《Broken Soul》 Blood Moon Souls... The Human Core... Tell me, why don¡¯t you have one? ¡ª Who knows... maybe not everyone is worthy of possessing one... don¡¯t you agree? City of Ars Erick was frustrated. He stood before the vendor, who seemed indifferent to his desperation. ¡ª Grr... What do you mean the stock is gone?! ¡ª Erick exclaimed, his eyes burning with anger as he spoke to the man in front of him. ¡ª Sorry, kid... you got here too late, hehe... ¡ª the vendor replied with a disinterested smile, as if he was used to these kinds of situations. Erick let out a deep sigh, feeling frustration wash over him. He knew things weren¡¯t going well, that everything was on the verge of collapsing. After a long walk to the village of North, Erick finally arrived home. As he opened the door, he was surprised by Louis, his younger brother, who stared at him with a serious, almost angry expression. ¡ª Where¡¯s my present, nii? ¡ª Louis asked, his voice low but filled with expectation. ¡ª Sorry... I couldn¡¯t get it... ¡ª Erick answered, unable to meet his brother¡¯s eyes. ¡ª Honestly... ¡ª Louis huffed, shaking his head. ¡ª I knew you wouldn¡¯t make it... what a disappointment... Erick tried to ignore his brother¡¯s mocking tone but responded with a forced smile. ¡ª Hmm... But aren¡¯t you a bit too old to worry about this? ¡ª T-that has nothing to do with it! ¡ª Louis looked embarrassed, his exaggerated reaction contrasting with Erick¡¯s nonchalant tone. That night, the two lay down on their futon, but Erick couldn¡¯t sleep. A strange, disturbing nightmare tormented him. He found himself in a garden, but it was no ordinary garden. The grass was dry, the flowers withered, and a heavy silence filled the air. Suddenly, voices echoed in his mind, accusing him. "You brought the end upon all of us... you cursed humanity!" ¡ª No... ¡ª Erick whispered, feeling a crushing weight on his chest. "There is no place for you! You will bring ruin to everyone you love!" ¡ª No!!! ¡ª he screamed, desperate. Erick woke up suddenly, shouting, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving frantically. The feeling of despair still clung to him. ¡ª Nii... Another nightmare? ¡ª Louis was awake, worried. He sat at the edge of the futon, his eyes filled with concern. ¡ª Yeah... Sorry for waking you up... ¡ª Erick said, still trying to catch his breath. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, nii. I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll always be by your side... ¡ª Louis gripped his hand tightly, a comforting gesture that failed to dispel Erick¡¯s unease. Even though the older brother felt a bit of relief, a strange and unsettling sensation lingered, as if something was about to happen. The morning brought a desperate scream. Erick and Louis ran outside, where two couples were arguing with a visibly shaken groom, his eyes red from crying. ¡ª How could you do this to her?! ¡ª We trusted our daughter to you! How could you...? Erick stared in shock at the young woman lying motionless on the ground. She looked... dead. Her body was lifeless, empty. A heavy silence hung over the scene. ¡ª It must be hard for him... losing the one he loves... ¡ª Erick said, breaking the silence as he pulled Louis away. ¡ª Nii... She¡¯s still alive, look! ¡ª Louis pointed at the woman¡¯s body, his eyes shining with hope. Erick quickly turned to look, a chill running down his spine. The woman was slowly disappearing, as if life itself was being drained from her. She was still there, visibly alive, yet in some eerie state. Without hesitation, Erick rushed toward her body while Louis, determined, went to the groom, trying to convince him not to lose hope. ¡ª Don¡¯t give up! She¡¯s still alive. My brother will save her! I promise! ¡ª Louis declared, with a confidence that made the groom stop and stare at him in disbelief. ¡ª Why do you trust him so much...? ¡ª the groom questioned, his eyes still filled with doubt. Louis smiled, a calm, unwavering smile, as if his words were an undeniable truth. ¡ª Because he keeps his promises... The groom¡¯s doubts wavered, hope rekindling in his eyes, while Erick focused entirely on saving the woman. But the task would not be easy. ¡ª Hey, you brat! What do you think you¡¯re doing to my daughter?! The young woman¡¯s parents ran furiously toward Erick. Before they could reach him, Louis and the groom held them back. ¡ª What do you think you¡¯re doing?! Let us go now! ¡ª the girl¡¯s parents shouted, but Louis responded calmly, holding them firmly. ¡ª Sorry, sirs, but we can¡¯t let you through... Alone with the woman¡¯s body, Erick focused on doing the impossible: bringing her back. But nothing seemed to work. He was failing. ¡ª Damn it... nothing is working... What else can I do...? Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, coming from the void. ¡ª What do you think you¡¯re doing to my body?! Stop that!The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Erick ignored the voice. He hurried, feeling the pressure intensify. ¡ª This is it... my last chance... ¡ª he whispered to himself, channeling all his energy. With a cry, sparks began to emanate from his hands, illuminating the darkness around him. ¡ª Lightning Magic: 10 Volts of Power... now! ¡ª Erick pressed down hard on the young woman¡¯s chest, releasing all his energy, causing a bright flash and an explosion of light that illuminated the entire field. The impact was so intense that Erick collapsed, exhausted. When he woke up, he felt Louis¡¯s hand gripping his tightly, full of concern. ¡ª Nii, are you okay? Did you get hurt? ¡ª Louis asked, his face pale with worry. ¡ª I¡¯m fine... just a little drained... ¡ª Erick replied, struggling to sit up. The moment Erick got up, the young woman opened her eyes. The groom, who had been watching in despair, couldn¡¯t contain his joy and hugged her, relieved. ¡ª Hina! I don¡¯t know what I would have done without you! Thank you so much! Erick smiled, but before he could say anything, Hina¡¯s parents rushed forward, pushing him aside as they ran to embrace their daughter. Hina¡¯s father, wearing an expression of regret, approached the groom and, head bowed, apologized for everything he had said. As tensions eased, everyone left for Hina¡¯s home, where happiness filled the air. ¡ª Hey, Louis... don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit strange that only we saw her outside her body...? ¡ª Erick asked, his mind still clouded with doubts. ¡ª That doesn''t matter now, Nii... Let''s go home. ¡ª Louis smiled, but the look in his eyes revealed a shadow of uncertainty. As the two brothers walked away, a mysterious hooded figure watched from afar, hidden in the shadows of the dense forest. Their eyes gleamed with a dark and distant purpose. The two finally arrived home. ¡ª You were amazing today! ¡ª Louis said excitedly. ¡ª Ah, that was nothing... ¡ª Erick replied, his voice slowing down, his eyes growing heavy. Before he realized it, exhaustion took over. Erick fell asleep right there, and Louis, worried, carried him to his room. Night fell. The full moon illuminated the dark mountain fields, casting its silver light into the deepest shadows. In the center of the village, the same hooded man reappeared. His face remained hidden, but in his hands, he held an ancient scroll. ¡ª The moon... is so beautiful from here ¡ª he murmured in a cold and enigmatic tone. He unrolled the scroll, and immediately, several rifts tore through the air around him, radiating a sinister energy. ¡ª Kill them all. From the rifts, grotesque and monstrous creatures emerged, exuding an aura of pure corruption and deep darkness. They attacked the villagers, spreading chaos. Within minutes, screams of terror filled the village, shattering the night¡¯s peace. No mage, no matter how experienced, could stop them. The massacre was swift and brutal. ¡ª Wake up, Nii! ¡ª Louis shook Erick desperately. ¡ª Huh?... Louis? What''s going on? ¡ª Erick murmured, dazed. Deafening screams echoed outside. They ran to the door and, upon opening it, were met with a scene of indescribable horror. The once peaceful village had become a slaughterhouse. Dismembered bodies spilled blood through the streets. Louis froze upon recognizing a familiar face: the groom they had helped earlier was hanging from the fountain, his body crushed and disfigured, his blood dyeing the water a deep red. ¡ª Why... why did this have to happen?! ¡ª Louis sobbed, trembling. To the south of the village, a family was trying to escape. ¡ª Take our daughter and run! I''ll try to buy some time! ¡ª the father shouted, pushing his wife and child away. The creatures pounced on the woman, tearing her clothes apart with fury before ripping chunks of flesh from her body as she screamed, showing no mercy before her daughter. ¡ª YOU BASTARDS! I''LL KILL YOU ALL! ¡ª the man roared, but he was quickly captured, his head crushed and devoured. The little girl sobbed, terrified, as one of the creatures grabbed her by the neck. Before the worst could happen, a burst of energy freed her, and she fell into Erick¡¯s arms. ¡ª Are you okay? I''m sorry I didn''t get here sooner... I''m so sorry... ¡ª Erick clenched his fists, his heart heavy with the weight of the tragedy. ¡ª Papa... Mama... ¡ª the girl cried, sobbing in despair. A creature roared and lunged at Erick. ¡ª Louis, take her somewhere safe. Now! ¡ª And you, Nii...? ¡ª I''ll be fine... I promise... just go. Louis, reluctant, took the child''s hand and ran away. ¡ª Please... Don''t die! ¡ª he murmured, tears in his eyes. Erick faced the creature. ¡ª Let''s see what you''re capable of, big guy! ¡ª He charged forward fearlessly, dodging attacks before delivering a powerful energy-charged strike. The impact lit up the area with a bright glow. ¡ª I did it! His smile vanished as he realized the creature was unharmed. Before he could react, it grabbed his leg and hurled him against the houses. The impact was brutal. He felt his ribs crack, his right arm snapping with a horrible sound. His eyes locked onto one of the creatures cornering Louis, its claws poised to strike. ¡ª Louis... no... With the last of his strength, he tried to rise and attack, but the creature blocked the blow effortlessly and slammed him into the ground. Erick tried to get up, but a spear pierced his abdomen, pinning him to the floor. ¡ª Nii! ¡ª Louis screamed, his voice filled with despair as tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes. ¡ª S-sorry, Louis... Looks like... I couldn¡¯t keep my promise... The village was lost. Screams, blood, destruction. No one was spared. Erick, on the verge of death, could only watch his brother¡¯s tears. ¡ª "I just wish things were different... If only I were a little stronger..." Suddenly, one of the creatures near Louis had its head ripped off in the blink of an eye. ¡ª What...? A group of five people appeared. The leader, an imposing figure, looked at Erick. ¡ª You''re in bad shape, huh... Well, let''s wrap this up. In an instant, the strangers wiped out all the creatures in the village. When it was over, the leader approached Erick and yanked the spear from his body without warning. Erick screamed in pain. ¡ª Hey! What do you think you''re doing?! ¡ª Louis shouted, but the man¡¯s powerful aura silenced him instantly. A girl beside the leader healed Erick¡¯s wounds. ¡ª I''m... alive? ¡ª Nii! ¡ª Louis ran and hugged him tightly, crying in relief. The leader observed Erick intently. ¡ª Interesting... very interesting. What¡¯s your name, kid? ¡ª It¡¯s... Erick, sir... Smiling, the leader extended his hand. ¡ª Well, Erick, how about joining my group? The others were surprised by their leader¡¯s proposal. Erick hesitated. ¡ª I¡¯d love to... but I¡¯m not going anywhere without my brother. Louis squeezed his hand. ¡ª I¡¯ll always be with you, Nii. ¡ª How cute, two brothers who care for each other! Then it¡¯s settled. Welcome to the group! Now let¡¯s get out of this hell. With a snap of his fingers, the group was teleported to a colossal base that resembled a castle. ¡ª Welcome to your new home, rookies! The Beast Girl Three days had passed since the cataclysm that ravaged the village of North. The attack by the creatures resulted in immense carnage, devastating the area. Lives were taken, entire families were torn apart, and only 5% of the population survived the horror. The survivors, helpless, had to seek refuge in the nearest capital, their homes destroyed, their hopes nearly lost. In the capital¡¯s central square, a nervous and anguished crowd gathered to discuss the devastating attack on the neighboring village. Tension filled the air. ¡ª How could this happen? ¡ª You were stronger than them! ¡ª Useless! The leader of the mage squad stood there, listening to the murmurs of dissatisfaction. Suddenly, a powerful voice echoed through the area, carrying authority. ¡ª SILENCE! The weight of his voice made everyone fall silent instantly. He looked at them all with a serious yet distant expression. ¡ª You are right. We were stronger than them... But this is not our responsibility. A murmur of indignation spread through the crowd. His words sounded more like an insult than an explanation, and soon, insults were being hurled at the leader. However, he remained unfazed, wearing a disinterested smile as he turned his back and began walking away. ¡ª Looks like they found you first, didn¡¯t they?...
Erick still hadn''t gotten used to the unsettling silence of his new home. The place was so quiet that even his own voice echoed through the hallways, making him feel even more out of place. ¡ª Wow... it''s incredibly silent here... This doesn''t feel right... He sighed and looked at the third door to his left. Determined, he walked up to it and opened it, only to be met with an unexpected scene: a stunning woman with fiery orange eyes and long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She was... wearing only her underwear, staring at him with a defiant look. ¡ª Hey there, newbie! Erick immediately turned red. His eyes averted quickly, and he shut the door in a growing panic. His heart pounded, and the image of the woman refused to leave his mind. ¡ª Hey, why did you look away? The door opened again, and there she was, a mischievous smile on her lips. ¡ª I-I''m so sorry! It wasn¡¯t my intention! I swear! She chuckled softly, not seeming to mind at all. ¡ª It''s fine... So, you''re Erick, right? Erick stammered, still unsure of how to react. ¡ª Y-yes... She smiled charmingly and gently held his face. ¡ª I''m Emily. If you need anything, just let me know. Erick felt heat rise up his neck. With a bold smile, Emily turned around and walked back to her room, leaving the door slightly open. ¡ª I hope to see you again. ¡ª She... is really weird... Still dazed, Erick glanced toward the far end of the room. Someone was there, staring out the window. Curious, he stepped closer. ¡ª Hey, sir! Can you show me the way out? When he got closer, the figure was gone, as if it had been a mirage. Fortunately, looking out the window, Erick spotted the squad leader, Cosmo, sitting calmly, sipping his daily tea, seemingly unaware of everything around him. ¡ª Give up. When he enters that state, no one can get his attention... A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see a woman with a piercing yet serene gaze. Her long hair reached her waist, and her presence was marked by an aura of tranquility.¡ª You must be Erick, right? ¡ª Y-yes! ¡ª The captain has summoned everyone. Come with me. Erick, unsure of what to expect, followed her down the stairs. The silence between them was thick, and he still didn''t fully understand who these people were. Gathering his courage, he asked: ¡ª I¡¯d like to know more about you... about your group and your leader... She looked at him for a moment, as if assessing his intentions, before answering in a calm voice without breaking eye contact. ¡ª We are a group formed with the goal of saving those who can be saved and exorcising the souls corrupted by darkness... the Inverses. Erick frowned, confused. ¡ª Inverses...? ¡ª Cruel beings that destroy all life. They are responsible for the destruction of your village. Erick, feeling a tightness in his chest, began to recall the attack on his village and the chaos that followed. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, the entire group had gathered. The siblings Louis and Emily waved, and soon, everyone was present. ¡ª Nii! ¡ª Louis! ¡ª Oh! Looks like everyone¡¯s here! Looking to the left, the leader, Cosmo, descended the stairs with a relaxed expression. He seemed calm, his presence exuding an aura of peace, almost serenity. ¡ª Hey, everyone! What a wonderful day, don¡¯t you think? Reaching the center, Cosmo looked at the two siblings and smiled. ¡ª So, let¡¯s start the introductions! I¡¯m Cosmo, Path No. 1, and captain of this squad. He bowed gently, exuding authority without rigidity. ¡ª Emily Laine, Path No. 2. The girl who had come down the stairs with Erick introduced herself with a subtle smile. ¡ª Haruki Mei, Path No. 4. Next, another young man with a serious demeanor introduced himself curtly. ¡ª Angel Crown, Path No. 3. Just so you know, kid, I have no interest in getting to know you. And, without another word, he walked off to his room. ¡ª Uh... ¡ª Don¡¯t mind him. He¡¯s always grumpy. Oh, and I¡¯m Wally Dreamster, the last of the Paths... He chuckled, a little embarrassed. Louis, still not understanding, asked Cosmo about the meaning of the "Paths." It didn''t seem to make sense to him. ¡ª We are the pillar that will create a new generation of heroes and adventurers. That''s right! Our mission is to guide you toward the future. Cosmo''s words were soft but carried a deep meaning, filling the air with determination.Erick, though still lost in thought, felt that he could trust him.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡ª Now that the introductions are over, it''s time to start training. You need to become stronger because you''re not yet ready for what¡¯s to come. ¡ª Yes, sir! In the darkest corner of the forest, by the edge of a river, the man responsible for the destruction of North Village sat, watching a family of rabbits resting peacefully in front of him. ¡ª ... A deep voice broke the silence: ¡ª I didn¡¯t expect to see you again so soon. Behind him stood the squad leader, holding a bag full of gold coins. He tossed it at the feet of the hooded man. ¡ª You did an excellent job. Exactly as I ordered. However, his expression suddenly hardened. ¡ª But you failed your main mission! With a furious scream, he kicked a nearby tree, knocking it down instantly. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, they are under Cosmo¡¯s protection... ¡ª That is exactly the problem! He stepped forward and grabbed the hooded man by the neck, lifting him with overwhelming strength as an intense aura emanated from his body. ¡ª With Cosmo protecting them, getting close will be impossible! The hooded man remained calm, a slight smile curling his lips. ¡ª How can you stay so calm in a situation like this?! ¡ª Ahh... In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the leader¡¯s grasp, appearing behind him with a hand resting on his shoulder. ¡ª I assure you, they will be dead soon. Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving only the sound of the wind behind. The leader sighed, narrowing his eyes. ¡ª I hope so...
