Ilia, Forbidden Valley, Wesdarath

"Be...Be careful... I was attacked...b-by a wicked demon..."

The injury the Emerald Knight sustained was healed, but now it explains why Tahmul left the valley in such a hurry. Now with Tiese's uncle and the young nobleman out of the way, Renly leads the girls towards a stone shrine builted into the valley's walls. As mesmerized by the ancient structure, Ilia feels a swell of fear creeping up her spine. The Reaper of the Woods was one thing, but the mystery here is another.

Istalk says he was struck twice by a "wicked demon" but only one wound was visible, a oblique abdominal cut. The second wound was found after removing his armor. What irks her is that wound across the knight's upper torso wasn't one you just get from a duel. It wasn't a deep cut, one not intending to kill, but that is not the problem. Istalk wears armor, yet it shows no signs of penetration. No regular sword can do that, but many Divine Objects cut through armor, and a smaller number of them would leave the armor undamaged at all. She only knows one who can do that...and when she identified those three points, she looked at Renly.

If he noticed, he didn't show it.

But there's a chance she's completely wrong. No, there's no chance she's right. Ilia trusts her ability to look at things logically, and while the logic adds up, it does not make sense. Yet with every step she takes, she probes her mind of the Integrity Knight's Divine weapons abilities as a reference. Almost every one of them, including Renly's, could cut through armor with their Divine Object's enhancing and releasing phases, if not one or the other. Kirito and Medina's should work by the same logic; Mia hasn't begun training for hers; Jaymes' Release Recollection may not bypass armor, as far as she has seen, but the enhancing phase still damages metal with flesh. And before she counts the Ancient Apostles as a suspect, the powerful Reaper of the Woods' scythe cut through Jaymes' armor too. Chestplate, tunic, and skin.

Only Lady Eydis' Dark Slash Sword, to her knowledge, is capable of ignoring material but flesh outside of a enhance or releasing phase. The enhancing phase allows it to warp through thicker metals (along with the deadly release of dark elements) and she's only heard rumors of the releasing phase, which her lady or the emperor has never seen.

The "demon" must have a powerful weapon similar to Lady Eydis. That's the only reasonable explanation.

Renly holds his hand up as they scale a long staircase to the shrine's entrance. Turning around, he looks at each of the girl with a serious expression. "I do not know what we're up against, so let's be clear on something: If I say to fall back, you will do so without hesitation. Even I will retreat. No one is to play hero, got it?"

"Yes sir!"

"Okay." Renly continues the procession into the shrine, where the group of five shortly come towards a clearing beyond the entrance with a circular grassy area.

"I smell blood," Ronie says fearfully. "It's coming from this way."

"That's why." Ilia points to the several fallen bodies across the clearing. She doesn't even need to inspect them to know they're all dead.

"Hey, look." Mia runs to one of bodies, kneeling beside it. "I recognize this one as the one who attack Lady Medina on our way here."

Tiese gasps as she runs towards a body. "Hey, wait... That's Lord Zizek!"

Ronie's eyes widen. "Zizek? You mean Humbert's father?" Humbert was one of the nobles that tried forcing Ronie and Tiese to some immoral deeds while utilizing a loophole in the rules of the Taboo Index. While Humbert lived, his cohort Raios died due to the interference of Eugeo and Kirito which lead to their arrest by Alice Synthesis Thirty.

Lord Zizek, in comparison to others, is somehow still alive. Renly approaches him and kneels. "Lord Zizek? What happened here?"

"M-My son... You must... You must stop my son... He wants to kill those he hates... I've made...a mistake..." Zizek breathing ceases as he falls forward, limp in Renly's arms. The young knight places him gently on the ground and looks to the girls, two of them worried.

"His son... Does he mean Humbert's here?" Tiese looks at Ronie, shaking with fright. Her eyes then go to Renly, looking for some comfort, but the knight doesn't get the chance to act.

"Haha... Hahahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!' The Integrity Knight and the trainees face the path leading into the interior of the temple, where a young man with slicked-back hair and a yellow uniform proudly walks from. He eyes Renly first, sneering. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, I almost thought you were Eugeo, not another lookalike. But the air around you...it's the real deal this time! And you brought those bratty pages!"

