In the silent world of black, white, and gray, when Lake Elsinoe—filled with eerie crimson liquid—broke free of the "Grand Cross Star Framework," space inverted and the illusory lock shattered completely, its fractures spreading deep into the monochrome realm of the dead.
Along the way, countless Magic Circles crumbled quietly in eerie silence, until ahead there appeared a magnificent yet still dust-shrouded city rendered in stark black and white.
This city was like a mirror image of Altor, only the positions of its buildings had become chaotic and disordered.
Above the silent, frigid "Altor," the same nine stars of infinite mystery hung as reflections, forming a radiant Grand Cross Star Framework that enveloped the city entirely.
Affected by the spreading wave of Lake Elsinoe's illusory lock collapse, this Grand Cross Star Framework was also rapidly shattering. From beneath "Altor," a faint layer of silver-white slowly seeped upward—silent, cold, and utterly devoid of life—transforming the city into what seemed like a hell where cold and death had merged.
A pale, enormous hand suddenly thrust up from underground. Each finger bore terrifying bone spurs that glowed with a vacant, cold silver-white light. It pierced through both the realm of the dead and the material world, appearing directly in the depths of the sewers beneath the real city of Altor.
All living creatures bathed in its light either had their eyes bleed crimson like red-eyed rats—cold, savage, and bereft of reason—or their flesh rotted away, turning them into walking corpses, like the water ghosts of the River Belen.
Altor seemed to suffer a violent earthquake, the ground rippling like waves as countless citizens scrambled out of their buildings in a panic.
Then, as that enormous pale hand pressed against the ground and heaved upward, countless bottomless cracks split across Altor's surface, and a horrifying humanoid monster—dozens of meters tall, with pale skin, scarlet eyes, and silver-white goat horns—leaped out and slammed down upon the ground, setting Altor shaking once more.
The silver-white light around it spread outward like a tide, plunging everything into the cold silence of death.
The humanoid monster sneered and spoke a sentence in the language of hell: "The one sealed away was never the previous Duke. How can a devil's words ever be trusted? All who believed they could find loopholes in a deal with a devil have become decorative objects in my palace."
Todd led two Third-level Great Knights, four Second-level Knights, and four ordinary Knights into the Melzer Black Forest, tracking Lucian and the others by the scent of blood and the traces left in their flight.
When they reached the spot where Lucian and Wayne had parted ways, Todd halted and said gravely, "They split up and fled—both directions carry the scent of Her Highness the Princess's blood."
"This way was Wayne." Third-level Great Knight Warnes identified the blood-stained scent on Wayne.
Lund did not hesitate. "He is a Fourth-level Great Knight. Anatole and I will track him together. Warnes, you take the other direction. If the Princess is there, contact us immediately with the communication device."
"Wait, Lord Lund." Long Sang Allen stopped Lund's movement.
Lund was not angered, but regarded Allen solemnly. "You've found something else?" Though he inwardly held nothing but contempt and disgust for the Dark Knights, that did not prevent Lund from making use of their special abilities.
Allen gazed toward the deep thicket and replied seriously, "They can hide their tracks, but they cannot conceal shadows. Natasha most likely went this way." He pointed in the direction Lucian had fled.
After a brief exchange, having understood Allen's capabilities in this regard, Lund nodded. "I agree with your assessment, but we cannot be careless. The Princess carries many extraordinary items. Anatole, you and Warnes take the rest of the Knights to track Wayne and his group. Mr. Allen and I will go this way. If the Princess is with you, don't rush into combat—contact me first with the communication device. Wayne is very powerful."
"May the Lord bless us all with success."
Having assigned the tasks, Lund set off with Long Sang Allen in close pursuit of Lucian.
When Lucian heard Natasha's words, he fell silent for a moment, sighing quietly to himself. "If you knew my identity as a mage, you probably wouldn't say that."
On the surface, he offered comfort: "Your Highness, you still have His Grace the Duke, Lady Camille, and friends like Phyllis. Don't be too sad."
The moment the words left his mouth, Lucian regretted them. Why bring up Camille at a time like this? His emotional intelligence was truly lacking.
"Camille, she… may the Lord protect her and keep her safe." Natasha's mood visibly sank further. "I brought this upon her. In truth, I knew long ago that Sylvia was a Magic Apprentice."
Mid-flight, Lucian was so startled he nearly crashed into a tree. "You knew?"
"Mm. But I thought the power of the bloodline was the product of ancient mages' experiments. After she learned magic, perhaps one day she could discover a way for two women to bear children with the bloodline. That way, no one could use that excuse to keep us apart." Natasha fell silent after speaking, then let out a long breath. "I never expected it would end this way."
Lucian half-genuinely, half as a diversion, replied, "Your Highness, your ambitions truly reach far…"