The throne room trembled beneath corrupted Aether.
Purple-black tendrils spread endlessly across the massive chamber like living veins, crawling along pillars, walls, and shattered marble floors. Every flicker of the violet lamps distorted beneath the overwhelming pressure pouring from the throne itself.
At the center— Veyr finally rose.
The sound alone echoed like a death sentence.
CLACK.
His long black robes dragged slowly across the floor while the shadows around him twisted violently. Behind him, the throne of S
hadowhaven cracked apart beneath the pressure of his Aether. Everyone felt it immediately. The atmosphere changed.
Even Kael's expression darkened slightly. "…He wasn't serious before," Kael muttered.
Lio tightened his grip on his blade silently. Taren's spear trembled faintly beneath the pressure. Then—
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The entire throne room transformed. Black Veil tendrils erupted across the ceiling like roots swallowing the chamber whole. The floor beneath Renn cracked apart while dark mist spread through every corner of the room.
Cedric's eyes widened slightly. "…Veil Domain."
The shadows deepened instantly. Every corner became alive. Every shadow became dangerous. Veyr slowly raised one hand.
"Welcome," he said quietly, "to the true throne of Shadowhaven."
SHHHKKKK—!!!
Thousands of tendrils descended simultaneously. Renn vanished first.
BOOM—!
Golden Aether exploded beneath his armored boots as he accelerated sideways, barely avoiding dozens of piercing tendrils. Cedric moved immediately after, purple Veil Arts erupting from his arms to intercept the incoming attacks.
CRASH—!
The collision shook the chamber violently. But Veyr did not move. Not even once. His eyes calmly observed them both.
"…Too slow."
SHHK—!
A thin tendril pierced directly through Cedric's defense line. Cedric barely twisted his body aside before it sliced across his shoulder.
Blood scattered. Cedric clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile—
Seris continued attacking relentlessly.
CLANG—! CLANG—! CLANG—!
Her rapier struck like silver lightning across the battlefield while Kael, Lio, and Taren barely maintained formation against her overwhelming speed.
Every strike was precise.
Every thrust lethal.
Taren blocked another attack with his spear—
CRACK—!
The impact alone forced him backward several steps.
"…She's stronger than before! She's not holding back," Lio answered sharply while parrying another thrust aimed toward Kael's throat.
No— It was worse than that.
Seris wasn't fighting like herself anymore. No hesitation. No restraint. Only execution.
Behind her—
Thin black tendrils connected directly into her arms, spine, and neck like puppet strings. And beneath her silver eyes— tears quietly streamed downward.
Kael's expression twisted slightly. "…Damn it."
Garrick suddenly entered from the side.
BOOOOM—!
His massive punch collided against Seris' rapier directly. The impact shattered the floor beneath them. Even Garrick slid backward.
"…What the hell," he muttered with a grin filled with disbelief. "She's a pure monster."
Lyra appeared behind Seris instantly.
SHHK—!
Thin blades flashed toward the tendrils controlling Seris— —but Seris twisted unnaturally mid-motion.
CLANG.
She blocked every strike without even turning around. Lyra immediately leapt backward.
"…This control is insane."
Back at the center battlefield—
Renn surged forward again. Golden lightning erupted beneath his feet while Lumindelle's power accelerated his movements beyond normal perception.
"Aether Art: Piercing Collapse."
BOOOOM—!!!
He appeared directly before Veyr instantly. But—
SHHK—!
A wall of black tendrils intercepted him immediately. Fast. Too fast.
Renn's eyes narrowed. Veyr had already adapted.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Renn forcefully cut through tendril after tendril, but more instantly replaced them. Every pathway toward Veyr closed before Renn could fully break through.
Veyr calmly observed him. "…Interesting."
Another tendril shot toward Renn's blind spot, but Cedric intercepted first.
BOOM—!
Purple Veil tendrils clashed against black corruption violently. Cedric landed beside Renn.
"I got your back."
Renn nodded once. "…Thanks."
