“…..!”

The expressions of Campbell and the royal guards changed.

Kwaaaaah!

As soon as they saw the evil and bizarre waves of dark green, everyone could feel cold sweat drenching their backs. It felt as if the ominous energy would devour everything in the palace.

Their fear did not stem from their lack of courage. Rather, it was because the energy contained something that all humans, or any living thing, would instinctively shrink in front of. It was a force that loomed over every living being.

“Everyone, get it together!”

Someone’s voice pierced through the fear that grasped everyone’s hearts.

Paaaa!

 Today, Vincent stood not as the Raccoon Mask of Pendragon, but as a Knight of Pendragon. He was revealing his true abilities as a knight and imbuing his longsword with spirit.

“That is but a monster that feeds on fear!”

Shiing!

He stepped forward and raised his voice after a large swing of his sword.

“All humans die eventually. Death is not an object of fear, but a friend to be met someday. Life and death only rest with the will of god…”

Vincent courageously recited verses that were handed down in the Twilight Tower. Knights and soldiers of the Pendragon Duchy felt the fear gradually disappearing from their hearts as the young master of the Twilight Tower recited the enlightening words.

“Oh-hohohohoho! That is indeed true. Life and death rests in god’s hands. And…”

Serin smiled wickedly while spreading the evil green energy like a pair of giant wings. She continued in a nefarious voice.

“I am god, the goddess of death! I will be the one to decide your fate today!”

Kwararararara!

The green energy formed into giant waves and rapidly washed towards the royal guards, crossing the palace in an instant.

“Heuk!”

Campbell and the royal guards became alarmed.

Kyaaaaahk! Kikiki!

As the green waves approached them like a huge screen, all kinds of terrible figures could be seen within the waves, bursting out into evil laughter. It was the disharmonious chorus of fallen souls wandering the depths of hell.

“Ahh…”

The maids lost strength in their legs and fell down at the terrifying sight. Any living being would feel indescribable dread at the sight.

“Haaap!”

Vincent, Campbell, and Argos simultaneously took a step forward, unleashing their spirits to the fullest.

Kwaaaa!

Three different colors of spirit rose in front of the royal guards and formed a barrier. The wave of evil spirits flooded towards it.

The moment when the two forces were about to collide,

Kiyaaaaahk!

The evil spirits contained in the dark green wave suddenly stopped with a terrible spirit. It was as if they had instinctively changed directions after sensing something.

Kwaaaaaaahhh!

A cold burst of energy fiercely erupted from behind Serin and Gus Plain. The energy was as cold as the glaciers of the far north.

Fwooooosh!

Along with the burst of spirit, a single spear flew toward the two figures with a terrifying spirit. It felt as if nothing could stand in the way of the spear, that it would surely pierce through anything in its way.

“…..!”

Gus Plain jumped in front of Serin.

Thuck!

The spear contained enough power to pierce through a boulder, and it penetrated Gus Plain’s abdomen before becoming embedded in the floor.

Kiyaaaaaaaaaahkk!

A terrible sound burst out of Gus Plain’s mouth. It was hard to believe that the sound originated from a human.

Tssssssss!

Cracks started appearing from the fallen knight’s body, spreading out rapidly like spider webs. Then, green smoke began to flow from his mouth. 

“That’s…!”

Vincent narrowed his eyes. He recognized that the green smoke was the soul of Gus Plain, which had been eroded by the Queen of Death. The soul, which was colored dark green, soon became dyed white and scattered in the air. Immediately afterwards, Gus Plain’s body slowly fell forward to the ground.

Boom!

As soon as he crumpled, Isla stormed forward, under the wave of fluctuating evil spirits in the palace.

“You…!”

Serin’s eyes filled with malice.

Kiyaaaahk!

The evil spirits blocked his path with shouts containing the energy of death.

Paaaat!

In an instant, spirit rapidly expanded from Isla like velvet and entwined around his entire body. Isla jumped right into the wall of evil spirits without hesitation. 

“Keuk!”

A moan escaped through his sealed lips. The energy of the dead was a power that opposed the living. It was an extremely difficult feat for the living to face such energy. Even though he was protecting his entire figure with spirit, Isla felt a chill run down his back and he suddenly felt lethargic.

It was an overwhelmingly wicked power. Not to mention ordinary humans, even trained knights capable of handling spirit might succumb under the power and be absorbed into the group of evil spirits. To overcome it, one needed to possess powerful mental strength and a righteous heart, rather than a powerful spirit.

“Kuaaaaaaaap!”

Isla let loose a shout while focusing his mind.

Kwaaaararara!

The fully manifested spirit of the Knight King reacted to his shouts and burned fiercely. In the dark energy of the evil spirits, his body, which had been like a ship in the face of a massive storm, erupted into a blue flame.

Kyaaahhhk!

Even though they were already deceased, the evil spirits became startled by the Knight King’s spirit and faltered.

“Haaat!”

Isla did not miss the chance.

Shuack!

Isla jumped into the small gap between the evil spirits.

Fwooosh!

Spirit climbed up his arm and wrapped around Thorca.

Tung!

The spirit was stuck in the floor of the palace, but it responded to the spirit of its master and shot into his hand.

“Suuuappp!”

Inhaling a sharp breath, he used the momentum of the spear and rotated his body, throwing himself forward.

Rumbleeee!

Like a lightning falling on a mountain peak, Thorca howled and shot forward like a streak of light. There stood a woman who was loved by the Knight King of Valvas, although for a short while. She was now a witch possessing domain over death.

Fwoooosh!

