Eternal Thief-Chapter 1570: Start of Evernight Trial! (5)

Witnessing the movements of those three colossal silhouettes, the reaction was immediate, as shock rippled across the Abyssal Plains, and countless ships instinctively pulled back, formations breaking as if a storm had struck.

"W-who are they!"

"Are they insane?!"

"Who dares—?!"

Cries of alarm sounded throughout the sky, but the moment the banners unfurled atop those three approaching flagships, every voice died in the throat, and silence reigned.

Each vessel was monstrous in its own right, imposing enough to rival the Duke’s vessels.

The first was a towering obsidian citadel-ship, its hull layered with ancient scales, rivers of molten crimson flowing through engraved channels. At its peak, a banner flew depicting a crowned abyssal beast devouring a star.

The second resembled a colossal living ark, grown rather than built, its surface covered in pulsating flesh-vines and embedded eyes that opened and closed slowly. Above it fluttered a sigil of a furnace encircled by nine abyssal rings.

The third was the most terrifying of all, a void-black spearhead vessel, sharp and minimalistic, surrounded by a constant distortion that erased sound and light alike. Its banner bore only a single mark of a vertical slash of dark silver, simple, ancient, and absolute.

A collective gasp swept through the watching masses.

"Those... those flags..."

"Marks of Abyssal Kings!"

"All three... they all have Abyssal Kings backing them?!"

Only then did everyone understand why these vessels dared to cross the invisible boundary that even Marquises feared because Abyssal Kings were behind those three flagships!

Other than the Evernight Council’s Evernight Kings, there were independent Abyssal Kings within the Abyssal Plains with their own organizations and inheritance.

Although these Abyssal King organizations weren’t as grand or ancient as the Evernight Council, they were still top of the food chain, above all and below only to one.

Furthermore, these three prominent Abyssal King organizations maintain an ’alliance’ with the Evernight Council, and they all keep an amiable, respectful demeanor.

That’s why they were able to thrive, or there were many mysterious incidents when arrogant and unreasonable Abyssal Kings with their entire organizations vanished without a trace from the Abyssal Plains, leaving nothing but nightmarish warnings for future generations.

At that moment, the three vessels slowed only when they were directly opposite the Duke’s armada, positioning themselves without the slightest hint of deference.

The Evernight Gate loomed above them all, bleeding light as if amused.

For the first time since arrival, the Corpse Duke’s coffin-vessel creaked audibly, chains rattling longer than before as if no longer interested in playing dead.

The Enchantress Demon Duchess’s playful smile sharpened, her eyes glittering with genuine interest as she muttered, "Oh my... this is going to be more intriguing than I’ve expected. Even Abyssal Kings are unwilling to remain spectators."

Even the Yin Duchess, still burning with suppressed rage, stiffened visibly when she saw those three flagships stopping not far away from hers, and disdainful hostility shimmered in her eyes.

Although Yin Duchess might consider Dread Duchess her mortal enemy, it was still based on Dread Duchess’s prowess and status; she was worthy of being the Yin Duchess’s ’enemy’.

However, against those who do not belong to the Evernight Council and weren’t part of the three Abyssal Clans of Council, Yin Duchess only held disdain and looked down on them, which includes other Abyssal King organizations as well.

Nonetheless, Yin Duchess would still show some restraint because, no matter how ’lowly’ their backgrounds were, they were still valuable to the Evernight Council, and the Abyssal Kings behind them were already a strong deterrent to someone with Yin Duchess’s ’hierarchical’ mindset.

But this won’t stop Yin Duchess from causing trouble whenever she can, just like she has been doing all this time.

Only the Dread Duchess remained unmoved as her crimson devil mask tilted slightly as she regarded the newcomers with absolute serenity, as if they were mere passersby.

Eva couldn’t help but stare at the ship with the sigil of a crowned abyssal beast devouring a star with nostalgia and a hint of derision.

"This sure brings back memories..." Eva couldn’t help but delightfully tell Ace about something glorious, "You see that ship with that sigil of an ugly abyssal beast? That belonged to the Bone Mercenary City. That furnace with rings around it belonged to Eden Alchemy Abyss. Finally, that last one with a vertical slash of dark silver belonged to the Weaponized Mystic Haven.

"Eden Alchemy Abyss and Weaponized Mystic Haven have all been founded by Abyssal Kings. In contrast, Bone Mercenary City has the backing of Moonless Wandering King, though Moonless Wandering King has never been seen personally.

"Nonetheless, the Bone Mercenary City still has the support of Abyss Wanderers and many neutral factions, and while in the dark, this city is also a refuge for criminals, making it the biggest black market where all sorts of treasures could be found."

Eva introduced the background of those three flagships to Ace, leaving him astounded, and he finally realized why those three ships could come here without fearing the Evernight Dukes.

But Eva wasn’t done, as she was only preparing the stage to declare her grand achievement.

She impishly stated, "And do you know what they all had in common, especially the sods of Bone Mercenary City? I’ve plundered their branches within the Bone Mercenary City to the point they were all afraid of even sending a single Abyss Gem."

Although Ace had already heard the tales of E.V.A, hearing it from Eva personally made him feel proud of her and astounded at how much she had matured as a thief.

"I’m very proud of you, and I know they were just your stepping stones in your wake as a thief." Ace lovingly encouraged her with deep affection without hiding his gratification and his inflated pride because of her.

"Hmph~, slick tongue~..."

Eva’s heart instantly fluttered as endless happiness bloomed in it, and if they weren’t standing in front of the Evernight Gate, she would have pounced on Ace without hesitation.

No one present in front of the Evernight Gate would’ve imagined that those two were flirting with each other in such a situation, as if this whole thing didn’t matter to them.

At that moment, Abyssal Beings started to walk out from the three flagships as they all seemed to be coming to greet the Evernight Duke!