Chapter 434 -
"Lady Sylvaris, take my blood and heal him," Tyrion said, extending his arm forward.
"W-what do you mean?" Sylvaris asked, confused.
"This is not the time for questions, Lady Sylvaris," Vyrion said in a louder voice. "He does not have much time remaining."
Although puzzled, Sylvaris nodded. Vyrion made a deep cut on his palm and placed it over Aurelion's wound. As Vyrion's blood fell onto the wound, the green veins slowly stopped spreading and completely vanished within a few seconds.
"Lady Sylvaris, do it now," Vyrion said, moving his hand back.
Sylvaris began the healing again. The internal organs regenerated, the flesh reformed, and the wound slowly closed. Aurelion's breathing was now stable.
"H-he is safe now," Sylvaris murmured, collapsing onto the bed, completely exhausted from healing a Demi-God.
It was only when the healing was completed that Taranis loosened his tightened fist. Turning to Tartaglia, he ordered, "Take Lady Sylvaris to her room."
Tartaglia nodded and carried Sylvaris out in a princess carry, closely followed by the disciples of the Flowerbane Sect.
Except for Doran, everyone else also left the room to let Aurelion rest.
---
"Main Quest: Save Nymeria's life.
Deadline: 18 days, 19 hours, 50 minutes."
"The Host is affected by the Corruption of Death.
Current Progress: 79%."
"The Host has accumulated negative Karma.
The Host's control over Sovereign-class lightning has been reduced by 50%."
The voices inside Taranis's mind had grown more violent. Each word felt as if his soul was being peeled away. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Taranis to maintain his composure.
Another strange phenomenon began occurring within him. When Taranis left Aurelion's room, the pain in his head became so severe that he lost consciousness.
tARaNIsdeMONWHystoPPedklllIngwewanTMOreblOOD!!!
Suddenly, his consciousness returned, and he saw a woman before him, crying while holding a child in her arms. She was a citizen of Ironvale.
Taranis moved closer and asked,
"What happe—"
"Pl-please show mercy, lord," the woman begged, shivering in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The woman had a deep cut on her forearm. Taranis lowered his gaze to his hand and found a sword in it, dripping with blood.
His hand trembled, and he immediately threw the sword aside.
"F-forgive me..." he murmured, visibly shaking.
The woman grabbed her child and ran away. Only then did Taranis realize how severe his condition had become. If his consciousness had returned even a second later, he would have killed them. They were not cultivators. They were just innocent people trying to survive the war of the Awakeners.
He fell onto his back, breathing heavily, and took out the locket from his neck. He gently brushed Nymeria's smiling face inside it, then touched the engagement ring of Ume on his finger.
These two were the only things that helped him calm his mind when the corruption of death became overwhelming or when he felt that he was losing himself.
"Sir Morningstar," a voice called from behind. He turned to find Tyrion and his teammates coming toward him.
"I have been looking for you," Vyrion said, sitting beside Taranis.
"Thank you for saving Lord Aurelion," Taranis murmured, his voice low and calm. "I'm truly grateful."
Vyrion nodded, and the duo remained silent for a few seconds.
"You aren't going to ask me about my relationship with the empire?" Vyrion asked, seeing that Taranis did not mention the topic.
"You saved the life of someone important to me," Taranis replied. "I have no right to demand any answers from you."
Another brief silence followed.
Taking a deep breath, Vyrion revealed,
"I'm the third prince of the Azure Sun Empire. I was illegitimate, so I do not have a surname. I stayed in the castle for a few years but eventually left the capital because of the constant schemes of Hector and Adam to get rid of me.
I did not hate them. Their hatred was justified since I was a stranger who still lived in the castle as their equal. However, my feelings changed when they bared their fangs at Su Yan. They were the reason she fell into Soulforce Deviation.
When I complained to Kharos, instead of holding his sons accountable for the crime, he banished me to the Abandoned Lands."
Taranis listened to his story silently, and once Vyrion stopped, he asked only one question,
"Will you stand in my way if I kill Kharos?"
"No," the answer was immediate. "I do not care what happens to him. I only told you this story because I felt a similarity with you. Both of our lives have become miserable because of Kharos."
After a brief silence, Taranis said, "The border walls will be breached in tomorrow's battle."
Vyrion's eyes widened at the sudden revelation.
"M-millions of innocent citizens will die tomorrow," Vyrion muttered, clenching his fists.
"They will not. Gather your friends and do not leave the city," Taranis ordered.
---
The short night soon vanished as the sun rose over the horizon once again.
The empire's knights, filled with confidence in their certain victory, surrounded the borders of Ironvale the moment sunlight touched the land.
"Wh-what is this?" Erik muttered, seeing the vast army marching toward the walls. He was stationed on the opposite side of the fortress, where the empire's presence had been minimal. He had not faced much difficulty defending the wall, as the knights of Ironvale were blindly following his orders.
But now, the number of enemy soldiers had increased exponentially, appearing to be in the millions. Not to mention, the one commanding them from the front was none other than Hector Solaris.
"L-lord Erik, we can't defend against such numbers," one of the knights muttered.
The others also began losing the will to fight just from witnessing the overwhelming army before them.
"Go and ask the Banes' army for reinforcement," Erik muttered, clenching his fist.
Stepping forward, he spoke, his voice laced with Soulforce, "Your Highness, please think this through. The citizens of Ironvale are innocent."
"Oh, I thought you had died somewhere on the battlefield," Hector said, a faint smile curling on his face. "Not only are you alive, but you have also betrayed the empire."
With a booming voice, Hector roared, "The Ironvale Duchy has betrayed the empire. Their knights have raised their weapons against us, and the only heir of Ironvale stands before us. Kill the traitor and leave no citizen alive in this sinful duchy!"
"Kill the traitor!"
"Kill the traitor!"
The army roared in unison as they charged forward.
"Protect the wall with your lives!" Erik shouted from the other side, pouring his Soulforce into the Madam Doom.