ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 199: A WRONG CHOICE

An attendant, dressed in the restaurant’s elegant uniform with golden accents, approached Kaelen and his companions with a warm smile.

"Esteemed guests, we have reserved a special table that will fit your group perfectly. Please, follow me."

The group exchanged glances, impressed by the establishment’s attentive service, and followed the attendant to a spacious, semi-private booth near a large window overlooking the bustling streets of Valoria. The table was impeccably set, and the ambiance was perfect for their unusual outing.

As they took their seats, Morris leaned back confidently. "Since this is a memorable occasion, how about we order the restaurant’s most exclusive dish? My treat, of course."

Kaelen blinked in surprise. "You sure about that? Exclusive sounds... expensive."

Lila grinned, nudging Kaelen. "Oh, don’t worry about the price. Let Morris show off a little."

Sofia chuckled softly. "It sounds intriguing. Let’s do it."

The attendant returned with menus, and after a brief explanation, the group unanimously decided on the Inferno Beast Feast, the restaurant’s signature dish known for its exotic blend of flavors and spice levels.

Moments later, the dish was served on a grand platter. The centerpiece was a beautifully seared slab of fiery red meat surrounded by colorful sauces and spices that seemed to radiate heat. The aroma was tantalizing but carried a faint, ominous warning in its intensity.

"Alright, let’s dig in," Morris said confidently, cutting a piece and taking the first bite.

But the moment the food touched his tongue, his face froze. His eyes widened, and sweat immediately began pouring down his forehead. "H-How... How is this even legal?" he managed to choke out before reaching desperately for his water.

Kaelen, not to be outdone, took a bite himself. Within seconds, he felt like he was breathing fire. His face turned beet red, and he frantically waved at the attendant. "Water! Milk! Ice! Anything!"

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Lila and Sofia exchanged nervous glances before daring to try their portions. Both of them managed to keep their composure for a brief moment before succumbing to the same fate. Lila fanned her mouth aggressively, her elegant demeanor entirely forgotten. Sofia, on the other hand, silently endured, her tears betraying her struggle.

Ethan, hidden in the shadows, quietly snickered as he watched the group’s misery unfold. ’This is better than any drama in the kingdom,’ he thought to himself.

"Why didn’t anyone warn us this was made for dragons?" Kaelen wheezed, his voice hoarse.

Morris glared at the attendant who was trying not to laugh. "You... You should’ve warned us!"

The attendant bowed apologetically but couldn’t hide the amusement in his voice. "It is the most exclusive dish for a reason, my lord."

The group spent the next few minutes trying to recover, downing glasses of milk and nibbling on bread to soothe their burning mouths.

"I’m never letting Morris pick a dish again," Kaelen grumbled, still fanning his face.

"I second that," Lila agreed, glaring at Morris, who was too busy gulping water to respond.

Despite their suffering, a faint chuckle escaped Sofia, lightening the mood slightly. "Well... at least it’s a meal we won’t forget."

Kaelen groaned. "Yeah, I’ll remember this... every time I feel my tongue."

The group was still recovering from the fiery torment of the Inferno Beast Feast, chugging glasses of milk and nibbling bread like their lives depended on it. The fiery sting on their tongues had become a shared ordeal, easing some of the awkwardness of the double date.

But amidst their laughter and complaints, Ethan, hidden in the shadows, suddenly stiffened. A faint mist began seeping into the room from above, curling along the floor like ghostly tendrils. Its progress was slow but deliberate, and Ethan’s sharp eyes noticed the patrons and staff it touched quietly slumping over, unconscious.

His heart raced. ’This isn’t normal mist.’

With no time to spare, Ethan materialized in front of the group. His sudden appearance startled everyone, especially Kaelen.

"Ethan?!" Kaelen exclaimed. "What are you doing—"

"Shut up and listen!" Ethan cut him off, his voice low but urgent. "There’s something dangerous in this mist. Anyone who breathes it in is going unconscious. We need to move now."

The group froze, their senses heightened by his words.

Lila frowned, her frosty aura suddenly permeating out of her body. "A mist? Here?"

Sofia’s expression turned serious as she glanced around. "I don’t see nor sense anything unusual, but if Ethan says it’s dangerous, we shouldn’t take chances."

