Chapter 169: East Anekta Crisis (8)

Eden slowly straightened.

"You’re really going to keep doing this?"

"You’re the one who attacked my subordinates."

"Your subordinates are no better than those terrorists."

"Shut up."

She took another step.

Eden tightened his grip on his sword.

’Damn it.’

He was beginning to consider whether he should simply incapacitate her and deal with the consequences afterward. It would be difficult, but not impossible if he stopped worrying about the building.

Before he could make a decision, another presence entered the room.

A familiar voice followed.

"Ember."

She stopped.

Eden’s eyes shifted past her.

Leonard stood behind her, his blonde hair slightly disheveled and his expression unusually pleasant.

"Finally found you."

Ember glanced over her shoulder.

"Leonard? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

He approached casually, a golden sword resting in his hand.

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

Something was wrong.

Leonard’s smile was different from the one he had worn earlier. There was no pretense of courtesy left in it. No attempt to hide his irritation or jealousy.

Ember seemed not to notice.

"Good. Then help me deal with this bastard. He’s accusing our people of betraying us."

Leonard stopped behind her.

"Is that so?"

"Apparently, he thinks the members of Blue Crest are responsible for the attack."

Leonard looked toward Eden.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, his smile widened.

Then he moved.

The golden sword pierced Ember’s stomach from behind.

Her eyes widened.

A strangled gasp escaped her as she looked down at the blade protruding from her abdomen. Blood spilled across her clothes, and the purple flames surrounding her body flickered violently.

"...Leonard?"

He leaned closer.

"Thank you for keeping him occupied."

Ember tried to turn around, but the pain made her movements sluggish.

"What... are you doing?"

Leonard withdrew his sword.

Blood sprayed across the floor.

He stepped back and kicked her across the room. Ember crashed into a row of cabinets, destroying them as she fell among the scattered merchandise.

Eden’s expression darkened.

"You—!"

He moved forward, but golden chains erupted from the floor.

[Malevolent Chains]

Leonard raised his free hand.

The chains surged toward Eden from every direction, wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso. Their golden surfaces glowed with Essence as they tightened, restricting his movements.

Eden immediately tried to break free.

The chains held.

Leonard smiled.

"Now, where were we?"

He pulled his hand backward.

The chains yanked Eden off his feet and hurled him toward the window.

The glass shattered.

Eden was thrown out of the skyscraper.

The night air rushed past him.

For a brief moment, there was nothing beneath his feet but open space.

Eden twisted his body, struggling against the golden chains that held him. They were far more durable than ordinary restraints, and every movement seemed to make them tighten further.

’Damn it!’

He poured Essence into his arms, attempting to tear them apart.

The chains resisted.

Then Leonard appeared above him.

He had jumped from the building.

His golden sword was still in his hand, and his expression was almost delighted.

"Enjoying the view?!"

Eden barely had time to turn his head.

Leonard kicked him across the face.

The impact sent him flying sideways, straight toward the second storage skyscraper.

Eden crashed through its outer wall, tearing through glass and concrete before finally smashing into an interior support structure. The building shuddered around him.

He landed on the floor in a cloud of dust.

The chains loosened slightly as he struggled to his feet.

Then they snapped.

Eden tore through the remaining restraints and immediately looked toward the opening he had created.

Leonard descended through the broken wall, landing several meters away.

Eden didn’t hesitate.

[Malicious Spirit]

His spiritual pressure erupted.

The surrounding air compressed beneath the overwhelming force of his killing intent. The floor cracked, and loose debris scattered across the room as the pressure surged toward Leonard.

But the golden chains appeared again.

They formed a dense barrier around Leonard’s body, twisting together in several layers. Eden’s Malicious Spirit collided with them.

The chains glowed.

Then the pressure simply vanished.

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’What?’

Leonard lowered his hand, looking almost bored.

"That’s a nasty little trick."

Eden stared at the chains.

He didn’t know the exact mechanics of Malevolent Chains, but their reaction suggested that they were capable of absorbing or neutralizing certain effects. Perhaps they could absorb buffs and debuffs, or even interfere with the Essence used to maintain them.

Whatever the case, Malicious Spirit had failed.

And Leonard was an S-Rank.

More importantly, he had just stabbed his own leader in the back without hesitation.

Eden couldn’t afford to underestimate him.

Leonard tilted his head.

"Something wrong?"

Eden didn’t answer.

His gaze shifted briefly toward the distant hotel, then toward the direction of the warp gate.

He had a bad feeling.

A very bad one.

There was no guarantee Lucy and Vespera had reached the transportation facility safely. If the attack had been coordinated across the island, the warp gate would undoubtedly be a target.

He couldn’t waste time wondering.

Eden summoned Obsidian.

Black Dark Matter gathered beside him, forming the familiar armored knight. The Retainer materialized with his weapon in hand, immediately taking a defensive stance.

"Obsidian."

Eden kept his eyes on Leonard.

"Find Lucy and Vespera. They’re supposed to be heading for the warp gate. Get to them and protect them."

Obsidian remained still for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Go."

The Black Knight didn’t hesitate and jumped down the skyscraper.

Leonard watched the exchange with amusement.

"Sending your little bodyguard away? That’s rather unfortunate."

Eden’s expression remained cold.

"I don’t need him for you."

Leonard laughed.

"Really?"

Eden’s scales began spreading further across his body.

[Blackout: 30%]

He poured more Essence into Ferocious Evolution.

[Blackout: 40%]

[Blackout: 50%]

[Blackout: 60%]

The black scales grew thicker, extending across his chest and shoulders. His body became heavier with power, and the pressure surrounding him intensified until the floor beneath his feet began to crack.

He raised his Dark Matter blade.

Leonard’s smile faded slightly.

For the first time, he seemed to recognize that the young Awakened standing before him wasn’t someone he could dismiss as an inexperienced upstart.

Eden’s eyes remained fixed on him.

"Now..."

His grip tightened.

"Let’s see how strong you really are."

Leonard raised his golden sword.

Golden chains began emerging from the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, filling the space around him.

"Gladly."