The loud snapping of bones caught the attention of everyone.

"Ah!", the leader's sharp shout made one feel shivers in their spine.

His spinal cord was broken and his muscles caved in deeply. One could imagine how fatal it was.

`To think that the extent of their weakening was at this low.`, Zachariel remarked.

He only expected for the leader to be pushed away, or at least have his attack be blocked at some point.

Zachariel let him be and went to get Althea. There was no point in killing them since there were witnesses around.

He could be framed as a rebel and things might go the other way around.

"Althea, come here.", he helped Althea up.

It was at that moment that a violent aura exploded from inside the forest.

"Grrrr….", a low growl resounded.

It was like a canine predator about to take over its prey.

"You think I would be easily defeated like this?! Die, Zachariel Strom!"

The entire forest was gone into ashes. The leader's burly upper body was naked. There were runic marks on his skin and his eyes became scarlet red.

`Even if I'm still at 50% of my strength, you won't be able to escape alive!`

His body enlarged, ripping off the fabric that covered his body.

His head grew a lot of hair all over.

On his hands, claws protruded out of the nails and extended for a quarter of a meter.

`Rampaging Fury: Fury of the Beast!`

He lunged at Zachariel.

`Lightning Rush!`

A bolt of red lightning flashed and blocked the leader's attack. The lightning transformed into a person.

The leader's eyes widened in disbelief. This person was someone he recognized.

`Edward… Ellington?!`

He was enraged, "You think a Prospect like you could stop someone like me?!"

The leader swiped his fists and blew Edward away. He didn't realize that Edward was able to get a hold of Zachariel. However, Althea was left behind.

`Damn it, I forgot about her!`

Edward didn't falter and shouted, "Lina, Luna, do it now!"

"Ring of Incapacitation!"

"Chains of Corruption!"

The twins acted at the same time.

A huge ring with a diameter of 100 meters was formed with the leader at the center. Meanwhile, chains infused with dark mana essence protruded down at his feet, locking him down.

`This again?! I'm so tired of this!`

"How dare you weaklings block my path!"

He broke the chains and used his qi essence to forcefully destroy the formation array created by Lina.

Lina let out a cry. The rebounding force was too great for her to endure.

Luna knew the danger that befell on her, immediately breaking her link to her chains. She then dashed towards Lina and caught her on time.

"That's more like it! Cry some more!", the leader laughed while executing a grabbing motion with his right hand.

"What do you think you're doing, Edward Ellington?!"

Edward was caught bare-handedly by the leader.

He wanted to rescue Althea but time fell short for him.

The leader threw him on the ground.

"You want to save her? I don't think so! All of you will die today, and no one will know of it!", he shouted with confidence, "This place is locked up, thanks to that brat's help. Do you think anyone will hear you if you scream out for help right now?"

"I'm going to give you a beating!"

He picked Althea and punched her in the face.

"Ah uh!", Althea cried.

This pain was incomparable compared to the pain she felt before.

At least, in her perspective, being alone was something she could tolerate. But to be physically beaten by someone stronger than her and she couldn't do anything to stop it put her worries to the worst.

"And you damn eldens! You've been a pain in the eyes ever since I saw you all!"

He stomped on Althea, knocking her out.

"You think you're stronger than us, humans? Look at yourself, this is how powerful we are!", he proclaimed.

A round of applause hit his ears, dumbfounding him to the core.

"Excellent, powerful indeed.", a voice coming from an elf remarked.

The leader looked in their direction. The sight was more terrifying than anything he had ever seen before.

`His Imperial Majesty, and the generals!`

And the nobles and the eldens as well.

`Was it all just a setup? Did his Imperial Majesty fuck with me?`

On the other side, Emperor Marcus was cursing his incompetent aides.

`Those idiots! I told them to do it quickly and subversively! Now, I have a lot of explanation to do because of this incompetence!`

"Emperor Marcus, it's best if you would explain what is going on right now?", Thalanil coldly said.

"Thalanil, I am as confused as you are.", Emperor Marcus replied.

He didn't want to be related to this incident in any way.

Thalanil raised his eyebrows, `Oh, a feint? Since that's the case…`

"Human, who are you? And why are you blatantly wreaking havoc inside the Imperium Capital City?", he asked.

The leader maniacally laughed.

"Fuck off!"

His words shocked everyone.

"Impudent, how dare you speak like that?!", Emperor Marcus raised his arm and grasped the air.

"Ahh!!!", the leader shouted.

All of his muscles and organs spasmed.

"Guards, imprison this scum and those rebels as well!"

The Imperium guards moved.

"As for the four of you…", Emperor Marcus looked at Zachariel.

"You will have to explain yourselves later."

Emperor Marcus turned around and returned to the Imperium Palace.

The rest did not follow. Surely, such an unprecedented incident had stained the joyful atmosphere from earlier.

Nobody was in the mood to celebrate anymore.

Especially the eldens.

Thalanil used the air to grab the unconscious Althea and healed her in the process.

He eyed Zachariel for a moment before gesturing the rest to leave. Nobody noticed the brilliance that his eyes emitted.

"Your Highness, should we punish that human?", Elder Gorfo asked.

