A few days earlier, far from Clovis City, Armin, Vale's first disciple, was still doing his missions.

He had been stationed in Veldenport, a bustling port city of the small Thalore Principality, where ships from across the continent docked, and merchants traded exotic wares.

He was already used to the salty air and felt comfortable living here… After all, the city's narrow alleys were filled with both opportunity and danger that made him excited…

Of course, Armin was still not alone. He had spent the past half year working alongside two trusted companions.

Rehan, son of the most renowned Paranormal Investigator in the Millton Kingdom, was one of them. He had inherited more than just his father's reputation… He had his natural affinity for the Psychic Arts and Dark Arts that made him invaluable in cases involving possession and mental corruption. His sharp instincts often uncovered truths others missed.

Ely, daughter of the first captain of the Order of the Evanescent Vessels, was the other member. She was trained since childhood in both Dark Arts and Mystic Arts… Thanks to her knowledge of rituals and illusions, she often saved the group from traps laid by rogue Arcanists.

Together, the three had become known in Veldenport as a reliable team of Arcanists, working under the Arcanist Guild.

Their tasks ranged from exorcising evil spirits to investigating disappearances, and even capturing rogue Arcanists who abused their powers.

In half a year, their reputation had grown, and they were enjoying it most of the time like they were a celebrity…

Although they didn't like it before, it actually started growing on them.

They were known as "the trio from the Shadow Domain," and it spread through taverns and guild halls.

But now, Armin felt it was time to return. He longed to see Clovis City again, to walk the halls of the Marshall Academy, and to reconnect with his master's domain.

He told Rehan and Ely that their next case would be their last in Veldenport.

"This is really the last!" Armin said.

"Hey… You mentioned that before, but when that lady cried…" Ely's voice trailed.

"Ha! That's different. She's just too pitiful. I can't bear to leave her like that. Her child is only three!" Armin said out loud.

Rehan, on the other hand, just chuckled as he already knew Armin's habit and was used to it by now.

"Alright, alright… I heard that the railway will finally be fixed in a few days. We can still accept one last mission." Rehan said at last.

Then, learning that they would still accept the mission, the Guildmaster was filled with happiness.

That evening, the Guild presented them with a new assignment.

"Ohhh… This is interesting. I think this is the best final mission." Rehan muttered.

Apparently, a series of mysterious vanishings had plagued Haydenport's harbor district.

It was another port city that was away from Veldenport, but it would only take them about half a day to arrive there.

Furthermore, they could also use the train in that place to return to the Shadow Domain.

This might be a perfect mission before leaving this region.

"Dockworkers, sailors, and even a few merchants had disappeared without a trace." Ely muttered as she read through the information

At first, the city guard assumed it was smuggling or piracy, but the Guild's Seers detected traces of arcane residue near the sites. The energy was unstable, shifting between Dark Arts and Mystic Arts, suggesting a practitioner experimenting with forbidden techniques.

The case wasn't that unusual… After all, many Rogue Arcanists would still kidnap ordinary people for experiments, especially those practicing Dark Alchemy.

The number of victims had only gone down since the Philosopher's Elixir was already everywhere.

Armin studied the report carefully. "The residue might be a trick… It's not impossible if someone masks their work."

Rehan frowned… He didn't think that far ahead.

However, Armin's words weren't just mere guesses.

They had multiple cases where Arcanists were trying to hide their true intention by using artifacts that activate other Arcane Arts, confusing the investigators.

Ely nodded.

"Are we thinking the same thing? Is this related to the Order of Fatality once again?"

The three exchanged glances and nodded...

"Same thoughts…" Armin finally said.

"Yes… That cult again might be doing something there. We managed to stop them here, but maybe they changed their area of operations." Rehan muttered.

"They're brave. They didn't even choose a farther location." Ely muttered as she shook her head.

This was no ordinary case.

The Order of Fatality was a dangerous cult. However, the three of them weren't afraid!

Just like that, the group traveled on the next day…

As soon as they arrived at the city and handled the matters with the Arcanist Guild Branch, they immediately began their investigation at the docks.

"It's still lively here…" Rehan muttered.

The harbor was indeed filled with noise. Sailors shouting, gulls crying, waves crashing against the piers, and others…

However, they could also sense their unease.

