Chapter 233
Chapter 233 The Fall of the Seven Evils
The Phoenix Vanguard Loyalty Hall was located on Hydra Island in the Yaspian Ocean.
Drogo, the newly appointed Dragon Leader, sat at the center of the hall with a gaze as sharp as a blade.
Gathered around him were key figures from around the world, each representing a branch of the organization.
An intense silence filled the Loyalty Hall as they waited, every eye fixed, expecting news that would change their course.
At precisely 3:40 a.m., Walter sent them a message from Harmonfield in Draconia, bearing grim news. 'The Seven Evils has fallen. In two days, Divine Drakebane will arrive at the Phoenix Vanguard.' Drogo's lips twisted upon reading the words.
For a moment, he sat still, then lifted his head to meet the gaze of the expectant crowd as he relayed the message.
A ripple of shock passed through the room.
"Divine Drakebane hasn't lost his edge! Even after years of seclusion and training, the Seven Evils couldn't defeat him." One of them sighed.
"The Seven Evils was our best, the pride of the Phoenix Vanguard," another added. "Yet even they couldn't bring down Divine Drakebane. I'm afraid Phoenix Vanguard is in danger this time!" "The Seven Evils was personally trained by the Vice Dragon Leader. They have been a secret weapon, a trump card hidden all these years, waiting for the right time to strike back."
"They allied with the Four Heavenly Kings of Brookhaven's Martial Alliance and two generations of Southfist King, yet none of them could touch Divine Drakebane. What's our next move?" "This time, if we want to beg for mercy again, I'm afraid that person won't agree anymore!"
One man whispered with grim resignation, "If we fail to take down Divine Drakebane in these two days, we're staring down another massacre like the one three years ago."
The room buzzed with heated murmurs as everyone weighed their options and calculated their survival.
Memories of that bloodbath flashed in their minds, along with Divine Drakebane's infamous promise: "Those who betray will never be forgiven."
There was no retreat this time. They had followed Drogo in the plot to dethrone Cassian and Mavis, imprisoning their leaders to end Divine Drakebane once and for all.
Now, the Phoenix Vanguard was trapped with him, facing the wrath they had invited.
The Phoenix Vanguard's headquarters were located on a magnificent little island, which boasted the world's most formidable defense system and the most powerful top-tier guards. The defenses seemed as fragile as paper shields. However, against the sheer terror of Divine Drakebane, Phoenix Vanguard's defenses are simply insufficient to stop him.
Drogo watched the unease building in the room. His face turned stern. "So, have you already been scared after the Seven Evils' were killed? What future does Phoenix Vanguard have with this kind of weakness?" A heavy silence followed.
Then, a short, dark-faced man with an odd, scowling expression finally exploded, "Drogo, I told you before, Divine Drakebane isn't someone we can take down!"
"You have provoked him at the instigation of the Dark Night Alliance, and now you've brought disaster down on the entire Phoenix Vanguard!"
"Huh, Austin is right, Drogo! You're playing games with the future of the Phoenix Vanguard!" rumbled a towering man over two meters tall, his muscles taut as if they could burst with the smallest flex. Drogo let out a low mocking laugh. "Cowards!"
After the word left his lips, a shadow flickered past, and in the next instant, the short man and the giant man dissolved into a mist of blood.
The heavy air of the Loyalty Hall grew thick with the scent of blood.
There was only a dark red haze lingering where the men once stood.
Standing in the hall's center was a masked figure cloaked in black. He sneered, his voice icy. "The Dark Lord is the Supreme sent by God to save this world. This is the fate for anyone who dares defy him!"
The Dark Messenger vanished with a wisp of black smoke, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Drogo let out a cold laugh. "Ladies and gentlemen, Divine Drakebane's killing of the Seven Evils was... unfortunate, but nothing we didn't anticipate. Since the Dark Night Alliance and I have agreed to take revenge, we've already had the perfect plan." A sultry woman cast Drogo a wary glance. "Lord Dragon, Divine Drakebane is a demon. We've already provoked him. What's our next move?"
Everyone in the Phoenix Vanguard Loyalty Hall turned their gaze to Drogo.
