Chapter 504: Aftermath

Luo Ning's longsword pierced Catherine's heart with surgical precision, felling the foreign warrior who had followed Thelendir from the Plain of Sorrowful Winds.

Only then did Aruba finally catch up, landing heavily upon the earth.

Witnessing this outcome, the already aged man seemed to age another decade in an instant.

Before arriving, they had rehearsed their entrapment-killing formation—its intended target being Lord Yan Yi, a blazing Flame Envoy of Solar Ranks. Though Yan Yi had weakened his true form cultivating numerous Flame-Seal Knights, he still possessed genuine late-Solar strength.

Yet even such a formidable warrior had been ensnared by their formation for half an hour before breaking free—provided he didn’t strike at its weak point.

That very drill had given Aruba, Catherine, and others the confidence to slay dragons and defeat Luo Ning.

They never expected that in actual combat, Luo Ning would so swiftly discern the formation’s flaw and break through it in mere moments.

Luo Ning turned toward the old man. “If my guess is correct, you must be Marquis Aruba, the famed general of the Trisia Kingdom?”

Aruba nodded. “Lord Luo Ning, your strength astounds me. With such potential, why not join the Sacred Storm? Receive the Flame Seal bestowed by Lord Yan Yi, and your power will surpass the Solar Rank, making you a legendary knight unseen in centuries!”

“Both Lord Yan Yi and Lord Thelendir seek to build their own kingdoms. With legendary might, you could sweep across this continent like Emperor Orland the First, founding an empire vast and enduring!”

Luo Ning sneered. He hadn’t expected, even at this juncture, to be recruited into the Sacred Storm.

“To think an elder like you would surrender freedom, placing your life in another’s hands—what a pity.”

“You misunderstand,” Aruba shook his head. “To become one of the Celestial Clan means my freedom and life remain mine alone. Thelendir cannot command us against our will.”

“Oh? That’s what they told you?”

From Sophia, Luo Ning knew the nature of both races. Indeed, neither the Celestial Clan nor the Flame-Seal Knights lost their minds or were enslaved—utterly unlike the Soul-Witch Tribe.

But every time they used those wings or activated the Flame Seal, the demonic god’s power eroded their souls. Before long, they’d become loyal servants without choice.

“Well?” Aruba extended his hand in invitation. “Join us, and we shall crown you king!”

“Do you truly believe I need such power?” Luo Ning activated Wind-Step, appearing instantly beside Aruba. “Without any Flame Seal, I shall still become legend!”

The Flaming Sword slashed down—Aruba barely escaped using Wind-Step himself.

But Luo Ning’s relentless close-quarters assault left no room to breathe.

Blades flashed, techniques clashed. The battle between two Solar Knights blurred sky and earth, reducing nearby buildings to rubble.

Though Aruba was battle-hardened, against Luo Ning’s storm-like onslaught, he soon felt overwhelmed.

He tried distracting him with words, but Luo Ning’s will was forged steel—unmoved, unshaken.

In truth, within only three or four exchanges, Aruba was already bloodied and broken.

“Luo Ning… do you really think you can defy the entire Sacred Storm?” Aruba gasped, seeking even a sliver of respite.

Luo Ning scoffed, his swordplay undiminished. “I fear no organization, bow to no force. You who joined them are merely pitiful wretches—blinded by power, forsaking your humanity.”

Aruba knew: if this dragged on, he would die.

And he did not wish to die.

“Escape! If I can return, receive the Flame Seal from Lord Yan Yi—I’ll gain the power to defeat Luo Ning!”

He channeled all his qi into his wings, accelerating to his limit.

Luo Ning cast Shadow-of-Wind, then Instant Light Body and Swift Step, while binding Aruba with Wind Tendrils.

“You’re still too slow.”

His voice rang behind Aruba.

Then, a cold blade of sword-qi pierced Aruba’s chest.

Marquis Aruba’s face twisted in disbelief. Slowly, he turned, staring at Luo Ning, eyes filled with bitter resentment.

“You…”

With final breath, he spat a curse: “You will die… slain by Lord Yan Yi!”

“At least you die before I do.”

Qi erupted, tearing Aruba apart into fragments.

Luo Ning took a deep breath, glancing upward at Karlos’ aerial battle.

The remaining Moon-Silver and Star-Level winged warriors could no longer harm the dragon. By now, Karlos had slaughtered nearly all of them.

He leapt into the air—the fight near Rudar was nearing its end.

“To the West Gate,” he murmured, activating Shadow-of-Wind and dashing westward.

The North Gate had Rudar—he should be safe.

But the West Gate troubled him most. Elron, Sophia, Melonica—all allies. If Ural and Aruba had stationed heavy forces there targeting Sophia, his losses would be devastating.

Yet, strangely, no foreign troops appeared at the west.

By the time Luo Ning arrived, Elron and Sophia had already breached the gate and stormed into the city.

“Head to reinforce the North Gate,” Luo Ning called from above. Before the echo faded, he shot skyward, racing north.

It had been at least five or six minutes since he’d been trapped.

And those few minutes had been Garrett’s darkest hour.

His griffin riders were being hunted midair—attacked by flying knights and enemy dragon-eagles—falling one after another.

Just as he rose to cut down a few aerial foes, three Silver-Moon knights surged forward, surrounding him completely.

Thankfully, Yurg came to aid, saving him from mortal injury—but in doing so, his finest knight, Yurg, fell dead from the sky.

Surveying the battlefield, Gu Shan and Iben fought Ural and his Silver-Moon subordinates. Rudar was locked in combat with an enemy Solar Knight.

But what chilled Garrett most was seeing Viscount Willis of Black Jade Bay—his chest pierced through!

This venerable lord, pivotal to the kingdom—dead on this battlefield?

Garrett froze.

Knights died—that was war. But if a noble of such standing perished due to his own manipulations, and someone uncovered how he altered Bruno’s orders—there would be consequences.

In that stunned moment, a sharp blade pierced his arm. A tremendous force hurled him backward.

“Don’t kill him,” someone warned.

"Don't worry, I didn't pierce his heart."

The three assailants had no intention of killing Garrett outright—and precisely because of that restraint, he now felt an unprecedented exhaustion and despair.

Yet at that moment, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Rowan hovering briefly in the air, and suddenly a spark of hope ignited within him.

If only Rowan could break free from his own struggle, salvation would be near.

But to his utter shock, Rowan merely glanced at the battlefield—then flew away without hesitation!

"Rowan!"

Garrett's despair erupted into fury toward the retreating figure.

Rowan could have come to help—he clearly could have—but instead, he chose to leave. (End of Chapter)