Slouched on the corner of a familiar violet tent Rue is wiping a long silver, tripled-edged blade. Finishing it he gave an weary sigh as he lay it down along with the others.

“Planning to go somewhere?” An old voice queried.

Scratching his head he took out another one from his pouch and started wiping it with his cloak.

“Yeah...I just have to things to deal with.”

“.....”

Sitting comfortably in a chair in front of him is his grandmother, looking down in silence.

“Do you require my assistance?” The old woman asked in a light worried tone.

“Granny I don't really want to drag you into this.”

“I'm your grandmother Ru, I will be dragged into this whether you like it or not.”

Rue just fell silent with her grandmother's declaration unable to to argue with her.

Despite wanting to not involve her grandmother, Rue knows she will try to get involved despite the danger. That’s just the kind of woman her grandmother, just like her mother both will not think twice of laying one's life for their loved ones safety.

Truly a pair of trouble some woman.

“Ugh fine....you can help since I can feel that arguing back will just lead to nowhere.”

Smiling fondly to the young man's reaction, Rue just sighed as he was tricked by her grandmother like always.

Quietude brews around the air as the old woman asks again, breaking the stillness.

“About the young man you’re with, how is he?”

“Rue’s fine, I left him at the guards barracks to rest. Don’t worry he doesn’t have any ill will towards you. He even told me to pass you an apology.”

Rue said in reassurance. Though partially not sure himself if Fehlen really is fine he still said it nonetheless as he thinks it will result in a better result for both sides.

“I....see”

Hearing Rue's response, the old woman breathed in relief.

Seeing an opening for the topic that has been bugging him for a while, Rue turns towards his grandmother and asks with an unusual timid tone.

“About the reading yesterday….what did you mean by you can’t see?”

Furrowing her eyebrows she replied in rather stern tone.

“It is just as I said Ru, something is wrong with that friend of yours. I suggest you keep an eye on him.”

“Keep an eye? Is he an enemy or something?!”

With a look of uncertainty Rue waited for her grandmother's answer, surely he thought that Fehlen couldn’t be an enemy but deep down with all the mystery surrounding him he finds it hard to not be wary.

“Far worse.”

“Far worse?”

“Yes, I do not know any further details but best to keep an eye on him.”

Casting his gaze down Rue started putting away the sets of silver daggers inside his cloak. Setting them far and few in between in places where it was hardest to spot and easiest to take out.

Far worse? What does it mean? What would happen to Fehlen? Would he be fine? Do I tell him? What should I do?—those were the thoughts plaughing Rue’s mind.

Rue in spite of being an outsider to the lads affairs couldn’t stop but worry, he wonders why he feels that way towards the boy but finds no answer.

Something inside of him warns him that something is special and dangerous about him yet he couldn't find why. Something in his mind is telling him to protect the lad but couldn’t find a single reason for why he should do such things.

Fehlen truly planted something inside him that he doesn’t understand, something he doesn’t want to understand.

“You two still haven’t changed at all even after years, huh.”

Cutting through the thick silence the cover of the tent opened and came a tall woman wearing a leather jacket and black shorts, with her long red garnet hair, skin similar to polished topaz and fiery red eyes.

One would be easily intimidated just being near her.

But what stood out the most is the pair of large black horns on her forehead, a distinguishable mark of one of the beast race, a rather unknown one.

The Demon Race.

The Demon race was nearly extinct dozens of years ago due to their bloodlust tendencies, given an infamotable amount of strength they became reliant and blinded by it, causing multiple bloody wars on a daily basis with other races. Which didn't really give them any favor in the long run resulting in their race barely even existing in the current era.

“My, I didn't expect to see you here Reina.”

Standing up from her seat, the old woman came and greeted the woman named Reina with a ceremonious, respectful bow.

“Well, you know that I can't really ignore a request from this brat, Master Theresa.” the woman replied as she bowed down to the woman returning the kind gesture.

“Oh you called for her?”

“A wise man once said, Battles are fought in groups, not alone.”

Replying nonchalantly, the platinum haired man just smirked at the two women who were now staring at him.

Caught off guard at the sudden hint of an incoming battle both just passed each other a weary glance.

