Walking through the Misty Forest, the lightness of their return journey contrasted sharply with the caution of their earlier trek. Kael and Amelia chatted while exploring the profound changes brought about by Kael's magical mutation.
The presence of Frostflame had dramatically amplified Kael's strength, elevating his power to a level now comparable to Amelia's. Amelia, currently at the peak of Tier 6 and nearing the threshold of Tier 7, was a knight whose prodigious talent made her imminent advancement no surprise to Kael.
As they recounted their gains from the recent ordeal, it was clear that Amelia's brush with death had honed both her mindset and abilities, edging her closer to a breakthrough. Still, the greatest beneficiary remained Kael.
Frostflame had completely transformed Kael's body. Every inch of his bronzed skin and well-defined muscles radiated vitality, a physique that would incite envy even among seasoned warriors. Yet physical enhancement was only one aspect. More astonishing was the surge in his elemental affinity.
Already gifted with an extraordinary connection to magic, Kael now found elemental forces flooding toward him the moment he uttered an incantation. This overwhelming affinity had become a formidable asset.
"And then there's Moonlight Twilight," Kael mused, his thoughts drifting to the enigmatic artifact.
Since Cole had entrusted him with Moonlight Twilight, Kael had tirelessly probed its secrets. As Cole had warned, its true purpose remained elusive—until now.
During the battle atop the mountain, Moonlight Twilight had inexplicably "devoured" the Blood Count Scarlett. The term was apt, for Scarlett had vanished without a trace, leaving neither blood nor aura behind. Now stored in Kael's spatial ring, the crystal orb pulsed with an eerie dark red hue, its core swirling with Scarlett's lingering energy.
"Does Moonlight Twilight absorb others' power?" Kael wondered before dismissing the idea. "No… If that were true, why didn't it react during my fights with Yuri and the others?"
"Could it target Bloodkin specifically?" A realization struck him.
"Likely. Scarlett seemed familiar with—and terrified of—Moonlight Twilight." Kael pieced it together. "This artifact must have ties to the Bloodkin. Only Daniel and Amelia know I possess it. Amelia is trustworthy, but Daniel…"
"With the masks Toms provided, Amelia and I concealed our appearances. Daniel never saw our true faces, which should keep us safe." Reassured, Kael removed his mask. Amelia, however, opted for a cloak similar to Cole's, shrouding herself entirely to avoid drawing attention with her striking features.
The two soon arrived at Blaze Sun City, as bustling as ever. Adventurers and mercenaries thronged the streets, their clamorous voices filling the air.
Kael and Amelia overheard hushed discussions among the crowds:
"Did you hear? The Golden-Horned Lion King was slain!"
"Someone killed it? That means they've won Lady Joanna's favor!"
"Pah! You fools—the killer's a warrior in his thirties, way past the age limit set by the city lord. And don't forget, the sons of White Jade City's lord and the Darkfang Mercenaries are still missing…"
The rumors left Kael and Amelia exchanging amused glances. The gossip had morphed Kael into a seasoned thirty-something warrior—a plausible assumption, given the feat's perceived difficulty. Yet this misunderstanding worked in their favor, keeping their identities hidden.
As they walked, a familiar voice cut through the noise:
"Miss… wait a moment! Your weary face and hollow eyes betray a troubled heart. As the continent's foremost diviner, I can foresee your fortunes… even conjure an image of your future beloved!" A warrior carrying a greatsword had cornered a tall, striking young woman, his pitch oozing theatrical flair.
Kael paused, then grinned.
"He's upgraded his approach to hitting on women," he remarked dryly.
Amelia stifled a laugh.
The self-proclaimed "foremost diviner" was none other than Finn. His newfound charm tactics—likely picked up from the lecherous old Vesper—were oddly convincing. Kael mused that a fake goatee might complete Finn's "mystic sage" persona.
"Creep, move! Think I don't know you've been harassing every pretty girl here for three days straight?" The tall beauty snapped frostily, brushing past Finn without a second glance.
"Miss, you may doubt my grand art of divination, but how dare you slander my noble character?" Finn retorted, unflinching. "While I may not rival the gods in looks, I'm at least—"
The woman silenced him with a venomous glare before striding away, head held high.
Watching her retreat, Finn sighed theatrically. "Alas, true connoisseurs of beauty grow rarer by the day…"
Kael watched wordlessly. Same old Finn—lecherous, shameless, yet oddly endearing.
"Finn!" he called out.
The man whirled around, spotting Kael and Amelia. A flicker of delight crossed his eyes before he boomed, "You're finally here! I've been waiting at the docks day and night!"
Kael suppressed a smirk. "Waiting"—or scouting for more targets?
"What happened after the beast tide?" he pressed, relieved yet curious about Finn's survival.
Finn shuddered at the memory. "That ancient tree saved me, but the stampede's tremors shook me loose. Then—" His tale unfolded: plummeting onto a Tier 4 Flame Rhinoceros's back, riding the chaotic stampede for a full day until reaching the Misty Forest's outskirts. Starving, he'd stumbled upon an Emberfire Fruit—a rare fire-attuned spirit herb—that propelled him from Tier 5 peak to early Tier 6.
Kael couldn't help marveling at Finn's absurd luck.
"…and when I swallowed that fruit—" Finn's bragging halted mid-sentence. His jaw dropped as he finally registered Kael's aura.
"Holy hell, Kael! You're Tier 6 too—no, mid-stage Tier 6?!" His wail echoed across the docks. "Where's the justice in this world?!"