Blade of Justice Troy was strong.

Space was a formidable element. His affinity was also top class, space 5. They said he was the sort of talent that was only born once in several decades. That rare talent was further tempered with hard work and ingenuity, it showed in his Artes and swordsmanship.

Unfortunately, his opponent was simply on a whole other level.

Viers, with his much higher Horizon damage boost, had also achieved Grand Soul in his soul cultivation. Soul cultivation was on a different branch than regular Pathseekers’ cultivation so it was not restrained by Aletro. Paths of Power were many and all led to strength. Like reaching a mountain’s peak, there were many ways to climb it.

Grand Soul required 1,000,000 Soul Power according to the Myriad Souls in One Arte. 980,000 of them were from Zerrigan’s children. Viers decided he needed to breakthrough to Grand Soul before he clashed with his two main targets, the Harem MC Aravin and the Mary Sue Anne.

After upgrading his soul Viers felt very different. To put it in his terms, it was like he had been riding a bicycle all this time and now it became a Lamborghini. The quality of his soul had been heavily enhanced and his soul Artes were greater than ever.

Troy became the first victim of Viers’ newly-minted soul. His ‘Haoshoku Haki’ at this state proved too much for even Troy to bear. Because Viers didn’t gloat when he was winning, no matter how tempting it might be, Anne didn't make it in time.

Troy still managed to send a message before his death though. To Anne, Viers supposed. Either way, he was already done and ordered a retreat.

“Why retreat?” Clarissa doubted his decision. “You’re uninjured. The Xerg have the numbers and the strength. We’ve the upper hand. Now is the time to strike. Lay waste to their kingdoms.”

From a strategic viewpoint, Viers might have made an erroneous decision.

“My objective is not the kingdoms, Rissa. Not even other players. Only Anne. Well, let’s hope the news of my fake injury against Troy spreads and they move like I hope they will. Deception, angels.”

Viers retreated and the Tyra Xerg followed, suffering a staggering amount of troop losses in the process.

He had sown the seeds of deception once again.

***

“...that is all I saw.”

An earthen golem in the form of a dog-sized scorpion spoke to the members of the United Alliance.

“So you just watched when Tanael killed Aravin, Troy, and the rest? Coward!” Max, still grieving for the death of Troy, lashed out.

The young man looked like he wanted to smash the earthen scorpion construct. It was not Green Scorpion's real body for he was not about to risk walking into the white spark holders’ stronghold by his lonesome. The guy just didn't want Tanael to have an easy time. However, he was too afraid to do it on his own so he invited trouble to Tanael’s doorstep, feeding information to Tanael’s enemies.

To the Ivory Flame’s accusation, Fajrin’s calm voice came from the earthen golem. “Troy was brave,” he paused. No one denied him. “And Troy is dead.”

No one denied him this time either.

“You!”

“Enough, Ivory Flame. We should be discussing what our next action is,” Khalmar said. He too felt a significant sense of loss with the passing of Gulzul. The dwarf was a hard headed person as a stranger but he was very loyal as a friend.

“The Blade of Justice didn't die for nothing,” Eugene the Squire said. “If Lady Anne spoke the truth, he managed to injure the Soul Tyrant and made him retreat. Afterward, the Tyra Xerg were all weakened, allowing us to cull many. Perhaps Tanael’s condition is tied to his troops somehow. At any rate… We have one golden chance thanks to his noble sacrifice.”

“Indeed,” Fithel the elf added. “Our northern territories are in shambles. Tanael’s intervention collapsed the defense line and although the Xerg retreated, the Aberrants went ravaging all over. The infrastructure destroyed during the incursion was considerable. Meanwhile, the Blacklands’ is very much intact. As things are, once Tanael is recovered and his troops return to full strength, he won’t need to make a move personally to defeat us. He could just keep sending the Xerg our way and we will be defeated eventually. Our Victa will run out sooner or later.”

“The generation rate of troops between us and him is too large…” Max grimaced. “But we must fight! If we lose, what’s stopping Tanael harvesting as many spark shards as he can without concern? Someone as evil as Tanael must not be allowed to gain such power. The world will suffer!”