Two months had passed since training began. Erick and Louis rested near a small spring, exhausted from the intense challenges imposed by Cosmo. ¡ª I must congratulate you! You have improved a lot in this period. I¡¯m impressed! ¡ª said Cosmo, crossing his arms as he observed them. ¡ª Thank you, Captain! ¡ª Erick replied excitedly. Louis, however, remained downcast, feeling inferior. Erick noticed. ¡ª What¡¯s wrong, Louis? ¡ª I just... feel useless. You all have incredible abilities, while I... I don¡¯t have magic. ¡ª Louis... ¡ª That¡¯s not true. Louis lifted his gaze, confused. ¡ª Huh? Cosmo sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡ª What you lack is determination. Thinking you are weak only destabilizes your soul. Believe in your own strength and move forward. Cosmo¡¯s words eased some of the weight in Louis¡¯ heart. The captain stood up and walked toward the door. ¡ª I¡¯ll be waiting for you when you''re ready.
In the meeting room, Cosmo looked out the window, watching Louis from afar. ¡ª He really is a good kid, isn''t he, Cosmo? Emily, leaning against the wall behind him, smiled softly. ¡ª No doubt. But he still doesn¡¯t know his true potential. Cosmo smiled back, confident. ¡ª If that¡¯s what you say, I¡¯ll trust your words... Emily shrugged and walked up the stairs, leaving Cosmo alone with his thoughts.
A few hours later, Erick and Louis were in the room with Cosmo, who held a crude map. ¡ª You will head south. There, you will find a village inhabited by the Herwolfys. Erick raised his hand, curious. ¡ª Captain, who are the Herwolfys? ¡ª Descendants of the great Liarwolfys, the lunar wolf. It is said that his claws were so sharp they could cut the day and bring the night. But it¡¯s just a myth... ah... what a disappointment. Cosmo sighed, frustrated. Erick, however, insisted. ¡ª And why do we need to go to this village? ¡ª I want you to bring back some specific people.
Some time later, the brothers walked through the dense forest, guided by a revised map drawn by Emily. ¡ª Good thing Miss Emily redid the map for us. The captain¡¯s map was... well, incomprehensible... ¡ª said Erick. Louis laughed. ¡ª The captain really is strange. Suddenly, Erick stopped. ¡ª Look, Louis! Both were surprised to see a beautiful village surrounded by enormous trees. It was an impressive, almost magical sight. ¡ª Who are they?! ¡ª Intruders! The villagers, armed with spears, pointed their weapons at the brothers. Erick tried to calm the situation. ¡ª H-hey! We¡¯re not enemies! ¡ª What¡¯s going on here? The murmurs ceased as the village leader, the great Gur, appeared. Erick handed him a letter from Cosmo. ¡ª Hmm, interesting¡­ It seems Cosmo has come in search of them¡­ Gur carefully analyzed the letter while Erick wondered how he could understand Cosmo¡¯s messy handwriting. ¡ª Follow me. I will take you to them.
As they walked through the village alongside Gur, he shared its history. ¡ª This village was founded about 9,000 years ago by the great Liar-sama. As his descendants, we carry his blood and his responsibility. We must be perfect to honor our creator. The brothers listened attentively, absorbing every detail of that fascinating story. Looking to the left, Erick noticed many people locked in cages. The sight made him feel uneasy. ¡ª Why are they imprisoned? ¡ª This is the consequence of being considered defective. It is the punishment for staining the Wolfys surname. Louis also noticed that many of the captives were missing their ears, and some even their tails. Among them were children, which seemed like an act of unfathomable cruelty. After a long walk, they finally reached their destination. ¡ª Well, this is where we part ways. Oh, I almost forgot. Gur handed two letters with dressing room numbers to Erick and Louis. ¡ª Have a good day... The old Gur waved and began descending the mountain. ¡ª Well, let¡¯s go in ¡ª said Erick, ready to move forward. But Louis grabbed his arm, stopping him. ¡ª What is it, Louis? ¡ª Do you remember what Lady Mei told us? Erick placed his hand on his chin, thinking. ¡ª If I remember correctly, something like "if you enter, keep your heads down and keep walking." Why? Looking to the right, Erick noticed a sign on the wall: "Succubus Bar: Satisfy yourself however you wish." ¡ª So that¡¯s why¡­ He took a deep breath, placed his left hand over his chest, and opened the door.
Inside the bar, the two walked while keeping their heads down. ¡ª Hey, kitties! ¡ª Don¡¯t you want to spend some time with us? ¡ª I promise I¡¯ll be gentle. ¡ª Aww, how cute! Several girls watched them closely, with teasing smiles. Muffled sounds of excitement echoed from the rooms, the atmosphere exuding lust. ¡ª ¡°Focus, Erick! Even if you want to, you can¡¯t look!¡± Erick took out the letter Gur had given him. ¡ª Looks like I¡¯m going to room 57. What about you, Louis? ¡ª Room 7. ¡ª ¡°How unfair...¡± The two parted ways, following different paths. Erick climbed several stairs to reach the second floor, while Louis walked toward room 7.
After a short walk, Louis stopped in front of the door to room 7. ¡ª Well... what should I do? He held the doorknob, which opened on its own. As soon as he entered, the door closed behind him. ¡ª That¡¯s strange¡­ ¡ª W-Welcome¡­ A soft voice made him turn around. There stood a girl with long hair and bright green eyes. ¡ª T-this is my first time, s-so¡­ She spoke timidly, approaching slowly. ¡ª W-wait, this is a misunderstanding! Cornered against the wall, Louis felt his heart race as the girl''s face got closer. ¡ª ¡°Help me, nii!¡± Their lips were almost touching when suddenly: ¡ª I can¡¯t! The girl backed away, kneeling on the floor, embarrassed. She covered her face with her hands. ¡ª S-Sorry, but I can¡¯t do this, sir¡­ Tears began to stream down her face. Louis, unsure how to react, sat beside her and started wiping her tears. ¡ª Are you feeling better now? ¡ª Yes¡­ He picked up a blanket and gently draped it over her shoulders. ¡ª T-thank you¡­ This is the first time a boy has treated me like this¡­ I¡¯m Lilith. Louis observed her closely. Something about her seemed deeply sad. ¡ª Why do you work here? Lilith clutched the blanket tightly at the question. ¡ª S-Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to bring up bad memories! ¡ª It¡¯s okay... I was sold here a few days ago. Even if I wanted to, I could never leave¡­ I am a disgrace to my clan. Her voice was low and melancholic. Louis noticed that Lilith, like many of the prisoners they had seen earlier, had no tail or ears. ¡ª My sister saved me, but she ended up imprisoned here because of me... Her tears kept falling. Louis hugged her tightly. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry¡­ My brother and I will get you out of here. Lilith remained silent, simply resting her head on Louis¡¯ shoulder.
Meanwhile, Erick finally reached the second floor, exhausted. ¡ª Ahhh... Finally! I¡¯m dead¡­ He walked to room 57 and opened the door. The room was completely dark. ¡ª What? I climbed all this way for nothing? ¡ª I was waiting for you¡­ A soft voice emerged from the darkness. A girl with short hair and a charming gaze appeared before him. ¡ª Are you ready? ¡ª W-wait! This isn¡¯t what I came for! Before he could react, she pushed him against the wall, firmly holding his arms. ¡ª Here I go¡­ Erick tried to resist but noticed something strange. ¡ª Hm? The girl stopped and looked at him intently. ¡ª Looks like it didn¡¯t work¡­ Ah¡­ ¡ª Huh? She stepped back, extending her hand to help him up. ¡ª Tell me, human, who are you?... Confrontation Eastern Zone At the top of the mountain, two entities were gathered, holding small, glowing fragments and placing them into a broken portal that emitted a faint light. ¡ª Hurry up! The master won¡¯t be pleased! ¡ª Damn it! I know, but do you have any idea how heavy this is?! ¡ª Hey, you two. They flinched when they heard someone calling them. It was their superior. ¡ª Who gave you permission to complain about the master¡¯s orders? You should be grateful you¡¯re not being beheaded right here! ¡ª Y-yes, sir!! ¡ª They nodded frantically in fear. As they returned to their work, the superior muttered to himself. ¡ª Ah... now that I think about it, they have a point. This thing is heavy!
Inside the bar, at door 57, Erick sat, staring at the girl in front of him. ¡ª So, that¡¯s what happened¡­ ¡ª he said, finishing his explanation. ¡ª I see... and now you want me to go with you? ¡ª Exactly! ¡ª I refuse. She crossed her arms and turned away abruptly, her expression serious. ¡ª Huh? Why?! ¡ª Erick asked, confused. ¡ª I have my reasons. Besides, I don¡¯t trust you. ¡ª Stop being so stubborn! ¡ª I already said no. Hmph! ¡ª She huffed, turning away again with an annoyed look. Erick sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡ª Looks like she¡¯s not giving me any other choice¡­ I¡¯ll have to do it. Without further delay, he walked out the door, leaving the girl relieved. ¡ª Finally¡­ a little peace¡­ Suddenly, Erick returned, swiftly throwing a bag over her. ¡ª H-hey! What are you doing?! Let me go now! ¡ª Sorry, but I don¡¯t have another option. ¡ª You!! She tore through the bag with her sharp claws and leaped at him. Erick struggled to defend himself as she attacked him fiercely. In the hallway of the bar, the commotion inside the room caught attention. Customers gathered around door 57, curious and frightened. ¡ª What¡¯s going on? ¡ª someone in the crowd asked. Louis and Lilithy came running up the stairs, alarmed by the noise. ¡ª It¡¯s Onee-sama¡¯s room! ¡ª Lilithy exclaimed. ¡ª We have to get in there now! Before they could move, a huge wolf-man blocked their path, lazily holding a glass of wine. ¡ª Where do you think you¡¯re going? Can¡¯t you see the man is working in there? ¡ª he said mockingly. ¡ª H-hey! They slipped past him and rushed to the room. Upon opening the door, they saw Erick being held by the neck by the girl, who looked ready to kill him. ¡ª Louis, help me! Tie her up with that rope! ¡ª Erick shouted. ¡ª Lilithy, stop him! Beat that brat up! ¡ª the girl shouted back. ¡ª This is all a misunderstanding! Both yelled at the same time. ¡ª Huh?
After some struggle, the situation finally calmed down. Louis explained everything that had happened. ¡ª And that¡¯s what happened¡­ ¡ª I see¡­ but even so, I can¡¯t go with you. ¡ª But, Rose nee-sama, why? ¡ª Lilithy asked, concerned. ¡ª You know we can¡¯t trust humans. Especially that one. ¡ª Rose shot a furious glare at Erick. ¡ª I already apologized for that¡­ ¡ª he muttered. ¡ª Hmph. Besides, we can¡¯t leave this village. The atmosphere grew tense. Rose looked uncomfortable, her face beginning to pale. Erick noticed she was hiding something but chose not to push her. ¡ª If you have nothing else to say, I ask you to leave. ¡ª Nee-sama¡­ ¡ª So you¡¯re really not coming with us¡­ In that case, I think I¡¯ve found the solution! Erick stood up and ran toward the door. ¡ª Hey, Nii, where are you going?! The door slammed shut. ¡ª What¡¯s up with him?... ¡ª I¡¯d like to know too¡­ ¡ª Louis murmured. As Louis and Lilithy waited, worried about Erick¡¯s delay, a loud crash echoed from outside. The bar¡¯s wall was destroyed, and Erick emerged holding the old Gur, tied up. ¡ª Oh, hey. ¡ª What are you doing, human?! ¡ª Rose yelled in disbelief. ¡ª I thought that if I brought him here, you¡¯d come with us. With his permission, you can leave, right? Rose was in shock, but before she could answer, an overwhelming aura filled the room.Stolen story; please report. ¡ª How dare you, brat?! ¡ª the Gur roared, his voice reverberating like thunder. The pressure was so intense that everyone around could barely breathe. Erick felt paralyzed as the ground began to shake violently. ¡ª What is this pressure?!¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­ ¡ª You fool! Did you really think I would just let you take them away?! Never! I would never let those two failures leave this village. ¡ª But you even gave us their room numbers! So you were lying this whole time?! ¡ª Erick said, irritated. Rocks began to rise around them as he chanted an ancient spell. ¡ª W-what¡¯s happening?! ¡ª Golem Creation Magic: Murahura! A gigantic golem emerged, its presence intimidating everyone around. Louis barely had time to react before a colossal hand came crashing down toward him. ¡ª Louis, watch out! Fortunately, Erick pushed him away at the last second but ended up being thrown far off, crashing into the trees. ¡ª Nii! Are you okay?! ¡ª Louis asked, running to Erick. ¡ª Yeah¡­ it didn¡¯t hurt that much¡­ At the moment Louis was helping Erick up, a heavy sound of footsteps caught his attention. He quickly turned around and saw the golem advancing toward him. Louis instinctively placed himself in front of Erick, even without knowing how to face it. ¡ª Please! Stop! Don¡¯t hurt them! ¡ª Lilith shouted. Her eyes shone with a mix of fear and courage, but her expression pleaded for mercy. Gur abruptly stopped the golem and looked at her, his eyes now full of disdain. ¡ª Shut up, you freak ¡ª he said with cutting coldness. Those words weighed like a blade on Lilith¡¯s soul, and she lowered her head, visibly shaken. ¡ª Don¡¯t talk to her like that! ¡ª Rose advanced with uncontrollable rage, ready to face Gur. Gur raised an eyebrow as if he found the situation pathetic. But before he could respond, the older sister leaped forward in a swift jump, attacking him with all her strength. Gur, in turn, summoned a smaller golem to attack her. Louis and Erick watched the scene in astonishment as the girl fought fiercely against the village leader. ¡ª ¡°Such strength¡­¡± Erick thought, looking in amazement. ¡ª Nii, can you move? We need to help her! ¡ª Louis grabbed his brother¡¯s arm, who, with effort, nodded. The massive golem was coming toward them. ¡ª Why does this old man have to be so strong?! ¡ª Erick shouted, panting. The battle had only just begun, and the field had turned into the stage of an intense and relentless fight.
