Endless Debt Chapter 1618 - 115: Reunion

Church silently hid behind the massive column, as hordes of Heartless swept past. At such a close distance, Church could feel the frenzied ether emanating from them, several Defenders, and numerous Negative Power Users.

Every Heartless was clad in heavy Immortal Armor. Judging from the metal’s sheen, these Immortal Armors were recently forged. With the current productivity of the Rebellious Royal Court, they simply wouldn’t have the capacity to produce such batches of armament.

Gray Trade Association.

Up to this point, the complex situation had become perfectly clear. The Gray Trade Association was fully supporting the Rebellious Royal Court, even aiding them en masse with these expensive Immortal Armors.

With Olivia as bait, she drew a large number of Heartless away; Church lost a guide to follow but also escaped numerous potential risks.

Church hesitated in place for a moment. After some deliberation, he wordlessly followed the direction in which the Heartless departed.

Olivia quickly traversed the corridors, completely unaware that the Heartless had already discovered her. The wriggling shadows enveloped her, swiftly advancing through the darkness.

Although it had been a hundred years since her last visit to the Royal City, Olivia still distinctly remembered every corridor and corner here.

Olivia continued forward along the remembered paths. In the map constructed in her mind, she drew ever closer to the Origin Tower, until a vast, desolate hall appeared before her. Pillars supporting the dome lined up on both sides, each etched with knights in armor, standing as if guarding the gate at the hall’s end.

"Pilgrim’s Courtyard..."

Emerging from the shadows, Olivia gazed wistfully at the dust-laden, dilapidated hall. A hundred years ago, this was the required road to the Origin Tower, the path to meet the Night King, and the terminus of many Night Race pilgrimages.

Back then, the hall was piled high with gold and silver treasures, heavily armed Night Race members standing on either side of the red carpet, vigilantly guarding day and night. But with the Dawn War and the passage of a century, the past glory had faded entirely, leaving only desolation and loneliness.

Walking on the faded, shattered red carpet, Olivia slowly recalled the events of those years. Back then, her status was so noble, and to others, this sacred Pilgrim’s Courtyard was merely a place of amusement for her.

She needn’t care about anyone’s objective; she could leisurely pass through the guards and ascend the steps to the Origin Tower, taking a nap beside her grandfather...

"No... The Night Race should come to an end."

Olivia shook her head firmly, casting aside the thoughts of yearning for power and wealth. Over the long years, she had witnessed too much sorrow firsthand and personally experienced the pain the Night Race brought to the world.

This mistake was created by Olivia, and she should resolve it herself.

Olivia strode forward. As she reached the center of the Pilgrim’s Courtyard, urgent footsteps sounded from behind. Olivia decisively deployed Secret Energy, slipping into the shadows. In the next moment, a host of Heartless burst through the door, exuding the aura of blood as they searched for any signs of the living.

"Heartless?"

Olivia marveled inwardly. As a pure-blood Night Race, she naturally understood the existence of these taboos.

In theory, they should have been executed long ago. However, someone had armed these creatures with armor, and even though they had lost their minds, they found no release.

The countless Heartless immediately dispersed throughout the Pilgrim’s Courtyard, sniffing the lingering scent of blood in the air and sensing the faint ethereal fluctuations.

Olivia lowered her breath, remaining motionless. A moment later, a Heartless passed by her side, clad in extremely heavy armor. Its towering body resembled a moving war chariot. Based on the Heartless’ original tier and power characteristics, they were equipped with different armor.

Suddenly, all the Heartless stopped in their tracks. Something was coming, accompanied by light footsteps.

Olivia anxiously looked toward the direction of the door, only to see a gaunt, emaciated figure arrive. The bald head was inscribed with fierce tattoos, with deep-sunken eye sockets resembling dark abysses. It was draped in light scale armor, the metal gleaming with the subtle light of the Alchemy Matrix, constantly augmenting its power.

"Ca... Carol?"

Olivia could hardly believe her eyes as she observed the slender figure. This creature was Olivia’s childhood friend.

Carol was personally appointed by Serey to be Olivia’s servant. During Olivia’s childhood, Carol accompanied her through many joyful times.

Olivia still remembered Carol’s vows, that she would not only be her most loyal servant but would also join the Imperial Guard, protecting her in the days to come.

But with the progression of the Dawn War, everything turned entirely different.

Olivia had thought her old friend had long perished in that grand Daylight Punishment. Yet she never expected that Carol survived, fulfilling her vow by becoming a member of the Imperial Guard, until she turned into a frenzied Heartless after a century of torment.

"How could it be?"

Olivia was incredulous, the dramatic surge of emotions causing a slight slip in her Ethereal Concealment. At that very moment, all the Heartless simultaneously turned toward Olivia’s position.