20

Hello, everyone! A new chapter is here.

And I must say, I saw two types of men in the comments on the last chapter, haha.

I want you to know that I've read your comments and appreciate your opinions. I've decided there won't be a harem after all.

The author has never dated, so even writing a single romantic relationship will be challenging for me. All my knowledge of romance comes from other stories.

Enjoy the chapter, and lastly, thank you for your support TT.

Mark's slow steps echoed through the city alleys. At some point, he started feeling like he was being followed and decided to move toward the city square.

There stood the statue of two knights side by side. But Mark knew that, ages ago, these statues had actually been of Kayle and Morgana, created at the founding of Demacia thousands of years ago.

Several such statues were scattered throughout Demacia, representing the now-forgotten winged protectors. Mark slowly approached the statue and looked into the water reflecting in the fountain around it. The moonlight fell over the square, giving it an air of mystery and antiquity.

"I really expected them to make a move, but this is quite brazen," Mark thought as he saw countless shadows surrounding him from all sides. Slowly, he removed his hood and placed his cloak on the fountain to prevent it from being damaged.

Soon, one of the Mage Hunters stepped forward. It was Eldrid. "It's over, Mark. You're surrounded!" he said like a classic villain, and Mark realized something—despite the cliché, a villain's speech always added a certain charm to the story.

"Eldrid, you come to me just like you went after other mages—with malice and injustice. You've turned Demacia not into a refuge but into a nightmare of fear and terror for its people," Mark spoke loudly, and to his surprise, Eldrid responded.

"Everything I've done was for Demacia—a Demacia free from the influence of mages, one that need fear no power but our own!" Eldrid declared with conviction, and Mark chuckled behind his mask.

"Look at the price you've paid for that! How many children, how many mothers and fathers had their families destroyed by your fear and control?" Mark's words resonated through the silent, moonlit Demacia, and he could sense hesitation from some of the Mage Hunters as they heard his words.

"Today, I will bring an end to your reign of terror and bring justice to the people you've persecuted." Mark said, projecting the power of vision onto the statue behind him. The eye tattoo on his hand glowed for a moment before a feather flew into the air and entered the statue.

At that moment, the swords of the two statues shone—one in golden light and the other in purple—illuminating the darkness. Just as in the game Mageseeker, all the statues in Demacia began projecting the same light. Countless people, both asleep and awake, experienced a vision recounting the founding of Demacia, where mages and ordinary people worked together to protect one another.

The vision lasted minutes, but in reality, only an instant had passed. Eldrid, one of the first to awaken, immediately understood. "It's over." He knew that as soon as dawn came and Demacians began talking about this—whether they believed it or not—the Mage Hunters were finished.

At that moment, the sound of staffs hitting the ground was heard. Eldrid turned just in time to see one of his subordinates fall to his knees. "What have I done?" the man said, tears streaming down his face.

One by one, many other mages began stepping away, leaving only Eldrid's most loyal followers by his side.

"Now I say to you, Eldrid, surrender, and perhaps you can still redeem yourself in this life," Mark said, extending a hand to him. But Eldrid laughed maniacally in response.

"Surrender?! HAHAHA!" He shouted, laughing uncontrollably. Eldrid had a mental breakdown. Everything he had built was destroyed. His entire legacy would now be remembered as that of a traitor and a madman. And the man responsible for his downfall was offering him mercy?

"I've gone too far to turn back now!" Eldrid said with a crazed tone. "But don't worry—I'm sure Prince Jarvan won't let you go unpunished." At that moment, Mark felt a terrible sense of foreboding.

His mind worked quickly, piecing together the game's events with his memories. He reached a horrifying conclusion.

"You ordered the king's assassination!" Mark exclaimed, but Eldrid only laughed madly.

In the next instant, Mark moved without hesitation. He knew that if the king was truly dead, the first person Jarvan would blame, regardless of the truth, would be him.

Countless spells rained down on him, but Mark easily dodged and charged at Eldrid. Wisteria stepped in his way, raising her staff and charging a fireball.

BOOM!

Mark was blasted backward, quickly extinguishing the flames on his arms as he repositioned himself. The fire that hit him wasn't ordinary—it had a nature similar to divine flames.

