Chapter 93: Second Ascension

Neo cut down another attacker, the man’s sword clattering uselessly against the frozen ground, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself a short breath before the next wave arrived.

It didn’t take long.

A fresh group of soldiers emerged from the darkness behind the remains of the scarred leader’s column, their armor clearly different from the ragtag mercenaries Neo had been fighting until now.

These men moved differently. Their formations were tighter, their sword stances precise and deliberate in a way the earlier attackers clearly lacked.

Neo’s eyes narrowed as the first of them closed the distance.

’Wait a second... That stance.’

The way the lead soldier shifted his weight before striking, the particular angle of his guard, and the precise footwork carrying him forward—all of it was instantly, uncomfortably familiar.

Neo had seen that exact style a thousand times before, drilled into him personally by Cassian and reinforced through countless sparring sessions with the Draven household knights.

’That’s Empire standard sword form. Basic infantry training. These aren’t random mercenaries or hired slavers.’

He deflected the first strike almost absentmindedly, his mind racing through the implications even as his body handled the fight on pure reflex.

’These are soldiers from the Empire.’

The realization settled uncomfortably in his chest as he ducked beneath a follow-up swing, driving his elbow hard into the attacker’s chest plate before shoving him backward into two of his companions.

"Who the hell are you working for?!" Neo barked as he slipped past another synchronized attack. "Don’t bother pretending you’re slavers. I know that swordsmanship. You’re Empire soldiers! Now tell me who gave you the order!"

Predictably, none of them answered, their expressions remaining grimly focused, determined despite his question.

Neo’s jaw tightened.

’Fine. If they won’t talk, I’ll have to do this the hard way.’

He surged forward, catching the nearest soldier by the collar of his armor and wrenching him clean off his feet, lifting him entirely off the ground with one hand while his other palm crackled with frost.

"Talk. Or I’ll make you regret every second you chose to stay silent."

The soldier’s eyes flickered with something close to genuine fear, though his mouth remained firmly shut, his jaw clenched tight.

A second soldier charged at Neo from his blind side, sword raised for a decisive strike.

Neo didn’t even look. He simply lifted his other hand and increased the gravity around the attacker. The sudden, crushing pressure slammed down on the man, killing him instantly. His body dropped lifelessly to the ground before his blade could ever reach Neo.

The remaining soldiers hesitated, clearly rattled by the brutal efficiency of Neo’s counterattack.

Neo tightened his grip on the man still dangling from his fist. Then he extended his other hand toward the remaining soldiers, and gravity suddenly intensified around them.

The invisible pressure slammed them hard against the ground, pinning them in place beneath a crushing weight.

"Last chance. Tell me who sent you, and I’ll let you live. I have no interest in killing more of you than necessary."

The man in his grip swallowed hard, clearly weighing his options, fear finally overriding whatever loyalty or training had kept him silent until now.

"We... we were contracted. Hired through a middleman. I don’t know who’s actually behind it, I swear! We just follow the orders, collect our payment, and that’s it."

"Contracted by who? Give me a name."

"I don’t know! The middleman never gave us a name. He only gave us the orders and the coin! I swear, that’s everything I know!"

Neo studied his face carefully, searching for any hint of deception, but found nothing beyond simple, genuine terror.

’He’s telling the truth. Or at least, he believes he is.’

Without another word, Neo snapped the man’s neck with a sharp, decisive twist and let his body drop limply to the ground.

He immediately turned toward the next soldier pinned beneath the crushing gravity.

"Who sent you? Who’s your employer?"

This one, unlike the first, remained stubbornly silent, his jaw clenched tight despite the obvious fear in his eyes, something else flickering there as well, something closer to resigned, desperate acceptance.

Neo narrowed his eyes, pressing the gravitational field slightly tighter around him.

"I’m not asking twice."

Still, the man said nothing, his breathing ragged beneath the crushing pressure, sweat beading heavily along his forehead, though his lips remained firmly sealed.

’He’s scared. More scared than the last one. But he’s still not talking.’

Then Neo noticed it—a faint, barely visible mark etched into the base of the man’s throat, almost completely hidden beneath the collar of his armor.

A small, intricate symbol pulsed with a dull, unnatural energy.

’A binding curse. That’s why he won’t talk, even under the threat of death. He physically can’t.’

Neo’s expression darkened.

"So, it seems my suspicions were right. There’s more going on here than I thought. Someone is actually orchestrating all of this."

He released the gravitational pressure, allowing the bound soldier to collapse weakly onto the ground, gasping for air.

Neo had no intention of questioning him any further. There was no point.

Whatever information the man possessed was clearly locked away, sealed behind whatever dark magic had been used to keep them silent.

Neo straightened, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield as the fighting continued to rage around him. His eyes eventually settled on the distant smoke still billowing from the far side of the settlement.

His expression hardened further, unable to tell what might have happened deeper within the settlement.

’Fuck it. I shouldn’t be holding back anymore.’

He closed his eyes and reached deep within himself, pushing past the First Ascension he had already mastered.

The knowledge of the scripture flowed through his mind like a memory he had already become one with.

He wasn’t preparing to use the First Ascension anymore. It simply wasn’t enough to deal with them—not quickly enough.

What he needed was something deeper. Something he had been preparing for this very day all along.

[Nine Heavens Dragon Ascension Art: Second Ascension!]

A blinding radiance suddenly burst from Neo’s body.

Pure, shimmering starlight surged beneath his skin, flowing through his veins like liquid light. It spread rapidly throughout his entire body, until his figure was completely enveloped in an intense, dazzling glow.

The remaining soldiers stumbled backward, raising their arms to shield their eyes from the overwhelming brilliance pouring from him.

When the light finally settled, Neo opened his eyes again.

Gone was the earlier restraint, the careful, measured precision he’d maintained throughout the fight. His expression had hardened into something far colder, far more focused, every trace of hesitation stripped away entirely, replaced by a single, unwavering intent burning behind his gaze.

The remaining soldiers took an involuntary step backward, the sheer, oppressive pressure radiating off him enough to send primal, instinctive fear crawling down even the most hardened veteran’s spine.

Neo raised one hand slowly, starlight still curling faintly around his fingers, his voice carrying flat, absolute certainty.

"Whoever’s actually behind this, I’m going to find out. But first."

His eyes swept coldly across the remaining soldiers still standing frozen before him.

"None of you are leaving here alive."