Chapter 23 – The Arrival of the Blue Knight
Two weeks earlier...
As Kael's body fell unconscious, a violent crash shook the very foundations of the guild. The ground trembled, walls cracked, and a roar of power thundered through the halls as if the earth itself were crying out in protest. The guild master, Abel, together with the messenger who had brought the letter, jumped to their feet in alarm and rushed out of the room, leaving behind Lyra and Selene, who stayed beside Kael's motionless body.
Selene clenched her fists, her eyes burning with determination, and turned to Lyra.
"Take care of Kael... I'll go see what's happening."
Lyra, trembling, her eyes still clouded with shock, could only nod in silence.
With firm steps, Selene darted out of the room, running through the corridors as the shouts of adventurers grew louder and louder. When she reached the main hall, her eyes widened in horror — part of the guild was in ruins. Beams had collapsed, glass was shattered, and dozens of adventurers lay injured across the floor. The air was thick with the stench of smoke and blood.
"What the hell happened here?!" she cried, grabbing the shoulder of a guild worker who was half-unconscious against the wall.
The man, his face bruised and battered, barely managed to whisper:
"An attack... we're under attack... a blue knight..."
Selene's heart sank. She didn't need to hear more. Without wasting another second, she sprinted outside — and what she saw froze her in place.
In the plaza before the guild, Master Abel stood ready to fight, his staff glowing with power. Beside him, Arthus and his team had drawn their weapons, forming a line of defense. Lower-ranked adventurers were frantically helping civilians evacuate as the air grew heavy with tension.
Then Selene lifted her gaze to the sky — and saw him.
A knight with light-blue hair, flowing like icy water, sat upon a throne of ice that floated above the ground with sinister majesty. His azure armor reflected the sunlight like sharpened blades, and his eyes radiated pure arrogance.
The words slipped from her trembling lips:
"...Yusel…"
The knight turned slightly, and upon seeing her, a cruel smile curved across his face. His voice echoed cold and mocking.
"Well, well... if it isn't little Selene. I didn't expect to find you here... but I've come for my sister."
Selene stepped forward, standing between him and her comrades, though her shaking legs betrayed her.
"Enough, Yusel! Why are you attacking these people? Lyra is free! She has nothing to do with you anymore!"
The knight descended slowly, his icy throne crumbling into snowflakes that vanished into the air. Standing before her, his towering figure nearly doubled her height. He smiled wickedly.
"Oh, my dear, you're wrong. She has everything to do with us... and this time, she'll be useful to the kingdom."
Arthus grit his teeth and stepped forward in rage.
"I won't let you take her! Even if you're my brother-in-law, I'll fight you for Lyra — because she's the woman I love!"
Yusel looked him over with disdain and burst into laughter.
"And who's this idiot? Hahaha! Truly hilarious."
The mockery ignited Arthus's fury, his aura blazing bright. But Selene stepped in front of him, arms spread wide.
"Wait, Arthus! Don't! You can't beat him!"
The Blue Knight tilted his head, amused.
"At least someone here understands the situation."
Master Abel struck the ground with his staff, his voice ringing with authority.
"Boy! You cannot take Lyra! She renounced her family long ago — there are treaties that protect her!"
But Yusel looked at him with scorn.
"Old man, that doesn't matter. We merely gave her time to play... until the moment she became useful again."
Selene's eyes blazed with fury.
"You're monsters! Lyra isn't some tool you can use however you please!"
Yusel's smile widened, venom dripping from his tone.
"When you're angry, you're beautiful, Selene. To spare you from missing your friend... why not become my fourth wife?"
Selene's blood boiled. Her response came as a roar of hatred.
"I'd rather die than marry filth like you!"
Yusel clicked his tongue, irritation flickering across his face.
"Then die. Hand over Lyra, and maybe I'll let the rest of you live."
But before he could finish, demonic fire erupted from Selene's body, surrounding her in a crimson blaze that lit up the battlefield. The ground cracked beneath her feet as pillars of flame shot skyward. Adventurers froze in terror, Abel's eyes widened, and even Yusel paused, momentarily impressed.
"Magnificent..." he murmured with a perverse smile. "That power... I love it. Once I'm done with you, I'll take you and make you mine."
The flames roared with Selene's rage.
