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Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXII
Eyes of the Capital
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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Morning arrived slowly.
The ruined battlefield that had been illuminated by torches during the night was now exposed under the pale light of dawn. What had once been a peaceful forest now looked like a land struck by divine punishment.
The ground was torn apart.
Broken trees lay scattered like fallen soldiers.
The enormous crater in the middle of the clearing resembled a wound carved directly into the earth.
And within that crater…
The corpse of the monster remained.
Even under sunlight the creature looked horrifying. Its twisted limbs were stiff, and its skin had begun to darken as the remaining underworld energy slowly faded away.
Holy Guard investigators moved carefully around the body.
They worked in silence.
No one joked.
No one spoke loudly.
Every soldier present understood that what they were witnessing was not a normal monster incident.
Captain Darius Valen stood near the edge of the crater, watching everything.
His sharp eyes examined the battlefield one last time.
This place was full of answers.
But also far too many questions.
One of the investigators approached him and bowed slightly.
"Captain."
Darius nodded.
"What did you find?"
The man hesitated before speaking.
"The monster was definitely enhanced using underworld energy."
Darius had expected that answer.
But hearing it confirmed made his thoughts heavier.
The investigator continued.
"There's also something unusual about the killing blow."
Darius glanced toward the deep slash across the monster's torso.
"Yes?"
The investigator pointed toward the wound.
"The strike went directly through the creature's core."
Darius narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That's not unusual if the swordsman knew where to strike."
The investigator shook his head.
"That's not the strange part."
He knelt beside the corpse and gently touched the edge of the wound.
"The strange part… is the precision."
The captain remained silent.
"The blade didn't just cut the creature's body," the investigator explained quietly.
"It passed through muscle, bone, and spirit energy… all in a single strike."
The investigator stood slowly.
"That level of control isn't something ordinary warriors possess."
Darius already understood what he was implying.
Which meant the boy's story was most likely true.
Kashihero had killed the monster.
Darius folded his arms as he stared at the battlefield again.
"A young swordsman…"
"…with the power to kill an underworld creature."
He murmured the thought to himself.
Then he slowly turned his head toward a figure sitting nearby.
Arin.
The boy looked exhausted.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes, and his posture revealed that he hadn't slept properly.
Two Holy Guards stood nearby.
Watching him.
Not aggressively.
But carefully.
Because to them, Arin was the only living connection to the mysterious fighters who had appeared in the forest.
Darius began walking toward him.
Arin noticed the captain approaching and quickly stood up.
"Captain."
Darius studied him silently for a moment.
"You didn't sleep."
Arin rubbed his eyes slightly.
"I tried."
Darius nodded.
"That's understandable."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"We're returning to the capital."
Arin's expression shifted slightly.
"The capital?"
"Yes."
Darius's voice remained calm and steady.
"For now, you'll stay under our protection."
The word protection echoed strangely in Arin's mind.
He understood what it really meant.
They weren't letting him leave.
Not yet.
To the Holy Guards, he was important.
Because he was connected to Kashihero and Lucas.
Arin lowered his head slightly.
"…Alright."
Darius watched him closely.
"You trust your teachers."
Arin lifted his gaze again.
"Yes."
Darius asked quietly,
"Why?"
It was a simple question.
But it carried weight.
Arin thought about it for a moment.
Images flashed through his mind.
The moment he first met them.
Lucas's carefree smile.
Kashihero's calm, unreadable eyes.
The way they stood in front of the monster without fear.
Finally, Arin answered.
"Because they trusted me first."
Darius was silent.
Then he slowly nodded.
"Let's move."
---
The Return to the Capital
The Holy Guard unit left the ruined forest soon after.
The journey back to the capital took several hours.
During that time, Arin walked quietly among the soldiers.
The guards spoke among themselves occasionally, but most of them remained focused on the road.
Everyone seemed tense.
Word of the battlefield had already spread through the unit.
An underworld-tainted monster.
Hollow Sigil elders.
And two unknown warriors powerful enough to defeat them.
Those were not things that happened every day.
Arin noticed something else as they walked.
Several soldiers were always near him.
Two ahead.
Two behind.
Another one occasionally walking beside him.
