent, respectively. But few would rember that there was a third Knight. One that was equal to them in fa when they were young and a monster of a Knight, too.
Malachi, the Bone Sword.
The Sword Saint that never was.
After a crushing defeat at the hands of the Sword Saint, he vanished into the shadows. With years of silence surrounding his na, many speculated that he had perished. Yet, here he stood. Robust and well, entirely without a single ounce of weakness in his body.
"Why?! You could have led humanity as a Knight! Why have you joined the Demon Cult?!"
"That’s surprising… So the Solaris House has indeed learnt of us."
The earlier calmness that ca with the Demon Swordsman’s confidence was chinked. While the Demon Cult had suspected their existence had been divulged, they hadn’t gotten any confirmation until this very mont.
Feeling that there wasn’t a need to hide his identity anymore, Malachi sighed and said:
"Fine, let reintroduce myself, young Solaris. My na is Malachi, an Apostle from the Demon Cult. My purpose here isn’t you. If you look away, we can avoid this unnecessary battle, and both go ho unscathed. What say you?"
Even though Carn was a Grand Commander of a Solaris Knight Order, she couldn’t guarantee a victory if she clashed with Malachi. The man was once considered equal to Alrock and the Sword Saint, and with the enhancent given to him by the Demon Cult, lord knows how much more powerful he’d gotten.
However…
"Your purpose… is inside that cave, am I right?"
"..."
Malachi didn’t answer, but that was all it took for Carn to nod.
"Then I cannot let you pass."
"... I see that stubbornness runs in the family. Alrock was just like you when he was younger."
"..."
This ti, it was Carn’s turn to be silent. It seems like there was no avoiding a fight. While she was fully prepared to clash with Malachi, she couldn’t guarantee her subordinate’s safety. Hence, the Grand Commander played a gamble. She threw a dallion at Arya, who was stunned by the events. Only when Carn’s voice reached her ears did she finally awaken from her stupor.
"Run back to Alverton with the rest. Use the dallion to call the old man."
"W-What?"
"Do it! You’ll just be a burden here!"
"Y-yes!"
One of Arya’s talents was knowing how to read the room. After sensing Malachi’s presence, she knew that she wouldn’t be of any help here. And given how her companions shivered like leaves, she knew they wouldn’t stand a chance either. So, rather than complaining and wasting valuable ti, she led the crew in their retreat, bolting back to Alverton as if their lives depended on it.
And shockingly enough, Malachi didn’t give chase.
"You’re not moving?"
"There’s no honour in massacring weaklings."
"Thank you."
Carn was relieved. Her gamble had paid off. Even though Malachi had fallen to the Demon Cult, his honour as a forr Knight remained intact.
"As gratitude, I shall grant you a Knight’s death." Continue your saga on .Côm
"HA! HA! How kind of you!"
Malachi drew his pure white sword from its sheath, creating a chilly atmosphere that seed to contrast the afternoon sun’s warmth. The Bone Sword’s demonic energy was suffocating and oppressive, making even Carn’s superior physique tremble. However, Carn smiled through the pressure. Summoning all of her Seven Suns, the Grand Commander spiked her Aura to its maximum, ready to use the full extent of her arsenal against this formidable foe.
It wasn’t every day that she could go all out, so her spine was tingling with excitent.
’Looks like… they will have to redraw the map of this area.’
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