“Now with all three of us here let me give a brief explanation, why I called you here.”

“Straight to the point, eh.”

Sighs Reina as she grabbed a chair and sat next to the old woman who had already taken a seat and was back at drinking her tea.

“I’m a man who values time more than anything, so mind if we start?”

Earning nods from both Rue lowered his gaze, taking a deep breath he opened his mouth.

“Ourouboros will attack this city.”

“They will probably attack either this midnight or tomorrow morning.”

“What?!”

“Reina please calm yourself, Ru Explain.”

Reina aghast while Theresa just narrowed her eyes at the young man.

“It's merely a hypothesis since I doubt they also expected this to happen.”

“But still that doesn’t mean they would attack this city, wouldn’t it far be more realistic for them to attack the capital?” Said Theresa as she stroked her hair while waiting for Rue to continue.

In this world, the name of the damned organization known as Ourobours was incredibly hefty no matter the context in a sentence it was in, stemming from various sickening and inhumane operations they have done throughout history. No one even dares uttering the organization name unless a solid reason is presented.

“The reason is from yesterday, for you see someone managed to rescue a runaway slave of theirs that is now put under the protection of the city guards.”

“And I seriously doubt they will just lay silent after one of their toys was nabbed away from them and that said toy possibly able to spill every secret they have, so why wouldn’t they attack?”

“That’s…..” Theresa couldn’t argue with Rue’s assessment.

If the girl in question does truly know something then most likely they will try to eliminate her as soon as possible to avoid having their entire operation leaked to the outside.

“Fuckin’ hell, here I am thinking this will be a nice drinking reunion.” Reina growled lowly as she crossed her arms.

Reina despite being a woman has the heart and build of a man. Tall, ripped, and most of all a booze addict. Sometimes she’ll stumble into fights in a drunken daze resulting in guards being called and Rue with tons of work to deal with as Reina will always beat up everyone involved unconscious as her thinking was—If there isn’t anyone still conscious to fight then there will be no fighting. Truly a barbaric demon of a woman.

“Then let's do just that after this is settled, my treat.”

“Oh, I like the sound of that! You really know how to treat your elders, kiddo!”

“You two children are just tiring to watch, despite an impending attack on it’s way, You two are still uncaring.”

Reina just roared into laughter upon hearing Rue’s offer, quickly forgetting about the attack he had just mentioned. Rue just nodded in response, while Theresa just shook her head in aggravation.

“Come on now Master Theresa, A simple booze will blow your problems away. I mean it works for me so it will work for y’all as well.”

“I’m old Reina, that simple booze of yours will come sending me to heaven's door in a matter of seconds in fact.”

At Theresa's sarcastic yet true response, Reina once again roared into a fit of laughter.

The uncomfortably dense atmosphere vanished along with Reina’s laughter. Rue sighed in relief, coughed, and continued the flow of the conversation.

“Anyways…back to our topic, both of you must be still wondering why they would attack this quickly. Well It's mostly because we have sended a messenger towards the capital which I doubt they don’t know about, in fact they being inside the city already tell us that they have ears and eyes inside already, that is also why we can’t tell the city guards about it.”

“And with them knowing a request for backup is on it’s way after a week I doubt they will wait that long and there is also the constant fear of theirs that the girl might wake up at any moment and spill their secrets.”

“Naturally I would humor you guys suggestion of ‘coming with a plan that would ensure less casualties’ but as it sits at the moment there's nothing we could do to curve down the casualties, any type of call to the outside will be just asking for early retaliation from them resulting to more casualties than what it could have just been.”

Hearing Rue's uncharastically fluent blunt speech, the two older women in the room figure that he has probably had prepared his lines beforehand far before they have met.

Upon hearing that explanation Theresa simply frowned as she realized where this conversation will be leading, as this wasn’t the first they have heard that blunt speech.

They have heard it multiple times on multiple occasions and the two of them know it will end the same as any other conversation prior to this one, with both of them relying on Rue’s wits to form a plan of some sort burdening him even more.

Truly a slothful act of putting a kid decades younger than them in high expectations while they just wait and follow orders from said kid.

