The burning sensation from the destructive energy behind her almost tore through Ella's nerves. The balance node ahead was within reach, yet it seemed as distant as the horizon.

She knew that no matter what, she couldn't outrun that energy tendril.


In this split second, a silver streak of light, like a star of hope piercing through eternal darkness, shot in from the massive crack in the barrier at a speed beyond visual perception!

It was the Peachwood Stake!

It wasn't aimed at the energy tendril, nor at Herman, but at a precise and exquisite angle, it shot with perfect accuracy toward an energy conduit in front of Ella, outside the balance node—a conduit that was operating beyond capacity and already showing tiny fractures on its surface!


"Swoosh!"

The pure power of order contained in the Peachwood Stake, originating from Ella's faith and the Hunter's legacy, violently clashed with the conduit full of chaotic energy!


"Boom!"

The conduit exploded violently! The uncontrolled energy gushed out in all directions like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly disrupting the energy field in a small area at the bottom of the core!

This sudden internal energy disorder caused the energy tentacle that was devouring Ella to experience an extremely brief yet crucial deviation and weakening!

Now is the time!

Ella didn't waste this possibly only chance purchased at a tremendous cost! She didn't even look back to see who had made this throw, as all her will, spirit, and strength were concentrated on this one thrust!

"In the name of Vein! For true light!"

She let out a clear shout, her body seemingly becoming one with the Silver Dagger, transforming into an unstoppable silver lightning bolt. Ignoring the weakened energy waves that brushed past her from behind, she fiercely and without reservation stabbed into the center of the mithril converter—the very core of the balance node!

"Crack——！！！"

A crisp shattering sound that echoed throughout the entire vault, like breaking ice, clearly reached every corner.

Time seemed to freeze in this moment.

Following this was an even more violent explosion after the deathly silence!

The Eternal Night Core emitted an overwhelmed wail like a dying behemoth! Those surging dark red energies instantly lost their direction, frantically backflowing and colliding! Countless intricate structures twisted, fractured, and exploded within the uncontrolled energy flood! Flickering runes extinguished in large patches! The central sphere of dark energy violently expanded and contracted, its surface covered with web-like cracks, as destructive energy leaked uncontrollably from within!

"No——!!! My... my great work!!!" Herman let out a hysterical roar filled with despair and unwillingness. Deeply linked with the Core, he was now the first to suffer, experiencing the most terrifying energy backlash! The serrated patterns on his body shattered inch by inch, his body began to distort and disintegrate as if torn by invisible forces, and dazzling white light erupted from his eyes, ears, mouth and nose!

"This is impossible... I am the creator of light..." His final roar was drowned in the deafening series of explosions.

The vault began to collapse completely, massive stones crashed down like meteorites, and energy storms swept through everything.

Ella was violently thrown by the nearby energy explosion, her consciousness rapidly sinking into darkness amid the intense shock and pain.

In the last moment before completely losing consciousness, she seemed to see beyond the barrier's crack, at the top of the teetering clock tower, that black figure in the final explosive flash of light, facing her direction, appearing to very slightly and resignedly curl the corner of his mouth, and then, his already nearly transparent silhouette, like burnt-out embers, dissolved into countless flickering black particles, scattering with the wind, merging into the distance horizon's first... pale yet real morning light struggling to penetrate the thick fog.

……

After an unknown period of time, Ella regained consciousness in excruciating pain that felt like her entire body had been torn apart.

She found herself lying in a damp alley not far from the ruins of the guild headquarters, on a relatively clean piece of cloth that someone had placed beneath her.

Her wounds had been simply cleaned and bandaged; though still painful, they were no longer bleeding. Her father's worn notebook was intact, placed beside her hand.

She struggled to sit up, leaned against the cold wall, and gazed into the distance.

The once magnificent Hunters Guild Headquarters was now nothing more than a horrifying crater, emitting wisps of black smoke and residual energy arcs. The blood moon had long vanished, and the sky was an oppressive leaden gray, yet a faint ray of genuine sunlight stubbornly attempted to disperse the pervasive mist. The nauseating sweet and rank smell of Blood Plague had largely dissipated from the air, replaced by the scent of gunpowder, scorched earth, and a hint of... cool freshness like after rain.

It was over.

Herman and his mad ambitions, along with the twisted Eternal Night Core, were buried beneath the ruins.

She unconsciously touched her neck, where, at some unknown time, a delicate silver chain had appeared. The pendant was special—a deep red Night Shadow Rose petal perfectly preserved in transparent crystal, beside which was embedded a small piece of smooth-edged black metal fragment, like a raven's feather, emitting an extremely faint, familiar cold aura.

She gripped the pendant tightly, its cold touch gradually clearing her chaotic thoughts.

The flames of hatred had already extinguished, leaving behind not emptiness, but a heavy calmness tinged with compassion and responsibility. She had lost her former "home," lost her guiding mentor, and lost that complicated ally who had stood beside her, both enemy and friend.

The city needed reconstruction, the remnant poison of the Blood Plague needed to be cleared, the torn trust between surviving humans and supernatural beings needed to be mended, and a new order needed to be painfully rebuilt upon the ruins...

She took a deep breath of the air filled with burnt smell, struggling to stand up. Sunlight penetrated through the thin fog, casting dappled light and shadows on her body, half falling on her determined profile, half still hidden beneath her dark Hunter attire.

She carefully put away her notes, gripping tightly the Silver Dagger that had accompanied her through everything.

Without looking back, she walked step by step, resolutely toward the dawn that was arduously breaking over ruins and despair.

She was no longer Hunter Ella, nor was she Lady Ella.

She was Ella Vein. One who walks the boundary between light and darkness, an oath-taker guarding the fragile balance.

The legend of Fog City had turned to a new page.