ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 226: SCHEMES AND HIDDEN PLANS

The night was cool, and the faint sounds of chatter from other pavilions echoed through the air as Kaelen approached the entrance to the Soaring Dragons Pavilion. Before he could step inside, he noticed a familiar figure walking toward him from the dimly lit path.

It was Morris Grey, his shoulders hunched, his steps slow, and his expression unusually downcast. The confident and composed demeanor Morris usually carried was nowhere to be seen.

Concerned, Kaelen stepped forward and asked softly. "Morris? What’s wrong? You don’t look like yourself."

Morris looked up at Kaelen, his yellow eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and sadness. He let out a heavy sigh before responding. "It’s Sofia…"

Kaelen frowned, sensing the weight behind the name. Sofia was someone Kaelen had seen with Morris often, and it was clear she was important to him. "What about her? Did something happen?"

Morris crossed his arms, his tone laced with disappointment. "She was eliminated from the individual class battles earlier today. She told me she needed some time alone to process it and locked herself in her room. She hasn’t spoken to me since."

Kaelen’s expression softened as he realized the depth of Morris’s concern. He knew how much Sofia’s success meant to him, and seeing her withdraw like this had clearly taken a toll.

’What can I say now that will liften this guy’s spirit?’

For a moment, Kaelen wasn’t sure what to say. Consolation wasn’t exactly his strong suit, but he knew Morris needed support right now. Eventually, he placed a hand on Morris’s shoulder, his voice calm and steady.

"Look, I know it’s tough. Sofia’s elimination is a setback, sure, but it doesn’t define her. She’s strong, and I’m sure she’ll find her way back. Give her the space she needs for now. She’ll come around when she’s ready."

Morris stayed silent for a moment, staring at the ground. Kaelen continued, his tone becoming more encouraging. "And as for you, don’t let this drag you down. You’re in the final stage of the individual class battles. Sofia would want you to focus on that and do your best. Maybe even win it for her. Use this as your motivation, not your burden."

Morris looked up at Kaelen, surprise flickering across his face. He hadn’t expected such thoughtful words from him. Slowly, the gloom in his expression began to lift, replaced by a faint determination. "You’re right… Sofia wouldn’t want me to sulk over this. I’ll do my best in the final stage and make her proud."

Kaelen nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That’s the spirit. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Morris. Don’t let anything hold you back."

Morris gave a rare smile in return, the weight on his shoulders seeming to lighten. "Thanks, Kaelen. I needed that."

As Morris walked past him toward the pavilion, his steps were steadier, and his posture more upright. Kaelen watched him go, satisfied that he had managed to lift his friend’s spirits.

Turning back to the cool night, Kaelen glanced at the sky, the stars twinkling above. "Final stage, huh? Let’s see what we’re all made of."

With renewed focus, he headed back into the pavilion, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

But unbeknownst to Kaelen, high up in the clouds, shrouded by mist and the pale glow of the moon, The Hollowed One crouched, his piercing eyes locked onto Kaelen below. His body emitted an unsettling, dark aura, the kind that could freeze even the most resolute of hearts.

Ever since his humiliating defeat at the restaurant days ago, where Kaelen had resisted his Mana Domain using the Armor of the Eternal Guardian, The Hollowed One’s reputation had been in tatters. Once feared for his unyielding power, he was now mocked as someone whose strength had been overcome.

His fingers twitched as he gripped a small, black dagger that pulsed with sinister energy, a weapon meant to strike down his enemies in one fatal blow. His thoughts burned with vengeance. ’This time, there will be no witnesses, no miraculous escapes. I’ll erase you, Kaelen Dragonyx, in one swift, decisive move.’

As he prepared to descend, his figure began to dissolve into the shadows, blending seamlessly with the dark night. He was moments away from striking when suddenly, a chilling voice broke through the silence.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

Startled, The Hollowed One froze in place. He whipped his head around, only to find a hooded figure standing just a few feet away on a solidified platform of air, as if they had materialized out of nowhere. The figure was cloaked in shadows, but as the moonlight shifted, a faint glimmer of silvery-white hair peeked out from beneath the hood.