“So what do you plan on doing then? Run? Or Fight them off?”

But at the same time both of them know if someone can find a way out of their predicament then it's him. So putting all of their trust into him once again, they waited for his answer.

Jerking up from the sudden question from Reina, a small smirk formed at Rue’s face.

“Say...why not both?”

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Leaving the tent Rue sighed loudly as he sets off to his next destination or rather last, Entering a caravan shop, Rue is greeted by an unexpected bustling inside, quite the contrary to what he was used to from prior visits.

Everyone seems to be in an all around rush as tiredness and irritation is visible in all of their faces, taking note of that Rue slowly makes his way to the counter avoiding some rushing employees from left to right.

Reaching the counter he was greeted by a man dressed in formal business clothing, stepping forward he said.

“Quite a busy day you have.”

“Yeah, got a big order out of nowhere, So what do you want kid?” The man replied, rubbing his stomach.

“Just one carriage. Able to withstand long travels and able to contain about 6 people if you have a 7 then even better.”

“Sure but our hands are quite full at the moment so you’ll have to wait until tomor—”

Dropping a large pouch filled with coins to the brim on the counter he interjected the man with a carny smile, “I want it today, to this location.”

Rue knows what language these types of people speak, it’s always the same whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in the depths of the jungle.

Greedy merchants will always bow their head down in front of greed, a disgusting desire in his eyes.

Though a hypocritical assessment considering he too is a slave of his own selfish desire.

“Impatient, are we now young lad?”

Grabbing his coin pouch, the large man grinned widely as he called out to some of his employees and gave them the slip that is with the money which they used to start working.

“I owe you this one.” Bowing slightly the man just tapped Rue’s shoulder lightly.

“Don’t worry about it sonny as long as you can pay we will always be willing to help.”

Though faint, a sweet nectar-like aroma lingers around the large man. He knows all too well that scent, from nobles of every kingdom and girls from the red district. The scent of filthiness.

Maintaining his smile, he leaned closer to the man as disrespecting a noble at any kingdom will be a stupid blunder no matter how disgusting they were.

“Anyways, what's the deal with this ruckus?” Rue asked in a friendly tone.

“Beats me, someone just came here yesterday night and ordered 10 carriages for material transport.”

“Heh....” narrowing his eyes Rue turns to 1 of the said carriage prepared to be shipped out.

‘Big enough for materials and groups of people to be shipped out.’

A quite odd coincidence for that to happen, aligning with the fight between Fehlen and members of Ouroboros.

They probably know the merchants aren’t aware of their presence so they didn’t really bother hiding it.

Though unlikely, the possibility of the enemy being the one behind these orders is rather alarming. Yet it gives one hope out of his predicament if it’s actually them that is behind these orders then Rue can definitely use it.

Realizing the thought that is taking place in his mind, Rue’s bit his lip in clear vexation.

‘Am I actually grasping at straws just because of these disgusting cultists?!’

“Something wrong?” The merchant asked nervously as Rue's expression turned to a grim one.

“Oh it's nothing, I just remembered something I have to do. I'll take my leave for now.”

Waving goodbye Rue hurriedly exited the establishment leaving the merchant bewildered.

“What a weird kid.”

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Under the serene moon, multiple figures silently gazed down the quiet peaceful city.

“Mother, all of the preparations are now complete. All of us await your order.”

“I applaud all your earnest effort my dear children.”

Standing atop the sandstone gate is a tall slender woman with hip length purple hair that waves along the cold wind of the night, her black raven eyes seemingly devoid of light.

She wears a long black gown with purple flowers embroidered on the fabric complementing both her hair and figure.

Standing beside her were dozens of childrens all kneeling both behind and beside her, all of them wearing a gothic maid uniform with the same embroidered purple flowers.

“I hope I will not repeat myself so please listen carefully, Understood?” The woman said in a doting tone yet menacing as well.

“Yes Mother.”

The children all answered simultaneously, still bowing their heads before the woman they called ‘Mother’.

“Our goal is merely to find your sister that has been kidnapped away from us, I want her alive but feel free to break her knees if she tries to run.”

“That's a request from mommy.”

“Of course Mother.”