"Wisteria, isn't it?" Mark murmured. At that moment, he saw a girl emerge from behind them, and his Sharingan glowed, revealing uncontrolled dark magical energy emanating from her body.

Rain unleashed a wave of dark energy that immediately engulfed Mark, attempting to drag him into a dream. "Damn it," Mark muttered, forcing his Sharingan to its limit to break the illusion. Even so, fragments of the dream infiltrated his mind.

Memories of the people he had killed in Shurima surfaced, making him falter momentarily. But soon, his steps became firm again, and he advanced.

"Impossible!" Rain murmured in disbelief, seeing Mark still standing after enduring her spell. In the next moment, flames erupted from him.

"Let's dance!" Mark shouted, charging into the crowd of mages.

BOOM!

Explosions and spells flew everywhere. Using magic to accelerate his movements, Mark plunged into the group, striking with flaming fists and launching many into the air.

Grabbing one mage, Mark used him as a shield to block a barrage of earthen spikes before hurling him into another mage wielding a water whip, causing them to collide.

Another mage cast a lightning spell, striking Mark and causing him to grit his teeth in pain. Ice spells struck his feet, freezing him in place.

"Cheap tricks!" Mark roared, flames exploding from his body and shattering the ice. He lunged at the lightning mage like a predator, the last thing the mage saw being Mark's fiery punch hitting his face.

BOOM!

Another explosion resounded as Wisteria unleashed another spell at Mark. He glared at her with irritation before charging forward and delivering a flaming spinning kick.

BAM!

Wisteria was flung through the air, crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust and coughing up blood. The flames consuming her body didn't subside, and her magic began spiraling out of control.

"I will destroy you!" she roared, uncontrollable magical energy erupting from her body and transforming one of her hands into a bird-like claw.

With a single swipe of her hand, a wave of fire surged toward Mark, erupting from the ground. Mark dodged by leaping into the air.

"Get him!" a mage shouted, and countless ice and earth spikes shot toward him. Mark manipulated the wind around him to form a shield, absorbing most of the attacks.

Summoning fire to his hands, the flames gradually coalesced into the shape of a flaming spear. He aimed it at Wisteria.

"Burn," Mark whispered, hurling the spear. It broke the sound barrier as it struck Wisteria squarely in the chest, her eyes still wide open.

"I hope that finished her," Mark thought as he landed and turned to face the remaining mages.

"No!" Rain screamed, rushing to Wisteria's side and grabbing the flaming spear embedded in her chest, pulling it out. "Please, no," she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. At that moment, heavy footsteps sounded beside her.

"Don't worry, girl. It's not her time to go yet," Hesbeth said, pulling out a vial of glowing potion. He poured it over Wisteria, and her magical power surged uncontrollably.

Without hesitation, the alchemist grabbed her and retreated. Mark, who had just taken down another mage, felt a terrible sense of dread. He turned just in time to see Wisteria's body floating in the air, flames erupting from her form.

The wound in her chest healed in a single breath as she let out a guttural scream.

"AHHHHH!"

Her cry of agony echoed through the square, and a horrifying transformation began.

Two pairs of wings burst from her back, her arms morphing into bird-like talons. Her face took on the visage of a celestial being, with flames constantly emanating from it. Mark felt an overwhelming sense of danger emanating from her.

She raised her hand, and in the next moment, a fiery beam roared toward Mark. He clasped his hands together, sending out his own fiery beam to counter it. Red and golden flames collided in the air, sending waves of heat and energy in all directions.

Mark gritted his teeth, pushing his power to the limit as the tattoos on his body began to glow.

"Fall!" he roared, and the chain tattoo on his arm flared.

Black chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Wisteria. She screamed, struggling to break free, but it was in vain. The next moment, she lost control of her beam, and Mark's flames overwhelmed her.

BOOM!

Another explosion rocked the square as the chains pulled Wisteria back to the ground. She thrashed and roared, but more chains emerged, binding her tighter and sealing her movements.

Mark, sweating and breathing heavily, finally managed to pin her down. She was completely subdued, left only growling in frustration.

"Finally," Mark muttered, exhausted. But before he could rest, heavy footsteps echoed across the square. The silhouettes of Prince Jarvan, Garen, and Shyvana appeared at the edge of the square, approaching.