Inside the Paths'' base, Cosmo was sitting calmly, observing the horizon without showing any concern. ¡ª Captain... are you sure they¡¯ll be okay? ¡ª Wally asked, visibly worried. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry. As long as they don¡¯t anger that old Gur, everything will be fine.And I trust Erick; he wouldn¡¯t do anything like that! ¡ª Cosmo replied with a carefree smile. Meanwhile, Erick could barely contain Gur¡¯s advance. ¡ª "Damn it, I can¡¯t even get close to him¡­" The enormous golem continued its devastating attacks while Erick and Louis did their best to defend themselves. ¡ª You¡¯re skilled, but you chose to hide it for so long. Why? ¡ª Gur said as his smaller golem attacked Rose relentlessly. Rose, already visibly exhausted, tried to dodge the attacks. Her breathing was heavy, but the fury in her eyes did not wane. ¡ª Tch! You¡¯ll pay for everything you did to me and Lilith! ¡ª Rose declared, consumed by rage. The smaller golem struck her hard, throwing her violently against several trees. ¡ª Rose-nee! ¡ª Lilith screamed, running toward her sister. Rose struggled to get up as the smaller golem grabbed her. Gur approached, holding her chin with disdain. ¡ª You should be grateful I spared you and your sister. Working in that bar was a favor. Otherwise, you¡¯d both be dead by now. ¡ª You¡­ damn old bastard¡­ The golem began crushing her slowly, and screams of pain echoed through the field. Suddenly, an electric attack was launched toward Gur, who managed to dodge at the last moment. ¡ª Let her go! ¡ª Erick shouted, his clothes in tatters but his determination intact. ¡ª What?! How did you get past Murahura?! ¡ª Gur asked, incredulous. ¡ª It was tough, but we managed. Right, Louis? Louis appeared behind the smaller golem, managing to free Rose. ¡ª How is this possible?! ¡ª Gur shouted, surprised. ¡ª Your biggest mistake was creating such a big golem, old man. As they say, the bigger they are¡­ With impressive speed, Erick attacked Gur, throwing him against several trees. ¡ª ¡­the harder they fall! Lilith ran to Rose, who was in Louis¡¯ arms. ¡ª Nee¡­ ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s just unconscious. ¡ª Louis reassured her. The ground began trembling violently. Erick went on alert as Gur got up, his aura becoming even more intense. ¡ª I am Gur Herwolfys, the leader of this village. Do you really think I¡¯ll lose to a mere human?! ¡ª Golem Transformation Magic: Albion! Rocks began covering Gur¡¯s body, transforming him into a colossal golem, larger than the forest itself. ¡ª W-What a huge¡­ ¡ª Erick said, swallowing hard. The giant attacked, creating a massive crater in the ground around them. Erick quickly checked on his allies. They nodded silently, but the fear was palpable. Erick clenched his fists, his strength starting to wane. ¡ª "Damn it¡­ why did the captain send us on such a difficult mission?!" Erick finally made a decision. ¡ª Louis, take Rose and Lilith away from here. Now. ¡ª No! I can¡¯t leave you alone again! ¡ª Louis protested, his voice heavy with painful memories. ¡ª I know¡­ but this time, I need you all to be safe. ¡ª Lilith, go with him¡­ ¡ª Rose said, waking up dazed. ¡ª Rose-nee, what about you? ¡ª Lilith asked, distressed. ¡ª I have unfinished business with this old man¡­ Reluctantly, Louis and Lilith began to retreat. ¡ª Don¡¯t die this time, Nii. ¡ª Louis said before disappearing into the forest. ¡ª I¡¯ll try¡­ Now, only Erick and Rose remained against Gur. ¡ª Hey, Rose¡­ I wanted to apologize for trying to kidnap you before. I¡¯m sorry. After this, can we be friends? Rose rolled her eyes and pushed away the hand Erick extended. ¡ª Hmph. I still hate you, human. ¡ª Ahhh¡­ ¡ª Erick sighed, disappointed. Without more words, the two charged at Gur, dodging his devastating attacks. Rose used her feline abilities to climb the gigantic golem¡¯s arm. ¡ª Get off my arm! Golem Gur raised his massive hand, destroying trees and rocks around him. But Rose didn¡¯t stop. With swift steps, she ran up the steep path without hesitation. Several mini golems emerged from the arm where Rose was and began attacking her. She struggled, as more mini golems appeared every moment. ¡ª Tch, damn it¡­ Rose noticed another arm coming toward her, ready to crush her. With an agile movement, she jumped onto that arm and, without losing momentum, kept running, skillfully dodging the mini golems¡¯ attacks. Every move was precise until she finally reached the top of the golem¡¯s head. ¡ª So this is where you are. She broke part of the golem¡¯s head, revealing Gur inside. ¡ª You¡­! Gur emerged from the golem and started fighting Rose. ¡ª Do you think only my golems are strong?! Gur unleashed a series of heavy blows toward Rose, who struggled to dodge. Her movements were fast and precise, but she was having difficulty keeping up with Gur¡¯s speed and strength. ¡ª ¡°He¡¯s too strong!¡± Rose was struck hard, being thrown onto the golem¡¯s shoulder. Dazed, she tried to recover while Gur glared at her with eyes full of hatred, his fury overflowing. ¡ª After I kill you, I¡¯ll kill your little sister too. Rose smiled. ¡ª Hm? What¡¯s so funny? ¡ª Gur asked, surprised by her reaction. ¡ª Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re forgetting someone? Gur felt a great surge of energy and quickly looked up, seeing Erick with his hand pointed at him. ¡ª Lighting Magic: 100-Volt Power! A massive surge of electricity struck Gur from above, enveloping him in a blinding light. The impact was so powerful that Gur fell unconscious, while his immense golem began to break apart, collapsing in pieces around him. ¡ª We actually did it! ¡ª Rose said excitedly. However, her happiness vanished when she saw Erick falling unconscious. ¡ª Human! ¡ª Rose exclaimed, running quickly toward him. After a few minutes, Erick woke up, still dazed from extreme exhaustion. Louis and the others sighed in relief at seeing him awaken. ¡ª Nii! ¡ª Louis said, hugging Erick. ¡ª Did we¡­ win? ¡ª Hmph, of course, you idiot. Rose crossed her arms. ¡ªWell... now that we¡¯ve defeated him, have you changed your mind about coming with us? ¡ª Erick asked hopefully. Rose was about to refuse, but Lilith held her hand firmly, determined to support whatever decision her sister made. ¡ªAh... alright... we¡¯ll go... Erick, unable to contain his joy, jumped with happiness and hugged her, causing Rose¡¯s face to turn red immediately. ¡ªYou!!...
After "Gur¡¯s defeat" , Erick, Louis, and their new companions headed toward the Paths¡¯ base. Upon arriving, they found Cosmo sitting calmly, sipping his tea near the Paths. ¡ª Ah! Jovem Erick, vejo que voc¨º conseguiu completar a miss?o... Bainha? ¡ª Cosmo franziu as sobrancelhas, confuso, quando notou o rosto de Erick coberto de marcas de garras. ¡ªO que aconteceu com voc¨º, garoto? ¡ªIt¡¯s a long story, Captain... ¡ªHmph! Rose crossed her arms while Louis and Lilith exchanged small chuckles. In the forest, after Gur regained consciousness, he found himself facing a hooded man sitting atop a tree. ¡ªWho¡­ are you? ¡ª Gur asked warily. ¡ª¡­You¡¯re going to tell me everything you know about Cosmo and those two boys. ¡ª¡­And if I refuse?¡­ In the blink of an eye, his foot was severed, and Gur collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain as blood spilled everywhere. ¡ªI¡¯ll tell you, I swear! ¡ª he pleaded. ¡ªGood... Some time later, a village woman was walking through the forest when a strange sound made her stop. As she approached, she witnessed a horrifying scene. The village leader, Gur, was disfigured, his body shredded and strewn across multiple trees like a grotesque decoration. His entrails hung from the branches, twisted into ropes of flesh. The woman screamed in horror, but before she could react, her head was brutally torn off, blood gushing as her lifeless body fell to the ground. ¡ªI¡¯m coming, Cosmo¡­ Like a shadow in the wind, the hooded man vanished, evaporating without leaving a trace. Revelation City of Ars The leader of the mage squad walked through the small, deserted square, where absolute silence dominated the atmosphere. Sensing a presence behind him, he abruptly stopped and crossed his arms before turning around. ¡ª I didn¡¯t expect to see you so soon ¡ª he said, fixing his gaze on the hooded man, who remained leaning against a wall with a calm expression. ¡ª So, what did you manage to find? ¡ª he continued, cutting straight to the point. The hooded man slowly lifted his eyes before responding. ¡ª The boys you¡¯re looking for are named Erick and Louis. Cosmo is protecting them at his base. ¡ª I already know that! ¡ª the leader interrupted, visibly irritated. ¡ª Stop telling me the obvious! He stepped forward and grabbed the hooded man by the shoulder, his aura emanating an intimidating pressure. However, the other remained unfazed, keeping his serene expression. ¡ª However, I discovered their next moves... and their exact locations. The leader relaxed his posture, releasing the hooded man. He placed a hand on his chin, clearly impressed. ¡ª You¡¯re more useful than I imagined. Without another word, the leader turned and began to walk away. ¡ª We¡¯ll meet again when you have more information. Next time, I expect twice as much. ¡ª he said, disappearing through the door of a nearby bar. ¡ª As you wish... ¡ª the hooded man replied before vanishing without a trace.
Two days had passed since Rose and Lilith joined the Paths. For the two sisters, everything was still very new. Lilith struggled to navigate the enormous headquarters, where everything seemed like a labyrinth. Rose, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable with the oppressive silence of the place, unable to call it home. The two were sitting near a small garden, enjoying a moment of rest, when they heard a voice calling them. ¡ª Hey, Lilith! Rose! ¡ª Erick waved excitedly as he approached. Rose rolled her eyes, standing up without saying a word and heading inside. ¡ª Hey, wait! ¡ª Erick exclaimed, surprised by her reaction. ¡ª Good morning! ¡ª said Cosmo, coming from the opposite direction, crossing paths with Rose as she entered the headquarters. He glanced at Erick, clearly amused by the situation. ¡ª Looks like someone here doesn¡¯t like you, kid. Erick sighed, casting a tired look at Lilith, who was still sitting. ¡ª Is she always like that? ¡ª he asked. Lilith placed a hand on her chin, thoughtful. ¡ª Nee-sama acts like that sometimes... but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen her react this way to someone, Erick-kun. Cosmo let out a short laugh, lightly patting Erick¡¯s shoulder. ¡ª Seems like you¡¯re a special case! ¡ª Ahh... I just wish I knew why she hates me so much... ¡ª Erick sighed, looking up at the sky. Later, Erick was walking through the long corridors of the headquarters, exhausted after an intense training session imposed by Cosmo. As he continued, he spotted Louis and Lilith talking and decided to observe them from a distance. ¡ª I see... so you don¡¯t have feline traits? ¡ª Louis asked, curious. ¡ª Yes... unlike onee-sama, I was born without feline abilities or features... ¡ª Lilith responded, her tone sad. ¡ª I know how that feels... ¡ª Louis murmured, averting his gaze. Lilith looked at him, confused. ¡ª I was born without magic. ¡ª Louis explained, his voice trembling. ¡ª I can¡¯t fight like the others and I¡¯m always being saved by nii. He gets hurt because of me... Even if they say I¡¯m strong, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m useless. ¡ª Louis-san... ¡ª But, even so, he believes in me, and the others support me so I won¡¯t give up. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t let them down. Louis lifted his head with a determined smile. ¡ª You¡¯re right... ¡ª Lilith said, returning the smile. Erick, watching the scene from afar, gave a small smile. ¡ª Don¡¯t give up, Louis... ¡ª he murmured before turning to leave. However, he ended up bumping into someone on the way. ¡ª M-Mister Angel! I¡¯m sorry! ¡ª Erick stammered, startled as he recognized the person. Angel stared at him coldly before grabbing his shoulder. ¡ª If you bump into me again, I¡¯ll throw you out the window. ¡ª he said in a crushing tone. ¡ª Y-Yes! It won¡¯t happen again, I promise! ¡ª Erick replied, almost panicking. Angel released the boy and walked to his room without looking back. Erick, now alone in the corridor, sighed deeply. ¡ª Why does nobody like me...? ¡ª he murmured before heading up the stairs toward the dormitory.
Meeting Room ¡ª Today, you will be going to Cilvett. ¡ª announced Cosmo, firmly placing a map on the table. Erick raised his hand, his curiosity evident. ¡ª Captain, what kind of place is this...? Cosmo smiled confidently, crossing his arms. ¡ª Good thing you asked! Cilvett is a village famous for its imposing magical barriers, capable of repelling any impure beings for decades! However... ¡ª His expression suddenly turned serious. ¡ª Some time ago, there were more than ten disappearances. One of the villagers claimed to have seen an Inverse wandering through the village. So, I want you all to investigate and exorcise the creature. ¡ª he concluded, sitting back in his chair. Louis, hesitant, raised his hand. ¡ª But, Captain... isn''t it too dangerous for us to go alone...? Cosmo let out a light laugh, shaking his head. ¡ª Of course it would be! That''s why you¡¯ll be going with Rose, Lilith, Mei, and Emily. ¡ª He grinned widely, seeming to enjoy the situation. Rose''s eyes widened, and she leaned forward, incredulous. ¡ª Wait a minute! Why do I have to go with him?! ¡ª she asked, pointing at Erick with irritation. Cosmo laughed loudly and stood up, placing a hand on Erick''s shoulder. ¡ª Because it¡¯s going to be fun! ¡ª he replied, leaving a teasing tone in his voice. Rose huffed, turning sideways with her arms crossed, clearly embarrassed. Louis and Lilith, in turn, tried desperately to hold back their laughter at the scene. ¡ª And don¡¯t worry! Mei and I will be protecting you! ¡ª Emily said, pulling Mei closer and nodding. With the mission assigned, the group set off north towards Cilvett village.
Dark Forest The group walked through the dense, dark forest separating Cilvett from Selvitt. The atmosphere was suffocating, with a low mist covering the ground, and the branches above formed sinister silhouettes. ¡ª What a scary place... ¡ª Louis murmured, his voice trembling as he followed the group. Emily held a map in her hands, frowning as she tried to decipher it. ¡ª Cosmo-chan said the village is somewhere around here... ¡ª she commented, her tone slightly frustrated. Uneasy sounds echoed around them, as if the entire forest were alive. Louis stopped when he saw a small rabbit among the bushes. However, something about it seemed... off. Without thinking twice, he grabbed Erick, trembling with fear. ¡ª Nii! What is that?! Erick looked at the animal, confused. ¡ª It''s just a little bunny, Louis. Nothing to worry about. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.Louis sighed with relief but kept his eyes fixed on the little animal, still suspicious. ¡ª Oh... o-okay... As they moved on, the darkness of the forest grew more oppressive. The cold penetrated their bones, and the dark aura thickened with every step. ¡ª This place gives me the creeps... ¡ª Rose murmured, swallowing hard. Feeling the weight of the atmosphere, Erick decided to act. He knelt to the ground, reciting his new magic with determination. ¡ª Electricity Magic: Electric Sense! Lightning dispersed from the ground in multiple directions, scanning the terrain. Erick sensed a higher concentration of energy coming from the south and, without hesitation, began to run in that direction. Mei sensed the same presence and immediately followed him. ¡ª Hey, wait for me! ¡ª Emily shouted, running after them. In their haste, the trio ended up leaving Rose, Louis, and Lilith behind. ¡ª Seriously, they forgot about us?! ¡ª Rose shouted, indignant. Lilith clung to Louis''s arm, trembling. ¡ª I¡¯m scared... Louis tried to stay calm, but the feeling of being watched from all directions made him break into a cold sweat. ¡ª It''ll be fine... I hope... ¡ª he replied, swallowing hard as his eyes scanned the darkness.
