Chapter 615

Chapter 615

“A dispatch has arrived from Rwalin, offering their assistance in resolving this current matter.”

Egerson felt his eyelids twitch as the notification was delivered.

His expression darkened with immediate irritation.

“I must question what Rwalin truly believes the Zerdinger family to be. Wouldn’t you agree, Head of the house?”

Following Egerson’s inquiry, the icy stare of the master of the Zerdinger clan, Seld, shifted directly toward him.

The instant their gazes crossed, Egerson instinctively recoiled.

‘This man…’

Egerson Zerdinger.

He was a celebrated champion who carried the moniker ‘Sword of Ash’, earned because anyone who felt his blade was reduced to nothing but cinders.

Yet, despite accomplishing such monumental feats, Egerson was always viewed as lesser when stood beside Seld Zerdinger, the true leader of the family.

Karma Fire (業火) Seld Zerdinger.

He wielded a level of power that ranked among the absolute greatest of any historical leader of the Zerdinger line—a lineage renowned for producing supreme knights. Furthermore, whenever people debated who the absolute mightiest warrior was following the passing of the Sword Saint, Seld’s name was invariably at the top of the list.

He was the unchallenged, premier knight of the entire Empire, both in title and in actual capability.

The man possessed a devastating, overwhelming blaze that completely eclipsed even the previous patriarch.

“The leader of Rwalin dispatched that missive out of genuine concern for my own brother,” Seld remarked, his head tilting ever so slightly. “Does that somehow offend you?”

Gooooooh—

The ambient temperature within the chamber spiked violently.

Every single individual gathered in this room had mastered the blade under the Zerdinger name. All of them were adept wielders of the flame aura. Yet, even these seasoned warriors could feel the scorching heat immediately, which served as a terrifying demonstration of the sheer pressure Seld was projecting.

“Brother.”

Jis, the sibling of the patriarch who sat right beside Seld, spoke up to calm him.

In an instant, the oppressive heat vanished into thin air.

A heavy quiet settled over the grand assembly room.

Breaking the tense silence, one of the elder members spoke up with great care.

“Sorcerers would possess a far greater aptitude for tracing the movements of the perpetrator. Would it not be wise to accept their aid in that specific capacity?”

Following Jis’s reasoning, the primary leaders of the Zerdinger family nodded their assent.

Meanwhile, Egerson forced down the boiling rage caused by the stifling pressure Seld had just exerted over him.

‘How dare that insolent wretch! Even if he holds the title of Patriarch, to humiliate me—the true commander of the Elder Council—in such a manner!’

Enduring this public degradation right in front of the clan’s core leadership made Egerson feel as though a thousand blazing fires were ripping through his chest.

However, he knew he had to bridle his fury for the moment.

No matter how vast the jurisdiction of the Elder Council might be, it simply could not stand against the absolute authority of the Patriarch. Furthermore, maintaining internal security fell directly under the purview of the Elder Council, meaning this breach was ultimately deemed his own failure.

To be absolutely accurate, he had deliberately sabotaged the security to make it porous, but if a furious Patriarch decided to make an official grievance out of it, the Elder Council would be forced to retreat.

‘I cannot allow that to happen.’

Egerson had never harbored illusions of ascending to become the ultimate master of the Zerdinger clan. His own son, Reed, lacked the capability as well. Seld Zerdinger was simply far too monumental an obstacle for that to ever occur.

However…

‘My grandchild is fully capable of seizing the position of Patriarch.’

Should any tragic, unforeseen misfortune strike the designated heir, Lis, then Celia would step up as the next in line for leadership. And if tragedy befell Celia as well, the position would fall to Leo.

At a casual glance, it appeared as though there were numerous candidates blocking the path.

But.

‘If those three simply cease to exist, there will be absolutely no one left qualified to inherit the mantle of the Patriarch.’

Jis Zerdinger, the Patriarch’s brother, had sired only a single daughter. Yet she was merely a typical noble socialite, completely detached from the path of chivalry and martial prowess.

