Chapter 650: Dark Ascension ( 650 )
Gurdan lay in his grand bed, deep in slumberâbare chest rising slowly with each breath, arms relaxed, completely unaware.
But the shadows in the room told a different story.
The Seventh Units had already infiltrated the royal chamber. Silent. Surrounding the bed from every angle. Blades drawn. Spells prepped. Their eyes locked onto the target.
The First leaned forward and whispered, barely audible.
âReady⊠on my signal.â
But before anyone could move, the Seventh scoffed, smug as ever. âWhat? Heâs a weakling. I can kill him alone.â
The Fourth gritted his teeth. âDonât talk like Gurdan is some palace guard. Heâs a king. A celestial vessel.â
Seventh sneered. âHah! Like I care. Watch thisâlet me show you how strong I am.â
Before the First could stop him, Seventhâs body surged with dark magic. He leapt into the air, blade glowing, descending in a direct kill arc toward the sleeping Gurdanâs neck.
But before the strike could landâ
BOOM!
Seventh was blasted mid-air by an invisible force, slamming him hard into the stone wall with a deafening crash. Dust fell from the ceiling. The bed didnât even move.
Gurdan slowly stirred.
His eyes opened, glowing faintly with a malicious golden hue.
He sat up, flexing his neck with a loud crack, and smirked.
âWell⊠well⊠wellâŠâ
He looked around at the figures in his room with eerie calm.
âLooks like the entire dessert plate of seventh trash is here.â
He stood, muscles tense, mana swirling faintly around him like heat.
âArenât you worried about your king?â he asked, eyes narrowing.
âBecause heâs not the only one who sent a special weakling unit tonight.â
He smiled wickedly, teeth showing.
âOhh~âŠâ Gurdan licked his lips slowly, savoring the moment as if tasting a rare delicacy.
His eyes shimmered with a twisted hunger.
âHe sent me something⊠delicious,â he whispered, mana crackling faintly across his fingertips. âSomething that can make me even stronger.â
He tilted his head, grinning darkly.
âAhh~ thank you, EdmundâŠâ
Another slow lick of his lips, as if imagining the power already coursing through him. The air in the room thickenedâunseen pressure tightening like a noose.
The First narrowed his eyes, body tense.
ââŠHeâs fully awakened.â
Gurdanâs smirk widened.
âWell thenâŠâ
His voice dropped, low and venomous.
âHow about all of you just surrenderâhmm?â
He spread his arms, invitingly.
âBecome food for my celestial. No struggle, no pain. Just sweet⊠power.â
He leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting with malice.
âDonât worry⊠Iâll make good use of your abilities. Your strength wonât go to waste~â
The celestial aura began to seep through the room like ink bleeding into waterâdark, heavy, pulsing.
From the shattered rubble, a figure slowly emergedâdust swirling around him like a rising demon.
It was Seventh.
He brushed blood from his lip, then stretched his neck with a loud crack. His grin widened, wild and unhinged.
âOhhhh~â he purred, eyes glowing with dark energy. âItâs been so long since I found someone this strong.â
He stepped forward, dragging his blade along the floor, sparks trailing behind.
âIâm getting excited.â
The rest of the unit stayed silent, watching as Seventh exhaled sharply and pointed his blade at Gurdan.
âDonât worry, Gurdan!â he shouted, eyes blazing. âYour life ends today!â
He reached into his magic storage ringâand Seven heads rolled out across the floor, stopping at Gurdanâs feet.
The severed heads of halfling elites.
Their expressions were frozen in terror.
âThe special unit you sent to our kingâŠâ Seventh sneered.
âWas this?â
He laughedâlow, echoing.
âThey were strong⊠sure.â
He stomped one of the heads lightly with his boot. âBut letâs just sayâŠâ
He lifted his blade and pointed it dead at Gurdan, pupils narrowing.
âThey were also too weak.â
Gurdanâs head loweredâhis long hair casting a shadow over his face.
At first, only a faint sound escaped his lips.
âHu⊠hu⊠huâŠâ
Then it builtâinto a low, guttural chuckle.
âKukukuâŠâ
âGYAAAAHAHAHAHA!!â
His voice erupted like thunder, echoing through the royal chamber. Veins pulsed along his neck and arms as his muscles tensed unnaturally. The golden glow in his eyes exploded into a blinding, sinister light.
âYESSSSS!!!â Gurdan roared.
The air around him warped, a shockwave bursting outward as his mana spiraled out of control.
From deep within, a new voice echoed, layered with his ownâa distorted, celestial voice taking hold.
âWeâve found it⊠a better enhancementâŠâ
The celestial was mergingâfully possessing Gurdanâs body now.
His skin shimmered with divine symbols. His teeth sharpened. His already stout frame twisted into something monstrousârefined but feral. The room darkened as if the walls themselves feared what stood there now.
âMAKE ME POWERFUL!!â Gurdan screamed with maddened glee.
âDEVOUR THEMâALL SEVEN OF THESE TRASH!!â
He slammed his fists together, shaking the floor.
âAnd once weâre done here⊠weâll go after Edmund next!â
He laughed again, wild and frenzied.
âI know that bastard is nearbyâwatching. Waiting. He thinks Iâm just another pawn.â
He opened his arms wide, muscles glowing, power radiating.
âCome on, you celestial scraps. Let me feast on your despair!!â
The First stood firm, his eyes locked onto the grotesque form Gurdan had become.
No hesitation. No fear.
He raised his right handâfingers spread.
The signal.
âNow,â he commanded sharply. His voice was calm, but every word carried weight. âActivate your power. Maximum capacity. Hold nothing back.â
Each of the Seventh Unit responded instantly.
Mana exploded from their bodiesâdark, violent, precise. Their disguises shattered away, revealing their true forms, armored in enchanted gear and embedded with runes glowing like veins of power.
The Second clenched her daggers, wind magic spiraling around her like a storm.
The Thirdâs skin hardened with earth enchantments, fists glowing hot.
The Fourth vanished into thin airâonly a shimmer left behind.
The Fifth hovered, lightning cracking from her limbs.
The Sixth took stance with her cursed twin spearsâblades humming.
And the Seventh?
He was already grinning like a madman, his aura burning black with chaos.
The Firstâs eyes sharpened.
âOur king is waiting.â
âWe are not here to win. We are here to weaken him.â
âDo not get caught. Prioritize survival. Deliver damage. Leave scars. And move.â
âYes, Leader!!â they shouted in unison.
The castle trembled as seven elite assassins vanished into motionâunleashing every ounce of their power in a coordinated, deadly strike toward the possessed Gurdan.
( End Of Chapter )
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