The Chaotic One

"This guy is relentless," Gareth commented, grasping a man by the left arm while pulling out a longsword pierced into his abdomen.

At the same time, he squashed the man's head like a watermelon, dropping the corpse along with the sword onto the ground.

"Did you figure something out, Finn?"

"No," Finn said while beheading four men.

"Something's off," Finn added, moving his aching thumb. Finn had a skill that could sense danger to himself and his allies—the more devastating the threat, the more painful his thumb became.

Right now, it was aching like hell.

"Gareth, where are Tiona, Tione, Bete, and Ais?" Finn asked with a frown. He dodged a blow aimed at his neck by crouching low, then kicked the assailant's feet, disrupting his balance and slamming him into the ground with a painful impact. As the enemy hit the floor, Finn smashed his foot into his face, killing him in one strike.

The ground caved in from the impact, and the man's head turned into a mash.

"They're deep inside the enemy ranks. They're targeting the top dogs over there," Gareth replied, catching an arrow aimed at his face and snapping it.

Finn was stunned. Didn't I specifically order them to stay in formation and move with the others?

Gareth looked at Finn in confusion.

"Didn't you order them to hunt down the enemy's top fighters?" Gareth said, scratching his head, ignoring the annoying guy launching fireballs at him. The attacks did no damage, so he didn't bother.

"There's a traitor," Finn muttered, his face turning grim.

Gareth caught on. His expression darkened.

In a certain alleyway...

"Gufufuu! I'll be impressed if you survive this crisis, Loki Familia. But it would be a shame if you all died here. This is only the opening performance, so don't break so easily." A man in casual clothes grinned maniacally.

"This is just the opening remark, so brace yourselves, Orario. This... is the rise of Evilus. Gufufufu."

"You four, head into enemy lines and hunt down their top fighters."

Tiona looked confused. "Isn't that too risky?"

"Captain's orders." The man shrugged, as if to say, I'm just delivering orders.

Tiona wanted to say something, but—

The man walked deeper into the alleyway, laughing like a madman after remembering what he did a few minutes ago.

Twilight Manor battlefield – outside the gates...

Bete and Tione charged through, cutting down all adversaries in their path.

Bete used his speed and devastating kicks. Tione cut their enemies with swords carving a path through the sea of foes.

Tione had just taken down another group when she heard a sudden rushing sound—like a carriage.

She turned her head toward the source.

There, she saw a black carriage drawn by direwolves rushing toward them.

Bete, nearby, noticed it. He dashed forward to intercept, but it was too fast—running at 6,000 kilometers per hour, twice his speed.

The carriage sped off in a certain direction.

"They're heading east. Tione, what's over there?" Bete asked.

"That's where Tiona and Ais were," Tione replied.

"Umm," a hesitant voice came from behind.

"Only Ais is there. I went north to assist so—" Tiona said.

Tione and Bete's faces darkened. A chill ran down their spines a bad premonitions creeping its ugly face.

Eastern side of Twilight Manor...

A silhouette dashed through the battlefield, dissecting enemies left and right. Wrapped in the wind of her magic, Ariel, she left only blood and corpses behind.

She swung her sword to fling off the blood, then slid it back into its scabbard.

She was about to walk away when a dangerous aura targeted her neck.

She dodged, tilting her head to avoid the deadly blow.

A sword blade passed through the space where her neck had been.

Ais stepped back, repositioning herself for a counterattack. She swung her sword at her attacker's waist.

Her attack nearly landed, but the assailant blocked it with his blade.

He was a middle-aged man with glasses—Erlik, one of Evilus's trump guards.

He had been assigned to capture Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess, alive.

"That's some fine swordsmanship. But it's a pity—you're still lacking compared to them," Erlik said with a smile.

Ais frowned. "Who are you talking about?"

"You already know. The Blind Lady."

Ais fell silent. She knew who the Blind Lady was—recognized as the strongest swordsman in Orario, a figure from the old era. To be specific the Era of Zeus and Hera Familia, Blind Lady is one of the executive of Hera Familia a Level 8.

Clang! Clang!

Thousands of blows were exchanged in a second.

Ais displayed exquisite, elegant swordsmanship, blending self-taught techniques with her magic, Ariel.

She was like a dancing flower amidst the battlefield—beautiful yet deadly.

Erlik was the opposite. His style was like an untamed beast—wild and unpredictable.

"I get it now. That's why the leader chose me. The fabled Sword Princess... is just a pampered flower in a greenhouse," Erlik said with disappointment.

Ais ignored his blabbering, unleashing wind slashes in rapid succession.

Erlik blocked them all effortlessly without moving from his spot.

He sighed. "Your slashes lack emotion. Kid, what's the meaning of the sword?"

This time, Ais didn't ignore him—but she still attacked.

Erlik used observational magic to scan the surroundings. The entire street had been destroyed by Ais. He shook his head at the scene.

"Too much technique, but no substance. You don't even understand your own moves. Who taught you to fight? I'll beat their ass myself," Erlik grumbled. He had hoped for a great battle, but reality had slapped him again.

"I shouldn't have come here," he muttered.

Suddenly, Erlik swung his sword with far more force than before.

It shattered Ais's rhythm, launching her dozens of meters away.

"I'll ask again: what's the meaning of the sword?" he said calmly, standing upright, looking down at his junior who knew nothing.

"To protect what I care about," Ais said.

"Kid... the sword isn't for protection. It's for killing. Nothing more, nothing less. That's its true nature. Denying it is the greatest sin a swordsman can commit," Erlik said, patting his sword.

Ais frowned. Since childhood, she had been told that swords were meant to protect. Now that belief was being denied, dismissed as wrong. She felt deeply unsettled.

"This denial will ruin you," he said, pointing at her. "Enough talk. I'll show you what I mean."

Suddenly, Erlik's demeanor changed. His once calm aura became sharp and deadly. Overwhelming killing intent erupted, followed by oppressive magic pressure.

In Ais's eyes, the world turned red. An immense force pressed down on her soul and body. Her magic was sealed. Her consciousness blurred. It felt like an ancient beast was looming over her, about to squash her like an ant.

Ais knelt, struggling under Erlik's bloodlust and magic.

"This is Blood Intent, a technique used by all true swordmasters who understand the sword's essence,by combining Killing intent and magic you would create this technique.

"The more people you kill, the stronger your Blood Intent becomes."

Erlik raised his sword, infusing it with Blood Intent. It turned red—like blood.

He swung it, sending a 50-meter slash imbued with Blood Intent. The attack's power surged, suppressing magic.

Blood Intent is a martial technique for swordsmen. It suppresses magic, boosts strength, speed, offense, defense, and perception.

Ais tried to dodge but couldn't. She attempted to block with all her might, but she couldn't use magic.

The slash hit her directly, inflicting a grave injury. It left a massive scar across the ground that stretched hundreds of meters.