"That year, King Magnus died because of the seal, and his family couldn't escape the calamity either." Neven stood in front of the tombstone, his voice low and slow, as if each word carried the weight of heavy memories. "Aria, no one is willing to come here except you. You know the history of Sovereign Bastion better than anyone, even better than the Lunar Essence Clan. What I can't understand is, if you really are the Aria Magnus on this tombstone, how could you still be alive? Your age makes no sense in this context."

Aria's face turned pale, anger blazing in her eyes. "You brought me to the graveyard on purpose? I can't believe this. You were the person I trusted the most..."

Neven lowered his head, silent for a moment. "Aria, I just want to understand everything, but I don't want to hurt you." His voice carried deep exhaustion and guilt. "When you first told me your name was Aria, I immediately thought of this tombstone. I thought it was a coincidence, but the day you mentioned your brother's name was Xander, I couldn't stop wanting to know what was going on. I felt you had lived here; I could sense it."

Neven stepped forward, the moonlight casting deep remorse on his face.

"If I say I am, would you believe me?" Aria let out a bitter laugh, a tear glistening in her eye. "Who would believe I've lived for over two hundred years? People would think I'm crazy."

"I believe you, Aria. No matter how strange it is, I'll try to understand it." Neven exhaled deeply, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "I've been hesitant to bring you here, afraid of hurting you..."

Aria's heart pounded, and she looked at him with unprecedented betrayal. "You planned this all along? You brought me here just to find out who I am?" Tears glistened in her eyes under the moonlight, and she shoved Neven away as if he were the source of all her pain.

She walked away quickly, her footsteps echoing in the silent night. Memories of the time spent with Neven deepened the cracks in her heart.

Neven stood still, watching her retreating figure, his heart aching. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil inside, but the helplessness made it hard to breathe. He led his fiery horse, trudging heavily after her.

Aria quickened her pace, heading towards the royal city on the hillside. The sound of hooves followed her, Spark occasionally letting out bursts of flames.

As she entered the city gates, Neven urged Spark on, the fiery horse galloping past Aria. The royal city was brightly lit, filled with joyous laughter, but the merriment clashed with their current mood.

Lyra, slightly tipsy, descended the steps with a dazed smile and grabbed Neven's hand, her voice thick with intoxication. "The Starguard warriors are waiting for you. Sable said you beat Stormblade, all thanks to him."

Neven forced a smile, trying to hide his weakness. "Lyra, I have something to do." He tried to pull away, but Lyra's grip tightened.

"Don't be like this, Neven, everyone is waiting for you." Lyra tugged at his hand, pulling him towards the bustling hall.

Laughter erupted as a group of Starguard members rushed out, dragging Neven up the steps. Sable stood in the center, waving his arms excitedly, recounting his "legendary exploits."

"Don't steal my spotlight. Hey... Lyra... don't let him in, I'm not done with my story yet." Sable shouted, his face brimming with pride.

Aria quickened her pace, relieved to finally escape Neven's pursuit. She only wanted to find a quiet place to calm down, her emotions on the brink of collapse.

She skirted the high walls, heading for the north tower's side entrance. Suddenly, a shadow emerged from the corner, blocking her path. The moon cast a long shadow behind him, making his silhouette look especially eerie.

"Why isn't Neven with you? He really shined in the arena today." Stormblade's voice dripped with sarcasm, his tone full of mockery.

Aria's mood was already at its lowest, and seeing Stormblade only deepened her anger and pain. A chill ran down her spine, and she stiffened, her hands clenching involuntarily.

"Leave me alone, stay away from me." Aria replied coldly, her voice dripping with undisguised disdain. Her gaze was sharp, trying to drive Stormblade away with her eyes.

But Stormblade was unfazed, his lips curling into a sinister smile, brimming with malicious glee. He stepped closer, as if the air around him were being corroded. "You know, Aria? The more you act like this, the more interesting it becomes. Neven was a joke in the arena without Essence Power, and you..." He looked at her mockingly, "I realized today in the arena... you are his weakness."

Aria's anger reached its peak, but she tried to suppress the rage inside her, responding coldly, "You think you know everything, but you don't understand Neven at all. He's much stronger than you think."

Stormblade's laughter was low and raspy, tinged with arrogance. "Really? Then let's see how long he can hold out." He finished speaking, grabbing Aria's wrist forcefully and pulling her close. Aria struggled, feeling his grip like iron.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Let go of me!" she growled, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

"Don't forget, I know his secret, his weakness." Stormblade said softly, his eyes glinting with danger. "If you don't want to see him completely destroyed, you better behave."

In that moment, Aria felt a deep sense of helplessness, but she quickly steadied herself, responding coolly, "You won't threaten me. We'll see." She yanked her hand free with all her strength, her heart pounding, Stormblade's words and sinister smile echoing in her mind.

"Don't go." Stormblade roughly grabbed her arm again, pulling her back, almost making her stumble.

"I'll tell you a secret. There's a reason he can't control his Essence," Stormblade whispered urgently. "I know what's wrong with him. I can help him."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Aria asked skeptically. "He's right over there in the hall. You can go to him directly."

A cunning gleam flashed in Stormblade's eyes. "You know he doesn't want to see me right now, and you don't want to see him get hurt. Trust me, don't resist anymore."

