Chapter 359: Darkness Falls (Part 1)

“I have to believe me. I absolutely did not do anything so heinous,” Fabiana pleaded urgently.

“I believe you. Put your abilities away, and let’s go inside to talk in detail.”

Samimi patted her shoulder, her tone gentle.

Fabiana nodded and waved her hand. The surrounding Death Frost Skeletons instantly disintegrated into piles of sand.

“So the real witch was here all along…”

Samimi couldn’t help but remark.

They had always called Bemore a witch, but now it seemed Fabiana fit the role better.

However, Bemore had already become an orthodox Fire Mage, having never strayed down a wrong path.

Every member of the former Hero Party, due to the “Butterfly Effect” of the Transmigrator, had gained new abilities to varying degrees.

Now it appeared that after Samimi had “stepped on her head,” Fabiana had awakened her own power.

Only her path was completely different from Bemore’s.

Logically, she should have viewed Samimi as a mortal enemy, just like Bemore did, and fought with all her might to defeat her.

She had even once said she’d throw the Giant Whale Knight medal back in Samimi’s face.

After all, Samimi had used that medal to humiliate her back then.

That medal was originally meant for Niubao, but Samimi used it for her own display.

Otherwise, Niubao might have already been a Giant Whale Knight instead of a Holy Knight.

But looking at it now—

Taking the Holy Knight path turned out to be stronger.

Fabiana had originally believed her life would be about constant training and constant growth.

But after truly stepping into society, she realized nothing was as beautiful as she had imagined.

The Royal City was already complicated, but the West Sea—was even deeper.

With fewer external enemies to fight, internal strife among the nobility became the main theme.

“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”

The Dilmurt Family was that “sticking out nail.”

A baronial family close to the Royal Family was naturally targeted.

Even with the Royal Family’s support, various methods could be used to keep them from interfering.

Just like the current situation.

“This isn’t magic, nor battle aura… What kind of power is it, then?” Samimi asked seriously.

“I don’t know either…” Fabiana shook her head.

Samimi pondered for a long time.

This power didn’t belong to any system she recognized.

In this world, there were usually only two types of power—magic and battle aura.

But Fabiana’s ability just now was both like magic and unlike it.

She herself had no magic power, yet she could drive the “power of the dead.”

If she had to explain it—

It was magic with an “external power source.”

She wasn’t the source of the power, but its guide.

In other words—

She was like a “sentient magic staff.”

The true source of the power lay elsewhere.

“How did you get this ability?”

“At the Knight Banquet…”

“That day, I suddenly saw ghosts, and they even helped me win the match.”

“From then on, I could control them.”

“But because of that, people suspected me of studying forbidden arts.”

Samimi frowned.

“Knight Banquet… What exactly is that place?”

“An ancient city on the West Coast, the birthplace of knights.”

“Legend has it that the Human Emperor grew up there, then led the Human Race in conquest and established the Royal City.”

Hearing this—

Samimi sat up straight.

She understood.

This was no evil power.

This was—

The Human Emperor’s blessing.

“You awakened your ability at the ‘Human Emperor’s Ancient Ground.'”

“That means you were chosen by an existence of that level.”

“You’re not a Death Knight—”

“You are the Human Emperor’s proxy.”

Fabiana was stunned.

“But this power… it looks so dark…”

“Dark?” Samimi scoffed.

“That’s because your vision is too narrow.”

“What you summon are the spirits of ancient knights.”

“Did you expect them to show up in formal wear to fight alongside you after hundreds of years?”

Niubao whispered, “What’s formal wear?”

“…Never mind.”

Fabiana was completely shaken.

She had always thought she was cursed.

But now—

What she had received was a blessing.

Samimi raised her hand.

Niubao immediately summoned the “Sun Gold Sutra.”

A golden light slowly lit up.

“It’s actually reacting…”

Even Samimi was taken aback.

“What do you mean?” Fabiana asked nervously.

“I was actually guessing just now.”

“But now I can confirm—”

“The power on you is the Human Emperor’s blessing.”

At this moment, Fabiana’s aura completely changed.

Her once lifeless eyes reignited with light.

She no longer saw herself as “a polluted person.”

“Then… what should we do next?”

She took a deep breath, her fighting spirit reignited.

The Pure White Knight was back.

“First, return to your family and explain everything to the Knight King.”

“You’re a noble, so you should solve problems in a noble’s way.”

“No.”

Fabiana shook her head.

“We are knights first, then nobles.”

“I won’t go back until my name is cleared.”

Samimi smiled.

“Knightly Spirit again.”

But she didn’t dislike it.

At least this was the Fabiana she knew.

“Samimi, Niubao—please help me.”

“The rebel army on the mountain is committing evil deeds in my name.”

“I want to destroy them with my own hands and clear my crimes.”

“I feel like you’ve finally returned.”

Samimi nodded.

“What was I like before?” Fabiana asked.

“Stubborn even when I had you pinned to the ground, thicker-skinned than a city wall.”

“…I’ve been through too much.”

Fabiana gave a bitter smile.

But wasn’t this another form of “stubbornness”?

A more mature stubbornness.

She took a badge from her bosom.

“Please take this.”

It was—

The Giant Whale Knight Order badge.

Samimi was taken aback as she accepted it.

She had originally thought this badge would become a symbol of their final duel.

Unexpectedly—

It became a token of cooperation.

“Truly… unexpected.”

She let out a soft sigh.

Too many sworn enemies.

So many, they had lost their value.