From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 461 Ms. Eileen
The Spear of Night has vanished.

Moreover, Yingxin personally threw him into the bottomless abyss of the Fallen Shadow Underworld.

Despite her fearlessness and determination when she threw the short spear, seeing it disappear without a trace confirmed to Yingxin that she could no longer win back Shar's affection for her.

That was once her greatest goal in life, but now it has become an endless darkness that will devour her. The shadow is no longer her shelter, and she may never be able to sleep peacefully again every night, let alone bear the brand on the back of her hand.

"..." Yingxin raised her hand to check the brand on the back of her hand, revealing a weak smile, "Now I'm a complete orphan... The last place I could call home is gone... No, perhaps it's worse than that... I betrayed Ms. Shar's favor, and there's no possibility of regret anymore... The headmistress and all my other companions will want to kill me..."

“If this adventure has given you anything other than a little parasite in your brain, it’s definitely us, your companions.” Ivy patted Shadowheart’s shoulder reassuringly. “If Shar is really as angry as you described, then her current silence is quite unexpected.”

Yingxin rested her head against Ivy's silk-woven bard's attire, a silent twitch at the corner of her mouth. She knew Ivy wanted her to relax, but it only made her more worried.

There are many people who scoff at or even spout nonsense because they have never witnessed the power of a true god, but there are not many like Ivy who, despite knowing very well how powerful a true god is, still dare to make sarcastic remarks.

"Without the Night Spear... how are we going to deal with Katheric's immortality?" Shadowheart took one last sniff of the soft fabric in front of her that emitted a reassuring scent, and looked up to ask.

"Extend a hand of friendship to me, former follower of Shar!" The impatient Nightsong stepped forward, completely ignoring the magical arm that was holding her from behind. "I will end Katheric's miserable rule over this land and repay all the torment and suffering I have endured for the past hundred years—and of course, I will pave the way for you. After that, you must follow the path."

“No.” Unexpectedly, Shadowheart firmly rejected Nightsong’s request. “I will set you free, but not to follow your path. What I want is the truth! Not another god offering ‘guidance’!”

“You are a valiant warrior,” Nightsong smiled. “The truth is right before your eyes, isn’t it? But the discussion of those truths must wait until we have finished off Katheric. That hypocritical villain was once Shar’s servant, but now he has betrayed us again. His filthy life is not worth keeping in this world!”

“You’re right, Harpist, Flame Fist, and everyone at the End of Light Inn are still waiting for us…” Shadowheart nodded. “What should I do?”

Song of the Night knelt on one knee and slowly lowered his head, like a knight undergoing a knighthood ceremony.

“Barthazar said you are his greatest masterpiece, the kind that cannot be replicated even after death.” Ivy stepped forward, standing between Shadowheart and Nightsong. “I have no doubt about that. His runic cage is unexpectedly ingenious, maintaining a very fragile balance between the powers of the three gods. Strengthening any one of them will instantly shatter this balance.”

"What are you trying to say?" Nightsong rose again, a hint of annoyance in her voice. After scrutinizing Ivy's magnificent silk attire, she asked uncertainly, "A mage?"

“Let’s discuss something more important before things become completely irreparable,” Ivy said politely, giving a slight nod to Nightsong.

Having been imprisoned for over a hundred years, the Song of the Night desperately wanted freedom, but Ivy's attitude was impeccable. She had to suppress her anxiety and asked with a frown, "What is it?"

"Regarding how you will cooperate with our operations to defeat Ketherrick and his army of supreme gods, and how to restore this land plagued by the Shadow Curse." Ivy clapped her hands, and countless flying fluorescent particles suddenly emerged, quickly forming a Resven map in front of Nightsong, revealing details through alternating light and shadow, with various landmarks precisely marked in Common Tongue.

