Chapter 93: Those who want peace procure it by force

Since time immemorial, Pandora’s Box, said to contain the heart of El, had held the ills of humanity. However, no one truly knew whether hope was part of those scourges, for it had never appeared during the previous eras.

Nevertheless, the danger of this artifact had never been questioned by the great powers.

Five hundred years after the end of Armageddon, Hundun had faced four mysterious individuals possessing gifts radically different from those of the Chosens. Their abilities had no connection to the Primary Senses, even though they used Chi as their source of energy.

These powers were so destructive that they were eventually named the “Evils.” The humans who controlled them were designated as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.

In that remote era, all the organizations had to unite to defeat them, and the Great Witch finally sealed their essences in Pandora’s Box. Unfortunately, centuries later, these horsemen seemed to have returned.

Unlike the Chosens, recognizable by their multi-branched star symbols, these bearers of evils displayed permanent tattoos symbolizing the torment they were meant to inflict upon the world.

One last thing remained: was hope truly different from the first four evils?

***

Kristian Snowfall Dagon pressed the flanks of his powerful white horse, which galloped at a dizzying pace along the trails of the Artucus forest.

The heir of the Sword Clan had already used his communication orb to alert the nearby patrols of Daemon’s critical situation, and the clan members stationed in the vicinity were now converging toward the Catacombs.

Meanwhile, Kristian held Katelyn Ravenna against his chest, his left hand gripping the reins firmly while his right arm encircled the young woman’s waist.

Kristian felt consumed by guilt.

‘It’s my fault that everything went wrong…,’ he thought, clenching his teeth.

He glanced briefly at Katelyn’s pale face. Daemon had intervened to allow them to escape, repaying his debt to him in a way Kristian would never have imagined.

‘I must do everything in my power to make sure she survives… I cannot let her life fade because of me.’

Even though his own energy center was on the brink of exhaustion, Kristian used the same technique Luna had practiced on Daemon. He began emitting his Chi directly into the body of his mount to strengthen its muscle fibers and increase its resistance to fatigue.

. The white horse let out a powerful neigh, its eyes glowing with a bluish light as it doubled its speed.

…

Two days later, Kristian finally reached the gates of the Spring Domain. He did not even take the time to greet the guards on duty, who hastily stepped aside upon seeing the deplorable state of their heir. He rushed toward the manor’s infirmary, carrying Katelyn in his arms.

“Call the best doctors! Right away!” he shouted.

Kristian laid her on an examination bed under the anxious gazes of the medical staff. Once certain she was in good hands, he wasted not a moment and headed for his father’s office. He climbed the stairs four at a time, his right hand resting on the hilt of his swords, and knocked loudly on the door.

“Patriarch! Kristian Snowfall Dagon has come to report!” he exclaimed.

“Enter!” replied a deep voice.

The Patriarch raised his eyes and observed his son. Kristian was in a pitiful state: his tunic was in tatters, his face marked by cuts and dust, and his body still bore the traces of Katelyn’s blood.

“You are in a bad state, my son. You should go rest before your report.”

“There is no time for rest, Patriarch! I must quickly return to Artucus to help rescue Daemon. I have come to make my official report!” retorted Kristian, performing a bow.

Dorian let out a long sigh and leaned back in his armchair, crossing his fingers over his chest. “Very well… I am listening.”

“The Spear Clan, more precisely Kellen Strain, used the pretext of Pandora’s Box to ambush us and seriously wounded Lady Ravenna. Daemon stood alone against them to cover our escape.”

Dorian remained silent for a moment. “I see… Now go rest, Kristian. That is an order.”

Kristian furrowed his brows: “Rest? Patriarch, did you not understand? The Spear Clan attempted to assassinate the heir of the Sword Clan and the daughter of House Summer!”

“Since when do you lose your composure like this?” asked Dorian, fixing his son with severity.

“I am perfectly calm!” Kristian flared up, his voice rising a notch.

“I simply think the Spear Clan needs a firm response as soon as possible.”

Dorian stood slowly.

He walked around his desk and approached his son, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “I have already received confirmation that Daemon was successfully rescued by the patrols you alerted. Katelyn was wounded, but the doctors assure me they will do their best to treat her.”

The Patriarch paused, his gaze drifting toward the window overlooking the domain’s flowering gardens. “It would not be wise to openly attack the Spear Clan at this time. That would only trigger a devastating war between the clans, which is precisely what certain actors in the shadows are waiting for to weaken us. We must act with subtlety, Kristian.”

Dorian returned to his desk, took a file, and handed it to his son.

Kristian took it.

In short, the file revealed that the Magic Clan was now in complete disarray, plunged into unprecedented political chaos. Lord Wade Blackfire, the head of the House of Fire. Although no one officially knew who had ordered this attack, the repercussions were already devastating. The elemental family of Wind had openly allied with the Spear Clan. Taking advantage of the confusion, they had already taken hostage the head of the elemental family of Earth and were exerting pressure on their allies of the elemental House of Water.

“As you can see, if the Venom Clan takes advantage of this to attack the Magic Clan, this battle will grow even larger,” declared Dorian.

“And so we are going to stay on the sidelines?” retorted Kristian.

“That is precisely why the Spear Clan looks down on us. Kellen Strain and his men believe we are afraid of them.”

Dorian straightened, a glint of severity crossing his blue eyes. “We are not afraid of them, Kristian. We are afraid of war. If you had already lived through it, you would know why I protect peace so much. Your uncle Lloyd maintained a good relationship with the second Lancer Tristan for that precise reason.”

Kristian clicked his tongue with contempt. “Both are dead, Patriarch! And it seems the Spear Clan couldn’t care less about the late Patriarch’s good relationship. If Matriarch Persephone were still present, she would take her responsibilities by painting the ground with their blood. You are neither as strong as uncle Lancelot, nor as ruthless as Persephone, and yet you think you can deter them with your mere presence?”

“Kristian! Do not be insolent!” roared Dorian, striking his desk with his fist.

Kristian looked at his father coldly. “Those who want peace procure it by force.”