Dorana and the king had begun a new, fierce battle—and she had ordered her followers not to interfere.
As for Driko, he had reached Mihon and attacked him with a thin yellow sword—this was a different sword, for no one knew what had happened to the one he had carried before.
From beneath Mihon's sleeves, a black-and-red slime surged out, streaked with violet eyes, transforming once again into a blood-red chain that blocked Driko's sword.
The chain coiled around Mihon's hand, and he lunged with his fist toward Driko's face—but the latter blocked it with his hand. Mihon followed with another punch… then another… and another… and another—until Driko's hand turned red from the relentless blows. He staggered back, panting rapidly.
Mihon said in a deadly tone:
—"If you stand in my way again… I'll kill you."
Then he turned toward Felix, who was sneaking up behind him:
—"You too."
When Felix looked into Mihon's face, he no longer saw a human before him… but a dark void inhabited by a pair of black eyes staring into him with lethal depth.
He felt a deadly threat—as if one more step would mean his end. He froze in place, trembling:
"What are those eyes? Is this truly a human?"
No one in the battle had disturbed Mihon as much as Felix did—
And so, his anger rose from the depths
In the meantime, one of the men in black clothing snuck in, attempting to seize the skull. He was the same one who had carried the box earlier in the stands. But just as he lifted it, a fist slammed into his face, hurling him against the wall — it was Amis's fist.
The black-clad men cursed their mission. One of them said:
—"This mission is a pain… Why aren't we allowed to kill anyone? They just keep coming!"
Another replied:
—"Not killing is the only order we've been given… We're just here to stall them."
Meanwhile, the skull rolled through the chaos. Everyone who tried to grab it was struck down and dropped it — until it came to a stop before someone who bent down and picked it up: Amis, holding his scythe, from which a dense cold radiated.
The moment Amis lifted the skull, Dorana and the king's battle came to an abrupt halt. The king looked disheveled, his hair a mess, rage burning in his features.
The king said:
—"Amis, bring that skull here. Don't forget you're part of this kingdom."
The fighting froze, and all eyes turned to Amis.
Loren spoke up in warning:
—"Amis, you are no longer of this kingdom. You belong to me now — don't act recklessly."
Though Amis held the skull, no one dared approach him — except for the men in black, all of whom were held back by the knights. Raiven himself was blocked by Blouran, and his followers were kept from advancing toward Amis by Reno and the other knights.
Suddenly, Lebran moved toward Amis — but with a single look from Durana, one of her followers lunged forward and stopped him instantly.
At that moment, Mihon and Youray were left completely alone, unobstructed. Even Driko was restrained by one of the knights' commanders.
The king raised his voice, addressing Amis:
—"The island we previously agreed upon… we'll nullify its conditions and return the land to its rightful owner. Therefore, I promise you this — if you bring me the skull, you may ask for anything you desire."
But Loren didn't remain silent. He stepped in, trying to tempt him:
—"Don't listen to him, Amis! I promise you — once we reach the Empire, you'll be granted a position that will satisfy you for the rest of your life."
Lilar laughed from the stands, a wicked smile on his face:
—"Let's see… which path will this little stray choose?"
Suddenly, Amis began to walk. The king and Loren thought he was heading toward them—but he abruptly turned and walked in the opposite direction, until he stopped in front of Mihon and Youray. Then he smiled… and tossed the skull toward Mihon.
Mihon caught it, and Amis added:
—"With this… I've completed my mission, after years away from you."
Silence fell over the arena. Even Lilar and Dorana hadn't anticipated this.
The king exploded in fury:
—"Amis! You bastard… what nonsense are you spouting?!"
Amis turned to him and said:
—"Thank you… for the years I spent in your kingdom. As for my compensation—it's already been paid. In gold, by that man"—he pointed at Lorin—
—"the one who gave you the island without a fight."
Then, calmly, he added:
—"I hope you can forgive me… and if you can't, I truly don't care."
Then he turned to Loren:
—"Do you think you have the authority to command me?"
Signs of anger flashed across Lorin's face, and he was about to respond when the king interrupted him, shouting:
—"Amis! You ungrateful bastard! We sheltered you and opened our doors to you!"
Amis replied sharply:
—"I will ask you a question, King—answer me honestly: if I were weak, would you have cared for me?"
The king fell silent.
Amis continued in a more bitter tone:
—"When I came to this land, I was very young. I had one mission… to seek evidence about the 'History Paintings in Colors,' or as it's known—the Mirror of Time. But sadly… I found nothing but concrete and the skull. Later, I learned it was the heritage of this kingdom… and that's why I pursued it."
The king shouted passionately:
—"You have betrayed us, you scoundrel!"
Amis's face darkened:
—"I was never on your side… to betray you. And if you want to blame someone… blame those who command you like slaves."