The cadets in the third hermitage fell into silence for a few seconds, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the instructor, who seemed to materialize like a ghost. If the instructor could go unnoticed like that, it suggested that perhaps the Ravenguards could also be observing their examination without their knowledge. The atmosphere grew tense and electrifying until one cadet broke the silence.
"Yes, Instructor," Thani replied. "No matter how hard we try to ascend to the second hermitage at midnight, we cannot withstand the overwhelming spiritual power present there."
"And we certainly don't want to deal with an Ifrit being brought in by someone!" Gantala chimed in, casting a glance at Lucius.
Deep down, Hyoh felt a sense of satisfaction that they had survived and confronted a formidable creature like Ifrit. He commented, "Honestly, all of you are truly remarkable. I believe the seven of you here have a high chance of becoming the top assassins in the academy, but don't celebrate just yet. The next examination will be even more challenging. You must travel to Moriath within three days to meet Instructor Kenneth, and..."
A crow suddenly perched on Hyoh's shoulder, as if conveying a message. This momentary incident drew everyone's attention toward the instructor. Before long, Hyoh continued, "Yuria, could you explain the details to them?" Hyoh asked, and Yuria awkwardly nodded, agreeing to the instructor's request.
The instructor then ascended the stairs toward the second hermitage, leaving the curious cadets behind, pondering what awaited them up there. From the watcher's report, it appeared that Hyoh was aware that one or two cadets were still up there.
Han Luoyi woke up from her sleep due to the echoing sound of heavy footsteps. Her fatigued body, exhausted from using Soul Charge for too long, instantly rejuvenated. Her eyes widened as she saw a large explosion mark in the sky, then turned her gaze toward an Ifrit pacing back and forth in front of the cave as if guarding its resting place. Han Luoyi was unaware of the cave's existence. Perhaps it was the burial place of the Sun Priest, and that might explain why she couldn't find the Sun Priest's actual body while in the darkness.
Han Luoyi only just realized that two Ravenguards had been watching her in front of the stairs leading to the summit—perhaps since she fell asleep. Nevertheless, she felt grateful inside that she had managed to survive the fiery monsters, and her legendary sword, which appeared to be in good condition, was still stuck in the ground.
Han Luoyi approached the two Ravenguards and asked, "Excuse me, can you explain to me what is actually happening?"
They remained silent, offering no response to Luoyi's question.
"Hello? If you don't answer, at least allow me to see the first hermitage. I promise I will come back. Or you can accompany me if necessary."
This time, they shook their heads and crossed their scythes, blocking Han Luoyi's path. Han Luoyi knew they were carrying out a mission from Hyoh, and the sight of their drawn scythes was a clear threat to her. She understood that the Ravenguards would not permit her to pass, especially now that dawn had arrived. She abandoned her intention to go up, even through the surface of the mountain. She decided to explore the second hermitage instead, hoping to find some treasures.
Without the veil of darkness, the hermitage itself appeared as a humble structure with an open space, constructed from weathered stone and adorned with vibrant ivy that seemed to embrace its aged facade. At the entrance, two rows of tall candles stood, their flickering flames forming a path that led to the heart of the hermitage—the sacred altar of the Eternal Fire. The candles, meticulously arranged, cast a warm glow that danced on the walls, creating intricate patterns that hinted at the hidden secrets within.
As Han Luoyi steps closer, she notices a peculiar absence. The Eternal Fire, renowned for its everlasting brilliance and fervor, has been extinguished. Its absence creates an eerie stillness in the air as if the very essence of life within the hermitage has been temporarily suspended.
The altar itself stands as a solemn monument, adorned with intricate carvings that depict ancient tales of fire and rebirth. Though dormant, it emanates a sense of resilience and longing, as if yearning for the return of the eternal fire that once burned brightly.
The surrounding chamber of the hermitage offers a haven of solitude and introspection. Soft sunlight filters through stained glass windows, casting gentle hues upon the weathered wooden pews and the mosaic floors beneath Han Luoyi's feet. The space exudes serene energy, inviting contemplation and inner reflection.
As Han Luoyi explores further, she discovers chambers housing forgotten texts and relics, shelves lined with ancient tomes that speak of lost wisdom and rituals. The whispers of the past reverberate through the corridors, urging her to delve deeper into the mysteries that lie within.
