Chapter 1382: Implication

Anorah stared at the Will Guard’s main base with a conflicted look.

It was imposing in size and magnitude. A colossus of pure white and gold, its height seemingly piercing through the heavens.

Despite being in the center parts of the Willess World, where the bases of the major factions resided, the building stood out. It only went to show just how much power the Will Guard held, even compared to the others.

The people of the middle planes had never truly understood where the Will Guard had come from or why the major factions simply sat still and watched them do whatever they wanted. However, their mystery didn’t deny their power.

This was the main reason for Anorah’s current conflicted look.

’A trap.’

The Will Guard was dangerous. Their monopoly on the resources of the Willess World made them more feared than even the major factions. It granted them the power to create numerous technologies that affected the use of will.

A technology that enabled man to battle god. What fact could be more frightening?

Regardless, if this was a trap, and the Will Guard were expecting her, then there was a high chance that they wouldn’t be able to escape once they entered.

Anorah felt One’s gaze on her, but didn’t say anything. She could feel his hesitation, his reluctance.

’He would have said something if it were just both of us.’ She determined.

Questioning her in front of another could be seen in a bad light. She was their Saint, their light. Her authority was absolute.

’I’ll have to decide.’

Anorah stared at the building once more. There was only one entrance, with the surroundings filled with numerous fortifications. She could feel her will waver just by being close.

Her eyes flickered back to One and Lazio.

’Their lives are in my hands.’

This was what caused her the most hesitation. One of the things she despised was being the cause of her people’s harm.

"Well, what do you think?" Anorah suddenly broke the silence, glancing at Lazio, whose face was hardened, tense.

"Hard truth, Saint?" he said grimly.

Anorah gave a nod.

"It looks bad." He stared at the building. "They’ve changed everything. The structures, the entrances... even the walls feel different. Their security has been reinforced."

This was the main reason Anorah had brought him along. Unlike Anorah, Lazio had many run ins with the Will Guard in the past before joining the resistance.

He had mounted many rescues on their main base. Coming here, he had assured her that a rescue was very much possible. However, from his current grim look, she doubted it.

Lazio’s eyes had narrowed.

"And worse... can you feel it, Saint? That faint glow surrounding the entire base... that’s a will supplication field. The moment we step inside, we won’t be able to use our wills anymore."

"You assured me we would be able to get them out, Lazio." Anorah’s voice was hard.

"I apologize. It’s been just over two years, I’m surprised they’ve changed so much, in such little time. You may punish me as you see fit."

Anorah leveled her eyes on the base.

"So it’s impossible?" she asked.

Lazio hesitated for a moment.

"Not impossible. Just... very dangerous."

There was a moment of silence before One broke it.

"What are your orders, Saint?"

Anorah turned to see One staring straight at her. Even though he didn’t speak, his eyes said it all.

Anorah sighed. It didn’t look like there was any other choice.

"We’ll treat this as scouting out the base. We’ll return when we’re better prepared."

Both men bowed.

"Yes Saint."

"Let’s go."

They jumped down from the roof of the tall building and into an alleyway. As they began making their way through, Anorah abruptly paused. She scanned the area.

’It’s dark.’

This was the center parts. Night or not, the streets were always perfectly paved, perfectly lit. But what made her even more wary was the fact that they had passed this alley earlier, and it had been well lit.

’Something’s wrong.’

Anorah’s eyes flickered. Her cloudy thoughts vanished, replaced by an unnerving calm. Her gaze shone through the dark, piercing, calculating.

The path of Logoth was to see things for what they truly were. And in the quiet of the night, she saw it all.

The shifting shadows. The unusually cold air. The silence... the bustling noises from the streets had vanished, replaced by a grave like silence.

In reality, not even a second had passed since they entered the alleyway. Yet, Anorah had gone through thousands of scenarios in her head.

Her lips parted.

"Ambush."

One and Lazio tensed. Their expressions flickered from shock to horror then focus. The former reached for his sword, the latter placing a palm on the paved ground. Each one held their will stones tightly.

Inwardly, the Saint sent a telepathic message to One and Lazio.

’We fight to escape.’

A unified nod, and Anorah’s body began radiating an intense light. She was about to erupt when a wave suddenly spread over them.

’The will...’

She couldn’t unleash her will, she realized. But it wasn’t just that. The light had vanished from the streets, plunging their world in a thick darkness. The silence was deafening.

But Anorah’s eyes maintained their perfect calm despite the sudden changes. The Will Guard had activated a supplication field that not only suppressed will, but also light. The implications were profound.

’They were expecting me.’

Someone had betrayed the resistance. Someone had leaked information about her power.

Still, Anorah felt nothing. She only saw what was. Reality. And right now, they were being ambushed.

Multiple figures suddenly emerged, surrounding them. Anorah’s eyes swept over the area.

Some stood at the entrance of the alleyway and others at the top of the buildings. Their piercing stares were locked on to them.

’Will Guards.’

They were clad in their usual white and gold uniforms, each one more formidable than the last.

But of all of them, Anorah’s eyes were fixed on the two masked figures standing at the entrance of the alleyway.

’Sentinels.’

The expressions of One and Lazio darkened.

Then a voice tore through the silence.

"Fugitive!" it rang through the alley, coming from one of the Will Guards perched on top of the building. "By decree of the Will Guard, you are wanted for crimes against the order. Surrender at once!"

Suddenly, one of the Sentinels raised a hand, palm open as though already commanding obedience.

"Place your hands where we can see them. Kneel, and release your will into the ground. Any resistance will be considered treason, punishable by death." His voice was much more leveled. Emotionless.

At that moment, the tension seemed to spike. There was nothing but utter silence, and One and Lazio looked to their leader, expressions grim.

Anorah felt their stares, what they hoped to ask. But in situations like this, Anorah was never a type to hesitate.

Scenes began flashing through her mind. The Big Bang. The birth of Solvath. The creation of the universe. The betrayal. The oath of vengeance.

The emotions rippled through Anorah, but they did nothing to shake her. She only saw what was. No emotion would control her. She was Logoth.

Anorah ignited in a surge of blinding purple. Her aura flooded the area... Solvath’s aura.

Many of the Will Guards took an instinctive step back. They could feel the urge to bow. To worship.

But of them all, only the Sentinels remained utterly unphased. Anorah wasn’t going to allow that to stand.

She raised her palm, and a beam of purple erupted from it, screaming towards the Sentinels. Its glow seemed to bathe the entire alleyway.

As the beam reached them, one of the Sentinels suddenly brought out a round device and threw it into the beam.

For a moment, it seemed as though the device would disintegrate under the might of the light. However, the opposite occurred.

As it reached the beam, it suddenly exploded.

Anorah watched, eyes narrowed, as the beam was sucked mid air. It was akin to a black hole swallowing it.

It vanished the next moment, and silence descended.

A single thought thundered in Anorah’s head. ’They can block Solvath’s power?’

How... that was her main question. How the hell was this possible? Though she held just a single fragment, Solvath was a primordial star. The first. How the hell were the Will Guard able to achieve this?

"It’s futile." The Sentinel that had spoken before said. "Surrender, now. You will not be asked again."

It wasn’t looking good. They were boxed, cornered. No edge of having Solvath’s power. However, Anorah couldn’t shake off the feeling.

Why were they still asking for her surrender instead of simply attacking?

’They want to capture me.’ She realized. ’To lead them to the other marked. Atticus.’

However, for Anorah, it was good news. It meant she still had leverage. They would try not to kill her. They would be cautious.

’Follow me closely.’ She sent a telepathic message to One and Lazio.

And in the next moment, her violet aura erupted into the night skies.