Fedora's shadow loomed as he stepped closer to Lucy's unconscious body, his hands buried in his pockets, eyes glinting with cold disdain.
"Why push your luck," Fedora murmured, voice echoing like thunder across the battlefield, "when you already know you can't win?"
He gazed down at Lucy, her body trembling faintly, her Renshi aura shattered and dim. The void-like crack in space twisted behind him, tearing reality apart at the seams. With a flick of his wrist, he widened the crack as though it were nothing but a curtain.
"I'll allow you guys to live this time," Fedora said, his voice calm, yet heavy enough to shake the hearts of the Shinras nearby. "But don't think you'll be this lucky again."
He spoke louder now, addressing not Lucy, but the silent onlookers—the five Special Darkside Knights and their Pro Darkside knights escorts, who had watched without daring to interfere. Fedora turned his back on them, stepping into the abyss of his own creation. His smirk lingered as the fractured space closed behind him, leaving only silence and unease in the pit of flame.
The Special Darkside Knights stood frozen for a moment, the sheer pressure of Fedora's presence still weighing on their chests, the Special darkside Knight of the Wand Kingdom,broke the silence first.
"Okay, okay, okay… so what's it gonna be, Dialo? What do we do with this woman?" His tone was sharp, but cautious, his eyes flicking to Lucy's frail form on the ground.
Dialo, the Special Darkside Knight of Samira, remained silent for a long while. His eyes narrowed, studying Lucy's still body with unreadable intent and closed eyes. "My suggestion… it's up to me. But first, I want to hear from all of you. We need to decide if we're truly working together—or not."
"Hmph," came a low voice from the Special darkside Knight of Xander. "Unpredictable as always, Dialo. But this time, I know your answer already. I won't risk my kingdom for this girl. I don't know what business Fedora has with her, but it's not something I'll gamble my land on."
With a wave of his hand, he and his Pro darkside Knights vanished, switching out of sight without hesitation.
The Special Darkside Knight of the Northern Side kingdom stepped forward next, shaking his head. "He's right. My kingdom won't take part in this either. We don't know what Fedora plans, or why he spared her life. That alone makes this far too dangerous. This girl's fate is not ours to decide."
And with that, he too disappeared, leaving only three special darkside Knights behind.
Silence hung until the special darkside Knight of Dan grinned faintly, his eyes meeting Dialo's. "You know how we are. Optimistic, reckless, whatever you want to call it. We've worked together before, and we'll do it again—without hesitation." He walked closer, extending his hand slightly, though Dialo only responded with a quiet nod.
The Special Darkside Knight of Wand folded his arms, sighing heavily. "Then let me be clear. This isn't ordinary. We're dealing with a Darkside Spirit capable of erasing this entire country in a single breath. My advice to you—heal her wounds, leave her here, and pray she's lucky enough not to be devoured in her sleep by Alpha or Beta Darkside Spirits. Anything more than that, and you're gambling with destruction."
Dialo's eyes hardened. "I've taken your advice before, Wand. And I'll take the most important part now, too."
He walked slowly to Lucy's side, kneeling as he examined her body. Her breathing was shallow, her skin pale already back to normal. The damage from Fedora's blow was deeper than flesh not physically but internally inside her Renshi connection—it had nearly severed her connection to Renshi itself. Her very core quivered on the edge of collapse.
"Fedora didn't just strike her down," Dialo muttered, his voice low but firm. "He tried to break her—forcefully disconnect her Renshi from her body. The only reason she's alive is her will… her will to survive held everything together in the last moment."
He paused, then gently lifted Lucy into his arms, her body fragile against his cape. "I will never ignore something like this. Never."
Beneath his feet, a Teleportation Circle flared to life, glowing with ancient inscriptions of Renshi. Its pull stretched out, engulfing Dialo, the Special Darkside Knight of Dan, and their Pro Darkside Knights. Special Darkside Knight of Wand and his Pro darkside knights stood outside the circle, watching.
"That's more like you, Dialo,"the special darkside knight of Wand said at last. His eyes softened with rare respect. "If you need aid, reach out. I'll come immediately."
Dialo gave only a brief nod, then vanished with the others in a flash of light, leaving the special darkside knight of Wand alone at the battlefield's edge.
---
Meanwhile…
The storm of Fedora's reappearance had already shaken the country to its core. In the Capital, word spread faster than lightning. Urgent bells tolled as the Council gathered, summoned by none other than Miyamoto, the supreme leader of Wuhan and Head of all Shinras.
The council chambers, located atop the tallest building in the heart of the Capital, glowed with sacred Renshi seals as the most powerful gathered within. The atmosphere was heavy—every voice hushed, every heart alert.
The Five Reinforcements from the Outer World had already returned, summoned after sensing Fedora's aura. They now stood in line, permitted by Amanda, to avoid Miyamoto from being suspicious. Yet Miyamoto was no fool—his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, studied everything with suspicion.
Not only were the Reinforcements present, but the god-Slaying Knights and the Cultivating god-Slaying Knights were also summoned, their power filling the chamber like a storm trapped in a bottle.
---
Far away, another story began to take shape.
Rebekah, now a disciple of Amanda, trained relentlessly under her guidance. But though she followed Amanda's path outwardly, her plans diverged in secret. She aimed higher, different, away from Amanda's schemes.
For beyond the knowledge of most Shinras lay the Origins of the Seven Realms—a mystery no human or Shinra had ever unraveled. These realms, hidden in a dimension untouched, were the true balance of power. The Origins' ambitions were veiled, their goals for Earth unknown, and yet Amanda dared to use them for her own ends. They, in turn, sought to use her.
The world was shifting, its foundation cracking, and every player—Amanda, Miyamoto, the Reinforcements, the Origins—moved with hidden intent.
---
The Capital was unlike anywhere else in the country. It was not a kingdom, but the very heart of Wuhan itself—a place of towering structures, flowing energy, and dominance that suffocated weaker Shinras. To mistake it for the nearby Kingdom of Silence was common for outsiders, but the truth was far more dangerous.
Here, Special Darkside Knights were considered the lowest ranking. Anyone below their level of Renshi strength had no right to even step foot within its walls. Some Shinras and citizens mistake the capital to be the kingom of silence that's closer to the capital,most Shinras don't dream to enter the capital because they know how difficult it is,so few Shinras gets close to it finding out the truth that the capital is not the kingdom of silence.
The streets of the capital thrummed with the presence of elites, the air charged with energy that weaker Shinras could never endure.
Situated near the great sea, the Capital served as the border between the country of Wuhan and Saline, a constant reminder of both strength and fragility. And now, within its tallest tower, the most powerful forces of the country gathered in one chamber…