Cilvett Village Erick finally emerged from the forest, breathless, stopping at the entrance of the village. Mei was already there, analyzing the situation. ¡ª Finally! ¡ª said Erick, taking a deep breath after the exhausting run. When he tried to enter the village, Mei stopped him with a serious expression. ¡ª Don¡¯t be foolish. You¡¯ll die if you try to pass. ¡ª she warned, closely observing the surroundings. ¡ª I¡¯m here! ¡ª shouted Emily, emerging from the opposite side of the forest and walking straight towards the entrance of the village. Before she could be stopped, all the magical traps were triggered simultaneously. Beams of energy, flames, and invisible blades hit her directly. Erick ran toward her in panic. ¡ª Miss Emily! But he wasn¡¯t fast enough. Emily fell to the ground, her body marked with severe burns and deep cuts. Erick stopped, paralyzed by shock, as the villagers came out of their homes armed. ¡ª Intruders! ¡ª Who are you?! Erick fell to his knees, still staring at Emily¡¯s fallen body. ¡ª No... Suddenly, Emily stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes as if nothing had happened. ¡ª Ouch... that hurt! ¡ª she complained, massaging her shoulder. ¡ª M-Miss Emily...?! ¡ª murmured Erick, incredulous. The villagers recoiled, terrified. ¡ª She... she¡¯s a witch! ¡ª they shouted, their voices echoing through the village. ¡ª Calm down, ladies. Let me handle this. Answered a large man wielding a blade. ¡ª Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Sfritz! ¡ª one of the villagers responded with sparkling eyes. Sfritz charged at Emily and pierced her stomach with his blade, then pulled it out and pierced her heart. ¡ª See? All done. Emily looked at him, confused. ¡ª You tried to kill me? Sfritz screamed and stepped back, pointing the blade at her, his hands trembling. ¡ª H-how!? Y-you witch!! When he tried to attack again, he was stopped by the village chief. ¡ª That¡¯s enough, Sfritz. ¡ª Yes, Mr. Krurs... Sfritz nodded and slowly retreated, still glaring at Emily. ¡ª M-Miss Mei... what just happened here? ¡ª Erick murmured to Mei, still in disbelief at what had happened. ¡ª Exactly what you saw. Miss Emily can''t die no matter what. ¡ª she replied, her tone neutral. The leader walked over to them. ¡ª Apologies for the poor reception... ¡ª said the leader, kneeling. The villagers were stunned by the leader''s actions. Emily walked over to him and helped him up. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s fine. ¡ª Emily said with a smile. Krurs nodded and placed his hand on his long beard. ¡ª We haven''t properly introduced ourselves yet... I am Krurs Yvens the 3rd, leader of Cilvett. ¡ª I am Emily Line, Path No. 2, and these are Mei and Erick-chan. ¡ª Chan?... ¡ª Erick murmured, slightly blushing. Krurs widened his eyes in astonishment. ¡ª Paths! You are the ones the cosmos spoke of... So, I suppose you already know why you''ve been summoned here... ¡ª Krurs asked, his expression turning somewhat serious. ¡ª Yes... ¡ª Emily replied. Erick and Mei exchanged serious glances. ¡ª I ask you to come with me... ¡ª Krurs began walking, with the trio following behind.
After some time traveling, the group arrived at a small house. The walls were covered with posters of missing women. Erick couldn''t look away ¡ª girls of all ages, kidnapped or, perhaps, something worse. ¡ª Three days ago, several women started disappearing, one after another... ¡ª Krurs said, stroking his beard with a serious expression. ¡ª From what the townspeople say, only attractive women are being taken. This is causing immense panic in Cilvett. Emily placed her hand on the table, deep in thought. ¡ª Cilvett is a place with a high concentration of runic energy... So why are only girls disappearing? This doesn¡¯t make sense... Erick furrowed his brows, clearly worried. The situation seemed more serious than he had imagined. Mei, on the other hand, remained expressionless, as usual. ¡ª "How can Miss Mei stay so calm?" ¡ª Erick thought, sighing. ¡ª My daughter disappeared a day ago... But in her last letters, she mentioned seeing something, a shadow. ¡ª Krurs revealed, his voice filled with pain. ¡ª Shadow... ¡ª Erick murmured, lost in thought. ¡ª Well... ¡ª Mei stood up, walking toward Emily. ¡ª Maybe the rumors about this ''inverse'' are connected to the disappearances. Emily nodded, looking at Krurs. ¡ª Don''t worry, we will find it and put an end to this. ¡ª Her voice carried a confident tone, accompanied by a slight smile. ¡ª Thank you... again. ¡ª Krurs gave a small nod before leaving, leaving the trio alone. When night fell, the group gathered around the table, now covered with notes and posters. Emily was taking notes, while Mei sketched disappearance patterns. Erick, lost in thought, watched the two. ¡ª "Miss Mei and Miss Emily are so strange sometimes... But when things get serious, they completely change." ¡ª Hm, Erick-chan? ¡ª Emily¡¯s voice brought him back to reality. She was right in front of him, staring intently. ¡ª M-Miss Emily?! ¡ª You''ve been watching us all this time. What were you thinking, huh? ¡ª Emily asked with a mischievous smile. ¡ª N-nothing! I was just thinking about how to finish this mission! ¡ª Erick replied, averting his gaze, his cheeks slightly flushed. ¡ª Hmm, sure... ¡ª Emily responded, clearly doubtful. Mei interrupted them by placing her notes on the table. ¡ª So far, we have this: an inverse called ''Shadow'' is capturing attractive women every night. So, what¡¯s the plan? ¡ª Any ideas, Erick-chan?¡ª Emily and Mei stared at him, waiting for a response. ¡ª W-well... Since it only captures attractive women, why don¡¯t we use one as bait? ¡ª Erick suggested hesitantly. The two exchanged glances before Emily broke into a smile. ¡ª What a great idea! ¡ª she exclaimed, hugging Erick. ¡ª Mei, you¡¯d be perfect! ¡ª What?! Why me?! You¡¯re attractive too! ¡ª Mei retorted, crossing her arms. The two started arguing until they stopped and simultaneously turned to Erick. ¡ª Which one of us is better for this?! ¡ª W-well... er... Before Erick could answer, the door burst open. Rose, Lilith, and Louis entered, covered in branches and leaves. ¡ª We finally got out of that forest! I''m exhausted! ¡ª Rose complained, leaning against the wall. Mei and Emily exchanged mischievous glances before smiling. ¡ª I think we found our solution. ¡ª W-why are you looking at me like that?! ¡ª Rose asked, stepping back, alarmed. Later, at midnight, in the center of the village, Rose was tied to the fountain. The pale moonlight illuminated the area, while a thin mist curled along the ground. The soft sound of flowing water echoed in the night¡¯s silence, creating an unsettling contrast with the situation. ¡ª I can¡¯t believe you did this to me! ¡ª Rose yelled, staring into the emptiness. ¡ª Ugh... At least it can¡¯t get any worse... Before she could finish, a dense fog enveloped the area. A shadow began to form around her. ¡ª W-what is this...? ¡ª Her voice trembled with fear. ¡ª What a beauty you are...¡ª a voice whispered in her ear, making Rose shudder. ¡ª W-who are you?! Stop touching me! ¡ª Rose struggled to break free, but it was useless. ¡ª I am what you call... Ah, yes, an inverse. ¡ª He smiled, holding her waist. ¡ª N-no way... Inverses are irrational monsters! How can you talk?! ¡ª It seems you still have much to learn about the world...¡ª he replied, holding Rose¡¯s face. ¡ª Now, you will be the most precious trophy in my collection... He leaned in toward her lips, but suddenly, his body froze. He tried to move, but he was paralyzed. ¡ª What is this?! ¡ª he shouted, furious. Rose smiled, now confident. ¡ª Looks like you fell right into our trap. ¡ª You...! What did you do to me?! Before he could continue, a surge of energy blasted him away. He tried to recover but was surrounded. ¡ª Rose, are you okay?! ¡ª Erick ran to untie her. ¡ª Tch... You guys will pay for this later. ¡ª Rose crossed her arms, clearly irritated. The shadow, now cornered, looked around, searching for an escape. ¡ª Give up. There''s nowhere to run. ¡ª Mei pointed her dagger directly at him. An even denser mist began to form, and the figure climbed a wall, trying to escape upward. ¡ª Don''t let him get away! ¡ª Emily shouted, her voice cutting through the silence of the night. Mei lunged forward, trying to grab him, but her hand passed through the enemy¡¯s body ¡ª it was just an illusion. The real enemy was already in the air, leaping before landing on the rooftops and starting his escape. "Be useful, Erick!" Mei¡¯s voice echoed in Erick¡¯s mind like a call to action. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead as he began to chant the incantation. ¡ª Lightning Magic: Electric Spear! A shining spear of electricity formed in his hands. With a swift motion, he hurled it toward the fleeing shadow. The attack was precise, striking the enemy head-on and sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding impact. However, Erick nearly lost his balance, his energy drained. Before he could collapse, Louis appeared just in time to catch him. ¡ª Are you okay, nii? ¡ª Louis asked, his concern evident. ¡ª Yeah... just... exhausted... ¡ª Erick replied, leaning on his brother while holding his head. On the ground, the shadow struggled to rise, its movements slow and unsteady. It stared at Emily and Mei, who were now cautiously approaching. The mist around them was beginning to dissipate. The moonlight now shone brightly, slowly revealing the face hidden in the darkness. ¡ª Damn it... ¡ª N-no way... ¡ª Erick murmured, his face turning pale. ¡ª M-Mr. Sfritz?! The man on the ground rose with difficulty, a twisted smile on his lips, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of insanity and pleasure. ¡ª Yes, it''s me... ¡ª Sfritz responded, his voice carrying an eerie tone as he bared razor-sharp teeth. ¡ª Looks like I''ve been discovered... The atmosphere was heavy, the tension in the air almost tangible. No one could process what they were seeing. The mist, which had momentarily cleared, began to return, covering the ground in a thick layer of darkness. Sfritz''s body, in turn, was being swallowed by black and purple shadows that twisted like ravenous serpents, wrapping around him in a menacing way. His transformation was undeniable ¡ª he was no longer human. The wind howled fiercely, shaking the trees and creating an unsettling sound, as if nature itself was reacting to the growing power of that being. The leaves rustled violently, as if the trees were trying to flee from Sfritz¡¯s presence, but there was nowhere to run. Every movement only heightened the tension, keeping everyone on high alert. Moonlight filtered through the shadows, illuminating Sfritz¡¯s distorted figure, now cloaked in a malevolent and unrecognizable aura. His eyes gleamed with an unnatural glow, and the black claws that had emerged from his hands reflected the light in a terrifying way. It was impossible to deny ¡ª this was no longer the man they once knew. He had become something far more dangerous, a creature of the shadows, imbued with supernatural power. The group was surrounded. Erick could feel the looming sense of danger intensifying with each passing second. The air was thick with the threat of an impending battle, one that could decide the fate of them all. Secrets ¡ªThat¡¯s it! I won again! ¡ª Cosmo exclaimed, holding a red handkerchief with a victorious smile. ¡ªAhh... I lost! ¡ª Wally responded, throwing his hands up in frustration. The two were sitting close together, engaged in a friendly, albeit one-sided, game. ¡ªYou''re really terrible at this game, Wally! One more time! ¡ª Cosmo teased, laughing. Wally sighed, shaking his head before grabbing another handkerchief. ¡ªOkay... this time, I''ll win! ¡ª he said with determination, carefully folding the red handkerchief. ¡ª... Not far away, Angel was lying near the window, relaxing. The soft moonlight illuminated his calm face. Cosmo, always observant, noticed his presence and waved in his direction. ¡ªHey, Angel, don¡¯t you want to play with us? While Cosmo called out to Angel, Wally took advantage of the distraction to try and hit him with the handkerchief. However, Cosmo dodged easily and, with a quick movement, retaliated, striking Wally on the shoulder. Angel glanced at them briefly, crossing his arms with a disinterested expression before turning his attention back to the moon. ¡ªShouldn''t you be worried about the rookies on their mission? ¡ª he replied, dry and direct. Cosmo shrugged, still smiling, while holding onto Wally, who was trying to recover from yet another defeat. ¡ªThey''ll be fine! Mei and Emily are taking care of them! ¡ª he said with contagious enthusiasm. ¡ª So, come play with us! ¡ªNo, thanks. I''m not interested. Angel stood up and walked toward the hallway, heading to his room. ¡ªHmpf, he¡¯s so boring. ¡ª Cosmo muttered, watching Angel walk away. ¡ªYou should pay attention to your opponent! ¡ª Wally shouted, taking the chance to launch another attack. Cosmo, as agile as ever, dodged again and hit him with the handkerchief before he could react. ¡ªI won again! The night continued peacefully. The trees swayed gently under the serene breeze, while the wind blew calmly through the area, bringing an atmosphere of peace to that moment of relaxation and companionship.
Village of Cilvett The group stood face to face with Sfritz, who had now assumed his inverted form. A distorted smile was spread across his face as he stared at the young warriors. Erick, Louis, Rose, and Lilithy trembled, unable to withstand the oppressive pressure they were feeling for the first time in their lives. Mei and Emily positioned themselves, ready for battle. ¡ªErick... ¡ª Emily whispered, looking at him. ¡ªYou need to find the missing women. Mei and I will hold him off here. Erick swallowed hard, nodding with difficulty as sweat dripped down his face. ¡ªY-yeah... ¡ªBut what about you two...? ¡ª Rose asked, her voice trembling. ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. We¡¯re strong! ¡ª Emily reassured them with a confident smile. Mei simply nodded in silent agreement. With no other choice, the group retreated, leaving Mei and Emily to face Sfritz alone. ¡ªHahaha! Do you really think you can defeat me? Two such beautiful little girls? ¡ª Sfritz taunted, but his hand began to tremble involuntarily, a warning of danger. ¡ª"What¡¯s happening...? What is this strange feeling?!" ¡ª he thought, staring at them. Before he could reflect further, he dashed forward like a blur, appearing behind Emily and impaling her with his sword. Emily was caught off guard and collapsed to the ground, motionless. Sfritz withdrew his blade and lunged at Mei, attacking with a fierce flurry of strikes. ¡ªDie! ¡ª he roared, intensifying each blow. Mei dodged every attack with superhuman agility and precision. In a swift motion, she grabbed Sfritz¡¯s sword and snapped it in half. ¡ªH-how?! ¡ª he exclaimed, in disbelief. ¡ªYou talk too much. Mei delivered a powerful punch to Sfritz¡¯s face, sending him flying violently through several nearby houses. When the dust settled, he lay on the ground, struggling to get up. ¡ªI-impossible! What kind of magic is this?! ¡ª he shouted. ¡ªIt¡¯s not magic. ¡ª Mei replied, walking calmly toward him. ¡ªIt¡¯s true! ¡ª Emily said, suddenly appearing beside Sfritz, casually sitting. ¡ª Mei doesn¡¯t use magic! Sfritz''s eyes widened, stepping back upon seeing her. ¡ªHow are you here?! I killed you!! Suddenly, blood spikes erupted from the ground, piercing Sfritz and immobilizing him in place. ¡ªW-what?! ¡ªBlood Magic: Thorn Prison ¡ª Emily recited, her voice cold and determined. ¡ª Blood Spear. A colossal spear made of blood emerged from the ground, piercing Sfritz and launching him into the air. Before he could react, Mei appeared above him and delivered a devastating kick, sending him crashing back down violently. Sfritz, panting, struggled to stay on his feet, his eyes filled with irritation as he glared at the two. ¡ª"Ghh... This can''t be... Who are these women?!" ¡ª he thought, stunned. The shadows around Sfritz began to intensify, covering his body and healing his wounds. His expression, once filled with arrogance, turned dark and serious. ¡ªTch... I won¡¯t underestimate you anymore... ¡ª he muttered, summoning a new sword wrapped in black and purple shadows.
