Chapter 455 Fire That Burns Too Fiercely Consumes Itself

Chapter 455 Fire That Burns Too Fiercely Consumes Itself

The revelation of the Moon Guardian's identity reverberated through the air like a harbinger of an unsettling, unfathomable truth.

Asher, his mind a tempest of disbelief and unease, struggled to reconcile the legend with the figure before him. Lupus, the Moon Guardian, a name etched into the annals of history and fear, was believed to have vanished into the mists of time over a century or two ago. And yet, here he stood, a being from an era thought long passed.

An injured Flaralis let out a warning roar at the old man and yet he kept walking without even shifting his gaze towards the dragon. N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.

Rowena, her spirit still blazing forth, stepped forward, her resolve unbroken even by injury. But Asher, protective and wary, held her back. "What are you doing? You all should return, and I will see what he wants with me," he insisted, knowing that the Moonbinder clan was only concerned with him. He secretly slipped the key into Rowena's hands, making her look at him with a worried expression.

"Yes. You should listen to him, child," Lupus' voice suddenly echoed as he halted his advance a couple meters away from them.

Rowena's voice, a mix of defiance and curiosity, broke the tense silence, "Senior Lupus...Your ancestor made a pact with my ancestor. Are you really going to be the first Moon Guardian to dishonor it?" she demanded, her fists clenched, her gaze unwavering.

Lupus shook his head as he said in a deep, calm voice, "I am not standing in your lands, am I? I would never dishonor the word of my ancestors."

Rowena pressed her lips together as she couldn't exactly refute him. They were standing in no man's land. Asher, his protective stance unwavering, confronted the old man with a cold, questioning smile. "But why are you trying to have me killed? I don't remember killing anyone from your clan unless you are just jealous of my existence," he challenged.

Lupus, his head tilting slightly, regarded Asher with eyes that held the wisdom of ages, "Asher Drake. You are as strong as I expected you to be. But you misunderstand. All I did was try to make you strong," he revealed.

Asher's expression shifted to one of bafflement, the pieces of the puzzle before him refusing to align, "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice a mix of suspicion and the faintest flicker of curiosity.

"I knew that you are someone who refuses to die in the face of death and someone born with natural gifts to become unnaturally strong. So I knew you wouldn't die but become stronger through the trials I made you go through...at least until you entered the Tower of Torment," Lupus explained.

Asher's eyes widened just like the others, not expecting to learn that the Moon Guardian had purposefully done everything to make him stronger.

But this only made Asher even more suspicious as he probed deeper, "Why do you care if I become stronger or not? Even then, you still sent Boragor to kill me after I conquered the tower."

Lupus answered, "Because I knew he would cause a distraction and provide you the means to escape, and you did," he said, his voice betraying no emotion, a calm sea with unknown depths.

The revelation sent ripples of surprise through Asher and the others, the prospect of the Moon Guardian possessing foresight a notion as intriguing as it was unsettling. However, he had heard rumors of Moon Guardians being able to have glimpses of the future. Were those rumors really true after all?

Asher's grip tightened unconsciously as he wasn't sure if Lupus was going to let them leave and wanted them out of there before he might change his mind.

Rowena, torn between her heart and the duty she bore towards their people, felt the heavy burden of the crown settle upon her. But with the key in her hand, she knew it was the only way to protect their kingdom. She also wasn't in a condition to fight and would only burden him. But she also knew Asher wasn't also in perfect condition since he expended a lot of mana, killing Drakar's men.

But in the end, she stepped back, knowing Asher was right. They had a kingdom to protect with so many people depending on them.

But then her eyes widened upon seeing that Drakar was nowhere to be seen, and instead, she saw him standing beside Lysandra.

The realization that Drakar had used the chaos to his advantage, slipping away, was a bitter pill to swallow, yet it underscored the urgency of what she had to do now.

"We have to go...now!" Drakar said with gritted teeth as he pulled up Lysandra.

However, Lysandra's gaze landed on Asher's back as she unconsciously shook her head, "No...I...I..."

"Get your head straight. That old monster is somehow still alive. We aren't in the state to linger around here. We will get them some other time," Drakar said with gritted teeth as he too hated the fact that he was the one running away.

Rebecca saw Drakar and Lysandra leaving, but she could only watch helplessly as she didn't have any energy left to fight.

But seeing the Moon Guardian, she knew she shouldn't stay here any longer and decided to try and think of some other way to get her son back no matter what.

Rowena clenched her jaw as she saw Drakar and Lysandra flying away, but there wasn't the time nor energy to take down Drakar again.

She then looked at Isola and Ceti, who were hesitant to leave as well. But feeling Rowena's gaze and the hidden message in their eyes, the two sighed with a pained expression as they followed Rowena.

Rowena, Ceti, and Isola reluctantly turned to leave, their steps heavy with the weight of the moment, the air thick with the unsaid, their hearts heavy with the burden of leaving their man behind.

Lupus, his voice a calm harbinger of doom, did not mince words, "In your heart, you think you're preserving them from harm, but the truth is otherwise. The key isn't with you – I know that. But the consequence of your defiance might be their undoing, all for safeguarding what was never meant to be theirs," he declared, his stance unyielding, a challenge laid bare.

Asher frowned and looked up, watching Flaralis carry his women to safety, feeling a momentary surge of relief which was swiftly replaced by a singular focus. The key, the kingdom, and the lives of his people hung in the balance, a delicate equilibrium that he was determined to preserve. But he was actually surprised that Lupus didn't even try to stop them despite knowing that the key wasn't on him.

Still, turning to face Lupus, his gaze alight with a fierce determination, he declared, "What makes you think I will let you have that chance?"