MEA

Unlike the usual casual atmosphere at home, an unusual tension filled the air as everyone silently awaited Vito's return. The weight of the conversation between Elysia and Kael lingered in their minds. One mutual thought began to form among them: the return of Tyrant Kolgwyn.

Yet, the more pragmatic among them dismissed this as impossible. Kolgwyn, after all, had been defeated and killed during the Great War, and it was well-known that there was no way to bring back the dead—not even one as powerful as the Tyrant. The only exception was Vergil Killer's ethereal arm, but the lives it restored were mere shadows, devoid of independent thought and stripped of their former abilities.

Despite knowing that answers would likely come with Vito's return, their minds couldn't help but wonder. Shun and Leon, however, were preoccupied with different matters. Their futures were in their own hands, and so they saw little reason to dwell on uncertainties.

Dharma had vanished at some point—perhaps joining Vito, Kael, and Elysia in their private discussion, though it was just as likely that he had been excluded.

As the sky darkened and still no sign of Vito emerged, the silence grew unbearable until Emilia finally broke it. "Should we go look for them?"

Albert shook his head, a hint of weariness in his voice. "We don't even know where they are."

Shun remained quiet, though he had a solution at hand. He possessed an ethereal arm with the ability to remember the scent of anyone he'd met, pointing him in their direction with unerring accuracy. It was a blessed-class arm once wielded by the famed detective of Waveston. Shun hadn't had the opportunity to use it until now, but this seemed like the perfect moment to unveil its power.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, a delicate stick materialized in his hand, adorned with a jewel shaped like an arrow. Without waiting for questions, Shun spoke.

"Got this from a strange shop. It should lead the way," he said, his tone nonchalant as he shrugged. The others nodded in acknowledgment, their curiosity tempered by the pressing situation.

"If Vito's in trouble, we need to be ready for combat. Who's with me?" Shun's eyes swept the room.

After the long day of war and marching, most chose to stay behind. But Emilia, Albert, Cloudy, Yurien, and Rin stood as soon as Shun finished speaking, their determination evident.

Shun's gaze instinctively landed on Silver, whose gentle smile hadn't faltered. It was clear without words—Silver would be joining them.

Jaylen offered a casual shrug. "I doubt he's in any real danger, not with three complete ethereal warriors by his side. But still, make sure Vito's safe."

Leon added, "It's not like he can die, right? Even if all three of those warriors turned against him, they couldn't kill him. So, don't get too worried."

Shun nodded, though his focus remained unwavering. "Regardless, we need to find out what's happened. And it's better to know sooner than later."

He paused, then added, "Kael and Elysia aren't the type to harm anyone without a just cause. And I trust Jayden's loyalty... to all of us." He caught himself before saying "me," quickly correcting the word. It was becoming a frustration, this need to conceal the full extent of what he knew and possessed.

He was still too weak.

Until he could challenge the world without hesitation, he lacked the strength to claim his right to speak or act freely.

But Shun knew that day would come. When it did, he would finally unleash his true power upon the world. And they would have no choice but to watch and pray that they wouldn't be consumed by it.

With Albert's wind element boosting their movement, the group glided swiftly and silently through the capital. Unusual methods of travel were not uncommon in the kingdom, and so their journey drew little attention. The arrow on Shun's ethereal arm pointed unwaveringly toward the north, guiding them past the city walls and beyond.

Both Emilia and Yurien recognized the direction immediately—it led straight to the Prime Army Base of Lordrixis, a place all too familiar to them.

As expected, the group halted at the base's edge. Unlike the opulence of the Royal Capital or the disordered chaos of the outskirts, the Army Base was stark in its simplicity. Massive metal tents, utilitarian buildings, and mechanical weapons dotted the landscape. This was the core of Lordrixis' military power.

Despite its reputation as the most peaceful and prosperous of the three factions, Lordrixis was undeniably the weakest. This reality had led to the development of an ambitious yet controversial technology—Man-made Ethereal Arms (MEA).

The concept behind MEA was to bridge the power gap, allowing even instrument-class citizens to wield the strength of formidable ascended warriors, or perhaps even complete ethereal ones. However, in an ironic twist, the Royal Court had largely ignored MEA's development due to a laughable reason:

The powerful didn't need such weapons, and the weaker ones lacked the resources and the societal class to create them.

That changed when Vergil Killer ascended to the role of Premier General. Under his leadership, progress had finally begun. The most widely distributed MEA was the gun—a simple metal tube capable of propelling projectiles, or "pullets," with explosive force, easily piercing flesh.

More complex versions existed—cannons, combat aircraft, tanks—but few understood their full potential. Compared to guns, these MEAs were far larger and more intricate. Yet they were undeniably formidable, rivaling the strength of weaker complete ethereal arms.

But among all MEAs, one stood out: ECLIPSE. The mere name invoked fear, for it had the power to plunge the world into eternal darkness. A single strike from ECLIPSE could obliterate the entire capital, turning it into a nightmarish hellscape.

The potential of such a weapon had been so great that it prompted the first-ever meeting of the three factions' leaders. They agreed to divide ECLIPSE's components among their realms, ensuring it could only be activated through mutual consent.

Lost in thought over the eerie history of MEA and the terrifying might of ECLIPSE, Emilia shook her head, pushing aside the unsettling memories. She followed the others toward the familiar tent of Vergil Killer, the base's commanding heart.