Minutes before the Storm - Contractor of Void

What should I do?

There's no safe way out of this place. The height of this castle's chamber is insane! Is it around 15 meters? It would be easier to judge if the ground wasn't covered in a thick layer of ice.

"Fuck, I've been running around in circles for three whole chapters like an idiot…"

The problem is, I can't just jump down from the upper floor, I'd definitely die if I did. The hallway is also engulfed in raging flames, so there's no way I can get through that either.

"And even if I do manage to escape from here, what am I supposed to do next?"

Without a solid plan, it would be nothing more than a premeditated suicide. I'll admit that I'm an idiot, but I'm not reckless enough to throw my life away.

But still… When the hell is that fire going to die down, damn it?! Why is it only getting worse? Can normal fire really melt solid bricks like that? Ah, whatever... this is a fantasy world, after all.

Evan wrecked the small laboratory, realizing that many of the experimental materials had disappeared. He guessed that the girl must have taken them, including the various documents scattered across the desk. Stepping forward toward the collapsed wall, he absentmindedly gazed at the night moon.

At that moment… a flash of light gleamed across the sky.

"Huh? What's that?"

The light spun in place, flickering dimly under the moonlight. It was roughly 100 to 150 meters away. Was it lightning? No, he was sure that it was something man-made.

RUMBLE—

"Is someone casting magic?"

And their target is… this place!

Swung—

A roaring electromagnetic wave shattered the sound barrier, obliterating everything in its path.

"HAHAHAHA! 50/50?!"

Let's see who crumbles first, the castle or me?! Honestly, my chances of dying if this castle collapses are sky-high. I'd either be crushed under massive debris or fall to my death from above.

CRASH!

BOOM!

Evan's instincts kicked in, his body moving wildly as he grabbed onto the surrounding walls to stabilize himself. But after assessing the situation, he quickly rolled forward, dodging the massive rubble that crashed down and destroyed half of the laboratory.

"Shit! Just how strong was that attack?!"

RUMBLE—

He could see charred corpses falling from the upper floors. The dust in the air obscured his vision, preventing him from seeing further. But the overwhelming sense of instability told him that the castle was about to collapse.

"That was just one magic attack, yet it caused all this?"

Swoosh—

At that moment, Evan's vision was completely covered by a falling object from the sky.

Ah… It's huge, long, sturdy, and black. I don't know exactly what it looks like, but I know… this will be the last thing I ever see.

RUMBLE—

The castle collapsed, unable to withstand the weight of its own structure after its foundation was shattered by the relentless assault. Chunks of stone rained from above, broken statues flew in all directions, and various torture and experimental devices were either destroyed or scattered into pieces.

The thick layer of ice covering the castle vanished strangely upon contact with the lightning wave, as if undergoing some kind of abnormal oxidation process. Whether it was due to an unknown interaction between the two or something else entirely remained unclear.

Evan was buried under the massive debris. His breath was weak, barely audible amidst the clattering stones and the lingering of destruction. A faint glow from a fractured mark illuminated his motionless body, revealing the wounds marring his skin.

Moments later, through the smoldering wreckage, five figures emerged with steady footsteps.

Clad in silver armor draped with robes, they gleamed under the moonlight peeking through the clouds. The emblem of the holy sun was engraved upon their chests.

They were the Order of The Divine Paladin, the Church's enforcers tasked with eradicating anything that strayed from their doctrines.

One of them, a large man with a white cloak beneath his chestplate, raised a sun-shaped pendant. A golden light radiated from its center, releasing a pulse of energy that spread across the ruined castle.

Immediately, a dense aura filled the air—the undeniable remnants of an existential presence.

"Over here."

Another paladin spoke, his rough voice deep and unwavering.

The five of them moved in unison, following the resonance of their pendant. Among the smoldering ruins, they found Evan's battered body, half-buried under the rubble.

"This… is no ordnary human."

One of them murmured, narrowing his eyes.

Their leader knelt, pressing two fingers against Evan's neck, feeling the faint pulse that still lingered. His eyes lit up with vigilance.

"Rudigger, Agnie, carry him. If he's truly been contaminated by the Existential, then holy judgment awaits him."

The two paladins whose names were called appeared behind the leader in an instant, their speed so overwhelming that it almost seemed like teleportation.

"Yes, Squad Leader."

Rudigger, with his towering physique, immediately hoisted Evan's body onto his shoulder.

"Oth Veras Illuminar, Yhros Dei Exaltum."

Agnie spoke the words, followed closely by Rudigger at his side. Moments later, the remaining three paladins also recited the same chant.

"Oth Veras Illuminar, Yhros Dei Exaltum."

Without hesitation, the two paladins departed, carrying Evan's unconscious body away.

Their heavy footsteps struck the damp earth, echoing through the towering trees. The two paladins ran at a trained speed, their movements swift and efficient as they carried Evan between them.

The forest they entered was dense and dark, its thick foliage blocking the moonlight, leaving only faint slivers of pale illumination to slip through the gently swaying branches, stirred by the night breeze.

An owl's hoot resound in the distance, blending with the rustling wind that carried the scent of damp soil and decaying wood. Rudigger glanced back, ensuring no one was following them. His breath was heavy behind his silver helm, but he pressed on without hesitation.

