In a remote and ancient castle located deep within a thick forest west of Aerion, a place shrouded in gloom, lay the lair of Londor, the leader of the Gilded Veil and a key figure in the clandestine world. Here, an important meeting was underway. The pressure from the Rank 7 Demigod had subsided, but the atmosphere remained tense. The conference hall was eerily silent. There was no laughter or mockery, only cautious and fearful glances.

Zepar, the representative of the Scarlet Crusader, who had been so aggressive in taunting Queen just moments ago, now sat silently. His large hand pulled out his greatsword, trying to hide an uncontrollable trembling. Queen, the beautiful vice-leader, had also shed her usual arrogance and pride, her face slightly pale beneath her heavy makeup. Laurent, still hidden beneath his hooded cloak, was the only one who remained calm, as if the recent fury had nothing to do with him.

Londor, as the host, tried to regain his composure and break the stifling silence. "Gentlemen," he cleared his throat, "we should return to the main issue. The plan to attack Aerion was a success. Now is the time to discuss the division of the 'benefits' we have gained".

"Benefits?" Zepar growled, his tone more cautious than before. "I want to know how many captured high-ranking Rankers my Scarlet Crusader will receive. My people sacrificed many to create the necessary chaos".

"Your patience, Zepar, is truly admirable," Queen taunted, her eyes fixed on Laurent. She slowly fanned herself with a feathered fan. "These items are magnificent, Londor. But what truly concerns me... is your motive, Laurent ." She slowly fanned herself with a feathered fan. "You orchestrated a perfect play to weaken Zephyros, causing its three Demigods to split up. But in the end, Zephyros received countless support from other nations and the Celestial Accord. This seems contradictory. In the end, who really benefits from this game of yours?".

Laurent slowly raised his head, his eyes behind the hood making Queen feel as if she were being seen through. "My purpose is to reset the chessboard in a more orderly fashion. Your benefits are merely rewards for moving your pieces correctly. Do not ask questions that are beyond your role". His voice was not loud, but it carried a weight that silenced Queen, and the fan in her hand stopped moving.

While Laurent skillfully steered the conversation, planting half-truths to maintain control over the dark guilds, a powerful force from the Celestial Accord, under the direct command of Grand Master Mythris, was tightening a cordon around Londor's castle. Mythris, with the handsome appearance and extraordinary presence of a Rank 7 Demigod, stood on a high hill, his icy blue eyes looking down at the magical barrier that appeared in the forest, with the castle faintly visible within it.

"All teams, to your positions," Mythris's voice rang out. "Our target is the leaders of the dark guilds. Eliminate all those in the castle". A signal was given. Immediately, from all four directions, figures in the silver-white armor of the Celestial Accord launched their attack.

Loud explosions erupted, and the castle's defensive barriers shattered like glass. The self-importance and plotting of the dark guild leaders suddenly vanished. They were filled with panic and anger as the stone walls began to shake from the attacks outside.

"What the hell is happening?!" Zepar grabbed the greatsword leaning against his chair, the tattoos on his body seemed to twitch in the flickering candlelight. Queen dropped her feathered fan, her beautiful face turning pale. "It's... it's the Celestial Accord! Impossible! How could they find this place?!". Londor, who had been so confident just moments ago, now looked worried. He knew his lair had been exposed.

At that moment, the castle's main gate was blasted open by Mythris's attack. The Grand Master of the Celestial Accord appeared like a judging deity. His Rank 7 Demigod aura filled the room, so strong it crushed the will to fight of many.

"Today, you will all pay for your crimes!" he said. His voice was without emotion, but every word he said caused the dark guild members to falter.

Londor threw magical cards from his sleeve, and they flew out as fast as lightning. They spun, forming a solid shield, and simultaneously launched razor-sharp cards toward the Celestial Accord warriors. Queen did not dare to be careless.

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"Dark Rose Garden" The ground beneath her feet trembled. From the stone floor, countless bizarre black rose bushes emerged, their black flowers blooming to reveal sharp fangs and long, bloodthirsty tongues. They lunged to bite and tear at any creature that rushed forward. Weapons, armor, and low-level magic all became a meal for them.

