The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Power of the Black Rose

The afternoon sun was still hanging above the forest, but the area around them looked nothing like a peaceful afternoon.

Broken branches covered the ground, several trees had been damaged by the battle, and the earth beneath their feet had been torn apart from hours of fighting.

Aoda stood in the middle of the clearing, breathing heavily.

Blood ran down one of her legs, soaking into her clothes before dripping onto the ground. Her body was covered with scratches and wounds, and even standing had become increasingly difficult.

Across from her, Larden and Frey were in a similar condition.

Their clothes were torn, their weapons were worn from the prolonged battle, and both were visibly exhausted. Yet despite their condition, they still had enough strength to keep their swords raised.

It had already been hours.

What should I do?

Aoda narrowed her eyes.

Although I managed to force these two to reveal their true strength, fighting both of them at the same time is too much.

She had underestimated them.

Neither Larden nor Frey was an ordinary fighter. Once they stopped concealing their abilities, Aoda had been forced to take the battle seriously, and even then, she had only managed to keep the two of them at bay.

Now her body was reaching its limit.

The two pointed their swords toward her.

"Surrender now," Frey said. Her breathing was rough, but her voice remained firm. "At your current state, you can’t defeat us."

Aoda wiped the blood from her cheek.

"Shut up."

She slowly raised her weapon again.

"Do you really think I’ll surrender to the likes of you?"

Larden frowned.

"You’re still arrogant even after being pushed this far."

Her gaze remained fixed on her.

"To think someone so young could be this powerful. Who are you people, really?"

Aoda gave him a cold smile.

"Do you think I’ll answer that?"

"Then we’ll find out ourselves."

Larden tightened his grip.

"Let’s capture her and bring her to the palace. We’ll interrogate her there and find out who these people really are."

Aoda’s expression hardened.

"Fools."

She looked directly at them.

"If it weren’t for us, the casualties in this kingdom would have been much higher."

Her voice carried a hint of contempt.

"And what did your king do? Sit back and wait?"

"Enough."

Frey stepped forward.

Aoda immediately raised her weapon.

The next exchange began without another word.

The three of them collided again.

Steel rang through the forest as Aoda deflected Frey’s attack, only for Larden to strike from the opposite side. She avoided the blade by twisting her body, counterattacked, and forced both men to retreat.

But her wounded leg could no longer keep up.

Larden noticed it immediately.

His next strike came straight toward her.

Aoda tried to evade.

Too late.

The blade pierced her leg.

"Ah—!"

Her body staggered before dropping onto one knee.

Blood spilled onto the ground.

Frey immediately pointed his sword toward her.

"It’s over."

Aoda clenched her teeth.

Such humiliation...

How am I supposed to face the Black Roses after this?

Larden slowly approached.

"I’ll admit that you’re strong. Even the two of us have struggled against you."

He looked at her with genuine disbelief.

"To think a young woman like you could push us this far."

He reached toward her.

Then—

He suddenly stopped.

"...What?"

Frey’s expression changed.

"W-What is this?"

Neither of them had noticed it.

Thin threads had already wrapped around their bodies.

Their arms, legs, and even their weapons were bound in place.

Frey struggled.

"Gh...! I can’t move!"

Larden tried to force himself free.

"What kind of technique is this...?"

Aoda’s eyes widened.

She knew those threads.

A figure approached from behind them.

Light violet hair moved gently in the afternoon breeze.

Herrera.

One of the Four Black Roses.

Aoda immediately lowered her head.

"Lady Herrera..."

Herrera stopped beside her and looked over Aoda’s injuries before turning her attention toward the two restrained men.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.

Aoda lowered her head further.

"I’m sorry, Lady Herrera. I failed the mission."

She paused.

"I’ll accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."

Herrera’s eyes narrowed.

"Are these the people investigating us?"

"Yes."

Herrera turned toward them.

The moment she did, a terrifying killing intent spread across the clearing.

Frey’s eyes widened.

"Gh...!"

Larden’s face became pale.

"W-What... is this pressure...?"

Aoda felt the overwhelming presence as well.

As expected of one of the Four Black Roses...

Her power is on another level.

"Lady Herrera," Aoda said quietly, "if you give me another chance, I’ll kill them myself."

"Enough."

Herrera’s voice immediately silenced her.

"If I hadn’t arrived in time, we would have lost a member of the Seven Crowns."

Her gaze returned to Aoda’s injuries.

"You should have been more careful."

"Forgive me."

Herrera sighed.

"To think I’ll see you in this state..."

She then looked toward the two investigators.

"You."

Her expression became colder.

"I don’t know why you’ve chosen to investigate us, nor do I particularly care."

The killing intent intensified.

"But understand this."

The threads around their bodies tightened.

"If you involve yourselves with us again, I won’t bother restraining you."

Herrera’s eyes became terrifyingly cold.

"I’ll slaughter every single one of you."

The two widened their eyes.

Before either could respond, Herrera raised one hand.

The threads suddenly surged with magic.

Their consciousness faded almost instantly.

Both of them collapsed onto the ground.

Herrera calmly lowered her hand.

Herrera’s eyes moved from the unconscious investigators to Aoda.

Then she noticed the blood running down Aoda’s leg.

"Come here."

Aoda hesitated for a moment before carefully moving toward her. She managed only a few steps before her injured leg gave way again.

Herrera caught her by the shoulder.

"Don’t force yourself."

Aoda lowered her head.

"I’m sorry."

"Save your apologies for later."

Herrera placed her hand over the wound.

A soft violet light spread from her palm.

The bleeding stopped almost immediately. The torn flesh began to close, and the pain that had been running through Aoda’s leg gradually faded. It wasn’t merely a temporary treatment either. Herrera’s magic restored the damaged tissue with precise control, leaving only faint traces of the injury behind.

Aoda slowly moved her leg.

The pain was almost gone.

"Thank you, Lady Herrera."

"Can you walk?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Herrera removed her hand and looked at the two unconscious investigators lying nearby.

"You were careless."

Aoda lowered her head.

"I know, i have no excuse for that."

"If I had arrived even a little later, the Seven Crowns would have lost one of its members."

Aoda’s expression tightened.

"I understand, I’m sorry."

Herrera sighed quietly.

"Still, you managed to hold these two off for several hours."

Her eyes briefly passed over Larden and Frey.

"They’re stronger than they appear."

Aoda nodded.

"Yes. They were concealing their strength from the beginning."

"I noticed."

Herrera’s expression remained calm.

"Which is precisely why you should have stopped trying to fight them alone once you realized that."

Aoda remained silent.

She had nothing to say in her defense.

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