Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 409: The Caught Assassin

Chapter 409: The Caught Assassin

Lyan followed the cloaked leader through the narrow alleyways, his body crackling with energy as he channeled Griselda’s power. The lightning aura around him intensified, wrapping around his limbs like tendrils of pure energy. He felt the surge of electricity flowing through every fiber of his being, urging him to move faster, to close the distance between him and his quarry. His senses sharpened, and time seemed to slow down as the world around him became a blur of dark stone walls and narrow passages.

The cloaked figure was quick, vaulting over barrels and squeezing through narrow gaps between buildings, their cloak billowing behind them. They tossed obstacles in Lyan’s way—crates, broken furniture, even conjuring illusions that distorted the path ahead. Lyan’s eyes narrowed, a grin tugging at his lips as he pushed forward. The thrill of the chase, the excitement of the hunt—it was like fire in his veins, a reminder of his strength.

(They’re trying to lose you, but it’s pointless. Just a little more, Lyan!)

Griselda’s voice echoed in his mind, sharp and filled with a fierce enthusiasm that mirrored his own feelings. Lyan let out a small chuckle, lightning flickering around his fingertips as he moved, dispelling the illusions the leader threw in his path. The sparks danced along his hands, flickering outwards, shattering the false images with ease. He could feel Griselda’s power surging, feeding his own energy, and it made the corners of his mouth lift in a self-assured smirk.

The leader pulled out another artifact, tossing it on the ground. Lyan could feel the pulse of magic as the artifact activated, creating a series of traps across the cobblestones—a web of magical threads meant to snare and bind. But Lyan wasn’t deterred. His eyes focused, tracing the flow of mana through the traps, seeing the patterns as clearly as if they were written in glowing ink.

His feet moved with practiced grace, each step precise as he vaulted over the magical snares, dodging the traps effortlessly. He felt the surge of mana beneath him, the way the traps pulsed with energy, and he adjusted his movement accordingly, his reflexes enhanced by the lightning coursing through him. It was exhilarating, the way his body responded, the way each movement felt almost effortless.

The leader glanced back, their eyes wide with surprise as they saw Lyan closing in. There was a flicker of panic in their gaze, and Lyan could feel the thrill of victory welling up inside him. They weren’t going to escape, not now, not after everything they had done. He pushed himself harder, feeling the electricity crackling around his legs, each step a burst of speed that brought him closer to his target.

The leader turned sharply, ducking down a side alley, but Lyan was right on their heels. He moved like lightning, his body a blur as he navigated the tight corners, his eyes locked on the figure ahead. The alley twisted and turned, the walls pressing in on either side, but Lyan didn’t falter. He could hear the leader’s labored breathing, see the frantic way they moved, and he knew they were running out of options.

(They’re getting desperate, Lyan. Don’t let up now!)

Griselda’s voice was filled with excitement, and Lyan could feel her energy feeding his determination. He wasn’t about to let this slip away. The leader reached into their cloak again, pulling out another artifact—a crystal that pulsed with dark energy. They tossed it on the ground, and a wall of shadow erupted between them, blocking Lyan’s path.

Lyan skidded to a stop, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the wall of darkness. He could feel the magic, the way it pulsed and shifted, but he wasn’t intimidated. He reached out, lightning sparking along his arm, and with a surge of energy, he unleashed a blast of electricity. The lightning struck the wall, shattering it with a crackling explosion, the shadows dissipating into nothingness.

The leader stumbled, glancing back with wide eyes as Lyan burst through the remnants of the shadow wall. They were running out of tricks, and Lyan could see the fear starting to creep into their gaze. He grinned, his eyes locked on his target, his feet moving faster, the distance between them shrinking with every stride.

The chase led them into an enclosed courtyard, the narrow alley opening into a wider space surrounded by high walls. The leader skidded to a stop, their eyes darting around as they realized they were cornered. There was nowhere left to run. They turned to face Lyan, their cloak billowing around them, and raised their hands, gathering magical energy for a desperate attack.

Lyan slowed his pace, stopping a few meters away. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the leader, his body still crackling with the residual energy of the chase. He could feel Griselda’s presence within him, her fierce spirit adding to his own resolve.

(End it, Lyan. Don’t let them think they have a chance.)

The leader sneered, their hands glowing as they gathered the energy for a spell. A powerful blast of wind and lightning erupted from their palms, the force surging towards Lyan. He didn’t flinch. He raised his own hands, channeling Griselda’s power, the lightning aura around him flaring brightly. He met the leader’s attack head-on, his own lightning clashing with theirs, the two forces colliding with a deafening roar.

