Chapter 525: Shadow Traverse

Chapter 525: Shadow Traverse

The front courtyard of the Roin estate.

Just as Rayne was bidding farewell to everyone and preparing to head to the Sword Bearers Headquarters to board a dirigible, a luxurious carriage suddenly pulled up at the estate's gate.

Prince Everton's butler, Count Buchanan, stepped down from the carriage, accompanied by Quentin, who was tall but shackled.

"It's her, Rayne."

Claire recognized Quentin the moment she saw her, the same person who had killed her steed, Black, and fought with her the previous night.

"Indeed." Rayne nodded.

Seeing this, he was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Menya to be so efficient; in less than half an hour, the Crown Prince's butler had arrived in person, bringing the Shadow Dragon lineage Quentin with him.

Despite the shackles on her wrists, Quentin's face still bore a defiant expression. She appeared wary only when looking at Rayne; otherwise, she acted as if the others didn't exist. When passing Claire, she even let out a slight snort, as if she was both resentful and challenging.

At this moment, Buchanan looked around and approached, bowing slightly with a smile. "Lord Rayne, it's been a while."

"Lords Luther and Hallowen, good morning. And to the beautiful ladies, good morning as well."

"Lord Rayne, His Highness the Crown Prince has specially entrusted me to apologize to you. We were unaware of Quentin's actions, and we deeply regret the trouble she has caused you and your family."

"Here is a manor located in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital. Please accept it as a token of our apology. As for Quentin, we leave her in your hands." Buchanan spoke with appropriate deference, presenting a deed as he spoke.

Rayne didn't even glance at the deed, only looking at Buchanan. "Please convey to Everton that, for the sake of Lady Menya, we'll let this matter drop."

"Leave the person here, and you may go."

Hearing Rayne so rudely address his lord by name and completely ignore his gesture of goodwill, Buchanan's face flushed red.

As the Crown Prince's butler and an imperial earl, when had he ever been treated with such disdain?

Especially after his sincere apology, he felt he had given Rayne enough respect.

However, Buchanan was a man of deep strategy. He knew the purpose of his visit was not to deepen the conflict but to represent his lord in making amends. So, he took a deep breath and said:

"Very well, Lord Rayne. I will convey your words to His Highness."

With that, he turned and glanced at Quentin before quickly leaving.

Once Buchanan was gone, Quentin was left alone in the courtyard. Just as everyone assumed Rayne would first imprison the female assassin, he spoke in a calm voice:

"You've taken the Bloodline Burst Elixir, haven't you?"

"There's no need to deny it. I've felt the effects of this elixir more than once. The subtle aura you're emitting now can't escape my perception."

Rayne had first encountered this elixir's aura during his battle with Regan and the others in the Dragon's Valley secret realm.

"You—"

Quentin's greatest advantage was exposed by Rayne, and she looked at him with a mix of shock and uncertainty, unsure of how to react.

Should she retreat immediately?

Or should she deny it and continue to act?

However, Rayne didn't give her the chance to think further.

He continued, "Since you're not here to sincerely repent, I won't force you. Although you killed my steed, Black, I will give you one last chance."

"If you can evade my attack, I'll let you go."

"Snap!"

Before anyone could react, a Dark Silver light flashed, and Quentin's shackles broke apart.

"One attack?"

Quentin rubbed her now-free wrists and smiled slightly. "Lord Rayne, those are your exact words. I know you have epic-level combat strength, but overconfidence is not a virtue."

"Enough talk. Let's begin. I'm in a hurry."

Rayne waved his hand indifferently.

"You—"

Quentin's eyes narrowed, anger surging within her. During her confinement at the Sword Bearers Headquarters, she had reflected deeply on how Rayne had discovered her. In her view, part of it was due to her underestimating the young Lord Rayne, and part was because her strength was indeed slightly inferior.

But things were different now.

Just two days ago, after consuming the Dragon Vein Evolution Elixir, her strength had reached the epic level. And just moments ago, she had taken the Bloodline Burst Elixir, further enhancing her power. Even compared to an Epic-Level Warrior, she was not far behind. Her bloodline talent, 'Shadow Traverse,' had also advanced to a new level.

"Rayne won't be able to stop me if I want to leave!"

This time, she was absolutely confident that even if Rayne was a 4th-level Dawn Mage, he wouldn't be able to track her.

"Swish!"

Quentin vanished from the spot.

This sudden disappearance left the onlookers, including Luther and Hallowen, stunned. They exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Neither of them could detect how Quentin had disappeared, let alone where she had gone.