As the tip of the spear neared her left chest with a frightening power seemingly capable of piercing through anything, there was a subtle change in Serin’s expression, and she whispered.

“Sir Isla.”

It was a small voice that only he could hear. However, the moment he heard her words, he recalled the shy but calm face of Serin, who called out to him at the monastery.

“…..!”

Thorca’s tip trembled ever so slightly. Only Isla and Serin, who stood in front of the spear, recognized the faint shift.

Thud!

The spear bore into her chest.

Kiyyaaahhhhk!

The evil spirits ran rampant while screaming painfully, then scattered in the air after turning into blue dust. And as if time had stopped, Isla remained motionless while embracing Serin. The tip of Thorca could be seen coming out of her back, and the thread-like spirit gradually dissipated into thin air.

“I am… sorry…”

Isla spoke in a small, trembling voice that only Serin could hear. The man was forced to kill a woman he planned his future with, a woman he loved. Serin barely managed a whisper.

“Thank… you…”

A quiet voice resounded in his ears.

Something warm flowed down Isla’s face and landed on her shoulder. It was a stream dyed crimson – tears darker than blood. But no one gathered in the palace could see his red tears.

“…..!”

They could not find words to say. They could only see Isla’s wide back, the spear jutting out of Serin’s back, and the gray face of Serin Reiner.

Her expression suddenly changed.

It was impossible to tell whether she was crying or smiling. The moment she took on a mysterious expression, one of the countless people flinched and shouted.

“Sir Isla! Watch ou…!”

Kyahahahahahaha!

A wicked laugh swallowed Vincent’s shouts. Simultaneously, Serin’s grey eyes turned dark green, which was even murkier than before.

Crackk!

“…..!”

Isla’s figure heaved along with an unpleasant sound. He slowly lowered his gaze, which was filled with disbelief. Serin’s arm was embedded in his chest.

The gazes of the gathered headed towards the blood-stained hand that appeared through Isla’s back.

“Sir Isla!”

Vincent exploded forward while shouting desperately.

Thud!

Serin withdrew her arm out of Isla’s chest, then flew backwards.

“Oh-hohohohohoho! Oh-hohohoho!”

Fwoooosh!

She rose into the air while emitting dark green flames from her body.

“One of the three has died. But I still remain two, and Pendragon can only kill one of the two. And that will be the blessing of death for Pendragon. Hoho! Oh-hohohoho!”

The witch uttered in a voice containing evil energy, then flew out of the broken doors.

“Oh-hohohohohoho…!”

The Queen of Death disappeared into the distant skies, leaving behind only the echoes of her laughter.

“…..!”

Vincent’s eyes widened with shock. He was the only one who understood the true meaning of the witch’s words. At the same time, the body of the man, who was both the King of Valvas and a knight of Pendragon, slowly lurched forward.

“Sir Isla!”

Vincent took Isla into his arms.

Isla’s eyes were devoid of energy, and blood poured out of his mouth and the large hole in his chest. His fluttering eyes turned towards Vincent.

“Tell the lord… I… sorry…”

He attempted to convey a message, but his voice was but a whisper.

“No! This cannot be!”

Vincent screamed and desperately pressed his hands on Isla’s chest.

“Sir Isla!”

“Ahhh!”

The others caught up and flocked to the two men.

“Sir Isla! Sir Isla!”

Even Elena knelt down and held his hand while shedding tears.

“My… mistake… Take care…. of the lord…”

“No! Together, you have to protect the lord and revive the Pendragon Duchy with me!”

Vincent shouted as tears flowed down his cheeks.

The unshakeable composure of a Twilight Tower’s master collapsed completely as he faced the death of a comrade, a knight who served the same master and shared the same goal. Isla struggled to shake his head, then shifted his gaze to the ceiling. 

The symbol of the Pendragon Duchy came into view, carved into the middle of the ceiling, and a pale light glimmered in his dark blue eyes.

“I swear… In the land… of Pendragon… protected by the White Dragon…”

The knight of Pendragon recited as he neared the end of his life, blood soaking his pale lips. It was the oath of the White Dragon, the same oath he recited when he first swore allegiance to his lord.

“My sword… and my wings… will always serve Pendragon… and…”

“Keugh!”

Everyone’s eyes were filled with tears as the true knight recited the pledge with difficulty, with all his might.

“My sou… will remain… on the land of Pendragon… Until my body… collapses… I… Elkin Isla… will keep my pledge… with eternal… loyalty…”

With the last word, the light finally faded from Isla’s eyes.

Elkin Isla’s soul departed his body and permeated the land of Pendragon. 

“Sir Islaaa!”

The name of the man echoed in the ruins of Conrad Castle’s palace. He lived as a hero and a legend, but most importantly, he lived until the end as a Knight of Pendragon, and not as the Knight King of Valvas.

*** 

“…..!”

Raven’s eyes widened with alarm. He was riding on Soldrake’s long neck while facing strong winds. 

What could it be? It was a stinging sensation at the back of his neck, as if something had been severed from him.

[Ray.]

Soldrake called out. As Raven’s soul companion, the sensation had been conveyed to her as well.

“Sol, did you feel that as well? What was it?”

Raven asked in an urgent voice, but Soldrake did not answer right away. After a while, she replied.

[The child with the griffon’s blood has died.]

“…..!”

Raven’s quivering pupils suddenly stopped.

“El…kin…?”

He spoke the word while trembling.

However, the tremor quickly erupted into incomparable anger.

“Kuaaaaaaaaaghhhhhh!!!”

The duke’s forlorn cry pierced through the winds and rang high in the sky.