Inside the Domain, Arthur swung Nyxthar in a calculated arc, warping space to intercept the Dragon Breath spewing from Valen's Bone Dragon. The space rippled like a pond disturbed by a single stone, absorbing the magical onslaught before it could reach him.
'This is harder than I thought,' Arthur mused, beads of sweat tracing lines down his temple. The Bone Dragon's power was absurd. How Valen had managed to acquire such a creature was a mystery, especially considering the scarcity of dragon corpses. Tiamat, the Radiant Dragon, had lived for over a thousand years, and while other dragons existed, they were rare—dead ones, rarer still.
Still, there was some solace. None of Valen's four strongest summons had broken through the Wall separating Radiant-rank from Immortal-rank. They were formidable, yes, but manageable.
The Dullahan's sword strikes, the Bone Dragon's overwhelming magic, the Zombie King's near-infinite regeneration, and the Arch Lich's curses and support magic all worked in perfect tandem with Valen's deadly daggers. It was a seamless, terrifying synergy.
'Even in my Domain, this is far from easy,' Arthur thought, tightening his grip on Nyxthar. With a single swing of the edgeless blade, the Zombie King disintegrated once more, and the Dullahan was forced back. Yet, as expected, the summons began to regenerate, the Zombie King's resilience particularly vexing.
'At least he's not bringing his army into this,' Arthur thought, his mind briefly flashing to Valen's vast undead legion. Divided into factions—the Death Knights led by the Dullahan, the Arch Lich's personal horrors, and the swarming masses of zombies and other creatures—it was a force that could overwhelm even a True Domain. If Valen had summoned them, Arthur would have had no choice but to target him directly and end the fight swiftly.
But Valen had chosen restraint, and Arthur silently acknowledged the tactical wisdom of that decision.
Fourth Movement: Pond of Tranquility.
Arthur's blade shimmered with light as he executed the technique, neutralizing all attacks around him. The movement froze the air itself, suspending every strike, every curse, and every ripple of energy in serene stillness. For a heartbeat, the battlefield was silent.
Then Arthur moved, warping space in an instant to appear before Valen. His fist collided with Valen's Shadow Armour, the impact reverberating like a thunderclap. Cracks spiderwebbed across the dark surface as Valen was sent hurtling backward, his control faltering.
Before the Dullahan could capitalize on the opening, Arthur swung Nyxthar in a sweeping arc. Light exploded outward, obliterating the spectral knight and its horse in a single, radiant burst. The echoes of the destruction lingered in the air, a testament to Arthur's overwhelming might.
'One down. Three to go,' Arthur thought, his eyes blazing with determination.
nside the Domain, Arthur's movements became a blur, faster than Valen's summons could hope to regenerate.
When summons reached Immortal-rank, their regeneration split into two phases: the initial self-regeneration, swift and almost immediate, and the slower process requiring their summoner's mana once their own reserves were depleted. Now, the Dullahan had passed its threshold and relied on Valen to return.
Arthur saw the gap and acted without hesitation.
The Arch Lich was split in half before its curses could take shape, Nyxthar carving through its robed form like a blade through mist. The Zombie King fell next, caught in an endless storm of slashes, its regeneration finally failing under the onslaught. Without its own reserves, it, too, was now dependent on Valen's dwindling power.
The Bone Dragon roared, its skeletal maw glowing with the energy of another breath attack. Arthur didn't falter. He raised Nyxthar high, the blade gleaming with a radiance that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality.
Second Movement: Hollow Eclipse.
The air trembled as Arthur brought the blade down. The Dragon's breath, a force capable of leveling cities, was annihilated mid-flight, swallowed by the void-like slash. The Bone Dragon followed, its massive form collapsing into scattered bones that dissolved into ash.
And then there was only Valen.
Arthur turned to him, his eyes cold and resolute. The golden light of his Domain intensified, casting long shadows around the fallen remains of Valen's summons.
Third Movement: Stellar Cascade.
Arthur moved, his blade weaving a dance of celestial brilliance. Each strike carried the weight of stars, glimmering with the quiet, eternal light of the night sky. Valen's Shadow Armour cracked under the barrage, fractures spiderwebbing across its surface as Arthur closed the distance.
Valen's breath hitched, his daggers raised in a desperate defense. But the brilliance was overwhelming. With one final strike, the cascade of starlight shattered Valen's defenses, leaving him exposed, vulnerable before Arthur's unyielding power.
Arthur exhaled as the battle concluded. Valen lay defeated, his Shadow Armour shattered, his summons dissipated into the ether. The radiant crown atop Arthur's head dissolved, the golden light of his Domain flickering out as its energy waned.
"She's free now, right?" Arthur asked, his voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. Before Valen could answer, an overwhelming pressure descended upon them both. Valen gritted his teeth, his mana utterly depleted.
The intricate nine-circle spell binding Rin Ashbluff unraveled, its luminous fragments scattering like fireflies in the wind. Arthur turned, his gaze sharpening as he leapt toward the wing of the mansion where Rin had been sealed.
The remnants of the spell lingered in the air as Arthur landed, his breath catching in his throat. On the bed sat a girl with pure black hair and eyes, her porcelain-like appearance betraying no emotion. Yet the aura surrounding her was unmistakable.
'Peak Immortal-rank,' Arthur thought, his instincts screaming caution. The oppressive energy emanating from her was unlike anything he'd felt before. She tilted her head, her dark eyes locking onto him with an unsettling curiosity.
"Rin," Arthur said, his voice low but firm as he stepped closer.
"Human," she replied, her voice cold, detached. Her head tilted further. "Spell, no more. Kill, I can kill."
Dark mana and black mana poured from her in waves, the sheer weight of it sending a shiver down Arthur's spine.
'If we were to battle in my current state, I'd die,' Arthur thought grimly. But he didn't stop moving forward.
"Jin! Luna!" he called, his voice ringing through the air. Jin appeared in an instant, dark mana coalescing into chains that wrapped around Rin's limbs.
Rin didn't flinch. She simply looked at the chains, her head tilting yet again as though studying an amusing trinket. With a subtle flex of her arms, the chains groaned under the strain, ready to snap. But before they could, Luna stepped forward.
With a calm precision, Luna placed her hand on Rin's head. "Sleep," she whispered. Her mana flared, a gentle but unrelenting force that pressed against Rin's overwhelming power. Slowly, Rin's eyes fluttered shut, her body falling limp as she succumbed.
"Her mental strength is weak, thankfully," Luna sighed, her voice carrying relief. She turned to Arthur. "Are you ready?"
Arthur nodded, stepping closer as Luna's mana enveloped him and Rin in a soft, shimmering cocoon.
And with that, Arthur descended into Rin's mind.