"Try it, bastard!"
Yusel lunged forward, summoning a massive spear of ice. Selene countered with a whip of fire, and their clash created a shockwave that hurled nearby adventurers through the air. The ground burned and froze at once, the air shrieking under the collision of their powers.
Arthus and Abel seized the moment to attack together. Arthus's blade flashed in an arc while Abel unleashed a wave of magical energy. But Yusel blocked both strikes with a single move, laughing as he sent them flying back with a burst of icy wind.
Then a fireball streaked toward him — Yusel lazily raised his hand and deflected it as if swatting a fly.
"Is that all? Pathetic."
But in that instant, a shadow appeared behind him — one of Arthus's assassins, dagger poised for his throat. A wall of ice burst from the ground, blocking the strike without Yusel even glancing back.
Another knight charged from the front, but Yusel punched him squarely in the chest, sending him crashing into the guild wall, unconscious.
The group's elf conjured roots from the earth, binding Yusel's arms and legs.
"Now!" he shouted, straining from the effort.
But Yusel only laughed.
"Is that the best you've got?"
With a violent jerk, he shattered the roots like brittle twigs, then struck the elf down in one blow. He turned on the fire mage and assassin next, dropping them both within seconds.
"You bastard! What did you do to my friends?!" Arthus roared, charging him.
"They were weak. Worthless," Yusel sneered, dodging easily.
Suddenly, a blinding light flared behind Arthus, slamming him to the ground. A new voice echoed, arrogant and mocking.
"Yusel. My turn now."
A tall man appeared, clad in golden armor that gleamed with smug grandeur. His golden hair danced in the wind, and a cruel smile twisted his lips.
"I got tired of waiting for my fiancée... so I came to have a little fun."
Master Abel's face turned pale the moment he saw him.
"No... it can't be... Lucien, Lyra's fiancé! What are you doing here?!"
Lucien laughed, spreading his arms like a god descending to earth.
"I came for my next toy."
Selene's flames exploded again, forcing both Yusel and Lucien to step back.
"You bastards! You won't take Lyra!"
The battle descended into chaos. Selene and Yusel clashed in a storm of fire and ice, their auras tearing the ground apart with every strike. Meanwhile, Master Abel fought Lucien — staff against golden blade — their blows exploding in flashes of light and energy.
The scene was a whirlwind of destruction: Selene dodging icy spears, countering with bursts of black flame; Abel deflecting radiant slashes that sliced the air. Fire, ice, and light turned the battlefield into a storm no mortal could control.
Then a voice cut through the chaos:
"Stop! All of you!"
Lyra had emerged, trembling, tears streaming down her face. Abel turned in alarm.
"Lyra! You should have stayed inside!"
The girl raised her voice, steady despite her shaking.
"Stop, brother! I'll do whatever you want... just leave my friends alone!"
Yusel's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"Finally... you understand your place."
"No, Lyra!" Selene shouted, straining against the magic restraining her. "You know what fate awaits you!"
But Lyra lifted her hand, and a brilliant light enveloped Selene, suppressing her demonic flames.
"Be silent, Selene. I won't let anyone die because of me."
Selene's voice broke.
"Idiot! Don't go! Wait for Kael!"
Lyra stepped closer and whispered something in Selene's ear — words lost to everyone else, but they made Selene's eyes widen with pain and fury.
Then Lucien advanced toward Selene, raising his golden sword.
"A filthy half-breed like you doesn't deserve to live."
"Stop!" Lyra cried, stepping between them. "I said I'll go with you!"
But Yusel raised his icy arm, smiling cruelly.
"Sister, always so useless... This woman rejected me — so I'll give her punishment. Lucien, throw her!"
Lucien laughed, grabbing Selene roughly and hurling her to the ground like a doll. Lyra tried to reach her, but Yusel blocked the way. He then formed a giant arm of ice and slammed it down on Selene, crushing her into the ground and leaving her gravely wounded.
"Selene!" Lyra screamed, struggling to break free.
Master Abel launched a furious attack at Yusel, but the knight met it head-on and kicked him back into the wall.
Lyra sobbed desperately.
"Let me go! I have to heal her!"
But Yusel only tightened his grip, grinning darkly.
"No more, little sister. You're coming with us now."