"So you're Humbert? Did... Did you do this to your own father?"

"That's right. He got what he deserved. He shouldn't have confined me!"

"What do you mean?"

Humbert flexes his left arm. "Look right here, Mr. Fake Eugeo! My left arm! It may have been healed, but whenever I look at it, I'm reminded of the pain I suffered. I couldn't hold in my feelings! My hatred for Eugeo intensified by the day!" Humbert's irises contract with anger. "I hate him! I hate him! I HATE HIM! I wanted to scream until my throat dried! My father thought I'd gone mad, so he locked me away in shame. Can you believe he'd be so cruel? How DARE he treat me like that! I'm his son! I couldn't forgive him... Nor the others in my home. I knew I'd have to kill them all. I thought maybe if I got to kill you, I'd clam down... As I did to my father. When I cut down that imposter, I learned how fun it is to kill... So I killed more!"

Renly frowns. "You... You broke the seal on your eye?"

'Huh? Seal? what does that mean?"

"Sir Renly... His eye is still there, unharmed."

"Impossible... But then how'd you violate the Taboo Index and commit murder?"

Humbert shrugs. "I just know that when I feel hatred, my body moves on its own and starts killing! Hahahaha! I should really thank him. He's granted me freedom! Real purpose! I'll rip him apart slowly as thanks! And then, after having my revenge... I'll save the girls for last!" Humbert licks his lips slowly and suggestively, freaking out the pages he once harrassed. "Heheheh... Looks like the little girls remembers our past quite well, hm? Who do you think you are? A low-rank, utterly useless, careless noble who defied me? Now, Fake Eugeo, where is the real one? I prefer to kill him instead of another imposter. And the disgusting commoner in black?"

"Sir Eugeo's dead," Ilia sternly announces, "and Sir Kirito is not present."

Ilia thought announcing Eugeo's death would either enrage Humbert, but instead, he starts to chuckle. "Is that so? So the rumors ths Pontifex offed him are true? This makes me angry...but I do sense the same air about him in you, Fake Eugeo. That will do, for once I'm done with you, I'll make sure you live long enough to watch me take what I should have taken from that lowly wench of Eugeo's!"

"That's enough, Humbert! Leave Tiese and the girls alone!"

Tiese drops to her knees in shame. "No... He's not wrong... I'm careless...and a useless person."

Renly looks back to Tiese. "That's not true, Tiese."

"No, it is. If It wasn't for me, then..."

"Tiese, look at me." Renly kneels in front of her, lifting her chin up. "I want you to remember, Tiese. Even knowing the risks, you went to face Humbert to help your friend. That's the most noble act I can think of!"

"But...because of it, Eugeo..."

"If what I'm lead to believe that Eugeo and I are quite similar...then he would say the same to you. Don't ever be ashamed of that!"

"Hahaha... Don't be ashamed as he would say? That would be rich coming from the criminal who attacked Raios and I to satisfy himself."

Tiese nods while tears stream down her face. "Ah... I... That's my fault, I just..."

"Tiese, listen. Who do you trust more? Me, or this wretch?"

"Well, I... I trust you, Renly."

"Then listen. You're brave and strong-willed. You're a charming, lovely girl! A girl that...I've never thought I could be happy with, given my life and all."

"Renly."

"Now raise you head...and fight by my side!"

"Of course!" Renly and Tiese stand up, the girl nodding to Ilia, Ronie, and Mia before facing a scoffing Humbert.

"What a revolting display. Are you done with your moving sob story?"

Renly blinks angrily and faces his lover's antagonizer. "Humbert... You must have wanted to become a proud Integrity Knight. I've heard the tale that got Eugeo and Kirito arrested, and what you did to Ronie and Tiese. I thought you were low then, but now look at you... I pity you honestly."

"You? Pity me? How dare you! Don't forget your social station, I am beyond you!"

"I think not!" Renly waves his right hand to the side, and a glowing light surrounds him. The light is replaced by green and grey armor, the makings of those officially within the Order of Integrity Knights. As his cape flutters behind him, Renly scowls as he announces himself. "My name is Renly. Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven."

