Karis hovered there, arms casually folded across his chest, a faint smile playing on his lips. "This grand hall is a sacred ground of the Supreme Domain. I will not allow it to be reduced to charred ruins, Brother Thane. Now then… can you finish this quickly? Lord Alistair still has a beautiful bride waiting for his kiss."
Alya's eyes widened in shock, heat flooding her cheeks in a sudden, vivid scarlet.
The fire-affinity leader stared in utter disbelief. "That… that was my Ninefold Explosive Inferno Cannon! And he extinguished it with a single casual stroke of his sword?!"
Thane's expression remained cold. He withdrew his palm, then thrust it forward once more.
A terrifying surge of absolute-zero spiritual might erupted.
The already fracturing barrier shattered like fragile glass.
And the backlash sent all eight masked assassins hurtling backward through the air.
In the next breath, the hundreds of lingering icicles, guided by Thane's divine sense, pierced through their bodies with merciless precision with loud groans erupting from each of them.
Blood froze instantly on their robes, their limbs turned rigid and life essence extinguished.
One after another, they crashed to the marble floor, encased in frost.
Only the fire-affinity leader remained, hovering unsteadily, flames flickering weakly around him.
Thane extended a single finger, pointing directly at him.
"Fire cultivator," he said, voice calm. "Who sent you?"
In an instant, the man crossed both arms before his chest and vanished into thin air.
Alya could only stare blankly at the empty space where the fire cultivator had fled.
"Whoa…?" The word escaped her lips in a soft, dazed breath.
Her gaze dropped first to the eight frozen corpses glittering like jade sculptures, then upward as Thane Veyer descended gracefully from the air, red hair settling like falling maple leaves.
Finally her eyes found Alistair and their gazes met.
A spark seemed to leap between them, as though two destined fates had brushed against one another.
Regan Howser stepped forward then, a wide, fearless grin splitting his face.
"Why did everyone tremble before mere assassins?" he called out, sweeping his gaze across the still-pale nobles and realm elders. "The Supreme Domain has risen to new heights. These rats may slip through the barrier today, but rest assured, we shall root out every breach and crush every hidden hand that dares reach toward us."
Murmurs of relief rippled through the crowd and heads nodded vigorously.
Then all eyes turned toward Alistair, hanging upon his next words as though awaiting a decree from the heavens themselves.
Alistair swept his calm gaze across them all, posture relaxed yet radiating the unshakable aura of supremacy.
"The Supreme Domain has only recently claimed its place among the upper realms," he said, voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "Such venomous insects are to be expected. That they chose this Lord's wedding day merely proves their desperation." A faint, dangerous smile curved his lips. "No matter. We shall continue to demonstrate again and again precisely why we are called… Supreme."
As one, the assembled cultivators and nobles dropped to their knees, foreheads touching the marble in sincere salute and relief.
An elder, unable to contain his excitement, cried out:
"Then why delay any longer? Let the wedding ceremony resume at once!"
Every gaze in the hall swiveled toward Alya.
Alya's shoulders sagged as though the weight of a thousand mountains had finally settled upon them.
Then in a dramatic yet graceful motion, she spun on her heel, eyes rolling back, and collapsed bonelessly to the floor, eyes fluttering shut.
Hearing the thud, Kafel turned, stunned.
Halwin frowned.
Alistair merely lifted one amused eyebrow. "Why am I not surprised in the slightest?"
Kafel snapped his head toward the young lord, eyes widening.
Then he bowed deeply, palms pressed together in utmost respect.
"Lord Alistair, this humble one begs your forgiveness. Today's turmoil has clearly overwhelmed my disciple. She has always possessed a fragile constitution and a heart that abhors bloodshed. The violence has injured her spirit. I must carry her back to her chambers at once to regulate her energy and meridians."
Alya's closed eyelids twitched ever so slightly at his words, though her body remained perfectly still. 'This master of mine… definitely trustworthy.'
"But… the auspicious kiss!" Karis protested from mid-air, and descended gracefully from the air, expression genuinely crestfallen. "It's the very heart of a marriage! At least rouse her for that much…"
Alistair raised a hand, palm outward, silencing him with casual authority.
"Enough." His tone brooked no argument. "After such an interruption, we cannot reasonably proceed with the full rites today. Let the matter conclude here."
One of the senior elders stepped forward, expression grave yet understanding.
"I trust you know the proper path forward, Lord Alistair."
Alistair nodded once.
"I do."
He turned toward the herald, voice calm and final.
"Do your duty."
The herald straightened, drew a deep breath, and intoned with resonant spiritual power that rolled through every corner of the grand hall:
"By the witness of heaven and earth, by the laws of fate and karma, Lord Alistair Rehn and Princess Alya Valehart are hereby declared united as one in heart, one in spirit, and one in soul!"