Chapter 496

It was hollow.

Because she had been betrayed by those she trusted. Because all the glory and honor she once held vanished like a handful of dust.

And so—

No one could understand this sorrow and despair.

…It was painful.

And just when even that pain was starting to fade.

She gained the strength to live once again.

An opportunity to wash away the disgrace of the past.

And more importantly, she met someone truly precious.

[Alice activates her Unique Holy Spear – ‘Apocalypse of Revelation’!]

Scarlet skewers appeared alongside crimson rings.

“Excension!”

An indescribable magical power erupted from Alice’s body.

The blood droplets turned into a storm and surged forward all at once.

“Hmph. As always, charging in recklessly.”

Excension wore a confident smile.

Kwaaaang!

Kwakwakwaaaang!

The spears flying in were shattered into dust midair.

A black barrier emanated a sinister aura.

“Unfortunate for you, but I can exert the same power here as I can in my territory. No matter how much you struggle, it’s useless.”

“A mere shield like that will eventually break if I keep pounding on it. You’ll regret showing that face before me—deep down to your bones.”

Kukukukuku!

Alice’s aura grew even fiercer.

As if it didn’t matter if she burned through every last bit of her magic.

“Alice!”

Jinhyuk shouted again.

Of course, his voice didn’t reach Alice.

‘Damn it, this is getting troublesome.’

Excension had removed the system restrictions, and Red Dragon Tamia was with him.

On top of that, that bone spear Tamia was holding…

It wasn’t just any weapon—it was something else entirely.

‘Did they get their hands on an Ancient Dragon’s bones?’

There was no way this level of scheme was carried out by just the two of them.

Hastings, or perhaps even Nyarlathotep—and possibly entities beyond them—were likely involved.

The variable the eagle owl once mentioned came to mind as well.

Whatever the case, what mattered right now was escaping this hell.

Jinhyuk signaled to Teresa.

“…Got it!”

Teresa moved immediately.

This time, not to attack—but to secure a retreat path.

But then—

“Aaaargh!”

A scream rang out from where Ahn Ilman and Romanovski were.

As expected, it happened.

Old Guard had begun moving at this exact moment.

Judging by the scream, it was already too late.

Someone was likely dead, and the other had committed the murder.

Now, the only option was to save whoever could still be saved.

“Kang Sua!”

“Y-Yes…”

Kang Sua mumbled with a terrified expression.

She was in shock, trembling all over.

“Get a grip!”

“Huh? R-Right…!”

“You need to take the others and get out of here immediately. Focus!”

Jinhyuk grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

“Why… Why are our own people killing each other…? I don’t understand…”

Kang Sua looked even more confused.

“One of the people with you may look familiar, but inside, it’s someone else. I’ll explain later. Just take the rest and get out now.”

KWAANG!

PUHPUHPUK!

“Gyaaah!”

Another scream echoed.

Even now, Old Guard was methodically taking out the Prime Service Guild players.

“No way… I-I understand. I’ll retreat for now.”

Kang Sua would handle minimizing further casualties.

Jinhyuk turned in the opposite direction immediately.

That should cover the minimum defense—

Puuk!

“…Huh?”

Jinhyuk’s pupils narrowed.

A sharp pain bloomed in his back.

A dagger was lodged deep in his shoulder.

Jinhyuk instinctively pulled away to gain distance.

“Wow, I even hid my killing intent completely, but you still reacted? You really are something.”

A cold smile curved on Kang Sua’s lips.

“You… you were Old Guard? Then that one going wild back there…”

He could definitely sense a life extinguished.

Don’t tell me…

“That’s right. There’s more than one Old Guard here. Come on, did you really think I’d come alone to hunt down such a troublesome prey like you?”

“I heard you’re one of the top five Old Guard. And yet you’re teaming up? No pride left, huh?”

Jinhyuk clenched his teeth and drew his sword.

Drip…

Blood flowed from the wound.

At the same time, [Blessing of the Stars] and [Mandala] activated.

Their powers should heal a wound like this instantly.

But—

Throb! Ache!

The injury didn’t heal at all.

Instead, the stabbed area began to harden.

“A curse… And not just any curse. One with absolute judgment.”

Jinhyuk looked at the dagger.

Its blade was inscribed with unique symbols.

“Sharp eyes. It’s the Petrifying Dagger. The longer time passes, the worse it gets—eventually, your entire body turns to stone. Sure, I know your abilities are impressive, but this time? You won’t have it easy.”

Damn it.

This was a real mess now.

He had to face Rear Queen, Excension, Tamia—and now Old Guard too.

‘Teresa and Wolyoung are already fully occupied with their own opponents. They can’t help.’

Most importantly, just like Kang Sua said, this wound was no ordinary injury.

⁕ ⁕ ⁕

At the same time.

The battle between Alice and Excension had grown even fiercer.

Hundreds of skewers vanished in unison.

Only the red streaks of light showed the path they’d taken.

