Chapter 533: Backstab

After the fierce battle, the onlookers had been driven far away. At the center of the battlefield stood only one man and one dragon.

Roan had taken advantage of the shockwave’s sweep to swiftly remove the four black nails embedded in Karlos’s body. Now he was using a potent healing scroll to ease the other’s wounds.

Though Karlos bore several gaping holes in his flesh, the dragon’s extraordinary constitution and regenerative power meant he would recover soon enough.

“Roan… did he… kill the Crown Prince?”

A young noble asked with trembling voice, eyes wide with terror.

Such a devastating attack—surely no one could have survived?

If so, then truly, the throne of Ordain Kingdom had no heir left!

Roan’s spiritual sense swept across the ruins. He sensed Garrett still alive beneath the rubble, heartbeat strong, even mustering strength to shift the wreckage—likely waiting for an opening to strike from ambush.

In truth, Roan had deliberately veered his final blow at the last moment, sparing the man’s life.

Not out of mercy. Not because he hesitated or feared killing Garrett.

Simply because it wasn’t time yet.

His accusations against Garrett were still unproven—one side of the story, however plausible, lacked direct evidence.

He turned his gaze toward the beautiful woman who had watched silently all along.

“Well? How long do you intend to remain a mere spectator, Storm Envoy?”

Selandir’s lips curled slightly as she drifted forward, clapping her hands lightly through the crowd. She appeared utterly unruffled.

“To think such a young Legendary would emerge on this continent, where elemental energies are thin and chaotic… truly astonishing!”

Her faintly scornful praise struck the surrounding people like thunderclaps.

“Legendary?”

“Gods above—Legendary? A star above the sun itself?”

The crowd erupted into frantic whispers.

Since Emperor Orlandt’s passing, no Legend had walked this land.

And now Roan had ascended?

Fellens, Andrea, and Maelen paled.

They had hoped to eliminate Roan before he reached their unreachable heights—yet he had already soared beyond them.

They killed Bruno, unknowingly freeing Roan from restraint. Now, if Roan turned against them, how could they possibly resist?

Regret welled up quietly within them.

Had they another chance, perhaps they wouldn’t have slain Bruno.

Better to live in uneasy peace than in endless dread.

But there was no remedy for regret in this world.

Roan ignored her praise.

“On my way to Golden Feather City, I wondered—Garrett, for all his cunning, could never devise such a complex scheme alone. If I’m not mistaken, it was you who orchestrated everything: from sending Brett to assassinate the King, to exploiting the disturbances in Misthaven to lure me from North U, to framing me afterward…”

Selandir glanced at the ruins, then at Fellens and the others in the crowd, finally fixing her eyes on Roan.

She laughed softly. “Indeed. It was all my design.”

The moment those words left her lips, Fellens, Andrea, and the rest stared in shock.

Was Selandir openly admitting that Garrett was responsible for Bruno’s murder?

Doing something was one thing—letting everyone know was entirely different.

“No, no, no!”

Duke Fellens’s face twisted with fear. This was not part of the plan.

This should never have been spoken aloud.

Roan, too, was surprised. He’d merely hoped to extract a clue—but she confessed outright.

He paused, pondering—what was her purpose in doing so?

In truth, the Sacred Storm Order had not come to Orlandt Continent to bring rule, nor peace.

To the Demon God, stability was meaningless.

Their true goal had always been war—to turn society into a nursery amid chaos, cultivating more Storm Envoys and Flame Seal Knights, harnessing their power to restore the Demon God grievously wounded a thousand years past.

To Selandir, Garrett’s pride, the nobles’ dignity—none of it mattered.

Facing Roan now, Garrett was of limited use. Better to bind them all to her cause, leaving no room for reconciliation or compromise.

Besides, even as a Grand Magus, she was still vulnerable against a Legend. If these nobles made peace with Roan, she would become the enemy of all.

Boom!

A violet lightning beam blasted through the debris. Garrett leapt from the rubble, first glaring at Selandir—then swiftly turning his hatred upon Roan.

To him, patricide was no longer a weight upon his soul.

His pride, his psyche, had been crushed beneath Roan’s relentless fists until nothing remained.

Now, all Garrett craved was greater power—and the chance to destroy the man who stood before him, calm and untouchable.

“Enough talk, Selandir. Unleash your full power. Even if I die, you won’t escape either!”

Garrett snarled, “Fellens, Andrea, Maelen, Laushan—and all you nobles—heed my command! Surround and attack Roan!

Anyone who hesitates betrays the Kingdom of Ordain. When this is over, I’ll raze your houses, one by one!”

At his words, the silent nobles stirred uneasily.

They looked at Garrett, then at Roan—caught between two terrors.

Yet the Crown Prince demanded they choose.

Roan swept his gaze across the crowd.

“You’ve all heard it now. King Bruno died by their hands. As the Duke of Conquest, personally appointed by His Majesty, and as Guardian Knight of Ordain Kingdom, I bear the duty to avenge him.”

He paused.

“Now, let all uninvolved parties leave. In the name of House Wushan, I swear—should Garrett seek vengeance against your families for this, the Duke of Conquest shall forever grant you and your descendants sanctuary.”

Silence hung briefly—then at last, someone stepped forward.

Roan remembered—he was Baron Dani of Ent Valley, under Moonlight Vale.

“Duke Roan, please—avenge His Majesty! Should you need any supplies, Ent Vale pledges full support!”

Garrett’s eagle-like eyes snapped toward Dani. “You dare defy me? Die!”

Sssshhh—

A razor-sharp bolt of lightning shot forth. Dani felt his entire body freeze—death certain if struck.

But then, a figure rose before him—solid as a mountain, unwavering.

With a single raised palm, the lightning was caught, dispersed into sparks.

“Th-thank you…”

Luo Ning glanced at the other, "Let's go. Leave Golden Feather Palace and reveal the truth here to the world!"

"Alright!"

Dane no longer dared to linger. He dashed toward the palace gate.

Inspired by his action, a second, then a third soon followed.

Garrett, Ferals, and others attempted to intervene, but Luo Ning blocked each of them.

In the distance, Brohl, the deputy commander of the Royal Gryphon Knights, finally broke free from his duties. Watching Luo Ning stand alone against the encirclement of dozens led by Serandil, reverence welled up uncontrollably in his heart.

"I... must do something—for you, and for His Majesty the King!" (End of Chapter)