Chapter 394: The Last Survivor
Many forces decide the fate of mankind in this world.
Among them, power is the most obvious ..
For the strong always have the highest chance of survival, no matter where they are.
In a ruthless world governed by the law of the jungle, Strength alone often separates life from death.
But sometimes...
Other forces intervene from nowhere.
One such force—acknowledged by some, denied by others—
Is luck.
Time and time again, the weak survive not through strength, but by sheer chance ..
Lucky enough to escape the worst outcomes by a hair’s breadth.
But luck alone is rarely enough.
Life always finds ways to corner its prey with the most unexpected misfortunes.
And that theory was about to be tested—
When the red gate swallowed the luckiest man alive...
Dawn Polaris was flung into a battlefield prepared especially for him.
As the wielder of the [Last Survivor] ability stood up again and scanned his surroundings ...
He realized he had landed somewhere completely different from before.
With crimson eyes, he swept the terrain ..
And spotted the opponent that had been assigned to him.
They locked eyes for a moment before Dawn asked:
"Who are you?"
She was a woman.
A girl around his age, clad in a light black armor and elegant leather attire—
A pair of black gloves on her hands and a small cap atop her pale head.
Her hair was white.
Her eyes a deeper, more crimson red than even Dawn’s.
Her face so pale, it was as if she might die at any second.
With a thin blade in hand, she placed her right hand gently over her chest and bowed with grace.
"My name is Maria. Empyrean to a former Lord. Known as Madam A."
Unsheathing her sword, she calmly stepped forward.
"I’m sorry, but I have to kill you."
Without warning, she vanished ..
Appearing right in front of him.
Dawn instinctively unsheathed his sword and ignited its edge with fire.
And without hesitation...
The two began to duel.
Their swordplay was masterful.
"empyrean... That’s a pretty high rank among the Ultras, if I’m not mistaken."
Dawn spoke as he attacked with blazing aura, Pressuring Maria with skilled and aggressive strikes— Which she deflected easily, without using any aura at all.
"Empyrean are candidates meant to become Lords one day.
So yes, you could say it’s a respectable position."
There were only four known holders of the "empyrean" title:
V, under Lord Gavid Lindman.
Gvardiole, under Lord Godfrey.
Lawrence, under Lord Myrgo.
And finally... Maria, under the late Lord killed by Maekar—Madam A.
Realizing that his opponent was an important figure to the enemy,
Dawn unleashed a barrage of ruthless attacks, aiming to slash her throat.
Their swords clashed with violent force ..
Dawn pressed harder and harder.
Dozens of exchanges passed...
But despite all the pressure he exerted ..
Dawn suddenly realized his body was riddled with injuries.
"What the...?"
He only understood what was happening when their swords clashed again.
Maria was still untouched— Not a single scratch on her body.
Her sword looked delicate, but it felt heavy as stone against him.
And when he looked closely ..
His expression froze.
"You’re not using any aura?!"
"Ah, you noticed..."
With a flick of her wrist,
Maria flung Dawn backward using only physical strength.
He slammed into a wall with enough force to feel his bones shift.
Maria approached him slowly, her face cold and emotionless.
The thin blade in her hand now looked more like a reaper’s scythe in Dawn’s eyes.
What angered him most ..
Was the fact that his opponent was simply better than him.
Skilled beyond measure.
Physically stronger than he was.
And she had defeated him ... Without even using aura.
As she stood before him, Dawn tried to leap up again ..
But froze in place the moment Maria moved her free hand in a strange, flowing motion.
The moment she did ..
A mysterious force bound him in midair.
He couldn’t move an inch.
Raising her arms slowly, Dawn was lifted up alongside them ..
As if invisible strings were pulling him from within.
"You are no match for me."
Maria spoke those words with a tone that might’ve sounded condescending ..
Yet in a situation like this, her calmness was nothing out of place.
There was no contempt in her voice, no arrogance toward her opponent.
She was simply stating the truth.
empyrean Maria..
A terrifying combatant often ranked alongside the Masked V, the Ultras’ so-called "Hero."
In fact, V had always been weaker than her...
Until recently, when he formed a contract with one of the strongest demons.
With swordsmanship far beyond Dawn’s,
A physical prowess that betrayed her fragile appearance, And strange abilities he couldn’t comprehend ..
Maria was, without a doubt, one of the most dangerous talents the enemy side possessed.
Realizing this, Dawn let out a bitter laugh.
"Damn monster..."
That insult finally broke through her still expression.
Maria narrowed her crimson eyes—
The first shift in her gaze since the battle began.
"A monster, huh?
Is that what I look like to you?"
If we were to speak of appearances,
That label couldn’t be further from the truth.
With her elegant armor and noble demeanor, Maria looked more like a refined noblewoman from a bygone era—
An image of delicate beauty.
But her abilities...
Were anything but beautiful.
They were savage—monstrous even.
"You’re all just beasts wearing human skin," Dawn spat with rage,
Even though he couldn’t move, his body still frozen by her power.
"You filthy creatures are a disgrace to humanity!"
He recalled the Lower Blood .. Savage beasts in human form.
And the Upper Blood ..
Who never ceased to hunt them down like animals.
Dawn’s hatred toward Maria was unfiltered.
His disgust, plain on his face.
"I see..."
Maria nodded, expressionless as ever.
Yet somehow, her empty gaze seemed almost... melancholic.
That look ignited even more fury within Dawn’s heart.
"Just kill me already," he growled,
"I don’t want to waste another second staring at something so vile."
He knew he had lost.
He was powerless.
And so, he no longer cared.
Maria slowly lowered him to the ground, until he was back in front of her.
Standing there, she gently brought her blade to his neck.
"As you wish.
I’ll grant you the death you asked for."
She was just about to swing.
A swift, clean beheading.
No pain.
No cruelty.
But in that very moment ..
Time itself froze.
A violent crash shattered the silence...
As a bolt of howling black lightning struck the earth directly above her.
Maria leapt back instinctively ..
Blocking the attack at the last second.
Dawn dropped to the ground—free once again.
"What the hell are you doing, Dawn Polaris?!"
The voice thundered with fury.
Daemon Valerion had entered the battlefield .. Cloaked in dark lightning and clad in the Golden Dragon Armor.
"You can’t even handle one damned whore, you useless bastard?!"
Charging forward with a roar of thunder,
He launched himself straight at Maria—
His black lightning-infused fist crashing toward her face.
But she deflected it.
Effortlessly.
Their attacks collided .. Neither giving ground.
Their strength was perfectly matched.
A frail girl... Holding her own against a juggernaut wearing divine armor.
Realizing this, Daemon Valerion’s expression turned deadly serious.
This was no ordinary opponent.
This was—
Empyrean Maria.