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Fox exchanged a glance with Axe. They didn’t recognize this man, and his Arcane Path remained a mystery. Nonetheless, they knew that the man was an Arcanist…

Caution was warranted since he might even be a worshipper of the Eminence of the Sea.

“We can’t tell you where we are going…” Fox replied evenly. “However, what made you think that we’re to meet the Shadow Immortal?”

The man’s smile remained unwavering as he answered.

“Right… You might be suspicious of me. I’m Bael,” he said. “An Arcanist, like yourselves, and I, too, seek an audience with the Immortal. No need for undue suspicion. I just need something from the Immortal.”

Axe, ever vigilant, continued the conversation. “What can we do for you, Bael?”

The nobleman’s presence intrigued Fox. His motives remained veiled, but she sensed a deeper purpose. As the train carried them toward their destination, they decided to entertain this person to learn more about him. This was one of their tasks as secret agents of the Arcane Bureau.

After all, any suspicious people must be reported to the higher-ups.

Bael looked at the group and spoke.

“I seek an audience with the Shadow Immortal,” he said. “To request a drop of his blood.”

Jin raised an eyebrow. Everyone here was aware of precious it was. Even Jin and Giorgi glanced at the man who had joined their cabin.

“His blood? What could you possibly offer in exchange?” Axe questioned as he looked at the man. Aside from his hat and hit cane, he doesn’t seem to be carrying anything else.

Bael’s smile was enigmatic.

“A family heirloom,” he replied. “A relic passed down through generations. Its power lies beyond mere sentiment. I can’t show it to you though…”

Finally, the Time Manipulators got curious.

Giorgi leaned in. “Why the secrecy? Why not show us this heirloom?”

Bael’s gaze shifted, as if considering his words. “Some things are best revealed in due time,” he said. “Trust me—it holds a legacy that stretches back centuries.”

Fox, ever cautious, studied Bael. “And what do you intend to do with the Immortal’s blood?”

Bael hesitated. “That, too, is a secret,” he said. “But it involves a debt—one that must be repaid. I already said too much. Can you at least tell me what to expect in the Immortal’s Castle or the Forbidden Forest where it lies? I believe that it isn’t a secret…”

Axe and Fox looked at each other before they nodded. In any case, they also wanted to brief their two clients about it.

Anyway, they were just basic information to ensure that they would not offend the immortal and die without knowing the reason.

Of course, one of the things they learned was that they were not allowed to fight or destroy any androids…

The two of them listed several things, and the three nodded and made sure to remember all of them.

Since there was still plenty of time, the conversation continued, each of them shared their own motivations for meeting the Immortal.

Jin and Giorgi, despite their initial skepticism, found themselves intrigued by Bael’s cryptic tale.

After a little longer, they reached a consensus. The Time Manipulators nodded with each other.

“You may join our small group,” Jin said.

And so, with Bael now part of their journey, they prepared to continue.

Soon, the train’s wheels ground to a halt, and the passengers disembarked onto the platform of Moonshade Town.

The air here was different—a blend of pine and wood smoke, tinged with a scent of Elemental Arcane Energy.

Well, the town was nestled at the edge of the Forbidden Forest!

Bael, the enigmatic Arcanist they had met on the train, stepped onto the platform alongside Jin, Giorgi, Fox, and Axe.

His eyes seemed to be filled with curiosity as he surveyed the place.

“Shadow Immortal… We will meet soon… I really hope you’re the one I’m looking for.” Bael, the Demon Lord’s Avatar, muttered.

***

Deep within the heart of the Forbidden Forest, where ancient trees clung to every crevice, the Shadow Immortal’s castle stood.

Its spires were high and were already shrouded in mist and veiled by enchantments that defied mortal comprehension.

The castle was the fortress of an Immortal, its very stones imbued with the essence of darkness.

But today, the castle was in turmoil.

It was now filled with tension, and the Immortal’s attendants moved with urgency.

Kyle, the Shadow Immortal himself, paced the obsidian halls. His eyes, as dark as the abyss, held a storm of emotions—rage, curiosity, and a hint of fear.