Veyr watched the two silently. The throne room darkened further. Veyr slowly walked forward for the first time. Every step distorted the Veil Domain around him.
"Assassins do not need hearts." His voice echoed calmly across the chamber. "Emotion creates hesitation."
Another step.
"Attachment creates fear."
The tendrils around him sharpened violently. "The Veiled Council died because they lacked the resolve to sacrifice what was necessary."
Cedric's eyes darkened. Veyr continued. "They called themselves protectors." His lips curled faintly. "Yet when difficult choices appeared before them… they hesitated."
"…That's wrong." Veyr's eyes shifted toward him. Renn slowly raised Lumindelle.
"Strength without people to protect means nothing."
Golden Aether surged softly around him. "You call emotions weakness," Renn continued quietly, "but they're the reason people keep moving forward."
Veyr narrowed his eyes slightly. "…Nonsense."
The Veil Domain exploded again.
SHHHKKKKK—!!!
Hundreds of tendrils surged toward Renn simultaneously from every direction. This time— Renn adapted.
CLANG—!
He forcefully parried the first strike. Then the second. Then the third. Golden sparks erupted endlessly throughout the throne room while Renn accelerated continuously through the storm itself.
Faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
Veyr noticed immediately. "…So you adapt mid-battle as well."
BOOOOM—!
Renn shattered another tendril before accelerating forward again using his armored boots. Closer and closer.
The tendrils changed patterns instantly to intercept him. But Renn adjusted immediately. His body twisted through narrow openings while Lumindelle's golden mist enhanced his perception.
Not perfect. Not clean. But improving every second.
Cedric watched silently. "…Ridiculous."
SHHK—!
Three tendrils suddenly emerged behind Renn simultaneously. Blind spot. Cedric moved instantly.
BOOOOM—!!!
Purple Veil Arts erupted violently as Cedric intercepted the attacks head-on. The impact forced him backward several meters. Blood dripped from his arm. But he held.
Renn glanced back briefly. "…Cedric!"
Cedric exhaled sharply. "…Just keep pushing forward."
Renn nodded immediately. Then accelerated again. For the first time— Veyr's eyes sharpened slightly. The throne room shook endlessly beneath their clash.
Meanwhile—
Taren barely blocked another thrust from Seris.
CLANG—!
The impact sent cracks across his spear shaft. Kael entered from the side instantly. "Move!"
BOOOOM—!!!
Crimson Aether exploded as Kael's sword collided against Seris directly. But Seris blocked. One-handed.
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "…Seriously?!"
Then Seris counterattacked.
SHHK—!
Her rapier moved like silver death itself. Kael barely blocked the strike—
CRACK—!
The impact still launched him backward violently through a pillar. Dust exploded everywhere.
Lio appeared behind Seris instantly.
"Astra Art: Linear Severance."
Blue Aether flashed toward her blind spot. Seris dodged by mere centimeters. Then kicked Lio directly across the chamber.
THUD—!
Taren gritted his teeth. "…Seris!"
No response. Only empty silver eyes. But beneath them— tears still fell silently.
Garrick slowly stood again while rolling his shoulder. "…What kind of monster did they turn her into…?"
Lyra's expression darkened. "…No." Her eyes narrowed toward the tendrils attached to Seris.
"She's fighting it."
Back at the center—
Renn finally broke through.
BOOOOM—!!!
Golden Aether exploded across the throne room as Renn pierced through the final layer of tendrils and reached Veyr directly. For the first time— Veyr raised his arm to block personally.
CLANG—!!!
Golden dagger and corrupted Veil Arts collided violently. The impact shook the entire throne room. Renn pushed harder. Veyr's eyes narrowed slightly. Then—
SHHK.
A small cut appeared across Veyr's cheek.
Silence. Everyone froze. Even Cedric's eyes widened slightly. Blood slowly dripped down Veyr's face.
The King of Veils touched the wound quietly. Then— he smiled.
For the first time since the battle began. Not mockingly. Not cruelly. Genuinely.
"…Now," Veyr whispered softly, "you finally look worthy."