47 The Punishment

Charles's magic tower spanned multiple floors, each serving a distinct purpose. The fourth floor, in particular, stood out with its immense size, dwarfing the floors below it tenfold. It housed a vast library, brimming with countless books amassed by Charles over his lifetime.

Eldric found himself in awe of the scene before him—a multitude of shelves teeming with books of various shapes and sizes. The temptation to immerse himself in the knowledge contained within was strong, but he knew time was of the essence. His priority was locating Seath before he vanished once again.

Expressing his sentiments, Eldric remarked with a tinge of regret, "The abundance of knowledge in this place is truly overwhelming. There must be millions of books here. It's a shame to leave without even glimpsing at some of the treasures within."

Aiden turned to Eldric, his voice resolute as he emphasized their purpose, "You can return later and indulge in the books to your heart's content. But for now, we must stay focused. We need to deal with Damien and his alliance first."

The duo hastened through the vast fourth floor, racing against time. Scaling the stairs, they arrived at the fifth floor, which revealed itself as a sprawling magical laboratory. Bizarre potions and enticing pills adorned the area, capturing their attention.

However, a notable difference this time was the presence of numerous shadows and individuals donning black ninja attire, bustling about the floor, and pilfering the potions and pills.

Eldric smirked as he observed their activities, remarking, "Seems we have a band of thieves here. Who would have expected the black market alliance to resort to such petty thievery?"

Aiden was prepared to engage the assassins, but Eldric raised his hand, interjecting, "Allow me to handle them. Proceed and deal with the others on the floor above. Ensure that Seath doesn't escape. I have no desire to go on another search for him."

Noting Eldric's determination, Aiden grinned in agreement, "Don't worry. I've already bested him once. Defeating him again will be a walk in the park."

Suddenly, the assassins pounced, their attention fixed on the duo. Aiden disregarded their assault, continuing his race toward the staircase leading to the next floor. The assassins split into two groups—one engaging Eldric, the other pursuing Aiden. However, just as Aiden crossed the threshold of the staircase, a tempestuous gust enveloped the entire floor, sealing off all exits to the floors above.

Both groups found themselves trapped together with Eldric, who summoned a wind elemental spell. "Wind spell, Gale Domain... quite the good spell to trap people. Prepare yourselves. I can't recall the last time I faced this many fools. I hope you're ready for the challenge."

None of the ninja assassins replied, instead leaping toward Eldric, recognizing that his defeat would be their ticket for freedom. Eldric couldn't help but scoff, "What a group of imbeciles. Know your adversary before challenging them. Well, wind spell, Wind Slash!"

The clash erupted on the fifth floor, signaling the commencement of a fierce battle.

__________

Rei and Titan Number 10 were taken aback witnessing Damien's sudden assault on Seath, unable to comprehend his motives for attacking their comrade just before they were about to face a formidable enemy.

Coughing and struggling to rise, Seath managed to voice his confusion, "W-why? How can you be this strong? You may be one of the executioners of the first guild, but you can't possibly match the power of us Titans!" Despite his instability, Seath desperately sought answers from Damien.

Even the other members present, including the Titans, shared the same bewilderment, unable to fathom Damien's unexpected display of strength. Damien calmly adjusted his disheveled hair, which had become slightly messy during his sudden attack, before speaking.

"This is the fault of the guilds below the top five. They believe that merely being associated with us at the same rank grants them the same level of strength as us. Let me enlighten you. The chasm between our powers is immense. Some of our executioners are even on par with Saint-level warriors or mages, unlike you, who still struggle like this. The reason the hidden noble families and sects refrain from attacking us is not due to your guilds, but because of our own might. It's not about quantity but quality," Damien declared, casually flaunting the strength of his guild and alliance.

Silence pervaded the room as Damien's words hung in the air, leaving everyone speechless. He then lowered himself slightly to meet Seath's gaze and continued, "To be frank, it was the boss's order, and even your guild leader agreed once he learned of your transgressions. Furthermore, your guild master wanted me to convey a message to you: 'I know about the woman. I will ensure her fate serves as a warning to those who dare to defy me, just like you'. You can meet your demise now, Seath. Soon, she will join you."

"...You... piece... of... shit! I'll kill you," Seath uttered defiantly, his words dripping with venom, moments before losing consciousness.

Damien callously allowed Seath to collapse onto the floor before redirecting his attention to Charles, wearing an innocent smile as if he hadn't just killed his comrade moments ago. "Now, where were we? Judging by the numbers here, it seems we're evenly matched, but we surpass you in quality. No matter what, we're winning. So here's my proposal, Charles: let the others fight outside while we indulge in a little chat about the past. I've been yearning to converse with someone from the same era as me."

