CHAPTER 428
Author: Michael Chi
last update2026-01-15 23:54:42

It hissed and paced the edge of the pit. "Very well. Second riddle: I can crush a king but cannot lift a feather. I am the greatest weapon of the weak and the greatest fear of the strong. To have me is to be a master; to use me is to be a fool. What am I?"

The monster grinned, sure that this paradox would stump them. But Adrian didn't even hesitate.

"The answer is restraint," Adrian replied. He looked the monster right in one of its central eyes. "True power isn't about how much you can destroy. It’s about knowing when not to strike. Something a scavenger like you wouldn't understand."

The Archivist recoiled as if it had been slapped. The wisdom in Adrian's voice made the creature feel small and pathetic.

It let out a frustrated screech. "The final riddle! No one has ever answered this! What is the color of a scream, the weight of a lie, and the end of a circle that never began?"

Silence fell over the Ash-Plains. Lyra looked at Adrian in despair. "That’s a trick... there’s no answer
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  • CHAPTER 468

    Meanwhile, far away, Rootbinder sat in a high-backed chair made of twisted, blackened wood. The heavy iron door groaned open, and Myria stepped inside, her eyes bright with news."Master," she whispered, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "I have news... Adrian Lancaster and Sophia Aldridge are reuniting. They are signing the papers this week, followed by a private celebration at the estate. The whole family will be there."Rootbinder’s fingers froze against his cheek. A slow, jagged smile spread across his pale lips, a smile that didn't reach his cold, dead eyes."Reunited," Rootbinder rasped, his voice sounding like dry leaves skittering across a grave. "How touching. They think they can simply pick up the pieces of their lives while I am still shaking the dust of the tomb from my lungs."He stood up, and then he walked over to a heavy stone cupboard tucked into a corner of the lair. He pulled out a small, ornate wooden box carved with weeping vines. Inside, resting on a bed of

  • CHAPTER 467

    Sophia froze. She looked up toward the grand staircase. Elena was leaning against the railing, her face twisted into a ridiculous expression. She had her hands clasped together under her chin and was fluttering her eyelashes so fast she looked like she had a twitch."Please, Adrian," Elena continued in a high-pitched, whiny voice, mimicking Sophia. "I love you so much! Please kiss me right now before I faint from my overwhelming emotions!""Elena, shut up!" Sophia shouted, her face turning a deep shade of crimson."Oh, kiss me, my sweet interdimensional energy harvester!" Elena cackled, clutching her stomach as she descended the stairs. "I saw you two out there. I thought your foreheads were going to fuse. You looked like a scene from a very bad, very cheesy romance movie."Sophia didn't wait for another word. She kicked off her heels and bolted. "I am going to kill you!"Elena let out a yelp of pure delight and took off like a shot. "The truth hurts, doesn't it, Sis? You're totally o

  • CHAPTER 466

    Adrian had used every resource to make sure that every trace of war was wiped from theirdoorstepp."Adrian... how?" Sarah whispered, stepping out of the car and looking at her home in awe. "It’s like it never happened.""I wanted you all to have your sanctuary back," Adrian said simply. "You’ve been through enough."As they settled into the grand living room, Elena turned to Adrian, her eyes narrowing with genuine curiosity. "Okay, Lancaster, spill it. Where did you learn to fight like that? You were literally tearing through monsters with your bare hands. I was starting to think you had joined a secret superhero league."Adrian chuckled, leaning against the marble mantelpiece. "Nothing serious, Elena. When I was trapped in the Maw, I didn't just survive. I learned how to harness its energy. I learned to turn their own darkness into my strength.""That makes sense," Elena said, nodding slowly. "I was starting to think you were just suddenly incredibly strong."They all laughed and tal

  • CHAPTER 465

    Even though the portal was closed, the dark metal still felt cold. He opened his floor-to-ceiling vault, placing the Key behind layers of reinforced titanium and ancient seals. He locked it with a heavy click. No one would ever use that evil again.If this key falls into the wrong hands, it would result in chaos.The next morning, the sun was bright,t and the air felt fresh. Adrian arrived at the hospital with a massive bouquet of white lilies and roses. Clara was practically bouncing on her heels, her hair neatly braided, clutching a "Get Well" card she had spent all morning making.When they entered the VIP suite, the room was already filled with life. The entire Aldridge familwasre gathered around Sophia’s bed. The tension of the previous day had vanished and it was now quite peaceful."Clara!" Sarah exclaimed, standing up to greet them. She pulled the teenager into a warm hug. "Oh, look at you! You’ve grown so big since the last time we saw you. You’re becoming a beautiful you

  • CHAPTER 464

    The purple glow vanished. The pressure in the air snapped, and suddenly, the only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. The Maw was gone. The key energy dimmed, and Adrian then laced the ley back into his pocket.For a long moment, they stood in the silence. The war was over."So," Adrian said, turning to Lyra. "What happens now? The Light is shattered, the monsters are gone. What’s next for the legendary High Mage?"Lyra looked out at the water, a small, tired smile on her face. "Duty calls, Adrian. My family’s empire is in shambles after all this. There is no one else left to lead. I have to go back and take what rightfully belongs to me."She turned to him, her eyes softening. She stepped forward and wrapped him in a firm, sincere hug. "It was an honor, Adrian Lancaster. Not many people can say they’ve walked through hell and come out with their soul intact."She pulled back, her eyes twinkling with a bit of her usual mischief. "And please... do me a favor.

  • CHAPTER 463

    She spun her blade, creating a golden shield that deflected a barrage of blue pulse-fire from Vesper’s guards. With a powerful lunge, she reached the Director. Vesper tried to raise her pulse-cannon, but Lyra was faster. With a swift kick, she sent the weapon flying and grabbed Vesper’s wrist, twisting it until the woman cried out in pain.The Obsidian Key fell from Vesper's grasp.Adrian appeared in an instant, catching the black, jagged knife before it hit the ground. Adrian didn't hesitate. He looked up at the massive, bleeding rift in the sky, the portal that was still vomiting monsters into the yard.He plunged the Key into the air, turning it as if unlocking a literal door. "BE GONE!" he bellowed.A massive vacuum of purple light erupted from the Key. It began to suck the Maw energy back into the void.The monsters across the estate let out one final, terrifying wail as they were pulled off the walls and the ground, dragged helplessly back into the rift. The sky groaned, th

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