Chapter 25: Where Fate Is Decided (2)

The Ardyn royal family was extremely strict when it came to the Heart.

Afraid they might fall into foreign hands, they were completely bound. Anyone who attempted escape could be killed by the king or princes with a mere thought.

If Ethan were removed from the hunters, he would be forced to remain in Ashvarn forever.

And if he tried to flee… he would die.

“If I’m trapped here… I won’t be able to achieve anything.”

The game would literally end before it even began.

“Have the Heart ever tried freeing themselves from the Curse?”

Ethan asked curiously. Raiden sighed in despair.

“They tried… and death was all that awaited them.”

The story of the Heart and the Blood Curse was not a happy one.

“We tried everything, but we never succeeded. The only way to end the Curse… is either for all the Heart to die… or for the Ardyn royal family to be completely wiped out.”

That was the nature of their bond.

A relationship of slavery .. one that could end only when one side vanished.

Raiden’s words were both right… and wrong. That was what Ethan thought.

’There is no curse that cannot be purified… but this one would require an exceptionally powerful purification artifact .. and at least an Emperor-level priest or paladin to activate it.’

Unfortunately, such conditions were nearly impossible to gather .. especially the artifact.

At his current level, Ethan had no chance of achieving such a thing. So he abandoned the thought… for now.

He needed another path.

But his current situation concerned him far more.

“No matter what it takes… I must remain a hunter.”

Everything would collapse otherwise.

Their wait did not last long. Only a few minutes passed after their conversation before company arrived.

From the castle gates came two massive knights clad in black armor trimmed with gold.

Upon their chests was engraved the Heart’s emblem .. a blazing flame crossed by twin swords.

Ethan and Raiden immediately stood, caution written across their faces .. especially when they felt the threatening aura emanating from the two knights.

One stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Ethan.

“You are Ethan and Raiden Heart. Correct?” the knight asked, his face hidden beneath his helmet.

Raiden nodded carefully.

“That’s correct.”

“Come with us. You’ve been summoned to stand before the Elders.”

After speaking, the knight turned his back, expecting them to follow.

Ethan and Raiden exchanged glances, then nodded to each other and followed him into the imposing castle.

Both wore expressions mixed with tension and anticipation.

Their summons meant Ethan’s fate remained undecided .. serious enough that they required the man himself to speak.

From that alone, Ethan wondered what awaited him beyond those walls.

’Moon… what exactly happened? And why was I summoned?’

Their captain was normally the only one permitted to face the Elders .. that was the rule among hunters. Only the leader could enter the command hall.

But today, an exception had been made.

As they followed the knights, Ethan and Raiden’s eyes wandered through the castle, exploring its secrets.

There were not many people inside, yet those few radiated competence.

Each of them gave Ethan an ominous feeling .. a strange pressure that raised his guard instinctively.

After going deeper, passing several doors and turning again and again until he nearly lost track of the way they came…

Ethan finally reached the destination.

Before them stood a towering door of black wood.

Ethan and Raiden halted before it as the knights opened it for them…

The instant they did, a brilliant light struck their eyes .. blinding them for a moment before revealing what lay within.

It was a vast, imposing hall .. almost like a lecture chamber.

No… more like a courtroom, to be precise.

Rows upon rows of seats stretched in perfect order all the way to the far end of the grand stage. Yet today, every one of them stood empty.

At the end of the hall rose a platform resembling a monumental edifice.

Upon its summit were placed elevated seats .. higher than all others.

Seats reserved for those worthy of sitting at the top.

As soon as they entered, Ethan and Raiden stepped forward.

The first thing they saw were their companions they had parted from earlier.

Chai and Alicia sat among the front rows.

Before them stood Moon Heart, facing the elevated seats above.

Ethan slowly lifted his head toward them.

Only five figures were present… yet that small number alone was enough to suffocate the entire chamber with crushing pressure, filling the air with something oppressive and strange.

Their seats were so high Ethan had to tilt his head back until his neck nearly strained.

The seats formed a pyramid .. yet the apex itself was empty.

Those present sat around the peak, none daring to occupy it.

“So these are… the pinnacle of the Heart,” Ethan whispered faintly.

Then his attention returned to Moon.

She turned toward him and Raiden as well.

With a single glance, Ethan knew the situation was far from simple.

Her expression .. and the beads of sweat visible upon her beautiful face .. made that clear.

With a half-smile, Ethan swallowed and stepped forward.

’This won’t be easy…’

The moment they arrived, the two knights announced in unison:

“All members of the Third Hunting Party are present .. including Ethan Heart himself.”

The knights immediately retreated after completing their duty at the command of one of the elders seated above.

They then exited the hall.

No other guards were present. None were needed.

For there was no protection greater than those who occupied the summit of the clan.

As Ethan stood beside his companions, one of the elders’ voices spoke .. as though directly beside his ear.

“Step forward, Ethan Heart.”

Obeying, he walked ahead with heavy steps until he reached Moon’s position.

They exchanged a glance before both raised their heads once more toward the elders.

Ethan engraved their faces into his memory one by one.

All of them were elderly age deeply carved into them.. yet their bodies still overflowed with power.

’The elders of the Heart… every one of them has reached the King Rank .. at least level 60 .’

Ethan stared, fully aware of what they represented.

’Each of them is a weapon of mass destruction on their own. They spent their lives battling the Curse and its monsters… but now they have all retired, because their bodies can no longer endure it.’

After countless years within the domain of the Curse, even the Heart reach their limits — and cleansing themselves with the Bonfire is no longer enough.

The elders were living proof of that boundary.

Despite possessing strength capable of reaching the deepest stages, they could no longer enter even the First Zone .. their bodies saturated with darkness.

If warriors like them turned into monsters… it would be a nightmare.

They would not become ordinary beasts, but terrifying bosses rivaling those found in the middle and near-final regions.

That was why they spent the rest of their lives here in Ashvarn, protected by the Bonfire’s flames.

They passed their final days guiding and leading the generations after them…

And that was what led to this very moment.

Ethan’s fate now rested entirely in their hands.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep