Chapter 534: End of the Requiem Guild, Stronghold’s New Leader

Leon did not stop to admire the results of his attack.

With one final burst of speed, he rushed toward Empress and swung his sword.

Her head separated from her body before the silver shards could protect her, ending her life in a single strike.

But that wasn’t the end.

’She’ll revive since she has a [Resurrection Stone].’

At the same moment, Leon used his [Soul Chains] again and tightened them around Cavin, their energy piercing his body and reaching directly into his already damaged soul.

"YOU BASTARD," the oni leader shouted, feeling a sense of impending doom.

But Cavin andd Empress’ shared soul could no longer withstand the assault.

The chains shattered Cavin’s soul, and the damage spread through the fusion to Empress’s soul as well.

With both of them bound together, neither could survive the other’s destruction, and the last remnants of their power vanished as the chains completed their work.

Just like that, the battle came to an end.

Cavin and Empress fell to the ground, their eyes hollow and their bodies motionless as their souls were destroyed.

The silver shards that had protected Cavin throughout the fight lost their luster and scattered.

And at that moment, [Berserk] ran out.

The overwhelming aura surrounding Leon abruptly vanished, and the strength that had sustained him disappeared along with it.

His body could no longer withstand the accumulated exhaustion, and his vision began to darken as he struggled to remain conscious.

A notification sounded in his mind just before he lost the ability to stand.

Ding!

[The God of Souls enjoyed this battle very much.]

[He wishes to meet you in the Eternal Battlefield later.]

Leon stared at the message for a brief moment, his expression filled with irritation despite his fading consciousness.

"Fuck... you..."

Those were the last words he managed to utter before he collapsed, falling unconscious right beside Cavin and Empress’s bodies.

Violet, Celeste, and Emilia quickly rushed to Leon’s side when they noticed that he had collapsed.

After everything that had happened during the battle, seeing him unconscious made them worry that he might have suffered serious injuries.

But Violet carefully examined him and soon realized that his condition was not as bad as they had feared.

"He doesn’t seem injured," Violet mumbled. "He’s just exhausted."

"Hold on, what’s this?" Celeste asked, pointing toward Cavin’s body.

A faint light had begun to shine from the corpse, immediately drawing the three women’s attention.

For a brief moment, they took their fighting stances, wondering whether Cavin had somehow survived Leon’s attacks.

Fortunately, that was not the case.

Instead, a panel appeared before them, accompanied by a notification that everyone inside the Requiem Stronghold could see.

Ding!

[The leader of the Requiem Stronghold have been killed, ownership will be transfered to the one who defeated him.]

As the notification disappeared, a small crystal emerged from Cavin’s body.

It floated into the air before moving toward Leon, sinking into his body and vanishing without leaving a trace.

Another notification immediately followed.

Ding!

["Celestial" is now the leader of the "Requiem Stronghold"]

"Huh, so that’s how it’s done," Violet said with a nod. "If you manage to kill the leader of a stronghold, you can forcefully take ownership and gain control over it."

"What can he do as the leader?" Emilia asked curiously. "It’s not just a title, right?"

"I’m guessing the system will explain everything once he wakes up," Violet replied. "For now, let’s find somewhere for him to rest. We have no idea how long he might be unconscious."

"Huh... I do," Celeste said, raising her hand. "When we were in Higher Domain #3, in the Exiled Lands, Leon fought a boss called the Magicless Guardian and killed it using [Berserk]. He passed out afterward and remained unconscious for around four days."

"Four days, huh?" Violet scratched her chin, "Oh well, it should still be fine."

Without wasting any more time, Violet lifted Leon’s unconscious body and carried him over her shoulders.

Although he was not exactly light, her strength made it easy enough to transport him, and she began searching for a suitable place where they could rest.

The three women made their way through the stronghold, remaining alert in case any enemies decided to attack them.

However, after the battle had ended and Cavin’s death had been announced, nobody seemed willing to approach them.

"Kind of crazy that these assholes managed to create a place like this," Celeste remarked, looking around. "There’s even cars and electronics, and it has a decent population and size. You could actually live here if you wanted."

"Players and natives who reach a high level but don’t feel like trying anymore probably settle down in places like this," Violet replied with a sigh. "That’s not for us, though."

The three of them continued walking, and before long, the inhabitants finally began emerging from their homes and buildings.

The explosions and fighting had stopped, leaving them uncertain.

"Lord Cavin is d-dead?!"

"But how? Wasn’t he the strongest person in the stronghold?"

"And what about Empress, Yanzi, Granite, Mortis, and the others? Did they all die too?"

"It said [Celestial], didn’t it? That’s the powerful player who’s appeared in those global announcements a few months ago!"

"But I thought he and the Requiem Guild were working together! They fought together during the Level 6 Monster Tide, didn’t they?"

Nobody could understand how the situation had changed so suddenly.

The Requiem Guild had been one of the strongest forces in the area, and Cavin had been regarded as the most powerful person within the stronghold.

Yet now, the guild’s leader was dead, and the person who had killed him had become their new ruler.

The thought frightened many of the inhabitants.

If Celestial had managed to defeat Cavin and the entire Requiem Guild, who among them could possibly stand against him?

If he decided to destroy the stronghold or drive everyone out, there would be little they could do to resist.

Most of them had settled here precisely because they wanted a safer place to live, away from the dangers of the outside world.

Now, that safety seemed uncertain.