Meanwhile, Erick, Louis, Rose, and Lilithy were walking through Cilvett, searching for clues about the missing women. Erick trudged forward with difficulty, still feeling the weight of exhaustion on his body. ¡ªErick-kun... are you okay? ¡ª Lilithy asked, evident concern in her voice. ¡ªYeah... I just overdid it using my magic... Erick stumbled, nearly falling, but was quickly caught by Louis. ¡ª Thank you, Louis¡­ ¡ª he said, trying to regain his balance as the group continued their search. As they walked, Rose frowned, catching a familiar scent in the air. ¡ª Blood¡­? ¡ª she murmured, her eyes widening as she quickened her pace, following the trail of the metallic odor. The group followed her in silence, stopping in front of a small, worn-down house. ¡ª Is this the place¡­? ¡ª Erick asked hesitantly. ¡ª Yes¡­ ¡ª Rose confirmed, her voice tense. Erick grasped the rusty doorknob and slowly pushed the door open, the sharp, scraping sound echoing in the silence. The interior was dark and eerily quiet, with shackles hanging from the walls and bloodstains scattered everywhere. Lilithy, frightened, clung to Rose, squeezing her eyes shut. ¡ª What happened here¡­? ¡ª Erick asked, cautiously stepping inside, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. Suddenly, a faint voice broke the silence: "Help¡­ me¡­" Erick froze, his eyes widening as he turned to the others. ¡ª Nii, did you hear that? ¡ª Louis asked, his voice trembling. "Help¡­ me¡­" ¡ª I heard it too! ¡ª Rose exclaimed, her face reflecting a mix of fear and determination as she stared into the depths of the dark house. Erick knelt down, placing his hand on the floor. A faint breeze rose through the cracks. ¡ª There''s something beneath us¡­ ¡ª he said, furrowing his brow. Rose didn''t hesitate. With her sharp claws, she tore up the wooden planks fixed to the floor, revealing a hidden underground passage. ¡ª Whoa, Rose! That was amazing! ¡ª Erick exclaimed, impressed. Rose crossed her arms, giving him a disdainful look before rolling her eyes.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡ª Hmpf! ¡ª Er¡­ ¡ª Erick sighed. The group cautiously descended through the opening, plunging into a dark and oppressive atmosphere. The underground corridor was narrow, lit only by the faint light seeping through cracks in the ceiling. After moving forward, they reached a massive door wrapped in rusty chains. ¡ª ¡­Creepy¡­ ¡ª Rose murmured, her voice lower than usual as she swallowed hard. Erick hesitated but stepped forward, his hand trembling slightly as he grasped the doorknob. ¡ª Be careful¡­ ¡ª Lilithy warned, still clinging to Rose¡¯s arm, her wide eyes filled with tension. Erick took a deep breath, gathering his courage, and slowly turned the knob. The door creaked open, revealing a scene that made their blood run cold. The inside was horrifying¡ªseveral girls were chained to the walls, their bodies marked with bruises and cuts. Some had fainted or lay collapsed on the floor, blood pooling around them. The sight was grotesque, leaving the group in absolute silence, their breaths heavy and their eyes wide with horror. "Help¡­ me¡­" A weak voice echoed through the room. One of the chained girls was still conscious but visibly weak, her shackled hands bleeding from deep cuts. Erick rushed forward, ignoring the tightness in his chest, and carefully freed her from the shackles. ¡ª What¡­ what did Mr. Sfritz do to you?! ¡ª he asked, his voice trembling with indignation. At the mention of Sfritz¡¯s name, the girl broke into uncontrollable sobs, her body shaking. Before Erick could say anything else, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to him tightly before passing out. A heavy silence filled the room. Erick remained kneeling for a moment, his expression hardening as he held the unconscious girl. ¡ª Let¡¯s free the others¡­ ¡ª he said, his voice low but filled with determination. ¡ª Erick-kun¡­? ¡ª Lilithy called hesitantly, her eyes widening as she noticed the seriousness on Erick¡¯s face. The group worked silently, freeing the other victims. Each unlocked shackle revealed more wounds, more signs of suffering. The atmosphere felt suffocating. After some time, they managed to get all the girls out of the underground passage. Outside, the moonlight illuminated the group''s tired but relieved faces. ¡ª How are they? ¡ª Erick asked, looking at Lilithy, who was examining the girls. ¡ª ¡­Very bad¡­ ¡ª Lilithy answered, her expression worried. ¡ª They¡¯ll need a lot of rest and care to recover¡­ Erick nodded, his fists clenched at his sides. ¡ª Nii¡­ ¡ª ¡­He¡¯s going to pay for what he did. ¡ª he murmured, his voice carrying barely contained rage as he looked at the horizon.
Sfritz was panting, his body trembling as he struggled to stay on his feet. His ruined arm hung uselessly at his side, and his face was covered in blood, but the hatred and frustration in his eyes burned intensely. ¡ª "How is this possible¡­? I can''t lose to them!" ¡ª he thought, trying to resist the crushing exhaustion. ¡ª You''re more resilient than I expected. ¡ª Mei said, walking toward him calmly, her eyes locked on him. ¡ª Just give up already. Sfritz raised his hand, trying to gather his last remaining strength to attack, but before he could react, a spear of thorns emerged from the ground, pinning his arm. ¡ª Not while I''m here. ¡ª Emily said with a confident smile as another spear appeared beside her. Sfritz found himself cornered, with no escape. The sound of footsteps echoed through the area, and he realized that Erick and the others were approaching. Erick was surprised to see Sfritz¡¯s condition. He couldn¡¯t believe that Emily and Mei had reduced such a powerful man to this state. ¡ª Oh, Erick-chan! Did you guys find the girls? ¡ª Emily asked in a playful tone. Erick nodded, but his expression carried sadness. Suddenly, a disturbing laugh broke the silence. ¡ª Hahaha¡­ Everyone turned to Sfritz, who was laughing uncontrollably, his face twisted in a crazed expression. The shadows around him began to stir, growing darker. A sinister and oppressive aura emanated from him. ¡ª I sacrifice¡­ The shadows completely engulfed Sfritz, transforming him into a horrendous creature, with dark and lilac tentacles that moved as if they had a life of their own. The pressure he exuded was overwhelming, paralyzing Erick, Louis, Lilith, and Rose in place. Their bodies trembled, and Erick''s breathing quickened. ¡ª "I-I can''t move..." ¡ª Erick thought, terror dominating his mind. ¡ª Erick-chan! ¡ª Emily''s voice echoed in his head, bringing him back to reality. Before he could react, Sfritz was already before him, the tentacles mere inches from piercing his eyes. Mei, however, arrived just in time, blocking the attack and pulling Erick back. ¡ª Pay more attention! You could have died. ¡ª Mei said in a serious tone. ¡ª S-sorry... Emily and the others quickly reached Erick and Mei. Sfritz continued advancing slowly, his tentacles dragging across the ground, becoming even more threatening. ¡ª Erick, take the others to a safe place, now. ¡ª Mei ordered, keeping her eyes locked on the enemy. ¡ª But... we want to help! ¡ª Louis responded, his voice trembling. Emily smiled softly, placing her hand on the boy''s head to calm him. ¡ª Don''t worry. We''ve faced worse things. He won''t be a problem. ¡ª she said with a reassuring smile. Reluctantly, Erick and the others began to retreat. Erick, however, couldn''t take his eyes off Emily and Mei, as a memory echoed in his mind: "If only I were a little stronger..." Mei and Emily now stood face to face with Sfritz, whose grotesque form seemed like a reflection of his complete corruption. ¡ª Looks like he lost what little humanity he had left. Are you scared? ¡ª Emily asked, teasing with a smile. ¡ª Not at all. ¡ª Mei replied with her calm and neutral tone. Sfritz lunged in a frantic motion, his massive tentacles emerging from the ground, striking toward them. Mei leaped skillfully, dodging the attacks and slicing the tentacles at high speed. Emily, however, was struck by several of them, and her blood stained the air. ¡ª Blood Magic: Thorned Spears! The blood Emily had lost transformed into multiple sharp spears that shot toward Sfritz, piercing his grotesque body. Erick and the others watched the fight from afar, their eyes wide with shock and admiration for the two warriors'' strength. ¡ª "Incredible..." ¡ª Erick thought, his eyes shining with awe. Sfritz kept attacking wildly, his strikes growing increasingly ferocious. Emily took the hits directly, but her wounds regenerated instantly¡ªher recovery was so absurd that it seemed impossible to wound her for long. Taking advantage of this opening, Mei dashed forward with impressive speed, moving like lightning into the heart of the battle. In an instant, her fist collided with Sfritz¡¯s chest with crushing force, sending him violently flying backward. The impact was so brutal that he crashed through several houses in succession, leaving a trail of destruction. Silence lingered for a moment. Then, among the rubble, Sfritz began to move. Slowly, he rose, and his wounds started regenerating once again. ¡ª I have to admit, he¡¯s really persistent. ¡ª Mei commented, crossing her arms. ¡ª Then I guess it¡¯s my turn to finish this. Emily walked forward calmly, a confident smile on her lips. The ground began to tremble violently, as if warning that something grand was about to happen. Erick and the others clung to the walls to steady themselves, while Mei observed the scene intently. Sfritz, ignoring any sign of danger, charged at Emily once more. ¡ª "Watch closely, boys¡­ this is the level you¡¯ll need to reach." She pressed her hand against the ground, and in an instant, the tremor intensified even more. Her gaze turned cold and impassive as she chanted the spell: ¡ª Blood Magic: Ultimate Blood¡¯s Destruction. From where Sfritz stood, a massive beam of blood erupted from the ground, rising like a colossal crimson waterfall. The pressure was absurd, cracking the earth around it as the energy consumed the area. Erick was left speechless, feeling the immense amount of mana Emily was radiating. Minutes later, when the dust settled, Sfritz was there¡­ or rather, what remained of him. His body began to disintegrate, dissolving into particles that faded into the sound of the wind. Emily sighed, stretching her arms. ¡ª Phew... It¡¯s been a while since I let loose like that. ¡ª She turned to the others with a big smile. Erick and the rest remained silent, their expressions reflecting pure astonishment and a slight touch of fear. Mei, on the other hand, sighed and walked over to Emily. ¡ª Don''t you think you got a little too carried away? Emily turned, only to notice the extent of the destruction. Besides devastating part of the village, her attack had also wiped out a significant portion of the forest. ¡ª Whoops... ¡ª Honestly... While the two bickered, Erick simply watched them before letting out a heavy sigh. ¡ª "The paths are truly terrifying..."
The next morning, the group gathered at the village entrance. ¡ª Thank you so much for everything you''ve done for us. ¡ª Krurs said, holding Emily¡¯s hand with gratitude. ¡ª What can I do to repay you? Emily smiled. ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re already happy just to help. Right, Mei? Mei nodded calmly. Erick noticed the girl they had saved approaching. She was still weak, part of her body wrapped in bandages, and her steps were hesitant. ¡ª Myla... you need to rest. ¡ª Krurs insisted, trying to stop his daughter. Even so, she kept going, her unsteady steps bringing her closer to Erick. Her body trembled slightly, and she struggled to speak. ¡ª Th-thank... y-you... so much... Small tears streamed down her face. Erick nodded, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. After their farewell, the group left the village and continued their journey back to their headquarters. After a long walk, they finally arrived. In the garden, Cosmo was sitting next to Wally, looking relaxed. As soon as he saw them, he broke into a wide grin and waved. ¡ª Looks like the mission was a success! ¡ª He exclaimed excitedly. ¡ª So, Erick, did you learn anything from this? Erick hesitated before responding, still trying to process everything. ¡ª Yeah... I think so... That¡¯s when Cosmo noticed something strange. Louis seemed... distant. ¡ª What¡¯s wrong, Louis? ¡ª N-nothing, I¡¯m just a little tired... Later, everyone returned to their tasks. As Erick climbed the stairs, he spotted Rose and decided to call out to her. ¡ª Hey, Rose! She stopped and turned to him, her gaze uninterested. ¡ª What do you want? Erick swallowed hard before answering. ¡ª W-well... I just wanted to say that you were amazing back there... And also, your skills were incredible... Rose¡¯s eyes widened for a brief moment. A faint blush colored her cheeks before she rolled her eyes and responded irritably: ¡ª Hmpf! Stop complimenting me! With that, she turned and quickly went up to her room. Erick let out a long sigh. ¡ª "Why does she hate me so much...?" Meanwhile, in the hallway, Louis sat by the window, staring at the garden. His expression was somber, and his eyes reflected deep thoughts. ¡ª "I couldn¡¯t do anything... As always... I really am useless..." He sighed, his expression growing even more dejected. In the distance, leaning against the wall, Cosmo watched the scene with his arms crossed and a smile... a rather enigmatic one. The Quest for the Artifact - Part 1 The night enveloped the Paths¡¯ base in an almost absolute silence. A gentle breeze made the trees sway slowly, their shadows moving like specters under the pale moonlight. The weather was pleasant, cool enough to bring tranquility¡ªbut inside one of the rooms, that peace was nothing more than an illusion. Louis tossed and turned in his bed, his face twisted in anguish. His chest rose and fell rapidly, as if he were struggling to breathe. Inside his mind, he was trapped in something far more terrifying than reality. He was there, standing in the middle of a destroyed village. The scent of ash and iron burned his nostrils. Bodies lay scattered on the ground, distorted beyond recognition. He looked to his right and saw a familiar face beneath the rubble, pleading for help¡ªuntil everything collapsed upon them. Then, a voice echoed. A cold and unmistakable voice. "You failed." Louis spun around, his heart pounding, but saw no one. Only shadows creeping around him, each taking form, each bearing empty stares. He tried to run, but his legs wouldn''t move. Then, something emerged before him. A figure. A dark reflection of himself. His eyes glowed a deep scarlet, a cruel smile adorned his face. "You know what you must do..." the copy whispered, extending a hand toward him. Several shadows rose from the ground, beginning to pull him downward¡ªinto an endless void. Louis tried to scream, but no sound came out. The deeper he sank, the more his essence faded. The figure drew closer, slow and relentless, until¡ª He woke up gasping, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. ¡ª W-what was that...? ¡ª Louis murmured, bringing a trembling hand to his chest as he tried to steady his breathing.
The next morning, Erick sat at the edge of the fountain, exhaustion evident after a long week of training. Beside him, Wally held a notebook, making notes on his progress. ¡ª You''re improving fast, Erick! ¡ª Wally said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder. Erick sighed, his eyes tired, before nodding. ¡ª Thank you, Mr. Wally... ¡ª he said, looking up at the sky. ¡ª "But why is the captain so strict with training?" Wally crossed his arms and smiled. ¡ª I understand how you feel. He was the same with us when we were your age. Erick''s eyes widened in surprise. ¡ª R-really?! ¡ª Yes. ¡ª Wally chuckled at the boy¡¯s amused expression. Erick placed a hand on his chin, still remembering the last battle. His gaze reflected admiration and amazement. ¡ª I can''t wait to be as strong as you guys! Wally stood up and placed a hand on Erick¡¯s shoulder. ¡ª But until then, you need to train a lot... and complain less! ¡ª Yes, sir! Meanwhile, Erick noticed Louis approaching. With an excited smile, he waved at his brother and ran toward him. ¡ª Hey, Louis! I want to show you something amazing I learned! Louis raised an eyebrow. ¡ª Oh... sure. Erick positioned himself on the ground, as if preparing to sprint, and recited his spell. ¡ª Electric Magic: Electric Dash! Like lightning, he dashed off, making a full lap around the Paths¡¯ headquarters before returning to Louis¡¯ side, still panting. ¡ª Well? What do you think? ¡ª It¡¯s... incredible... ¡ª Louis replied, but his voice was dull. Erick frowned, noticing his brother¡¯s weary expression. Without thinking twice, he placed a hand on Louis¡¯ shoulder. ¡ª You¡¯ve been acting strange all week, Louis... What¡¯s wrong? Louis averted his gaze for a brief moment. ¡ª It¡¯s nothing, really... I just... ¡ª He hesitated, clenching his fists. ¡ª I need to go. Without waiting for a response, he turned and entered the headquarters, rushing past Lilith and the others, who were just arriving. ¡ª What¡¯s wrong with him...? ¡ª Lilith asked, concerned. ¡ª He¡¯s been acting weird since that mission. Everyone¡¯s noticed. ¡ª Mei commented, crossing her arms. ¡ª Louis... ¡ª Erick murmured, deep in thought. From a distance, Cosmo observed everything, resting his hand on his chin, an enigmatic smile forming on his lips.