Han Luoyi reads the titles of these rare books, all bound by Aether chains and sealed by Aetherium Sigil. From her discerning mind, she can immediately distinguish between those related to science and history:
1. Halatar's Missing Pages: Lost Chronicles of the Arcane Desert (History)
2. Celestial Flow Technique: The Path of Stellar Qi (Science)
3. Aetherial Alchemy: Harnessing the Essence of the Cosmos (Science)
4. The Cursed Compendium: Immortality through Undeath (Science)
5. Whispers from the Abyss: Echoes of the Netherworld (Unknown)
6. The Ephemeral Grimoire: A Transient Guide to Unseen Realms (Science)
7. The Infernal Codex: Haunted Chronicles of the Occult (History)
8. The Forgotten Lexicon: Ancient Script of Kaliyuga Scepter (History)
9. Chthonian Prophecies: Visions of the Subterranean Future (History)
10. Aetherial Enchantments: Conjuring Aether Soul Charge (Science)
There are two drastic differences between intelligent cadets like Han Luoyi and Aleister. Out of the ten rare books on the shelf, Han Luoyi is more interested in the ones that teach philosophy, power, and science rather than codes, puzzles, or glyphs.
A voice emerges from behind her, saying, "That is your gift."
Startled, Han Luoyi swiftly turns around to find Instructor Hyoh leaning against the wall. "But please, choose only one book," he repeats.
A sense of betrayal wells up within Han Luoyi as Hyoh continues speaking. As a seeker of knowledge, she naturally desires to possess all of these books!
"Instructor Hyoh! I risked my life to come here. May I please take two books instead?" she pleads earnestly.
"No, Luoyi, take only one. It would be highly dangerous if any of those books fell into the wrong hands, and the only way to neutralize the magic within them is to burn them with the lava from this mountain."
Disappointed, Han Luoyi lets out a sigh and reluctantly accepts the restriction. With her sword, she cuts the chain binding the book titled 'Celestial Flow Technique: The Path of Stellar Qi' and delicately takes it into her hands. Before bidding farewell, she ventures, "Instructor, may I accompany you to see the summit?"
"No. Return to the ship with the others. They will inform you about the next mission," Hyoh responds firmly.
"Alright..." Han Luoyi replies, her voice tinged with disappointment.
She begins her descent down the mountain, utilizing her adept skills to leap through the air, gracefully landing from one leaf to another on the trees. In flight, her body feels weightless, carried by the wind's gentle embrace.
Hyoh soared through the air invisibly, unaffected by any spiritual pressure. His presence vanished into thin air as he landed and approached Ifrit, who awaited him there. "Old friend, what is truly happening here?" Hyoh inquired.
The Ifrit's voice thundered, seemingly splitting the horizon. "YOUR QUESTION IS LIKE THAT STUBBORN CADET!"
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"You mean Lucius?" Hyoh asked.
"YES, WHO IS THAT DARK-ELF MAN? HE STRUCK MY HEAD SO HARD, YOU KNOW?!"
"But he is down there; there's no way he could have caused all of this."
"THAT'S WHAT I MEAN! NO CADET HAS EVER PASSED BY ME, I THINK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSION LAST NIGHT, WHICH DESTROYED ALL OF THE UNDEAD!"
"Then I will ascend," Hyoh declared, walking toward the stairs leading to the first hermitage, while the Ravenguards respectfully welcomed him.
"HYOH!" Ifrit's booming voice called out, causing Hyoh to pause. "IF YOU NEED MY HELP, JUST SAY THE WORD. OTHERWISE, I WILL GO TO THE CAVE AND REST IN THE LAVA AS USUAL."
"You may return to your lair, old friend. Although we have made a covenant, it is still my duty as the guardian of Tartaros Island."
Hyoh resumed his ascent up the stairs, while the towering fire creature retreated into the cave to find rest. Ever since Hyoh arrived on the island, he had developed a unique resonance with Ifrit. Those who could forge blood oath contracts with spirit creatures, known as Esperars, would be bestowed with the physical and magical powers of these creatures.
As their bond grew stronger, it became akin to unbreakable wires, much like Hyoh's connection with Ifrit. All of this was designed to ensure mutual objectives could be achieved, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and spirit creatures. If the treaty were ever violated, several conditions would need to be met in order to sever the union between the two.