When Divine Drakebane slaughtered his way through the Phoenix Vanguard three years ago, Drogo had been secluded with the Seven Evils on a remote island in the South Panacea Ocean, training in isolation.
He hadn't witnessed the horror firsthand.
The so-called "Divine Drakebane" was a legend but not an unstoppable one in his eyes; with the full force of the Phoenix Vanguard, they undoubtedly could surround and kill him.
Each of the Phoenix Vanguard Leaders was a formidable force in their region, capable of matching any major dark organization in strength.
Combined, they could rival the military might of a small nation. And with Drogo, the Clan's fiercest warrior, standing guard, surely they stood a fighting chance.Copyright by Nôv/elDrama.Org.
Before Drogo could respond, a lean, elderly man with a hawk-like gaze spoke up. "If we're going to take down Divine Drakebane, it would be wiser to focus on defense."
"Last time, none of our most powerful forces were at the headquarters, and Divine Drakebane took us by surprise.
"But now that Seven Evils has enraged this demon, he'll come to attack our headquarters, accusing Phoenix Vanguard of betrayal.
"It's better to wait here on Hydra Island and focus all our strength on him. We'd have at least a fifty-fifty chance."
The sultry woman scoffed, casting a smirk at the elder. "Lord Chronos, let's not forget: Divine Drakebane has the powerful dark web's killers backing him. This time isn't like before. I'm afraid that Divine Drakebane will give us an even more terrifying blow." Drogo gave a sharp, disdainful snort. "No. We strike first! We'll catch him off guard!"
The others watched his rigid form with growing dread. This man has lost his mind!
They might at least stand a chance of holding off Divine Drakebane with Hydra Island's defense system.
But taking the offensive? That was a suicide mission.
Still, no one dared to say another word.
Drogo slowly turned to face the group. His gaze was as hard as steel. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Dark Night Alliance has already been in secret contact with the world's major dark organizations. Starting tomorrow, warriors of the Dark Night Alliance, silent for decades, will receive the Dark Night Curse. They will hunt down Divine Drakebane and will not rest until he's dead."
...
The next day, at 7 AM, a flurry of troubling news reached Security Bureau Seven's Investigation Division. The Brookhaven Martial Alliance's headquarters, along with six of its regional branches, had vanished overnight without a trace.
The Phoenix Vanguard's Seven Evils, who had sneaked into Draconia, also had mysteriously disappeared in the Dawnspire Mountain Dragon Ridge Valley. There was no sign of life and not a single clue left behind.
At the same time, 13 top martial arts experts from the World of Darkness slipped into Draconia with evil intentions.
This news reached Security Bureau Seven's Investigation Division, and Talia as a division head was immediately assigned.
She was going to Harmonfield to
uncover the truth behind the
Brookhaven. Martial Alliance's sudden disappearance and the mystery of the Phoenix Vanguard's Seven Evils. Her orders were also to
monitor 13 martial arts experts from the World of Darkness.
Talia was just twenty years old and already a colonel.
She had joined the elite training center of Draconia's Special Forces at 18. Graduating at the top of her class, she went straight into the Security Bureau Seven's Investigation Division.
In just two years, her exceptional field record made her rise from a trainee investigator to the position of division head.
She was the youngest person to hold the division head position in the Bureau's history. Her skills had earned her respect from the highest ranks of the Bureau.
However, Talia's ambitions extended beyond her current role.
Her ultimate goal was to join Draconia's military elite, the legendary War Wolf Special Forces unit.
Gaining entry into the War Wolf Special Forces required a rigorous selection process.
The assessments weren't only from a candidate's previous achievements but also their performance in a final round of hands-on trials.
In these trials, only the best would survive to earn their place.
So, when this new assignment came from her superiors, Talia's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
This mission was a rare chance, her most challenging in the past two years.
Apart from the incidents involving the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and the Phoenix Vanguard Seven Killers, the one that excited her most was the order to track the 13 top martial arts experts who had infiltrated Draconia.
If she could engage and capture some of the World of Darkness's most formidable martial arts experts, she'd have a fighting chance to pass the War Wolf Special Forces's first-round qualification.