‘We are currently living in an era of absolute upheaval. Tartarus is awakening, and the entire realm is descending into utter pandemonium.’

The Zerdinger lineage was a bloodline of true champions. For generations, whenever the Empire faced existential perils or global catastrophes, they carved out their legendary standing by drawing their weapons and entering the fray.

It was completely out of the question for the Patriarch’s direct successors to remain sheltered in a secure haven.

‘No matter how much martial talent they possess, they are still nothing more than unpolished youths. Fatal mishaps can overtake them at any given moment.’

Was that not the exact reason he had unchained the ultimate apex predator?

‘Even if he is the supreme Patriarch, it remains utterly impossible for him to deduce that the Elder Council orchestrated this entire affair.’

The vast majority of the family’s official knightly orders swore fealty to Seld Zerdinger. However, the covert operatives—the true shadows of the Zerdinger family—had been commanded primarily by the Elder Council for a very long time.

It was no simple task for battlefield-bound knights to trace the steps of clandestine operatives moving entirely in secrecy.

‘Stumbling upon information regarding him can only mean that the heavens themselves have chosen me.’

Egerson envisioned the terrifying figure of the Hero Slayer and smirked inwardly.

He remained ignorant of how such an entity had manifested in the current era, but the Hero Slayer, who had slaughtered legendary champions in the distant past, was quite literally a weapon engineered perfectly for this exact objective.

Following the conclusion of the strategy assembly, Egerson arrived back at the Elder’s Corridor and immediately marched toward his personal chambers. The remaining elders trailed closely behind his footsteps.

“The Patriarch will truly remain oblivious to our involvement, correct?” one of the elders inquired, anxiety written clearly across his features.

Another elder let out a mocking scoff.

“The hidden shadows of the Zerdinger clan answer directly to the Elder Council. Regardless of Seld’s magnificent power, unless he holds absolute dominion over the shadows himself, he possesses no avenue to discover our hand in this.”

Hearing this, a third elder raised a concern.

“But what if the clandestine forces of Rwalin are brought into the investigation?”

Egerson let out a soft, confident chuckle.

“Where a radiant light shines brightest, the accompanying darkness is equally profound. There is not a single faction across the entire western continent capable of overtaking the shadows of the Zerdinger family.”

Even if the operatives of Rwalin attempted to embed themselves and investigate, they would ultimately face insurmountable restrictions while operating inside Zerdinger domains.

Pushing open the heavy entryway to the Elder’s Corridor, Egerson declared confidently, “No living soul can unearth this truth. Not a single soul.”

Creak—!

The exact moment the doors to the Elder’s Corridor swung wide, Egerson’s posture completely locked up.

It was not limited to Egerson alone. Every single person who cast their eyes upon the interior of the Elder’s Corridor stood frozen in absolute horror.

The covert shadows of the Zerdinger family were strewn across the floor, completely incapacitated or lifeless. Furthermore, the entire Elder’s Corridor appeared as though it had been subjected to a violent, thorough ransacking. Innumerable sensitive records and documents lay ripped and scattered across the tiles.

“W-what is the meaning of this madness!” the elders shrieked in sheer panic.

With a dark, furious expression, Egerson marched aggressively toward a fallen operative who was still feebly drawing breath, violently hoisting him up by his clothing.

“Speak! What transpired here? Who is responsible for this destruction!”

The dying operative gasped painfully, sputtering, “They… they have arrived. Cough!“

“Give me names! Who are ‘they’!”

As he aggressively interrogated the subordinate who was actively coughing up crimson pools, the Zerdinger shadow wheezed out his final words.

“The Shadow… Lord… the entity that commands the absolute darkness of the world… has descended…”

Egerson’s eyes narrowed in profound shock.

The Shadow Lord.

He was well aware of the legends surrounding that entity’s existence. The Empire of Shadows—a collective of beings that governed the unseen underbelly of every existing race, operating under the vanguard of the Shan Empire.

“Why would they ever target the Zerdinger family? What could they possibly want with us!”