Louis sat on the staircase steps, staring into nothing as he let out a long sigh. ¡ª Hey, kid. Angel''s voice came from the top of the stairs. He stopped and observed Louis for a moment before continuing: ¡ª You''re in the way. Move. ¡ª he said in a dry tone. Louis nodded, lowering his head as he stepped aside. However, as Angel passed by him, he paused for a brief moment, analyzing Louis¡¯ dejected expression. Louis looked away, hesitant. ¡ª ...I-it''s nothing, sir... ¡ª Then stop that and smile more. Without another word, he walked out the door. Louis remained there, motionless, staring at the closed door for a long moment before finally heading upstairs.
The group was gathered around the table, all eyes on the captain. Cosmo unrolled a map over the wooden surface. ¡ª Today''s mission will be in the city of Systella. It''s known for its crystal-clear springs and rare minerals. A great vacation spot! ¡ª he said with a wide grin. ¡ª Any questions? Erick raised his hand. ¡ª Captain, why are we being sent to Systella? Cosmo snapped his fingers. ¡ª Good question! ¡ª He sat down, crossing his arms. ¡ª I want you to retrieve an ancient artifact hidden in that city. Erick tilted his head slightly. ¡ª Can you give us more details about this artifact? Cosmo laughed. ¡ª Well... actually, even I don''t know what it looks like. That''s why I want you to find it! Erick sighed, already expecting something like that from him. ¡ª Alright, we''ll do our best and¡ª ¡ª No, no. ¡ª Cosmo raised his hand to interrupt him. ¡ª Only two people will go on this mission. The group fell silent as he pointed directly at Lilith and Louis. ¡ª M-me...? ¡ª Louis widened his eyes, swallowing dryly. Erick stood up abruptly. ¡ª But, Captain, why only Louis and Lilith?! Rose also spoke up. ¡ª Yes, why?! Cosmo maintained his calm smile. ¡ª No objections. The decision has already been made. Erick looked at the others, hoping someone would protest, but everyone nodded silently, accepting the captain¡¯s choice. With the meeting concluded, everyone began leaving the room. Louis, however, remained standing at the door for a moment. ¡ª Louis... Lilith was leaning against the nearby wall, watching him. ¡ª It''s a bit scary, isn''t it...? But... ¡ª She gently held his hands. ¡ª Everything will be fine... as long as we''re together! She smiled warmly before stepping away and heading toward the stairs. Cosmo, who was also leaving the room, noticed Louis was still there. ¡ª Hm? Young Louis? Why haven¡¯t you left yet? Hesitant, Louis lifted his eyes to him. ¡ª Captain... why did you choose me...? Cosmo smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡ª Because I believe in you, Louis. Those words brought an immediate sense of relief to Louis'' heart. A wave of determination filled his chest. ¡ª Yes, Captain! ¡ª he responded with a radiant smile.
After a long journey, Louis and Lilith finally arrived before the immense gates of Systella. The place was magnificent. Lush trees surrounded the entrance, spreading a fresh and natural aroma through the air. At the city center, a massive fountain poured crystalline water like a majestic waterfall. Systella was lively, bustling, and dazzling. ¡ª Incredible! ¡ª Lilith exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with amazement. They moved forward, admiring every corner of the city. Everything was so beautiful and magical that Louis stopped before a garden, gazing at the crystalline flowers with a fascinated look. ¡ª Louis, look! ¡ª Lilith called out. He turned and saw a huge glowing flower. His eyes widened in awe at such beauty. After a long time exploring, the two walked through Systella''s plaza, but now their expressions were downcast. ¡ª I can''t believe we got lost... ¡ª Louis murmured, sighing.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡ª You''re going to pay for this! They both stopped upon hearing an angry voice and looked ahead, where two people were arguing. ¡ª No, Fynt, wait! ¡ª Let go of me! The young man called Fynt pushed the man in front of him and continued walking, visibly irritated. On his way, he noticed Louis and, without hesitation, shoved him aside. ¡ª Get out of the way! Louis fell to the ground, and Lilith quickly ran to help him up, her face filled with concern. ¡ª Louis! Are you okay?! The other man approached and sighed, looking embarrassed. ¡ª I apologize for my friend¡¯s behavior... ¡ª then, he noticed Louis and Lilith''s clothes and widened his eyes. ¡ª Are you visitors? ¡ª Er... yes ¡ª Louis replied, still recovering. ¡ª But we got lost... Could you guide us around the city? The man smiled and nodded. ¡ª Of course, no problem! ¡ª Thank you very much, sir...? ¡ª Mak. You can call me Mak! Louis nodded. ¡ª Alright!
A little while later, Louis and Lilith walked alongside Mak, who guided them through the city. He took them to various tourist spots while explaining each one. ¡ª This is the Grand Aquarium! ¡ª he said, pointing to a huge crystal-clear tank. ¡ª Wow! ¡ª the two exclaimed upon seeing a gigantic fish swimming inside. Lilith discreetly glanced at Louis from time to time. He seemed to be having a great time, which made her smile slightly. ¡ª That was amazing! ¡ª Louis said excitedly. ¡ª Systella is truly a wonderful place! Mak laughed, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡ª You''re right! I can''t wait to show you more amazing things! Louis furrowed his brow. ¡ª Ah, about that... We won¡¯t be staying here for long... ¡ª What a shame... ¡ª Mak sighed, but soon smiled. ¡ª Well, how about coming to my house? It¡¯s already getting dark, and I bet you haven¡¯t found a place to stay yet! Louis tried to decline, but Mak insisted. ¡ª Alright... ¡ª Louis sighed, giving in. Mak smiled in satisfaction and led them to his house. The exterior was charming, with a beautiful crystalline garden beside it. As he opened the door, they saw someone sitting at the table, seemingly waiting for him. ¡ª You¡¯re late again¡­ hmpf. ¡ª the girl grumbled, crossing her arms. ¡ª Er¡­ Mary¡­ sorry. ¡ª Mak smiled awkwardly, feeling a drop of sweat run down his face. ¡ª How long have you been sitting there? Mary sighed, casting a disappointed glance at him. ¡ª Long enough¡­ and I put so much effort into making dinner today¡­ what a disappointment. Mary widened her eyes, noticing Louis and Lilith standing behind him. ¡ª You brought friends today? ¡ª Yes, they came from far away! Ah, I almost forgot, this is Mary, my girlfriend. Mary, these are Louis and Lilith. ¡ª he said, pointing at them. ¡ª It''s a pleasure to meet you! ¡ª Lilith responded with a big smile. ¡ª They had nowhere to stay for the night, so I offered to help them! Mak placed his hand on Louis'' shoulder, letting out a joyful laugh. Mary finally stood up and walked toward the kitchen. ¡ª I''ll prepare some tea. A short time later, they were sitting at the table, with Louis and Lilith attentively listening to the stories being told. ¡ª And that¡¯s how I got this amazing scar! ¡ª Mak said, showing the scar on his arm. ¡ª He and Fynt have always been so reckless since they were kids, always getting into trouble. ¡ª Mary commented, covering her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter. ¡ª I always had to save them. Louis leaned forward, his curiosity evident. ¡ª You and Mr. Fynt seem to be such good friends. Why did he act that way toward you earlier? Mak fell silent for a moment, and Mary gently caressed his shoulder, comforting him. ¡ª He¡¯s been acting like that since last year. ¡ª He gripped his cup tightly. ¡ª I tried talking to him, but he rejected me every time. The atmosphere grew tense, and Mak let out a long sigh. ¡ª But maybe he has his own reasons, so I won¡¯t pressure him. ¡ª he said with a smile. ¡ª Oh, Mak, you¡¯re always so kind. ¡ª Mary held his hand, intertwining their fingers. Louis and Lilith watched, a faint blush appearing on their faces before they quickly averted their gazes. Night soon fell. Louis walked up the stairs alongside Lilith, heading to the rooms Mak had chosen for them. As they climbed, Louis was deep in thought. ¡ª "The captain said the artifact is somewhere in this city¡­ but so far, no clues." He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. ¡ª "And I can¡¯t tell Mak either¡­ he¡¯d misunderstand everything. Ahhh¡­ why did the captain give us such a difficult mission?" Louis sighed, but then, a memory echoed in his mind: "Because I believe in you, Louis." His eyes sparkled with determination. ¡ª "Leave it to me, Captain¡­" Upon reaching his room, Lilith stopped beside him. ¡ª Well¡­ good night. ¡ª she said softly before turning and entering her room. Louis watched her door for a moment before finally opening his own and stepping inside.
The next morning, the four of them walked through the city. Mary and Mak guided them through the streets, passing by large houses until they stopped in front of a crystalline lake. ¡ª They say that if you touch the water and make a wish, it will come true! ¡ª Mak grinned. ¡ª Try it! Louis leaned forward, dipping his hand into the water. The sensation was unique¡ªnot warm, not cold, just soothing. He closed his eyes. ¡ª "I wish to become stronger¡­" He sighed, opening his eyes and standing up. Lilith repeated the gesture, making her own wish in silence. ¡ª So, what did you wish for? ¡ª Mary asked curiously. Lilith smiled mysteriously. ¡ª It¡¯s a secret¡­ They continued walking until Mak stopped upon seeing an elderly man calling out to him. ¡ª I¡¯ll be right back. ¡ª he said before running toward the man. Louis furrowed his brow. ¡ª Who is he? ¡ª Adloph, one of the gatekeepers of Systella. If he came all the way here to speak with Mak, something must have happened¡­ ¡ª Mary replied, concerned. Mak returned to them. ¡ª It seems the gate was damaged last night. They need my help to fix it¡­ ¡ª he sighed, placing his hand on his head. ¡ª Well, duty calls! He hurried off. ¡ª Will he be okay? ¡ª Lilith asked, a hint of concern in her voice. ¡ª Mak is one of Systella¡¯s most talented builders. There¡¯s no job he can¡¯t handl¡ª ¡ª Mary started to say, but was abruptly interrupted. Mak returned in a rush, scratching his neck with an embarrassed smile. ¡ª Er¡­ I forgot my tools¡­ ¡ª He let out a sheepish laugh. ¡ª Could you help me get them? Before Mary could respond, Louis and Lilith stepped forward, almost in unison. ¡ª Please, let us help! Mak chuckled at their enthusiasm. ¡ª Alright, alright! You don¡¯t mind, do you, Mary? Mary simply nodded, and Mak continued: ¡ª Great! Well¡­ I left my tools with Jhyne yesterday. He works near the Grand Fountain. Louis and Lilith exchanged determined looks. ¡ª Leave it to us! ¡ª Louis said, adding in thought: "And it¡¯ll also be a great chance to search for the artifact¡­" Mak then dashed off again, leaving them behind. ¡ª Well, I think I¡¯ll prepare dinner for when he gets back. ¡ª Mary said, turning to leave. ¡ª Good luck, you two. With that, Lilith and Louis set off toward the Grand Fountain. After some time walking, they reached their destination. Beside it, there was a small bar. Louis stopped for a moment and read the sign next to the entrance. ¡ª "Jhyne¡¯s Bar". I suppose this is the place. Lilith nodded. Louis grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. The interior was spacious, with several people sitting at tables. A brief silence fell over the room as the customers cast curious glances at them. Swallowing hard, the two simply nodded and walked toward the counter. On the way, Louis accidentally bumped into someone and fell. ¡ª Ouch¡­ ¡ª he murmured, rubbing his head. ¡ª I¡¯m sorry, sir¡­ But as he looked up, a shiver ran down his spine. The man before him wore a hood, his presence emanating an unusual aura. He smiled strangely and extended a hand to help him up. ¡ª You should pay more attention to where you''re going, boy¡­ Louis hesitated, instinctively stepping back. ¡ª Y-yes¡­ Without saying another word, the man walked out the door. The relief was immediate, but the discomfort lingered. ¡ª"What was that...?"¡ªhe sighed, still staring at the door. ¡ªLouis! He turned and saw Lilith already at the counter, calling him. He walked over. Jhyne, the bartender, was cleaning a glass. ¡ªWhat brings you here?¡ªhe asked, setting the glass down on the counter. ¡ªWe came to pick up the tools Mak forgot yesterday. ¡ªHmm... Hold on a second... He bent down, searching under the counter. But before he could find them, the bar door opened again. Fynt entered, his face filled with irritation, and marched straight to the counter. ¡ªHey, old man! Give me a glass of wine. Jhyne looked up, analyzing the man for a moment before sighing. Without a word, he handed the tools to Louis and crossed his arms. ¡ªWhere are your manners, Fynt?¡ªhe said in a reprimanding tone.¡ªCan''t you ask a bit more politely? Fynt clicked his tongue, impatient. ¡ªTch. I¡¯m not in the mood for this right now. Just do as I said. He turned, and upon noticing Mak¡¯s tools in Louis and Lilith¡¯s hands, he narrowed his eyes. ¡ªHand me those tools. Now. Louis hesitated. ¡ªWe can¡¯t. Mak entrusted us with this mission. We can¡¯t just hand them over. Fynt¡¯s expression darkened. In a sudden movement, he pushed off the counter and lunged at Louis, grabbing him by the neck. Before he could tighten his grip, the other men in the bar intervened, restraining him on the spot. ¡ªLouis, are you okay?!¡ªLilith knelt beside him, helping him up. Louis clutched his neck, coughing. ¡ªY-Yeah...¡ªhe murmured, still breathless. ¡ª¡° If they hadn¡¯t held him back, I would have died... His strength is insane!¡± ¡ªLet me go, now!¡ªFynt roared, struggling against the men holding him. But no matter how hard he fought, their grip was unyielding. Then, everything around him began to darken. The environment dissolved into shadows, a cold mist forming on the ground. A voice emerged from the void, whispering, seductive. ¡ª...I see you¡¯re troubled... I can help you... Fynt¡¯s eyes widened, and he looked around, but he saw no one. ¡ªWho¡¯s there?! Show yourself! ¡ª...I am the one who can grant you power... Power to take revenge on the one who destroyed your life... The mist thinned slightly, and before him, a black orb floated, emanating a sinister presence. ¡ªJust accept... and your wish shall be granted... Fynt stared at the orb, and then a twisted smile formed on his lips. He raised his hand, touching its surface. Instantly, black shadows began to crawl over his body, engulfing him completely. Outside, Louis and Lilith stepped back, feeling an overwhelming pressure fill the room. The men holding Fynt were thrown aside like ragdolls. Fynt rose, his eyes glowing with a dark hue. A crazed grin stretched across his face. ¡ªSo this is the power of an Inverse...? He spread his arms wide, feeling the energy pulse. His aura exploded, shattering tables and chairs around him. ¡ªAmazing! ¡ªFynt... what have you...?! Before Jhyne could finish his sentence, his head was severed with a single strike. His skull rolled across the counter, leaving a trail of blood. Fynt looked at his own hand, fascinated. A distorted laugh escaped his lips. ¡ªI¡¯ve always hated you, old man... Then, he turned his gaze to Louis and Lilith. ¡ªNow... Where is he? Louis swallowed hard and stepped in front of Lilith, trying to hide the trembling in his hands. ¡ªW-We won¡¯t tell you! Fynt sighed, bored. ¡ªThen die. The ground trembled violently as he raised his hand. A sharp energy blade shot toward Louis at an absurd speed.
