Chapter 219 - The Lord of Illusions ( Part 2 )

Jennie ran.

The thud of her boots hitting the marble floor resonated throughout the halls of the royal palace. Each step Jennie made was quick, powerful, and urgent, and the girl was running as fast as she could. Her hair was moving like a banner of moonlight in the wind, and her golden eyes burned with a determined flame.

Roxy and Rudy ran after her.

Crimson hair of the fox-kin was swirling in front of her face like red flames, and the staff Roxy carried glowed with sparks of magical energy. Phantom thief moved in absolute silence, and her purple hair was fluttering under her black cloak, while her golden eyes were carefully analyzing every single detail of the surroundings.

The palace was unstable.

The walls seemed to be switching between reality and illusion—sometimes solid stone, sometimes illusory veil of light. There were doors where before there were none, and each of them had shining handles. The corridors bent and twirled like serpents, going nowhere and everywhere at once, and stairs led upward, only to end up back on the same floor.

And somewhere beneath it all…

Aurelia flickered once. And twice.

The golden light flashed like heartbeat—like a signal, beacon, and cry for help.

Jennie stopped. Her breaths were controlled, and she firmly held the hilt of Excalibur.

"She's below us."

Roxy took a breath, and her ears swiveled in the direction of non-existent sounds.

"Below?"

Jennie nodded. She stared at the floor, trying to see the traces of the faint golden glow that was flashing under the marble.

"The signal came from below the palace."

Rudy examined the place. Her daggers were already in her hands, and her posture was tense—she was ready for everything.

"Then we have a problem."

Jennie glanced at her. "What?"

Rudy pointed ahead. The corridor that Jennie was standing in split into ten identical pathways that went into the darkness. All of them had identical walls and floors, and their destination was unknown.

"Which one?"

Jennie stared at them. Her golden eyes searched them, trying to find a hint that will show her which path is real and which is illusory.

The five Divine Swords—Excalibur, Leviathan, Tempest, Eclipse, and Gram—were floating in the air. They made soft humming noise as their blades pulsed with power of the ancient times.

Jennie smiled. It was a dangerous smile—a smile of a person who was not willing to follow the rules anymore.

"We don't need to guess."

Jennie raised her hand, and the five swords reacted immediately. The light of them increased.

"Let's cut through it."

Excalibur flashed.

Golden line appeared in the corridor—a perfect curve of light that cut the air like a blade of pure sunlight.

SHING!

The wall split.

However, it wasn't the wall of stone that was there. Instead, it was an illusion—a false wall of the corridor that was shimmering and wavered like mirage.

Jennie hit it with her sword again.

SHING!

Another illusory wall was destroyed, then another one, and another one.

Every illusion was shattered by Excalibur's blade into fragments that disappeared into thin air, revealing the truth that was beneath.

Rudy observed it in amazement. Her golden eyes widened, and her lips parted in awe.

"So you can destroy illusions?"

Jennie shook her head. Her expression was calm, but she was watching with sharp look.

"Not exactly."

She looked at Excalibur, at its golden blade, that was flashing in her hand, and the light of it was steady and bright.

"It cuts what should not exist."

False wall appeared again. This time it was covered with paintings that moved, and its floor was shifting as if it was water. The illusion was beautiful, and it was completely false.

Jennie pointed at it. "Excalibur!"

The Divine Sword flew. It flashed like a comet in the sky, drawing trail of golden light behind it.

BOOM!

The illusion disappeared, and under it appeared a staircase that was leading down into the darkness.

Roxy stared. "That's the real one."

Jennie smiled. "Found you."

Then the staircase exploded.

BOOOOM!

Hundreds of black blades erupted from the steps of it. They started shooting up like fangs of a monster, their edges glowing with dark energy.

Jennie raised her hand. Instantly, Excalibur returned into it, slapping into her palm.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Golden light of Excalibur illuminated the stairway. Each black blade was destroyed, and their fragments vanished into the shadow.

However, those fragments started changing—they transformed into shadow demons, creatures of smoke and malice, whose violet eyes were staring at Jennie with hatred.

Rudy smiled. It was a predator's smile.

"Now that's more like it."

She disappeared.

Shadow flitted. And another shadow.

Then Rudy appeared behind a demon. Her dagger flashed.

Slash!

Second dagger hit another one.

Slash!

Three demons turned. Their claws reached towards her.

Rudy was gone.

She appeared in the air, pushing off the wall and flying right through their middle. Her daggers were flashing—one, two, three, four, five—each of them was striking their targets with deadly precision.

The demons froze. Their bodies dissolved into smoke.

Rudy landed elegantly. Her cloak fell on her shoulders, and she smiled brightly.

"Still predictable."

Roxy raised her staff, and magical energy started crackling in the air.

"You're enjoying it too much."

Rudy smiled. "Of course."

All of a sudden, a wave of magical energy washed over the whole corridor. It was invisible, but Jennie could feel it—as if it touched her skin, whispered into her mind.

