Several days prior, at the foot of Ultime-Volcano Mountain Trail, in a subterranean cave, Drake confronted the suddenly appearing Rhya.
Rhya pointed at the necklace around Drake's neck. "So, that's the bait? It's not a fake, is it?"
Drake ripped off the necklace. "It's a genuine magic stone. After we reach an agreement, I'll give it to you as a souvenir."
The necklace held the magic stone the Eye of the Midnight Sun had missed in Sosshi Village. Drake had shown it to Vangeance.
Perhaps due to his constant lying, the false Rhya could sense deception. He realized Drake wasn't lying or being evasive. This only increased his suspicion. "So, you agree with the Eye of the Midnight Sun's ideals and want to join us?"
Rhya's tone lacked joy, instead sounding cold.
'Dirty humans. So many agree with the idea of oppression to satisfy their desires! They are a vile, evil race!' Rhya thought.
Even as an executive of the Eye of the Midnight Sun, Rhya despised their ideals; they were a manifestation of humanity's flaws, which had destroyed everything for him.
If Drake admitted it, Rhya could easily retrieve the magic stone and use Drake as a sacrifice for the reincarnation magic.
Rhya said, "If so, give me the stone! I don't mind recommending you as an executive!"
Drake held the stone, showing no intention of handing it over. "Don't be impatient! I'm not interested in the Eye of the Midnight Sun's ideals. I didn't lure you here to surrender!"
Rhya looked troubled. "Retrieving the stone won't be easy. This is troublesome! And I'm the target? I don't remember doing anything noteworthy."
Drake said, with a strange expression, "Fake is fake; you're still pretending. You came alone; you've noticed something, haven't you?"
Drake had been training but also waiting for Rhya. Showing the magic stone to Patri and not concealing his movements were all for this meeting.
The magic stone was the Eye of the Midnight Sun's primary target; Patri wouldn't want it in Drake's hands. Taking it from Drake was as difficult as taking it from a Magic Knight Captain.
Patri, having fought Drake, knew this. Even if he could defeat Drake, Drake could easily escape. Deep within Ultime-Volcano Mountain Trail, Drake had the home-field advantage; the Eye of the Midnight Sun's lower-ranked members couldn't touch him.
Only Patri or the Dark Triad could retrieve the stone. Patri, as Vangeance, was dealing with the aftermath of the Kiten battle.
Of the Dark Triad, Vetto was defeated; Fana… let's not mention her. Sending Fana, who Drake completely countered, would be disastrous.
Only Rhya had the ability, so Drake was certain it would be Rhya. Rhya, though lazy, was perceptive.
Patri hadn't noticed anything, but Rhya had detected Drake's unusual actions.
Rhya shrugged. "Who knows? Just get to the point; I'm sleepy."
Drake said, "Where to begin? Let's start with your comrade's power!"
A fishbone light sword pierced the ground where Drake had been standing; Rhya's lazy expression turned cold.
"You're reminding me that my most important comrade, Vetto, was killed by you? You've angered me!"
Drake dodged the sword and retreated. "I wouldn't insult a warrior who fought to the end! Haven't you noticed something wrong with your power?"
Rhya, the most perceptive, controlled his emotions.
Drake continued, "Your leader told a story about a race stripped of everything. Coincidentally, I found a different story in the kingdom's fairy tales."
Rhya's expression was beyond ugly; it was ferocious.
Many fairy tales circulated in the Clover Kingdom, but the most famous was the First Wizard King defeating a demon god and saving humanity. Asta and Yuno's dream stemmed from this story.
The villain, the demon god who threatened humanity, was summoned by a race that sought to monopolize all magic. In the story, they were greedy and evil, called the demon race.
Rhya's anger was understandable. The elves, favored by magic and peaceful, had been stripped of everything and cursed as demons for 500 years.
Having experienced that tragedy, Rhya's anger was justified.
Drake continued, "I don't trust history; I trust my eyes. I can sense something special in the royal family's magic; it's clear who's lying. I sensed the same in you three. You're the race stripped of magic 500 years ago!"
Rhya relived that day—the day of blood and fire. The sky was covered by a giant magic circle; the elves' magic and power were sealed. Light swords rained down; he heard screams and saw blood.
Sadness, hatred, anger… tore at his heart; the pain surpassed the pain of being pierced by light swords 500 years ago.
Rhya's third eye opened.
"Thanks to you, I remember! Humans must all be killed."
Drake sighed; a fight was inevitable. Rhya, the clear-headed one, was now controlled by the evil eye. But unlike Vetto, Fana, and Patri, his evil wasn't as strong.
"Let me help you vent your anger! But if you don't stop, I'll eliminate you without hesitation!" Drake said, cracking his knuckles.
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