Erick was walking peacefully through the garden alongside Wally when he suddenly stopped abruptly. ¡ªSomething wrong, Erick?¡ªWally asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. The young man placed a hand on his chest, frowning. ¡ª...Louis...¡ªhe murmured, feeling a tightness in his heart. The Quest for the Artifact - Part 2 Time seemed to drag on, each fraction of a second stretching agonizingly. Louis watched as the energy blade tore through the air toward him¡ªfast, precise, inescapable. His body refused to react, as if trapped in a nightmare where death was inevitable, cold, and merciless. Then, in an almost imperceptible instant, Fynt''s strike passed mere centimeters from his body, leaving a destructive trail in its wake. The bar trembled violently before its structure began to collapse, walls crumbling piece by piece amid dust and debris. Fynt looked at his own hands, flexing his fingers while furrowing his brow in irritation. ¡ª Tch... I still can¡¯t control this properly... ¡ª he scoffed, tensing his muscles before turning on his heels. His eyes gleamed with a dark determination. ¡ª But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m going after Mak¡­ and you won¡¯t stop me. Without waiting for a response, he dashed out of the place, moving at an alarming speed. ¡ª Louis! Lilith grasped his arms, trying to help him up as everything around them crumbled. Her hands trembled, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to remain calm. Louis, on the other hand, remained paralyzed, his breathing uneven and his hand clutching his chest, still in shock. ¡ª Louis! ¡ª she called again, holding his hands firmly. Slowly, he began to regain his senses, but the bar was already in ruins, forcing them to run for shelter before everything collapsed completely. When the dust finally settled, Louis stood up amid the wreckage, pulling Lilith with him. He looked at her, guilt written all over his face, his fists clenched. ¡ª Lilith... I... I''m sorry... ¡ª he murmured, averting his gaze. She smiled softly, squeezing his hand in a reassuring gesture. ¡ª That doesn¡¯t matter now, Louis¡­ We need to save Mak and stop Fynt. ¡ª But how?! ¡ª Louis exclaimed, desperation evident in his voice. ¡ª He¡¯s become an Inverse! We don¡¯t stand a chance against him, and the Paths aren¡¯t here! ¡ª I know that! ¡ª Lilith shouted, her voice shaking. ¡ª But¡­ we can¡¯t just stand by and watch everyone die¡­ Louis observed her determined expression, but it was her slightly trembling hand that truly caught his attention. ¡ª You¡¯re right... ¡ª he sighed, placing his hand on his head. ¡ª I really was an idiot... He looked at Lilith, determined. ¡ª Let¡¯s save Mak! ¡ª he said, raising his hand. Lilith nodded and quickly followed the direction Fynt had gone. Louis, however, noticed a faint light coming from the now-collapsed bar counter. He slowly cleared the debris and found a dark katana, with a plaque beside it warning to remove it only in case of emergency. However, the rest of the inscription was erased due to the wreckage. Louis carefully gripped the sword, expecting the worst, but nothing happened. He secured it at his waist and hurried after Lilith. ¡ª "I hope this will be enough..." ¡ª he sighed, placing his hand on his chest as he ran.
¡ª Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s taking too long, Mak? Adloph was staring at him, arms crossed, pacing back and forth. Mak stood up, sweat dripping from his forehead. ¡ª I¡¯m doing my best, sir... but it¡¯s a bit harder without my tools... He was carefully analyzing the gates but found no severe damage. It seemed like they had been naturally removed. Mak then stood up and placed a hand on his chin. ¡ª "That¡¯s strange... It doesn¡¯t look like it was forcibly removed, and also..." He looked down, noticing black stains on the ground¡ªthe same ones that had been on the gates¡ªslowly disappearing. ¡ª "Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing..." ¡ª he sighed, placing his hands on his waist. ¡ª "I just hope Louis and Lilith found my tools..." As he turned, Mak felt something coming toward him at high speed, mere centimeters away from striking him. However, Adloph barely managed to deflect the attack, redirecting it a few meters away from them. ¡ª ...Are you okay, Mak...? ¡ª Yes... but your arm... Adloph looked at his left arm, where a deep, severe cut had begun to bleed. If he hadn¡¯t redirected the attack, he would have died on the spot. He tore part of his clothing and tied it around his arm. ¡ª I¡¯ll be fine... ¡ª You managed to defend just in time... Adloph raised his blade, pointing it forward at Fynt, who was slowly walking toward them. Fynt stopped, looking at Mak with a smirk. ¡ª Fynt...? ¡ª Mak''s eyes widened, incredulous at his new appearance. ¡ª What have you done...? ¡ª Adloph stared at him, his voice serious. Fynt began advancing, his hand radiating immense energy. Adloph stood up, positioning himself in front of Mak, sweat dripping down his forehead. ¡ª Get out of here, Mak. Go as far as you can... He¡¯s not the same anymore... Mak hesitated but eventually nodded and started to retreat. ¡ª You won¡¯t get past this point, Fynt... Fynt smirked, directing his hand toward Adloph. With a swift motion, a slashing wave was launched at him at high speed, cutting through the wind and leaving a massive trail on the ground. Adloph managed to deflect it upward, but he was caught off guard by another strike coming at him just centimeters away. ¡ª Knight Reaction! Adloph''s eyes glowed, and with a quick movement, he barely dodged the attack. He was panting, the pain in his wounded arm beginning to spread through his body. ¡ª You truly are skilled, Adloph, worthy of an ex-rank A knight... ¡ª Fynt said, eyeing him with a grin. ¡ª That¡¯s in the past, Fynt. Now, I¡¯m just a watchman... Adloph raised his blade, his determination growing. Fynt, on the other hand, chuckled, raising his hand. ¡ª You¡¯ll be perfect for testing this Inverse power... Adloph took his stance, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes, lifting his blade forward. Fynt unleashed a powerful energy slash at high speed, cutting through the air. Adloph dodged it thanks to his Knight Reaction and started sprinting toward him. He leaped, spinning midair, his blade beginning to glow. ¡ª Knight Impact! He came down with full force, aiming directly at Fynt. However, his opponent raised his hand, concentrating an even more intense energy, and counterattacked. Their forces collided, generating a devastating explosion that obliterated everything around them. Panic quickly overtook Systella. Houses crumbled under the impact of the attacks, and the city plunged into chaos. Louis and Lilith ran through the streets, following the trail of destruction, until they accidentally bumped into Mak. ¡ª Mak! Relieved, Louis and Lilith hugged him. ¡ª I''m so glad you''re okay¡­ But this is a disaster! We need to evacuate Systella immediately! Fynt is not himself! Before they could act, a loud crash echoed near them. Adloph lay among the wreckage of a house, his left arm torn off, a deep gash in his abdomen. Fynt emerged in the sky, watching them with sharp eyes. ¡ª Hello again, Mak¡­ He descended smoothly, walking toward the group. ¡ª Why, Fynt...? Why are you doing this?! ¡ª Mak shouted, unable to believe it. Fynt smiled coldly. ¡ª Isn''t it obvious? To kill you¡­ The same way you destroyed my life. Mak''s eyes widened in confusion. ¡ª What are you talking about? What did I do wrong?! Fynt clenched his fists, his aura growing even more oppressive. ¡ª What did you do wrong?! You completely ruined my life, and you still ask?! Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed a devastating slash toward them. The attack tore through the air, fast and deadly. Before it could strike, something intervened. Adloph, despite his severe injuries, blocked the attack, redirecting it against Fynt. ¡ª How are you still alive?! ¡ª Fynt growled, irritated. Adloph raised his blade, determination burning in his eyes. ¡ª A knight does not retreat. Does not give up. He stands firm until death! His voice echoed like a roar. Fynt felt a chill run down his spine, a sense of imminent danger. ¡ª Incredible, Sir Adloph! ¡ª Louis said, impressed. Adloph turned his gaze to Mak. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡ª Go. Now. I can no longer feel my body¡­ Mak hesitated but nodded. He grabbed Louis and Lilith¡¯s hands and ran. Fynt grew enraged and raised his hand, ready to attack. ¡ª You won¡¯t escape! However, he was forced to retreat as he felt the overwhelming aura radiating from Adloph¡¯s body. Sweat dripped down his forehead. ¡ª I really didn¡¯t want to hurt an old friend of an acquaintance, but you left me no choice¡­ Adloph¡¯s blade glowed intensely, illuminating the entire area. Fynt launched successive slashes, but all were repelled by the crushing force emanating from him. Suddenly, Adloph blurred forward, appearing behind Fynt. ¡ª Ultimate Knight Judgment! The blade sliced through his neck, a brilliant light blinding everything around them. ¡ª "Looks like my retirement has come¡­" A devastating explosion swept through the area.
Mak, Louis, and Lilith ran nonstop, panting. ¡ª I think it¡¯s safe here¡­ ¡ª Lilith said, collapsing to her knees, exhausted. Mak held his head, lost in thought. ¡ª ¡°Why is Fynt doing this? First, he was just angry¡­ Now he wants to kill me?!¡± Suddenly, his eyes widened. ¡ª Oh no¡­ Mary! He dashed toward his house, with Louis and Lilith right behind him. Upon arrival, he flung the door open, his heart racing. ¡ª Mary! She was sitting at the table, reading a book. Startled, she looked up. ¡ª Mak? What¡¯s wrong? Without answering, he ran to her and hugged her, relieved. ¡ª Thank goodness you''re okay¡­ Mary, confused, sighed and stroked his hair. ¡ª As you can see, I¡¯m fine¡­ Now tell me what¡¯s going on. ¡ª No time. We need to evacuate Systella! A sudden slash tore through the ceiling. Fynt hovered in the air, grinning sinisterly. ¡ª I knew I¡¯d find you here¡­ Mak and Louis stepped in front of Mary, nervous. ¡ª H-how are you still alive?! I thought Adloph had defeated you! ¡ª Mak stammered. Fynt laughed. ¡ª Ah, about that¡­ He almost did. At the moment of the fatal blow, Fynt had repositioned his head and sliced Adloph in half. ¡ª Being an Inverse has its advantages¡­ But I¡¯ll admit, he was strong. He raised his hand, emanating dark energy. ¡ª I will end your life¡­ Starting with the one you love most! He unleashed a devastating attack. Louis managed to save Mary at the last second but was caught off guard by a rain of lethal slashes. They ran desperately, trying to hide among the ruins. ¡ª He¡¯s too strong¡­ We can¡¯t defeat him¡­ ¡ª Mak murmured, hopeless. Fynt lifted his hand and launched another attack. Louis and the others managed to escape, but Lilith was exposed. ¡ª Lilith! Without thinking, Louis threw himself in front of her, raising his katana. The impact sent him flying, injuring his hand. Fynt prepared for another strike, aiming at Mak and Mary. Louis struggled to stand, gripping his katana as blood dripped. ¡ª ¡°¡­I have to protect them¡­¡± He rose, ignoring the pain, and ran. But at the last second, a slash appeared inches from him. ¡ª You¡¯re just getting in my way, boy. Everything seemed lost. The final blow was about to strike when¡­ ¡ª "Left." His body reacted on its own, dodging at the last moment. Fynt was incredulous. ¡ª How¡­?! Louis looked at his hand and noticed a black mark forming. Fynt, furious, launched even faster slashes. ¡ª "Right. Total reaction." Louis dodged once more and parried the attack with his katana. Fynt''s eyes widened. ¡ª How are you doing this?! Lilith watched, impressed. ¡ª Incredible... Fynt roared in anger and lunged forward with a fierce sequence of slashes, his aura overflowing. Louis continued to dodge and deflect every strike with precision, guided by the voice echoing in his mind at every step. His movements were fast, precise. He finally reached Fynt, and in an instant, his blade tore through the enemy''s shoulder, staining the air with blood. Fynt immediately retreated, clutching his wounded arm as his flesh began to regenerate. His rage boiled. Louis, panting, stared at him intently. ¡ª "This... I just need to keep advan¡ª" Suddenly, a metallic taste filled his mouth. Blood trickled down his lips, and in an instant, his knees gave out. He coughed violently, his vision blurring. The mark on his arm began to fade slowly, his strength draining along with it. Fynt didn¡¯t hesitate. He raised his hand, gathering a dense, chaotic energy. Multiple slashes began to form around him, tearing through the air and obliterating everything in their path. Houses crumbled, bodies were torn apart, blood mercilessly stained the ground. Chaos reigned. Louis tried to stand, but his body wouldn''t respond. His gaze met Lilith¡¯s¡ªher teary eyes, her trembling voice desperately calling out to him. He wanted to answer, but he couldn¡¯t. Fynt smiled, preparing an even greater strike. He aimed his blade at a large building nearby and, with a single motion, brought it crashing down. The massive structure began to collapse directly onto Louis. ¡ª "...I''m sorry..." That was his last thought before closing his eyes. But in the next moment, something forcefully shoved him away. He hit the ground hard, his eyes widening as he saw who was standing before him. ¡ª Mak?! Mak gave a faint smile, nodding his head. His eyes slowly began to close. ¡ª It was good while it lasted, Louis... Then, the rubble fell. A deafening crash echoed, dust and debris covering everything. When the smoke cleared, Louis remained kneeling, in shock. All that was left of Mak were his hands, motionless beneath the stones, as blood began to spread. ¡ª Mak! Mary¡¯s scream tore through the air. Tears streamed down her face, but Louis remained frozen, unable to process what he was seeing. His chest ached, a suffocating, crushing pain. He refused to believe it. Fynt laughed loudly, satisfied with the destruction. But then¡ª ¡ª "You failed, Louis..." A cold voice echoed in his mind. A dense darkness began to cloud his vision, shadows emerging around him, pulling him into an endless abyss. The world became dull, distorted. And then, before him, a figure appeared. It observed him for a moment before turning away. ¡ª "You''ve done enough..." Fynt felt a chill run down his spine. His body tensed, and instinctively, he stepped back. His eyes widened as he looked at Louis again. ¡ª "What was that I just felt?!" He braced himself, feeling, for the first time, real fear growing within him. Louis slowly rose and turned to face him. His expression was dark, and then, a white mask with black stripes began to form over his face. Fynt stared, analyzing every detail carefully. ¡ª ...Interes¡ª His head was severed before he could finish the sentence. It spun in the air as blood splattered in all directions. Suddenly, his eyes opened. He gasped and clutched his neck. ¡ª "W-what just happened?! I felt my head get cut off...!" Fynt was in disbelief. Still, he charged again, delivering a flurry of rapid slashes. But before he realized it, his arms were instantly torn off. He screamed in agony, only to see his head separated from his body once again. Again, his eyes opened, and he was still there, unharmed. ¡ª "W-what...?!" Louis began walking toward him. Fynt backed away, unleashing relentless slashes, but Louis deflected them all with absurd precision. Fear started to consume his mind. ¡ª Stay away from me! He took flight and unleashed even more powerful strikes. However, Louis dodged each one with fluid movements, causing massive destruction all around. With a single strike, he raised his katana and severed Fynt¡¯s foot, sending him crashing to the ground in agony. ¡ª "Agh! Why am I not regenerating?!" His gaze fell on the katana Louis wielded, and his expression twisted into pure fury. ¡ª "That blade... it''s draining my energy?!" Fynt raised his hands to attack, but they were severed with absurd speed. A piercing scream escaped his throat as blood gushed out. ¡ª Star Magic: Seven Constellations Slash. The sky darkened. Suddenly, multiple slashes rained down from the heavens. Fynt tried to defend himself, but his body was shredded by the relentless flurry of strikes. It didn¡¯t take long for his body to begin disintegrating. Louis stood still, staring into the void. ¡ª L-Louis...? ¡ª Lilith called to him, approaching cautiously. A slash grazed past her, startling her. She fell to the ground, recoiling in fear. Louis advanced, ready to strike again. ¡ª Louis, this isn''t you! Wake up! Without responding, he struck again. Lilith barely dodged, but a deep cut slashed her left shoulder. ¡ª Agh! Louis stopped in front of her, ready to finish her off. But suddenly, something struck the back of his head. The sound of a frying pan cracking his mask echoed. He collapsed, unconscious. ¡ª ...Mary... Mary placed Louis on her back and helped Lilith to her feet. ¡ª Come on, let''s get out of here...