“We harbor no enmity toward the Zerdinger family as a whole.”

A calm, feminine voice resonated from the depths of the dim room.

Shring—

Upon hearing the voice, every elder present instantly unsheathed their weapons. Every single one of them was an established champion or held power hovering right at the precipice of heroism. The collective bloodlust they radiated was so dense it could physically suppress a normal person through mere exposure.

Yet, the woman stepping out from the dim shadows did not show even a flicker of concern against their murderous intent.

“A beastkin?” Egerson muttered, his brow furrowing deeply.

Kirin, the feared Southern Shadow Lord, addressed them in a relaxed, almost indifferent cadence.

“Our blades are aimed solely at the global traitors who chose to conspire with the Hero Slayer.” Kirin’s gaze sharpened dramatically. “The Elder Council of the Zerdinger clan.”

Egerson let out a dismissive sneer. “An utterly preposterous accusation.”

“Oh? You truly believe it to be preposterous?”

Anias, her features partially concealed beneath a heavy cowl, stepped out to stand right beside Kirin. Cradled gently within her palms was a peculiar orb.

The moment his eyes fell upon the object, Egerson’s expression faltered momentarily, though he swiftly forced his features back into a mask of calm. On the surface, that specific orb appeared to be nothing more than a standard, unremarkable crystal sphere.

“This particular item is the Crystal of Secrecy. In the eras of antiquity, it was a specialized tool that could only be fashioned through the unique sorcery of the legendary Elf champion, the Alchemist of All Things.”

“And what relevance does that have here?” Egerson challenged.

Anias flashed a knowing grin. “The vast majority of magical constructs forged by the Alchemist of All Things required his active, personal mana to function. Consequently, following his demise, any artifacts stripped of that sustaining magic degraded into useless trinkets.”

Anias casually rotated the smooth crystal orb between her fingers.

“The Alchemist of All Things met his end after his unique mana was forcefully pilfered by the Hero Slayer. Furthermore, it has been definitively validated through the records of conquering the hero’s world that the Alchemist of All Things’ magic does not exist as an obtainable relic. Therefore, the genuine, living mana of the Alchemist of All Things is an absolute necessity to construct this device.”

“…”

“This specific crystal ball, regardless of how one evaluates it, is a piece of craftsmanship fabricated very recently.”

Anias tapped her finger against the polished surface.

The latent magic within triggered instantly, causing a vivid, unmistakable imprint of blood to manifest across the crystal. The fundamental component required to initiate the device’s functions was the lifeblood of the individual it was registered to.

“Manipulating blood sorcery happens to be my greatest talent. Reconstructing a residual bloodprint of this nature is child’s play for me.”

“What are you trying to imply?”

Anias’s smile widened. “A faint imprint of mana is permanently etched into all enchanted items. When dealing with artifacts designed for communication, that imprint is preserved in the form of recorded speech.”

Egerson’s face turned completely pale.

“Regardless of how intricate a magical item an ancient master sorcerer devised, its underlying mechanics will eventually be unraveled by successive generations. Even if replicating the creation process remains impossible, deciphering the blueprints grants one the ability to manipulate its functions. Thus, a revelation like this becomes entirely feasible.”

“What is the current status of Lis Zerdinger?”

“The boy remains among the living.”

“Did you not give your word that you would eliminate Lis the moment an opening presented itself?”

The distinct, unmistakable voices of an unidentified conspirator and Egerson himself began to echo clearly from the depths of the crystal orb.

Just as a panicked Egerson prepared to roar out in denial, Anias cut him off.

“Do not waste your breath claiming this data has been doctored. This is a elementary extraction technique that any master of the mystic arts can execute. If you harbor doubts regarding its authenticity, we are perfectly willing to hand it over to Rwalin or the grand Magic Tower for an official verdict.”

Egerson’s features twisted into a grotesque mask of rage and terror. Anias simply laughed at his pathetic state.

“Checkmate. For a faction attempting to sell out the entire world, your execution was remarkably incompetent, wouldn’t you say?”

