Chapter 444: The Last Stand of the Seventh Filter

Alexander walked over the wreckage of the destroyed cannons, listening to the metal crunch beneath his boots. The scent of propellant hung in the air, revealing the steel vault door at the end of the dome that led to the surface.

However, before he could take another step toward the exit, a hatch on the command module burst open.

The High Commander descended down the platform stairs. He wore armor forged from alloy and wielded a mana greatsword, radiating a golden aura to drive back the gloom.

"You won’t take another step toward the city, demon," said the High Commander, tightening his grip on the hilt.

Alexander halted in the center of the dome, tilting his head as the crimson eyes embedded in his bone crown gleamed behind his visor.

"Your twelve guardians fell, your defenses were reduced to scrap, and your personnel fled," whispered Alexander. "You are alone. Do you believe you can stop me?"

"I don’t need to defeat you," said the High Commander, spitting blood and raising his blade. "I only need to hold you here until reinforcements seal the exit. If my life is the price to protect the surface, I will yield it."

"How annoying you all are with your sense of duty," said Alexander, raising his dark scythe as the black mist of [Lord of the Night] condensed around him.

The High Commander roared and lunged forward, unleashing a surge of golden aura as he charged at the creature of shadows.

The High Commander closed the distance, bringing his greatsword down in a vertical slash. The blade slammed into the edge of Alexander’s scythe, triggering an explosion of sparks that cracked the dome’s floor.

Leveraging the clash of weapons, the Commander made no attempt to retreat. Instead, he released his sword’s hilt and slammed his hands onto the chest plate of the Lord of the Night.

"I have you, bastard!" roared the High Commander, the veins on his face bulging.

At that moment, the runes carved into his armor ignited in a glare. The mana core in his chest entered a state of overload, emitting a succession of beeps.

Alexander narrowed his eyes behind his visor as he felt the energy surging inches from his body.

"A suicide attack?" whispered Alexander.

"Die with me in this tomb!" screamed the High Commander, coughing up blood as the core reached the point of no return.

The armor detonated in an explosion of divine light, engulfing both figures in a sphere of fire. The shockwave pulverized the surrounding walls and shook the entire base.

When the glare ebbed and the dust began to settle, nothing remained at the center of the hall except a crater. Of the High Commander, not even ashes were left.

Amidst the cloud of debris, the dark mist of [Lord of the Night] condensed once more, revealing Alexander standing tall. His shadow armor bore scorch marks and cracks across the chest, but the blood mana he had absorbed earlier knitted his wounds shut.

"A futile effort," said Alexander, wiping blood from his face before striding toward the vault door blown open by the blast.

"His effort was not futile," said a female voice from within the smoke.

Out of the debris emerged a woman with red hair and long legs, wearing a low-cut dress that contrasted with the surrounding destruction.

The moment his eyes landed on her, Alexander’s instincts went wild, warning him that this woman was not someone he could play around with. The pressure radiating from her presence was different from any soldier or commander he had faced thus far.

The woman halted her steps a few meters away, crossing her arms as a smirk touched her lips.

"Are you dazzled by my beauty, or why are you no longer acting arrogant?" asked the red-haired woman, tilting her head.

Alexander tightened his grip on his dark scythe, readjusting his stance within [Lord of the Night] as the black mist churned around him.

"And who are you supposed to be?" whispered Alexander, keeping his eyes locked onto her movements.

"I am one of the Great Pillars of the Federation," introduced the woman, taking a step forward as an aura distorted the air surrounding her. "And I came to ensure you don’t take another step."

The woman’s silhouette dissolved into the air like a mirage, reappearing within the gloom behind Alexander’s back.

"My name is the Pillar of Flame—don’t forget it," whispered the red-haired woman into Alexander’s ear.

Before he could turn to strike, the entire dome detonated. A pillar of crimson fire erupted from the ground and shot toward the sky, reducing the defensive facility to ashes.

Alexander reacted on instinct, crossing his arms over his chest. The dark cuirass of [Lord of the Night] began absorbing part of the surrounding inferno, but the flames were so scorching that his shadow coverage lost ground.

The woman’s voice echoed above the roar of the fire, wrapped in a giggle that vibrated through the air.

"My, you’re so much more fun than the last toy I had," said the Pillar of Flame, materializing a few meters away as she toyed with a flame between her fingers. "I hope you hold out longer before finishing... because I love it when they take their time coming undone, and I haven’t had enough fun yet."

Alexander gritted his teeth behind his visor as the shadow mist fought to regenerate the scorched sections of his armor.

"Damn it... this woman is a different kind of monster," hissed Alexander, steadying his stance upon the searing stone.

Refusing to be crushed, Alexander unleashed the full extent of his [Lord of the Night] power. A tide of gloom surged from beneath his feet, expanding like an inkblot that began engulfing everything around him, devouring the flames and shrouding the battlefield in darkness.

The light of the inferno clashed against the shadow ascending to the heavens, splitting the terrain into two opposing forces.

Upon seeing the tide of darkness consume her fire, the Pillar of Flame widened her eyes before letting out a giggle.

"Well, well... my little doll is tougher than he looks," said the red-haired woman, crossing her arms as her aura flared brighter within the gloom.

Alexander looked up, revealing the restored silhouette of his shadow armor as he gripped his scythe with both hands.

"Let’s see if your flames can burn through the night itself," whispered Alexander, lunging forward at speed.