“Veron, gather the men and stay close!”
You’er scooped Noelle Noah into his arms, shouting a command to Veron Toth behind him.
“Right away!”
With a swift motion, Veron Toth hoisted Keane Coe Harrow onto his shoulder, then led the remaining group to follow closely in You’er’s wake.
“Ice Jade! Ice Jade! Ice Jade!”
You’er tirelessly wielded his Divine Soul Sword, unleashing Ice Jade to cushion the relentless descent of the black rain.
He fought with every ounce of his strength to lead them to safety, fleeing backward, yet…
“Ahhh!”
“My face… it burns! It burns!”
“My eyes… I can’t see! I can’t see!”
“They’re dead! All of them! And I’m next, hahaha…”
“…”
The sheer magnitude of the black rain was utterly overwhelming, its power terrifying beyond measure.
Even with You’er pouring every last ounce of his strength into it, pushing himself to exhaustion, only a mere handful of survivors emerged from the deluge, having followed him through the corrosive downpour.
The ‘Turbid Rain Corrodes Souls’ truly lived up to its name.
The others, consumed by the black rain’s relentless erosion, vanished without a trace, their very bones dissolving into nothingness!
Yet, the true horror wasn’t the black rain itself, but Salakriffin, who had conjured such a devastating storm with such effortless nonchalance.
As You’er and his dwindling group finally reached the entrance of the East District, poised to step into its relative safety, Salakriffin’s figure materialized before them like a foreboding shadow, effectively barring their path.
“Gugu You’er Guinevere, my admiration for you remains undimmed.
You possess the inherent right to become the ‘Gu’ in my grasp.
Therefore, I offer you another chance: will you choose submission, or will you embrace destruction?”
Salakriffin advanced towards You’er with the unhurried gait of one strolling through a tranquil field.
“Do not delude yourself; I shall never bow to you!
To answer your earlier words: you and I are fundamentally not of the same path!”
The Divine Soul Sword in You’er’s hand flared with a vibrant, glazed blue, radiating an increasingly perilous aura.
“Is that truly so? Even if, by doing so, you would attain a revered position, second only to one and above tens of thousands; even if you could wield absolute control over the lives and deaths of others, just as I do; even if you were to acquire power rivaling that of a Sword Sect, a Sword Emperor, or even a Sword Venerable… you would remain entirely unmoved?
Now, I, Galakriffin Olnyte by my true name, the most esteemed Prince of the Eternal Night Empire and its future heir, extend this invitation to you for the final time.
Will you pledge your allegiance to me, to become the ‘Gu’ under my command?
Remain by my side, and bear witness as I ascend to become the Sovereign of Eternal Night, the Venerable of the entire Continent!”
Following this profoundly sensational and startling declaration, Salakriffin extended his hand towards You’er.
In that instant, You’er’s movements froze, and he was not alone.
Even Keane Coe Harrow, Veron Toth, and the figures huddled in the corner—Moses Du and Rigalantie Hogan—were struck dumb with shock.
Before Salakriffin uttered those words, not a single soul among them had conceived that the individual standing before them was none other than Prince Galakriffin, the immensely powerful scion of the Eternal Night Empire!
“If I agree to your terms, I can truly obtain all that I desire, and accomplish all that I wish?”
You’er’s gaze intensified on Salakriffin, then shifted to the hand extended towards him.
To grasp that hand meant to seize immense power, to wield formidable authority, and to effortlessly exact vengeance upon the Black Knight Commander, Mecaphes!
For Lilinai, for Marlene, for Angus Village…
“Precisely! Agree to my terms, and all you desire shall be yours; all you wish to accomplish, you shall achieve!”
Salakriffin offered a smile, echoing You’er’s words, yet this very smile sent an inexplicable chill through the hearts of everyone present.
“And in return, you need only perform a single, exceedingly simple act, and I shall bestow upon you this immense power!”
In the very next moment, Salakriffin curled his palm, extending a finger to point at a specific individual.
“Your eyes, your heart, shall see only me, only your master!
You will no longer require superfluous light, nor needless hope.
She stands as your final impediment, the last barrier to attaining freedom, to acquiring true power!
Therefore, kill her—slay her with your own hands!”
The object of his pointed finger was, beyond any doubt, Noelle Noah.
Salakriffin watched You’er with a subtle smile, convinced that this choice held an inevitable answer—one You’er, in his estimation, could not possibly refuse.
“If I die, my husband will live, won’t he?”
Noelle Noah raised a delicate hand, posing her question to Salakriffin in silent sign language.
“Precisely! Without you, he shall live!
Moreover, his life will be far freer, more splendid, and truly extraordinary than it is now!”
Salakriffin fixed an intensely interested gaze upon Noelle Noah, finding himself suddenly eager to witness the reaction of the half-elf maiden before him.
“My husband, make your choice.
Noelle Noah will have no regrets.”
Noelle Noah remained silent, her deep, fervent gaze fixed upon You’er.
Her thoughts, her heartfelt wishes, were laid bare for all to see.
“Big Sister Noelle Noah…”
Behind him, Keane Coe Harrow and Veron Toth stood, their words caught in their throats, their struggling expressions betraying the profound helplessness within.
They desperately wished to avert Noelle Noah’s death, yet, in this dire moment, no other path lay open.
It was either Noelle Noah’s sacrifice in their stead, or the collective demise of everyone present!
“Boss…”
Their gazes turned towards You’er, awaiting his decision.
Regardless of the choice You’er made, they, as his brothers, would unequivocally offer their support!
“Indeed… I yearn for freedom, for power, for the chance to personally exact my blood vengeance…”
You’er lifted his face, meeting Galakriffin’s gaze with an expression utterly devoid of emotion, a timeless stillness.
He spoke, his words profound yet chillingly indifferent.
“I yearn for all of this, truly.
Yet, even if all these desires were combined, they would still pale in comparison to a single strand of her hair within my heart!”
You’er delivered his answer.
Indeed, just as Galakriffin had surmised, this choice had been predetermined from the very outset.
Only, the answer itself proved to be precisely the antithesis of what he had so confidently anticipated!
“Wait for me.
I’ll be back shortly.”
You’er gently pressed a kiss to Noelle Noah’s forehead, then softly guided her towards Keane Coe Harrow and Veron Toth.
As his eyes met theirs, You’er wordlessly conveyed his urgent command.
“Miekin Hogg is dead, leaving the East District’s defenses severely weakened.
I will exert every ounce of my strength to hold Salakriffin at bay; seize this opportunity to escape with Noelle Noah!”
“Boss…”
Under Keane Coe Harrow’s reluctant and conflicted gaze, You’er slowly made his way to the center of the arena.
His soul-eyes gleamed with a clear, chilling light as he fixed his gaze upon Galakriffin, whose expression had steadily darkened.
Then, with a resounding declaration that echoed with fiery resolve, his voice reverberated throughout the heavens and earth.
“I, Gugu You’er Guinevere, hereby issue a formal challenge to Galakriffin Olnyte!
Esteemed Arena Master Galakriffin, do you dare to accept my challenge!”