A silver blade drove into Mordiana's back, piercing straight through her heart. With merciless force, Linen twisted the sword, tearing flesh apart.
For an ordinary person, this strike alone would mean instant collapse, losing all ability to fight. But Linen knew well—this seemingly fragile, trembling woman wouldn't be brought down by mere blood loss or mangled organs.
The blade's cruel twist wasn't meant to deepen the wound, but to maximize contact area. In an instant, divine power surged forth from the Moon Goddess's blessing, condensing into a silvery liquid reminiscent of molten consecrated mithril, flooding violently into Mordiana's body through the blood-soaked blade.
After impaling Mordiana's with a dragon's might, Linen had finally flooded the Ring-bearer herself with his silver fluid!
"Cough…cough… Again… It's you, Linen Norton!"
The recently proud Mordiana coughed violently, silver blood splattering from her lips. Her bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the blade protruding through her chest.
Yes—Mordiana had been backstabbed again.
A mere Three-Ring Arcana Mage had actually landed a successful sneak attack on the Tower of Chronomancy's distinguished Ring-bearer.
It was a scenario absurd enough to make anyone with common sense about Arcana burst out laughing, yet here it was, undeniably real.
There could be countless reasons—Linen lying patiently in ambush, Mordiana's relaxation after escaping danger, interference from the Moon Goddess's blessing on spatial abilities, or even the severe aftereffects of her own forbidden arts.
But whatever the excuses, reality was clear:
This wasn't Reinhardt, patiently enduring humiliation, biding his time, painstakingly plotting for a decisive strike. The one who drove the blade home was Linen.
Humiliation flooded Mordiana like a tidal wave, turning the proud Ring-bearer's face a furious scarlet.
The greatest master of Space Arcana had actually been ambushed in rapid succession—and worse, the second attacker who'd successfully backstabbed her was merely a pathetic, insignificant Three-Ring mage she wouldn't normally spare a glance!
To Linen, landing this blow was an incredible feat, a miracle—but for Mordiana, it was humiliation incarnate. It was a stain she could never wash clean, a nightmare she'd retch over every midnight for the rest of her long life.
There was only one way to end this nightmare—by watching Linen writhe in agony, abandoning all dignity to kiss her feet, begging for the mercy of death. Only when she finally crushed his skull beneath her heel could this humiliation end!
From the wound around the blade, writhing shadows erupted like countless serpents, swiftly climbing the sword toward Linen's arm. Forced to react, Linen swiftly withdrew the sword, halting the infusion of divine power.
What's going on? Linen wondered silently.
Although he knew simple physical damage wouldn't truly hurt Mordiana, the bizarre sight still made him frown.
This wasn't like the substitute creatures she'd used when his mother attacked or Reinhardt attempted an assassination, transferring fatal injuries onto a prepared scapegoat. Instead, it was as if the injury he had just inflicted never existed at all.
—Don't panic. It's merely a variation of the Shadow Arcana, Lily's voice reassured him, the heroic spirit's extensive experience proving invaluable once again.
—She's teleported the damaged parts of her body into the Shadow Realm. It's a common trick among Shadow Arcana Mages—making attackers believe they're fighting a monster without physical substance.
What?! That's practically cheating! Linen scowled.
It basically rendered all physical attacks meaningless!
Mordiana wasn't bluffing—she was genuinely terrifying. This ability to phase through physical damage was an absolute nightmare for knights who relied on brute strength.
Without his mother's [Yellow King's blessing], capable of nullifying even more absurd abilities, not even Empress Tivira or Reinhardt would have an easy time dealing with Mordiana.
What about the Moon Goddess's divine power I just infused?
—That won't vanish…but be careful—her aura's changing
Lily's tone grew grave.
During their brief exchange, Mordiana had already stumbled backward, breathing raggedly. Whirling around, she fixed Linen with a venomous glare, ignoring the Moon Goddess's divine energy relentlessly eroding her from within. She gathered mana once more, her voice dripping malice:
"I've changed my mind, little prince of Zijinghua. Your miraculous abilities no longer interest me. Now, I simply want you dead—I want you drowning in regret for humiliating me today."