Seeing the complete obedience of all the children before her, the women just grinned widely.

“Now let’s start this hunt shall we.”

Snapping her fingers, explosions soon followed, buildings nearby the explosion rapidly caught on fire and screams soon echoed through the night.

“I’ll be coming for you Ai.”

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Inferno soon engulfed half of city in an instant, blood is spilled and lives are taken in mere minutes as guards struggles to defend against the enemies that is now everywhere, though lacking in numbers the maids and hooded individuals close that gaps with strength and plain brutality as they kill everyone they came across, woman, children, men, animals, everyone.

But what stood out from all of this was something else, walking quietly is the woman the children call ‘mother’, she drags her long black gown down the street of the sand city uncaring for the blood and dirt that is being smeared across her dress.

“Hmmm....?”

Stopping at her tracks, her gaze befalls a man in front, a platinum haired man is standing in her way, wearing a gray cloak and seemingly waiting for her to arrive.

Curious filled her for the man who seemed to be undaunted by her presence, standing there with a gaze that was making her shiver for one reason or another.

“Who might you be?”

“No one really……just a simple Informant.” the platinum haired man replied as he threw two silver daggers at the woman.

“Oh is that so.”

Deflecting both attacks with her chain like appendages, she sent three of hers to him which the man was unable to dodge piercing both his head and chest killing instantly.

Except not quite, as the chains pierced him, the man's body suddenly evaporated into a thick layer of black smoke that dissipated into thin air.

“Shadow Arcana, huh.” The woman muttered.

As the woman stood unmoving two more daggers were thrown though now it came from one of the rooftops.

Deflecting the attack again the woman turned to his right and saw the man standing atop with a visibly smug grin.

Frowning upon seeing this the woman snapped her fingers to call for her children—but nobody came, she snapped again but still nobody came, she snapped again but nobody still came.

Smirking feral the woman turns to the man she knows is responsible for such a predicament.

“Is this your doing?”

“Even if it is, do you think I would say it?” The man said as he jumped down from the rooftops and slowly approached the woman.

“Heh…..it seems that you’ve come here to stop me, yes?”

“Yeah, somewhere along those lines.”

Clenching her dress an ever growing irritation crept up into her face.

“Name....”

“Huh?” Raising a brow the man cocked his head in confusion.

“Your name.”

Upon hearing what the woman wants a second time now clearly the platinum haired man didn’t hide his sigh of exasperation.

“Rue…..just Rue, and you?”

“Lady of Chains, Mater Mortem.” The woman smirked as she stared at the man in clear displeasure and amusement.

Wasting not a second dozens of metallic dark chains sprouted at the woman's back and charged at Rue.

Hitting him yet again Rue’s body dissipated in a black smoke and just as before two daggers we’re thrown now from another rooftop.

And just as he was able to throw the two dagger his body is once more pierced by the metallic chains turning him into black smoke.

Now looking more discontent the woman deflected both daggers thrown at her just like before.

Like a broken record the same thing happened once again, Rue reappeared at one of houses and threw two daggers at the woman which she deflected and sometimes even dodged out of boredom.

This exchange continued on for a while before the woman decided to obliterate all of the houses nearby.

Spinning every chain she has in a circular motion with it she demolished every building nearby with ease.

“I’m afraid I have misplaced my expectation to the wrong person. I thought you’ll prove to be a fun toy to play with as you have somehow repelled my children from interfering here but it seems you’re but merely a distraction.”

The woman stated, aggravated by Rue’s constant reapperation, waiting for the man to show himself again so she could litter him with holes or maybe cut him limb by limb.

“Ding ding ding, you got that right. Want a medal for that?”

As the dust from the collapse of the houses recedes, the woman glares as Rue stands with a shit-eating grin in the same place he was the first time they had met. Aggression at high the woman didn’t think twice as she sended all 20 of her chains towards the platinum haired man.

“Disperse.”

Uttering that word all of the chains that is sended to him had been deflected off by something unseeable, a barrier of some sorts.

“Wha?!”

The woman was flabbergasted that her attack didn’t go through as it seems like there is an invisible wall between her and the man.

“Oh...don’t tell me.”

