Raphael was explaining their findings during the past month to his father in the royal castle of Aquaria. Besides him, Jacquelin wore a hardened expression on her face. On his throne, Atlos looked grim as well. This was because of the strange developments that the twins observed in kingdoms, clans, organizations, and strongholds near the Palace Tower and beyond.

“Powerhouses, talents, and geniuses are disappearing around Solvenheim?” Atlos asked for confirmation.

“Yes, Father. Although they were few in number, royalties of various kingdoms disappeared. Even some monarchs went missing. Powerful mercenaries and those who were rising in prominence could not be found. Warlords, Archmages, and talents training for those titles vanished. There were many others as well,” Raphael explained with a somber tone.

“The nobilities of the kingdoms are only focused on the Dark Elves’ territory. Those brain-dead fools were sending soldiers to the lands and fought like a pack of wild animals for the past month,” Jacquelin added coldly. “They apparently don't think much that the true powerhouses, literally the linchpins of society in Solvenheim, were slowly disappearing.”

“Father, I think you were right that an external force is up to something,” Raphael revealed his thoughts and frustrations. “Landmarks are not being destroyed, but this is still a major development. Powerful individuals are possibly being kidnapped. This was done so easily and quietly too! How powerful must one be to do that and not be caught?”

Atlos mulled over their words.

Strength was the most important factor that determined one’s position in Solvenheim. Although the domineering mana-wielders and combat specialists represented their kingdoms, they were rarely involved in their kingdom’s actual political affairs.

Powerhouses usually focused on refining and developing their own arts or fields of research. They didn't care much for worldly matters and materialistic gains. This was especially true of the ancient powers who no one would see or hear of for centuries or even millenniums.

That's why the nobles who didn't necessarily have absolute strength but were wealthy and skilled in wielding political power generally ran the activities of the kingdom. However, although they could control armies, they were still not as powerful as individuals with unparalleled strength.

There were very few kingdoms like Aquaria that were purely combat-oriented. In the other kingdoms, those with strength acted sparingly and discreetly, protecting their homes from outside threats only if it was necessary. It was the nobles and common people that acted as the drive towards material prosperity.

That's why the nobles were excited over a land rich in resources. Yet they didn't notice that their hidden protectors were disappearing.

The three silently contemplated what these developments might imply, but they were at a loss.

“What are the motives of those behind these events?” Atlos sighed. “Raphael, Jacquelin, it is too dangerous now to leave the kingdom. We must put our borders on lockdown, increase our defenses, and raise our guard against possible—”

I believe it's a bit too late for that.

The throne room suddenly darkened to an almost pitch-black level. The lights dimmed yet the shadows somehow grew and flickered wildly. The three then felt a stifling pressure set upon them.

Raphael quickly struck his palms together and pulled them apart to create an arc of green electricity. Sparks flew out from his body and currents of electricity flowed around him as if he was a god of thunder.

Jacquelin pulled out a rapier from the scabbard by her side. The weapon glowed with an orange tinge that exuded deadliness. Although her appearance was not as eye-catching as her brother’s, her aura indicated that she was just as powerful.

As for Atlos, he quickly stood up from his throne and lifted his fist before smashing it to the ground! The marble floor cracked everywhere as if it were an eggshell hit by a giant hammer. A huge shockwave repelled the encroaching shadows. The throne room rumbled violently and the pillars began crumbling apart. The whole place was on the verge of collapsing.

However, the shadows soon coalesced again as if mocking Atlos.

Master would’ve been highly entertained by these meager displays of power.

Black spikes budded, grew, and spread everywhere from the shadows. They soon became giant, deadly protrusions extending from the edges of the ceiling, walls, and floor. Raphael lifted his hands above his head and humongous beams of electricity formed and shot at the spikes. Jacquelin dashed rapidly towards the spikes and thrusted forwards with her rapier.

However, both of them soon became surprised. It was no exaggeration to say that they could easily decimate the armies of the nobles with their power. Yet, the electricity instantly made contact with the spikes but dissipated just as quickly. The tip of Jacquelin's rapier bounced off harmlessly. The black spikes were ridiculously hard!

Atlos realized that whoever created such spikes from the shadows had monstrous mana control and raw magica strength, even greater than that of Raphael.

The twins realized this as well and hastily retreated to where their father was. All the while, the spikes became bigger and bigger, slowly but surely closing in on the trio.

“Are you the one behind all this?” Atlos asked calmly but with a thick murderous intent.

The mastermind? No. The kidnappings? Yes.

The silky voice laughed and answered simply.

I’m here to carry out my Master’s orders, though I am not the one to decide your fates.

Before Atlos and the twins could react, the black spikes extended out rapidly! Atlos felt a sharp pain, and then another. Soon, he felt innumerable sharp pains. The spikes had easily penetrated through his chainmail and holes were made in his body.

Atlos was shocked at their speed and power and he soon felt that his consciousness was fading at an abnormal rate, but he struggled violently. He smashed and bashed at the spikes, but they only shook and didn’t even crack. He looked desperately towards his children.

Raphael and Jacquelin were no better. Black spikes had pierced through their bodies in various locations, and they were pinned like butterflies to a wall.

Despair and rage wallowed up within Atlos. He never would’ve thought that they would be ambushed right before they realized who the perpetrator was targeting! The being they were up against was definitely a Dark Elf, but his power was ridiculous!

Is he one of the Elders? But even I could beat a few of them.

A thought flashed through Atlos’s head before he closed his hands together into a double fist and imbued them with some of his mana. He roared mightily and smashed downwards on the spikes. There was a deafening boom as if a bomb went off.

The strike was simply catastrophic. The castle was leveled and the ground split for miles in all directions. All that remained was flattened land where the castle originally stood, with the exception of a giant sinkhole below where Atlos had delivered the blow! It was alarmingly deep and the bottom could not be seen as if it were an endless abyss. It was clear how strong he was with just a double fist strike imbued with mana!

This was also one of the reasons why it was dangerous for normal people to live within a certain vicinity of the Aquarios family. It was fortunate that only the royal family lived in the castle and that there were no nearby towns.

However, only a miniscule, thin crack slithered down each of the spikes that held Atlos and the twins in the air above the gaping hole. They still remained intact despite that monstrous strike!

It's my first time having such trouble to do my job. I better knock you all out before you actually break free.

The black spikes that pierced through their bodies quickly pinned them to the ground. They expanded and enveloped them in dark spheres of shadows. A split second later, the shadows receded and the unconscious trio plopped down. However, what was strange was that no injuries could be seen. There were only holes in their clothes and armor where the spikes were previously.

Soon, a tall, gaunt figure with ashy skin emerged from the shadows.

“Sorry if I was a bit rough. Master told me not to kill, but sometimes it’s very difficult to take the targets alive without fatally injuring them,” the Dark Elf apologized to the unresponsive trio on the ground. “And...I think I might be different or more…aggressive when using my powers.”

Good thing he was a genius and had ridiculous healing capabilities as well. That way, his targets wouldn’t lose their lives so easily.

“King Atlos, you and your children are somewhat decent in power. If the others hadn’t been in separate locations, I would’ve had to make a slight ruckus and take them in a fairly rough manner like I did just now.”

The handsome, gray-skinned youth let out a sigh.

“This is fun but,” he said out loud and made a bitter smile, “kidnapping is also a tiresome job, you know.”

He flicked his hands and the three bodies melted into the shadows.

“And there’s still so much work to do.”

The youth disappeared into the shadows himself soon afterwards.