The door behind Mira closed on its own. Leon, Veylin, and Sylphine now stood in a new corridor—narrower, darker, colder.
There were no lamps here. The only light came from small crystals embedded in the walls, emitting a pale blue glow.
"The third gate," Veylin whispered. "I've never heard detailed information about how far this place goes."
They walked in silence. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls.
Sylphine still held her stomach, but Mira's potion seemed to be working. The pain had lessened.
"Are you alright?" Leon asked without turning.
"I can walk."
Veylin scanned their surroundings. Her green eyes narrowed.
"There are no guards in this corridor."
"Because the real guards are at the end," Leon said.
The corridor ended before a black iron door. No handle, no lock. Just a smooth wooden surface with carvings.
Leon pushed it. The door opened.
Inside, the room was magnificent. Black marble walls, glossy clear glass floors. Beneath the floor, golden light flowed like a river. Large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting dim but warm light.
And at the end of the room, four stone thrones stood upon a white marble platform.
On the first throne, Zenless Mammon sat casually, his golden fan open in his hand, a faint smile on his face. His golden robes shimmered under the crystal light. His eyes weren't looking at them—but seemed to have known they were coming for a long time.
On the second throne, Celestia Asmodeus sat upright, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. In her hand, a curved dagger—its blade pitch black, gleaming faintly. Her sharp eyes stared at Leon without blinking. The dagger wasn't large, but the aura emanating from it... cold. Deadly.
On the third throne, Raven sat with one leg crossed over the other, a longbow slung across her back and an arrow on her thigh. Her eyes were focused on Leon. At her fingertips, the bowstring was drawn slightly—not enough to release the arrow, but enough to signal she was ready at any moment.
On the fourth throne, Marcus Thorne sat with his hands on his knees, his stocky body covered in scars. No visible weapons—but his hands, his palms, were covered in calluses. Fists that had crushed thousands of enemies. He didn't move, didn't speak. But his presence... heavy, like a mountain ready to collapse at any moment.
---
Zenless snapped his fan shut. His voice echoed through the room.
"Zero. You actually came."
Leon nodded. "Of course I'm the champion. I have the right."
Zenless smiled. "The right to enter, yes. But not to do as you please."
He rose from his throne. His steps were slow, authoritative, unhurried. His golden robes fluttered despite the absence of wind.
"I've kept my promise. Access to the Nexus. But you..." he stopped before Leon. "...brought two people."
"You already agreed to that, didn't you?" Leon said, looking at Zenless.
Zenless chuckled softly. "True. I agreed."
He looked at Veylin and Sylphine briefly—Veylin tense, her hand at her back; Sylphine silent, but her eyes no less sharp.
"Fine. You may enter. But remember—I'll be watching."
---
Marcus rose from his throne. His voice was heavy, echoing like grinding stones.
"Zero. Before you enter, there's one final rule."
Leon's ears perked up.
"You may look at the prisoner. But you may not touch her. You may not speak to her. You may not..." Marcus looked sharply at Leon. "...free her."
"And if I break the rules?"
Marcus didn't answer. Zenless answered from behind.
"Then you will become the Nexus's newest prisoner."
His voice was light, as if joking. But his eyes—his eyes were not.
Leon didn't move. His hand rested on Lokantaka's hilt.
"I understand the rules."
He drew Lokantaka from his waist. The bluish-black blade glowed faintly under the crystal light.
Zenless stared at the sword. His eyes gleamed.
"You succeeded in drawing it."
"You already knew."
Celestia rose from her throne. Her dagger gleamed in her hand.
"That sword... is a curse."
"Now it's mine," Leon said.
Celestia didn't answer. But her eyes never left Lokantaka. The dagger in her hand spun slowly—as if measuring, calculating, assessing.
Raven finally moved. She took the bow from her back, checking its string—unnecessary, but like a habit. The arrow on her thigh shifted slightly.
"Zero," she said, her voice flat. "I heard you defeated Deathblade Dancer."
Leon nodded.
"Impressive."
She said nothing more. But her bowstring went slack again.
Celestia stepped closer. Her dagger was now tucked at her waist, but her hand remained on its hilt.
"I'm warning you, Zero. Inside, there's something you can't control."
"I know."
"You don't know."
Leon didn't answer. His eyes met Celestia's. There was no fear there. No doubt.
Celestia sighed. "You really are stubborn."
She stepped back, returning to her throne.
Marcus nodded. Behind the throne, the black marble wall shifted. A door opened—leading to the final chamber.
