Chapter 44 – The Second Eclipse Knight
The battle against the first Eclipse Knight had ended.
Darius stood weakened but conscious.
The demon control connection was severed.
For the first time in years…
He belonged to himself.
But peace did not last.
---
Warning Signal
Suddenly—
Selene's system detection crystal activated violently.
Her eyes widened.
"Massive demonic energy spike detected!"
Aria turned instantly.
"From where?"
Selene scanned the coordinates.
"…North border."
"…No."
Her voice lowered.
"It's already inside the kingdom."
The ground beneath the base trembled.
A pressure far stronger than before descended.
Audrey felt it immediately.
His expression hardened.
"Number two."
---
The Arrival
Outside the base —
A dark portal tore open in the sky.
From it descended a figure wearing white-and-black armored robes.
Unlike Darius' heavy armor —
This knight moved with elegance.
Grace.
Precision.
A long spear of condensed black lightning rested in his hand.
His helmet was shaped like a cracked moon.
Crimson eyes glowed behind the visor.
He landed silently on the battlefield ruins.
Soldiers nearby froze instantly under the overwhelming aura.
---
The Second Knight Speaks
His voice was calm.
Almost polite.
"Primary target confirmed."
"Solar Dominion heir located."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I was instructed to retrieve the first knight."
He sensed something.
His gaze shifted toward the base entrance.
"…Interesting."
"Subject One is no longer under control."
His eyes narrowed.
"So you freed him."
Audrey stepped forward from the shadows.
"Who are you?"
The knight smiled beneath his helmet.
"I am the second."
"Designation: Eclipse Knight – Luna Variant."
"Specialization: Mental Infiltration and Strategic Domination."
Darius' expression changed.
He whispered to Audrey:
"Be careful…"
"This one doesn't fight directly."
"He breaks minds."
---
Psychological Attack
The second knight suddenly raised his spear.
Instead of attacking physically —
He released a wave of invisible mental pressure.
The battlefield transformed.
Audrey's surroundings shifted.
He saw illusions.
His village.
Burning again.
His parents standing before him — but lifeless.
Seraphine dissolving repeatedly.
Kiran screaming.
Darius attacking him.
The illusion targeted his trauma.
Aria shouted from outside the illusion:
"AUDREY!"
But he couldn't hear her.
The mental attack isolated him completely.
---
Inside the Illusion
The second knight's voice echoed:
"Your strength is physical."
"But your weakness is emotional attachment."
The illusion figures approached Audrey.
"Let them go."
"Abandon them."
"Only then can you survive."
Audrey clenched his fists.
Golden energy flickered weakly.
"No…"
"These are memories."
"Not reality."
The knight laughed softly.
"Denial will not save you."
He intensified the mental assault.
---
Breaking Through
Suddenly —
A voice pierced through the illusion.
"Don't forget who trained you."
It was Darius.
His real voice.
Not corrupted.
Not controlled.
The mental interference slightly destabilized.
Then Aria's voice followed.
"Fight it."
"Your pain is proof that you care."
Selene activated a counter-mental barrier.
Golden runes spread across the battlefield.
The illusion cracked.
Audrey saw a small fracture in the fabricated world.
He focused on that fracture.
Then shouted:
"Solar Dominion Technique — Reality Break!"
Golden light exploded from his body.
The illusion shattered completely.
---
Counterattack
The second knight staggered slightly.
He didn't expect resistance that fast.
Audrey appeared directly in front of him — faster than before.
His blade struck downward.
The knight blocked with his spear.
CLANG!
Shockwaves blasted outward.
The second knight whispered:
"You adapted."
"Yes."
Audrey replied coldly.
"I evolve."
He pushed harder.
Golden energy fused with rage and experience from the first battle.
The fight became physical now.
Speed against speed.
Strategy against instinct.
---
Unexpected Intervention
Just as Audrey gained advantage —
The second knight activated a hidden sigil.
Suddenly —
Dozens of shadow portals opened around the battlefield.
From them emerged corrupted soldiers.
Mind-controlled.
They attacked indiscriminately.
Chaos erupted.
Aria engaged enemies.
Selene defended Kiran.
Darius joined the fight despite injuries.
The second knight used distraction to retreat slightly.
He smiled.
"You are stronger than expected."
"But strength alone cannot protect everyone."
He lifted his spear.
"Next time…"
"I won't underestimate you."
A massive teleportation circle activated beneath him.
Audrey attempted to intercept —
But the knight vanished instantly.
---
Aftermath
Silence returned.
The battlefield was destroyed.
But the second knight escaped.
Darius clenched his fist.
"He retreated strategically."
Selene scanned the area.
"This wasn't a defeat for them."
"It was reconnaissance."
Aria looked at Audrey.
"They were testing your growth."
Audrey stared at the empty sky.
"…Then they learned something."
"They learned I'm not the same person anymore."
---
Far Away – The Demon King Observes
Inside his fortress —
The Demon King watched the battle through a dark projection.
He smiled slowly.
"The second knight confirmed it."
"He can resist mental domination."
He turned toward the remaining five sealed knights.
"Release the third."
"This time…"
"We attack his heart."
---
🔥 End of Chapter 44
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