“Shall not allow any form of immortality, so Katheric, who wanted to resurrect his daughter, became a chosen one of Melkor, the god of the dead. He joined forces with two other chosen ones of the other three gods of death to devise a plan called the Supreme God. Stealing your power to achieve immortality also happened after he became a chosen one of Melkor.” Ivy explained the reasoning as concisely as possible. “Now, a large army that worships the Supreme God is stationed outside Resven, echoing Katheric at the Tower of the Moon.”

“As I said before, the divine power of Melkor, Shar, and Serene has reached a balance in your cage. Strengthening any one of them would completely break the current state,” Ivy continued. “Melkor’s divine power has allowed Katheric to absorb your power; Shar is using you as an anchor to spread the Shadow Curse. If you are killed by the Night Spear, the portion of the divine power that Serene possesses in you will rightfully fall into Shar’s hands. At that time, the difficulty of removing the Shadow Curse will be greatly increased. Therefore, we can only draw on Serene’s divine power, free you, and at the same time try to heal the land of Resven.”

Ivy gestured to introduce Halsin to Nightsong: "This is the Archdruid Halsin. He has been working to free Rasven from Shar's torment since the Shadow Curse descended a hundred years ago. Now his efforts are beginning to bear fruit, and Shar's nails driven into the spirit of nature have been removed. As long as you can break free, this land will surely be reborn."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Night Song asked impatiently.

"Clearing the Shadow Curse is not only a good thing for us, but also for the Supreme God," Halsin said solemnly. "It is the pervasive Shadow Curse that caused Katheric to station his army outside Resven. Once you are free, Katheric can also send his army to the Tower of the Moonrise."

"So we need a time gap?" The Night Song had already acknowledged the adventurers' alliance. "To defeat Katheric before he mobilizes his army and seize the Tower of the Moonrise as a stronghold?"

“That’s the ideal situation,” Ivy nodded.

In the original game storyline, when the protagonists defeated Katheric Somme, Baal and Bane's chosen people took the entire army of the Supreme Gods, including the Mastermind and Raistwen, to Baldur's Gate.

Therefore, after defeating Melkor's avatar, players will not have to face the endless army of the Supreme God.

But in the real world, there aren't necessarily so many coincidences. If Orin and Gotash had given half or a third of their army to Katheric, the attack on the Tower of the Moon would have become a joke.

If Ivy can seize the opportunity before Orin and Gotash arrive at the Tower of the Moon and launch a surprise attack on it, there is a possibility that she could directly take control of the mainframe in advance.

The mainframe's proudest ability is psychic power, along with countless True Soul puppets it controls. If its connection with the True Souls can be severed, the mainframe itself shouldn't be too difficult to deal with.

The chosen ones of the Three Gods of Death gained control of the mastermind with just the Crown of Karthus.

Although the Crown of Karthus is a divine artifact, it was merely something created by Karthus, the god of foolishness, in the brief moment he became a god.

While Ivy wouldn't underestimate the arcanist who caused the downfall of Netheril, he also didn't believe his artifact was powerful enough to destroy the world. As a legendary spellcaster, Ivy was confident he could control the mainframe; if all else failed, he could simply pack it up and stuff it into a demiplane.

The Grimoire of Destruction has always been Ivy's foundation. The reason Ivy has never revealed it on the continent of Faerûn is precisely because of its function as a portal to the demiplane.

Everyone says that true gods are everywhere in Faerûn, and legends are as common as dogs. If a few unmanageable guys suddenly jump out from some hidden corner, Ivy is hoping to escape through the demiplane.

Besides, he wasn't the only one eyeing the Supreme God; didn't Selenne, Shar, and Mystra all reach out their hands?

What Ivy wants is to develop and build a strong team, not to make a high-profile entrance only to be taken down by a team of powerful players.

Therefore, concealing one's abilities and biding one's time while launching surprise attacks are essential.

Targeting the moment when the mastermind is still in the Tower of the Moonrise is an excellent opportunity, but unfortunately the preparation time is too short, and it is far from foolproof.

