"Stop acting like this isn't your fault!" Nicole's voice got heavier by the second but Arnold didn't give a flying fck about her anymore. His focus was solely on Nina and nothing else, but only if his luck was that good.

"Stop acting like a fcking bitch!" Arnold ultimately snapped, "If you can't help me then shut the fck up or get lost!"

"Ar...nol..." Nina struggled to speak, to couldn't even say his name properly.

"Shh... don't talk." Arnold looked into Nina's eyes and smiled at her wanly as she collapsed in his arms. Her breathing was getting heavier by every passing moment.

Arnold then quickly ripped off his shirt and held it over the wound, trying to put pressure on it. While he was desperately trying to stop the bleeding, Nicole stood there, intently looking at Arnold's every move.

"Shit, the bleeding won't stop!" Arnold quickly contacted Talos for help, "Get Alice and come to the workshop right now!"

"But master, the ogres-" Talos tried to explain the situation in his end.

The ogres had gone Berserker due to heavy consumption of beast crystals. The automatons and humans were trying to get a hold on them off but the ogres were having none of it.

"I don't give a fck about the ogres! Take her and get here RIGHT FCKING NOW DAMMIT!"

"Master, I won't be able to bring her there even if I wanted to." Talos calmly replied, "She isn't inside the base at the moment."

"Dammit, all!" Arnold lifted Nina in his arms and headed towards his room, the only part of the building that was still intact.

"I think you've caused enough damage." Nicole stepped in between once again, "She's my friend, and I can take care of her."

"Can you heal her?"

"I can't."

"Then get the fck out of my may, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life." His cold fury burnt with dangerous intensity.

He never worried about Nicole's behaviour up till now but her frequent verbal fireworks and showers of red hot sparks were enough for Arnold to make a decision. Sister or not, it didn't change the fact that she had tried to kill him a few moments ago. It was these bitterly cold, slow-burning hateful feelings that threatened to engulf their relationship, once and for all. If it wasn't for Nina's condition, Arnold wouldn't have hesitated to deal with her right then and there. But for now, Nina's well-being took the priority over everything else.

"We have a lot to talk about," Nicole mumbled and stepped aside but turn decided to enter his room along with them.

'You were right. I can't trust him anymore... not after the stunt he pulled today.' Nicole thought.

'It is unfortunate but... not surprising in the least.' Donna replied, 'After all, the paladins are known for attacking and killing each other. Although it isn't necessary to do that but... sometimes it's for the better. Maybe that's why he set the turret thingy to kill you.'

'You may be correct, but why the fck did you attack him!' Nicole was furious.

'Hey hey hey! It's not like I like controlling your body or anything, I just did what you didn't have the guts to do!'

'Fck off. You're not convincing anyone by saying that.' Nicole replied while she watched Arnold summon a monster.

The creature had a luscious body for which any man or woman regardless of their sexual preference, would immediately lust after. Nicole, despite being America's strongest warrior, couldn't resist the creature's tempting body. Two sharp horns adorned the luscious beast's bowed head, who herself looked to be in a state of permanent smirking. The creature was barely wearing anything, flaunting her body to the spectators. Her outlandish armour only covered her weak spots leaving very little to Nicole's imagination. A serrated tail snakes behind it, chains dangle alongside it. Two cramped wings extend themselves fully.

'When did he tamed a succubus?' Nicole shook her head, trying to snap out of her charm.

'She ain't an ordinary succubus either.' Donna intervened, 'It's one of the three Queens. I'm telling you, your brother is nothing but trouble for us now.'

'Agreed... but you didn't try to mortally wound him right?'

'Yeah... kinda. I wanted to make his arms disappear that's all.' Donna replied.

'YOU WHAT!'

"Chill! It didn't work, did it?'

'I suppose... but next time you better inform me before doing anything.'

Nicole's train of thought was interrupted by Arnold's commands to the succubus, 'Heal her up, Natasha."

"As you wish, master," Natasha said and hugged Nina tightly. They were awkwardly close. So close not even an electron couldn't pass through them.

___

Your summon [Natasha] is using 'Life Restore' (lvl 5)

___

Within the next minute, Nina was completely healed up but hadn't regained consciousness. Arnold was still worried about her but Natasha reassured him that Nina was fine.

"Don't worry master, she is safe." She winked at Arnold, "She's just tired because of the blood loss."

"Thank you, Natasha... I don't even know how to thank you."

"No need to thank me, master. I know this human is important to you."

"If you're done here," Nicole pulled Arnold's arm, "can we talk?"

"There's nothing to talk about," Arnold replied, his back turned towards her.

"Denying the truth won't make you less guilty."

"Truth? Guilt? Listen here, you power monger. The only truth here is that you tried to kill me."

"I-I didn't try to kill you!"

"Yeah right. We're both paladins remember?" Arnold smirked off.

"Yeah? Well, you tried to kill me first!"

"What even..." Arnold shrugged his shoulders while massaging his temple, "It was all a simple mistake for god's sake!"

It was Nicole's turn to smirk now, "Yeah, a mistake that you didn't came to receive us at the gate like you were supposed to or was it a mistake that Talos suddenly got a call out of nowhere and had to leave us? Or maybe it was the fact that once you saw your plan didn't work you decided to act like a hero and save the day? Oh, brother, not everyone is as dumb as you-"

"NICOLE!"

Arnold slapped her across the face... something he had never done before. He tried to reach out and apologise for it but then Nicole said something which removed all the thoughts of apologising from his mind.

Nicole's gaze was fixed at the ground, but her voice was loud and clear, "I wish you'd have died along with our parents on that day- No I-I didn't mean to say that!"

Words flew from her mouth that she never thought she'd even think, let alone say out loud. She knew instantly from the look in his eyes that they'd hit their mark. In that instant, their relationship was shattered into glassy shards. Nothing would ever be the same again. He rarely ever argued without using his fists but his words packed a powerful punch. Carefully spoken, without drama, his words had an air of finality to them and no matter how hard she railed against them, nothing would change his mind now.

"Get out." Arnold's voice was as calm as summer winds yet it couldn't hide the anger within him.

"Brother I... didn't-"

"I said get out of here."

"Brother... please..."

"You're no sister of mine. GET OUT OF HERE AND DON'T EVER SHOW ME YOUR FACE AGAIN."