Immediately after delivering this vicious threat, the proud Ring-bearer promptly dove headfirst into a portal she'd opened.
Lily: "…"
"She…ran away?!" the heroic spirit's voice trembled slightly. Evidently, even to the famously straightforward first emperor, it was jarring to see someone make such ruthless threats and then immediately flee.
Linen, however, didn't seem surprised at all.
"She's just making the smartest choice available."
A normal Fifth-Ring Mage might not pose a threat to Linen, loaded with all his current buffs, but Mordiana wasn't ordinary—she was a haughty Ring-bearer from the Tower of Chronomancy.
Even reduced to a Fifth-Ring after using forbidden arts, her combat experience and countless mastered spells made her incredibly dangerous.
Of course, Mordiana could kill Linen. But aiming for a swift, guaranteed kill would've been dangerously overconfident.
The moment Linen drew the battle into a prolonged exchange, the massive surge of mana would undoubtedly alert others within the castle.
And his mother and Reinhardt were still here.
Although the city-class barrier currently isolated everyone, keeping both sides unaware of each other, there was always a chance Empress Tivira might sense something amiss and drop the barrier. If that happened, both would instantly detect Mordiana's presence.
Even at full Eight-Ring strength in the great hall, Mordiana wouldn't fare well fighting both Tivira and Reinhardt simultaneously—let alone now, weakened by Forbidden Arcana.
Two peak Eight-Ring Grand Knights would crush her as effortlessly as squashing an insect.
"So, are we really going to just let her escape?"
The sword quivered, Lily's voice filled with unwillingness.
Even in her own time, Tower Ring-bearers had been immensely dangerous foes. As the founder of Zijinghua, she'd frequently crossed blades with these ambitious Arcana mages.
All the plotting, scheming, and cost—just to chase Mordiana away?
Though inspiring if spread as rumor, Mordiana would undoubtedly retaliate furiously later. Neither as the heroic spirit bound to Linen nor as a former emperor could Lily accept such an outcome.
"Heh, of course not," Linen chuckled softly. "Relax, Lily—I promised someone I wouldn't let that Ring-bearer leave alive."
Lily followed Linen's gaze downward, toward the silvery heroic spirit sword transformed fully by the Moon Goddess's divine power.
"You know, the three gods' blessings really have surprised me. Each has unique traits. Want to hear what I've learned?"
Lily shook her head.
As Zijinghua's first emperor, she'd established the empire's policy against worshipping gods herself. Naturally, she'd never bothered studying such powers, leaving Linen to discover their nuances himself. Thankfully, with the Cardinals' full assistance, he'd adapted quickly.
"If I had to describe them metaphorically—Earth Mother God's power feels like a gentle big sister who pampers everyone without condition. No matter how I exploit her strength, she complies instantly, helping quickly recover injuries."
"Holy Light God's power resembles a proud, lively, wealthy heiress. Despite having the richest reserves, she resists my call every time—though she ultimately gives in obediently. Her power also synergizes perfectly with your heroic-spirit sword form, possessing the strongest purifying force."
"And the Moon Goddess? Among the three, she holds the most abstract, conceptual domain. Her divine energy behaves like a mischievous, cunning ghost lady—despite her benevolence, her nature is capricious. It took me some time to figure out her true effect."
Though not a believer himself, Linen's basic knowledge helped him quickly grasp the Moon Goddess's power.
"Her domain involves 'returning' and 'guiding' souls. Silver is her divine energy's color, the same as the color of space."
"You understand what I mean, Lily?"
Lily nodded seriously. "You really like older sisters, huh?"
"..."
"Just kidding. Actually, I don't fully grasp it, but…let me guess—the Moon Goddess's divine power can affect Spatial Arcana?"
"Divine power isn't that simple," Linen explained softly. "Rather than space, I'd call it influencing 'fate.'"
"While her purification can't match Holy Light's, nor can she heal like Earth Mother, her energy is incredibly persistent once attached. Those influenced by my Moon Goddess energy are inevitably drawn to people closely bound to my fate."
A cunning gleam flashed through Linen's eyes.
"Now—guess who in this castle is most tightly bound to my fate?"
...
Mordiana stumbled out of the portal in a sorry state. Quickly scanning her surroundings, her expression darkened.