"Make sure no one sees us."

Rudigger muttered, his voice restrained.

"I know."

Agnie replied, narrowing his eyes as he sharpened his senses.

They continued running, weaving through tree roots that jutted out like grasping hands trying to snare their feet. Every shifting shadow felt like unseen eyes watching them, but they had no time to be cautious of anything else—the mission was their priority.

Behind them, amidst the smoldering ruins of the castle, three other paladins remained on guard. Their leader stood tall in the midst of the debris, his sharp gaze piercing the darkness.

"We must ensure that no remnants of Existential contamination remain."

The two paladins beside him nodded, raising their sun-shaped pendants once more, allowing a holy wave to sweep through the area. If anything still lingered, be it residual Existential energy or something far more dangerous, they had to find it before it was too late.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, the two paladins carrying Evan finally reached a secluded area where the gnarled roots of ancient trees formed a natural tunnel, shielding them from prying eyes.

Rudigger abruptly slowed his pace, carefully lowering Evan onto the ground. Agnie eyed him with curiosity and suspicion.

"Why are we stopping here, Rudigger?"

Agnie's eyes sharpened as he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist. The chilling atmosphere of the forest seemed to stir, drawing the attention of unseen figures lurking in the shadows. Their wary gazes fell upon the two paladins, filled with silent scrutiny.

"Forgive... me..."

Swing—

Splash!

A single, swift stroke carried enough force to end a life with ease. In an instant, Rudigger's head separated from his shoulders, falling to the ground. Warm blood splattered onto the earth, seeping into the twisted roots that greedily absorbed the spilled crimson.

"Oth Veras Illuminar, Yhros Dei Exaltum."

Agnie ran his fingers along the blade, drawing the blood from its hilt to the very tip. The sacred sword pulsed faintly with light, its golden hilt adorned with the emblem of a rising sun.

"Show yourself, Contractor."

Agnie's senses spread out, identifying the surroundings. One by one, shadows opened their swirling white eyes. Their numbers grew from dozens to thousands, from thousands to tens of thousands, from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands—until finally, they stopped at exactly 200,000 shadows.

From within those shifting figures, a humanoid being slowly stepped forward toward Agnie. He was dressed entirely in black, his body concealed beneath a cloak as dark as the night itself. Agnie tightened his grip on his sword's hilt.

"Order of the Divine Paladin?"

The Contractor walked at a leisurely pace toward Rudigger's standing corpse. He crouched slightly, his gaze resting on the cleanly severed head. With an effortless motion, he separated the helmet from the head, while a smaller shadow approached him and waited in silence.

Agnie's expression remained cold, as if he was used to such sights. The small shadow picked up Rudigger's head and carried it toward the other shadows. Countless pitch-black hands reached out, pulling apart every fragment, while others feasted greedily.

Crunch—

Snap—

The gruesome sounds of flesh being chewed and bones cracking echoed through the silent forest. Neither Agnie nor the Contractor moved, their eyes locked on each other despite the eerie spectacle unfolding around them. Only after the unsettling noise faded did Agnie finally break the silence.

"That child... was he one of your experiments?"

His longsword left its sheath, its gleaming edge reflecting the dim light and revealing the true form of the Contractor.

The man stood with an air of quiet authority, exuding both an unsettling tranquility and a subtle aura of dread.

He was dressed in a stunningly detailed Victorian ensemble, a deep black velvet long coat with polished silver buttons, layered over a brocade-patterned vest intricately designed with baroque carvings. His sleeves were adorned with delicate lace cuffs, adding a faint contrast to his otherwise masculine attire.

Beneath the coat, he wore a pristine white high-collared shirt, fastened with a dark red cravat, secured by a crow-eye brooch crafted from obsidian. His trousers were slim-cut, made of high-quality wool that allowed for effortless movement, and his polished leather shoes clicked lightly against the damp stone beneath him.

His gloved hands, adorned with intricate silver-threaded symbols gripped an ebony cane, its handle sculpted into the form of a raven's head, its sapphire eyes gleaming under the dim glow of the street gas lamps.

But the most striking element of his appearance was the raven mask he wore. Made of flawlessly polished black leather, its long, curved beak concealed his expression entirely. Two silver lenses replaced his eyes, reflecting the dim light with an unreadable, ghostly sheen.

"No, not before. But I would be delighted if you allowed me to take him back."

The Contractor's voice was eerily soft, laced with regret, but Agnie remained unmoved his guard unwavering.

"If you're bold enough to appear before me, that means you have allies lurking nearby. How many of them?"

"Ahahaha. Only two, including myself~"

The Contractor waved his hand playfully, as if joking.

"Oh, but if you don't move quickly… you'll soon find yourself staring at a cold corpse—"

Swoooosh!

CLANG!

Agnie's sword flashed, striking back the Contractor, who had managed to parry with a hidden blade concealed within his cane. Agnie smirked, the dim glow within his chest expanding outward, enveloping his entire form.

"Sounds like you're talking about yourself, Contractor."

Chapter 4 - Minutes before the Storm