The courtyard was filled with the crackle of electricity, the air charged with energy as the two spells fought for dominance. The ground shook beneath them, loose stones rattling as the shockwaves from the clash spread outwards. Lyan gritted his teeth, pushing forward against the force of the leader’s magic, his eyes locked on his opponent.

The leader’s face twisted in concentration, their teeth bared as they poured more energy into their spell. But Lyan could see the strain in their eyes, the way their body trembled from the effort. They were reaching their limit, while Lyan still had more to give. He let out a breath, his eyes narrowing as he channeled even more power, the lightning around him intensifying.

With a final surge, Lyan pushed forward, his lightning overwhelming the leader’s spell. The blast of energy shattered, the force of it sending the leader stumbling backward. They fell to one knee, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they looked up at Lyan, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

Lyan stepped forward, his body still enveloped in lightning, each step crackling with energy. The leader tried to raise their hands again, to gather another spell, but Lyan was already there. He moved with the speed of lightning, his hand shooting out, grabbing the leader’s wrist before they could react.

A jolt of electricity surged through the leader’s arm, their body convulsing as the artifact they had been holding slipped from their grasp, clattering to the ground. Lyan’s grip was unyielding, his eyes cold as he looked down at the leader. He could see the fear in their eyes now, the realization that they had lost.

With a swift movement, Lyan forced the leader to the ground, his other hand moving to summon roots from the earth. The ground beneath them shifted, thick vines bursting forth, wrapping around the leader’s arms and legs, binding them in place. The leader struggled, but the roots held firm, the energy of the lightning still coursing through them, keeping them immobilized.

(That’s it, Lyan. They’re done.)

"I know,"

Lyan looked down at the captured leader, his eyes cold. He knew they needed answers—who orchestrated the attack, why Garrick was poisoned, and what the ultimate goal of this conspiracy was. He knelt beside the leader, his voice low and threatening.

"You tried to run, but there’s nowhere left to go. Tell me everything you know, and maybe you’ll live to see another day."

The leader glared up at him, their eyes filled with defiance. They clenched their jaw, refusing to speak. Lyan felt Griselda’s energy urging him on, and he decided to take a different approach. He channeled a small amount of lightning into the roots, causing a painful shock to the leader. The leader winced, their body jerking as the electricity coursed through them, their resolve wavering.

(Come on, just a little more. They can’t hold out forever.)

Lyan kept his expression impassive, watching as the leader’s defiance began to crack. He could see the fear in their eyes, the way their body trembled. They were close to breaking, and he knew it. He leaned in slightly, his voice low, almost a whisper.

"You think you can withstand this? I’ve faced far worse than you. Talk, or this will only get worse."

The leader’s eyes flickered, their expression faltering for a moment. Lyan could see the hesitation, the uncertainty. They were on the verge of giving in, but still, they held out, their pride keeping them silent. Lyan sighed, shaking his head.

"Have it your way."

He sent another jolt of electricity through the roots, the leader’s body convulsing once more. Their breath came in ragged gasps, their eyes squeezed shut in pain. Lyan waited, his eyes cold, his patience unwavering. He wasn’t going to let them off easy—not after everything that had happened.

Before Lyan could push further, he heard footsteps approaching. He glanced up, seeing Wilhelmina, Josephine, Alice, Emilia, and Surena entering the courtyard. Each of them had their own captives in tow, the cloaked figures bound and struggling.

Wilhelmina stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the captured leader.

"Did you catch the mastermind?" she asked, her voice filled with determination.

Lyan nodded, glancing at his companions. "They’re stubborn, but they’ll talk. We need to know who else is involved and what their next move is."

Alice moved closer, her eyes sharp as she looked down at the leader. "We don’t have time for games. If they know anything, we need to get it out of them now."

Emilia, her greatsword resting on her shoulder, nodded in agreement. "The longer we wait, the more time their allies have to regroup. We need answers."

Lyan looked back at the leader, his eyes hardening. He could feel the tension in the air, the urgency of the situation pressing down on him. He leaned in closer, his voice low and cold. "You can either cooperate and make this easier on yourself, or we can do this the hard way. Your choice."

The leader’s eyes flickered, their gaze shifting between Lyan and the others. They could see the determination in each of their eyes, the resolve that left no room for mercy. Lyan waited, his patience unwavering, knowing that one way or another, they would get the answers they needed.