Chapter 391: Purification [4]

Lyria felt as though death were closer than ever. Keeping her eyes open was becoming an exhausting struggle, and every breath sent another wave of pain through her battered body.

She needed the same high tier healing potion Caelthas had given to her before.

She forced herself to look at the scene before her. She couldn’t fall unconscious so easily.

Damien, Brandon, Caelthas, and Queen Aelyssa stood facing Vorthane, their expressions grim and their bodies tense. Vorthane’s blood-red sword remained pointed toward her, its blade ready to end her life at any moment.

Lyria tried to move, but even the slightest movement sent pain shooting through her body.

Before she could make any progress, Vorthane planted his foot on her right leg, pinning her to the ground.

"Don’t move..." he warned, his voice dripping with murderous intent. "I have no particular interest in a this girl, but she’s still a nuisance to our plans."

Despite being surrounded by numerous elves, he showed no sign of fear.

He glanced toward Aelyssa and sneered.

"You know, none of you can kill me. You can’t even seriously injure me. Just wait and watch as everything unfolds before your eyes—"

Suddenly, Vorthane stopped speaking.

His nose twitched as though he had caught a particular scent. His crimson eyes shifted toward the sky, and his expression changed slightly.

Lyria struggled to follow his gaze.

Someone was descending from above.

The figure floated through the air, a violet cloak fluttering behind him. In his right hand, he held a woman by the head, gripping her hair tightly as her limp body dangled beside him.

The man landed on the ground.

Without releasing the woman, he began walking forward, dragging her along by her hair. Blood trailed behind them.

Lyria’s blurred vision slowly adjusted to his appearance.

Snow-white hair, streaked with blood. Numerous cuts running across his face, arms, legs, and torso. Blood trickling from his wounds with every step he took.

Yet he continued walking as though the injuries meant nothing to him.

His glacier-blue eyes glowed with a mysterious, icy radiance.

Lyria’s heart skipped a beat.

’Noah...!’

He was alive. Despite his terrible injuries, he had returned.

And the woman he was dragging.

Lyria couldn’t clearly make out her face from where she lay, but the sight of Noah standing there filled her with a sudden, desperate hope.

Perhaps everything wasn’t over yet.

---

The woman in Noah’s grasp groaned in pain.

"Argh..."

Her face and body were covered in blood. On one side of her torso, numerous ice shards had pierced through her flesh, leaving her ribs severely damaged.

"Th-Tharlyssa..."

Vorthane’s voice faltered.

The powerful Blood Elf looked genuinely shaken.

Noah stopped walking and raised his head.

His gaze settled on Vorthane before shifting toward Lyria, who lay helplessly on the shattered ground.

Their eyes met.

Lyria’s heart tightened as she looked into those beautiful, frost-like eyes. They held no discernible emotion, yet she somehow sensed the fury lurking beneath their icy surface.

He was angry. No, he was absolutely furious. And somehow, she felt that his anger was directed at the man who had hurt her.

Noah’s gaze returned to Vorthane.

"Noah?" Damien spoke while looking at his friend, their was relief and worry written on his face clearly.

An ice dagger materialized beside Tharlyssa’s neck, its razor-sharp edge hovering dangerously close to her skin.

"Release Lyria," Noah said coldly. "Or you might lose your daughter."

Vorthane stiffened.

He was powerful enough to close the distance between himself and Noah in an instant. However, Queen Aelyssa stood closer to the white-haired youth, and she would undoubtedly intervene if he attempted anything reckless.

He couldn’t simply rush forward and seize his daughter.

"P-Papa..." Tharlyssa murmured weakly, her voice trembling with pain.

The sound pierced Vorthane’s heart like a thousand knives.

His daughter, whom he had always protected, was now battered and bleeding in the hands of an enemy.

"You!" he snarled at Noah. "Don’t you dare hurt my daughter any further!"

"Then release Lyria."

Noah’s tone remained indifferent, yet his words carried an inexplicable authority that made even Vorthane hesitate.

Something about the young man felt wrong.

It wasn’t merely his strength or the murderous intent radiating from him. There was something else, an invisible pressure that seemed to emanate from deep within his being.

It was faint, barely perceptible, but it existed and that send chilles to Vorthane.

For a fleeting moment, Vorthane felt as though he were standing before something far greater than an ordinary mortal.

He suppressed the strange sensation and gritted his teeth.

Not only him but even Aelyssa and other felt a chilling sensation emitting from Noah. It felt as if the temperature around them had decreased.

"O-Okay! Take the girl and give me back my daughter!" Vorthane reached down, seized Lyria by the collar, and hauled her off the ground.

"Ah...!"

Lyria gasped as the movement aggravated her abdominal wound.

"I’ll throw her toward you," Vorthane declared. "You give my daughter back to me in exchange. No tricks!"

Noah remained silent for a moment.

Queen Aelyssa watched the exchange with a stunned expression.

In all her years, she had never seen Vorthane behave this way. The man was twisted, cruel, and merciless, yet it was clear that he genuinely cared about his daughter.

He was afraid of losing her.

Aelyssa vanished from her position and reappeared beside Noah, ready to intervene should Vorthane attempt anything suspicious.

"I’ll count to three," she announced firmly. "On three, both of you will release them simultaneously. No sudden movements, no attacks. Understood?"

Vorthane reluctantly nodded.

Noah gave no verbal response, but his silence was enough for Aelyssa to proceed.

"One..."

Everyone held their breath.

"Two..."

Vorthane tightened his grip on Lyria, while Noah maintained his hold on Tharlyssa.

"THREE!"

Noah moved first. His grip tightened on her hair and with a single motion, he flung Tharlyssa toward Vorthane, releasing her by the hair.

At the same instant, Vorthane hurled Lyria toward Noah.

Her weakened body shot through the air like a bullet.

Noah didn’t even blink his eyes. He stepped forward and caught her securely in his arms.

Meanwhile, Vorthane caught his daughter and immediately pulled her against his chest, cradling her protectively.

"My child... you’re safe now. Don’t worry. I’m here."

His voice softened as he examined Tharlyssa’s injuries, relief and concern flickering across his face.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though the exchange had ended peacefully.

Then, a portal suddenly opened behind Vorthane.

Without hesitation, he stepped backward into it, carrying Tharlyssa in his arms.

Aelyssa reacted immediately. She vanished from Noah’s side and lunged toward Vorthane, attempting to stop his escape.

"Stop!!"

But she was a moment too late. The portal closed just as she reached it. Her hand swept through empty air.

Vorthane and Tharlyssa were gone.