Kaelen nodded, his instincts flaring. "We’ll head out. Quickly and quietly."

The group began to rise from their seats, but just as they prepared to leave, Kaelen froze mid-step. His gaze snapped toward the restaurant’s entrance.

There, in the mist-filled doorway, stood a figure that made the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The Hollowed One had arrived, his ghastly form partially flickering in and out of reality. His hideous, jagged smile spread wider as his empty, glowing eyes locked onto Kaelen.

"Well, well," the Hollowed One said, his voice an eerie mixture of malice and amusement. "What a cozy little gathering. I hope I’m not intruding."

Kaelen’s blood ran cold as he realized the gravity of their situation. The mist wasn’t just an attack—it was a trap.

"Stay close," Kaelen whispered to the group, his hands tightening into fists.

The Hollowed One’s smile grew more sinister. "I’ve been waiting for this moment, Kaelen. Shall we... dance?"

The mist thickened, encroaching toward them like a predator closing in on its prey. Ethan stepped forward, his daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light.

"This isn’t going to end well for you, monster," Ethan growled.

The Hollowed One laughed, a cold, hollow sound that echoed through the restaurant. "We’ll see about that."

The tension in the air grew unbearable as the room seemed to shrink around them, the mist choking out any sense of safety. The fight for survival was about to begin.

The mist crept closer, tendrils of dark magic curling toward the group. Kaelen could feel the oppressive weight of it pressing against his mind, sapping his strength even as Ethan and Lila took defensive stances.

Before the mist could reach them, Sofia’s calm voice rang out, "Purity Bloom."

She spread her hands, and a wave of shimmering white mana flowed across the floor, meeting the dark mist and dissolving it into nothingness. The air around them felt lighter, and the oppressive pressure began to lift.

The Hollowed One chuckled, slow and mocking. "Impressive, young mage. Purity magic, is it? I thought your kind was long gone."

Sofia’s gaze was sharp, her hand still outstretched. "Long enough for monsters like you to think you own the night."

The Hollowed One clapped, his skeletal hands echoing unnervingly in the room. "Brilliant! Truly brilliant! But I wonder, how long can you hold up against this?"

With a sickening grin, he raised his hand, and the room darkened. A wave of his mana surged outward, drowning the restaurant in a suffocating, bone-chilling presence. His Domain of Horror unfolded, nullifying Sofia’s magic and plunging the group into a realm of despair.

’This isn’t the same mana domain he used to face Vice chancellor Reeves’

Kaelen that as he felt the air grow heavier, the walls seemingly closing in. Every breath became a labor, every thought a struggle. Even Ethan, poised and ready to strike, faltered under the crushing weight of the Hollowed One’s domain.

The Hollowed One began walking toward them, each step rattling like chains in the void. "You’ve done well to amuse me, but this ends now." His clawed hand stretched toward Kaelen, reaching with unnatural speed and malice.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Kaelen’s mind as a screen only him could see pop up on his face. [Do you wish to activate the Eternal Guardian’s Sacred Light armor? Yes/no?]

Kaelen’s heart pounded with surprise as he thought. ’What is this? Will it work?’

The voice spoke again, calm and assured. [Yes/no, host?]

With no other choice and the Hollowed One inches from him, Kaelen shouted inwardly, ’Yes!’

And suddenly, a burst of light erupted from Kaelen, blindingly bright and warm, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. The Hollowed One recoiled, hissing as the light forced him to retreat a few steps.

When the light dimmed, Kaelen stood transformed. A radiant golden hue enveloped his body, forming an ethereal armor that pulsed with an aura of pure protection. The oppressive weight of the Hollowed One’s domain was gone—Kaelen could breathe freely again.

He glanced at his hands in disbelief. ’This... this is the effect of the sacred light from the Eternal Guardian’s armor?’

The Hollowed One’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Kaelen’s new form. "What... is this?"

Kaelen raised his gaze, now steady and confident. "Something you didn’t expect."

The Hollowed One sneered but stayed cautious, his fingers twitching as if readying another attack.

Behind Kaelen, his friends stared in awe. Lila whispered, "Kaelen… what are you?"

Sofia, her breathing steadier now, smiled faintly. "Whatever he is, it seems like he is our only hope now"

The stand-off between Kaelen and the Hollowed One was far from over, but the tide had turned, if only slightly.