CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 606: Virelass’ Decision

Debro’s headless body tumbled softly from the heavens after the severing blow, its head following alongside, crashing into the molten ground mere seconds later with a resounding thud that whispered faintly over the shattered battlefield.

Asher gazed down at the corpse from his vantage point, purple light gleaming in his eyes as he observed quietly, the battle’s toll weighing heavily on him. Instantly after, his Star Form shimmered and faded at the five-minute limit right upon Debro’s demise, the empowering force dissolving effortlessly.

The Star Form dissolved, Lightning Armour dissolved, every bodily boost dissolved too—the lightning enhancement, the light-speed surge, the gravity lessening—all vanished together like a vanishing dream. As soon as they faded, gravity seized Asher’s form, sending it plummeting, yet exhaustion overtook him before he could respond, plunging him into unconsciousness while he dropped helplessly from above.

His frame spun during the fall, purple locks whipping fiercely in the rushing winds. Right then, his complexion was ashen, his whole form drained and powerless. Virelass faded from his grip in his right hand and materialized next to him, ensuring that even if he struck the earth at that velocity and force, no harm would befall him, given the absurd durability of Swiftstar Life Rank physiques.

Yet Virelass refused to let him slam into the soil like Debro had. Thus, she positioned herself beneath him, her broad side cradling his back to stop his plunge with flawless precision, then descended gradually and laid Asher tenderly upon the ground with gentle care before vanishing once more and reappearing overhead, suspended in quiet vigil.

Virelass emitted a soft hum while hovering over him, as if attempting a telepathic link, but received no response. This marked the first instance she witnessed Asher collapsing into unconsciousness, a notion almost alien to her being—though she had observed him sleeping numerous times, fainting felt utterly distinct and strange.

She realized leaving Asher exposed here was unwise; others might arrive, perhaps from whatever faction Debro belonged to, already hurrying over upon sensing his death. With Asher out cold and unable to choose, Virelass decided for them, weighing options between Star Academy or Wargrave Ducal lands.

Virelass settled on the Wargrave Ducal territory instantly, activating her Position Marker ability without delay. In a flash of silver, she disappeared with the insensate Asher, abandoning only eerie silence amid the wreckage.

They materialized inside Asher’s chamber, his form touching down softly with a light thump. No sooner had Asher and Virelass arrived than a distant awareness detected them—it was Yveric, Knight Commander of the Wargrave Knight Order.

He blinked out from his spot and rematerialized in Asher’s room in an instant. During Asher’s prior visits here for missions, Yveric had always detected him yet never approached, seeing no reason to interfere.

Yveric knelt swiftly and hoisted Asher onto the bed with firm grip, face impassive. Moments later, he summoned Lyra, who was cultivating in her quarters. Lyra exploded into Asher’s room at blinding speed, aura intense and pressing. Spotting her master sprawled unconscious, she whirled on the Knight Commander, voice laced with fury despite addressing a Crownstar Life Ranker.

"What happened?" Lyra demanded, her voice sharp, brimming with anxiety and seeping murderous aura she couldn’t contain.

"I don’t know. I sensed his usual teleport here, but his aura felt off, so I came personally and found him passed out on the floor," Yveric replied evenly, unperturbed by Lyra’s sharpness, grasping the root of her ire and insolence.

Stepping closer, Yveric placed his gloved right palm on Asher’s torso, infusing Astra energy across his frame to probe for wounds or irregularities, yet discovered everything normal—no inner harm, no outer peril.

"Looks like he just returned from an epic clash that drained his spirit heavily; his physique remains flawless," Yveric declared, then faced Lyra as he added, "I’ll summon the mind healer for caution and a full check," he hesitated momentarily, then finished, "and notify the First Sun," before striding out, expression unaltered.

Though tempted to alert Duke Azaron, Yveric figured the duke might be occupied and unwilling to rush back merely for his son’s collapse. The First Sun, however, with his strong bond to kin, would undoubtedly hasten over without pause.

Lyra offered no response to Yveric, unconcerned with healers for bodily wounds since she knew Virelass could mend those. Her dark gaze shifted to Virelass, who drifted mutely while emitting a faint hum.

She yearned to interrogate the rapier about events, to identify who dared leave her master like this, but knew it futile—Soul-bound weapons famously refused speech to any but their wielders, or fellow semi-aware Soul-bound arms.

She settled on the bed’s edge next to Asher, a tear welling but restrained with iron will. Thoughts wandered to his boyhood days, when he shone as the finest-looking Wargrave, with impeccable skin and neat hair; only post-training sweat had ever marred him slightly.

Yet now, that very Asher rested there, smeared with black grime, grit, and mud, garments shredded, both attire and flesh marked by his blood—a jarring shift from her cherished recollections.

At once, she sprang into action, leaping up purposefully. A hand gesture summoned fresh Asher attire from her space ring. As his devoted maid, she stayed ever-ready, stocking various outfits in her ring for any sudden need.

Carefully peeling off his ruined garb, she summoned Astra energy with another flick, purifying his form meticulously to erase all filth and gore. Then she dressed him in the new ensemble with deft tenderness.

Task complete, she retreated a few paces and stood sentinel, obsidian eyes locked on him, vowing silently to remain until he stirred—as if averting her gaze even briefly might cause his limp form to dissolve away.