Blackspire, outskirts.
A Shadow Guard approached Allen, his face etched with worry. "Mr. Allen, trouble is brewing at the City Lord's Mansion. Two Ascetics have led over thirty Bright Knights out of the city."
With Raven gone, command of the Shadow Guards temporarily fell to him. Allen had learned his name was Clayton, a Stage 5 Berserker on the lower end of the spectrum.
"Only two of them? What are their levels?" Allen asked curiously.
Clayton let out a silent sigh. Only two? Did he really think that little?
"Two Stage 5 Ascetics, sir. Do you think you can handle them?"
He wasn't trying to look down on Allen, but Ascetics were the Church of Light's elite powerhouses. Even with the title The Heaven-Cursed, Allen stood little chance against them.
"And what about the Mansion? Can you get the City Lord and Lilia out safe?"
Allen didn't bother explaining. With his recent power surge and his new mastery of the Tempest Slash, taking down Stage 5 foes was a non-issue for him.