In the first hermitage...
Hyoh proceeded forward, taking one step at a time as the thick fog gradually dissipated around him. His piercing gaze cut through the lingering mist that had obscured his vision. As the fog receded, he found himself astonished by the sight before him—an elevated stage. The Ghouls stood in a line, bowing respectfully to the figure seated on the throne while allowing Hyoh to pass through their midst. Surrounding the throne, the Succubi clung to the legs of the slumbering individual, while the Ogres and the Bone Dragon inclined their heads in deference. The man occupying the throne... was Fenrius.
From a swirling cloud of smoke, the Wispmother materialized and approached Hyoh, holding the Witch King's helmet in her hand. "Hyoh of Ashenvale...you have finally arrived."
"Camille, the Heiress of Malkaya, what truly transpires here?" inquired Hyoh.
"It is a tale of great length...one that defies belief if confined to mere words. You must experience it firsthand...the memories," entreated Camille, extending the Witch King's helmet as if beseeching Hyoh to touch it.
Hyoh's hands reached out and seized the Witch King's helmet from Camille. The instructor fixed his gaze upon the artifact, sensing an irresistible pull on his soul as if it yearned to be drawn into its depths. His head throbbed with such intensity that it felt on the verge of explosion. Hyoh's eyes gleamed with brilliant radiance, and his vision was engulfed in a blinding whiteness as if he had succumbed to the hypnotic allure of the helmet.
* (Flashback)
Hyoh witnessed the Witch King's memories unfolding before his eyes, gradually becoming clearer. A Netherworld gate materialized in front of him, and Fenrius emerged from it at incredible speed, closely pursued by dozens of menacing black hands. Despite the charging ghouls, Fenrius galloped onward, effortlessly tossing one of the ghouls high into the sky.
The Wispmother thrust her hands forward with a fierce cry. A blast of pure energy shot out from her palms, hurtling toward the gate with incredible force. The air sizzled and crackled as the spell hit the gate, sending shockwaves through the ground and causing the very fabric of reality to tremble. It was clear that the Wispmother's wrath knew no bounds, and she was willing to unleash all manner of destruction to get what she wanted.
After the shockwaves subsided, the enraged Wispmother, realizing Fenrius had vanished from her sight and was already halfway to the Witch King's throne, summoned two shadowy duplicates of herself. Together, they unleashed a barrage of ice magic, and she even enlisted nearby Wisps to target Fenrius. However, none of the ice magic shots from the Wisps managed to hit him or impede his progress. Furthermore, Fenrius used the ghouls as shields, causing three of the Wispmother's ice magic attacks to miss their mark.
The Bone Dragon unfurled its massive wings and ascended into the turbulent sky, frightening the succubi that had been departing. Fenrius deftly evaded the ogres' attacks, effortlessly passing through their ranks. As a final obstacle, the Bone Dragon unleashed dark flames from above. Fearlessly, the cadet continued to run and leaped high, retrieving the ghoul he had previously thrown. In mid-air, the ghoul served as his shield, protecting him from the dark flames. The ghoul's flesh and skin blackened and melted away, leaving only skeletal remains on its body.
Fenrius, sprinting at an incredible pace, moved swiftly as if in double-quick time with a piercing glare fixed directly on Hyoh, who stood on the Witch King's throne. The Witch King swung his Malkaya Sword in a horizontal slash, but Fenrius evaded the attack by leaping onto the Witch King's back and, at the same time, snatching his sword. With the new sword in his hand, Fenrius executed a swift slash that cleanly severed the headpiece of the Witch King's helmet from its neck, sending it soaring through the air.
The Witch King's head thudded to the ground, and his hand reached out, attempting to grasp his greatsword. Yet, just as his body began to fall, a bright flash emitted from the Witch King's ring on his finger. The cadet swiftly retaliated by slashing upward, severing the Witch King's wrist, which flew into the air. The Ring of Vorgosh erupted in a resounding and violent explosion, hurling Fenrius and the surrounding monsters, and shaking Mount Tartaros.
