Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 231: A hopeless struggle

Chapter 231: A hopeless struggle

"Is there nothing that can be done?" Roland asked in a hoarse tone while standing.

His soulless eyes kept gazing at the place where Claudia last stood.

Nadia pursed her lips before slowly replying. "It would seem so."

Thud

Roland dropped to his knees, the alabaster beneath cracking as a result.

His shoulders drooped and his head fell as hopelessness clouded his senses.

"It was all for nothing." He muttered. "The sacrifices, the planning... all a waste."

"... We did our best," Nadia muttered, her voice slowly losing what little vitality it held.

She could already feel her life slipping away.

Even with sustenance from Roland’s blood, there was a limit to what was possible.

She let out a sigh as she fell on her back, the white ceiling overhead quickly filling up her vision.

"Alex..." She intoned softly as she closed her eyes. "... I’m sorry."

***

Lionel came to a stop a few blocks from the central square.

From where he stood, he quickly made out the rows of Whisperers with a certain noble currently standing at the center while a pillar of golden light rushed toward the illusory sky overhead.

Meanwhile, Marcus was left slightly perplexed by the turn of events while Ambrose busied himself searching for Natasha.

After taking the time to make a decision, Lionel pulled out his switchblade and took a step forward.

"What are you doing?" Marcus asked, completely losing the honorifics.

Lionel didn’t even spare him a glance as he replied. "I need you to utilize your blessing."

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

"..." Gritting his teeth, Marcus stepped forward and began to recite a verse from the Noxus with reckless abandon.

By the time he was done, a sweltering ball of dazzling appeared above him and without further ado, struck forth.

It rushed forward like a beam, completely erasing a contingent of the Whisperers gathered.

The others quickly noticed their presence and without hesitation, rushed toward them.

Frightened by their speed, Marcus took a step back, his heart beating strongly.

Lionel on the other hand stepped forward and the next moment, a barrier made of sword beams appeared before him, ripping apart all those that dared to pass.

Of course, this didn’t kill the Whisperers permanently as they quickly began to reconstitute.

However, Lionel was prepared.

"Marcus!"

"Yes!"

Immediately, beams of light appeared, erasing the Whisperers torn apart by Lionel’s barrier.

Like this, the trio steadily made their way forward.

***

"Ah!" Screams permeated the streets as the shadows devoured everything in sight.

Men, women, and children... none were spared as the Labyrinth slowly merged with Popolis.

Alex watched this scene from a hill just a few kilometers away from the city with Charlotte standing beside him.

Of course, he was hardly perturbed by this, instead, he patiently waited until the merger was done and Popolis became a shadow of its former self.

At this point, Alex snapped and quickly arrived within the swirling shadows.

At this point, the reconstruction hadn’t taken place, so it was easier for him to navigate.

Of course, he still had to contend with the darkness attempting to devour him, a situation quickly solved with the usage of Embers.

With black and white flames trailing all about him, Alex slowly made his way through the ruins.

"Can you sense it?" Alex asked.

Charlotte shook her head. "The atmosphere is tumultuous and in an ever-changing state. I can’t pinpoint it."

"It’s fine. As long as you can give me a general location."

"Alright."

With that, they navigated their way until Charlotte paused and pointed in a certain direction.

"Over there."

Alex followed her gaze only to find....more shadows.

Of course, he could sense something else.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he sauntered over.

"Master, be careful."

"Don’t worry. I’ll be quick." Alex replied as he quickly arrived before the altar.

It was a tiny unassuming box covered by the shadows.

If not for the current state of Popolis, it would have been difficult to find it.

"He kept one of the pieces of his apotheosis in a box," Alex muttered in a jocular tone as he crouched down to get a better view of it.

He held no thought that destroying the box would stop what was happening in the present.

Most likely, such an action would lead to an alternate timeline, and who knew what could happen from there?

So, after thinking deeply, he concluded that there was only one thing he could do to thwart Abraham’s scheme and retrieve the Mantle.

’Nyx’

He called out as he closed his eyes.

...

There was no response but Alex knew Nyx was there so he called out again more forcefully to which this time... there was a response.

You remembered me. How delightful.

’I need your help’

Oh, how so?

’Teach me how to directly manipulate my Balance.’

... Are you joking?

’Teach me.’

You must be crazy. Such a crazy act could lead to you becoming an Evil or False god, depending on which of the two sides you choose to support.

’But it’s doable, no?’

... What do I get in return?

’You get the Mantle, now talk.’

Ugh, so bossy. For that, I won’t tell you.

’Damn it Nyx, this isn’t the time for your games!... We are short on time!’

Hehe, alright, alright. Don’t blow your hat off. I’ll tell you.

’I’m listening.’

To control either yin or yang, one must first pick a side and perceive the world using that perspective before slowly inclining toward it with their whole heart. While doing so, you must ensure the inclination you are taking is based on a certain concept, for yang, it could be fire, for yin, it could be ice. You must visualize these two opposing forces and then decide which you would rather support. At such a time, the other side would end up ultimately taking a hit.

’So that’s how it is.’ Alex nodded as he swiftly cut the connection.

Taking a deep breath, he began to introspect, using the idea of being the Dark Lord, an entity meant to be born of yin, as a backdrop to incline.

He first envisioned a land parted by night and day, with the moon on one side and the sun on the other.

He stood at the edge and after ensuring this was his balance, he turned and picked the night without hesitation.

And so, swiftly, his presence began to change, the shadows clung toward him, perhaps sensing a qualitative change within his physique.

Soon after, Alex opened his eyes, revealing black eyes with white irises.

His hair turned white and his skin turned even darker before finally, he muttered. "Incredible."

Charlotte watched this happen, her gaze filled with awe.

If she had any skepticism that Alex was the Dark Lord, now there was no question.

Before her was no man...no, he was the Night King.