CHAPTER 69: THE BOND

Elena selects Ari Hale as her BladeHex successor, causing shock due to Ari's young age. Doubts rise, but Elena defends her decision with conviction. During the capital's celebration, the king is assassinated by his younger son, who seizes power. Ari escapes the ambush with a scar, while Imperial arrives at the port just as she's taken away.

The general, watching through the communication crystal, said sternly, "Do anything you must—just don't interfere. Watch them. I want to see everything that happens there. Now."

Meanwhile, at the bustling port, Imperial and his team were scanning the many ships docked along the harbor. Imperial's sharp eyes caught sight of a specific symbol on one of the vessels. His heart skipped. He could sense Ari's presence.

Without hesitation, he dashed toward the ship.

A man stepped in front of him. "Don't be reckless, boy. You could damage the ship. If you do, there will be consequences."

Imperial didn't even acknowledge him and kept walking.

The man swung an attack, but Dawn intercepted it, blocking the strike with her water magic.

As Imperial moved closer to the ship, his emotions flared, releasing waves of lightning energy that pulsed around him—dense and raw. Inside the ship, the captain and crew felt the shift in the air. The sheer pressure of his magic made it hard to breathe.

The crew emerged from the ship, three of them lunging toward him. But before they could reach, a surge of energy exploded outward from Imperial, blasting them to the ground.

Tracey stepped forward, locking eyes with the fallen attackers. "I'll handle these three."

Dawn nodded and faced the vice-captain. "You're mine."

Imperial leapt onto the ship, where the captain stood waiting. Ignoring him, Imperial stormed toward the interior. The captain frowned. "You think you're something special?"

He attacked.

Stone Magic: Stone Fall!

A massive boulder descended from the sky.

With one effortless swing, Imperial cleaved it in half. The force shook the ship violently.

The captain lunged. Imperial turned, lightning sparking at his fingertips.

Lightning Impact!

A flash of speed—he was instantly in front of the captain, his blade crashing into him and hurling him into the ship's hull. The captain barely managed to shield himself with stone armor, reducing the damage.

Both fighters were careful. The ship's structural integrity was at stake. Ari was still inside.

They clashed again, sword versus stone. The captain summoned his spell:

Stone Magic: Stone Blades!

Six sharp blades hovered in the air and struck one after another. Imperial blocked each with calculated ease, then vanished in a flash of lightning.

He reappeared behind the captain, who barely raised his arm to block—but it was too late.

Lightning Impact—Left Hand.

The blow landed squarely, bursting through the captain's defense. Blood spurted from his side. He collapsed.

Imperial sheathed his sword and ran deeper into the ship. After kicking down a sealed door, he found Ari—unconscious, lying on the ground.

His expression softened. Gently, he lifted her onto his shoulder and turned to leave.

Suddenly—

Stone Magic: Stone Fall!

A final desperate attack.

A giant boulder plummeted from above. Imperial turned, eyes glowing.

He unsheathed his blade, leapt into the air, and channeled pure lightning into his swing.

BOOM!

The stone shattered in a brilliant arc. The energy burst split part of the ship, which began to sink.

With perfect balance, Imperial landed safely with Ari in his arms.

Outside, Dawn had already defeated the vice-captain using:

Water Magic: Cyclone Vortex!

The swirling waters overwhelmed the fire mage, launching him across the port.

Tracey had finished his battle, aided by Ashenfang, the savage beast who crushed the remaining three crew members with brutal force.

As Imperial reunited with his friends, Tracey summoned his traveling beast. Dawn helped Imperial place Ari gently on its back, and they all rode away swiftly.

The port officer stood stunned. But even more alarmed was the general, watching everything unfold.

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The Next Day

Ari slowly opened her eyes in a moving cart. "Ugh… my head…"

Dawn quickly leaned over. "Ari! You're awake! Take it easy."

Imperial turned. "We'll rest a few more days. Until you're fully recovered, we're not going anywhere."