Alex, overhearing Damien's words, surveyed the situation, attempting to assess the likely outcome of the upcoming battle. Noticing that almost half of the participants were members of the black market alliance, including high-level individuals, Alex sighed in realization. "Their quality far surpasses ours. With that Damien guy suddenly appearing, we don't stand a chance."

Hu Zhao, displaying unwavering confidence, remained unperturbed. "Hey, you're too much pessimistic. no matter how powerful they are, I believe I can take them down. For now, let's see what they're going to do."

Lyssia and the others were also intrigued by the unfolding events but with Charles and Hu Zhao present, they didn't feel as threatened and were eager to observe the outcome.

Damien turned to his comrades and issued orders, "Black market soldiers, ensure the elimination of all individuals not affiliated with our organization. I want no survivors. Our alliance's leader awaits news of our victory against these adventurers. Those who play a significant role will receive substantial rewards."

In response, everyone behind Damien, including Rei and and titan number 10, sprang into action, moving swiftly to eliminate any remaining opposition. Alex and the others brandished their weapons, assuming battle stances and preparing for the impending clash. Hu Zhao also unsheathed his sword, ready to engage in combat.

Swoosh.... Swoosh....

However, before the battle could commence, a blinding light enveloped everyone, transporting them outside the tower and into the nearby forest. Charles had snapped his fingers, utilizing the last remnants of mana within him to relocate the confrontation and prevent the destruction of the tower.

Seath, severely injured, and Damien, disinterested in the battle, remained behind. Damien approached a table that materialized after the teleportation, taking a seat opposite Charles. Dian Long, similarly uninvolved and not transported, occupied another seat.

Still sporting a smile, Damien addressed Dian Long, whose expression remained impassive. "I must say, encountering familiar faces from the good old days is quite remarkable. I never thought I would feel such joy upon seeing my old enemies from the war."

Dian Long inquired, "So, how are you still alive? No living being can endure for such a long time. In fact, the last we heard of you during the war, people claimed you died in the Gayana region."

Damien interjected, "I never died. While my physical body was destroyed, my soul survived and was sealed within an altar for eons. I was only liberated a thousand years ago by the previous owner of this body."

Charles and Dian Long, initially skeptical, found themselves unable to detect any falsehood in Damien's words. They realized his claim was indeed true. Damien smirked and continued, "And it's not just me. Each one of the higher-ups, including the seven great generals, suffered the same fate of being sealed."

Charles and Dian Long stared at Damien, struggling to comprehend the revelation. It was a development beyond their wildest imaginations. Damien shook his head, "You put your trust in the angel race too much. You should've made sure yourself to finish the job. those idiots only put a pause on the fight and not end it".

Dian Long's anger surged, his words on the tip of his tongue, but Charles intervened, lifting his hand and shaking his head. "He's right, Dian Long. There's no need for anger. What he says is the truth, and we must accept that as a fact."

Charles gathered his thoughts and addressed Damien, his voice steady yet tinged with curiosity. "It appears that your decision to join this black market alliance was driven by your desire to revive everyone. You went to great lengths to conceal your true identity in order to achieve this. You even pretend to work for their leader"

Damien, still wearing his enigmatic smile, responded without hesitation. "Indeed. When I awakened, I didn't anticipate finding anyone else. However, rumors of your treasure reached my ears, and I felt compelled to investigate personally. All of us share a common destiny, bound by the consequences of our actions on future generations. I must admit, I was disheartened to discover your reliance on the magic source within this tower to prolong your life. But now that my subordinate has deactivated it, you have become rather inconsequential."

The weight of Damien's words hung in the air, his disappointment veiled behind a veil of detached superiority. Charles absorbed the implications, understanding the diminished significance of his own existence in the grand scheme of things. Yet, he remained composed, his gaze steady as he prepared to face the consequences of his choices

At Charles, his smile unwavering. "That's why I've always respected you, Charles. You're a gracious loser. It seems your astonishment has dissipated, and you've regained your composure. And if you're placing your hopes on Aiden coming to your rescue, you're sorely mistaken. I left him buried under the rubble in the dead of night, ensuring his demise."

Upon hearing this, Charles smiled and addressed Reiss, "You'll be amazed at Aiden's resilience. I wouldn't wish anyone to become his enemy."

BOOM!

An explosion shattered the door leading to the room, filling the air with smoke and obscuring their vision. As the smoke gradually cleared, Aiden emerged, wielding his axe and casting a smile toward Riss.

Damien stood from his seat, a trace of irritation visible as a vein pulsed on his forehead, though he quickly resumed his expressionless demeanor. He locked eyes with Aiden, who calmly approached him, stating, "I've found you! Now you won't escape from me again."

"Hmph, who said I was trying to escape from you?" Damien retorted coldly.

"Oh ho, then let's see how you prove otherwise," Aiden responded, ready for the impending confrontation.