Chapter 20: The Scythe and the Bone Blade

As dusk settled, the setting sun cast its golden light upon the sea, transforming the waves into a shimmering expanse of liquid gold.

Upon a floating island, nestled within the horizon, stood a magnificent castle.

“All of you, snap to attention!”

Within the forest bordering the castle, a patrolling knight, clad in armor intricately carved with golden wave patterns, bellowed at the perfectly aligned knights behind him.

“For Ditus!” the knights responded in unison.

“That’s the spirit!” the Knight Commander roared, pleased by their reply.

Inside the castle, a supremely long table occupied a room bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Among the furnishings, a blond Young Man, dressed in a crisp white shirt, black trousers, and a brown belt adorned with golden trim, sat with his hands clasped beneath his chin, propping himself against the table, lost in an unknown reverie.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” the Young Man commanded, his voice a low rumble, his gaze sharply fixed on the doorway.

With a soft click, the door opened, admitting a Youth clad in a dark teal military robe, a wave-like emblem pinned to his chest.

“What is it?” the Young Man pressed, his eyes unwavering.

“Your Majesty,” the Youth reported truthfully, bowing deferentially, “we have lost the signal from the War Fiends dispatched to the Firefly Forest. We suspect it may be the Resistance.”

Upon hearing this, the Young Man silently tapped his fingers against the tabletop.

Each tap resonated, a sharp prod to the Youth’s anxious heart.

“I understand,” the Young Man finally spoke, his voice soft after a prolonged silence. “They are merely test subjects, after all. Send a few high-ranking War Fiends to investigate.”

As if granted a great reprieve, the Youth immediately acknowledged the command, bowed, and retreated from the room.

Watching the Youth close the door and depart, the Young Man slowly pushed himself up from the table.

He walked to the window, where the last rays of the setting sun pierced through, and, feeling the sea breeze caress his skin, gently closed his eyes.

“One day, the Ditus Empire will unify the continent of Canradi. Lassacolu, Candylac, you will all merely be stepping stones for the Ditus Empire!”

****

“What? Leave? Ailin, what are you even thinking?” Nia asked, looking at the flustered Ailin with confusion.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? War Fiends! Their presence here alone is proof enough that this place isn’t safe. We have to leave!” Ailin declared, his expression serious as he met Nia’s gaze.

Nia, however, had her own thoughts. ‘But… I don’t want to leave here…’

“Nia, what are you saying? Don’t be so willful,” Ailin said, his voice deep with emotion as he gripped her shoulders.

‘I…’ Nia glanced silently at Qi Lin, who was observing them quietly, then met Ailin’s eyes. ‘No, I believe we can continue to live in this beautiful place, nestled by the mountains and water!’

She truly yearned to stop constantly scrambling for survival.

“Why would you think that? Have you forgotten how Dori perished just half a year ago? It was because we disregarded the presence of War Fiends!” Ailin roared, remembering their former companion’s brutal end at the hands of the War Fiends.

As the furious roar exploded in her ears, Nia instinctively clutched her upright ears.

Gazing at Nia, Ailin took a long moment before he could finally speak. “I apologize; I became a bit emotional. I just don’t want Dori’s fate to repeat itself.”

‘I know…’ Nia released her ears. ‘I understand everything you’ve said.’

“If that’s the case, then let’s quickly gather our belongings and leave this place—leave the Firefly Forest!” Ailin let out a sigh of relief at Nia’s reply, then turned to head back to the tent to prepare.

“But I’ve found someone who can deal with large numbers of War Fiends,” Nia said earnestly, looking at Ailin, who had already taken a few steps. “Do we still need to leave?”

Halting his steps, Ailin turned to Nia, then shifted his gaze to Qi Lin.

“Her?”

“Yes!” Nia nodded vigorously.

Pressing his lips together, Ailin suddenly clenched his fist and lunged at Qi Lin.

Qi Lin stared, dumbfounded, at the incoming fist. ‘Seriously, you two are arguing, why am I the one getting hit?’ he thought.

