The earlier dance had brought the banquet to its peak, but the time for curtain fall had now arrived.
The grand hall dimmed again. Noel didn't think much of it—this was likely another of the Duke's dramatic flourishes. Just like before, when it went dark right before his announcement. Noel expected the lights to return at any moment. After all, Duke Aurelius enjoyed playing with suspense.
So Noel remained seated, anticipating that dazzling spotlight.
But then…
A red magic circle suddenly appeared in the center of the ballroom, covered in intricate symbols. It seemed to be a delayed-activation spell.
Crimson flames erupted and lit the entire hall. One surge of fire after another roared up from the floor like a furious beast, as though the entire mansion were about to be devoured.
The crimson flames turned ghostly blue, burning hotter and wilder—engulfing the ballroom entirely.
Chaos broke loose. Screams, stampedes, and sheer panic filled the once-elegant banquet hall.
Noel remained seated. He knew better—the more chaotic the situation, the more one must stay calm.
Whoever had triggered this chaos was likely somewhere nearby, watching the panic with amusement.
"What's happening?!" Wendy looked around at the pandemonium.
"Whatever it is, the best thing we can do right now is stay put," Carla advised calmly.
She was right. Moving without a plan would only worsen the chaos.
And sure enough, the chandeliers flickered back to life. Maybe the maintenance crew had restored power. It turned out that only the dance floor had been hit by the explosion. The rest of the hall was intact. Perhaps this was just some kind of cruel prank?
"Hahaha…"
A man in a dark cloak stepped into view, laughing wildly as he pressed a dagger against Duke Aureli's throat.
"Your life," he sneered, "is now in my hands."
"So it was you," said the Duke, his expression uncannily calm. "But what exactly is it that you want?"
Even with a blade to his throat, Duke Aurelius showed no fear. This composure—it was the bearing of a man of power.
"You're asking me what I want? Don't act like you don't know what you've done. Do you really need me to remind you?" the cloaked man growled.
"I've always conducted myself with integrity. Unlike you—barging into a noble's banquet and attempting assassination? Are you trying to kill one of the kingdom's rising stars?" the Duke barked back, unwavering.
He was right—assassinating a noble was a capital offense in the kingdom, with strict laws against it.
"My life is worthless. But yours… yours is worth everything. Trading my life for yours is a price I'm happy to pay," the cloaked man snarled, licking his dagger with an unsettling grin.
"You're insane," the Duke spat.
"From the moment I gave in to hatred, I stopped being human," the man cackled. "I became a demon."
"Just a little slice," he continued, "and this pretty little blade will end your life right here."
Noel had seen enough. He had accepted this commission. If the client—Duke Aurelius—were to die now, the consequences would be severe.
Not only would his reward be voided—it would be as if the job was never done—but his reputation and standing as an alchemist would suffer serious damage.
"Blade of Wind!"
With pinpoint precision, Noel cast Wind Blade straight at the man's wrist. As expected, the dagger clattered to the ground.
The Duke reacted swiftly, picking up the blade and plunging it straight into the assailant's chest. He didn't hesitate—because hesitation could mean death.
Noel quickly shielded Wendy's eyes.
This wasn't something she should be seeing.
But just when they thought it was over, the attacker dissolved into black smoke, leaving behind only a discarded cloak.
As the chaos settled, only Noel and Duke Aurelius remained in the hall. They were about to discuss the identity of the cloaked assailant when…
"I miscalculated after all."
A voice echoed from the shadows. A new figure stepped into view.
"I knew it… you're the one behind all of this. The cursed spellcaster—Husky!" the Duke shouted.
"That's right," Husky said with a sinister grin. "But I didn't expect you to actually break my poison and curse. Someone must have helped you."
"I simply sought capable healers for my wife. They just happened to know what to do," the Duke replied flatly.
Husky wasn't interested in arguing.
"Summon the Undead…" he chanted darkly.
A black pool began to spread from the center of the ballroom where the dance floor had been. It seemed to devour everything it touched. In mere seconds, it expanded from a puddle into a swirling dark pit.
"What the hell is that?" Noel muttered, puzzled.
To Noel, the black pool didn't seem threatening. It didn't corrode or burn. Was it just for show?
Suddenly, countless shadows rose from the black pit. As they took form, dozens of black spectral soldiers emerged and began floating above the ballroom.
"Stay sharp. Don't let them touch you," Noel warned.
He knew this magic. It was used by Jose Porla, the former master of Phantom Lord. These soldiers weren't just illusions—they drained life force from anyone they touched. It was a dark and cruel type of magic.
"Impressive. Not many recognize this spell," Husky said with a twisted sense of pride.
Noel launched a barrage of Wind Blades at the spectral soldiers. His magic sliced through them cleanly—only for the shadows to reform instantly.
Undeterred, he tried again. Same result.
"This is endless…" Noel gritted his teeth.
Then, a blur shot across the hall—a new figure moving at incredible speed. It lunged straight toward Duke Aureli.
Noel narrowed his eyes and calculated the trajectory. "Overclock: Wind Blade!"
A razor-sharp gust sliced toward the figure—but in a blink of light, the Wind Blade vanished mid-air.
"What?!"
Noel was stunned. His Overclock Wind Blade had just disappeared as if it had never existed.
Just what kind of monster was this?
He involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath.
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