"Damn it, another spatial misfire? Why am I still in this cursed castle?"
She had ended up at the bottom of a fortified gatehouse within the castle's defensive structures. Surrounded by towering walls, it was designed to trap invaders who breached the outer gate, allowing defenders to rain arrows and stones down upon them—a lethal killing ground.
Normally, Mordiana wouldn't spare this setup a second thought. But now, assessing her dwindling mana reserves and the perilous surroundings, unease gripped her heart. She laughed bitterly at her own predicament.
"Hahaha… what a dreadful spot. If Linen Norton stabbed me here, I'd actually be in trouble…"
"I don't know why my brother stabbed you," came a crisp voice from above, "but from the way you speak, you must be his enemy."
Mordiana jerked her head upward.
Backlit by the sun stood a girl in sharp military attire, casually resting one foot on the battlements, an Invisible Sword slung over her shoulder. At her side stood a dozen bare-chested soldiers, each gripping a preheated Linen-model Maxim heavy artifact.
Yet neither the girl nor her heavily-armed soldiers alarmed Mordiana as much as the tall, elderly figure standing just behind Novie, hands clasped reverently as he prayed to the Earth Mother God.
"A… Cardinal?! Why the hell is one here!"
"Fire. Don't let her escape," Novie commanded coldly.
"Damn it!"
Mordiana snarled, swiftly conjuring another portal. As she stepped through, she finally escaped the battlements—only to reappear inside yet another room within the castle itself.
At the far end of a long table sat a frail-looking girl with chestnut hair, blinking innocently as their eyes met.
"Another Third-Ring Mage?" Mordiana sneered dismissively. "Whose family are you—"
She stopped abruptly, sensing arcane fluctuations behind the girl. Mordiana waved her hand sharply, shattering the illusion. Immediately, another dozen soldiers appeared, each brandishing their own Maxim heavy artifact. Behind them stood Cardinal Moden of the Moon Church, smiling smugly.
"Another Cardinal?!"
Mordiana's expression twisted grotesquely.
"Heh, cleaning up messes is our Moon Church's specialty!" Moden gloated shamelessly. "Aim properly and blast her!"
"I'll remember this!" Mordiana hissed through clenched teeth, opening a third portal. This time, before stepping out, she cautiously peeked through first.
And found herself face-to-face with a crimson-eyed girl, staring curiously back through the portal.
Princess Hysteria blinked, confused at first, before realization struck.
Linen and Ellie had both instructed her on exactly what to do in situations like this.
Unexpected intruders mean enemies.
Enemies—screw them up!
Enemies—blast first, questions never!
Two fireballs flared in her palms, promptly smearing Mordiana's face.
Not particularly damaging—but definitely humiliating.
"You little—"
Mordiana choked back her rage, eyes widening instead as she noticed the figure behind Hysteria. A face she knew painfully well.
"It's been a long time, Shadow Queen," the old Cardinal's voice trembled with suppressed anger, holy flames blazing in his gaze. "I believe we have some unfinished business regarding your past ambush."
Cardinal Eris of the Church of Holy Light!
Dazzling holy power surged along the Cardinal's arm, reaching directly into the portal as if ready to drag Mordiana out forcibly.
Escape—now!
This time, Mordiana practically rolled out of the portal in panic, crashing gracelessly onto the ground. As she lifted her grimy face, she realized with dread that her surroundings were painfully familiar.
In front of her sat Linen Norton, lounging on a chair he'd pulled from somewhere, legs casually crossed, one elbow resting elegantly as he leaned back with eyes gently closed, basking leisurely in the sunlight.
"Oh?" Linen slowly opened his eyes, smiling serenely at the Shadow Queen sprawled pathetically at his feet. "So you decided to come back and challenge me after all, Mordiana?"
At that moment, even Lily, standing just behind Linen, couldn't quite figure out—
Who exactly was the challenger here…
And who was the real boss?
---
T/N: ummm idk honestly i feel like i got a lot of things wrong, or inconsistent with previous chapters but honestlyyyy ya gotta live with it.... unless u comment here (PATREON) sorry webnovel users but i barely if ever read comments
oh its one more chapter after this
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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