Jennie's expression changed. "Wait."

She raised her hand at Leviathan. The blue Divine Sword rose into the air, and its blade started glowing with azure light.

Deep vibration rippled through the palace. It was not sound—it was feeling that was traveling through stone and air and magic itself.

Leviathan was not looking at illusions. It was sensing something that was beneath them.

Thousands of magical currents. Flowing through the palace like invisible rivers—some of them flowing beneath the floor, some of them through the walls, some others were flowing through the ceiling. Dozens more were flowing through the shadow, their paths twisting and turning like living things.

Jennie closed her eyes. She could feel them—all of those currents of power that were feeding the illusion, giving it form and substance.

One current was flowing beneath the floor. Another one was flowing through the walls. Another one was flowing through the ceiling. Dozens more were flowing through the shadow.

"There."

Jennie pointed downward. Her voice was steady.

Roxy stared at her. "You can sense that?"

"Leviathan can."

Suddenly, the blue sword sank into the floor.

BOOM!

The waves of blue energy ran through the whole palace. They washed over walls and floors and ceilings, exposing all the concealed magical currents.

Rudy was observing. With her golden eyes, she was tracing them and seeing their paths.

"That's crazy."

Jennie examined the currents. Her face remained calm, but the mind was full of emotions.

"They are feeding the illusion."

Roxy understood. Her fox ears flattened, and her eyes narrowed.

"The palace is not the source."

Jennie nodded. "Lokiar connected the illusion with underground magical network."

Rudy's eyes narrowed. Her daggers shined in the blue light.

"Then destroy the network."

Jennie smiled. "That's our plan."

Tempest appeared.

The Blade of Storms appeared in the hand of Jennie, crackling with the power of electricity. Thunder was rumbling in the distance not in the sky but in the sword.

Jennie pointed at the glowing currents. "Tempest."

The sword disappeared.

Thud!

The sound of thunder shook the palace.

BOOOOOOM!

The lightning broke through the walls. It wasn't destructive – not in the usual way of destruction. It didn't burn, and it didn't shatter. It just destroyed illusion barriers inside the palace.

One after another...

BOOM!

The false corridor disappeared.

BOOM!

The fake throne room collapsed.

BOOM!

The shadow barrier broke.

BOOM!

An entire fake palace outside Seraiya vanished.

Even the sky started cracking as the demons hiding inside the illusion barriers screamed and the Royal Knights found their enemies.

"There!"

"Behind the fountain!"

"On the roof!"

"Attack!"

The battle began raging across the city. Swords were clashing, magic was exploding, and the streets of Seraiya turned into battlefield.

Inside the palace, Jennie continued walking forward.

Tempest appeared in her hand again, dancing with lightning, illuminating the corridor with the silver light.

Roxy was looking at her. "You've become really scary."

Jennie looked at her. "Thank you."

"I wasn't praising you."

"I'll take it anyway."

Rudy laughed.

Then the darkness started moving.

Jennie stopped. Her body tensed, and her eyes narrowed.

Eclipse trembled. The Blade of Shadows started emerging from under the cloak, black and dark, absorbing all the light around.

Rudy's face changed. "What did it find?"

Jennie looked forward. "Something is hiding."

Eclipse pointed to the empty wall. Jennie struck.

Nothing.

Rudy frowned. "There's nothing there."

Eclipse pulsed. Jennie struck again.

SHING!

The wall vanished.

Behind it... shadow. Real shadow, not the illusion.

Demon assassin was standing there, absolutely motionless. His body was covered with the black armor, and his presence was hard to detect – a real hole in reality.

He attacked.

Jennie blocked.

CLANG!

The impact sent sparks flying through the corridor. The demon disappeared.

Jennie looked around. Eclipse moved.

Left.

Jennie blocked.

CLANG!

The demon appeared again.

Right.

CLANG!

Above.

CLANG!

Behind.

CLANG!

He was moving through the shadows faster than any ordinary sight.

Roxy tried to trace his movements. But it was hard for her. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow. "I can't see it!"

Jennie smiled. "Eclipse can."

The sword pulsed.

Jennie closed her eyes. She stopped looking and started listening.

The shadow moved. Jennie waited.

Three seconds. Two. One.

"Now."

Eclipse flashed.

SHING!

His weapon was broken. Jennie's sword hit the armor.

BOOM!

The assassin flew through three walls and vanished in the darkness.

Rudy whistled. "Okay."

She looked at Jennie. "That was cool."

Jennie smiled. "I'll keep that in my memory."

Then... something changed.

Gram began shaking.

Jennie looked at the Blade of Wrath. It was glowing red, pulsing with barely restrained anger.

"Gram?"

The sword suddenly turned, not at some enemy, but at the ceiling.

Jennie followed its direction. "There."

Rudy looked up. Nothing.

Then Gram exploded with red energy.

BOOM!