Leon stepped forward. Veylin beside him. Sylphine behind.
No one blocked their way.
---
Inside that chamber, it was dark.
The only light came from four glowing pillars in each corner. Their light was dim, whitish, like moonlight on the darkest night.
And in the center of the room...
Xuánhú knelt.
Her body was bound in black chains that extended from the floor, from the walls, from the ceiling. Those chains wrapped around her neck, her wrists, her ankles, her waist, even her nine tails—each tail shackled with a dimly glowing iron ring.
Her face was not visible. Her long white hair covered her entire face, like a curtain deliberately left hanging.
But the aura emanating from her body... made the hairs on Leon's neck stand on end.
This was no ordinary prisoner. This was a creature feared even by Zenless.
Xuánhú lifted her head. Her white hair shifted, revealing sharp golden eyes—not dim, not tired, but blazing like fire.
"Finally," she said, her voice soft yet echoing through the chamber. "They've sent someone interesting."
Leon stood before her.
Behind him, Veylin was tense. Sylphine gripped the edge of Leon's cloak tightly.
"I'm Leon," Leon said. "I'm here to—"
"I know why you're here." Xuánhú cut him off. Her golden eyes stared at Leon without blinking. "But you don't know what you're asking for, young one."
Leon didn't answer.
Xuánhú smiled. Not a friendly smile—but a satisfied smile. The smile of someone who had waited thousands of years and finally... would wait a little longer.
"But I'll give you a chance. Free me. And I will help you."
Leon looked at the black chains binding Xuánhú.
Nine tails. Nine dimly glowing iron rings. And on Xuánhú's chest, at her navel, a black stone pulsed—like a heart, like a mantra endlessly cycling.
"Ten seals," Leon said. Not a question.
Xuánhú nodded slowly. Her white hair shifted, revealing more of her face—old, but not wrinkled; tired, but not weak.
"Nine on my tails. One on my body. Remove them all."
"How?"
Xuánhú looked down. Her white hair covered her face again.
"Each seal is locked with a different spell. Some require physical strength. Some require magic. Some require..." she paused. "...blood."
Leon blinked. "Blood?"
"Powerful blood." Xuánhú lifted her head. Her golden eyes looked at Leon—not judging, but acknowledging. "The blood flowing in your veins... might be enough."
Leon fell silent. Within him, Satan stirred.
"She knows," Satan whispered.
"I know."
Veylin stepped forward. "Zero, this is too risky. We don't know what will happen if the seals are opened."
"I know," Leon said.
"You don't—"
"I know," Leon repeated, cutting her off. His eyes never left Xuánhú.
Xuánhú smiled faintly.
"This young one is braver than I thought."
Leon sighed. "How much time do we have?"
Xuánhú blinked. "For what?"
"To open ten seals."
Xuánhú was silent for a moment. Her golden eyes flickered—slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"It depends. If you know how... perhaps a few hours. If not..." she smiled. "You'll die here by the guards outside."
Leon didn't answer. His hand gripped Lokantaka. The sword pulsed—as if in agreement.
"Fine. I'll return."
He turned. Veylin and Sylphine followed.
Behind him, Xuánhú still knelt, the black chains still wrapped around her body. But her eyes—her golden eyes—still watched Leon's back.
"Don't take too long, young one," she whispered. "I don't have much time."
---
Leon stepped out of the chamber. In the throne room, Zenless still sat on his throne, fan open, a faint smile on his face. Celestia had returned to her place, dagger in her lap. Raven was silent, bow on her back. Marcus didn't move.
"You've seen her," Zenless said. Not a question.
Leon nodded. "I'll return tomorrow."
Zenless raised an eyebrow. "You think the Nexus is an inn you can visit anytime?"
"I'm the champion. I have the right."
Zenless chuckled softly. "Fine. Tomorrow. But remember—I'll be watching."
Leon didn't answer. He walked past them, past the black iron door, past the pale blue corridor, toward the exit.
Veylin beside him. Sylphine behind.
They didn't speak. There was no need.
---
Outside the Nexus, the sun was beginning to set. Orange light illuminated their tired faces.
Kazan stood before the door, two swords on his back, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.
"Took you long enough," he said.
Leon sighed. "A lot to think about."
Kazan didn't ask further. He only nodded.
They walked away from the Nexus, leaving behind the cold white lights, heading toward the Blue Flame Tavern.
On his chest, the pendant still glowed.
At his waist, Lokantaka pulsed.
And in his heart, one resolve: to free Xuánhú.
=== CHAPTER 29 END ===