Khalmar exchanged silent nods of confirmation with his right-hand man, the bull beastfolk. “We invade the Blacklands immediately to cut off the head of the snake. Tanael is injured and the Xerg are weakened. Their numbers have been reduced significantly from the war. If we dawdle, our advantage will be gone. We have a silver lining from all of this debacle. The rulers no longer contest us when mobilizing the troops. Feh, about time.”

“There are still two big monsters on Tanael's side,” Green Scorpion reminded them. “If you guys hurry, they might not make it back from Tanael’s northern front.”

“My knights and I will march,” Eugene was determined.

“We go now,” Khalmar agreed.

“Yes we will,” Max gripped the handle on his sword.

“But can we win against Tanael?”

The fiery spirit of the people was doused by the question. It was Boram’s, who seemed uncomfortable after receiving so many gazes.

“Err, sorry, but my master taught me to never fight a battle you cannot win. I… don't want any of you to die. We’ve got a lot of shards already. Shouldn't we retreat? Escape the trial before he comes for us?”

“Where is your pride, young human?” Ubah the bull beastfolk said in a disapproving tone.

“I know I’m the weakest out of everyone here. I have no delusion that the Soul Tyrant cannot kill me with ease. Pride can't change that fact. And I can't afford to die without receiving permission from my Master. Picking a fight with someone you cannot win because of sentiment is a recipe for early death, so said my master.”

“Heh, the kid is smarter than you, bull-head,” Green Scorpion scoffed.

“What did you say!?”

“Everybody calm down. Young Boram made a good point,” Fithel mediated. “‘Can we win?’ Only one of us can answer that question.”

Their attention focused on one person who had been silent this whole time.

“Tanael is strong,” Anne said. “But not invincible. In this vulnerable period, we must destroy Tanael’s crystal, rendering his Tyra Xerg useless. As Max said earlier, if he can gather spark shards freely without opposition, how long would he last in this Stage? What would he be able to get from Aletro with all those shards? At most, we’ll be in the Trial for a few more months but Tanael could last years. I fear what he might become… We must stop him now. Together, all of us, we can do this. Please… don't let Troy’s effort be for nothing.”

Anne’s words from the heart touched the heartstrings of the people.

“Leave Tanael to me.”

Her voice was resolute and confident, washing away everyone’s hesitation.

Great darkness loomed over the land and the Heroes of Light gathered to take back the dawn. To the Demon Lord’s lair they would go, to end the threat of eternal darkness once and for all.

***

Inside one of the rooms in the Nest, three people were sitting. On the table, there was a black sword and a small jar with white ashes inside.

“...It was a magnificent end.”

Viers had been telling the stories about Jaime’s final fight to Izabella and Sakuya. Somewhere along the way, Sakuya started sobbing lightly, up until now.

Viers didn't tell them everything, such as the matter about the yellow-robed ‘Emperor Realm’ xianxia girl.

Izabella hugged Sakuya to assuage the younger girl. “May he find peace.”

Sakuya wiped her tears with her kimono sleeve. “Was he happy?”

“He was satisfied,” Viers looked at the sword half-focused. “I saw it myself. It was… an end he wished for.”

The silence lingered. A solemn moment of remembrance for the departed.

“...Thank you for these,” Viers returned the items he borrowed from them both. Some were used, some remained unused, Viers simply prepared for some contingencies. The most important of them all was the Needle of Conquest, Izabella’s red needle that drained one’s Victa. Viers suggested the name, making it a set with her Staff of Pestilence.

“And these are the spoils of war,” Viers gave them a portion of the spark shards and loot.

“Tanael-sama… Would it change the outcome if we were there?”

“No.”

“Even so,” Izabella interjected. “We are the Four Horsemen, right? Four. We should be together.”

“No. Aravin had deadly methods against women. You both have helped plenty in the other battlefield with Anne in the opposition.”

