Summoning the Holy Sword

Blades of light flashed.

The spiritual energy reached its peak. Akin to the Grim Reaper’s scythe of death, the sword reaped downwards. The mercenaries could only stare blindly with no way out. They watched in fear and trepidation, struggling helplessly before their impending death. Then, everything went silent. As death swept through, their corpses fell in droves like harvested wheat.

Carmen stared blankly at the bloody massacre, losing any thoughts of resisting. He was regretting ever so badly.

How did this happen?

Why did things turn out this way?

He asked himself. But what did he need to understand? He had already failed and this place appeared to be his grave.

Those were Carmen’s final thoughts. Then a bright golden light pierced his body and tore his chest apart.

Rhode let out a sigh of relief.

He put down his sword and felt slightly giddy. To utterly destroy the enemies at one go, Rhode had spent all of his remaining spiritual energy. At this moment, he was running on reserves in order to support the summoned spirits. But Rhode wasn’t the least bit worried as all remaining threats had been cleansed.

So perhaps they had triggered some hidden traps?

Rhode shook his head and felt like this guess was also illogical. He was very familiar with this place and knew that there were no traps. And on the other hand, if there really were any traps, then it would be to protect the Sphere of Mystery from being taken. Nothing happened when he kept it, but only activated later? If it weren’t for the Diamond Mercenary Group, they would’ve already left. Could it be that they assumed that people would stay here just to get hit by the trap? Was this trap naturally stupid?

One of the only reasons that Rhode accepted was the possibility that someone else stalked them and seized the chance to murder him. This was the only logical guess because Rhode had always been alert all the way and did not detect anyone following. If the other party could hide from his detection, it means that they were stronger than him. For a stronger being failing to kill him during an ambush, Rhode was considered lucky.

However, the results in front of his eyes didn’t support his thoughts. If the other party harbored such thoughts, then he should already be dead by now. If the enemy immediately left afterward, then perhaps the least he could do was to check if his target was dead…

Besides, for some reason, Rhode felt that the attacker didn’t have the intention to kill himself.

Then what did this mean?

Rhode mused for a while and shook his head, deciding to put this thought on hold for now. There was no point thinking about it anymore. And at this moment, he heard a groan. Anne, who was slightly disheveled, slowly stood up.

“Argh… what exactly happened here…” She shook her head and stumbled for a little before glancing at the wounded man at the end of the room.”Ah! Leader!!”

Anne, who recovered from her daze quickly discovered that it was Rhode. She leaped towards Rhode’s side with an extremely shocked expression.

“Are you okay?!” Anne asked in a panic.

Ever since she arrived at Starlight Mercenary Group, she had never seen Rhode injured before. This scene brought a considerable shock to the maiden. However, she quickly raised her shield and guarded Rhode’s front, silently observing the surroundings.

“There isn’t anyone around. I think we’re safe.”

Rhode stopped Anne and glanced at the surroundings again. There was really nothing.

As time passed, the severe wounds recovered quickly, and soon enough, he could move again. While stumbling slightly, Rhode eventually made his way to the middle of the hall. After thinking for a while, he shook his head. He still couldn’t understand what exactly happened. But at least he was positive that they were safe at the moment.

“Let’s go, Anne. Don’t forget the loot while heading back.”

After a moment, both of them disappeared from the Hall of Mystery. The place returned to its tranquil state, albeit slightly morbid with the dozens of corpses on the ground.

And suddenly, a bright light shone out from nowhere.

“I still don’t get it, Miss. Why did you suddenly attack him?”

The old man appeared out of nowhere while stroking his long white beard and asked curiously.

“Because I had the sudden urge to.”

Accompanied by a laughter, a lady also appeared soon after. She avoided the corpses delicately, as if dancing. On her face, she had a gentle and joyful smile.

“True beauty is defined by how well they can survive in any circumstances. Although fragile, a glass-like artwork deserves mercy, but they usually lack admirable qualities. To answer your question, it was because I suddenly had the urge to see how the flower-like gem could live up to the test.”

“Haa…”

Facing the maiden’s response, the old man sighed and held his right hand to his forehead.

“So you used your ‘Holy Arrow’ on him? Miss, not that I want to nag, but if it was any other normal human being, they would have already been in pieces… If this man also… what do you intend to do?”

“I’m someone who knows what’s important, Teacher.”

The lady laughed cheekily and gracefully twisted her body before jumping to the center of the Mystery Hall.

“If he can’t pass my test, then that’s too bad. Although it is a pity for me to lose a precious collection… but the brilliance that bloomed right at the moment when I lost that precious object… would be kept forever in my memory… not a bad trade, isn’t it, Teacher?”

“…”

The old man had nothing else to say. He grabbed his wooden staff and looked to the center of the Mystery Hall.

“But is this fine? To let them have the Sphere of Mystery?”

“What’s there not to be fine? Those who strive for success are bound to be rewarded.”

The lady stopped moving and observed the corpses on the floor. She frowned slightly and revealed a slight sense of disapproval.

“But it’s another matter for failures. To think the remunerations and rewards blinded them, and to steal such a precious Sphere of Mystery to the Country of Light, was enough to punish them for treason. But since Mr. Rhode had carried out the punishment on my behalf, then I have nothing to complain.”

The lady hummed a light tune. Later, silver, holy flames immediately erupted from under her feet. In an instant, the whole Mystery Hall transformed into a burning sea. When the fire disappeared, there nothing left.