Author's Preface
The Wanderer cast the pact, carefully modifying its bindings to encompass every soul present. A true shared oath, far removed from Skida’s one-sided slavery contract.
One by one, the nobles stepped forward. Willingly, they offered a drop of blood into the pact.
The pact was sealed and the alliance was formed.
In the days that followed, the alliance took shape. Though Hidan and Seth remained stubborn, colliding on nearly every detail, they eventually yielded to necessity, agreeing to let the Wanderer lead them until Valoria’s falling.
The Red Council offered accommodations within the citadel walls, but the Wanderer refused. He chose to remain in Vincent’s home in the slums, a daily reminder of why he fights.
A few weeks into the alliance, a routine strategy session was called in the Great Hall.
The Wanderer leaned over the table, sifting through a stack of reports. "Let's keep this brief today. I need to get back to studying the Nullstones."
Hidan leaned forward. "Hosar is completely locked down. Not a soul enters or leaves."
"Any word from Valoria?" the Wanderer asked, not looking up.
"They're still licking their wounds after the siege," Seth replied. "But unrest is brewing in the streets. Resentment against Altharion is growing by the day... especially after the execution of that Duke's daughter."
The Wanderer raised his head slowly, his eye locking onto Seth. "Her name was Serenya."
Seth coughed. "Ah... yes. Serenya. It seems her final words stirred something deep within the common folk."
A faint smile touched the Wanderer’s lips.
"I believe it's time we announce our alliance to the public," Hidan said, breaking the silence.
The Wanderer snapped a binder shut. "I agree. We haven't gathered enough mages yet to call ourselves a proper army." He pointed his quill toward Hidan. "Ensure not a single word reaches Valoria until we are ready. A wounded lion is still a lion."
He stood up, gathering his papers beneath his arm. "That will be all for today. I'm returning to my research."
As he turned to leave, Hidan called out, "Any breakthroughs on that front?"
The Wanderer let out a frustrated sigh. "The Nullstones are more complicated than I anticipated. The Owls' blueprints helped me grasp their underlying mechanics, but they offer no clue on how to shatter them."
Hidan nodded slowly. "It's grueling work, I know. But our entire gamble rests on your ability to destroy those stones without needing to lay a hand or set an eye on them."
The Wanderer continued his march for the door. "I won't fail. That's all you need to know."
Seth turned to Hidan, shaking his head. "I'm worried he won't be able to shatter those damn stones." He buried his face in his hands. "If we fail, Altharion will make an example of us to silence the commoners for good."
Hidan tapped his fingers against the table. "I'm starting to question whether signing that pact was the right call."
Seth stood up, fixing his clothes. "At least we can agree on one thing."
Back at Vincent’s house, the Wanderer sat at the wooden table, staring at a small Nullstone resting on the worn surface.
He picked up a quill and began writing down notes on a parchment.
-The stone shows no signs of overloading.
-Each Nullstone possesses a set capacity for absorption.
-A stone of this size can hold roughly a single human mana circle.
-This is confirmed by the output released when attempting to siphon the stored energy back out.
-However, feeding it mana beyond its threshold does not cause it to fracture or rupture.
-So where does the excess mana go?
The Wanderer tapped the end of his quill against the parchment.
He yawned, stretching his arm. "Why didn’t anyone try to destroy these things before?"
His gaze drifted toward Defiance, resting against the chair beside him.
He bolted upright and rushed out into the cool night air toward the Red Citadel.
He barged into Seth’s private chambers, throwing the door wide. "Seth! I need to see Judgment. Right now."
Seth jolted awake, frantically pulling the bedsheets over his half-naked body. "What in the hell are you doing in my room?!" He scrambled out of bed, hastily throwing a robe over his shoulders. "Granting you freedom in the citadel doesn't give you free rein to burst into my bedchamber in the middle of the night!"
The Wanderer stepped forward. "I think I'm onto something, but I need to examine Judgment immediately."
Seth rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Our agreement was clear. You take possession of the blade after we march into Valoria, not a day sooner."
"You can hold onto it," the Wanderer insisted. "I just need to lay a hand on it for a moment."
Seth paused, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Hurry up," the Wanderer said. "It's not like I can betray you with the blood pact holding us together."
Seth growled. "Fine, fine."
He reached into his nightstand, retrieving a large iron key, and marched past the Wanderer. "Follow me."
They ascended the stairs to the highest level of the main keep, arriving at a heavily guarded vault. The guards snapped to a formal salute, but Seth waved his hand for them to stand down.
Fitting the key into the lock, Seth paused and turned to the Wanderer. "Pact or not... don't try anything funny."
The Wanderer nodded as Seth turned the lock and pushed the massive iron door open.
Inside, mounds of gold, jewels, all kinds of treasures belonging to the Red Crowns, even ancient relics lay scattered across the stone chamber.
But in the center of the vault, resting atop a raised velvet pedestal, lay a crimson blade that seemed to glow like living fire.
Ignoring the surrounding riches, the Wanderer walked straight toward it.
"Be careful with it," Seth warned, hovering close behind. "It may belong to you eventually, but until then, it remains the greatest treasure of the Red Crowns."
The Wanderer reached out, his hand hovering over the hilt for a brief second before his fingers wrapped around the grip.
Suddenly, the blade ignited in flames.
The eyepatch covering his left eye tore away as the Spiral flared, its raw energy reaching out to latch onto the crimson steel.
Seth was hurled backward by the sudden pressure wave, terror all over his face.
Then, time slowed down till it stopped.
Seth hung suspended midair, frozen in the surge.
In the blink of an eye, the vault dissolved, and the world around the Wanderer shifted.
He stepped into that ethereal realm once more.
The Wanderer looked around the strange energy surrounding him, carefully trying to touch it.
"So, you found the second blade."
The Wanderer spun around to find Warden 604 standing in the expanse before him.
"Wasn't easy," the Wanderer said.
604 studied him. "How is the world outside? How is Avaris?"
The Wanderer quickly summarized the state of the realm.
604 listened, a solemn look settling over his face. "Hmm... so the Beyonder kept his word and let my lineage endure. But he found a way to turn it into their own personal hell."
The space around them began to fracture, cracks of light spiderwebbing through the void.
"Quickly," the Wanderer urged, taking a step forward. "I have a question. Do you know how to shatter the Nullstones without being anywhere near them?"
604's form flickered, his voice distorting. "What... what are you trying to do?"
The realm trembled, whole chunks of energy breaking away into the dark. "I don't have time to explain!" the Wanderer barked. "Tell me what you know!"
"I forged the Nullstones as a shield against the Beyonder's forces," 604 said through the rising noise. "Though they proved little more than a delay against him."
"What happens when one takes in more mana than it can hold?" the Wanderer pressed hastily.
604 shrugged, his silhouette fading. "It malfunctions. It disperses the excess outward... everywhere."
The space gave way entirely.
604 lunged forward, grabbing the Wanderer by the shoulders. "You must find the last blade! It is your only chance to defeat the Beyonder-"
Just as suddenly as he had been pulled into the void, the Wanderer was thrown back into reality.
Time snapped forward. Seth crashed against the floor as a pillar of raw energy erupted from Judgment, punching through the vault ceiling and launching high into the night sky.
The Wanderer collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air as the light subsided.
Seth scrambled backward, staring in horror. "What kind of sorcery is that?! Judgment has never done anything like this!"
The Wanderer forced himself up, picked up the crimson sword, and shoved it into Seth’s chest.
"Your grandfather says hello."