That night, the feast was lively and filled with laughter. The boar meat, tender and rich, reminded Lancer of pork, though with a slightly gamier flavor. Alongside it, the Shades served a peculiar juice made from a fruit Lancer had never encountered before—its taste was sweet yet sharp, entirely unique. For those seeking something stronger, there was a fermented version of the drink, though Lancer chose to avoid it.
Livia, on the other hand, seemed to have no such reservations. She laughed and hiccupped, clearly intoxicated, as she clinked cups with Remus and told increasingly nonsensical stories. Lancer couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, though he kept his own cup filled with the non-fermented juice.
As the celebration continued, Lancer's eyes drifted around the gathering. Off to one side, Alastor stood alone, his posture rigid as usual. Their eyes met, and the older Shade sneered before turning abruptly and disappearing into the forest. Lancer frowned, wondering yet again what he had done to earn such animosity. "That geezer will never warm up to me," he muttered to himself before shrugging and turning his attention back to the feast.
A while later, a soft chime echoed in his mind:
[Multiple lifeforms detected: Due west. Unusual movement patterns.]
Lancer stiffened. No one ventured into the forest this late at night. Curious—and cautious—he decided to investigate. Quietly excusing himself, he slipped away from the feast, heading into the dark undergrowth. Architect's Dominion activated instinctively, its 3D viewpoint illuminating the positions of several individuals ahead.
He moved carefully, stepping lightly to avoid detection. As he approached, faint voices carried through the trees. Peeking through the bushes, his breath caught in his throat.
Alastor stood in a small clearing, speaking with a group of humans clad in armor. Lancer's mind raced as he watched the scene unfold. Alastor gestured toward the direction of the Shade village, his expression cold and robotic. The humans nodded in acknowledgment, and one of them adjusted something on their arm.
Moments later, a deafening explosion shattered the forest's stillness. The ground shook as a massive plume of smoke rose from the direction of the feast. Lancer's heart dropped.
Alastor turned without hesitation, leading the humans toward the village. Lancer stood frozen for a moment, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. Alastor… was a traitor.
He clenched his fists, anger surging through him as he got to his feet. Without a second thought, he darted after them, moving swiftly and silently through the forest.
He arrived just as Alastor and the humans reached the clearing. The scene was chaos, a grim reflection of the attack that had scarred him before. That memory, the pain of loss, surged within him, but he pushed it aside. This wasn't the time to falter.
Lancer jumped into the fight, weaving through the chaos to find Livia. She was crouched with Thalia, shielding the frightened girl. "Are you alright?" he asked quickly.
Livia nodded. "We're fine, but it's bad out there."
He scanned the battlefield. The Shades were holding their ground better than he'd expected, despite being outnumbered. Even with the odds against them, they fought fiercely. Remus stood out, directing the others with sharp precision and tearing through their enemies with relentless strength.
In the center of the clearing, the younger Shade children huddled together, their wide eyes filled with fear. Lancer spotted a human soldier breaking through the defensive line, charging toward the children with a blade raised.
Without hesitation, he summoned crystal blades and launched them. The soldier deflected them effortlessly, his armor absorbing the strikes. Lancer moved to intercept, raising his hand and releasing a focused blue beam. The soldier vanished in an instant, disintegrated by the blast.
Lancer glanced at the children. "Stay close. Don't move."
After confirming they were safe, he turned his attention back to the battlefield. The Shades were rallying, their enemies faltering under the pressure. Lancer worked alongside them, making use of Molecular Collapse to eliminate any soldier who fell within his reach.
The tide of the battle shifted, and soon, the last human was defeated. Lancer stopped to take stock of the scene, but his stomach sank when he realized two key figures were missing. Alastor and Kanto were nowhere to be seen.
Lancer turned to Remus. "Have you seen the chief?"
Remus shook his head. "No, not since the fighting started."
In Lancer's mind, the system chimed:
[Three lifeforms detected: 300 meters southwest.]
"Let's go. He might need help," Lancer said urgently.
Remus gave a quick nod and called out to the others. "Stay here and guard the children!" With that, he and Lancer took off toward the direction indicated.
The trail was easy to follow—trees shattered, deep gouges torn into the earth. It didn't take long to find the source. They came upon a battlefield where Kanto was locked in a fierce duel with the leader of the invaders. The two combatants were moving so quickly that their blows blurred, shockwaves rippling outward with every clash.
Lancer's eyes darted to the side, where Alastor stood watching the fight, his hands glowing faintly as he cast some kind of magic. Kanto's movements faltered slightly, his attacks slowing just enough for his opponent to gain the upper hand.
"That's Alastor's doing," Remus muttered. His expression darkened. "We take him out first."
Without hesitation, they both charged toward Alastor, ready to take him down.
As they charged, Alastor turned toward them, and Lancer froze at the blank expression on his face. It wasn't anger, hatred, or even fear—just emptiness.
Alastor raised his hands, and a faint white light enveloped both Lancer and Remus, forcing them to the ground. Lancer strained against the invisible pressure, his body trembling with effort. Despite his willpower, he couldn't rise, his limbs refusing to obey.
The system spoke in his mind:
[Conditions met: Combine Poison Breath and Venomous Touch?]
"Yes," Lancer confirmed through gritted teeth.
A green mist began to pour from his body, spreading rapidly toward Alastor. As the gas reached him, Alastor staggered and then collapsed, his body convulsing violently on the ground.
Lancer saw the familiar 60-second countdown appear in his field of vision as he managed to stand. He approached cautiously, unsure what to do. When he got closer, his eyes caught the faint glow of green runes etched around Alastor's neck—a command collar.
"He's being controlled," Lancer realized.
His mind raced, but time was running out. With little choice, he made his decision. Stretching his hand toward Alastor, he activated Molecular Collapse. Alastor's body dissolved into glowing particles, which Lancer absorbed.