"Defying imperial law—they deserve death!"

"Hah! Still so stubborn. Are you truly unafraid of death?!"

"Whatever I’ve done, I own it! If you seek revenge, strike me down! But I was right—I won’t spare any uncertain element. If even one Netherized Being escapes into the city, it’ll unleash catastrophe. By then, dying a hundred or a thousand times won’t undo the damage!"

*Stubborn to the core. The type who never regrets their choices?*

From a strategic perspective, Lindwan’s actions as cavalry captain weren’t wrong—merely extreme. The two mercenaries died unjustly, yet their true allegiances remained unclear. How could anyone judge their worth?

Sacrificing minor justice for the greater good meant Verlith wouldn’t kill Lindwan.

Personally, however, slaying the Netherbane Squad’s captain would bring dire consequences.

—Yet regardless of the mercenaries’ hidden identities, they’d genuinely defended Verlith. Even former elites like her weren’t immune to sentiment. Perhaps that’s why she’d abandoned her station.

So she *would* kill him.

But then there was the bond between Senior Sister Nianxin and Master Longya. Emotionally, Longya—who’d nurtured her—mattered far more. Ignorance might have excused her, but now that she knew? For her teacher’s sake, Verlith couldn’t possibly execute Nianxin’s disciple on their first meeting.

She dismissed Lindwan’s earlier attempt on her life. Verlith possessed magnanimity; she wouldn’t act on petty vengeance.

Besides, she was the strong one.

The strong never feared the weak’s threats. Only the weak killed out of fear of the strong.

Having faced death countless times, Verlith understood life’s fragility. The mercenaries were gone—irreversible. But Lindwan still had value.

Weighing the stakes, she chose to spare him—but not without consequence. She’d grant him a chance to atone.

Verlith sighed softly. "As a swordsman trained in the Nianxin style, you share ties to me. Your Netherbane Squad bears humanity’s protection on its shoulders. Your life has purpose. I’ll spare you—but swear to bury those mercenaries properly. And never again disrespect women as you did. At minimum, assign female inspectors to your squad!"

"If I agree… you’ll truly release me?" Lindwan asked, bewildered. He’d braced for death. Her terms were simple—too simple. Suspicion flickered in his eyes.

"Remember: your life isn’t mine to give. It belongs to the empire’s people. You won’t live in peace. You’ll die fighting Netherized Beings. And you’ll keep my secrets. If you honor this—"

Convinced, Lindwan slammed his palm on the ground. "A Lind never gives empty promises. But once sworn, even pierced by ten thousand arrows, I’d drag my broken body to fulfill it. I, Lindwan, accept all your terms." His vow rang sharp and final.

Suddenly—steel flashed! Lindwan flinched as Verlith’s blade lunged toward his head. *Didn’t she promise mercy? Why—*

*Whoosh!*

The sword’s whisper parted his hair. She caught the severed lock, voice icy. "Don’t rejoice yet. I haven’t forgiven you. This hair stands for your head. Your life is mine now. Eyes will watch your every move. Betray your oath, and your fate will mirror this strand."

She let the hair drift onto his lap. Staring at the scattered strands, he felt phantom agony—as if his body were torn apart. He shuddered. "I swear—I’ll obey every word. Break my vow, and take my life without hesitation!"

"See that you do. Break this pact, and I *will* kill you."

"I won’t renege!" Lindwan pledged solemnly.

Verlith released him.

Yet as Lindwan left, he kept glancing back, words trapped on his tongue. Finally, he rushed back.

"If you meet Longya… tell him a woman named Nianxin waits in the Eastern Pearl Empire’s south. She’s waited over a decade! Even if he has a wife and child now—he *must* go. End this. Frankly, I resent women because of Teacher Nianxin. Look at her—wasting her youth pining for a man! If not for her being my master, I’d never meddle…"

"You’ve no idea how many suitors begged for her hand. I worried sick! Several were decent men, yet she refused them all—waiting for *him*. It’s absurd! Growing up in the dojo, her frowning face haunted my days. When she’s unhappy? We disciples suffer. Balancing water buckets on our heads. Carrying *four* buckets across a narrow beam…"

"*Four* buckets! Do you know how heavy that is? The torment we endured—let me tell you—"

Verlith stared, dumbfounded. This chatterbox treated her like a fellow disciple, spilling his heart without restraint. If she didn’t stop him, he’d prattle all day.