Just a while ago, the thrall had arrived. It was Lisa’s messenger and its form was already starting to collapse when it reached the castle…

However, with its eyes glowing in crimson, its voice echoed through the castle’s corridors.

“Lisa is dead,” it intoned its words like shards of ice. “The Vampire has fallen.”

Kyle’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

Lisa—the half-immortal, the one with his Divine Blood—had been one of his loyal companions and friend…

After she obtained the Vampiric Bloodline Orb and transformed into a True Vampire, she trained a lot until her vampiric abilities became unparalleled and her cunning unmatched.

With his help, she had danced on the edge of immortality as her existence was already a defiance of the natural order.

And now she was gone.

But how? Who had dared to challenge her?

The Immortal’s mind raced. Lisa’s death was no ordinary event. It was a seismic shift in the balance of power…

Even if she faced the Half-Immortals of the Arcane Bureau, or even the Merlin, she would definitely not die with her abilities.

Farah, the Fortune Goddess, had also promised him that her side would remain quiet for now. It means that the killer should not be her Holy Saint.

‘Is it the Demon Lord? But how did he fail to notice this thrall’s presence?’ Kyle mused.

Anyway, he felt truly disturbed by the news. He couldn’t understand how Lisa had failed to escape if she had found herself in danger.

Lisa’s escape abilities—the Blood Mist, the swarm of bats—had been legendary.

If she really could not escape, she would definitely last for a long time if she battled. After all, her Vampiric Spells could replenish her lifeforce and defy death itself.

Kyle could only lean on the nearby pillar and sighed.

Whoever had defeated her was no ordinary adversary.

Anyway, Kyle’s decision was swift.

He sent one of his Avatars and two of his Immortal Soldiers to investigate where Lisa had fallen. He actually wanted to go by himself, but he was warned by the two Dragons who were listening to him.

Well, since Lisa was killed just like that, and the thrall had actually arrived to send the message, they couldn’t help but think that there might be a trap. It was better to stay in the castle for now.

It was reasonable, and he could only agree.

However, Kyle’s eyes burned.

He was prepared to go to war if he knew who the killer was.

And so, the Immortal’s castle buzzed with activity. The Avatar and the Soldiers departed, their forms dissolving into shadow.

The others also started contacting the nearby informants to understand what happened to the King and get a report directly from the witnesses.

Soon, their contacts with the merchant organizations, Arcane Bureau, Church of the Lord of the Secrets, and the spies of the Millton Kingdom were used to gather information!

***

Meanwhile, far away from the chaos in the central continent…

Deep within the ocean depths, where light dared not penetrate, and pressure crushed the feeble, the ocean floor stirred.

The very fabric of reality quivered as ancient forces converged.

The remnant worshippers of the Church of the Eminence of the Sea, with their unwavering faith, had gathered in secret—a clandestine congregation of zealots who sought communion with their deity!

Halvor, the Eminence of the Sea, was no ordinary god.

His dominion extended beyond the waves, touching every ship’s hull, every sailor’s prayer. His wrath could summon tempests, and his favor could part the seas.

But today, the remaining worshippers sought more than mere blessings. They sought to summon him as per the revelation from one of their priests!

Soon, the ritual began.

It was a symphony of chants, together with their sacrifice.

The worshippers recited in ancient language, but they had practiced this for a long time and they wouldn’t make a mistake!

They traced sigils on the ocean floor, their fingers leaving glowing trails. The currents responded, swirling around them, carrying their devotion to unseen realms.

Soon, a path for Halvor to use had started to open.

The water trembled. The very sea floor cracked, revealing a chasm—a portal to realms beyond. Halvor’s form materialized—

a titan of scales and foam with eyes like fathomless whirlpools.

His presence was a tempest, a tidal surge that threatened to engulf even his followers.

The worshippers knelt, their eyes wide with awe and fear.

Soon, Halvor’s voice echoed through the worshippers’ minds… 𝑓𝘳𝔀𝑜𝓋.𝘤𝘰

“You have done well.”