The heavy black mud splashed high as Lord Marcus lunged forward through the white steam, his dark mana claws aiming directly for Kael's exposed neck area. The dark electricity around his hands buzzed loudly in the rainy night air, cutting through the falling drops. Kael did not step back a single inch, his feet remaining firmly anchored in the wet ground as the attack came."Die just like your pathetic father did!" Lord Marcus roared out in deep fury, his face twisting into a wicked glower. "Nobody survives the black strike of the Shadow Guild, you lower-realm rat! I will cut your head off right now and feed your flesh to the palace hounds!" Kael did not flinch, his eyes locking onto the dark master's throat.The armor ignored part was absolute. Kael refuses to slow down his pace, meeting the dark claws with his bare hands without utilizing a single drop of magic. He simply thrust his right arm forward, his long fingers wrapping straight around the master's dark claws, using nothing bu

The giant golden steps felt solid beneath Kael’s heavy leather boots as he marched upward. Behind him, the steady sound of thousands of footsteps echoed through the misty air. Kael leads his forty thousand alliance troops up the massive golden steps into the high, floating Upper Realm."Keep your eyes forward and stay together," Kael called out to the front lines, his voice calm and steady. "We do not know what is waiting for us at the top of these steps. Keep your shields ready for any surprise.""We are right behind you, Young Master," the old northern scout answered, tightening his grip on his iron spear. "The men are not afraid anymore. We have waited for this day for thirteen long years inside the freezing mud."They climbed through the thick layers of clouds until the dark mountain storm vanished completely below them. They emerge into a vast world of floating islands, golden palaces, and thick, pure immortal energy fields. The bright light here made the soldiers blink in surpri

Chapter 36: The Crimson DecreeThe massive golden face of Supreme Emperor Malakar pulsed with an unholy red fire across the bleeding sky canvas. The raw heat from the giant projection turned the freezing high winds into thick clouds of white steam that rolled over the flagship decks. Kael stood completely still at the bow, his fingers remaining locked around the wooden railing as the voice boomed out."You actually think you won something today, boy?" Malakar’s deep voice mocked from the clouds, making the river water below splash high against the hulls. "You beat a few weak guards and took some wooden boats. You are still just a lower-realm insect trying to look like a king in my skies."Emperor Malakar mocked Kael's minor victory over Vane, calling his forty thousand lower-realm rebel forces simple meat for the imperial slaughterhouses. "Your little beggars are nothing but cattle waiting for the final blade," Malakar roared out proudly, his voice shaking the massive iron tethers of

The emergency bells tolled fiercely through the stone shafts of the lower dungeon, triggering a complete lockdown of the cell lanes. The heavy iron echo ran through the walls, shaking the dust loose from the ceiling. "The bars are coming down!" Evelyn yelled, pulling her arm back as the stone roof groaned.Massive iron slammed down every ten paces, trapping Kael and Evelyn inside the narrow, smoky corridor paths. The heavy iron bars hit the stone floor with loud crashes, cutting off the exits. "We are locked in," Evelyn said, her voice dropping as she looked at the thick metal poles blocking their path.Vice-Principal Silas scrambled backward toward the upper service lift, his face turning pale as ice as he screamed for help. He stumbled over his own purple robes, his hands shaking as he pointed at Kael. "Call the core mages right now!" Silas shrieked frantically to the distant guards."Activate the stasis gas arrays! Suffocate this northern dog right now! Do not let him reach the ele

Chapter 40: The Shattered ShieldKael stood straight over the cornered Grand Marshal Boris on the shattered obsidian command balcony. His father’s long silver broadsword was pointed straight at the coward’s neck, the sharp metal tip resting just an inch away from his skin. Boris felt the cold iron against his throat and trembled violently, his face turning entirely white."Your elite guards cannot protect you anymore, Boris," Kael growled out coldly, his voice regular and flat. "You stood by and watched my father fall thirteen years ago, and you took our family lands. Your name is next on my ledger, and your execution is fully justified tonight.""Please, wait! Do not kill me!" Boris shrieked out, his hands shaking as he dropped his jeweled weapon onto the stone floorboards. "I will give you back the deeds! I will give you all the gold spirit stones inside the capital treasury! Just lower that general's blade!"Seeing the blade approach closer, Boris let out a wild shriek and smashes