Upon arrival at the Gnostic sect, the red-clothed assassin was led to Thorian's library by Seraphis. After Seraphis departed, only the assassin and the sect leader, Thorian, remained.
Meanwhile, Thorian was immersed in drawing and calligraphy when he questioned the assassin's unexpected presence. "Why are you here? I explicitly instructed you to vanish after completing the mission," he said, maintaining his focus on his artistic endeavors.
The assassin bowed, gripping his sword tightly. "The woman escaped... "
Thorian, visibly angered, clenched his fist, shattering the calligraphy pen. His eyes reddened, and he glared at the assassin.
Thorian gracefully rose from his seat, dropping the broken pieces on the table. As he approached the assassin with hands behind his back, the young man flinched backward.
"It was because a man intervened. I promise you-"
Thorian's intense expression silenced him, prompting him to kneel.
"You should have admitted your incompetence. How could you fail to eliminate a young girl?" Thorian mumbled, lifting the man off the ground, strangling him until he spoke.
"I won't disappoint you if you give me another chance. "
Thorian smirked, releasing the man after a while. Guards were summoned to escort him out, instructed to ensure he took his own life by himself.
Shortly after, Seraphis hurried in with crucial news.
"The northern mountain patrol reports the mountain god's return with the dragon."
Thorian, shocked, questioned how the possessed mountain god could resist his control.
Arion gently leaned Master Chen against the dark cave's wall, transferring magic to the stabbed part of his abdomen, his eyes teary. The events from the previous day left him bewildered—how he ended up in the forest, why the familiar man stood before him, and most importantly, why he had taken another life.
Regret seeped into him; he pondered whether it would have been better not to interfere in others' affairs. Perhaps avenging his parents without making friends would have spared his loved ones from harm due to his impulsive actions.
In a sudden cough, Master Chen, his face haggard, opened his eyes gently, finding Arion by his side.
"Hang in there a little longer. I will save you," Arion assured him.
Aware of the dragon-forged sword's impact, Master Chen knew Arion's efforts would be in vain. He gripped Arion's hand tightly, causing the magic to dissipate.
"Why?"questioned Arion worriedly.
Master Chen sighed, "You should save your energy for yourself, not for a dead man like me. I wouldn't have tried to stop your attack if I knew you wielded a dragon-forged sword. Now I am going to suffer for my impulsive action," he smiled, finding comfort in the pain.
Arion, more puzzled than ever, questioned why and when he had sheathed his sword to launch an attack. Frustrated and anxious, he sought answers to the mysteries unfolding.
"I wanted to stop you because I didn't want you to share the same fate," Master Chen paused, locking eyes with Arion, "with your father. You were possessed by the same kind of person who possessed your father as well."
Shaking his head, Arion said, "But why don't I remember anything about the time before I was reincarnated?"
"You were a kid then. Presumably, your soul was lifted into a young man's body, who probably had died," explained Master Chen. Frustrated, Arion contemplated finding the person who reincarnated him.
Master Chen then advised him to eject the black powder given during Sarah's father's rescue to free himself from demonic possession.
Feeling guilty, Arion pleaded, tears rolling down his eyes. An idea struck him—perhaps Rowan could reverse the sword's effect. However, Master Chen dismissed the notion, stating the sword's dangerous power persisted from its forging.
Gasping, Arion revealed the black pouch, and Master Chen suggested using the powder quickly for safety.
Opening the pouch, Arion stood up, conflicted. "No, I can't live when people I care for are dead." Ultimately, he poured the powder away.
"What do you think you are doing?! Do you think death is a child's play?!' Master Chen yelled, challenging Arion's decision. Amid the emotional exchange, Arion pondered living happily with his loved ones.
He wished for a better life too, but his deeds won't allow him. Nevertheless, he believed people around him won't be harmed if he had taken a quick decision when he got back to life.
Unexpectedly, tiny white lights sprouted, fading away from a specific direction. Investigating, Arion realized Master Chen's body was fading away.
Master Chen encouraged him not to give up easily, grinning. As he faded, he shared a whimsical desire to meet Arion as the world's greatest mage in his next life.
Choked with emotion, Arion disputed Master Chen's impending death, who, in turn, drew out his magical stone. Arion questioned his kindness, and Master Chen explained the stone might save him.
As Master Chen's body ceased emitting light, Arion sobbed, witnessing the final moments.
"Don't forget, you promised to be the greatest mage when I am reborn."
"I haven't promised that yet," Arion whispered in tears as a mirage of light burst forth from Master Chen, leaving Arion alone in the dark cave. His face contorted with grief and rage, he roared, vowing to end everything and exact revenge for his family's death.
"I am on a killing rampage now," he roared.
Then he summoned Rowan, and as they began to leave the mountains, they encountered a rigid magical barrier. The soldiers below, aware of Arion's presence, awaited his descent.
Despite the barrier, Arion activated Devilmite Beam, transforming arrows into beams, cutting down soldiers upon landing. Swiftly throwing his sword, he unleashed magic, eliminating more soldiers.
A new set of soldiers emerged, armed with golden swords and shields. Seraphis appeared among them, remembering his orders not to target the mountain god but the dragon, using the magical stone called Quellbind.
Quellbind was mystical stone that binds and immobilizes magical beings, suppressing their powers and rendering them motionless.
Recognizing Seraphis, Arion froze time, leaving only him and Rowan mobile. Fiercely, he took down soldiers until an unexpected kick sent him airborne, crashing against a tree.
Confused by Seraphis's ability to move in the time freeze, Arion witnessed Rowan unleashing flames, engulfing the soldiers. However, Seraphis and a mysterious man, who was dressed in black robe and having a ponytail style, remained unscathed.
The man was holding unto a dark skinned bow, without no arrow. Typically, the arrow appears when he's set on shooting.
Calling for Rowan's cover, Arion retrieved his sword, activating techniques to counter the soldiers. Seraphis retaliated, kicking Arion back. Arion, undeterred, activated Dragon Fist, injuring Seraphis.
Rushing toward Seraphis, Arion was struck by an arrow with a weakening effect.
Laughter erupted from the black-robed man. Strangely, this mysterious figure had an unsettling aura, which Arion could see clearly. High mages didn't even have the ability to do that, making it unspeakable to him as well.
The man taunted Arion, revealing his ability to manipulate the Quellbind. Rowan's attempt to shake the man failed, leaving Arion unable to move.
Despite his weakened state, Arion ingeniously propelled his sword toward the man. Seraphis intervened, and Rowan's flames were repelled by the man's protective formation.
Arion ignited his eyes with flames but struggled to move, falling halfway.
"His qi has depleted. It's time for you to incapacitate him," the man instructed Seraphis. Seraphis signaled hidden men in the trees to release arrows on Arion. The arrows hit him, and he collapsed. However, Rowan disrupted the formation, causing chaos.
"This mission mustn't fail," Seraphis muttered, swiftly extracting the man's demonic power to activate the stone. After completing the extraction, he cast a spell on the stone, creating a geodesic dome formation. The dragon's impact shook Seraphis off, but the formation held.
***
At the demon Lord's palace, Immortal Jasmin appeared. "My lord, I am here to explain the death of the Silver King."