As the dawn sky began to turn crimson, colossal shadows emerged from beyond the horizon. The grand army of the 'Seven Lords of Malice' was advancing towards the 'Tower of Radiance.' At the forefront, the massive steel-clad silhouette of 'Iron Lord' Baldur exuded an ominous aura amidst the morning mist. Behind him, the auras of other lords, each wielding a different form of chaos, distorted the very space around them.
The ground vibrated. Thousands of mutated creatures roared, stomping the earth as they charged. Dark winged beasts blotted out the sky, and the armor of chaos-infused warriors gleamed with an ominous light. All of them surged towards a single objective: the 'Tower of Radiance.'
A colossal spire of pure white marble soared, piercing the sky. From its entirety, a divine light ether continuously flowed, transforming the surrounding area into a sanctuary. This was the last bastion of the 'Land of Light' and a symbolic entity that maintained the world's balance.
"Large chaos army unit confirmed ahead! Prepare all defensive lines!"
The shout of the 'Light Knights' Captain echoed. Knights in golden armor ascended the ramparts, their shields stacked in layers. Mages from the 'Watchers' unit began deploying powerful defensive barriers. However, against the overwhelming chaos army, their efforts seemed like a candle in a typhoon.
The first clash occurred.
CRASH!
A gigantic mutated creature hurled itself against the outer wall, exploding on impact. The sacred barrier momentarily wavered. Immediately after, hundreds of chaos fliers unleashed black flames from the sky.
"Barrier 30% lost! Deploy second defensive line!"
"Chaos ether concentration skyrocketing! Maximize purification stone output!"
A hellish scene unfolded, a cacophony of screams, shouts, and explosions. The 'Light Knights' and 'Watchers' resisted desperately, but their defensive lines slowly crumbled under the overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
In this extreme chaos, an unnoticed shadow slipped into the tower's depths. Leon, in perfect 'Shadow Transformation' state, was hidden at the base of the 'Tower of Radiance.' His form, like living darkness, had become one with the tower's shadows.
The memories of the Watcher Captain, absorbed in Chapter 6, vividly resurfaced in his mind. The tower's internal structure, secret passages, blind spots of surveillance magic, the placement of purification stones... everything was as clear as if it were in his grasp.
"Eastern staircase... surveillance magic is weak up to the third floor."
A sinister smile twisted Leon's lips. The chaos of the battlefield was the optimal cover for him. All of the tower's defenses were concentrated on the external attack.
He climbed the tower's wall, riding the shadows. A sizzling sound occurred each time the divine light ether met his chaos energy, but the results of him corrupting the purification stones in Chapter 6 were already apparent. The entire tower's purification capabilities had subtly deteriorated.
"Good... just as planned."
Leon fumbled through the Watcher Captain's memories and found a hidden ventilation shaft. Transformed into a shadow, he ascended the narrow passage like smoke. He passed the first floor, then the second, reaching the third. He knew that from this point on, the surveillance magic would become much denser. But he had another method.
In the Watcher Captain's memories, the locations of 'magic blind spots' that appeared when the purification stones malfunctioned came to mind. Leon cautiously moved along that path.
Fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor...
With each ascent, the concentration of sacred ether within the tower intensified. His chaos energy reacted with repulsion, causing a stinging sensation on his skin, but this only excited him further.
"This disgusting smell of light... soon, I'll dye everything with chaos."
In the command center on the top floor of the 'Tower of Radiance,' Light von Einhart watched the battle outside through the window. His platinum blonde hair reflected the sacred light in the room, appearing like a halo.
"Western defense line 40% lost! Reinforcements needed!"
"Three large mutated creatures charging from the east!"
Urgent reports from his staff poured in, but Light's expression remained calm. As the 'Heir of Light,' he had experience commanding countless battles.
But now, a nameless unease stirred deep within his heart.
"Strange..."
Light murmured. His special senses told him something was wrong. It was as if some ominous presence was stirring somewhere within the tower.
'A chaotic wave... and a very powerful one.'
The chilling aura he had felt at the Ether Academy in Chapter 3 once again stimulated his intuition. But for now, the battle outside took precedence. Thousands of his subordinates were fighting for their lives.
"Reactivate the third-floor defense magic circle! Raise purification stone output to 120%!"
Light's orders rang out, and his staff moved swiftly. However, a warning bell continued to clang in his mind.
'Elena... if you were here, you would understand this unease.'
A fleeting hint of longing crossed Light's eyes, but cold reason quickly suppressed it. This was no time for sentimentality.
"The enemy's main force is moving south!"
"Dispatch four companies to the southern defensive line. And..."
As Light was giving his orders, a shiver ran down his spine. The chaotic wave somewhere in the tower was growing stronger. It wasn't just an attack; it was an infiltration.
'Someone... is inside the tower.'
Leon had already reached the seventh floor of the tower. From this point onward, the closer he got to the 'Altar of Convergence,' the higher the concentration of sacred ether became. His skin felt like it was scorching, yet he found pleasure in it. The greater the pain, the greater the pleasure that would soon follow.
"Eighth floor... ninth floor..."
Through the Watcher Captain's memories, he knew that the 'Altar of Convergence' was on the tenth floor. It was the core, where all the light ether of the 'Tower of Radiance' converged. If he were to corrupt that place with chaos...
"All the light in this world will be extinguished."
Black flames ignited in Leon's eyes. He ascended the last floor, riding the shadows.
Passing the ninth floor, powerful surveillance magic suddenly tried to detect him. But Leon was already prepared. He had found the weaknesses of the magic circles in the memories of the Watchers he had absorbed.
"If I touch here..."
As Leon injected chaos ether into a specific point, the surveillance magic circle temporarily malfunctioned. Seizing the opportunity, he stepped onto the stairs leading to the final floor.
Tenth floor.
This was where the 'Altar of Convergence' was located. A colossal door blocked his path. Dazzling light poured from the entire door. But for Leon, this, too, was no barrier.
In the Watcher Captain's memories, the location of an emergency bypass passage came to mind. Leon, still in his shadow form, slipped through a crack in the wall.
And finally...
The enormous circular hall of the 'Altar of Convergence' entered Leon's sight. In the center of the hall floated a massive crystal. It was the 'Core of Radiance,' composed of pure light ether. Around it, dozens of smaller purification stones orbited.
This was the heart of the 'Tower of Radiance,' and the driving force that protected the entire 'Land of Light.'
Leon emerged from the shadows. His face was distorted with a maniacal satisfaction.
"Finally... I've finally reached it."
Black flames began to blaze in his hand. As the chaos ether met the sacred light, space itself distorted. Outside, the fierce battle between the 'Seven Lords of Malice' and the 'Light Knights' still raged. But soon, all of it would be meaningless.
"If I corrupt this heart of light with chaos... everything ends."
Leon extended his hand towards the 'Core of Radiance.' His eyes were a chaotic mix of madness, vengeance, and an absolute desire for destruction.
The moment the world's balance would shatter was now upon them.