The manor stood eerily silent upon Alex’s arrival which was rather odd considering this was meant to be the home of Councilwoman Thera.
There should at least be a few servants in waiting but there was nothing.
Due to how dirty and unkept the building looked, Alex began to wonder if the Councilwoman had any sort of help.
It was almost like it had been ages since anyone lived in the building, but Alex could sense something waiting inside, so he made his way into the building.
His steps measured, he remained cautious, prepared to snap at the slightest sign of danger.
Inside the building, no lanterns, candles, or lamps were lit, ensuring that the only source of light was the Nighteye hanging in the sky, and even that slowly diminished the deeper Alex went, forcing him to rely on his innate night vision to see.
Most items he came across within the house were covered by a thick layer of dust, further enforcing the idea that Thera lived alone.
But the other day, Alex was sure she had visited the task force building with guards.
So, where were those guards?
Or perhaps, she knew he was coming and so had chased the help away?
Alex shook his head because as much as he wished to believe that, he understood that save for Ulysses, Abyss Wheel Mystics did not understand the meaning of the word merciful.
Soon, he arrived in a garden at the center of the manor.
It had a fountain with a variety of plants and flowers along with stone benches that had been placed at four corners.
Alex had to confess that it was a rather beautiful sight.
Unfortunately, he did not have the time to indulge in the beauty of the garden as his target revealed herself.
"Councilwoman Thera." Alex began as he took a step forward with Thera staring at him with her brown eyes.
Though not as beautiful as Nadia or Ana, she was quite attractive, radiating a matured aura that would leave many men seeking her out.
She donned a himation made of silk and embroidered with gold.
There were bracelets on her wrist and necklaces on her neck, along with a golden band which she used to tie her hair stylishly.
To think that such a woman had surrendered herself to the Abyss, Alex couldn’t help but shake his head.
It truly was unfortunate.
"I have been expecting you, Sir Smith... or is it Elpis?... Or perhaps you would prefer another of your many names," Thera said, swiftly gaining the upper hand in their conversation as Alex displayed a hint of surprise on his visage, though it quickly gave way to curiosity.
"Of course, you are quite the thorn in the side of my Master... or rather, not just my Master, but his siblings as well."
Alex furrowed his brows. "Are you talking about the Otherworldly?"
"After you ruined their plan to save our world from being destroyed, it is only natural that they would keep malice with you."
A resounding silence followed as Alex pondered her words, before quickly discovering what she meant.
"The Blood Feast." Alex breathed out evenly.
That event was hardly one he wished to remember, especially not after everything that happened.
Thera smiled. "If only you had allowed the Savior to be born..."
"And doom Eventide to the madness and corruption that would follow?" Alex scoffed. "I may not be a hero, but I sure as hell do not wish to live in a world ruled by the madness of the Abyss."
"Such a narrow mindset." Thera shook her head in apparent disappointment.
Alex took another step forward. "Is that why you are here?... You wish to perform another Blood Feast?"
"Something like that," Thera replied, her expression displaying her pride in the matter as she continued. "I serve only as a forerunner to those that would come after me, all for the sole purpose of ensuring the return of the Savior."
"I won’t let that happen." Alex coldly said.
"I’m sure, you and others like you, all so narrow minded. You cannot even fathom the idea that my Master and his comrades do not wish to harm Eventide, merely to protect it!" Thera shot back, growing slightly incensed with her last statement.
Alex scoffed, amused by Thera’s delusions.
The Abyss?... Protect?... Those two words were not meant to be in the same sentence.
"Since we cannot see eye to eye, then I doubt there’s a need to discuss further," Alex said, taking a third step forward.
Thera flashed a knowing smile. "Indeed."
Alex teleported beside her, prepared to strike her down with a single Black Bullet only for Thera to speak up.
"Good night, Dark Lord."
Following that, there was a crack in the ground below, followed by the release of a strange wave, and Alex realized, with shock, that Black Bullet did not materialize, or rather, it did, but something caused it to cease.
That something revealed itself a moment later.
The ground below expanded before a terrifying explosion surged out.
Alex tried to snap, tried to get as far away as possible only to fail no matter how hard he snapped.
It was then, as the black flames engulfed him, that he understood that this explosion was not only fueled by gunpowder.
The explosion destroyed everything in a 300-yard radius, after which a mushroom cloud reached the sky above.
The entire city shook as though it had been struck by an earthquake, while the area that had just suffered the explosion was covered in smoke, ash, and, surprisingly, black flames.
Those in the lower districts also felt the quake but perhaps the most affected of all was Alex as he clutched his chest, his expression distorting greatly as he fell to his knees, then to the ground before directly passing out.
"Al... Sir Smith!" Arwen blurted out in a panic as she rushed to assist him, with Theoren and Melita doing the same, while also wondering about the cause of the explosion.