Hostile presence was revealed. Dozen of invisible demons suddenly appeared around them, shimmering into existence.

Roxy jumped back. "Where did they come from?!"

Gram answered with action.

The sword flew. One demon.

Slash.

Second.

Slash.

Third.

Gram was moving too fast.

Four. Five. Six.

They tried to hide in illusion. Gram followed them. He wasn't following them physically. He was sensing their intent.

Jennie understood. "Gram is sensing hostility."

The sword returned in her hand. One demon appeared behind Roxy.

Jennie didn't even need to look. Gram attacked.

CLANG!

The blade of that demon was stopped several inches away from Roxy's head.

Roxy froze. Her face was pale.

Jennie glanced over her shoulder. "You're welcome."

Roxy swallowed. "Thanks."

Gram was trembling. Again hostile presence.

Jennie raised her hand. Gram attacked.

BOOM!

One hidden assassin was blasted through the ceiling.

Rudy was looking up. "Your sword is terrifying."

Jennie looked at Gram. "He is sensitive."

Roxy raised her eyebrows. "Sensitive?"

Gram pulsed.

Jennie nodded. "Very."

The palace was starting shaking.

Lokiar was watching everything from the darkness. His illusion network was collapsing – his carefully constructed false reality was falling apart.

But he wasn't angry. He was smiling.

For the first time... he looked genuinely interested.

"So that's how you fight."

He was watching Excalibur destroying false images. Leviathan revealing hidden currents. Tempest breaking down barriers. Eclipse exposing shadows. Gram hunting hostile intent.

Lokiar's violet eyes widened.

"Five Divine Swords..."

The words were whispered almost involuntarily. He stepped forward. His figure was flickering in the edges.

"Excalibur."

The golden sword flashed.

"Leviathan."

The blue energy filled the corridors.

"Tempest."

Thunder was shaking the palace.

"Eclipse."

Darkness was moving.

"Gram."

Crimson energy was erupting.

Lokiar's smile widened. "Five."

He was laughing softly. The sound echoed through the darkness.

"I thought the legends were exaggerated."

The whole palace was shaking.

"Apparently..." His eyes were gleaming. "...they weren't."

Jennie felt it.

It seemed like something was about to change. The five Divine Swords started to resonate, first faintly, then secondly.

Golden light of Excalibur met the blue aura of Leviathan. And instead of resistance, a link started to appear.

Lightning power of Tempest flowed in. Then the dark power of Eclipse wrapped up the energies.

Jennie's eyes widened. "Wait."

Roxy moved closer. "What is going on here?"

"I have no idea."

Around Jennie the five Divine Swords started to rotate. Gold. Blue. Silver. Black. Crimson.

And their powers started to swirl. The illusions of the palace stopped moving. Lokiar's smile faded away. He was just staring at her now.

"That..."

The five Divine Swords came closer.

Jennie's hair started to rise under the pressure of the magical powers. The ground under her started to crack.

Rudy moved back. "Jennie?"

Jennie looked at the blades. "I think they are..."

Suddenly the blades pointed outwards, then inwards.

Magic circle opened under Jennie and formed from five separate symbols - star, wave, lightning bolt, shadow, fire.

The pressure exploded.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The column of magical energies blasted out of the palace and flew to the sky as if showing everyone a signal.

Every illusion was shattered throughout the whole city. Every hidden demon appeared. Every magical barrier was broken down.

The sky above the capital cleared up, and the sun appeared. It was shining brightly now.

During those moments the five Divine Swords formed a wings behind Jennie, looking as if she was some divine creature.

Lokiar looked at her. The calmness of his face disappeared at last. At last he understood everything.

Those swords didn't only cooperate. Now they were ready to fight together.

Jennie slowly raised her hand. The five blades pointed at Lokiar.

Her eyes became sharp. "Found you."

Lokiar smiled again, but this time there was something different in his eyes.

Excitement. Fright. Curiosity.

"Five Divine Swords..." He said quietly. "...synchronizing."

Jennie moved one step forward. Lokiar moved one step backward.

Not because of his fear of Jennie's blade. Because of the fact that he was afraid of what those five blades could do together.

Then the ground under them suddenly cracked.

Golden light of Aurelia burst out of some depth under the palace. The sound of Lilia's voice was heard.

"Jennie!"

Jennie's expression changed. Her heart tightened.

"Lilia!"

She turned to the cracked ground.

Lokiar looked at her and smiled.

"You have found your Queen."

Jennie turned to Lokiar, but he was already disappearing. The shadows devoured him.

But this time she didn't rush to him. She had an even more important goal.

"Lilia."

Jennie raised all the five blades, and they lit with power.

"Hold on."

The five Divine Swords answered.

The ground under them exploded.

BOOOOOOM!

And Jennie, Roxy, Rudy, and Snow plunged into darkness below the Royal Palace.

Down there, something waited.

And besides it... Queen of Seraiya.

The rescue mission had begun.