They stood there in silence, frozen before the faceless archer. Mia's body began to tremble; her eyes refused to linger any longer, and she turned away almost immediately, breath shallow.
"This… this looks like a human corpse," Ethan said slowly, his gaze never leaving the lifeless shell he had just cut down. His voice was low, heavy with realization. "Which means our enemy isn't the one we fought. The one pulling the strings, the one who controlled this body, is both an archer and a mage."
He tightened his grip on his blade.
"A strong one."
Mia's gaze drifted back despite herself and this time, it caught on something specific. A badge rested against the corpse's chest. It bore the image of a ram, its horns long and twisted, etched in fine detail. The metal gleamed faintly, gold even beneath the soot and blood.
Her breath hitched. "That badge… it's the same one my father's advisor carried."
The words settled like a curse.
Ethan's eyes sharpened instantly. "Then it's confirmed," he said, voice cold with certainty. "Our opponent is truly part of the Cult of Hades. And that arrow.... " his jaw tightened, ".... it wasn't meant for us. It was fired to silence the advisor before he could say anything more."
He straightened, the weight of the discovery burning in his chest.
"We've got our lead."
He immediately deactivated the armor he had obtained from the Demon commander Devon back in Almsworth, the same armor that had dulled the pain of the arrows fired at him earlier. With a calm breath, he used a Lifestone Elixir, warm light flooding his body as his wounds sealed completely.
DING!
— SYSTEM MESSAGE —
[Item: Lifestone Elixir]
[Quantity: 4/10]
Before she could even register his movement, Ethan scooped her up, one arm slipping behind her back while the other caught beneath her knees, lifting her cleanly off the ground.
"Hey... put me down this instant!" Mia snapped, her voice sharp, even as heat rushed to her cheeks and her face burned a furious crimson.
"Let's move, before this city meets its doom. I'll take you to your father," Ethan said, and in the next instant, he dashed into the air.
As he raced through the ruined streets of Gondolin, destruction blurred beneath him. Then he saw them, King Cazer, surrounded by his mages and knights, locked in a desperate struggle against a massive dragon, its flames moments away from wiping them out completely.
For some reason, a strange thrill ran through him—a chill of excitement crawling up his spine. He wanted to see it, to know how long the King could truly last against a demon dragon.
"There!" Mia cried suddenly. "That's my dad, and my mom. Please, they're in danger. Save them!"
Ethan was about to move, about to rush in and save the King and Queen, when he stopped. A sharp thought cut through his mind. I can't just do what she asks for free… that's not the life I chose to live.
He set her down and turned to her, his gaze cold and unreadable.
"Hey, what's your problem?" Mia snapped. "I told you to save them!" She pointed straight at him, her voice trembling with anger and fear.
Is this really someone I should help? Ethan thought bitterly. Someone who shows me no respect at all?
Just hours ago, her father had reduced him to nothing, stripped him of dignity before the palace. And now she expected him to save him without question, without cost. Ever since the system took his sight, ever since his life spiraled into blood and fire, the King had done nothing but turn his existence into a living hell.
Shadows began to seep from Ethan's feet, coiling around him like living smoke. His eyes burned, glowing a deeper, more dangerous red than before.
He said nothing, only stared at her in silence, the air between them growing heavy and sharp, as if one wrong word would tear it apart.
"I'll save them," Ethan said coldly, his voice stripped of all warmth, "but only if you pledge your entire loyalty to me."
He paused, then smiled, slow, cruel, and utterly merciless.
"If you refuse…" his eyes glinted darkly, "I'll let them die. Right in front of you."
For a heartbeat, Mia forgot how to breathe.
From the moment the attack began, through every step they had taken together, she had never seen him like this.
This wasn't the boy who carried her through fire. This was something far darker.
"What are you even saying, you weird cloak-wearing guy?" she snapped, forcing authority into her voice. "I told you to save them."
Yet fear betrayed her, coiling in her trembling hands, flickering in her eyes.
Ethan didn't answer. He only chuckled softly, then turned away, walking in another direction, slow, unhurried, deliberate.
That was when it hit her.
Her breath caught.
