Eternal Thief

In the canopy of darkness, Mirage Shadow was patiently waiting for ’Nomad’, who went inside the Black Hermit Mines over fifty hours ago, when suddenly…

“ROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!”

A ghastly roar shattered the silence, echoing like thunder through the mines, and Mirage Shadow’s expression instantly changed, for she could feel the faint traces of the Abyssal Grand Lord realm’s spiritual pressure!

’What happened?!’ Mirage Shadow became slightly anxious because, according to records provided by the Black Hermit City, there shouldn’t be any Abyssal Grand Lord present in the Black Hermit Mines!

But before she could wrap her mind around this new development, more beastly roars filled with madness reverberated throughout the mines before the ground started to shake as terrifying spiritual momentum gushed out!

Mirage Shadow was finally shocked as her heart palpitated, for she felt the Abyssal Grand Lord’s spiritual pressures were far more prominent than the previous vague ones, and they seemed to have gone mad, as if something had provoked them.

If it were any other time, she would’ve reacted calmly, but right now, all she could think of was Nomad’s safety, for he was crucial to the Dread Duchess, and if something were to happen to him, his master might find trouble with them!

’Could it be this has something to do with the esteemed Abyssal King’s mission for the young lord?!’

Mirage Shadow could only think of this reason and started to believe that there was something in the Black Hermit Mines that even eluded the Dread Duchess’s knowledge and detection.

’Should I interfere then? However, if the young lord wanted, he could’ve just destroyed the talisman…which means it should be under his control, right?’

Mirage Shadow fell into a huge dilemma as she wasn’t sure if she should interfere in this because if this was something the Abyssal King had entrusted Nomad, then it might be something he could handle on his own.

However, feeling the frenzy of Abyssal Beasts and their increasing madness, Mirage Shadow felt ill at ease.

’I should inform the Dread Duchess first!’

Mirage Shadow quickly took out a communication talisman and recorded everything before sending it back.

At the same time, she held back her urge to rush inside the mines, and currently, she wasn’t confident that she could handle all those unknown Abyssal Grand Lords!

—

At this moment, under the ethereal moons hung above as their bloody light illuminated a silent field suffused with a pressure that could shatter the hearts of even Abyssal Masters.

In the center of the vast ground stood a tall, breathtaking woman draped in an ethereal veil, her figure as straight as a divine pillar.

A long, obsidian bow, seemingly etched with countless flickering stars, rested in her delicate hand, its string woven from an unknowable material that shimmered with faint galaxies. She was utterly still, but her very presence felt like an ancient law incarnated into flesh.

All of a sudden…

Whooosh!

From the edges of the field, a shadow surged forth. It was formless, like a ghost forged from pure abyssal Qi, yet its aura brimmed with countless killing intents and spiritual pressure almost reaching an Abyssal Lord!

The moment this figure appeared, waves of terrifying energy unfurled—blade intents sharper than mountains, spear intents heavy as falling stars, law fragments of lightning, fire, and decay—all converging upon the veiled woman with the singular intent to annihilate!

The earth trembled as the skies quaked. The killing aura was so dense that it distorted space itself, each strike capable of obliterating a 1-Star Abyssal Lord with ease.

Yet the woman’s gaze did not waver. She did not summon shields. She did not dodge. She did not even counterattack.

However, at that moment, her slender fingers brushed against the bowstring—twang!—and in that instant, the world seemed to have changed as a ripple spread.

It wasn’t abyssal Qi nor of killing intent, but of Orbit Intent, and it was at extremely high proficiency while also imbued with at least three mystic abilities!

Not only that, the moment she used the orbit intent, powerful space law suddenly seemed to stir at her behest as space itself bent and curved around her, as if unseen stars had begun to move according to her will.

The world slowed. The countless abyssal blasts, weapon intents, and law fragments froze in midair—suspended as though trapped within an invisible gravitational pull. Her veil fluttered, revealing purplish, devil eyes colder than the void, merciless and detached.

In that instant, the bowstring was drawn back fully, and from the distortion of space itself, an arrow formed. Its shaft was woven from starlight, but its tip burned like a collapsing black sun.

Its presence alone devoured the surrounding abyssal Qi, leaving nothing behind but a silence deeper than death, and thereafter—she released!

Shhhhhh!

The arrow did not fly as one. It fractured instantly into millions of streaks of black starlight, curving and weaving with perfect precision, as though the entire battlefield had become her celestial orbit.

Every intent, every abyssal strike, every trace of hostile Qi—was pulled into her trajectory, shredded into nothingness, erased without even dust as proof of its existence.

The shadow screamed, a soundless howl of despair, before its form was consumed entirely, obliterated beyond memory. The field fell silent once more, as though nothing had ever dared move against her.

The veiled woman lowered her bow slowly, her eyes still empty of emotion, as if something trifled, yet a torrent of emotions quickly replaced her dismissiveness.

In a coquettish tone, she called her out like a little girl who wants to be praised, “Master, I didn’t lie to you, my Galaxy Orbital Archery has already reached fifth level!”

Suddenly, the gorgeous Dread Duchess with her regal charm appeared in front of the veiled woman, who was naturally Eva!

However, at that moment, Dread Duchess’s eyes were filled with astonishment, gratification, and slight melancholy as she looked at Eva.

“Hahaha! Please don’t blame your master for having doubts about it. After all, only an Abyssal Guardian can ever reach the fifth level of Galaxy Orbital Archer. Yet, you break this rule by achieving it in the Abyssal Grandmaster Realm!

“Well, I guess it won’t be long before you reach the seventh level, same as your master, and most likely surpass me by achieving the legendary eighth and final level of Galaxy Orbital Archery and learning the Galaxy King Arrow!” Dread Duchess didn’t mince her praise as she was filled with gratification.

’Naturally, I’ll reach it…Galaxy Orbital Archery can’t even compare to that technique I have bought from the house shop after spending half of my fortune! I still don’t understand why I have to complete a mission to unlock this item, only to be able to buy it afterward. I’ll complain to Ace the next time I see him!’ Eva thought with hidden disdain, yet she still felt her heart ache whenever she thought about her last purchase.

Nonetheless, she only showed a respectful and humble smile and acted like a child in front of Dread Duchess while still thinking of how to get rid of her so she could call Ace, as Dread Duchess seemed to have no intention of leaving her alone before they left for the Evernight Sanctuary.

However, at this moment, Eva suddenly noticed the changes in space around them, and thereafter, a fine black thread of profound abyssal Qi shot out and directly reached the Dread Duchess.

Dread Duchess, after a moment of surprise, dismissively caught the string and shattered it in front of Eva, having no intention of hiding these things from her since she was her successor.

The next moment, Mirage Shadow’s urgent voice rang out loud, “Your highness, something bad had happened to the Black Hermit City, and I…I think young lord Nomad is in trouble. I was…!”

Dread Duchess’s dismissive expression instantly turned solemn, while Eva, on the other hand, had a peculiar look in her devilish eyes because she knew Nomad was Ace!