Chapter 28: The Dream of Stars (4)

Chapter 28: The Dream of Stars (4)

In the moment when the world lost its light during the solar eclipse, a meteor fell from the sky. This was no ordinary meteor. It couldn't be affected by any force present in our world, even light. Its surface was shrouded in a darkness deeper than pure black.

The meteor was used to craft a sword, Eclaxia, the extinction blade, which Zion wielded. Zion had a single reason for choosing this sword. Eclaxia, the force-repelling blade, was uniquely receptive to the Black Star. More than that, it amplified it.

Wooong!

The moment Zion touched Eclaxia, it vibrated, radiating black light, like a joyful dog greeting its owner. This black light was absorbed into Zion's body, causing the two swirling black stars within him to cast an even deeper darkness.

Yet, holding the sword, Zion was filled with questions.

'Why is Eclaxia here?'

He was in the world within the Frosimar Chronicles, not the real world where he was the emperor. He couldn't understand why his weapon from reality existed here. And what had happened to half of the sword spirit?

Confusion clouded his thoughts.

A sudden idea struck him.

'Could this world be...'

But he quickly dismissed the notion. It was premature, and he lacked concrete evidence.

"I have one more thing to figure out."

With that thought, Zion tucked his questions away. No amount of pondering would solve this puzzle right now. Instead of worrying, he decided to assess what he could gain from this situation.

"If I don't dwell on why it's here, having Eclaxia isn't a bad thing."

Zion examined the extinction sword in his hand, which was absorbing the surrounding light. Having Eclaxia would likely boost his Black Star accomplishments even faster. He might even breach the third star soon.

"Let's go with this one. Is that okay?"

Zion presented Eclaxia to Vela, who was gazing at him with startled eyes.

"Yes, let's do that."

The extinction sword, untouchable until now, rested peacefully in Zion's hand. The blade had chosen its master, and Vela, the vault's guardian, had no right to intervene.

And so, she watched Zion, holding Eclaxia, as he strode from the Dream of the Stars.

---

Raei Translations

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"Hold them off! Use deadly force if you have to!"

Howler, the captain of the Blue Lion Knights who guarded the royal palace outskirts, barked orders to his men as he watched the unfolding battle at the castle gate.

At his command, knights in blue armor rushed the uninvited invader.

However, despite their mana-infused swords,

Kwaaaaang!

they were flung in every direction, unable to stop a single invader.

"Uaaaaaargh!"

"Kuaaack!"

Knights were thrown about like birds in the wind, and their frontline was steadily pushed back.

"Who is that woman..."

A mix of surprise and confusion painted Howler's face.

The Blue Lion Knights, while guarding the outskirts, were still a part of the royal palace's defenses and boasted considerable skill. The idea that they were being pushed back by a lone woman with red eyes was mind-boggling.

"Stop her! Hold her off until reinforcements arrive!"

This wasn't just about protecting the palace anymore, but the Blue Lion Knights' reputation at stake.

Fueled by this thought, Howler unsheathed his own sword and charged at the woman.

Hwaaaaaargh!

His sword glowed with a thick layer of mana, a testament to his rank as captain.

"I did ask you to avoid causing a scene..."

The red-eyed woman, Liushina, muttered as she watched Howler charging towards her, an annoyed tone in her voice.

She assumed entering the palace would be simple considering her master's high status. She didn't anticipate complications right from the get-go.

Tututututung!

Alongside Howler, dozens of attacks rained down on her.

With a casual wave of her hand from left to right,

Kwaagwagwagwang!

a bloody streak painted the air, shattering all the incoming attacks.

"Uaaaaargh!"

Knights, including Howler, were tossed aside.

"Hmmm... This is tiring."

Liushina frowned at the increasing number of knights. It wasn't that they were difficult opponents. The challenge was dealing with them without resorting to lethal force.

Her millennia-old spirit stirred within her.

Her red eyes deepened, glowing with a richer, bloodier hue.

Dududududeuk!

An incredible amount of mana gathered at Liushina's feet, causing a rock giant to rise from the ground.

Different.

Not in physical appearance.

His demeanor, his gaze, the aura of authority he effortlessly exuded.

Despite never having met him in person, Lergan found this image to be starkly different from the portrayal of Zion Agnes he had studied and gathered intelligence on until now.

This figure was more like someone destined for rulership, like the third prince he served, rather than a dethroned prince.

Moreover, the peculiar power he just witnessed, which nullified both his and the woman's attack simultaneously.

This was a power unlike anything Lergan had ever encountered.

"Could he be a different person? Or has Agnes's bloodline awakened within him?"

Various hypotheses swarmed his mind.

'No wonder all assassination attempts so far have proven fruitless.'

Most likely, even his master, the Third Prince, was oblivious to this aspect of Prince Zion.

Lergan understood then that he needed to relay this information to the Third Prince.

"Master, why the delay? And you're of royal lineage? Who would have guessed."

Liushina, standing behind him, gestured towards Zion and began to speak.

"Master?"

Lergan's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected term, but they soon twinkled as if he had deduced something.

"The one responsible for the disappearance of the Night of Rest..."

Just as Lergan was on the verge of connecting the dots in his suspicions,

"I will take her."

Zion pointed at Liushina and addressed the captain of the knights.

"But, Your Highness Zion, this woman not only trespassed into the Imperial Palace unauthorized, but she also slew numerous knights. We can't simply let her walk free..."

"Who stated she trespassed unauthorized?"

Zion interrupted Howler's objection.

His eyes, serene and devoid of emotion, remained fixated on Howler as he continued to speak.

"This woman formally requested my permission to enter the Imperial Palace. Furthermore, I notified you all of her anticipated arrival today. Yet, you failed to confirm that, causing this predicament. Is that not on your hands?"

Unable to meet Zion's gaze, Howler averted his eyes and shot a scornful look towards the captain of the guards responsible for the palace gate.

Regardless of the hostility of Zion's words, the guard captain couldn't respond, instead bowing his head in shame.

"Shall we deem this neglecting one's duty? I trust you understand the penalty for neglecting one's responsibilities as a palace guard."

A trickle of cold sweat slid down Howler's forehead.

To his knowledge, considering the severity of their role, the penalty for palace guards neglecting their duty could escalate to capital punishment.

"And do tell, who precisely claimed lives here?"

Zion offered Howler a thin smile and gestured towards the fallen knights and soldiers.

While they sustained injuries, every knight and soldier were still alive.

In fact, there was not a single casualty among those present.

"Right, you wouldn't believe the effort it took to keep everyone alive."

From behind Zion, Liushina peeked over his shoulder and chimed in nonchalantly.

Her eyes, however, swirled with a tinge of regret as she spoke.

"I trust there are no further issues now."

No, it wouldn't have mattered even if there were.

Any residual issues would merely be eradicated.

At Zion's words, Howler and the knights, left with no room for further argument, began to cautiously step aside.

"And you?"

Zion's gaze landed on Lergan, who remained obstructing their path.

"How could I dare defy Your Highness's decree?"

With that, Lergan chuckled softly and cleared the path.

"Exercise caution."

As Zion brushed past him, he whispered in a tone only Lergan could discern.

It was a warning.

A forewarning aimed not just at Lergan, but also his liege.

Zion's penetrating gaze glinted with an icy intensity, as though it could perceive everything.

***

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