Chapter 83: The Moon Swallowed by the Sun (5)

In the dim, shadowy basement, the only light came from the softly glowing magic circles inscribed densely across the floor and walls. Within that eerie calm, a noblewoman in an extravagant dress twisted her face in fury.

Rosanna Helios, matriarch of the Helios family, scowled at the absurd report coming through her Hero Watch. “The first Solar Gate has been breached?”

The gate guarded day and night by hundreds of armed guards had been broken through.

“How many intruders are there?” she asked.

“J-just one, ma’am,” answered the chief of security, trembling.

Frowning deeply, Rosanna glared down at the Hero Watch. “One? Did you say one person? Get a hold of yourself and give me a proper report. What’s going on out there?”

“J-just as reported! The intruder defeated all 282 guards stationed at the Solar Gate and stormed through the front entrance, alone!”

It left her speechless. The intruder hadn’t climbed over the outer wall, where the security was thinner. Rather, this person had smashed straight through nearly three hundred armed guards and walked right in. It was insane.

While these guards weren’t Heroes with soul stigmatas, they were all trained fighters armed with magical tools. Even for a Hero with superhuman strength, cutting through almost three hundred fully equipped guards alone was no small feat.

Rosanna asked, “Any identifying traits on the intruder?”

“G-gray hair, wearing the uniform of a hero academy cadet!”

Rosanna’s face stiffened, and a face flashed through her mind. It was the audacious Republic half-breed who had dared talk back to her during the school observation day.

It can’t be...

she thought.

Rosanna became anxious. “Where is the intruder now?”

“He’s rapidly approaching the mansion via the main path!” replied the chief of security.

“Deploy the Order of the Sun. Subdue the intruder immediately.”

The second Solar Gate was guarded by the elite force that protected the inner estate. The Order of the Sun lived within the Helios compound itself, tasked with defending the family against intruders.

“Understood!”

The sound of urgent footsteps receding faintly echoed through the Hero Watch, leaving the basement in silence again.

Yurina began to rise from the surgical table, anxiety etched on her face. “Mother, don’t tell me—”

Rosanna snapped at her. “Stay down. Lie still.”

Minutes passed, and the Hero Watch crackled to life again.

“The Knights of the Sun have engaged the intruder!” said the chief of security.

A sigh of relief escaped Rosanna’s lips. “Good.”

Unlike the outer gate guards, the Knights were all true Heroes, every one of them having awakened their soul stigmata. Not only that, this wasn’t some ragtag bunch. These were elite cadets who had graduated from the Hero Academy with top honors. Against a mere cadet, even one as bold as this intruder, they would surely hold their ground.

However, instead of pleasant news, what followed soon was a shocking report.

“Half of them are already unconscious! The remaining half are barely hanging on!” said the chief of security.

Baffled, Rosanna asked, “What?”

When the chief of security repeated the report, Rosanna leaned closer to her Hero Watch in disbelief. “W-what do you mean?”

Not even five minutes had passed since the knights had engaged. Half of them were unconscious already, and the rest were barely standing. It was such an outlandish situation that Rosanna almost hoped it was an elaborate prank.

What the hell is going on out there?

she thought.

But that wasn’t the end. Reports soon came one after the other.

“Commander Robert is engaging the intruder!

“C-Commander Robert is being pushed back!

“Commander Robert has fallen! The entire Order of the Sun is now incapacitated!”

Rosanna was frozen in place. Robert Helios was her right-hand man and the commander of the Order of the Sun. He bore the Helios name, and though he was of concubine lineage and hadn’t learned the family’s signature Sun Sword Style, he was still ranked among the top hundred heroes across all three nations—a true Ranker.

“A... a cadet defeated a Ranker?” she muttered.

Moreover, this hadn’t happened after a long, drawn-out fight. Based on the timing, Robert had been completely overpowered in under three minutes, even with support from the other knights.

Rosanna clutched her forehead, utterly unable to grasp the situation. “What is this? What the hell is happening?”

A single cadet alone had invaded the Helios estate and broken through not one, but two of the Solar Gates in mere moments. Not even a high-ranking demon Archbishop could pull this off.

The reports continued.

“The intruder is now heading for the mansion!”

“S-stop him! Do something!” Rosanna commanded.

“W-we have no forces left!”

“There must be reserves still on standby inside the mansion! Gather everyone and block him!” she said.

“Y-yes, ma’am!” The panicked voice grew faint as the report ended.

Faust, who had been quietly watching the situation unfold from beside the surgical table, murmured, “Things don’t seem to be going well.”

“N-no! It’s fine! Don’t worry. Please just focus on the procedure, Lord Faust!”

“

Hmm!

This really doesn’t seem like an ideal time to perform a delicate operation.” Faust shrugged, then smiled faintly. “But in any case, you shouldn’t be too worried, should you?”

“What do you mean?” Rosanna asked.

