A Few Months Back
Having repaired the previously damaged ship found on Shipwreck Island, the magical ship once again soared the Sky Above. Its weathered hull groaned under the strain, the scars of its past still etched deep into the wood, but it held. The torn sails had been mended, the broken mast reinforced, and though it was far from perfect, it was seaworthy again, or in this case airworthy.
After a few more tests had been completed, Nephis and her cohort could finally cruise down to the Sky Below and challenge the Second Nightmare. But before this, under Cassie's prophetic urging — they had another member to recruit.
A mysterious person named Mordret.
Although Nephis was not entirely convinced, Cassie's visions had never led them astray. What she didn't yet have, was any idea of how to free the enigmatic prisoner.
Cassie and Nephis gathered on the deck, took out a silencing memory and activated it just in case. Once they were sure that no one was listening, did Nephis summon [Covetous Coffer] and draw out the shard of glass that the blind seer had asked her to safeguard.
Cassie took the lead as they agreed, since she was the one who best knew Mordret from her visions and her ability to glimpse a few seconds into the future, she held an undeniable advantage.
"Hello, Mordret," she said quietly.
For a few seconds nothing happened, the air remained silent and the shard remained dull and lifeless.
Then — a faint ripple passed through its surface. Like disturbed water, the glass shimmered and a pale reflection began to form where there should have been none.
"You caught me at an unfortunate time," a soft, smooth voice murmured from within the glass. "To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"
"I think that's unimportant compared to the matters we've got to discuss." She replied without missing a beat.
"Matters to discuss?" Mordret asked. "How intriguing. Pray tell, what brings two such promising figures to disturb my solitude?"
Cassie didn't flinch as she responded, "You want to destroy Clan Valor and also want to clear the Second Nightmare… lucky for you our goals are aligned."
Mordret's reflection sharpened, eyes gleaming with interest. "My, my, you do know a lot."
"Since we have mutual goals, it only makes sense to ally with each other. We will free you from the Night Temple and challenge the Second Nightmare alongside you. In exchange, you must offer up all your capabilities to us in destroying Clan Valor."
Mordret took time answering — the surface of the shard went eerily calm, as if the presence within had withdrawn entirely.
Then, a quiet chuckle echoed from the glass as a content smile appeared on Cassie's lips.
"A generous proposal," Mordret murmured, "Well I doubt I'll get any better deals. So I will have to accept."
"I expected as much," she answered softly.
"Now may I know the identities of my mysterious patrons?"
Cassie's smile faded, instead a wistful expression took place. "My name is Cassie and the name of my partner is Nephis. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Mordret's reflection smiled, "Ah! The pleasure is all mine… Since it would be rude not to oblige. I am Mordret of Valor, Princess of Nothing, Heir of War and the woman who will kill Anvil of Valor."
Nephis suppressed a snort. Killing Anvil? She'd have to beat her to it.
The voice quickly continued, "Now, how will you free me?"
"In two months' time, we will strike the Night Temple. So be ready," Cassie explained.
…
Now
A mysterious figure approached the Temple of Night, clad in a bleak, lustreless armour — the figure looked like a vengeful specter.
"Halt!" A sentry barked.
And thus, the figure stopped — much to their surprise.
"Identify yourself," the sentry demanded, clutching the shaft of his spear he looked ready to pounce.
Yet the figure didn't respond and instead dismissed her armour revealing a silver haired young lady with pristine skin — Nephis had come to free Mordret.
"Lady Nephis?" The sentry asked in confusion.
"I'm here to see someone," she stated calmly.
The sentry frowned, "B—but this is the Night Temple," he said, not sure how to respond. "No one enters without permission."
Instead of answering, Nephis kept silent, summoned the [Mordant Mimic]. The soldiers unconsciously tensed up, one of the sentinels knocked an arrow while the other raised his warhammer.
But contrary to all expectations, Nephis did not attack. She retrieved a book — Moby Dick and used the mimic as a casual support, leaned back and flipped through the book.
The guards froze.
One of them still had his bow drawn, the arrow trembling ever so slightly. The other kept his warhammer raised, but the earlier confidence had drained from his stance, replaced by confusion.
"…What is she doing?" one of them muttered under his breath.
"Call Sir Pierce, tell him that Lady Nephis is acting weird."
Soon, the sentinel came back, accompanied by a tall and dark-haired man that exuded an air of superior confidence.
Nephis tilted her head, her pale eyes drifting from the page to the approaching man, studying him in silence. Only then did she open her mouth, "You're going to die."
Master Pierce raised a brow, "Huh?"
And then, the entire world was suddenly drowned in white radiance. A pristine shadow ignited in the heart of the Island, swelling, growing… into a massive ball of flame and destruction.
Nephis had detonated four out of her seven cores.
The narrow set of stairs that connected to the Night Temple, burned and sludged, turning into a wet slop of lava. The Island exploded into dust, and the vibrant forest was erased from existence by the cascading shockwaves following the detonation.
[You have slain an Awakened Human, Peter of Valor.]
[You have slain an Awakened Human, Greg of Valor.]
[You have slain an Awakened Human, Marie of Valor.]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Awakened Human…]
[You have slain an Ascended Human, Pierce of Valor.]
Finally the incandescent flames faded, smoke curled lazily, ash fell like slow.
The Night Temple — once imposing, untouchable — was now a fractured husk, its outer structures reduced to molten debris and shattered stone. The ground itself had sunk and warped.
At the center of the devastation, a lone figure stood.
Nephis lowered her hand slowly, her expression unchanged, she entered the temple without a care for the destruction she caused.
A minute or two later she arrived at the Inner Sanctum and withdrew the shard of glass from [Covetous Coffer].
Immediately a thin line appeared on the shard as it shattered into countless mirrors. Then, the leading soldier of the reserve sentinels rushing in suddenly slowed.
His body went limp. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he had simply lost consciousness — his knees buckling, his weapon slipping from his grasp.
But just before he could hit the ground, his body jerked.
His head snapped upright.
And a slow, unnatural smile crept across his face.
The soldier inhaled sharply, as if drawing breath for the first time, and then… he laughed.
Without a word, he turned.
The men rushing in behind him barely had time to react.
One fell with his throat opened before he could even scream. Another tried to raise his weapon, only for it to be driven straight through his chest with brutal precision. The corridor erupted into chaos.
The possessed soldier moved like a phantom, and when the last body hit the ground. The same eerie smile was still plastered on his face.
His body slowly turned, his gaze landing on Nephis.
"…Ah," he said, his voice no longer sounding normal — instead hollow, amused, and unmistakably familiar.
"How refreshing."
Mordret of Valor had escaped.
____
A/N - Peak chapter? Yes, Mordret IS a girl! And yes she IS the female lead! I know the fight between Nephis and the Sentry's were anticlimatic but I'm kinda exhausted. I had a surprise test which counts to my internals for sum reason and I fucked that up and I didn't really wanna write an extended fight scene. Plus I'm the biggest Neph hater on the planet if you guys know me from Reddit. So that's also the reason.