It didn’t take long for the woman to think how this could have happened as she could feel pieces of broken arcana all around her, and turning her head to said places reveals the daggers she had deflected and avoided.

“It’s not like I was just throwing those randomly, you know?”

“Tsk, It seems that I have been had.”

“Just think of it as the difference in skill, this is goodbye then Miss Mortem.”

Pointing his dagger up to the sky, a large amount of Arcanum gathered from his surroundings unto his dagger.

Using every Arcanum at his surroundings he summoned what seems to be a spear made out of ice and with it is blizzard like weather that appeared out of thin air alongside the giant spear.

“Cocytus”

Firing at point blank range dust and thick layer of fog enveloped the area, the attack froze everything within 300 meter radius, effectively killing every living caught in the blast if there are living things nearby that is.

As the fog of snow gradually dissipates, all that was left was frost. The ground, the houses, the corpses nearby, everything was completely frozen. Even the caster himself had traces of ice cold pieces present on his cheek and arm.

“Damn, somehow managed that.”

Falling on his knees blood slowly dripped from his nose following the powerful spell that is casted.

“....I owe Granny for this barrier, if not that attack probably would have freezed half of this damn city alongside me, well those damn maid freaks probably would have butchered me down before I could cast it...”

Wryly laughing at his conditions he brusquely stood up leaving and meeting up with his comrades.

However―

“Where are you going?”

“?!”

Sensing impending danger Rue twisted his head behind out of reflexes.

“Hggk!”

And there coming straight at his face is a dark chain emerging from what seems to be steam.

‘Shit!’

Tilting his head at the last moment the sizzling iron chain hitted the solid ground instead of his solid face.

‘Of course you’ll still be alive, why did I even think for a second that you'd kick the bucket that quickly!?’

Berating himself for loosening his guard, Rue brandished two daggers one in each hand, his senses waiting for any other attack to come.

“Aah~, truly splendid. To think that you actually have some bite into you~ it seems that I have misjudged you yet again.”

Emerging from clouds of steam is the woman with slight burns spread across her body and now torned dress revealing a rather voluptuous body.

“Now amuse me.”

“Why would I?”

Hearing Rue’s answer, The woman’s face darkened.

“You had no choice but to comply in that regard, boy.”

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Running across the street is the familiar horned woman named Reina, wielding a giant pitch black claymore she cleave her way across the horde of hooded enemies, some are even backing up due to how nimble the woman ran from enemy to enemy while wielding a weapon bigger than herself.

“Like hell you’re escaping!”

The demon shouted as she grabbed one of the corpses she butchered, throwing it with all her strength at one of the escaping opponents.

“Fuckin Yeah!”

Roaring into another fit of loud boisterous laughter, Reina rested her large claymore on her shoulder, looking off to a distance a large dome like sphere can be seen enveloping a large area of the city segregating it to the rest.

Her face hardened as she remembered the plan Rue came up with.

『I will deal with their leader momentarily to gain the attention of the underlings since I doubt those lackeys will stay put when the head is in danger. And while I’m at it Granny will cast a bounded field around us to avoid immediate back up while Reina I want you to take two people on the guards barracks—Fehlen a friend of mine he looks like a girl with indigo hair he’s a tough one to miss and the other is the girl they want, she has short red hair and probably still sleeping by the time you come. Take both of them to the carriage I bought located at the north gate send a signal when you’re done.』

『After that leave it to me, I have a plan.』

Simple yet burdening as everything depends whether she can get the two people before the enemy could overpower the others, it is truly a battle with time.

“Guard station was it…..”

“Off I go!” Using every strength on her legs, she bolted towards the guard station with all her might while fighting off every enemy she came across.

“Don’t die on me now Master Theresa, Rue.”

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Gazing with a solemn look on her face, Theresa in silence stood in front of the dome she had created to avoid any reinforcement to pass through. Using every knowledge she has of the Arcane Arts She had created an impenetrable fortress.

Cupola del Paradiso.

With the use of all elements; Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, Shadow, Light, Ice, Metal and Lightning.

Theresa conjured the dome at present swirling and dismantling everything that came to close with it.

“Hey old faggot are you the one responsible for this!?”