“There’s still the third Solar Gate, after all.”

Rosanna stiffened. The third and final Solar Gate was equipped with a barrier cast inside the mansion by the Great Sage Julius Bastion himself.

“But if we activate that barrier...” Rosanna trailed off, biting her lip.

That barrier was not designed to restrain intruders. It was meant to annihilate them. The moment it activated, it would unleash a barrage of overwhelming magical firepower, reducing the target to ash in the blink of an eye.

“

Ugh!

”

Even Rosanna, who viewed Republic-born hybrids with disdain, couldn’t bring herself to sentence a twenty-year-old cadet to death. Hesitation took hold of her heart.

Faust looked at her and said, “What are you waiting for? Don’t tell me you’re considering mercy for the scum who invaded your estate?”

“N-no, it’s not that...”

“Then contact the guards immediately and activate the third Solar Gate.”

Rosanna silently looked down at her Hero Watch.

Another urgent report came through the Hero Watch: “The intruder has entered the mansion!”

“Is there anything more important right now than completing the ritual to create the Helios family’s new ‘Sun’?” Faust’s sweet voice curled around her ears like poisoned honey.

She was just about to speak, her throat tight with conflict, when Yurina, lying on the surgical table, suddenly sat up, panic flaring in her eyes. “Stop! You can’t!”

When she had heard the commotion through the Hero Watch, it hadn’t taken her much to realize who the intruder storming through the mansion was. She didn’t know why Dale had come. But of all the cadets she knew, only he could neutralize hundreds of guards and even the Knights of the Sun single-handedly.

However, the joy she had felt, knowing he had come for her, lasted only a moment. When Faust suggested activating the barrier spell, icy dread shot down her spine. No matter how strong Dale was, there was no surviving a barrier cast by a legendary Great Sage.

I have to stop her!

she thought.

She said, “Mother, stop!

AAGH

!”

Before she could plead any further, light exploded from the magic circle surrounding the surgical table. Chains of radiant energy surged forth, wrapping around her.

“

Ugh!

Let me go!” Yurina shouted.

“It’s not wise to defy your mother.” Faust sneered coldly and turned toward Rosanna. “Lady Rosanna?”

Rosanna finally made her decision. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

She raised her Hero Watch and said, “Activate the barrier.”

“T-the barrier, ma’am?”

“You’d prefer we sit on our hands while an intruder strolls through the mansion?”

“N-no, ma’am. Activating the barrier now!”

A deep, resonating hum filled the air as the Great Sage’s barrier spell began to activate. Immense magical pressure rolled through the entire basement.

“No, no! Please stop!” Yurina cried out, reaching desperately into the air, but she never got the chance to finish her plea.

A deafening boom shook the entire mansion. The basement ceiling cracked, and stone dust rained down from above.

A moment later, the chief of security said, “Barrier activation confirmed. All functions are normal.”

“Good. What about the intruder?” Rosanna asked.

“I’ll head over to check now.”

The sound of someone running, likely the chief of security, echoed through the device. He coughed and wheezed, likely due to the smoke from the magical bombardment. “The intruder is confirmed to be deceased.”

Rosanna smiled and nodded in satisfaction. “Well done.”

“

Ah!

” Yurina stared at her, eyes wide in horror. “N-no...”

She clutched herself tightly with trembling arms. She screamed and writhed as if in agony, her body twisting violently. “N-nooooo!

AAAAARRGH

!”

The radiant chains binding her began to dig into her skin, drawing blood. Yet, her bloodshot eyes locked onto Rosanna with pure hatred. “You... You... How dare youuuuu!”

Shocked, Rosanna said, “Yurina, you...!”

“I’ll kill you. I swear I’ll kill you!”

Rosanna flinched. The daughter who had always been so obedient, always like a gentle lamb no matter what was said to her, was glaring at her like a wild beast. Her face contorted in rage, and her body was soaked in blood.

“Watch your mouth, young lady—” Rosanna was about to continue scolding her when a stunned voice coming through the Hero Watch interrupted her.

The voice was full of fear. “Why? Why is he still alive?”

Rosanna narrowed her eyes and lifted the watch. “What ...What did you just say? What’s going on?”

“

A-aaah

! Don’t come any closer!”

“Chief?” Rosanna called out.

“Stay back, you monster!!”

The sound of something breaking followed right after. Then there was complete silence. The communication had abruptly cut off.

Rosanna stared blankly at the now-silent Hero Watch. “What in the world!”

Heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the basement door. With trembling eyes, Rosanna looked toward the sealed entrance. “No... it can’t b—”

Before she could finish, the basement door shattered with a thunderous crash, and thick gray smoke billowed in. Amid the swirling ashes, a green light gleamed menacingly.

Dale stepped calmly into the basement. He looked over at Yurina, still bound to the surgical table, and reached out his hand. “Yuren... no, Yurina, was it? I’ve come to get you.”