"And station? Pah!" Mia grins as she steps forward, her bow in her hands. "Do you think we care about social status? We're still much stronger than you, and from where I come from, power is everything! Right, girls?"

Ilia, Ronie, and Tiese form up around Renly, hands on their blades. "Right!"

If the presence of a Integrity Knight did anything, it seem to break Humbert's mind as he frantically glares at his enemies as he heaves the two-handed sword on his back over his shoulder. "SHUT UP! DON'T MOCK ME, PEASANTS!"

Ilia notices that the Seal of the Right Eye, which should have triggered given Humbert verbally spoke against someone of higher station, even daring to draw his blade against Renly, is strangely absent. This is unprecedented...the death of the Pontifex didn't invalidate the Taboo Index or the seal, so how is Humbert fighting against it? What loophole is being exploited? Is there a loophole for murder without the Senate overseeing the realm?

Whatever the case is, the fight is on. Renly flicks out the Twin-Edged Wings, glances at Mia, and throws them at the advancing Humbert. Somehow Humbert manages to deflect them, but then his left shoulder is punctured by an arrow. Given he wears the light armor that is the academy uniform, he should drop down easily. Mia fires another arrow, this time at Humbert's right leg, hoping to disable rather than kill him. Renly officially hasn't commanded anyone to attack Humbert, so Mia somehow understands to not critically hurt him. Then again, both knights have been around Jaymes for extended periods of time, this might be something everyone except her knows.

"How is he shrugging off my arrows?"

"I'm amazed he's still standing..."

But what is not understandable is how Humbert is shrugging off both shots. There's no discernable way he can that damage and still move without struggling. She saw the strongest warrior she know have his chest cut and he fell; Humbert is nowhere near as powerful as Jaymes. And that's when her analytical eyes catch something faint around Humbert's form. The light within the shrine is barely passable, but she sees what looks like dark air around Humbert. "Sir Renly, it might just be me, or is there some kind of dark aura around him?"

"What do you mean 'aura?'"

"Lady Medina said it once, it's that foggy mist swirling around him."

Mia frowns and tilts her bow up. "Now that you mention it... Wonder if it'll protect the space between his eyes..."

Renly halts her there. "No--"

"Ugh... UGGGGGHHHHHHAAAAHHHH... GHAAAAAAH!" Humbert's cries shock Ilia's group as the darkness covers Humbert body.

"What the? Is he in pain?"

"Sir Renly, I should take the shot."

"No."

Humbert begins to grip his head as the darkness overtakes him and his voice becomes higher and coarser. "Why? Why did you bastards enter my life? I was supposed to be a knight, to escape the life of a 4th-ranked noble! I even curried favor with that pathetic Raios, and for what? Why is it wrong to punish those who dare disrespect me? It's my right! All I did was live my life the way I was raised to! Why is that so wrong?"

"Renly, his voice..."

"Yeah. he sounds off... It's like he's possessed..."

"AAARGH! No! Stop! You can't control me! This is...my body! It's mine... Mine!" Humbert shakes on the ground until he suddenly ceases movement. That black mist, however, flies off of him and heads deeper into the shrine.

Renly grits his teeth and sprints. "Come on! Let's follow its trail!"

Ilia and the others follow the mist to the ends of the shrine, coming to a sudden pause when the mist sinks into the ground and lightning flares down from above. What appears from the phenomenon is a giant black horse with flaming blue hooves. On its back is a black rider with a giant one-handed sword, but what freaks the group about the appearance is what it is missing.

"What the? A huge Headless Knight?"

"Wait, this is the Taboo Knight? Was it controlling Humbert with its aura?"

"But for what purpose?"

"Kill...Kill everything... Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill... Must kill..."

Mia scoffs comically. "That answer your question, Tiese? It's completely insane."

Ilia ignores the emperor's apprentice and looks to the senior knight. "Maybe Humbert's lust for revenge resonated with the slumbering knight's insanity?"

"Sir Renly, orders?"

Renly glares at the knight and takes his weapon in hand. "Stay cautious. Attack!"