In her quiet waiting hooded individuals and children in maid clothing arrived at the scene.

“Oh didn’t expect you degenerates to arrive that quickly.” The old mage said in mocking glee.

“If you’re wondering then yes, your boss IS inside this dome I have made.”

“And if you want the freak back, then you’ll have to come kill me fi—.”

“Let our Mother go!”

“You fucking old crow!”

“We are going to massacre you and offer your remains to Mother!”

Unable to finish her sentence, various attacks were thrown at her at the same time ranging from large fireballs, thousands of shards made of ice, to mountains of boulders all at once.

“It seems that your basic decency of elders' respect have vanished along with your semblance of humanity.”

Unscatched of the continuous barrage of attacks Theresa casted the same spell she had previously done but now on a smaller case around herself, though more taxing to maintain, her job wasn’t really to fight any of them but just to buy time till Reina was able to safely drag the two individuals into the carriage.

So with the intention to play the long run, Theresa stood watching in amusement as the enemy tried various attack to penetrate the shield hea hd created, unaware of the fact that the spell will not dissipates until the caster cancel the spell or the caster dies, or in this case if the caster runs out of Arcanum in the body to maintain the powerful shield.

Theresa despite being a genius Arcanist has reached her own peak and has continued to deteriorate in the field since then due to old age, but nonetheless a genius is still a genius despite odds stacked against them the old woman's relaxed never wavered but a tinge of unease for the young boy inside still plague her chest.

‘Now all that’s left is to trust that Ru can somehow hold off the person behind this attack in this confined space until Reina is done with her job, though I hope they will make haste as I doubt I have the enough arcana to play the long run and I doubt Ru have as well.’

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Reaching the guard station Reina could only gaped in horror, as the whole barracks is a bloody mess but the most unnerving thing was the charred body. Screams we’re still present but no enemies were in sight, all that was left littering the street was scorched corpses of civilians and guards.

Walking closely to the barracks a putrid smell of burnt flesh penetrated her nose. Heightening her senses came with this price, rendering her sense of smell useless.

“Shit did I come too late?”

Pinching her nose Reina slowly walked towards the entrance, peeking inside revealed just another mound of burned corpses.

‘What fuckin kind of shitshow happened here.’

Grimacing that she had gotten here late, a sudden huge hunk of rock came from above.

On top from the barracks is a bloodied maid girl with olive-like hair and lavender eyes, carrying on her side is an unconscious redhead girl.

Raising her downcast gaze her fangs sharpened and her horns glowed bright red.

Using her large claymore Reina with her pure strength sliced the large object shattering it to small pieces with the remaining chunks raining down the building with a violent crash destroying a large portion of the barracks.

“Hey brat, give that damn kid to me.”

Pointing her large claymore with clear hostility, the maid just shrugged as she combined the fiery arcana of fire with the arcana of earth resulting in a large molten rock coming towards the demonic woman.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“I ain’t requesting!”

Seeing clear retaliation Reina dropped down her weapon and charged at the little girl dodging a barrage of molten rocks in mid air before being close enough grabbing the girl by the collar and delivering a blow to her abdomen area, the little girl gasped for air as the woman struck her again knocking her unconscious.

With no one conscious holding any of them, both the maid and the redhead girl started to fall only to be catched by Reina.

Looking closely at the red head unconscious girl she could feel a pulse inside of her, a grateful smile was on the woman's face knowing that at least she was able to get the one of the two.

Peering down to the bloody mess below the woman winced pondering how she would tell the young man that she couldn’t save his friend in time.

“I’m sorry Rue.”

Now directing her scowl to another unconcious girl, Reina examined the unmoving girl. Seeing there isn’t any response she had decided to bring her back with her.

“I’ll at least take you for questioning.”

Securing both unconscious girls on her two arms, Reina left down and deliberately kicked her large claymore into the air, then catching it with her bare fangs.

‘Now to the carriage.’

Gripping both girls on her arms and her large claymore on her mouth, Reina began her mad dash towards the carriage.

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Teleporting from place to place, Rue narrowly avoids being hit by dozens of chains coming for him with intent to kill.

