The unfamiliar voice rang out again, this time more clearly. There was a hint of exhaustion in it, the breathing slightly ragged.
"My soul was almost eroded by your curse… damn it."
From within the remaining mist, the figure slowly emerged, not far from the skull-masked man. Its form flickered like a shadow, as if it didn't fully exist in the real world. It had no face—only two glowing silver eyes shining sharply in the darkness.
Lein narrowed his eyes, curiosity rising. "Who is that?" he asked Luxandor without taking his gaze away.
Luxador didn't answer right away. His expression tensed, eyes cautiously watching the figure before him. "He is Valerian, the ancestor of the Tenebrae Sect," Luxador finally spoke, his voice heavy. "If you ever face him, avoid all shadows. He has reached a level of understanding in the laws of darkness that allows him to seal opponents merely by manipulating the shadows and darkness around him."
As if to prove Luxador's words, the shadows around Valerian began to writhe uncontrollably. The purple circles still floating around him tried to ensnare him, but Valerian's right hand was already cloaked in dark energy, forming a sharp blade that continuously slashed at the curse formation surrounding him.
Durnhardt, the skull-masked man, clicked his tongue softly. "I don't know what made you so arrogant before," his voice calm, but laced with a hidden threat. "Refusing an offer from the Maledictus Sect is a crime. And you'll pay for it today."
He raised one hand, pale and withered like fleshless bone. His previously clenched index finger now pointed straight at Valerian. From its tip, green mist began to condense, flickering like a tiny flame dancing.
Lein watched intently. The energy gathering at Durnhardt's fingertip felt foreign, but strong enough to make the void around them subtly tremble. He glanced back at Valerian, who was now increasingly trapped by the purple circle attempting to bind him.
Valerian seemed to grasp the situation. "Durnhardt, are you really going to start this?" he asked, his tone shifting to something more serious. His silver eyes glowed brighter as he stared straight at Durnhardt.
Without warning, two beams of silver light shot out from his eyes at incredible speed, aimed directly at Durnhardt's position.
Yet, as if he had anticipated the attack, Durnhardt vanished in an instant. He reappeared on the other side with a movement almost imperceptible to the naked eye, effortlessly dodging the silver beams.
"You can keep trying," he said casually, his tone flat. "But I already warned you—refusing the Maledictus Sect's offer is a crime." There was no hesitation in his voice. No room for negotiation.
The faceless figure stood silently for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle.
The laugh was soft, but it carried a strange resonance. Black aura crept from the shadowy figure's body, forming thousands of trembling arms around him. With one subtle motion, the arms tore apart the purple circle binding him, shattering the seal as if it were no more than thin paper.
"I've been silent for too long… looks like you've been sitting up there for far too long, Durnhardt," he muttered lightly.
As the words left his faceless form, a black cloak began to manifest, enveloping the shadowy figure. The cloak wasn't blown by the wind, but billowed as if alive—pulses of dark energy crawling across its surface, writhing like a living thing hungry for destruction.
"Cassian, I leave the law manifestation zone to you," he continued. "Make sure the Invictus Sect doesn't claim all of it."
As if following an unheard command, the empty space around them suddenly dimmed. Thick darkness engulfed everything, as if stripping the world of its existence. Lein had only a moment to blink before his vision disappeared completely.
"Damn… what's happening here?"
Instinctively, Lein activated his ability.
(Skill 3: Area of Light) — Creates a 10 km radius area of light. Increases all attributes by 100%, nullifies enemy healing, and boosts damage against dark entities by 100%.
Holy light flooded the surroundings, but something unnatural happened. The light, which should have erased the darkness, was instead swallowed—vanishing without a trace. Lein clenched his jaw. Something greater was at work.
Panic began creeping into his mind. The Area of Light's illumination should not be so easily extinguished. But even though his eyes were blind, he could still sense Luxador and the others nearby. That gave him a small sense of calm—at least he wasn't alone in this void.
Yet, as swiftly as the darkness came, his vision returned. Lein quickly swept his gaze around, searching for the cause.
Ahead, the purple-robed man who had remained silent now stood tall, holding a black staff with a purple crystal at its tip. A magical glow radiated from the crystal, dense energy pulsing around it, wiping out the darkness that had consumed the void.
"Luxador, prepare yourself. Don't drop your guard," said the man in the purple robe in a deep voice. His eyes were sharp, never leaving Durnhardt and Valerian who had now begun clashing in the distance.
Luxador responded firmly. Lein saw him reinforce his stance, his posture alert. He knew they had to act soon. If not, the other sects would seize control of the situation.
Meanwhile, far ahead, the battle between the two sect ancestors had begun. Darkness and curses collided in the void, unleashing destructive energy that could annihilate anyone who got too close.
However, Luxador's attention was fixed on something else—the ancestor of the Votum Sect, who had remained silent from the start. No movement, no action, as if simply waiting for something to unfold.
"Ancestor… it seems the Votum and Tenebrae sects are working together," Luxador's voice was full of barely restrained anger. "They've deceived all of us. Including Durnhardt."
The purple-robed man nodded slightly, his expression still cold. "Yes. They've been planning this for a long time. I suspect their arrival in the law manifestation zone is just the beginning. Stay alert for sudden changes."
Lein clenched his fists. He didn't feeling—the sense that he and his group were being used as pawns in a much larger game. But one thing was certain: this battle had only just begun.