Claire, in a flash, positioned herself in front of Mint, as if to protect her from the potential violence.

But the next moment, Quentin reappeared in her original spot, as if she had materialized out of thin air. Her face was filled with fear, and she appeared to be turning to leave.

Rayne, however, remained unmoving, his expression calm as he watched Quentin.

"How is this possible! How can your psi energy be so strong!"

"This psi energy fluctuation, you—" Quentin's eyes were bloodshot, her face a mask of disbelief as she looked at Rayne. However, she seemed to know that Rayne wouldn't let her go.

Her body swelled, dragon scales emerging on her skin as she began the dragon lineage transformation. Her eyes were fixed on Mint, who was behind Claire.

"Thud!"

Rayne, noticing her subtle movements, moved with a speed rarely seen from him. He struck directly at Quentin's heart, his hand piercing through and gripping it.

Quentin's eyes widened in shock, seemingly unable to believe how easily she had been defeated. Her transformation was interrupted, and she quickly lost all her strength, collapsing like a spineless snake. Her head hung limply, supported by Rayne's strong forearm, which he had not yet retracted.

At that moment, the System Prompt sounded:

[Ding! Host absorbs incomplete Shadow Dragon lineage, which can be integrated into the existing supreme variant dragon lineage, initiating fusion.]

[Ding! Fusion successful!]

[Host's bloodline mutates, gaining the Shadow Dragon lineage special ability 'Shadow Traverse'.]

[Host will possess the special ability 'Shadow Traverse' in any form.]

[Shadow Traverse: Consumes a large amount of psi energy to gain the ability to traverse shadow space. The difficulty is positively correlated with the concentration of the Shadow Dragon lineage, and the duration is proportional to the psi energy consumption.]

"Hmm?" Rayne was slightly surprised.

He had never expected the bloodline essence of his opponent to benefit him in any way, considering her strength was still a notch below the epic level.

Could it be due to the Bloodline Burst Elixir she had taken?

Now, it seemed that while her bloodline essence wouldn't increase his bloodline concentration, it had granted him a unique talent.

"Shadow Traverse?"

Rayne immediately recalled the scene in the carriage where Quentin had appeared out of nowhere.

That time, if he hadn't been on guard, the other party might have succeeded.

"Clean up! Matteo." Rayne's arm shook as he set the person down, then wiped his hands and said.

"Yes, Lord Rayne." The small-statured Matteo immediately stepped forward with two servants to clean up the scene.

"Olena, wrap up the case with the Imperial Capital's security patrol. The murderer resisted arrest and was killed on the spot." Rayne said calmly.

"Yes, Lord Rayne." Efficient Adult Olena was still processing the events.

Lieutenant Colonel Tatiana, standing nearby, pursed her red lips, intending to say something but ultimately remained silent.

This was the first time she had seen Rayne ruthlessly take a life.

It seemed that the storm they thought would take a few days to brew had already begun.

Who knew what kind of turmoil Lord Rayne's visit to Minstrel would stir up?

She needed to report to the two lords immediately.

But

Marshal Alfred would likely find it difficult to calm the enraged Lord Rayne, wouldn't he?

Luther and Hallowen, though their faces remained calm, were internally in turmoil.

They hadn't expected Rayne to act so decisively and without hesitation.

Both were from noble families and well-versed in the intricacies of political struggles. Normally, when someone at the Crown Prince's level sent an apology, they should have immediately given the other party a way out.

After all, only a horse had died, yet Rayne had taken a life.

It seemed that this incident had truly ignited Rayne's fury.

Rayne's purpose was clear: to intimidate the nobles and forces within the empire who harbored ill will toward him and his family. Even a mere warning or an attempt that didn't cause harm would not be tolerated.

Whoever acts, dies!

Quentin, unfortunately, was the first, so Rayne made no exceptions for women in this rare instance.

Meanwhile.

Not far from the entrance, in a luxurious carriage, Buchanan waited inside the cabin.

Just moments ago, he was confident that he would soon see Rayne humiliated.

But the next second, his eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly as he watched Quentin's heart pierced by Rayne, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.

"How dare he! How dare he kill Quentin outright!"

"Arrogant! Too arrogant! This is a serious provocation to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Thinking back to Rayne's commanding and domineering tone, Buchanan shook with rage!

But then, when Rayne's gaze casually swept over him, Buchanan felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. He shivered and immediately shouted to the driver:

"Quick! Back to the mansion!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The carriage sped away in a panic.

