Lindon held nothing back.
Launcher constructs fired from his void space, and they landed on a Forged silver shield that materialized in front of the Monarch. A cannon drifted into Lindon’s hands, and he fired.
With his Blackflame madra and his will joining it, the shot cracked the silver shield in two.
Through that crack, a line of dense white-gold madra shot out and speared through Lindon’s arm.
He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming and tried to move his arm, but not only was the arm burned clean through, but even his madra channels were sealed shut.
Reigan Shen wasn’t even watching the battle. “I, on the other hand, I want it all. I want the Dreadgods, and I want the Monarchs. I want their people, and I want their Remnants. I want this world.
“And I want you, Lindon.”
More portals appeared around Lindon, but Reigan Shen stood up again. He walked up to examine Lindon. “You could consider all this a test, if you like. I’m impressed. You almost fight like a real Sage.”
“Gratitude,” Lindon said through teeth clenched tight against the pain. He was reaching out to the aura around him, following them back to the natural treasures. He wanted more soulfire.
“Swear to serve and follow me in all things, and I will take you out of here.” His lips quirked up in a smile. “I will begin the oath this time, if you like. I, Reigan Shen, sole Monarch of the Rosegold continent, swear on my soul and my power to take Wei Shi Lindon safely away from this place in my service and protect him as long as he remains loyal, in exchange for his promise of fealty.”
Lindon felt the promise settle on the Monarch, and it trembled in the air between them unfulfilled.
Time seemed to slow, and not because of Dross. Lindon’s mind was working overtime. He had played every one of his pieces against Reigan Shen, and they had all been dealt with. The Monarch had clearly never seen him as a real opponent. He hadn’t used a single Monarch-level weapon, nor most of his Path’s techniques. He had to have more than just portals into his void spaces.
Lindon suspected Reigan Shen could defeat him physically, even without using his Path. Therefore, there was only one option.
He had to swear.
Lindon had gotten this far by doing whatever he had to in order to accomplish his goals. What was one oath? It would naturally end when Lindon ascended, and it still didn’t bind Dross. That was an oversight that would one day stab Reigan Shen in the back.
Then again, Reigan Shen had his own way out. He could break the oath whenever he wanted, as far as Lindon knew. It was all about who would betray who first.
But as long as Lindon could make it out of the labyrinth, he’d have a chance.
So, for lack of a better option, Lindon was prepared to make the promise. He didn’t really have a choice.
The hunger all around him seethed. His arm twitched.
It was the same reason why he had been forced to leave Orthos behind. The same reason why Ziel and Mercy had escaped: they had no choice. Reality didn’t change just because you wanted it to.
Unless you were a Sage.
Lindon felt the hunger all around him, and it resonated with the Void Icon. It shook his spirit. And it awakened something in him.
“I don’t think I agree with you,” Lindon said politely.
“Oh?” Reigan Shen didn’t seem upset. He swirled his goblet. “How so?”
“You’re not hungry enough.” Lindon forced his way to his feet, and though both of his arms were now crippled, he stared into the Monarch’s eyes. “You want the Dreadgods? You want to be the only Monarch? You’re satisfied with ruling this world?
“Well, I’m not.”
Reigan Shen took another sip and then backhanded Lindon’s jaw.
His hand stopped an inch from Lindon’s skin. Locked by pure will. Lindon trembled to maintain it, but it had worked.
The Void Icon was close, and Lindon could feel its yawning hunger. “This world doesn’t have enough for me. I’m going beyond it.” He reached through the aura, for the natural treasures that the Monarch had so generously scattered all over the room.
Reigan Shen’s will clashed against his. “These are mine,” Shen said.
“No.”
Lindon reached out, and all over the room, natural treasures burned for soulfire that rushed into his spirit. He could feel the aura trembling, especially the hunger aura. He could see his entire journey like a line that pushed forward in the future.
I practice the sacred arts so that I won’t be worthless anymore.
“I am not content with this world,” Lindon said.
I advance.
“I want more. I want…everything.”
And now he felt the third advancement in him. He almost said the words: I will never stop.
But the Archlord revelation was all about his future, and this one wasn’t to his liking. So he changed it.
“We,” Lindon said, “will never stop.”
Soulfire passed through him like a warm breeze.
His fading lifeline was restored to a roaring river, and his Bloodforged Iron body reached another level. His flesh knitted together…though his hunger arm crumbled completely, unable to handle the new level of energy.
That was all right. He intended to replace it anyway.
His mind was clearer, his body stronger. Even the Void Icon felt closer than ever, and he stared down the Monarch from inches away.
“Adorable,” Reigan Shen said.
His hand flashed out again, and Lindon pitted his will against it. Lindon’s willpower was much stronger now, and the world warped all around them as they struggled against one another.
But this time, Shen broke through and his attack landed. His knuckles cracked against Lindon’s jaw, sending him flying.
Lindon called the Soul Cloak as he flew, twisting to land on his feet. He passed Archlord soulfire through the Hollow Domain, which spread out denser than ever.
“Then I’ll just kill you,” Reigan Shen said.
A Monarch technique thundered through a portal: the water madra filled with shining malicious spirits. It was weakened by the Hollow Domain, but its tide still smashed into Lindon and carried him away.
But Reigan Shen had finished holding back.
Striker techniques flew out like a volley of arrows from every direction except one. Reigan Shen ran up behind Lindon, the water splitting willingly around him, and he held his axe in both hands.
This time, the axe shone with an Enforcer technique.
Lindon struck against it with an Empty Palm, dispersing the madra and borrowing the force from the attack to fly away, but his hand was almost split in half. Even supported by Archlord soulfire, he couldn’t face a Monarch’s attack.
Dross, I hope you’re ready, Lindon thought.
A head-sized ball of purple madra manifested behind Reigan Shen. He was darker than usual this time, almost black, and his crescent grin reminded Lindon of Eithan.
[Information requested,] Dross whispered into Lindon’s mind. [Combat solution against Reigan Shen. Beginning report…]
Information flooded Lindon’s brain, and time froze.
This time, Dross’ voice was soft and papery, almost frightening. [We cannot defeat him, so we fight to flee. Mice before the cat.]
Lindon saw the Burning Cloak spring up around himself. He dashed into the axe, narrowly avoiding the Monarch’s blow.
Some Striker techniques hunted him, like sharks in the water, but he could see their trajectory. He had to strike some down with pure madra and dodge others, but he made it over to the wall.