*He looks seventeen. Why so verbose?*

"Shut. Up." A throbbing vein popped on the silver-haired maiden’s temple.

*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*

When Lindwan finally departed, three fresh lumps swelled on his head.

"That man never stops talking!" The silver-haired maiden shook her fist, retracted her wings, and trailed him. She didn’t trust Alyssa alone with Horatu.

She followed at a distance, letting Lindwan lead her out of the forest.

Beneath a leaden sky, man and woman walked the woods, separated by careful space. Each time the man halted to speak, the maiden’s glare silenced him.

A cool breeze carried the scent of leaves, crisp and soothing.

They’d barely enjoyed it when—a massive shadow dropped from a tree. A hulking figure landed ahead, clad in tattered rags, face distorted beyond recognition.

He lifted his head. Bulging eyes scanned the surroundings—locked onto Lindwan—and charged, fists raised.

"What?!" Lindwan had barely survived his last battle. Wounded and exhausted, he couldn’t dodge.

*This is how I die? Meaningless…* He shut his eyes, awaiting impact.

Silence. No pain came.

He opened his eyes. A silver-haired girl stood before him—Verlith.

Arms crossed overhead, she blocked the crushing blow. But the monster’s strength forced her knees to buckle.

*Unreal power!*

Verlith strained against the force, noticing Lindwan frozen in shock. "Run, idiot!"

"But—he’s a Netherized Being! My duty—"

Violet-black mist coiled around the creature. Even the ignorant would recognize the stench of corruption. Lindwan’s command sigil flickered weakly on his armor before dimming—he had no strength left.

Verlith shot him a glance. "Your Tree Spirit energy’s depleted. Don’t be reckless. When you recover, fight all you want. Leave this to me. *Go*."

"Let me fight with you—"

"Enough! Stay, and I’ll kill you myself."

Lindwan met her eyes, then bowed deeply. "Junior Sister Vier! I’ll never forget this debt! I’ll fire a signal flare for cavalry backup. Don’t get hurt—you’ll Netherize if wounded! And if… *if* you turn… I’ll end you myself!"

Tree cover blocked signals. Only the main road would work.

He flashed her a determined look, tossed his hair "heroically," and sprinted off—ignoring the blood soaking his trousers, dripping from his pant legs.

Verlith watched his limping, bloodied figure vanish.

Her emotions were complex.

But no sorrow. No anxiety. No grief. No joy.

Only one thought erupted, shattering the forest calm:

"JUNIOR SISTER MY ASS! I’M YOUR SENIOR ELDER! SENIOR ELDER!!"

***BOOM!***

Her roar cut off as she dodged a fist, flipping backward. She glared at the hulking figure.

"You? *Lal?*"

The brute she’d driven off earlier now stood before her—hideously transformed.

"Come back to die?" Verlith arched a brow.

Lal was unrecognizable. Muscles bulged like rotten pumpkins across his frame, hard as stone. Skin had split open, revealing raw flesh beneath. Tattered cloth fused with gore. His head seemed swallowed by his neck.

Verlith had seen mighty warriors—Northern Coalition knights proud of their bulk. Even she, their First Knight, had a lean but powerful build.

But Lal’s muscles dwarfed drugged gladiators. His chest wound—her old spear strike—had been crushed shut, yet black-purple veins writhed outside his body like parasitic snakes.

Violet-black mist seeped from his pores, pulsing through exposed vessels like toxic blood.

"Disgusting." Verlith’s lip curled. "Truly a Netherized Being."

Verlith covered her mouth and nose in disgust.

Opposite her, Lal had lost all capacity for thought. He couldn’t grasp her words, staring wide-eyed and fixedly at his target.

Once humans became Netherized Beings, they ceased to be human.

By then, they’d long lost normal consciousness—leaving only hollow shells of flesh and blood. Their bodies seemed alive, but their souls were dead. Driven by pure instinct, they roamed the continent, spawning massacre after massacre.

"Some people are dead yet still alive. Others? Alive, yet already dead!"

"Ah, my apologies. Let me correct my greeting. You didn’t come here to die—you’re already dead, in a sense!"

Verlith’s pink eyes locked on him with icy resolve. Sword gripped in her right hand, she shifted into an offensive stance.