"Wait—!" She spun toward him, panic breaking through. "I'm sorry, okay?" Her voice cracked. "I'll give you money… power… anything. All the gold in this city—it's yours. Just… please. Save them."
But Ethan remained silent, his steps unbroken, as if her words didn't exist.
Mia turned back, her heart sinking at the sight before her. The dragon raged across the battlefield, flames devouring every knight and mage who dared stand against it. Even King Cazer's spells barely left a scratch on its scales, its strength was unmatched, unstoppable, and terrifying.
Mia couldn't bear it anymore. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as the reality crushed her chest. She knew it—nothing else she said would reach him. No plea, no offer, no pride. Only compliance.
Her knees gave out, striking the ground hard as she bowed deeply, her forehead nearly touching the stone.
"Black Blade…" her voice trembled, breaking apart, "I pledge my entire loyalty to you. Use me however you see fit."
Her tears fell one after another, darkening the ground beneath her as her pride shattered completely.
Ethan heard her, loud and clear. She called him by his Executioner name… that meant she was serious.
She turned just in time to see the dragon lunging, flames roaring toward them. "Please… Black Blade… save them…" she cried, panic lacing her voice.
Before her mind could fully register, before her eyes could even follow, a shadow streaked past her. In the next heartbeat, Ethan's black blade had cleaved through the dragon's skull, cutting through time itself as if the moment had slowed for him alone.
Blood sprayed across the shattered ground, staining Ethan's black cloak as well as the king and queen.
When did he… even get here? Mia's thoughts raced as fear and shock collided. She bolted toward her parents. "Mom… Dad… are you alright?" she cried, panic thick in her voice.
King Cazer lifted his head, eyes locking on his daughter, alone, no advisor by her side.
"Where is the advisor?" the King asked, his voice still shaking from the terror of the dragon's assault.
"He's not who you thought he was, Father," Mia said, tears slipping freely down her cheeks. "He's from the Cult of Hades. He tried to kill me."
She stepped closer to them, her voice breaking with relief.
"I'm just… I'm glad you're both okay."
Queen Kia slowly lifted her head, her gaze settling on the figure draped in a black cloak. She didn't recognize him, but his presence was impossible to ignore.
"Who is that boy?" she asked softly. "He saved us, didn't he?"
"Oh right," Mia said as she straightened up. "This is Black Blade. He's the one who saved my life from the advisor."
But Ethan wasn't paying attention to any of that. His eyes scanned the ruins, searching for Rivington who had slipped away with the King earlier. Finding nothing, he strode straight toward the King and leveled his blade at him.
"Where are the rest of the soldiers who came down here with you?" he demanded.
The King stiffened, fury flashing through the lingering fear on his face. "How dare you!" he barked. "Do you have any idea who I am? I am the King of Gondolin. You have no right to question me, let alone threaten me with a sword."
Ethan let out a slow sigh. "It seems you still don't understand the position you're in." His gaze hardened as he looked at the King more seriously. "I'll ask again—where are the remaining soldiers?"
The King's lips curled into a confident smile. "And what exactly will you do if I refuse to answer?" he said calmly. "If you kill me, the entire world will turn against you."
"Come on, Dad… just answer him," Mia pleaded, but she was cut off immediately.
"Silence, foolish girl," Queen Kia snapped. "How dare he speak so rudely to one of noble blood?"
Ethan tightened his grip on Mia's hand. "Talk less, my girl," he said calmly, almost gently. "It seems I'll have to explain things myself."
He looked back at the King, eyes cold. "You asked what I could possibly do, right? Simple. I'll walk out of this ruined city with your daughter and leave you here to die. That sounds fair enough."
"You can't do that!" the King roared. "Release her at once!"
Ethan ignored him completely. He pulled Mia closer, resting her head against his chest, his indifference far more terrifying than anger.
Mia, on the other hand, was completely defenseless, she knew she had already pledged her loyalty to Ethan.
"O-Okay… okay," King Cazer said, his voice breaking as he gave in. "Tell me what you want. Just… get your hands off her."
Ethan smiled. He released Mia, stepped back, and said calmly, "You'll grant me the authority to rule your city."