"Leader, do you want to kill us?" Riku gasped, his voice shaking as Helios's ability pinned him ruthlessly to the ground.
"Those bastards think they can kidnap my sister, and I will let them live?" Helios hissed, his tone as sharp as ice.
"If you don't calm down, you might kill everyone in the room—including Sara!" Nova shouted, his voice coming out in desperate gasps.
Helios finally deactivated his ability, Tyrant's Pressure. The crushing weight lifted, and everyone in the room began breathing raggedly and coughing. Nova stood up, rubbing his neck. "You really want to kill us?"
"Find the person who wrote this letter before the sun sets, or I'll turn this kingdom into a graveyard," Helios hissed. The temperature in the room plummeted, turning freezing at the sound of his voice.
"Yes, Leader!" Rio and Nova shouted in unison.
"The rest of you, gather every member of the organization," Helios commanded.
"Yes, Leader!" the rest of the group replied, scurrying off to fulfil their tasks.
That night, every member of the Order of Blackthorn gathered in the assembly hall, waiting in tense silence for Helios to speak.
"Leader, we found out that there is a branch organization of the Principal of the Eclipse in the kingdom. It seems they were the ones who sent the letter," Nova reported in a cautious, low voice as Helios walked onto the stage.
"The Leader looks like he's going to explode at any moment," Sara whispered, watching Helios's rigid posture.
Helios looked out over the crowd. "Today, we stand at the threshold of our greatest challenge: a fight with the Principal of the Eclipse," he declared, his voice echoing through the hall. "This fight is not just about victory; it's about the future of our organization. Trust your training, lean on your teammates, and let your courage lead the way."
He paused, his eyes turning cold. "Some of you might die, but our motto says: To dance with the Veiled World is to waltz with fate—a gamble where every step may be your last and the final bow is only a heartbeat away."
The members erupted into cheers, their voices filled with newfound motivation.
"The Leader's speech has gotten good, but is he really not going to tell them that this is for his sister?" Rio asked, sounding sceptical.
"If he admits he is doing this for his own personal interest, no one will follow. But because he said it's for the organization, everyone will do it without objection," Riku said, watching Helios closely.
"It seems like he has changed," Sara added quietly.
Meanwhile, at the royal palace, the King and his assistant were tucked away in the King's office.
"Your Highness, it seems the other kingdoms have been making plans to start a war," the assistant said, his voice calm.
"We should be worried about external threats when we have internal threats even worse than those," the King sighed, the lamp on his desk casting long shadows over his tired face.
"What internal threats are you talking about, Your Highness?" a mocking voice drifted from the shadows. Suddenly, glowing red eyes and writhing black tentacles emerged from the darkness.
The King and his assistant began to sweat, immediately dropping to their knees. "My Queen, it has been a long time since you appeared," the King said, his voice trembling with terror.
"Oh, you missed me, human?" the Queen asked.
"I would never let my unclean mind think of someone as honourable as you" the King replied, his face turning pale as a tentacle wrapped around his throat.
"Oh, that's sad. I thought you missed me," the Queen said, her voice shifting into a chilling, childish tone. "A toy that doesn't live for its owner's sake should be destroyed." Her voice turned sinister again.
"My Queen, there is nothing more important than you in my life!" the King gasped as the tentacles squeezed tighter.
"Is that so? Not even your family and the throne?" she hissed.
"No... nothing," the King wheezed. The tentacles abruptly let go.
"Good," the Queen said, her voice becoming playful and childish once more. "Before I forget why I came here... an important person will be visiting me today. I think you call him Helios."
"Helios? Isn't he the child the Vaelthorne clan thinks is their old heir's son?" the King asked in surprise.
"Yes, he is. Let me tell you something else: no matter what happens, do not let the royal police or guards interfere," the Queen commanded before vanishing into the shadows.
"She's finally gone... that crazy creature," the assistant whispered, shaking.
Suddenly, a black tentacle shot out from the darkness and smashed the assistant's head into pieces.
"Your next assistant should be smarter," the Queen's voice echoed through the room.
"Today is going to be a long day," the King sighed, closing his eyes and leaning against his desk.
Helios and the organization arrived at the HQ of the Principal of the Eclipse branch. Members of the research facility began handing out rune paper—engraved with attack and defence spells—to those who could activate summons and those without abilities alike.
Ray led a separate group to set up a rune seal barrier, ensuring no one could escape or see inside from the outside.
"Leader, everything is ready," Nova said, now wearing the Investigation Facility's uniform.
"All combat teams are in position," Alex, Riku's captain, added.
Helios stepped to the front of the line. "Today, we go to war for Blackthorn!" he shouted, raising his hand high.
The Order of Blackthorn Rankings
- 1 Silver Star: The lowest rank. Members who haven't obtained their summons yet.
- 2 Stars: Members who have obtained an artefact but can not yet summon it.
- 3 Stars: Members who can summon their artifact but can not use their ability. They may lead a group of lower-ranking members.
- 4 Stars: Members who can use their abilities. They lead groups of 3-star members.
- 5 Stars (Captain): These members only take orders from the higher-ups and can lead anyone of a lower rank.
- Eagle Badge: Reserved for the higher-ups /Facility Leaders. They only take orders from the Leader and Vice-Leaders.