Meanwhile, Rose continued torturing Kevin with her belt.
"Say it," she hissed. "Tell me you love me, Miss Rose, and that you hate Yuna!"
Kevin gritted his teeth, refusing. "No. I hate you, and I love my sister."
Rose's smile twisted cruelly. "Okay… then feel the pain of my belt."
Elsewhere, Bilives and his friends had collapsed, unconscious from exhaustion and wounds.
The scene shifted. Black ViSage appeared, moving silently toward the Richel mansion. He released a dense, sleeping gas that spread like mist. Within seconds, every living being—guards, adventurers, even Alberto, James, and Chris Wack—succumbed to sleep, their eyes closing as they collapsed to the floor.
But Black ViSage noticed—someone wasn't asleep.
Rose was torturing Kevin, but even he had been caught in the gas. Despite the scratches and pain, his body relaxed into a deep sleep.
Rose glanced around, frowning. "Who's here?" she demanded, stepping out of the room.
Black ViSage didn't respond. He wasn't here to fight. He had only one goal: rescue Delly and the other lost adventurers.
He moved through the mansion silently, heading toward the underground chambers—the prison where the captives were held.
Inside, Bilives and his friends lay unconscious. Using his Float Water ability, Black ViSage lifted them gently, letting them hover and follow him without waking.
He moved deeper into the chambers and found Yuna asleep as well. Carefully, he used the same power to lift her, keeping her stable while continuing his search for Delly Harnes.
Black ViSage paused for a moment, calculating. "I've accounted for only four members so far," he thought. "The woman said six accepted the mission… where are the other two? And where is Delly?"
The underground corridors seemed endless. He pressed onward, moving toward the exit from the prison, determined to find Delly and complete his mission.
The Fall of the Richel Palace
When Black ViSage finally emerged from the underground chambers, the floating bodies of the unconscious adventurers quietly following behind him through his Float Water ability, he suddenly stopped.
Someone was waiting.
Standing in the ruined hallway was Rose.
Her red eyes glowed in the dim light, and her lips curled into a twisted smile.
"So… you're the one who did all of this," Rose said slowly, looking around at the sleeping guards and adventurers.
Black ViSage's cold gaze shifted past her.
He saw two familiar figures.
Kevin. Duwen.
Both of them were kneeling on the floor like obedient servants.
Black ViSage frowned.
"What are you doing with them?" he asked coldly.
Rose tilted her head playfully.
"Who? Oh… them?" she said with a laugh. "They are my slaves."
Black ViSage didn't react.
Rose smirked proudly.
"Wait. I'll prove it."
She pointed at Kevin.
"Kevin. Lick my leg."
Without hesitation, Kevin crawled forward and obeyed.
Then she looked at Duwen.
"Duwen. Kiss my shoes."
Duwen bent down and kissed her shoes like a puppet.
Black ViSage's eyes became colder.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" he said calmly.
"You're controlling them with blood threads. Their minds are not their own."
Rose's smile faded slightly.
"Leave them," Black ViSage said.
Rose laughed.
"You think that's what I'm doing?" she replied mockingly.
"In a few seconds… you'll become my slave too."
She slowly stepped closer, her voice dripping with arrogance.
"Actually… you should become my slave."
She spread her arms and spun slightly.
"Look at me. See how beautiful I am."
Black ViSage looked at her silently.
Then he spoke one sentence.
"You're just an ugly witch."
For a moment, everything went silent.
Rose's face twisted with rage.
"You should feel guilty for saying that," she hissed.
"Witch," Black ViSage said calmly, "leave them."
Rose exploded with anger.
Her fingers moved.
Thousands of blood threads shot toward him like deadly needles.
But in a flash—
Slash.
Black ViSage's small knife moved once.
Every thread was cut instantly.
Rose's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh… so you're not weak," she whispered.
A cruel smile returned to her face.
"Good."
She slowly drew her weapon.
A dark crimson sword appeared in her hand.
It was a Devilion Sword.
The moment she held it, dark energy burst around her body. Her power increased dramatically, shaking the entire palace.
Black ViSage narrowed his eyes.
"I see," he said quietly.
"You're a Devilion-type fairy."
Rose laughed loudly.
"Now prepare to die!"
She dashed forward.
Her sword struck again and again with terrifying force. Each attack smashed pillars, shattered walls, and cracked the marble floor.
The palace began collapsing from the pressure of their battle.
But Black ViSage moved calmly between her attacks.
Then suddenly—
He summoned a massive sword.
The blade appeared in his hand, radiating an ancient and overwhelming aura.
"I didn't want to use this," he said quietly.
"But I have no other option."
Rose's face turned pale.
She stared at the sword in disbelief.
"How… do you have that sword…?"
Her voice trembled.
"That's impossible… you… you are a—"
Her words stopped.
Slash.
Black ViSage attacked.
Rose barely dodged, but the blade still cut deeply into her side.
Blood splashed across the floor.
Rose quickly jumped back.
Her mind raced.
This is bad…
I can't win here.
The palace around them was already burning from the destruction.
Black ViSage slowly stepped forward.
"I can feel them," he said.
Rose frowned.
"All the people here… crying for help."
His eyes darkened.
"You eat humans."
Rose smiled wickedly.
"Yes. Humans taste very good. They make me stronger."
Black ViSage's anger finally appeared.
"Did you ever think about how humans feel?"
"You really are a witch."
He raised his sword again.
Rose tried to escape—
But she wasn't fast enough.
Slash.
Her right arm fell to the floor.
Slash.
Both of her legs were cut.
Rose collapsed, screaming in pain.
Black ViSage walked closer.
Then with one final strike—
He ended her life.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her final scream echoed across the palace.
The sound was so powerful that it woke Alberto and James from the sleeping gas.
But it was too late.
The palace was already collapsing in flames.
Black ViSage turned away and quickly searched the remaining rooms.
Finally, he found Delly Harnes inside a bedroom.
It was actually James's room, but James had been in the living room earlier.
Delly was trembling in fear.
Black ViSage gently picked her up.
Then he escaped the palace.
Moments later—
The entire Richel Palace collapsed and burned.
Alberto and James died in the destruction.
Many adventurers were injured.
Some guards burned inside the palace.
Only a few adventurers survived.
Black ViSage stood far away, watching the burning ruins.
A small sadness appeared in his eyes.
"I killed some people… to save others," he murmured.
Then he turned and walked toward Nightglass Covenant.
Reunion
Inside the covenant hall, the desperate woman was still praying.
"Please… please let my daughter be safe…"
Suddenly a voice spoke behind her.
"Hey… woman."
She turned.
Her eyes widened.
Delly stood there.
"MOM!!"
Delly ran forward and hugged her tightly.
"I was so scared! I missed you! I was really scared!"
Her mother cried and hugged her back.
"I know, my dear… it's okay now. I'm here."
Delly sobbed.
"Please mom… always protect me."
"I will," the woman whispered.
Nearby, Black ViSage walked quietly to the receptionist and placed a small bag of gold coins on the desk.
The receptionist looked surprised.
"Why are you giving this?"
Black ViSage answered calmly.
"Some people come here with missions… but they don't have money to hire anyone."
"Use this money to help them."
The receptionist looked at him with respect.
Meanwhile, the woman approached him.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," she said softly.
"You said you wanted to ask me some questions?"
Black ViSage shook his head.
"Not now."
"If I need information… I will ask you later."
He turned slightly.
"But remember one thing."
"Never try to sell yourself again."
"There are better ways to survive."
The woman lowered her head in shame and gratitude.
Black ViSage then walked toward the exit of the Nightglass Covenant.
And once again—
He disappeared into the night.