KWAKWAKWAKWAANG!

However, Excension intercepted every last one of Alice’s skewers.

Black-glowing spears once again filled the air.

“Excellent. Just excellent! Back then, you were terrifyingly strong—I even felt fear. But look at you now! Make a pact with some half-baked human and you become half-baked yourself!”

Excension burst into maniacal laughter.

With each exchange of blows, the tide was turning more clearly.

The number of skewers floating beside Alice had nearly halved.

On the other hand, Excension remained unscathed.

“Don’t you dare call my… contractor a fool. My contractor is stronger than any being in the Tower.”

“Puhaha! You’ve really fallen head over heels. Well, I suppose he did struggle quite a bit.”

Releasing Alice, who was sealed in the Corridor of the Fallen, and climbing all the way to the 30th floor of the Tower—no doubt an incredible feat.

For a human, that is.

But beyond this point lies the realm of heroes and gods—beings far beyond human limitations.

The players who ran rampant in arrogance until now would have their wings clipped and come crashing down.

“From here on, you’ll find it a bit harder to withstand, Alice.”

“Come as much as you like. I haven’t even shown you my true strength yet.”

Alice didn’t back down.

KWAKWAKWAKWA!

Red spears and black spears clashed.

As massive magical forces collided, shockwaves burst in every direction.

“Krrroooar!”

“Kyeeeek!”

The surrounding centipedes were caught in the blast.

Like a natural disaster. Just being nearby shredded their bodies to pieces.

“Kahaha! That’s not enough. Struggle harder! Your mortal enemy is right before your eyes!”

Completely fired up, Excension raised his voice even louder.

From above…

And from below.

A spear formed from dozens of skewers fell from the sky.

[Excension summons Lv?? ‘Chaos Spear’!]

“Kgh!”

Alice immediately drew her crimson blades.

Hundreds of blades spun clockwise, forming a massive shield.

It was the strongest defensive skill in her arsenal.

However—

KWA-AAANG!

The force of the falling spear exceeded all expectations.

The ground cracked like a turtle shell.

It was like being hit directly by a meteor, with dozens of shockwaves rippling out.

⁕ ⁕ ⁕

Rattle…

Debris fell.

“Ah…ugh…”

Covered in dust, Alice struggled to lift herself up.

Her crimson blades had all shattered and lay scattered on the ground.

She barely managed to block it, but the damage was severe.

‘My left arm’s probably useless now. My lungs and liver… injured too.’

She could collapse at any moment.

And for some reason, the flow of magic from her contractor had weakened.

‘No… Did he get hurt?’

Alice weakly turned her head.

There stood a staggering Jinhyuk.

Judging by the blood pouring from his shoulder, it was clearly a serious wound.

She had to help—immediately.

No one else could. She, and she alone, had to save her contractor.

Step.

Alice moved toward Jinhyuk, casting aside her battered body.

Step.

Her steps were heavy.

Her vision blurred.

Even so, she had to go.

She had to be by his side, no matter what.

She had to let him know she was here.

“Ah…”

Alice slowly reached out her hand.

Through the thick dust, Jinhyuk’s face appeared in the distance.

“Ho. So you managed to block it.”

But the cold voice did not permit Alice to reach Jinhyuk.

Fwap!

A long, thin slash appeared across Alice’s leg.

Excension, now wielding a rapier, stood in her way.

“Move…”

“You look like you could die any second, yet your mouth still works.”

“I said move!”

“Don’t command with words. Speak through strength, fallen former head of household.”

BZZZZT!

Excension’s rapier flared brilliantly.

Inscribed with blood-red runes, it was a sacred relic passed down through the Ataraxia household.

“You lost back then because, as the true successor, you neglected to master the swordplay you were meant to.”

Ranged attacks were fundamental. On top of that, close combat prowess was a must for a household head.

“Let’s see if you can take this.”

Excension flicked the tip of his sword.

“I… learned.”

Alice’s lips parted softly.

“What are you mumbling?”

“I learned how to use a rapier. I learned how to wield a sword.”

The contractor who taught her, even when she complained.

She had practiced over and over how to use a rapier.

From the strongest person she knew in the Tower.

WUUUNG!

Alice opened her subspace inventory.

What emerged was a rapier with a pure white blade.

Its hilt bloomed like a single flower in Alice’s right hand.

“You’ve got the stance down, at least. But what do you think you can do in that battered body with no magic left? Seems like your contractor isn’t in any shape to share magic either, huh?”

“That doesn’t matter. With my own power… I’ll go save him.”

[The contract is temporarily suspended.]

[You will consume your own magic.]

[Upon depletion of all magic, the user will be extinguished.]

A series of red system messages appeared.

[Apocalypse of Revelation – Pureblooded Angel ‘Redemption’ is activated!]

One pair of wings split into three.

The red ring turned white, matching the color of her sword and wings.

A radiant display of white and red magic.

This was Alice’s—

No, this was Alice von Ataraxia’s close-combat style.