A short time later, they were near the spring. Systella was in chaos. Destroyed houses, bodies scattered on the ground. Louis slowly opened his eyes, feeling a light touch on his hand. ¡ª Louis... Lilith was gently holding his hand. He looked at her arm and saw a bandage. ¡ª What happened...? ¡ª he asked, feeling the weight of exhaustion in his body. ¡ª He needs to rest... Mary placed a hand on Lilith¡¯s shoulder, trying to comfort her. Lilith¡¯s face saddened as she noticed Mary¡¯s expression. She carried immense pain, her eyes shining with restrained tears. ¡ª Hmm... fascinating... From afar, a hooded man observed the scene before vanishing into the shadows. Hours later, Louis, still struggling to walk, was supported by Lilith. Together, they made their way back to their base. Mary, on the other hand, returned to her destroyed home. She walked through the rubble until she found a wrapped cloth. Carefully, she unfolded it, revealing a crystalline, radiant flower. A letter fell to the ground. Mary picked up the letter and began to read: "Er... Mary... Hey. Well... I''m not good at writing letters, but I hope you understand me. Okay... I bet you''ve already seen the gift I prepared for you! This is a super rare flower that only blooms once every ten years in the mines of Systella, so I went after it for you... And... I lied about the scar that time. The real reason I have this scar is because of my search for this flower, hehe... I wanted to give it to you on your birthday, six months from now... But if you''re reading this letter, it means I didn¡¯t make it back in time. Sorry for being an idiot sometimes, hehe... With love, Mak." ¡ª Mak... Mary cried silently, placing a hand over her chest, standing there among the ruins.
After a long journey, Louis and Lilith finally arrived at the headquarters of the Paths. Everyone was gathered around the table. Erick and Rose rushed over when they saw their condition. ¡ª Lilith! Who did this to you?! ¡ª Rose asked, her voice trembling with concern. As everyone checked their wounds, Cosmo stared at Louis. Something about him had changed. A new aura emanated from his body. He smirked slightly and turned away, walking into the base. ¡ª Good job, Louis... ¡ª he murmured, closing the door behind him. the challenge City of Ars ¡ª Would you like another glass, sir? The attendant held a bottle of wine, his expression serene as he observed the man before him. The bar was empty, wrapped in a tranquil and silent atmosphere, with dim lights illuminating the space. ¡ª Yes, please. The squad leader sat at the counter, holding a leaflet and analyzing the news about the great disaster in Systella. He turned the pages calmly, examining each detail. ¡ª Here is your order, sir... The attendant placed the glass gently on the counter before heading down to the basement. The leader glanced at the wine but stopped before drinking. ¡ª I know you''re there. ¡ª he said, setting the glass down. In the darkest corner of the bar, far from the lights, the hooded man sat, his expression unchanged as he observed him. ¡ª What did you find useful for me? ¡ª the leader asked, getting straight to the point. With a smooth motion, the hooded figure retrieved a fragment and tossed it into the leader''s hands. ¡ª I found this during my visit to Systella. Besides that... I gathered information about Louis. He''s getting stronger. The leader sighed, slowly standing up. He walked over to the hooded man, a crooked smile forming on his face. ¡ª You know what I love most about you? Suddenly, his expression darkened. With a precise strike, he smashed the table where the hooded man sat, destroying it instantly. Still, the other remained unfazed, as if he had already expected that reaction. ¡ª It¡¯s your incredible ability to screw everything up and act like it¡¯s nothing! Do you have any idea how much work it¡¯s going to take me to fix the mess you made in that place?! The hooded man smiled, indifferent. ¡ª But there is a silver lining to all of this... Louis is undergoing a transformation. Watching those he loves die was the perfect trigger to corrode his soul. Soon, he will become exactly what he hates the most... The leader placed a hand on his chin, thoughtful. He sighed and returned to the counter, picking up the glass of wine. ¡ª I hope you''re certain about what you''re saying... because if you''re not... He gripped the glass tightly, shattering it in his hand. The sound echoed through the silent bar. ¡ª You''re dismissed. The hooded man smirked and disappeared with the wind. Moments later, the attendant returned, his eyes widening in shock as he saw the destroyed table and shards of glass scattered around. ¡ª S-Sir...? What happened here?? ¡ª Nothing. Just bring another glass. Still shaken, the attendant nodded. The leader observed the fragment for a moment before slipping it into his pocket.
At the Headquarters of the Paths, Erick was sitting in the garden, enjoying the tranquility of the place, when he spotted Louis approaching. ¡ª Louis! He waved with a smile, but as he got closer, Louis looked away, hesitant. ¡ª Hey, Nii... Erick noticed his downcast expression and the bandages on his hand, remnants of what had happened the day before. ¡ª What''s wrong, Louis? Does your hand still hurt? ¡ª he asked, concerned. ¡ª N-No, not at all! I just... Louis sighed and sat down beside his brother, lowering his head. ¡ª I... wanted to apologize... for making you worry yesterday. And also for the way I acted with you all before... He hesitated, clenching his fists before continuing. ¡ª ...Back then, in Cilvett, I was useless to everyone... I couldn''t even help you with anything... ¡ª Louis, look into my eyes. Louis lifted his head, confused, and met Erick¡¯s gaze. ¡ª I am your brother. And I know you better than anyone. You always do your best, even knowing your limits. All of us, including me, believe in you. We know you would do anything to protect those you love. So don¡¯t think of yourself as useless. Just keep moving forward. Erick placed a hand on Louis'' shoulder and pulled him into a hug. Louis felt a comforting warmth, a relief he hadn''t experienced in a long time. ¡ª Thank you, Nii... ¡ª he murmured, a small smile forming on his lips. On the other side of the door, Rose and Lilith watched them. ¡ª Hmpf. Let''s go, Lilithy. Rose turned and walked inside, but Lilith lingered for a few more seconds, looking at Louis with a gentle smile before following Rose. A few hours later, Louis climbed the stairs toward his room, lost in thought. Ever since he had woken up in Systella, a question had been haunting him. He had asked Lilith what had happened to her arm, but all he received in response was a calm smile and the words: "It¡¯s nothing." Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair, restless. ¡ª "I feel like I did something terrible to her... Ah... If only I could remember..." ¡ª "Louis..." He stopped abruptly upon hearing a voice calling his name. ¡ª W-Who¡¯s there...? ¡ª "Louis..." His gaze swept the surroundings, but he saw no one. Then, something caught his attention¡ªa faint light emanating from his room. With hesitant steps, he approached the door, gripping the doorknob with some apprehension. As he turned it and pushed the door open, his eyes widened in shock. Resting on his bed was the katana he had found. He took a step back, his heartbeat quickening. ¡ª H-How did this get here...? The blade pulsed softly, emitting a weak aura, almost as if it were calling to him. A shiver ran down Louis¡¯ spine, but as if moved by an invisible force, he began to step forward. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for the katana. ¡ª "Louis... Louis... Louis... Louis..." The whisper echoed in his mind, repetitive, insistent. In a sudden reflex, he grabbed the katana and, without hesitation, threw it out the window. Panting, he placed a hand over his chest, feeling his heart pounding. ¡ª What... was that...? Louis hurried to the door, ready to leave. However, as he opened it, he was startled by the sight of the katana resting against the wall. ¡ª "Louis... Louis..." His heart pounded. Without thinking twice, he grabbed the katana and rushed back into his room. He flung open the closet and, without hesitation, tossed the weapon inside, slamming the door shut. The sudden silence brought a fleeting relief, but the unease remained. Not wanting to stay there any longer, he quickly left the room. A short while later, Erick stood beside him, eyeing the closet with a puzzled expression. ¡ª So... You''re telling me there''s a haunted katana in there? ¡ª he asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡ª Yes! Please, believe me! ¡ª Louis gestured frantically. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Erick sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡ª Alright... Let''s see what we''ve got here. He slowly opened the closet, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Louis watched, frozen in place. As the door swung open completely, there it was¡ªthe katana, resting serenely, showing no signs of unusual activity. Erick carefully wrapped it in a cloth and, without wasting time, dashed out of the room. Minutes later, he returned, breathless. ¡ª Done. I left it far away from here. It won¡¯t bother you anymore. A sudden noise behind them sent a chill down their spines. Swallowing hard, they slowly turned around. Shock was written all over their faces as they saw the katana lying right in front of them. ¡ª Okay... This is starting to freak me out... ¡ª Erick muttered, staring at the blade in disbelief.
In the meeting room, Cosmo analyzed the katana on the table, scrutinizing every detail with a hand resting on his chin. ¡ª My guess was right. ¡ª He smiled, standing up. ¡ª "It really is an artifact." Louis, still unsettled, hesitated before asking: ¡ª But, Captain... Why is it only reacting strangely to me? Cosmo held the katana for a brief moment, lifting it. Nothing happened. ¡ª See? It seems normal... Hm? His expression changed. He felt something slowly draining his energy. His eyes fixed on the blade. ¡ª "It¡¯s..." ¡ª What is it, Captain? ¡ª Erick asked. Cosmo smirked slightly and placed the katana back on the table. ¡ª That doesn''t matter right now. I''ll continue analyzing this artifact. You''re free to go. Louis and Erick nodded and headed for the door. Before they left, Cosmo cast a brief, enigmatic glance at Louis. ¡ª Ah... You don¡¯t need to hide anymore. Something that speaks shouldn''t remain silent. ¡ª "How did you know...?" The katana pulsed faintly, a dim aura glowing around it.Cosmo intertwined his fingers over the table, smiling. ¡ª Actually, I didn¡¯t. I just took a guess. ¡ª "So you tricked me... Clever..." ¡ª Now tell me... What do you want with my student? ¡ª he asked, narrowing his eyes. The voice that emerged from the katana sounded ominous. ¡ª "I have slept for centuries... But when your blood stained my blade, a bond was formed. That awakened me..." There was a pause before it continued, its tone darker. ¡ª "He possesses something that interests me... Something dark and terrible. The manifestation of all hatred and guilt in a single existence. When I consume and absorb it completely, I will finally be free... and I will devour everything and everyone." Cosmo remained silent for a moment. Then, gently, he wrapped the katana in a cloth, a subtle smile on his face. ¡ª Erick and Louis are getting stronger. You should be careful with your words... They might turn against you. He walked toward the door, casting one last glance at the blade. ¡ª Good night. And he left, closing the door behind him. The next morning, Louis walked through the hallways alongside Erick, Mei, and Lilith when sounds from the training room caught their attention. Curious, they approached and opened the door. Two unfamiliar faces were there. One was seated while the other wielded a blade relentlessly. ¡ª Who are they? ¡ª Lilith asked, intrigued. ¡ª Ike and Takamiya, your seniors. They were on a mission in another continent for a long time. Suddenly, a blade fell near Lilith''s feet, making her step back in fright. Takamiya walked up to her, picking up the katana without hurry. ¡ª Pay more attention. ¡ª B-but... ¡ª Lilith hesitated. Takamiya started to walk away, but Louis grabbed his arm¡ªhesitant, yet firm. ¡ª A-apologize to her... Takamiya stopped, staring at Louis. A heavy silence settled in. ¡ª Take your hand off. With a precise movement, he freed himself from Louis'' grip effortlessly. He analyzed him for a moment, furrowing his brows. ¡ª Strange... I don''t feel mana or energy in you. Are you sure you belong here? Or did the captain make a mistake in choosing you? Louis lowered his head, visibly shaken. Takamiya was already walking away when Erick intervened. ¡ª Hey, that wasn''t cool. Apologize now. Takamiya stopped and smiled. ¡ª Or what? The two stood face to face, their auras clashing. Sparks appeared in Erick''s hand, while Takamiya gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it. ¡ª That''s enough, you two. ¡ª Mei stepped between them. Takamiya stepped back and pointed at Louis. ¡ª If you''re truly strong, I challenge you to a fight in seven hours. Erick looked at Louis, concerned. But Louis, with a determined look, stepped forward. ¡ª I accept. Takamiya smirked and left the room. Silence fell before Erick turned to Louis. ¡ª But Louis... He''s our senior! Are you sure? Louis clenched his fists, then looked at his brother and smiled. ¡ª Don''t worry about me, Nii... I''ll be fine. And he left.
Alone in his room, Louis paced back and forth, panicking. ¡ª "I''m not going to be fine at all! Why did I accept this challenge?! What was I thinking?!" He sighed and threw himself onto the bed, deep in thought. ¡ª "Calm down... I don¡¯t need to worry... After all, he''s my senior... He wouldn''t go too hard on me... Right...?" Seven hours later, in the training room, Louis stood face to face with Takamiya. Cosmo and the Paths were seated, observing the scene, while Erick and Lilith wore worried expressions. The tension between the two was almost palpable. Then Takamiya drew his sword and pointed it directly at Louis, whose eyes widened, surprised and alarmed. ¡ª W-what?! Why are you using a real blade...? ¡ª Louis questioned incredulously, stepping back. ¡ª I was the one who asked the captain. You don''t mind, right? Cosmo nodded with a calm smile. Erick, however, turned to him, incredulous. ¡ª But captain! ¡ª he exclaimed, suddenly standing up. ¡ª Why are you so worried? Louis has a weapon too... It''s up to him to decide whether to use it or not. He turned back to continue watching, showing no concern. Erick stood still for a moment before clenching his fists and sitting back down. Takamiya stretched his arms, relaxed. ¡ª The captain told me you have a fine katana. Where is it? Louis frowned. ¡ª Uh... well, it''s not exactly m¡ª Before he could even finish the sentence, a slash passed inches from his face. The impact was so fast that it lifted dust from the ground. Louis dodged by pure reflex, stepping back in fear. Takamiya smirked briefly, pointing his blade at him. ¡ª You have good reflexes, but you lack practice. ¡ª Y-you could have killed me!! Louis spoke shakily, adrenaline coursing through his body. Takamiya, on the other hand, assumed his attack stance again, planting his feet firmly on the ground and taking a deep breath. In an instant, he advanced with impressive speed, pressuring Louis with a relentless series of slashes. The boy tried to dodge but was brutally thrown back by a precise kick. On the ground, panting, Louis struggled to get up. Takamiya approached slowly. ¡ª You also need more endurance... This is pathetic. Raising his sword, Takamiya prepared to strike again. ¡ª Brace yourself. Then, he charged, unleashing fluid and precise strikes. Louis moved to escape, but each attack cornered him more and more. Until¡ª Takamiya¡¯s blade grazed Louis¡¯ face, leaving a small cut. Lilith, distressed, threw herself into Rose¡¯s arms and shut her eyes. Rose, on the other hand, furrowed her brows as she stroked Lilith¡¯s hair, watching the fight with concern. ¡ª This is going too far...! Erick stood up, his gaze serious. ¡ª Where are you going? ¡ª Cosmo asked, arms crossed. ¡ª This fight is unfair! I can¡¯t just sit here and watch! He was ready to intervene, but then¡ª ¡ª Hmm... So you don¡¯t trust your brother? Erick''s eyes widened, turning to Cosmo, who smirked. He looked around and saw the Paths watching in silence, not interfering. His expression grew tense, but eventually, he sat down again, uneasy. Takamiya stopped, slightly lowering his sword. ¡ª Already given up? Louis, still breathing heavily, clenched his fists on the ground, his expression hardening. ¡ª "He¡¯s too strong... But even so... I can''t give up. Everyone is watching. I can''t let them down..." With effort, he stood up. ¡ª I don¡¯t get it... You haven''t used your blade this whole time, nor can you wield your own weapon to defend yourself. Are you going to keep waiting for your brother to save you like before? How pathetic. Takamiya¡¯s words echoed in the air. Louis lowered his face slightly, his expression darkening. Suddenly, Takamiya felt a chill run down his spine. A bright aura emanated from Louis, making him instinctively take a step back. ¡ª "What... What is this strange aura...?" Louis raised his gaze. His expression was serious, determined. ¡ª Say whatever you want about me... But don¡¯t you dare speak about my brother. In the meeting room, Louis'' katana began vibrating irregularly. Then, in an instant, it was teleported directly to the training field, appearing right beside him. Everyone was surprised by the blade¡¯s sudden appearance. The moment Louis grabbed it, a dark mark formed on his hand. Takamiya narrowed his eyes, raising his sword. The air between them grew thick. Silence filled the room. They stared at each other, serious. Takamiya took a deep breath, fixing his gaze on Louis. He knew that... The fight would never be the same.