In the blink of an eye, Arin Solara vanished, reappearing effortlessly outside the reach of Kairo Tenel's most powerful attack.
The darkness that had engulfed the battlefield now meant nothing—Kairo had unleashed his ultimate technique, yet his target had simply escaped.
Watching from a distance, Selene Yadomaru's lips curved into a subtle smile.
"You truly have an impressive ability," she murmured.
Before anyone could react, she disappeared. Moments later, Selene materialized directly in front of Arin, her hand poised with lethal precision.
"Seal of Desolation—No Incantation!"
A colossal surge of astral energy erupted, distorting the very fabric of the surrounding space. The overwhelming force of Selene's technique twisted reality itself, forming a black barrier around Arin. Within it, high-density astral particles swirled violently, shredding the air with raw, destructive power.
Watching this unfold, Kaelis Shunrei's jaw tightened. A flicker of alarm shone beneath his calm exterior.
"Selene… this is beyond anything we've ever seen," he muttered.
Tala Maren, equally tense, frowned. "A mere vice-captain casting the Seal of Desolation without preparation… her astral energy is off the charts."
Even the master of dimensional manipulation, Commander Rokan, could sense the oppressive might.
"Just how much power is she hiding?" he whispered.
As the black barrier began to compress, Selene let out a small, almost bored sigh.
"Admirable, truly—but I have no more time to waste here." Her tone was casual, indifferent.
"Tenel. Yadomaru. We leave."
Without glancing back at the struggling captains and vice-captains, she turned and walked away. Tenel followed silently. Yadomaru lingered for a moment, eyes flicking toward the trapped Arin.
"Should we ensure he's truly finished?" Yadomaru's voice was sharp, predatory.
Selene's words drifted back over her shoulder, calm and chilling:
"If the Dominion were filled with mediocrity, this world would be far too dull. When I ascend to the Astral Throne, only those worthy will remain beneath me."
A low, amused chuckle echoed behind her, and Yadomaru finally followed. Their silhouettes melted into the night, vanishing from sight.
Yet, Arin Solara did not reappear. He had remained hidden, silent and unseen. The truth was simple—tonight wasn't about fighting Selene. It was about measuring the level of power he would face. And now he knew—Selene had seen through his abilities, withdrawing rather than engaging in an unnecessary duel.
With the immediate crisis resolved, Rokan wasted no time. To stabilize the Hollowfied captains and vice-captains, he began weaving the forbidden Chrono-Kido, bending the flow of time to restore their sanity.
Arin, meanwhile, slipped away quietly, eager to claim his reward.
Back at the Outer Ring Command Center, Kaelis Shunrei sat in uncharacteristic silence, his expression unusually serious. Beside him, Arin's shadow clone mirrored his concern, pretending to be deeply troubled.
Shunrei, noticing the tension, offered a rare word of comfort. "Don't worry, Solara. Lisa and the others will return."
The shadow clone nodded silently, feigning relief.
At that moment, the real Arin, safely away from the battlefield, received a system notification:
[Ding! Special Mission 7 Completed. Reward: A-Rank Artifact – Horse Talisman!]
A silver-white hexagonal disc materialized in system space, hovering gently. At its center, a faintly glowing blue horse-head talisman shimmered. Arin's eyes lit up as he extracted it immediately.
[Horse Talisman]
Level: A-Rank Artifact
Type: Magical Item
Ability: Expels all abnormal conditions and restores things to their original state.
Description: A legendary artifact said to reverse any damage, even if the target is obliterated.
Arin's grin widened. "This… is next-level. Absolute invulnerability."
From now on, poisons, curses, or forced Hollowfication would be meaningless against him. The grotesque experiments of the Dominion's rogue scientists? Useless. Even the most twisted astral manipulations—fear toxins, mind-control, or reality-warping attacks—could not harm him.
With his new artifact, Arin felt unstoppable. His steps grew lighter, his mood brighter. As dawn approached, he returned to the Outer Ring Command Center, calm and unbothered.
The moment he stepped inside, Arin reabsorbed his shadow clone, seamlessly syncing the clone's experiences with his own. After reviewing them carefully, he nodded.
"Flawless. As expected."
Meanwhile, in the High Council of the Ten Orders, the elitist leaders made their final ruling. The eight Hollowfied captains were sentenced to execution. Additionally, the two responsible for stabilizing them—Rokan and Tessai—were also condemned.
At the last moment, Tala Maren intervened, rescuing all eleven. Together, they escaped to the Outer Realms.
The Astral Dominion's most powerful officers—six captains, three vice-captains, and the leaders of the Kido Corps—were gone overnight. Half of the Dominion's hierarchy wiped out.
Tense unease spread through the Outer Rings, but the noble factions pretended not to notice. As long as the Grand Arbiter remained, they continued their leisurely lives, oblivious to the fact that the world around them was already crumbling beneath their feet.