As the fist closed in, Qi Lin raised an arm to block. It wasn’t his style to take a beating without retaliating, even if he hadn’t been in many fights himself.

“Not bad, but… how about this!” Ailin chuckled softly.

His free left hand began to glow faintly, then shot towards Qi Lin’s abdomen.

Feeling a chill emanate from his stomach, Qi Lin swiftly retreated, dodging the attack.

“Hey, you’ve pissed me off,” Qi Lin said, his eyes blazing with fury as he met Ailin’s gaze. He wasn’t made of clay; every person had their limits, and he wouldn’t stand by if someone attacked him without reason.

“Oh really? I’d like to see if what Nia said is actually true,” Ailin sneered.

Clasping his hands loosely, Ailin chanted a spell: “Bone Blade.”

A brownish-yellow light shimmered between Ailin’s hands, materializing into a single-edged curved blade forged from bone.

Gripping the blade, Ailin advanced, attacking Qi Lin once more.

As the blade aimed for his neck, Qi Lin mentally chanted a spell, summoning his scythe.

Wielding the scythe, Qi Lin swung it directly.

Bang! With an explosive sound, the two were forced apart by their respective impacts.

‘How can this guy have so much strength?’ Qi Lin wondered, feeling a numbing sensation in his wrist. ‘It seems I can’t engage in too much close combat.’

‘Strong. This guy truly has some real skill,’ Ailin thought, his expression grave as he glanced at the chip in his bone blade.

A gentle breeze stirred, and Ailin moved again.

Watching Ailin charge at him with incredible speed, Qi Lin channeled the Demonic Energy within him into his scythe.

“Slash!”

Just as Ailin was about to enter his five-meter range, Qi Lin swung the scythe in his hand.

A crimson slash erupted from the blade.

Seeing the flying slash, Ailin stopped abruptly and raised his bone blade to block.

With a thunderous crash, a cloud of smoke billowed forth.

Gazing at the swirling smoke, Qi Lin tightened his grip on his scythe.

As the smoke dispersed, Ailin’s figure was gone.

His ears twitched, and Qi Lin abruptly swung his scythe behind him.

Scythe met bone blade with a crisp clang of metal.

Ailin let out a low growl, a muffled sound escaping him.

“Puppy, had enough? If you’re done, get down,” Qi Lin chuckled, looking at Ailin above him.

‘Damn it!’ Ailin’s pupils contracted, and he tried to escape.

But it was already too late.

“Shattering Blood… Annihilation!”

Holding the scythe, Qi Lin’s lips moved subtly.

The scythe’s blade vibrated, and from its edge, a thick crimson beam of light shot forth.

With a resounding boom, Ailin was sent flying like a tattered rag doll.

With a splash, Ailin plunged into the stream.

“Ailin!” Nia, who had been shouting “Stop fighting!” for a long time without success, cried out in alarm as she saw Ailin knocked into the stream.

After her cry, Nia sprinted to the stream’s edge and leaped in.

“Are you alright, Ailin?” Nia asked anxiously, her waist submerged in the stream as she helped the tattered Ailin to his feet.

“Cough, cough. No, I’m fine. That last attack… cough, cough… that guy held back,” Ailin sputtered, coughing up a few mouthfuls of water, then looked at Qi Lin, who stood by the stream, gazing down at them.

“I’m not ‘that guy.’ My name is Qi Lin,” Qi Lin stated, crossing his arms.

“Right. Anyway, cough, cough, thank you for holding back,” Ailin said, clutching his chest. He waved off Nia’s offer of support and stood up on his own.

“Don’t mention it. If it weren’t for Nia, I would have annihilated you,” Qi Lin said softly, his gaze cold as he looked at Ailin.

“Understood!” Ailin nodded, then walked out of the stream with Nia.

Watching the two Beastkin, Qi Lin suddenly clutched his chest, which had begun to throb with pain.

‘Damn it! I’ve used too much Demonic Energy. What do I do now?!’ Qi Lin thought, his gaze instinctively flicking to the necks of Nia and the other Beastkin before he swallowed hard, a surge of anxiety rising within him.

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