After accepting her orders, Talia's sharp investigative skills quickly came into play. She had pieced together events leading up to the Brookhaven Martial Alliance's disappearance within an hour.
The day before the incident, during
the Brookhaven Martial Alliance
branch celebration, an unusual event had taken place at the Harmonfield Hotel involving a man named Robin Ramsey, who had a dispute with the Quinns, the Brookhaven Martial Alliance.
Talia swiftly compiled a profile on Robin Ramsey with this lead.
By 7:30 AM, she was en route to Harmonfield, flying on a military helicopter from the capital and landing by nine. She quickly pinpointed Robin's location.
In civilian clothes, Talia and two colleagues from the Investigation Division discreetly drove to Robin's workplace at the Eastvale Development Group.
At precisely ten o'clock, they arrived in the company's parking lot, ready to make their move.
From their car, Talia watched the steady stream of people entering and leaving the front doors of the Eastvale Development Group.
She turned to the young man beside her. "Tobias, is the intel accurate?"
Tobias is an intelligence officer at Security Bureau Seven's Investigation Division.
He nodded confidently. "Yes, Ma'am. Our informants confirmed it. Robin, our target, left the Dawnspire Heights Estates at 9:10 and is en route here. If the timing's right, he should arrive... in about two minutes." "There! That Hummer," Tobias pointed out just as a Hummer rolled into the parking lot. He pushed open his door, ready to charge.
Talia's eyes sharpened. "Hold on! We need to confirm before we move in. If Robin Ramsey could openly clash with the Brookhaven Martial Alliance and gain the upper hand, he's no ordinary opponent."
After relaying further instructions for a careful approach, the three officers headed towards the lobby of the East City Development Group.
Meanwhile, Robin was just stepping out of the parking lot when a lively figure bound toward him-Vera.
"Robin! I tried calling you last night, but your line was dead! What happened?"
Robin raised an eyebrow at her breezy, cheerful expression. Last night's ruckus at the Harmonfield Hotel hadn't unsettled her one bit.
This woman just has a good spirit and always looks happy.
He glanced at the pale, almost invisible scratch on her neck. The wound scratched by the necklace had been treated. "Looks like you're in a great mood today."
Vera, catching his gaze, tilted her head playfully and laughed. "As long as I get to see you, I'll be in a good mood anytime. Hahaha..."
Then, as if to tease him, she stretched her neck toward him. "Does my neck look good? Do you want to see more? Hahaha..."
Laughing, she hooked her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder as she sighed contentedly. "I rushed over right after my morning meeting. I wanted to ask you to lunch."
Robin glanced at his watch. "It's only ten, and it's too early for lunch."
Vera still spoke with a smile, "I know, but I didn't want to risk coming later and finding you already lunching with some other woman. Now I'm here to stand guard. If any girls try to ask you out, I'll shoo them away until you're off work!" "Vera, what are you doing here?" Their conversation was being cut in as Alice and Zachary approached them.
Alice gave Robin a disdainful look. "Vera, didn't I warn you to stay away from people like him? Be careful—"
Vera's face immediately darkened, remembering the lecture she'd endured the previous day.
"Alice, say one more word, and we're not friends anymore!" She set her jaw. "I'm only going to get closer to Robin, and if he's willing, maybe one day I'll walk down the aisle with him."
She gave Robin a playful grin. "So, what do you say? Ready to make an honest woman out of me?"
Alice and Zachary exchanged glances, shaking their heads in exasperation.
She checked her watch. "Alright, alright, I'll drop it. I'm actually here to deliver an invitation from Ms. Shirley Dunn. In a few days, Zachary and are holding our engagement celebration. Currently, we've been busy with all the preparations...
"Are you Robin Ramsey?" Talia cut in sharply as she strode up with her two colleagues, instantly seizing everyone's attention.
Robin didn't seem surprised. He'd already received intel that Security Bureau Seven's Investigation Division had been investigating him since early morning.
He gave Talia a once-over, then smirked. "Sorry, I don't take kindly to random introductions."
Vera burst into laughter at Talia's stunned slightly offended expression. "Hahaha... "