They weren't treating him like a prisoner.
But they were definitely making sure he didn't wander away.
Eventually the tall walls of the capital appeared in the distance.
Stone towers rose toward the sky.
The massive gates stood open as travelers and merchants entered the city.
But the moment the Holy Guards approached…
Everything changed.
The gate soldiers immediately stepped aside.
"Captain Valen!"
Darius nodded once.
"Open the path."
The soldiers obeyed instantly.
The group entered the capital.
Noise surrounded them.
Carriages rolled along the streets.
Merchants shouted while advertising their goods.
Children ran between crowded stalls.
Life in the capital continued as if nothing unusual had happened.
But Arin knew something those people didn't.
A dangerous storm was coming.
And somewhere beyond the city walls…
His teachers were watching.
---
In the Forest
Far from the capital…
The forest remained quiet.
A small campfire burned in a hidden clearing.
Lucas sat beside the flames, lazily poking at the fire with a stick.
Kashihero stood nearby with his katana resting against his shoulder.
Lucas glanced toward the distant capital walls.
"So…"
"They took him."
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas didn't seem worried.
In fact, he almost looked amused.
"Well, that was predictable."
He tossed another small branch into the fire.
"They think he's bait."
Kashihero remained silent.
Lucas continued.
"The Holy Guards probably believe we'll try to rescue him."
Kashihero finally spoke.
"They're not wrong."
Lucas grinned.
"Exactly."
He stretched his arms and leaned back.
"So we wait."
Kashihero's gaze turned toward the capital.
"Yes."
Lucas chuckled.
"You're really patient."
Kashihero ignored the comment.
His attention was focused elsewhere.
Earlier that night…
He had sensed something strange.
A faint disturbance.
Deep.
Ancient.
Lucas noticed his expression.
"You felt it again, didn't you?"
Kashihero nodded slowly.
"Underworld energy."
Lucas's playful smile faded slightly.
"That means the seal is weakening faster."
The name Xarge echoed silently between them.
The Demon King.
The mission given by the system.
Lucas looked up at the sky.
"Well…"
"That means things are about to get interesting."
---
Beneath the Capital
Far below the bustling streets of the capital…
Hidden within forgotten ruins…
Dark figures gathered in silence.
The members of Hollow Sigil knelt around a massive black altar.
Crimson symbols glowed faintly across the stone floor.
A dark ritual circle surrounded the altar.
One of the cloaked followers spoke nervously.
"The Holy Guards returned to the capital."
Another added,
"They took the boy with them."
The chamber fell silent.
Then a deep voice echoed through the darkness.
"…Good."
The cloaked figures lowered their heads immediately.
"The vessel will come for him."
Dark energy pulsed through the chamber like a heartbeat.
"Prepare the next ritual."
One of the followers hesitated.
"My lord…"
"What about the Devourer?"
The darkness twisted slightly.
A cold laugh echoed through the ruins.
"Let him grow stronger."
"Predators become confident when they believe they are hunting."
The voice became quieter.
"And confident predators…"
"…are easier to trap."
The ritual circle pulsed again.
Because deep within the Abyss…
Ancient chains trembled.
The sealed presence of Demon King Xarge shifted slightly in the darkness.
---
Inside the Capital
Arin stood inside a room within the Holy Guard headquarters.
The room was simple.
A bed.
A wooden table.
And a large window overlooking the capital streets.
The guard who escorted him inside spoke briefly.
"You'll stay here for now."
Then the door closed.
Arin walked slowly toward the window.
From here he could see the endless streets of the city.
People moved below like tiny figures.
Carriages rolled through the main road.
Life continued normally.
But Arin knew something those people didn't.
The world was changing.
He rested his hand against the cold glass.
Somewhere beyond the capital walls…
Kashihero and Lucas were waiting.
He believed that.
Without hesitation.
But at that exact moment…
Far beneath the capital…
Inside the deepest chamber of the underground ruins…
A pair of glowing crimson eyes slowly opened.
A shadow moved across the altar.
And a whisper echoed through the darkness.
"The board is set."
Then the whisper grew quieter.
Almost curious.
"…but will the Devourer realize he is already inside the game?"
--- End of chapter XXII ---