A massive crater, at least a kilometer in radius, now scarred the earth where the Corrupted Tree had once stood. The Dark Elf Village that had surrounded it was decimated, with only fragments of structures still standing—those too on the verge of collapse.
Despite the devastation, it seemed the first realm itself would survive.
Hovering above the center of the crater, the reason for that survival stood tall. Lady Myre had not moved an inch since the massive Mana Sphere had hurtled toward her. She had raised her palm and taken the attack head-on, her calm resolve unwavering. To have dodged it would have meant catastrophic destruction, far worse than what had already occurred. Countless lives would have been lost—including the one life Myre had come to protect.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, strands clinging to her sweat-drenched face. Despite her composed exterior, the toll of the battle was evident. Blood streamed from her right hand—the same hand she had used to block the attack. The deep wound throbbed painfully, and she knew if nothing was done soon, she would lose the hand entirely.
Her ragged breaths echoed in the silence, each inhale a reminder of how much energy it had cost her to stop the Mana Sphere from obliterating everything in its path. Yet, she remained in her position, unmoving.
It still wasn't over.
Shing floated before her, his own breathing labored. His body trembled, and his mana reserves were clearly depleted. The immense attack he had launched had inflicted significant backlash, draining him of nearly all his strength.
"You managed to block that?" Shing panted, disbelief etched across his face. "Just how strong are you?"
"Strong enough to handle beings from the fourth realm," Myre replied with a smirk. Her tone was light, but her eyes were sharp and unyielding. "The moment I decided to protect them, you should have agreed with me. It would've made things a lot easier—for everyone involved. We wouldn't have had to fight like this."
As she spoke, her words served another purpose. She spread her senses as far as they could reach, scanning for any trace of Kai and Isla. Her focus stretched beyond the battlefield, her mind searching for the faintest hint of their presence.
Nothing.
They were gone, and with that realization, a small wave of relief washed over her. The two had successfully escaped, which meant her mission was complete. She had fulfilled her side of the bargain she had made with Varkul.
But she knew the cost.
From this moment forward, she would be branded a traitor. The Order—comprised of some of the strongest beings in the realms—would hunt her relentlessly. They would stop at nothing to ensure her destruction. That is... if she didn't kill Shing.
"Are you still not going to tell me why you decided to help them?" Shing demanded, his voice cutting through her thoughts.
Myre smirked again. "I already told you."
"No. I mean the real reason. Not the bullshit you keep spouting."
Her expression shifted slightly, disappointment flashing in her eyes. She had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but she couldn't let Shing return to the Order with the truth.
The battle between them had sent shockwaves throughout the realms. No doubt the Order had felt it, and questions would be raised. But if she eliminated Shing here and now, she could control the narrative. She could claim the anomaly was destroyed, silencing the chaos before it spread.
It was the only logical choice.
"Are you going to kill me now?" Shing asked, his tone resigned. He already knew the answer.
Without responding, Myre surged forward with the last of her strength. In a blur of motion, she grabbed Shing by the collar and dragged him downward at incredible speed. They crashed into the bottom of the crater, the impact kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.
Shing didn't resist. He lay pinned beneath her, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. He was completely drained, his body unable to muster even a flicker of defiance.
"You're not even going to tell me, are you?" he rasped, his voice weak. "Even now… when I'm on the verge of death?"
Blood pooled beneath him as he coughed violently. His gaze locked onto hers, searching for answers.
"I just want to understand," he continued, his tone laced with frustration. "Why you would betray us. Why you would do this. You've always been reckless and hot-headed, but this… this wasn't impulsive. You planned this from the beginning."
"You knew what kind of anomaly we were looking for, yet you acted like you didn't. You found them before the Catalyst's soul transfer began, but you stayed silent. Why? What did he do to you?"
Myre listened calmly, her expression unreadable. She could see the truth in his eyes—he had given up. He was no longer a threat, merely a man seeking closure in his final moments.
"The anomaly never did anything for me," she said after a long pause. "The one who asked me to save him did."
Shing frowned, confusion etched on his bloodied face. "Who asked you?"
"Someone who has been gone for a very long time," Myre replied, her voice softening. "You weren't even alive when he was active. Honestly, even if I told you his name, I doubt you'd recognize it."
"Tell me anyway," Shing urged.
"Varkul," Myre said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "The God of Monsters. He's the one who asked me to save the anomaly."
Shing's frown deepened. He couldn't comprehend what she was saying.
"The God of Monsters?" he repeated, his voice strained. "Why… why have I never heard of him?"
Myre let out a quiet laugh. "Because his existence was erased when he died. Every trace of him, gone. That's why you've never heard of him."
"What do you mean erased? Who… what was he?"
Myre shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore. All you need to know is that he asked me to fulfill this task long before you or anyone in the Order existed. That's all there is to it."
Shing coughed violently, blood splattering the dirt beneath him. "Isn't he dead? Why would you still honor the deal?"
"Because Varkul never made gambles," Myre said coolly. "If I failed to uphold my side of the deal, what he gave me thousands of years ago would vanish—and so would I. It's as simple as that."
A flicker of understanding crossed Shing's face, but it was short-lived.
"Anyway," Myre continued, her voice regaining its edge, "it's time to say goodbye."
Without hesitation, she placed the blade of her scythe beneath his neck and, in one swift motion, severed his head from his body.
"It was nice knowing you," she said softly as she stood, the crimson-stained blade of her weapon gleaming in the faint light.
The crater fell silent, save for the faint whisper of the wind. Myre closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the gravity of her actions settle over her before turning and walking away from the lifeless body of her foe.
It was time for her to report on everything that had transpired today.