Later, they checked into their old hotel. Imperial laid Ari down in her room and stayed by her side as she rested.

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Elsewhere…

A furious voice echoed in a dark chamber.

"They failed?" the woman hissed.

The servant bowed. "Yes, my lady. The girl was not captured."

"And who defeated our forces?"

"We're still investigating, but our scouts say someone with immense lightning power—likely the one known as Imperial Alden."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "Two failures in a row… This cannot continue."

She stood up, her silhouette looming over a war table. "Send my elite team. I want both the girl and the boy."

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Two Days Later

Ari stood outside the inn, the morning sun warming her face. The scar above her eye now fully healed into a faint mark—a reminder of what she had escaped.

Tracey walked up. "You okay now?"

Ari smiled. "Yeah… I'm feeling stronger than ever."

Imperial stepped out behind her. "Good. Because we move north today."

Dawn nodded, holding the map. "The next ancient pillar is waiting."

And so, with determination burning in their hearts, the team set off once more—towards the unknown, towards destiny.

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Later That Night – On the Road North

The team travels through a quiet region with towns scattered across the landscape. There are few forests in this empire, so travel is smooth even at night.

Imperial:

We can camp here if anyone's tired.

All:

We're fine. Let's keep moving.

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Elsewhere – Inside a Dark Chamber

A shadowy room lit only by the glow of a ritual circle. A cloaked man sits on a throne-like chair. Three robed figures kneel before him.

The Seated Man:

Has "Gravio" of the Elite Five arrived?

Figure 1:

Yes. he reached the site today.

The Seated Man:

Then begin the ritual. The "Octagon" must be completed without delay.

Figure 2:

But why send one of the Elite Five?

The Seated Man:

Because we need a Tier One magic user to complete the ritual. he fits the requirement.

Now all that remains is for Kai Alden to arrive.

Back to Imperial's Group – Reaching the North

After a day's journey, the team finally enters the northern region. Ari's locket begins to glow faintly.

Ari (excited):

The locket's reacting... There's movement nearby!

Imperial:

Then we search on foot from here.

They soon reach a town where the locket is pointing. But something is wrong—there's chaos in the streets.

They spot a large royal carriage bearing the emblem of one of the noble families. Beside it, guards are forcing people onto another cart. The civilians resist shouting and refusing to go.

Ari (tense):

This… doesn't look good.

Imperial (eyes narrowing):

Let's move carefully. Something's happening here.

Tracey glanced at the smoldering town square, her voice thick with weariness and resignation. "I guess now... wherever we go, chaos follows us. Like our forever teammate."

Dawn's eyes narrowed as she shifted her gaze toward the royal cart that had just arrived. Her focus locked on the emblem etched into its side — a crest she knew all too well. Her expression tightened with dread.

"We have to go back from here," Dawn declared, her voice firm. "This place is dangerous. Let's go, guys."

They started to move, but their steps slowed when they noticed the crowd. Civilians were down on their knees, begging — pleading desperately at the feet of noblemen clad in ornate royal robes. Their cries were desperate and hollow, echoing with despair.

Then suddenly, in a swirl of wind and light, CA arrived — teleported in by Jack's magic. Jack staggered briefly from the effort, and Gray, ever watchful, immediately moved to help civilians stand and calm their frantic screams.

More soldiers were arriving — royal soldiers, stiff-backed and stern, surrounding the cart with increasing intensity. Dawn's face grew grim.

Ari, tense and wide-eyed, muttered, "Dawn's right. We have to go."

But before they could retreat, they saw him — Imperial.

He was standing silently beside a group of kneeling civilians, his expression unreadable. Ari froze, her breath catching in her throat. Tracey stiffened beside her, their eyes reflecting a quiet terror. They had seen that look on Imperial's face before.

Dawn clenched her fists. "We have no choice now. We have to go there too. And Imperial... we can't let him get involved in this. These aren't just any nobles. This is one of the top royal families in the empire."