In truth, it had not been incompetent. It was simply that they had run headfirst into an unimaginable, apocalyptic miscalculation.

No matter how vast or deeply entrenched the clandestine network of the Zerdinger clan might be, it could never hope to match the scale of the collective darkness spanning the entire world. And just as the visible civilizations of the realm were fractured into distinct kingdoms, the unseen factions of the underworld were similarly divided.

Who could have possibly foreseen such a reality? That the entirety of the world’s hidden forces answered to a single supreme commander. And that the individual presiding over that global network of shadows was the exact target whose demise they had plotted.

To think that this supreme retribution would arrive at their very doorstep in under twelve hours was something completely beyond the realm of human anticipation.

Egerson gritted his teeth and growled, “The Zerdinger clan is not some defenseless prey. I am entirely capable of slaughtering every last one of you inside this room.”

“Southern Lord, it appears this creature believes he can slaughter us,” Anias mocked.

“He is, after all, merely a pathetic shadow confined to a small corner. There is no reality where they can withstand the true might of a Zerdinger blade.”

Violent, scorching torrents of flame aura erupted aggressively from Egerson’s physical form.

Observing the display, Kirin remarked with total nonchalance, “I am deeply tempted to sever your tongue this very instant to silence your pathetic delusions. Regrettably, however, that individual explicitly stated that he wished to deliver your execution personally.”

“That individual?” Egerson questioned, his brow furrowing.

Flash— Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang! Hwarururuk—!

A catastrophic explosion of fire ripped through the main entryway of the Elder’s Corridor.

Egerson watched in absolute horror as the cataclysm unfolded. “The signature flames of the Zerdinger family?”

Hwarururuk—!

The main threshold leading into the Elder’s Corridor had been entirely transformed into a roaring inferno.

Amidst the raging heat, Leo was calmly striding forward.

Thump— Thump—

The defensive knights who had desperately attempted to halt Leo’s advance lay scattered across the ground, groaning in agony.

“We managed to unearth the incriminating data far swifter than anticipated,” Algren remarked in an even, dispassionate tone.

“They likely never conceived the possibility that the supreme Shadow Lords would personally tear into their private affairs.”

Suddenly, a booming voice interrupted them.

“What is the meaning of this outrageous insolence! Leo Plov!”

“Reed Zerdinger.”

Leo’s lips parted into a cold, menacing grin as his eyes locked onto Reed, the son of Egerson and the functional authority within the Elder Council.

“Do you happen to possess knowledge regarding the current location of my mother?”

“What did you say?”

“I received word that she was taken by the Hero Slayer.”

Reed’s face drained of color as the words settled in.

‘How could this brat possibly possess that level of classified information?’

“And I have successfully deduced that your precious Elder Council is directly entangled in her disappearance.”

“You impudent child! How dare you throw a childish tantrum in this sacred place…!”

Bang—!

Hwarururuk—!

Reed’s eyes expanded in absolute shock as he looked at Leo’s weapon, which he had only barely managed to parry with the entirety of his strength.

“Because of the actions of vermin like you, my old, buried temperament is beginning to resurface.”

‘How can a mere youth exude such a suffocating, monstrous desire to kill…’

“I shall offer you a single grace of choice,” Leo whispered, tilting his head slightly. “Will you divulge what you know and receive a swift, merciful demise? Or do you prefer to perish in unfathomable agony?”

Gooooooh—!

“You arrogant, insufferable fool! It seems ascending to the rank of a hero at such a tender age has blinded you to reality! Do not deceive yourself into believing all heroes are created equal…”

Thud—!

Splosh—

“It is truly bizarre how individuals of your caliber invariably reject the path of a peaceful death.”

“Aaaargh!”

Reed collapsed to the floor, desperately clutching the stump of his severed right arm as blood-curdling shrieks tore from his throat.

Slowly raising his blood-stained blade once more, Leo looked down at him with a cold, detached curiosity.

“Where exactly should I make the next incision?”