Chapter 8 – Betrayal and Blood
The assassination attempt failed.
But failure did not mean surrender.
It meant escalation.
---
A Familiar Face
Inside the academy's strategic meeting hall, Audrey gathered his closest allies.
Selene stood beside him.
Two other female mages who had recently joined his faction were present as well.
One of them — Mira — handled intelligence and surveillance.
She had been quiet lately.
Too quiet.
Audrey noticed it.
"Mira," he asked calmly, "Have you traced the source of the assassination order?"
She avoided his gaze for a split second.
"Not yet… the information trail is being blocked."
Selene glanced at her.
Something felt wrong.
---
The Second Attack
That night, the sky turned dark with unnatural energy.
Audrey was training alone in an isolated combat field surrounded by protective barriers.
Suddenly —
The barrier alarms activated.
High-Level Threat Detected
Before he could react —
A massive explosion erupted beneath the ground.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire training field shattered.
Audrey was thrown into the air by the blast wave.
He slammed violently into a stone pillar.
Rubble rained down.
Dust filled the battlefield.
---
Stronger Assassins
Five masked figures emerged from the smoke.
Unlike the previous assassins…
These wore armor engraved with forbidden runes.
Their leader spoke coldly:
"Target neutralization confirmed."
They raised their hands simultaneously.
Dark sealing chains shot toward Audrey.
He struggled to stand.
His body was injured from the explosion.
Ribs cracked.
His left arm bleeding.
System warnings flashed urgently.
Critical Damage Sustained
Body Integrity: 41%
Audrey gritted his teeth.
"Conversion… activate."
He attempted to convert gold into healing regeneration.
But the assassins had prepared for that.
One of them activated a suppression artifact.
It disrupted system energy flow.
Audrey felt the connection to his power weaken.
"Damn it…"
---
The Betrayal Revealed
Suddenly —
A familiar voice echoed from behind the assassins.
"Mira."
Audrey's eyes widened slightly.
She walked forward calmly — standing beside the masked leader.
She removed her hood.
Her expression was cold.
Selene's eyes widened in shock.
"Mira?!"
Mira looked directly at Audrey.
"I was assigned long before I approached you."
Silence.
"My loyalty was never to you."
"It was to the council."
Audrey stared at her quietly.
"So everything…"
"Yes."
She continued.
"I reported your power growth."
"I provided strategic information."
"And I allowed this ambush to succeed."
Pain — not physical — but psychological — pierced deeper than the wounds on his body.
He had trusted her.
---
The Final Ambush Phase
The assassins activated their strongest formation.
Magic circles formed around Audrey.
Energy compression intensified.
The leader raised a blade glowing with destructive aura.
"Your system ends today."
Audrey knelt briefly — blood dripping onto the shattered ground.
He closed his eyes.
His thoughts stabilized.
They underestimated one thing.
I am not dependent on loyalty alone.
He activated a hidden function he had secretly prepared.
Emergency System Protocol — Absolute Release
Gold reserves were forcibly converted.
Not for offense.
Not for defense.
But for survival.
Golden energy exploded outward violently — breaking the suppression artifact.
The shockwave threw the assassins backward.
---
Counterattack Despite Injury
Audrey forced himself to stand.
His body screamed in pain.
But his eyes burned with determination.
He grabbed the nearest assassin and slammed him into the ground.
The second one attempted to attack from behind —
Audrey turned and crushed the weapon with pure golden force.
One by one —
He incapacitated them.
Not instantly.
Not perfectly.
But decisively.
The leader tried to escape.
Audrey extended his hand.
A concentrated golden spear formed.
"Tell the council…"
His voice was cold.
"If they want war…"
"They should send someone stronger."
He launched the spear.
It pierced the leader's shoulder — pinning him to the wall.
The battlefield fell silent.
---
Aftermath
Selene rushed toward him.
She supported his collapsing body before he fell.
"Stay with me!"
His injuries were severe.
But alive.
Mira and the surviving assassins were captured.
Political evidence now existed.
The betrayal was exposed.
The council's involvement could no longer be hidden.
Selene looked at the unconscious traitor.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"She used us…"
Audrey responded weakly.
"…No."
"She used opportunity."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"From now on…"
"Trust will be earned through proof — not words."
Jealousy had begun.
Betrayal had revealed itself.
And the war against hidden political enemies had officially turned personal.
---
End of Chapter 8