"Go test that new skill you've been working on," Vesanse Fortune said to Leon, her eyes barely lifting from the book in her hand, exuding quiet confidence.
"I trust you, Emilia. Do what needs to be done." Vergil Killer's voice was firm, his smile unwavering as he nodded in approval.
"I don't know what you're planning," Tom Smith clapped Osward White on the back with a gruff laugh, "but don't bring shame to my name. Not that you ever would."
Glynn, overhearing Rin and Ruby, chuckled. "Need any backup? No? Never mind. With those two on your side, you can't possibly lose."
The graduates of SIGMA Academy gathered at the front gate, punctual and energized. It had been too long since they last fought side by side, and though some felt the creeping chill of battlefield anxiety, the eagerness to test their mettle again overpowered their unease.
Dharma Leyndra arrived last, his face tight with frustration. It was clear someone had provoked him again. Shun could only smirk, recognizing that signature rage.
"You can unleash that fury on those outlaws soon," Shun muttered to Dharma, anticipation rippling in his voice as he eyed the potential ethereal arms he could steal tonight.
Silver stepped forward, her voice crisp and authoritative. "Everyone remembers the plan? Move only after the signal. Stay safe."
Vito followed suit. "You guys only get one life. Prioritize it."
Without wasting more time on chatter, the group moved into the desolate wastelands, a place crawling with bandits and renegades. By the end of today, the Capital Outskirts would undoubtedly be quieter, perhaps even peaceful. Not that Shun cared—his eyes were fixed on the power he could seize tonight. Peace was merely a convenient byproduct, an added benefit to strengthen their reputation within the kingdom.
They reached the flat, barren expanse that hid Vivid Nollen's base. It appeared desolate, but only Shun and Dharma knew what lay below the surface. Hugo Goldsmith greeted them with a tense expression, clearly not enthusiastic about the task.
"Who are these people?" Hugo's eyes darted between the newcomers, suspicion clear in his voice. "Are they also enemies of Alfred Eldran?"
"They are my allies," Shun replied with a disarming smile, deliberately vague.
Hugo seemed to contemplate this before resting his hand on the sand. With a subtle push, the ground parted, revealing hidden pathways leading into the underground lair.
This was Vivid Nollen's headquarters—the Underground Web. It was a secretive, intricate maze that few knew how to navigate, designed to protect against intruders.
After winding through narrow passages, they arrived at a room unlike the rest. Luxuriously appointed in stark contrast to the rest of the spartan quarters, it was clear this was where the true decision-makers convened. However, the room's size gave Shun pause. It seemed too small for a battle of this scale, and he wondered if the place was laced with traps.
Before his doubts could deepen, a warm hand touched his shoulder. Silver whispered softly, "Don't worry, success is in our hands."
Shun didn't turn to face her, but he nodded. He wasn't sure where Silver's unwavering confidence came from, but she had been this way during the assassination of Alfreya Eldran too. And she had been right then.
Albert Eldran was the last to enter, his face masked to conceal his identity. Whether the Blackguards knew the prince's true nature or not, it was safer this way. Dusting off his cloak, he nodded to Shun. Danica Amnir stepped forward to greet them, a faint, triumphant smile already forming on her lips.
"Yesterday's meeting was a bit hasty," Danica began. "I didn't even catch your name."
"Shun Xshasi," he replied coolly.
Danica's expression barely flickered. "As expected. So, have you made your decision?"
Shun shrugged, nonchalant. "Our presence here already answers that question, did it not?."
Danica exhaled, her voice brimming with satisfaction. "Excellent. My greatest pleasure."
Shun's tone sharpened. "Who Alfred is, what he did, and what he is going to do does not concern me. But there's one question I need to ask him. One answer I must get."
"Can we skip the pleasantries?" Hugo cut in, clearly impatient. "We don't have all day."
Shun's smile froze. He had already decided Hugo would be the first to die.
Masking his annoyance, Shun ignored him and gestured toward Silver. "Let me introduce you to our most valuable ally."
Silver stepped forward, smiling warmly as a suffocating energy radiated from her sword. Under the dim light, her presence shifted—Silver was gone. In her place stood Gemini Iricson, the 9th complete ethereal warrior.
A stunned silence fell over the room. Even the Blackguards, seasoned in battle, couldn't mask their awe.
"Shall we begin?" Shun clapped his hands, breaking the trance.
Danica blinked, confused. "Begin? Begin what—"
Before she could finish, Dharma moved like a shadow, his scythe cleaving the air. Hugo had just enough time to realise what was happening before the blade found its mark, severing his head cleanly from his body. The 94th complete ethereal warrior was dead before he could even summon his ethereal arm.
"Jayden!" Shun shouted, annoyed but amused. "That was mine!"
But there was no time for jokes. The room exploded into chaos as the Blackguards and their warriors scrambled to defend themselves, ethereal arms igniting in a flurry of light and power.
Danica's face twisted in rage as she deflected Vito's strike. "Shun Xshasi! What is the meaning of this?!"
Shun smirked, his tone mocking. "Too late to regret now, Danica." With a wave of his hand, shadows erupted from the floor, impaling the guards who had been too slow to react.
The battle was on, and there would be no mercy.