The collapse domain had been reduced to a massive crater, smoke and dust swirling ominously at its center. The explosion had finally drawn the ships out from the scattered clouds above, as all parties anxiously awaited the outcome of the battle.
Tension crackled through the air as everyone on site braced themselves for whatever was emerging from the smoke. Weapons were drawn, and each group prepared for the worst.
To everyone's shock, however, the blurry silhouette that materialized wasn't a behemoth. It didn't shake the ground with thunderous footsteps. Instead, emerging from the remnants of the battlefield was Abaddon, his presence surging through the cloud of dust like an erupting volcano.
Standing tall under the darkened sky, which hinted at how much time had passed, Abaddon turned his gaze upward toward the five hovering ships. His piercing stare lingered briefly before shifting back to his allies.
It felt surreal to all who watched. The boy—against all odds—had truly defeated the Swamp Shadow-King. What caused even more unease, despite the presence of an Imperium Ranker to protect them, was Abaddon's appearance: he seemed entirely unscathed, as if he'd merely taken a stroll in the park.
The tense silence was broken by a chuckle. Mordane, hiding his smirk behind his fan, turned to Kain with a mocking glint in his eye. Meanwhile, Kain sat frozen, a mix of humiliation and rage contorting his features as he watched his personal-class weapon being delivered to the O'Crown ship.
"This… this can't be"
He muttered, his voice barely audible. The ghostly whisper betrayed his utter disbelief. Once again, Abaddon had managed to turn the tides—and in the process, made Kain look like a fool.
Mordane, reveling in Kain's humiliation, took the opportunity to twist the knife further. He mockingly advised Kain to "behave like a noble," his voice dripping with sarcasm as all eyes turned to Kain with visible disappointment and disdain.
While Kain's disgrace momentarily shifted some attention away from Abaddon, the unease in the atmosphere remained heavy. Unsure of what to do, the crowd turned to the Pen Dragons, hoping for guidance, but even they seemed at a loss for words.
Below, Jane anxiously inspected Abaddon for any sign of injury. To her shock and confusion, she found none. However, No'el's sharp gaze caught the truth hidden behind Abaddon's composed exterior.
No'el froze, recognizing the façade Abaddon wore. Beneath that calm mask lay the truth—he was gravely injured. Orlan, sensing No'el's reaction, mentally inquired about Abaddon's condition, prompting No'el to reveal the grim reality.
"He may appear fine physically, but his internal damage is catastrophic. His energy veins are completely destroyed, his bones are fractured in multiple places, and his energy is unstable. Behind that mask, he must be in unbearable pain."
Orlan felt panic rising within him as he quietly observed Abaddon recount the battle to his companions.
"Ancestor, is there a way to heal him?"
Orlan asked desperately. There was a pause before No'el's voice resonated again in his mind.
"Vein-Nourishing Divine Water, Bone-Coalescing Elixir, and high-grade healing potions would be enough to restore him. But I doubt we have such items. For now, I'll think of alternative solutions. Your priority should be getting him back to the cave—it's too dangerous here."
As No'el's voice faded, the ground began to quake. Tremors rippled outward, and storms gathered above Abaddon. A surging energy erupted from him into the clouds—a familiar red aura belonging to the defeated beast.
"What's going on now?"
Jane asked in panic, watching Abaddon sway and momentarily drift into unconsciousness. The churning lightning storm above roared, setting the atmosphere ablaze with heat.
Aboard the Pen Dragon ship, the lightning reflected off the polished golden armor of the siblings. Arthurian's frustration was evident as he scowled at the unfolding scene.
"He's… about to inherit what we came here for. Damn it, we should've stepped in earlier and dealt with the myth ourselves!"
Arthurian lowered his head in apology to Arthur, who stood transfixed by the unfolding Ancient Title Inheritance Ceremony. Yet, deep within, Arthur felt a nagging sense of familiarity with the boy.
"This is the Ancient Title Inheritance, brother?" Arthur asked, his voice uncertain as he watched the lightning forge a projection resembling an ancient symbol above Abaddon's head.
"Indeed"
Arthurian replied.
"The Ancient Title Inheritance is incredibly rare. After all, it can only be obtained by defeating an Empirical bloodline myth. It grants immense benefits to a Ranker—like the ability to wield Astral Plumes, even if they're not at the Imperium Rank. It can also significantly boost mantra affinity, grant rare techniques, and even provide magical crafted artifacts."
Overhearing the discussion, Kain's simmering hatred focused entirely on one man. He silently vowed to seize any treasures when the chance arose. His determination seemed justified as, from the corpse of the Swamp Shadow-King, a radiant, blinding light surged into the sky. It carried a contrasting green aura that clashed with Abaddon's crimson energy.
A deafening shockwave rippled outward, echoing like thunder as the lightning in the sky grew even more violent. Emerging from the radiant light was a black ring adorned with intricate jade dragon carvings.
All the Rankers present immediately recognized its significance, exclaiming in unison:
"An Elemental Affinity Ring!"
This ring, a treasure of incredible rarity, could only be obtained during extraordinary phenomena like this. It granted a permanent elemental affinity rune to the bearer's soul-ore, regardless of their class. The artifact's grade determined the rarity of the element, and this particular ring was of Divine grade, boasting a more than fifty percent chance of bestowing a rare element.
Fatty, Jane, Ryn, and Orlan watched in astonishment as another burst of energy erupted from the Swamp Shadow-King's corpse. This second aura was even more intense, heralding the appearance of another Peak Legacy-grade artifact: the Skeletal Beast Armor. This treasure was famed for its ability to boost the wielder's overall power by eighty percent when activated. Such an artifact was so rare it couldn't even be found at high-end auctions.
Following closely was a third Peak Legacy-grade artifact: the Jade Emperor's Cauldron. Its significance was unparalleled, as it not only enhanced soul power but also allowed the refinement of high-quality potions, elixirs, pills, and even weapons. While primarily designed for the Herbalist Class, its versatility made it an invaluable tool for any alchemist, regardless of their main class.
The emergence of these three priceless artifacts, revolving around Abaddon in the sky, sparked a wave of uncontrollable greed among those present. No one could bear the thought of such treasures falling into someone else's hands.
"It seems there's going to be trouble… Sigh"
Orlan muttered calmly, his gaze scanning the crowd of factions, their eyes gleaming with avarice as they readied their weapons.
Sensing the rising tension, Fatty, Ryn, and Jane instinctively moved into a triangular formation around Abaddon, preparing to defend their comrade.