2026-08-12 22:32:29
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Chapter 59
Captain Rowan returned twenty minutes later with four soldiers.“That's all I could gather without leaving the palace exposed,” he told Marcus. “The rest are securing the royal chambers and the main roads.”Marcus looked at the soldiers. “Have any of you served at the eastern depot?”Two of them nodded.“Good. You know the entrances?”“Yes, sir,” one replied. “There's a main gate facing the road and a loading entrance near the river. The river entrance is usually locked.”“Usually?”“The lock was broken a few months ago. The guild said it would be repaired.”Marcus exchanged a glance with Rowan.“Then we'll assume both entrances are usable.”Rowan divided the group. Two soldiers would approach the main gate with him, while Marcus and the remaining soldiers would circle toward the river.“Don't engage anyone unless you have to,” Rowan said. “If we find evidence of a coup, we take it back to the palace.”Marcus nodded.They moved through the streets without drawing attention. The easter
Chapter 58
Marcus and Stephan returned to the royal chambers with Clifford under guard.The king remained unconscious. Two healers stood beside his bed, checking his pulse and monitoring the flow of mana around his body.One of them approached Stephan.“His Majesty is stable, but his mana core has suffered considerable damage. We won't know whether it can recover until he regains consciousness.”“Can he be moved?” Stephan asked.“Not safely. He needs rest, and his mana must remain undisturbed.”“Then double the guards outside this room. Nobody enters without my approval.”The healer bowed and returned to the king.Marcus looked at Clifford.“You said the Shadows have supporters among the military, nobles, and guilds. How do we identify them?”Clifford gave him a tired look.“You don't. Not all of them know they're working for the same organization.”“What does that mean?”“Some receive orders from Angus. Others answer to different people. They believe they're advancing their own interests.”Step
Chapter 57
Clifford's blade came down toward Marcus's shoulder.Marcus shifted to the side and caught Clifford's wrist before the second strike. Clifford twisted free, stepped back, and swung again, forcing Marcus to retreat from the fountain.The older man moved with more speed than Marcus had expected.Marcus blocked the next strike with his dagger. The impact traveled through his arm, and he adjusted his grip to keep the weapon from slipping.“You're slower than you were during our last encounter,” Clifford said.Marcus glanced at the wound on his thigh. It had closed, but the injury still affected his movement.“I'm still standing.”Clifford thrust forward.Marcus deflected the blade and struck Clifford across the ribs with his elbow. Clifford stumbled but recovered quickly, bringing his cane sword around in a low sweep.Marcus jumped back.Across the courtyard, Stephan and the guards were still fighting. Two guards had already fallen, while the others tried to surround him. Lord Micah stood
Chapter 56
Marcus stepped away from the old man.“What do you mean there's another presence inside my mana core?”Shiva answered before the man could speak.“I detected an irregular response when you attempted to stabilize the king. Something reacted from within your core, but I cannot identify it yet.”“Can you remove it?”“No. I don't know what it is, or how it became connected to your core.”Marcus looked at the old man.“You know what it is.”“I know what they told me.”“Who told you?”“The people who prepared the dungeon.”Marcus's expression tightened.“The dungeon was created to bring someone to the Phoenix.”“That's what you were led to believe.”The old man walked toward the table and picked up an empty glass bottle.“The dungeon had a purpose long before you entered it. The creatures, the traps, the rewards—none of them were placed there at random. Someone wanted a particular person to reach the end.”“And that person was supposed to find the Phoenix?”“Yes.”“Then why was I there?”Th
Chapter 55
The door opened slowly.Marcus kept his hand near his dagger while Stephan raised his sword.A man stood on the other side.He was dressed in an old black coat, with gray hair falling over his forehead. He looked at the two men without any concern.His eyes moved to the assassin's blood on Stephan's clothes.“You found him.”Marcus stepped forward.“Who are you?”The man ignored the question.Instead, he looked at Stephan.“General.”Stephan's grip tightened around his sword.“You know me?”“I know everyone who serves the throne.”Marcus watched the man's face.There was no fear.“Where is the antidote?”The man smiled.“Straight to the point.”“The king is dying.”“I know.”Marcus moved closer.“Then give it to me.”The man stepped aside.“You can take it yourself.”Marcus entered the room.Stephan followed.The old treasury was much larger than he expected. Empty shelves covered the walls, and several stone tables stood in the middle of the room.Most of the room had been abandoned
Chapter 54
Marcus stared at the assassin.“Where is the antidote?”The man smiled despite the blood running from the corner of his mouth.“I told you. Find it yourself.”Stephan tightened his grip around the man's arm.“You have seconds.”“I don't care.”Marcus looked back at the king.The king was barely conscious. His body shook against the sheets while blood stained the corner of his lips.Marcus stepped closer.“Shiva.”“Yes.”“Can you identify the poison?”A short pause followed.“I can identify traces of it, but I need to examine the king directly.”Marcus moved toward the bed.One of the palace healers was already kneeling beside the king, but his hands were shaking.“Move.”The healer looked at Marcus.“I can help—”“Then tell me what you know.”The healer swallowed.“His pulse is dropping. His breathing is becoming weaker. Whatever he was given is attacking his mana core.”Marcus stopped.“His mana core?”“Yes.”Shiva spoke inside his mind.“If the poison reaches the center of the core,
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