This grayish-white, frozen world was a scene Roel had seen numerous times before.

The blooming flowers out in the sky garden had their beauty locked in time, and the little bird flying past the window had halted in place. It was as if the world had transformed into an old monochrome photograph.

The only thing that was different this time around was that the world wasnt inverted.

However, what truly shocked Roel was the towering black silhouette standing next to his bed. He was dressed in a black robe and shrouded in thick black miasma. A bizarre white mask obscured his facial features. However, there was something more sinister underlying his looks.

With his keen eyes, Roel could tell that the white mask was made out of bones and the black robe comprised deceased spirits, as evidenced by the blood-curdling cries coming from it.

What the hell is this?

Such a question naturally arose in Roels mind.

There was not a sliver of doubt in his mind that such an existence shouldnt have appeared before him inside the Moonsoul Tower, especially not with such overwhelming murderous intent that made ones blood turn cold.

!

Roels sharp senses as a high transcendent immediately alerted him to the imminent danger. Before he could fully process what had happened, he had already released a huge amount of frost aura while charging toward the bedroom door.

The black silhouette was caught off guard by the sudden flood of frost aura, clearly not having expected Roel to react that quickly.

Roel made use of this opening to flee to the living room. His room was located on the upper floors of the Moonsoul Tower, which was at least a thousand meters away from the ground, so he would only be cornering himself if he escaped to the sky garden. Thus, he could only head into the tower to seek help.

While he had managed to escape from his bedroom, he couldnt shake off the ominous feeling in his heart. The subsequent events proved that his worries werent unfounded.

His guards, who would have charged in as soon as they noticed any unnatural movements, were nowhere to be seen at all. The living room was completely silent except for the cracking ice sounds behind him that resulted from the frost aura.

Traitor, what are you looking for?

!

Roels eyes narrowed when he heard those words. He turned around and saw the black silhouette clad in deceased spirits slowly making his way over.

This is impossible! I blasted his face with my frost aura at near point blank! Not even gods could be unfazed by that! N-no, thats not right!

Looking at the black silhouettes blurred outlines and hearing the ghastly wails of the deceased spirits, Roel clenched his fists as he finally understood how the other party was able to shrug off his frost aura.

His Glacial Touch had successfully inflicted damage on the black silhouette, but the damage had been transferred away to the wailing deceased spirits. It turned out that they werent just for show; they were tools that served both offensive and defensive purposes.

Knowing that his opponent was much stronger than he had thought, Roel frantically channeled the limited mana he had at his disposal to break through the Mother Goddess seal.

What am I looking for? Nothing. I just wanted to find an open place to chat. Your stench was too much for me to bear.

Roel pulled over a chair and settled snugly into it before assessing the black silhouette before him with lips curled in interest. His confident demeanor prompted the black silhouette to halt his footsteps.

As I expected.

Clarity slowly returned to Roels mind as he gained a better idea of how he should carry himself.

He wasnt just putting on one last show of bravado so that he could pass away with a bang. Rather, it was because he knew he was not just Roel Ascart right now but the Kingmaker too, an existence second only to Sia Herself. Even those who sought to kill him would at least listen to his words due to his immense reputation.

And what he needed right now was time.

Although Roel had made no prior attempts to undermine the Mother Goddess seal, he had thoroughly studied it in case he ever needed to breach it. The seal comprised three levels, with each subsequent level becoming increasingly difficult to breach. They capped his strength at Origin Level 5, Origin Level 4, and Origin Level 3 respectively.

He had breached the first level of the seal as soon as he discovered the enemy, which allowed him to blast the latter with his frost aura, but that was far from enough. The only sliver of hope he had in surviving this ordeal was to stall the enemy till he breached the remaining two seals so that he could struggle with all his might.

Admittedly, he was unlikely to be a match for the black silhouette even if he breached the two remaining sealssomeone who had the power to stop time couldnt be a pushover. Even so, he wasnt willing to give up without fighting back with everything he had.

Having made up his mind, he finally calmed down altogether.

Are you afraid of me? You should already know that my powers have been sealed off or are you still afraid of me despite that?

What a joke.

There was a moment of silence before the black silhouette responded to Roels contemptuous remark. He raised his head and scoffed. 24062

What is it that you want to say, traitor?

Traitor? What a repulsive label youre putting on me. Did that fellow not teach you manners? Why dont you tell me who I have betrayed, then? Roel replied with a disdainful frown.

As powerful as the black silhouette was, he wasnt the mastermind behind this assassination. The true mastermind wouldnt have done something as risky as personally sneaking into the Moonsoul Tower to assassinate him.

Roel had no idea who was behind this assassination, but he figured that he could probe the black silhouette for more information while riling the latter up to stall for time, thus striking two birds with one stone.

Indeed, the black silhouette fell silent after hearing Roels words. Moments passed before he answered with a noticeably deeper voice.

You betrayed my master. You should know better than anyone who He is.

Watch your words. I am a captive here. Do you think that I, the Kingmaker, would turn my back on my allies? Roel growled with a menacing tone.

Despite his forceful response, his heart sank as he could only think of one possibility as to who the mastermind behind the assassination was: the Savior. To verify that, he took a short pause before continuing on.

War is looming. The Mother Goddess has led Her army to the eastern frontlines, yet I continue to remain here. Does this not make my intention sufficiently clear?

Your choice to stay here doesnt prove that you have rejected Her. I feel it. You are wavering. The black silhouette shook his head. The deceased spirits wrapped around him laughed as if they were expressing his emotions on his behalf. Our great Savior saw through your facade and sent me here. You flared your hostility upon sight of me, yet you express not the slightest dissatisfaction toward those high elves watching you. Tell me why that is so.

They dont seek to kill me. You do.