Chapter 275: Collecting the Spoils

he Abyssal Harbinger's soul lingered in the air, its form barely holding together after Seraphina's radiant destruction of its physical manifestation. It pulsed with dark energy, an ethereal wraith of its former self, its violet eyes wide with disbelief as it gazed at Seraphina.

"How… how can you be this powerful?" it rasped, its voice distorted and hollow. "We are both of the Third Class. You should not—this should not be possible."

Seraphina regarded it with nothing but cold disdain. "You relied on the abyss, thinking it made you invincible. But true power is not granted by external forces—it is forged within." She raised her staff, runes flaring along its length. "And you? You are nothing more than a remnant of corruption, undeserving of existence."

With a flick of her wrist, golden chains materialized, wrapping around the wailing soul. The Harbinger's cries of protest were cut short as Seraphina clenched her fingers, sealing it within a shimmering crystalline orb.

"Fitting," she murmured, inspecting the trapped essence with a smirk. "Now you'll serve a better purpose."

Adrian sheathed his sword, exhaling slowly as the golden flames around him dimmed. Though exhaustion tugged at his body, he remained composed. Seraphina turned to him, her piercing blue eyes softening with admiration.

"You handled the cult leader effortlessly," she said, stepping closer. "Not only did you overpower him in his own domain, but you shattered it completely. Even among prodigies, that is unheard of."

Adrian merely nodded. "He relied too much on tricks. The moment I broke his domain, his advantage disappeared."

Before their conversation could continue, movement from the cavern entrance caught their attention. Sophia, Isabella, Chris, Rosalyn, and Eve emerged from the shadows, each displaying their prowess as they swiftly subdued the remaining cultists. The eerie summons that had once filled the cavern dissipated into wisps of dark mist, their existence tied to the cult leader's will.

Sophia wiped her blade clean, glancing around with sharp eyes. "We managed to capture all the remaining cultists. None escaped."

Eve smirked, adjusting the grip on her daggers. "They didn't even put up a fight after you took down their leader. Cowards."

Adrian stepped forward, his gaze cold as he addressed the kneeling cultists. "Why were you spreading the curse?"

One of them, a frail-looking man with hollow eyes, swallowed hard before answering. "We… we don't know. We were just following orders. Only the cult leader knew the true purpose."

Adrian's jaw tightened. A hidden conspiracy. He had assumed the cult was acting on its own, but if the leader had been the only one with the true knowledge, then someone else could be pulling the strings. Killing him had been necessary—but it had also cost him the chance to interrogate him further.

He let out a slow breath, suppressing his frustration. "Eve," he called.

She straightened immediately. "Yes?"

"Call our soldiers. Tell them to move in and capture every remaining cultist inside and outside the hideout. I don't want any loose ends."

Eve nodded without hesitation. "Understood." She stepped aside, pulling out a communication talisman and relaying the orders.

Adrian turned back to the cavern, his eyes scanning the remnants of the cult's hideout. There were likely valuable materials, research notes, or artifacts that could provide further insight into their operations.

Activating the system's Remote Collection function, he extended his will through the interface. Instantly, everything within the hideout—books, weapons, potions, scrolls—was gathered and stored into his inventory. Anything of value would be analyzed later.

However, there was still one pressing matter left unresolved.

Christine's mother.

Adrian's expression darkened. "We still need to lift the curse."

Seraphina placed a hand on his arm. "Then let's search the hideout. If there's anything related to the curse, it will be there."

He nodded. "I'll sweep the area. The rest of you remain here and guard the cultists until the soldiers arrive."

Chris frowned but complied. "Be careful."

Sophia crossed her arms, smirking. "If anything happens, just call. Not that you'll need to."

With everything settled, Adrian turned toward one of the side corridors leading deeper into the hideout. But before he could take a step, Seraphina pressed herself against him, slipping her arm around his.

He blinked. "Aunt?"

She smiled playfully, her grip firm. "I'm coming with you."

Adrian raised a brow at Seraphina as she clung to his arm. "You really think I'd get in trouble being alone?"

Seraphina's lips curled into a sly smirk. "Who knows? This is a Dark Awakener's hideout," she teased, her tone light yet laced with mischief. "It wouldn't hurt to have some extra protection, would it?"

Adrian sighed, rubbing his temple as he gazed at her with knowing eyes. "And the real reason?"

Rather than answering immediately, Seraphina pressed herself even closer, her warmth seeping through the fabric of his coat. Her fingers tightened around his arm as she tilted her head, her smirk never faltering. "I just wanted to be with you, nothing else."

While her voice carried its usual playful edge, Adrian immediately noticed something off. He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her face. There was a flicker of something beneath her confident exterior—something restrained.

His aunt had just fought the Abyssal Harbinger, and unlike the rest of them, he hadn't witnessed what had transpired. She had isolated herself and the enemy with her spell, ensuring no interruptions. Yet now, she was acting differently.

Adrian's voice softened, his teasing tone replaced with genuine concern.

"What happened while you fought the Harbinger?"

Seraphina stiffened, her smile faltering for the briefest moment. She gazed at him, clearly surprised that he had picked up on her unease. For a few heartbeats, she said nothing, simply staring into his piercing red eyes.

Adrian didn't push her, letting the silence linger. He knew Seraphina well enough to recognize when she was putting up a front. She was a proud woman, a force of nature, and one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom. Showing weakness wasn't in her nature. And yet… something had shaken her.

Seraphina let out a quiet chuckle, though it lacked her usual confidence. "You always were perceptive," she murmured, her voice softer than before. She turned her gaze forward, her fingers still curled around his arm.