Viers wouldn't risk those of the fairer gender to even meet the Harem MC. It was a suicidal move. Who knew what kind of sorcery Aravin had against ‘capturable targets?’ Perhaps a few honeyed words from Aravin about his justice and great cause were capable of turning the girls against the evil Viers. Hell, the girls might have fallen in love with him from a simple wink for all Viers knew. He was a Harem MC! It was a common trope for women on the enemy’s side to join a Harem MC’s side in the stories. The woman herself possibly becomes the very reason for the antagonist’s defeat in the MC’s hands.

Viers wouldn't risk Izabella and Sakuya, or himself, being subject to that fate, not in a million years.

“I understand…” Izabella said.

“Lord Tanael,” Zerrigan spoke using Xel Doggo who’d just entered the room. “Izabella and Sakuya, my condolences. Apologies for interrupting but the Whitelanders are moving towards us as Lord Viers predicted. It is going to be a major offensive on their part.”

“Mmm,” Viers nodded.

“The final battle, is it?” Izabella muttered.

“Right! I’ll pull on Jaime-san’s weight too!” Sakuya readied herself.

“About that… Both of you should retire now. Out of this Trial,” Viers said.

“What? Why? We can help, Tanael-sama!”

“From here on the risk is too high. Win or lose, Aletro’s Trial will end soon. You both already have plenty of shards. Remember your objectives in the real world. It won’t do if you fall here.”

***

From the opening in the walls, the closest thing the Nest had to windows, Viers watched the gathering host of armies marching towards him. The Tyra Xerg, the entire units that were available to him, were arrayed to meet them. Viers’ prided armies, the children of Zerrigan, were ready to fight to the death. Viers basically sent an invitation to the white spark holders to his home.

All so he could fight Anne on his chosen ground.

There was a BGM playing in the room, something that Viers pulled from the memory of his soul and given sound. The BGM was a solemn one, part aria. It depicted the solitude of his position and the chill of winter.

They were not easy to convince but Izabella and Sakuya followed Viers’ instruction. He was now the only Gloomsider left. They would meet again in the real world.

The view of the great armies of justice marching at him didn't scare him. Viers was only wary of a single person.

“Anne will defeat you. She’s greater than anything you can ever imagine,” the ghost of Troy said. He had a human form, albeit transparent.

Souls crowded this room; the temperature was very low. A single black sword was in the very center, floating, absorbing the globes of soul greedily. Directly below it, was a block of ice of extreme profoundness, emitting a very cold aura. Viers got it from Aravin’s storage item. Must be an important item for a future plot. Viers put it to use immediately.

“Unfortunately for you, my imagination is far above an uncultured man like you. Oh no little ghost, I know more about her compared to you, blind worshiper,” Viers replied.

The music continued. At times slow, at times melancholic. With each second that passed, the enchantment on the sword progressed. Infused with soul and ice.

“...Why do you want to kill her?”

“Let’s just say I’m offended by her existence.”

“It is impossible for her to lose. She’s the Child of the Holy Phoenix,” Troy stressed.

“Heh. When we saw Anne fighting Max for some character development, we saw her bleeding, yes?” Viers asked.

Troy didn't reply.

Viers said in a savage tone and grinned. “If something bleeds, we can kill it.”

The song intensified.

“I’ve seen some evil people in my life, but you take the cake.”

“You’re just a youngster less than twenty years old. What do you truly know about the evil in people's hearts?”

“I know people like you will always get their comeuppance. Look outside, there they come, united against your tyranny. You’ll answer for all of your sins. I may have fallen by your hand, but she will not. The Phoenix’s blood has been awakened. Her flames will purify the evil in this world… including you.”

Viers chuckled, then his laugh became a sinister villain’s laughter. “Look now to your defenses, my son. For the champions of justice gather at your gates!”

Troy didn't understand why Viers said that but he was gone, put inside the blade by Viers. The block of ice was now fully integrated with the sword as blue runes appeared on the black blade. From the Xerg, Viers had three million souls. He used one million to upgrade his soul, the sword had absorbed all the rest.

The music reached the crescendo. Its tune depicted the might of a king.

Viers’ eyes turned green. His right hand reached out and grabbed the reforged weapon. The dark sword was seething with a frosty aura, never satisfied no matter how many souls Viers let it drink.

“Let them come. Frostmourne hungers!”

Chapter 199 - Let Them Come