Chapter 41 – The Knight Without a Face
The chamber remained silent.
Seraphine's golden particles had already faded.
Only the radiant prison remained in the center of the ruined hall.
Inside it—
The Eclipse Knight struggled against the Solar Dominion chains.
Dark energy clashed violently against golden light.
But Seraphine's final technique held.
For now.
---
The Weight of Sacrifice
Audrey stood motionless.
His fists clenched.
His aunt had appeared after years of hiding.
Only to sacrifice herself moments later.
Selene stepped closer carefully.
"Her seal will not last forever."
Aria added quietly,
"She bought us time."
Lyria watched Audrey closely.
He hadn't spoken.
Hadn't moved.
But his aura had changed.
Golden energy flickered around him like a storm waiting to erupt.
---
The Prisoner
After several hours, the Eclipse Knight's movements slowed.
The chains tightened further.
Selene approached cautiously with magical scanners.
"He's weakening."
Aria looked at the armored figure.
"Then let's interrogate him."
Audrey finally spoke.
"Yes."
He stepped toward the prison.
The Eclipse Knight lifted his head.
His glowing crimson eyes locked onto Audrey.
"Target approaching."
His voice sounded distorted through the helmet.
Audrey stopped directly in front of him.
"Who are you?"
The knight remained silent.
---
Removing the Helmet
Aria frowned.
"Maybe we should just remove the armor."
Selene hesitated.
"That armor may be fused with demonic magic."
Audrey raised his hand.
Golden energy flowed into the prison.
The Solar Dominion chains tightened further.
The Eclipse Knight dropped to one knee.
For the first time—
He was restrained.
Audrey reached forward slowly.
And removed the helmet.
---
The Shocking Identity
The moment the helmet fell—
The entire room froze.
Selene gasped.
Aria's eyes widened.
Lyria whispered:
"…Impossible."
Inside the armor was a human face.
A young man.
Scarred.
But recognizable.
Audrey stared at him in disbelief.
"…You?"
The man slowly opened his eyes.
Dark energy pulsed through them.
His voice came out strained.
"Audrey…"
"You… survived."
Aria looked confused.
"You know him?"
Audrey answered quietly.
"…His name is Darius."
The room went silent.
---
A Friend From the Past
Darius had been one of Audrey's childhood friends in the village.
Older than him.
Stronger.
Someone who once trained alongside him.
Someone who used to protect the younger children.
Selene whispered in shock,
"But he died years ago."
Audrey nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"That's what we were told."
Darius laughed weakly.
"The Demon King… found me first."
---
The Truth of the Eclipse Knight
Darius spoke slowly.
Every word sounded painful.
"He captured me during a patrol near the mountains."
"They experimented on me."
"Injected demon cores."
"Bound my mind."
Aria's expression darkened.
"They turned you into a weapon."
Darius nodded.
"I resisted… for years."
"But eventually…"
"The darkness won."
His eyes shifted toward Audrey.
"But when I saw you…"
"…something broke the control."
Selene realized the danger immediately.
"If the Demon King senses that…"
"He'll try to reactivate the corruption."
---
A Desperate Warning
Darius suddenly grabbed Audrey's arm through the prison chains.
"Listen carefully."
"There are more like me."
"Failed experiments."
"Half demons."
"Warriors trained to hunt you."
Audrey frowned.
"How many?"
Darius' voice lowered.
"…Seven."
Selene's eyes widened.
"The Seven Eclipse Knights?"
Darius nodded weakly.
"I'm only the first."
"And the weakest."
---
The Demon King's Plan
Darius struggled to keep speaking.
"The Demon King knows your bloodline returned."
"He's preparing a final war."
"Once the other six knights awaken…"
"No Solar Dominion warrior will survive."
Audrey asked one final question.
"Can you break free of his control?"
Darius looked down.
Then slowly shook his head.
"No."
"The corruption runs too deep."
He lifted his head again.
His voice became calmer.
"But you can still use me."
Audrey narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
---
The Last Request
Darius closed his eyes.
"Kill me."
Everyone in the room froze.
"If the Demon King reactivates my mind…"
"I'll slaughter everyone here."
Aria shook her head.
"There must be another way."
Darius looked at Audrey.
"You know there isn't."
His voice softened.
"…You always finish what needs to be done."
Silence filled the chamber again.
Audrey stared at him.
His childhood friend.
Now the Demon King's weapon.
Waiting for judgment.
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🔥 End of Chapter 41
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