Aria felt an immense surge of anger and helplessness. She knew she couldn't let Stormblade succeed. Taking a deep breath, she said calmly, "We can negotiate, but only if you let me go."

Stormblade's smugness faded slightly, but he still gripped Aria's arm tightly. "Fine, you talk."

Aria's gaze was resolute, her voice cold. "Let go first, then we'll talk."

Stormblade released his grip and stepped back half a step. "Now will you listen to my explanation?"

Aria watched him warily, not answering.

"You saw what happened in the arena. If I go to him now, Starguard won't welcome me," Stormblade said, lowering his voice and glancing around cautiously. "This can't be known to others. Quinn doesn't want me helping Neven. Someone's framing Neven."

At the end of the path, a squad of Lunarshade guards approached, their steps uniform, and their armor gleamed in the moonlight.

"We can't talk here. If we're found out, it'll cost me my life," Stormblade said urgently.

Aria was full of doubts, but she had no choice but to believe Stormblade this once. Despite being rivals with Neven, they were both members of the Lunar Essence Clan in Moon Tower, sharing a common enemy.

She followed Stormblade through the forest, deeper and deeper until the city's noise was no longer audible.

Behind the dense canopy was an abandoned prison. This made Aria very uneasy; she had been attacked by a demigod there just that afternoon. The building looked even more eerie at night, moonlight filtering through broken windows, casting an eerie silver sheen over the ruins.

"Let's talk here. I don't want to go any closer," Aria said coldly, stopping.

Stormblade turned around, a twisted smile on his face, shadows playing over his features, making him look even more sinister. His eyes gleamed dangerously, like a beast about to pounce on its prey.

"You really care about him, Aria," Stormblade's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of barely noticeable pleasure.

"He's my friend," Aria replied, her tone guarded.

"He cares a lot about you too. You didn't see him in the arena. He almost lost his arm saving you," Stormblade said mockingly. "Damian wanted to teach you a lesson, and Alpha told him to do it to take Neven down a notch. Someone without Essence has no place in the Legion. He should have been out of Moon Tower long ago."

"You mean he used his arm...?" Aria's voice was filled with shock and doubt.

"Just an inch more force, and his arm would have been my trophy. If my Soul Stone hadn't been weakened... those damned rules..." Stormblade cursed angrily.

"You're both Lunar Essence Clan. He's not your enemy. It was just a match, and Starguard didn't even win," Aria responded calmly, trying to appease him.

"I've waited three years," Stormblade roared, his eyes filled with uncontrollable anger.

Aria took half a step back. Stormblade seemed manic, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Do you know how long I've waited for revenge before that? Do you know how he treated me? Did he ever leave me any leeway?" Stormblade shouted angrily. "No, he didn't. He only cared about the glory, never thought about how humiliating it was for me to lose to him, how bitter it felt. Now he's weak and vulnerable, willing to sacrifice his arm for a woman..." He laughed sinisterly, towering over Aria like a mountain.

Aria backed away slowly, hoping someone would pass by. But apart from the wind rustling the branches, it was eerily quiet.

"He wants to take away my glory, I'll make him regret it for life." Stormblade drew his heavy sword, fury burning in his eyes. "Do you know what they say about me?" Stormblade mimicked in a mocking tone. "He couldn't even beat someone without Essence. How can he be Executive Commander? Stormblade... too stupid... Neven is just playing you..."

“He didn’t do it on purpose,” Aria said, backing away, her voice trembling. “It was Alpha who didn't change the Commander. Neven is the victim. He never wanted to join the Beast Duel.”

Stormblade sneered, the evil on his face growing more pronounced. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, cutting into Aria’s soul. “If I hurt his woman, will he be furious, or forever trapped in guilt? Every time he thinks of you, he will hate himself for being so powerless.”

Aria held her breath, her eyes wide, staring at the massive sword in Stormblade’s hand. The sword glinted coldly in the moonlight, like a bloodthirsty beast ready to tear everything apart.

“Stormblade, please don't.” Her voice was almost a plea, her heart pounding in her chest.

At that moment, a terrible roar echoed from the dark building, like a cry torn from a throat. Aria looked over there, more afraid of the sound than of Stormblade. In the moonlight from the tower, the boarded-up door was yanked open, revealing a narrow gap and a dim light inside.

Stormblade looked over, yelling angrily, “Who’s there? That area is off-limits!”

He gripped his sword, grabbing Aria and dragging her toward the door. Aria felt her wrist might snap from Stormblade's grip, her fear growing even more intense.

“Don't go, someone broke in there before,” Aria said, terrified it might be a demigod. The sound was the same as before.

Stormblade turned angrily. “Who did you say it was?”

“It’s a demi—” Aria’s voice suddenly failed her.

She stared in horror at the shadow in the door crack, fear coursing through her. She feared the shadow more than Stormblade. The door slowly creaked open, and a beam of silver light shone from within the darkness.

Aria pointed, her voice trembling, “It’s a demigod…”

Stormblade turned to the door, his face turning pale. Though the demigod stood in the dark, Aria could feel its eyes on them, filled with endless malice and hatred.

“A demigod?” Stormblade cursed, raising his heavy sword. From the shadow, the demigod’s hand glowed with a dazzling white light. The light was blinding, seeming to tear through the darkness and consume everything.