Zepar, with the instincts of a berserker, did not hesitate. "Blood Frenzy". His greatsword swung up, cleaving any enemy that came at him. Blood from the wounds of those around him, both ally and foe, was sucked towards him, creating a mist that healed his minor injuries and increased his strength. Each of his attacks carried a strong, bloody aura. While the dark guild leaders struggled to cope with the Celestial Accord warriors pouring in from all directions and fighting with their subordinates,

Beleth did not stand still. He swung his hand, unleashing high-level dark magic, creating rains of bones and lurching Wraiths, causing no small amount of trouble for the mid-level Rankers of the Celestial Accord. But a Rank 6 commander of the Celestial Accord, with a spear of light, quickly closed in, his holy attacks forcing Beleth to focus all his power on defense.

In the middle of the chaotic battle, Laurent and his Cabal moved strangely. Maras, with two sturdy magical shields, protected his entire team. Stray attacks and fragments from magical explosions were all easily blocked. Selena stood behind Maras, her hands continuously drawing complex magical circles.

"Dark Explosion" She unleashed powerful explosive magic with precision, not at the Celestial Accord warriors, but at the remaining defensive barriers of the castle, creating potential escape routes.

Seere, the elf assassin, almost disappeared amidst the chaotic figures. He moved like a ghost, appearing in unexpected places, his poisoned daggers aimed at the dark guild acolytes trying to attack the Cabal from behind, or at those trying to stop Selena from breaking down the barriers.

He did not directly confront the Celestial Accord, but seemed to be clearing a path for a retreat. Laurent, the leader of the Cabal, was not idle either. He stood in the middle of Maras's defense, his hands moving as strange frozen winds and bizarre shadows began to form around him.

"Prison of Black Ice" A wall of ice formed, blocking a group of Celestial Accord warriors from reaching them. He did not attack directly, but seemed to be manipulating the situation skillfully, creating chaos while simultaneously clearing a path.

The battle in the dark lair reached its climax. Blood flowed everywhere, screams, clashing weapons, and magical explosions filled the air. Just as the battle was in a stalemate, a Rank 7 aura that overwhelmed all others descended from above.

Grand Master Mythris appeared, hovering in mid-air, the silver sword in his hand humming. "Enough is enough" He simply raised his sword. The air in the great hall became thick. Blue lightning bolts began to shoot from the blade, and streams of water from the void gathered.

"Stormbringer's Cascade". Water and lightning formed into dragons that swept across the entire battlefield. The power of a Rank 7 Demigod had been unleashed.

Londor, Queen, and Zepar, even in the middle of a fight, had to use all their power to defend themselves. But it was all in vain. The lightning from his sword, carrying the power of water, easily destroyed the Dark Rose Garden, and one strike killed the vice-leader of the Black Chess Society.

Zepar, despite his destructive power and terrifying regeneration, could not withstand the continuous attacks from the two water dragons and the support of the other high-ranking Rankers. He fell in a pool of his own blood. The dark guild leaders were defeated one by one. Beleth's decoy was also pierced through the heart by the spear of light from the Celestial Accord commander, and it vanished with a final shriek.

In the midst of this, Laurent signaled. The Cabal immediately moved towards a stone wall where Selena had just created a large hole with a fire and lightning explosion. Mythris saw their intention.

"It's not that easy, Laurent!". A bright blue light enveloped Mythris's entire body. He recalled the water dragons and focused all his power into a single attack.

"Tempest's Judgement". A massive amount of aether was focused into his sword, the pressure directed at Laurent with great speed. Laurent did not flinch. He also focused his power.

"Winter's Eclipse". A black snowstorm, carrying razor-sharp ice shards and the chilling cold of darkness, roared to meet Mythris's attack.

The two extreme powers collided, creating an explosion that shook the entire castle. When the explosion subsided, Laurent and his Cabal had already disappeared through the hole in the wall, leaving behind only a thin layer of black frozen mist from the darkness.

The Celestial Accord forces quickly took control of the situation. They found Archbishop Ralph and Sage Sean in a secret underground room. Both were severely weakened and held captive, their energy drained to prepare for some kind of sacrificial ritual.

They were successfully rescued, but the cost was that Archbishop Ralph and Sage Sean's power could not be fully recovered for a very long time.

The victory at the dark lair was a heavy blow to the underworld, and plots that had been brewing for years were now coming to an end.

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