As Arcanists, they were sensitive to such things…

"Let's continue observing…" Armin muttered.

Soon, they confirmed that dockworkers avoided certain warehouses or other dark and secluded areas…

Seeing that, Armin led the way as he began questioning the workers, piecing together a timeline of the disappearances.

At the same time, Rehan extended his psychic senses, as he pried through their lingering thoughts and fears. Then, Ely examined the ground, tracing faint Arcane Energy that had a hint of corruption…

"There must be a lot of them here…" Ely said grimly. "These corrupted arcane energies are their markers. I think they're preparing a huge ritual."

***

Armin frowned as the last traces of corrupted energy confirmed his suspicion.

'It's them. The Order of Fatality.'

He clenched his fists. "Enough of this farce. We end it today."

From the shadows at his feet, a ripple like water spread.

Darkness moved upward, forming into a graceful yet ominous figure. It was Yvaine, Vale's Dark Spirit summon.

Her presence was definitely quite terrifying with the aura she was releasing. Yet, it was strangely reassuring for the three.

Though she was still a Dark Spirit, the Divinity she carried radiated faintly, marking her as something far greater.

Normally, Yvaine only intervened when Armin's life was in danger.

But this time, Armin stepped forward…

"Yvaine… I need you to act early. My Danger Instinct is screaming at me. If we wait until I'm cornered, we might miss something important. Please… help us now."

Yvaine tilted her head, as she used her Divine Sense to look around the city…

She then studied him for a moment, as if weighing his resolve. Then she nodded. "Very well. If your instincts speak, I will trust them. Follow me."

The trio exchanged glances. Rehan and Ely were both tense but determined to see through this…

Just like that, they moved behind Yvaine as she led them through the alleys.

Soon, they arrived at an old church…

"Is this the place?" Armin muttered as he looked around.

Inside, the stench of corruption could already be felt.

The Order of Fatality was gathered there… There were dozens of cultists chanting in unison, and they were definitely in the middle of a crucial ritual!

They couldn't let these people finish!

"Thank you, Yvaine… We'll take it from here… Now," Armin whispered.

The three immediately moved, unleashing their spells.

Armin's Dark Hands erupted from the floor, grasping cultists and dragging them into the shadows.

Rehan's Dark Chains materialized, binding multiple enemies at once…

Ely conjured Dark Spears and threw them at the enemies, piercing through the chanting circle and shattering the ritual's core.

The cultists fell one by one, overwhelmed by the coordinated assault.

"Ahhh… They're only Fourth to Second Class Arcanists…" Armin muttered.

Within minutes, the church was filled with silence as they killed all the Cultists.

"That's true… Did we overestimate them?" Rehan muttered as the three of them were already Expert-Class. They were already close to becoming Master-Class Arcanists.

But as he said this, the air shifted.

A pressure unlike anything they had felt before descended upon them.

The walls trembled, and from the collapsing ritual circle that they should've destroyed, a figure emerged, and it was cloaked in Divinity!

"A Chaos Immortal..." Yvaine announced, making the three stunned.

Armin's heart nearly stopped. Rehan's face went pale, and Ely staggered back. The sheer presence of the Immortal was suffocating. They knew instantly, there was no way they could survive this.

But Yvaine stepped forward with her Divinity in full activation…

Shadows bent to her will, forming a barrier that clashed against the Immortal's aura.

"This is not your place. Begone."

The Chaos Immortal looked at the powerful Dark Spirit and laughed…

Then, it dashed toward them!

"Hmph!"

With a single gesture, Yvaine tore open a rift of shadow and hurled the Immortal into it.

The church shook violently as the Dark Spirit seemed to have imprisoned the Chaos Immortal in her shadow!

Just like that, the battle ended!

Armin collapsed to his knees, sweat dripping down his face.

Rehan and Ely were trembling, their breaths ragged.

"I almost pissed myself…" Rehan muttered…

"There's no way we could've survived that."

Ely nodded quickly... "If not for Yvaine… we'd be dead."

Armin exhaled heavily, forcing himself to stand.

He looked at his companions, then at Yvaine, who was already fading back into his shadow.

"Alright… we're done here. I want to go home."

As he said this, he heard Yvaine's voice, telling him to visit the Mystic Arts Tower as quickly as possible…

'Mystic Arts Tower?'

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