Destroying every establishment Rue is possibly hiding in, Mortem grew infuriated as she found it hard to hit the young man.

Disappearing and Reappearing yet the most mocking thing she was being subjected to was neither the running nor hiding, but the refusal to attack. Rue hasn’t attacked again after the gigantic ice spell he had just summoned.

Though it’s probably due to two things being he doesn't have any attack spell or just playing the long run rserving his reservoir of arcana, but Mortem's pride takes it much differently seeing his refusal to attack a form of mockery directed towards her.

“Is this all your petty skills can do? Running away and cowering in fear in front of opponents you encounter? If that’s the case then I’m truly disappointed.”

“Such harsh words I am truly hurt. But...these skills you call petty are giving you such a hard time, mind explaining to me why is that?”

Clutching his heart in fake pain Rue’s rebuttal has finally set off the last string in the woman's mind as her rationality fell to Rue’s constant taunts.

Using her proficiency in wind arcana the woman sped up the pace her chains we’re traveling.

Sprinting across the plaza filled with broken establishments Rue had finally run out of covers to use as his last hiding spot was dismantled to pieces leaving him a sitting duck with a hungry wolf just chasing behind.

Rue with nowhere to run accepted the fate that awaits him and turned around facing the woman who had been chasing him for quite some time.

“I will be sending you to your maker.”

“Can I say no to that offer?”

With a clear scornful look on her face, Mortem didn’t bother to answer as she had enough of the boy’s trickery. At first she finds his way of fighting infuriating to be amusing, skillfully using his teleportation spell, the boy had doped the woman over and over again.

From switching position with his blade to using body doubles to avoid death from her chains. She certainly found him amusing and irritating at the same time, like a jester forming fabulous act that is about degrading its own master.

She wants to kill him yet curiosity of wanting to see what’s the next thing he would do resulting in a prolonging fight.

But she had wasted enough time entertaining the platinum-haired man, controlling every chain on here with the power of wind she pointed at the young man standing before him with clear apprehension painted across his face, trying as he might to hide it with a smug grin. It's still obvious.

And she knows why, for the teleporting technique and body double he had been using till now to avoid her attacks has clear sets conditions to be met to be used and by fighting him for a long while she had noticed such conditions.

It was that both spells can’t be casted but merely set, meaning the caster can’t cast the spell by uttering the incantation as it doesn’t have one but instead must have prepared by putting a magic circle to one’s desired spot and just activating by sending Arcanum through it.

Resulting in early preparation to be needed for teleporting and body doubles to appear almost instantaneously. Such a powerful yet defective spell.

But the young man managed to get around with such a rule by using daggers as a form of catalyst instead of being limited to just using magic circles and talismans, resulting in an offensive ability as it enables the user to use it like a casting ability.

Yet it still poses the problem of running out of catalyst. At first she found it weird that the boy was recovering every still intact blade and reusing it during their fight but after realizing the nature of the spell she has started destroying every daggers and catalyst of some kind she can find.

Resulting in what he is right now, with no means of escape and trickery, truly pathetic.

With a glare she directed all of her chains towards the boy piercing his body one last time.

Vortex of dust flew around the air with a thump and a concrete sound reverberated through the chains as it finally hit something solid for once.

Second pass as the woman waited for the next attack but nothing came, the young man is trully dead.

Retracting her chains she huffed in annoyance for the man who wasted her time and herself for entertaining such fool for too long.

“Truly pathetic.”

Walking closely to have a glimpse of the corpse of the man she had hated and amused by in the span of an hour, a disgusting scowl made its way to her face scrunching the fair maidens face.

With dust settling down, the corpse of the man became visible.

Laying down is something akin to a doll made of ice with dark smoke slowly disppitating from it, revealing an ice doll woven with the same features down to the smallest detail of the platinum haired man.

Yet again the Lady of Chains, Mater Mortem has been outwitted by the fool known as Rue.

“Khk!!”

“Y-you....YOU DAMN IMBECILE!!!!!!!”

Gritting her teeth, the woman made a loud wrathful cry that even pierced the barrier surrounding them.

Red flames gush around the woman as she summons her chains once again now this time with a fiery flame surrounding it.

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!”