Fabian looked at Ilarion in shock. It was as if he was walking straight into death. But then he remembered… Every decision Ilarion had made so far had been right. He had never been wrong.
"Alright!"
Fabian gathered as much mana as he could and channeled it into his sword. Then, with all his might, he charged toward the specter while Ilarion tensed his muscles to the limit.
But this time…
He didn’t reach for Flame of Dawn!
Instead, he placed his hand on Master of Darkness.
The moment his fingers touched the sword, an indescribable surge of mana flooded his body—a force so overwhelming that it nearly crushed him.
"Just a few seconds…"
At last, Fabian struck!
A blow infused with immense mana, forcing the specter to shift positions.
In a fraction of a second, the foggy space brightened. The ground beneath Ilarion cracked as he lunged forward into the mist…
"This is my chance!"
Time slowed around him. He had one attempt—if he failed, their chances of victory would drop to 30%!
A warm sensation brushed the side of his face, while cold sweat dripped down his forehead. His muscles ached unbearably after fighting the parasite… It had been a very long day.
Yet, he hadn’t drawn Master of Darkness just yet. He was waiting for the perfect moment.
And then, finally…
The specter’s body wavered before him!
"Now!"
The specter’s hand lunged toward him… but he didn’t dodge!
Every fraction of a second counted. The hand pierced through his chest, and blood spewed from his mouth… but he grinned madly.
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Ilarion whispered, "Not bad… not bad at all…"
Then, with his other hand, he grabbed the specter’s arm—holding it in place!
The creature struggled to pull free, but…
"Over my dead body!"
At last, Ilarion drew Master of Darkness!
And in an instant…
A terrifying darkness burst forth, sending out a chilling aura. Every fiber of his being felt as if it were being crushed beneath the weight of the sword.
"Heavy…!"
It was like carrying ten men on his shoulders at once!
In that fleeting moment, words escaped his lips like ice:
"Darkness… without end!"
With indescribable force, the sword slashed through the specter—from its right shoulder down to the center of its chest.
The creature’s grotesque face twisted in agony.
And then…
He severed its heart!
The blade emerged from its left waist, slicing the specter in half. Its lower body fell apart, but its arm remained embedded in Ilarion’s chest.
"It’s over!"
But there was no time to celebrate. The pain in his body was unbearable. Blood dripped from his nose and ears, and he barely stopped himself from vomiting.
"Damn it!"
He ripped the specter’s arm out of his body and rushed toward Fabian.
He saw the worry in his friend’s eyes but ignored it, grabbing him and hoisting him onto his shoulder.
The difference in their size and build was ridiculous, but there was no time to hesitate!
Ilarion sprinted as fast as he could, heading out of the chamber!
Fabian, trembling, shouted, "Ilarion, what are you doing?! You’re in no condition to run!"
Ilarion didn’t answer…
All he felt was exhaustion… and an unbearable chill…
"Damn it… it won’t end here!"
Just seconds later, the ground shook violently!
An immense wave of ice mana erupted from the chamber behind them…
"That bastard… he detonated his element!"
Fabian’s shaken voice cut through Ilarion’s thoughts, sending a shiver down his spine. The mana explosion was too close!
There was no time…
He slammed his shoulder against a door, forcing it open, and rushed inside. Then, with all his strength, he shut it behind him and leaned against it.
That wasn’t enough…
"Fabian…!"
He pulled Fabian into a tight embrace!
Fabian felt something strange—something he had never felt before.
"Ilarion was a strange person I met not long ago… but he was different from anyone else."
He didn’t treat him with excessive kindness, nor with jealousy or hatred…
He was just… normal. Natural. There was nothing about him that could be irritating.
For the first time in his life… Fabian understood what it meant to have a friend.
Ilarion… wasn’t like the others.
Despite his critical injuries, he kept protecting him!
Fabian was in shock when Ilarion carried him to safety.
"What kind of madman would do this?!"
Only… someone you could truly call a friend.
Drops of blood fell onto his face. Fabian looked up in fear… Ilarion’s face was deathly pale!
Panic surged in his chest. This feeling… it reminded him of when he lost his sister, Miri!
He placed his hand over Ilarion’s body, channeling mana to heal him. He was afraid… afraid of losing his first friend!
His hand hovered over Ilarion’s chest, where a deep wound gaped open…
But Ilarion… gently grasped his hand—weakly, yet firmly.
Ilarion, his voice soft and faint: "Fabian…"
Fabian, his body trembling: "Ilarion! Don’t talk! You’re in no condition to speak!"
Ilarion: "I don’t have much time…"
A deep sorrow clawed at Fabian’s heart. It felt like something was eating him from the inside.
With a hesitant voice, he replied, "Yes…?"
Ilarion smiled. "What’s with that look? It’s not like you’ll never see me again!"
Then, he murmured softly…
"Fabian… don’t forget who you are."
"You are a king."
"Stand against injustice like an unbreakable wall… and help the weak with all you have!"
Ilarion’s body began dissolving into yellow mist…
A voice echoed in his mind:
"Trial complete. The trial will end in 30 seconds."
Something warm fell onto Fabian’s face…
"I’m not crying… I’m fine…"
"Ilarion… you are my friend!"
Ilarion, smirking, flicked Fabian’s forehead.
"Don’t worry… I’m just returning to the team. I’ll be healed as well."
Fabian: "Will we meet again?"
Ilarion: "Who knows?"
Then, he grinned and added:
"Alrig
ht, but I won’t let you leave empty-handed!"
"When you visit Evalonia again, go to any security center or guild and tell them: {########}… They’ll help you with everything they have."