Following the explosion, a mist descended upon the area. From within the mist, a ghoul approached the ring, emanating a black light. The ghoul placed the ring on its finger, instantly incinerating its body, leaving no trace behind, and dropping the ring to the ground. Now, it was Fenrius' turn to retrieve the ring and place it on his finger. The ring glowed brilliantly, forging a connection between Fenrius, the ghouls, and the monsters flanking him. They all bowed their heads in homage, bestowing upon Fenrius the honor of a direct path to the Witch King's throne.
Fenrius strode toward the throne, assuming his seat as the New King, ruling over Mount Tartaros. His two draconic eyes exuded a smoldering vendetta against the Runeverse, and without requiring further acknowledgment, he had defeated the Witch King of Vorgosh in a remarkable 17.25 seconds, achieving an astounding speedrun.
*
Hyoh stammers awake along with his memory slowly fills up. He also turned to Wispmother, and sputtered, “This impossible...hard to believe. He doesn't even have any spiritual aura at all.”
"That's why I absorbed the Witch King's memories. It happened so quickly, I barely had time to blink amidst the tension," Camille exclaimed.
Hyoh also realized Fenrius's exceptional intellect. Despite the Witch King's invincibility, the audacious cadet risked his life to vanquish the King of Tartaros using his own formidable weapon, the Malkaya Blade. The sheer strength of this unyielding cadet caused the sky to erupt, saving his fellow cadets in the process. Surely, Swordmaster Theodin would have been astounded by this remarkable feat.
Curious about Fenrius's next move, Hyoh turned to Camille and inquired, "What are your intentions for this cadet?"
Camille extended her hand toward the slumbering Fenrius and replied, "He possesses the power to wield the cursed Malkaya Blade of the Underworld, not to mention the Ring of Vorgosh. He is the rightful heir to the title of Witch King and the ruler of Tartaros."
Hyoh expressed his concern, saying, "I had my doubts about that. I suspect the ring won't be able to control his mind. Soon enough, he will come to claim your sword."
Upon hearing Hyoh's words, Camille's face contorted with a sinister expression, and she vehemently exclaimed, "I will never allow that to happen! If he takes that sword, I swear to curse and haunt him for eternity...!"
Calmly, Hyoh interjected, gesturing for Camille to compose herself. "Please, Camille, let us maintain our composure. I fully comprehend the significance of that sword to you. Nevertheless, we cannot foresee what lies ahead. It is inevitable that there will be travelers, adventurers, or even pirates who will be tempted to seize it. You witnessed firsthand what that mad cadet accomplished against the Witch King, didn't you?"
"I don't care about his true identity! That sword is more precious to me than anything else! You promised that I could safeguard it within Tartaros. It was the very sword I wielded when I battled Astora to assert dominion over the Runeverse millennia ago!" Camille passionately declared.
"Camille, times have changed. Emperor Astoriamus no longer reigns over the Runeverse. Many independent kingdoms rebelled against him, and the threat of the Sorcerers looms large. The Empires have weakened, especially with Malazen's current state of powerlessness. Please try to understand," Hyoh explained calmly.
Camille's response was filled with frustration. "I never considered the outside world after the first era ended! Right now, my sword is all that matters! Hyoh, you were once an obsessed killer, driven solely by your mission! You know nothing of passion and love!"
A sapphire aura emanated from Hyoh, causing Camille to tremble in his presence. "The past is beyond my control, but I can make amends. Without me, you might still be trapped in the seal or lost in the northern marshes, preying on adventurers who heard your cries. But now, you have found solace in the souls of the cadets you have absorbed to sustain yourself."
Intimidated, Camille shrank and averted her gaze, offering an apology. "I-I'm sorry, Hyoh... My cherished sword made me forget my promise to you..."
"Camille, I am not the same person I once was. I established this hermitage for a reason. I made a vow to the Witch King of Vorgosh to protect this island from pirates and looters in Malazen who seek to take your sword."
The sapphire aura around Hyoh gradually dissipated. He turned away and gazed at the sky. "However, when it comes to that cadet of mine, I cannot control him. His name is Fenrius Nightfang, and if you wish for him to return your sword, form a pact with him. That is my suggestion."
With those words, Hyoh departed from the first hermitage atop Mount Tartaros, leaving Camille, Fenrius, and the other monsters behind. The fourth trial concluded with the Mad Cadet known as Fenrius, devoid of any spiritual aura, seated upon the throne, surrounded by monsters. That man had now officially become the new Witch King, the Lord of Mount Tartaros.