Many of them were angered to see one of their own in such a state. Moreover, it was caused by a human whom Thalanil was very obsessed with.

Even though they saw Althea as a nuisance sometimes, they wouldn't forget that she was an elden like them.

"What punishment are you talking about?", Thalanil sounded out of focus.

This concerned the eldens, especially their elders.

Thalanil was becoming too attached to the human to the point that he didn't want to harm Zachariel at any cost, even if he was to commit the most heinous crimes in Pandragea.

Thalanil ignored them and continued on his way, using his power to float Althea on the air.

…

Back on the scene, Zachariel approached Edward and helped him up.

"Senior Edward, are you okay?"

Edward grabbed his hand and stood up.

"Damn, that hurt."

"You shouldn't have gone over for her, senior.", Zachariel said.

Edward was confused, "What do you mean by I shouldn't have gone for her?",

"Nothing. I'm sorry for dragging you into this, senior."

Edward noticed Zachariel's words and realized something.

"Hey brat, don't tell me you planned this all along?", he asked.

Zachariel didn't reply. However, in his mind, he was rejoicing over what had happened.

`Although Emperor Marcus got away this time, he would be hesitant to try this again. As for the eldens…`

They would get suspicious about the Imperium's intentions.

Although his plan of sowing discord between the two factions was a double-edged sword, Zachariel felt that it was worth it.

As for the plan, it started when he overheard Emperor Marcus was up to something.

He wanted to use Victoria and have her report to the senior Prospects about the threat to his life.

Originally, the eldens weren't supposed to be involved in any case.

Althea was just an unexpected factor that he didn't consider at first. Thus, when Althea showed up, he revised his plan instead.

It came with the danger of angering the eldens because of his foolishness but there was one way to get out of it.

That way was Thalanil.

He wasn't sure of how to convince Thalanil of his 'skills', not until he realized that Althea was embedded with a curse in her body and he was able to repel it.

When he knew of that, his confidence in his plan rose.

Zachariel wanted to drag the eldens with him, such that the eldens would come over as well knowing that one of their kin was in danger.

With regards to Thalanil, he knew that the old man would recognize that he was able to survive Althea's curse.

After all, Althea wasn’t fast. If Zachariel left her behind, although she wouldn’t die, Zachariel would lose the chance to prove himself to Thalanil.

Zachariel didn't know how potent her curse was but Thalanil did. Moreover, based on Althea's reactions earlier, she was expecting him to die.

For these reasons, Zachariel knew that Thalanil wouldn't back down on his offer even if the eldens objected to his decision of taking Zachariel in.

`Since that old man is interested in me, I'll let him know how interesting I am.`

Zachariel felt that the old man wouldn't kill or betray him whatsoever.

Von already said that the higher-ups from the eldens and the Templars were searching for a way to break the restriction of ascension in Pandragea.

The way how Supreme Elder Azzad expressed his interest in him already gave way that Zachariel could be a possible key in unlocking the restriction.

After all, it was well-known, at least in the higher echelons of the Tower, that the voids were the only ones who could enter the ancient ruins that possess the secret on how Pandragea came to be, and how the ascension restriction was formed.

Zachariel already know how important he was. The only thing left was how he could utilize this 'importance' to his advantage.

Amidst Zachariel's thoughts, a captain guard called out to them.

"Hey, you four. Come with us. You are needed for your statement on what happened here."

Edward, the twins, and Zachariel followed.

Lina had already recovered while Luna stayed by her side.

As for Althea, there was no point in interrogating her. The captain guard knew that this brat in front of him only dragged the poor girl into his problems.

The rest of the Prospects wanted to come over to them but seeing the situation, they could only go back.

Carriages were waiting for the four that took them to the Imperium Barracks and then they were interrogated.

Zachariel gave his statement and was soon released by the Imperium guards.

"Seniors, thank you once again for your help.", Zachariel bowed at them.

"Don't mind it brat. Be careful next time, alright?", Edward advised.

Zachariel nodded.

"Senior Lina, are you okay now?", he asked.

Lina smiled, "It's okay, Zachariel. Your senior can take a lot more than just that!", raising her little arm and tapped on it.

Luna grabbed his collar out of nowhere, shocking Edward and Lina.

"Hey, brat…"

"What is it, senior Luna?"

Luna took a while to say her next words. This made Edward and Lina gulp in fear.

"Don't forget your fight with me, okay?!"

"Yes, senior Luna."

"And stop calling me senior! I'm a young girl, okay? Call me big sister Luna.", she said angrily.

The term senior made her feel like she was an old woman.

"Yes, big sister Luna."

The small yet fearless girl nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, at least you're easy to talk to-"

Luna realized that Zachariel was no longer there.

"Damn it, where did that brat go? I wanted to say a few more things to him!"

She looked behind her.

Edward turned his head sideways while Lina smiled at her innocently.

"Let's go, Lina. This punk-ass over here smells like shit.", Luna commented.

Her words were too unkind in Edward's ears.

"What?"

Luna turned around.

"What, you got a problem, punk-ass? Want this big sister to beat you again?!"

`Fuck, no way! I'm out of here!`

Seeing her bring out her chains, Edward fled as fast as he could.

Arguing against a sadistic person like Luna was a waste of time.

And life.