But if the reward is high enough, a 30% chance of winning is worth the gamble. Anyway, Ivy doesn't have the opportunity to bet too much in this gamble; as long as he can escape, he has a good chance to make a comeback.

If that's the case, why not gamble?
Even though it's gambling, you must do your best. If your opponent makes a mistake and you don't seize the opportunity, then you'll truly regret it.

Communicating with the Night Song in advance is part of doing one's best.

“This battle plan is extremely risky, not just a little risky…” Nightsong nodded, the golden cracks on his skin gleaming with excitement. “But we will surely win, just as the long night will eventually pass!”

In the past minute, Ivy has laid out everything she needs to know in the most concise way possible, and now it's time for Nightsong to be freed.

"Come on, little warrior!" Nightsong extended her hand to Shadowheart once again, while also extending her other hand to Ivy, "And you, mage."

Yingxin was no longer hesitant. After all, no one could change what had already happened, and it was too late to regret it now.

As she and Ivy each grasped the forearm of Nightsong, a pure light immediately emanated from the latter's eyes.

"Silver Mother," the Night Song looked up at the endless darkness above, "please hear me!"

As Nightsong stepped barefoot onto the ground, the runic cage that had imprisoned Asmo in the Fallen Shadow Realm for a hundred years instantly shattered into countless points of light.

Using the recoil from that kick, the tormented celestial creature slowly rose into the air.

Noticing the weakening of the grip on their arms, Ivy and Shadowheart simultaneously released their hands and let the Song of Darkness take flight.

"Moon Maiden Serene, our guide—the so-called mother of the Night Song!" Moonlight, which should not have appeared in the Fallen Shadow Realm, pierced through the darkness, enveloping the Night Song in a milky white pillar of light.

The moonlight solidified on her, outlining the shape of a silver armor. As the light faded, the winged helmet and carved plate armor were fully revealed. In a short while, Shar's ragged prisoner had transformed into Serene's fully armed general.

"Song of the Night!" The daughter of Selenne raised her right hand, uttering her final cry, "Never to exist again!"

The moonlight that crowned her then sent her a greatsword burning with silver flames. Asmo, gripping the hilt and turning sideways, spread her wings and truly regained her holy and noble appearance as a descendant of the gods.

"I have regained my glory!" Asmo folded her wings and slowly descended from the sky. She looked at Shadowheart and smiled, saying, "You have given me a great gift, my friend. Especially you, little warrior. Aren't you surprised that you kicked the Dark Lady away? Perhaps you have already sensed that the truth is beginning to emerge."

“It’s time to leave Shar’s territory.” Asmo raised his greatsword high, as if intending to cleave the barrier between the Fallen Realm and the Prime Material Plane like a veil. “I will open the portal and send you to the surface. You can decide the exact location, mage.”

“Ivy Doom, just call me Ivy.” Ivy nodded, took down his lute, and used the frequency of the music to guide Asmo to the specific coordinates.

"I am Eileen. In the past, the followers of Serene in this land called me Madam." Madam Eileen's greatsword once again ignited with silvery-white holy flames. With a powerful swing, a portal shimmering with silvery-white light opened from the void, as if welcoming all the adventurers who had saved Serene's daughter.

Before passing through the portal, Eileen turned back and announced, "I will head to the End of Light Inn. I will act as the clarion call for war, joining the righteous warriors there in launching an attack! May we meet successfully at the Tower of the Moonrise!"

Ivy nodded in agreement: "This is the final preparation before the war. Halsin and I will expel the shadow of Rasven and completely unbind the Fallen Underworld from the Prime Material Plane so that the Allied Forces of the End Light can pass through normally."

“Then let’s hurry!” Shadowheart seemed unwilling to linger in the Fallen Shadow Realm for even a second longer. “I can sense Lady Shar nearby, but she’s done nothing… This silence will only breed a more terrible rage, so we’d better leave as soon as possible! I don’t want to be caught by her here, especially since I just betrayed her not long ago…”

(End of this chapter)