Chapter 149: Return
“Leave?” Prince Kruse asked, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Your Highness, have you found a way out?”
Lilia nodded, but her gaze was filled with worry as she looked back at the battle raging in the distance.
The Dawn Laboratory, protected by its final defenses, was relatively safe.
That was why the Legendary Knights had gathered there.
“There are many useful device fragments here,” General Kweil said, picking up a broken piece of machinery. “This… could bring about a breakthrough in the Empire’s device technology.”
The ancient empire’s technology was thousands of years ahead of their own.
The North Empire didn’t lack talent, but they lacked time.
The loss of the ancient empire’s knowledge had forced them to start from scratch.
“And a lot of data…” Commander Arnold said, looking at a book he had found. As a front-line commander, he was one of the most knowledgeable in the Empire when it came to device technology.
And he was fascinated by it. He knew the value of these records.
“…We can take it all back,” Lilia said, realizing these items had been gathered by the voice in the laboratory.
Otherwise, how could they have just… stumbled upon them?
She looked at the war-torn Dawn Laboratory, and whispered, “Thank you… little brother.”
She didn’t even know its name, only that it had liked being called “little brother.”
“Then it’s time to leave, Your Highness,” Leticia said. “With these, even without Vikarn… the Empire can still stand.”
“Ah, yes…” Lilia nodded, then, as if remembering something, her expression turned to one of panic. “Wait, what about Bai? And Ara? They’re…”
Ara was still fighting Nisha, and Bai was missing. The voice in the laboratory hadn’t mentioned her.
If they were leaving, they had to take them with them…
“That… is not our concern right now, Your Highness,” Leticia said, her voice firm. “Please, we must return.”
“But… but…”
“Return, Your Highness. Think of your people,” Leticia insisted.
Lin Yan was also worried about Bai, but her helmet concealed her expression.
Lilia hesitated, then, with a heavy heart, made her decision. “Alright. We… will return.”
She raised the glowing scepter, bringing it close to the ring.
The ring’s power, amplified by the scepter, resonated with the temporary node on Solor, creating a fragile, shimmering portal.
The scepter’s light enveloped them, a wave of spatial energy washing over them.
But just as the portal opened, Leticia stepped back, out of its range.
Everyone stared at her, stunned. “Lady Leticia, what are you doing?!” Lilia cried out.
Lin Yan, as if sensing her intention, also moved, but Leticia, with a single blow, knocked her unconscious and tossed her back into the light.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Perhaps I can no longer walk with the Empire,” Leticia said, removing her helmet, revealing her beautiful, youthful face.
“Why…?”
“Because Lugner made a mistake. I won’t make the same one,” she said, removing her heavy armor and tossing it into the portal, leaving her in a simple white dress. “This is my Authority. The Empire has many talented individuals. They will find a worthy successor.”
“Don’t worry, Little Lin Yan. I’ll bring Little Bai back safely…” she said, looking at the unconscious Lin Yan, a gentle, sad smile on her face, so different from her usual stern demeanor.
In that moment, the Legendary Knights saw a vision of the past, of a young Leticia, the most beautiful weaver in the capital, before she had ever picked up a sword.
And she still was.
The light faded, and the Legendary Knights and Lilia were gone, leaving Leticia alone.
“Alright,” she said, her senses reaching out, her gaze fixed on a distant point. “Now, it’s time to save Little Bai.”
…
“Vikarn damage at 65.75%… 67.96%… 71.14%…”
The numbers ticked upwards, and Ara’s injuries grew more severe, but her expression remained calm.
Nisha, on the other hand, was growing desperate. “Almost there, just a little more…”
She had to weaken Ara enough to reactivate her containment seal.
The Abyssal Lord phantom’s attacks limited Ara’s ability to use her own Authority, its power piercing through her defenses, injuring her.
But Ara’s only target was Nisha.
But…
“I have one last card to play…”
Nisha’s gaze flickered, then, looking at the ice sculpture beside her, her resolve hardened.
She slowed her attack, leaving a massive opening.
To an outsider, it would have seemed as if she was running out of energy.
But to Ara, it was an opportunity.
She raised her defensive Authorities, absorbing another blow from the phantom, then charged, focusing all her power on Nisha.
But if she missed, she would be vulnerable.
As her attack closed in, a miss seemed impossible.
But at the last moment, Ara froze, her attack faltering.
“…Bai?”