The Hollowed One narrowed his eyes, his grip on the dagger tightening. "And who might you be to interrupt my business?"

The hooded figure chuckled softly, the sound dripping with amusement. Then, they slowly removed their hood, revealing Aether, the enigmatic and mysterious individual whose presence was rarely felt yet deeply feared by those who knew of him and also the one whom Kaelen and his friends encountered in a ruin while they were on a pilgrimage.

Aether’s golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight, his gaze calm yet commanding. He rested his hands casually at his sides where a sheathed blade lay, though the subtle shift in the air around him suggested he could strike at any moment.

"Someone who knows what you’re about to do. And someone who’s here to make sure you don’t."

The Hollowed One sneered, his pride flaring. "Are you trying to protect him? Don’t make me laugh. I don’t care who you are; no one gets in the way of my vengeance."

Without waiting for a response, The Hollowed One lunged forward, his dagger gleaming with dark energy as he aimed directly for Aether’s throat.

But before the blade could get close, Aether flicked his wrist, and the air itself seemed to twist. The Hollowed One was violently thrown back, his body crashing against an invisible barrier that had suddenly formed behind him.

Aether sighed, his tone still calm but carrying a sharp edge. "You’re not very bright, are you? Did you really think you could attack me without consequence?"

The Hollowed One struggled to his feet, coughing as he glared at Aether with unbridled fury while asking. "Why protect him? What’s he to you?"

Aether’s expression darkened, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "Kaelen Dragonyx has his role to play. Eliminating him here would only disrupt the balance. And frankly, you’re not worth the trouble it would cause me to clean up after your mess."

The Hollowed One growled, but a sliver of doubt crept into his mind. Aether wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Stories of his power and ruthlessness were whispered in hushed tones across kingdoms. But unfortunately for the Hollowed one, he was completely clueless about this being that is right in front of him, though his instincts were currently screaming at him to to flee.

"Balance? What nonsense are you talking about?" The Hollowed one eventually asked with a cautious look on his face.

Aether stepped closer, his movements smooth and deliberate as he replied. "You don’t need to understand. All you need to know is that if you make another move against Kaelen, I will erase you from existence before you can even blink. Is that clear?"

The Hollowed One clenched his fists, his pride warring with the fear that now gnawed at him. After a tense moment, he lowered his dagger, the dark energy around it dissipating.

"Fine. I’ll back off… for now." The Hollowed one eventually said

Aether watched him for a moment longer, ensuring the threat had truly been neutralized. Then, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the barrier and turned away, his hood falling back into place while he said.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"Smart choice. Now leave."

The Hollowed One hesitated but eventually melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

Aether remained for a moment, his gaze fixed on the Soaring Dragons Pavilion below. His expression softened slightly, a hint of curiosity flickering across his features as he thought. ’Kaelen Dragonyx… let’s see how far you’ll go.’

With that, he vanished into the night, leaving the clouds undisturbed and the pavilion below unaware of the danger that had just been averted.

Meanwhile, high above the clouds in another region of Valoria Kingdom, the moonlight barely illuminated the misty shroud that enveloped the sky. Amidst the swirling haze, a faint silhouette stood, its form indistinct yet emanating an aura of quiet dominance. The figure’s gaze was fixed below, piercing through the dense clouds to observe the kingdom sprawling beneath like a chessboard awaiting its master’s hand.

The silence of the moment was broken as another hazy figure materialized from the mist, its presence heralded by a subtle ripple in the air. In its hands, it carried a strange, mystical box, its surface etched with glowing, incomprehensible runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.

The second figure bowed slightly, its voice low and reverent. "Step one has been completed, my lord."

The first silhouette tilted its head ever so slightly, its voice a quiet, chilling resonance that seemed to echo beyond the clouds. "Good. The pieces are falling into place."

For a brief moment, the runes on the box flared brighter, casting an eerie light across the clouds. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the second figure dissolved into the mist, leaving the first silhouette alone once more.

The figure lingered, the oppressive silence returning as it continued to observe the kingdom below. Finally, it whispered, the words carried away by the wind. "Valoria… the storm is only beginning."

And with that, the hazy form faded into the mist, leaving no trace of its presence amidst the tranquil night sky.