In the front courtyard of the Roin estate.

"Everyone, I'll be back tonight."

After a brief farewell, Rayne boarded the carriage he had arranged, with Olena and Lieutenant Colonel Tatiana following. However, this time, the journey was different, and both were unusually quiet.

Soon, Rayne arrived at the Sword Bearers Headquarters. Without lingering, he boarded a high-speed dirigible bound for Minstrel.

Thanks to Rayne's prior instructions to arrange a high-speed dirigible, he reached the Minstrel Swordsmen Division in less than three hours.

At the dirigible docking area of the Swordsmen Division, several people were already waiting, led by Admiral Edward.

"Admiral Edward, it's been a long time." Rayne smiled.

"Lord Rayne—"

"No, Admiral Edward, you are an elder and have always been kind to me. Please call me Rayne." Rayne waved his hand, interrupting Admiral Edward.

"Alright, Rayne. Do you need to be briefed on the situation first?"

"No need, Admiral Edward. Please have a cup of black tea ready for me, and we can catch up later."

With that, Rayne vanished from sight.

Admiral Edward and the others widened their eyes, looking around, but they couldn't detect any trace of him.

"What kind of witchcraft is this?"

"Wasn't spatial witchcraft lost long ago?"

Several people nearby whispered to each other.

Meanwhile.

Rayne abruptly appeared on a street not far from the towering Church Temple.

Seeing the familiar Ionic column style pillars, statues, and the oval fountain, Rayne knew that he had instantly arrived here through the new ability he had just mastered, 'Shadow Traverse.'

"Turns out it involves entering some kind of subspace for movement. It's indeed a very special ability, though the psi consumption is quite significant", Rayne mused, quickly grasping the general effect of his new ability.

The temple before him looked as if it were bracing for a major threat, with strict security measures in place. Guards were posted every five steps, and sentries every ten. Rayne even sensed a few familiar presences.

"Since Jennifer and Lagrelle haven't run into any trouble, I'll deal with the root of the problem directly."

With Rayne's psi energy now at the Late Dawn stage, a slight perception allowed him to detect several undercover agents mixed in with the ordinary people. However, these agents were not his targets.

As Rayne focused his attention, a vast wave of psi energy radiated outward, covering a radius of several hundred meters. Unlike visual observation, psi detection was a deeper form of scrutiny.

Unless the target could resist it, Rayne could precisely discern everything from internal heart rates to the fineness of external pores, as long as he wanted to.

"Found it, they're here."

In the next instant, Rayne vanished from his spot.

Hundreds of meters away, inside a mansion, Marquis Oren and three others were chatting comfortably.

"Marquis, do we really need to keep waiting?"

"It's been a whole day, and no one from the Drum Family has shown up. In my opinion, let's just act tonight. Once that beautiful woman signs the share transfer agreement, she's all mine to enjoy."

"Although she's just a civilian, she is indeed stunning. It would be a shame to kill her outright", the high-ranking knight who had severely injured Wei Er Li laughed.

"No rush. Once the Drum Family arrives, we can handle this easily. By my calculations, they should be here soon", Marquis Oren sipped his Bordeaux and smiled.

Soon, he would regain control of the Axeon Auction House's Minstrel branch.

"I think the young girl from the barbarian tribe is more worth collecting. If you don't have any interest, she's mine", one of the Crystalized Wizards from Isodrial Academy chimed in with a grin.

Suddenly, all four of them felt a chill, and the two Crystalized Wizards leaped up from their suede sofas, their faces filled with shock.

"This level of psi detection, which Dawn Wizard from the empire has descended upon Minstrel?"

"It feels even stronger than the head of our sect!"

The Earth Crystal Mage also looked horrified and confused.

"But the key is, even an imperial guardian wouldn't perform such a grand psi detection without a reason."

"Don't worry, it can't be that Rayne, right?" The high-ranking knight pondered for a moment before relaxing again, laughing.

"Let's set aside whether he has the strength. Even if he does, he's still imprisoned by the Goddess of the Depths."

"Perhaps it's some Demon Avatar that has descended?"

"Then the Church of the Goddess and Duke Minter will have their hands full, ha ha."

Marquis Oren, however, looked solemn and stood up. "No, something's not right. This psi energy seems to be targeting us."

The powerful psi energy seemed to have vanished the moment it touched them, suggesting that the target was indeed them!

"You're right, but there's no reward."

A ghostly voice echoed through the room.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end