The smirk on Velvet’s face seemed a small achievement. Avernus had two fresh doses of sale’tomah. His head was dizzy all around, with faces of Velvet, Rokurou and Eizen swirling around his vision.

Velvet stood up, with Eizen and Rokurou helped Avernus to his feet. Avernus shook his head, trying to ward off that vile feel.

“Velvet,” Avernus said, prompting Velvet to look at him. “I think I can’t taste anything either.”

She narrowed her eyes, and her smile faded. “Don’t be such a baby. You can’t take care of yourself. I wonder how you even stay alive this long.”

Avernus grinned to himself. The answer was simple:

He didn't care.

"We've got these flowers now,” Eizen said. “Eleanor, Avernus and my crew ought to be out of danger."

Eleanor walked to Laphicet's side and watched him observing the daemon bug, "This insect daemon was a surprise, but I think what everybody said about this "curse" of yours, Eizen, is a little bit of exaggeration."

"Believe what you want, but if you're not careful, you might end up as my fiftieth dead comrades."

Eleanor gasped. "Fiftieth?!"

"Yeah, that's how many comrades that I've lost. Just don't let your guard down." Eizen advised.

The crew began moving back towards the town. Avernus was content with being alone for the time, Velvet and Laphicet were walking together, talking about the bug they captured, and the rest were seemed to focus on their own thoughts. But he was still feeling that horrible sale'tomah taste in his mouth. At least his fever was getting better.

Tia walked side by side with him. “Are you feeling better? That was some tough love from Velvet.”

"She meant well, and she was right. For her, that's the thought that counts, and this is the best I could hope for, I think." Avernus scratched the back of his head. “And I think she wanted payback.”

“Why?” Tia smiled as she guessed. “Did you step out of your boundaries and into Velvet’s private territory?”

Avernus shrugged.

“Idiot,” Tia whispered and looked at Eleanor. "You intended to make Eleanor into a squire pact if I’m not mistaken.”

"Yes. It's the best solution for keeping Eleanor close. And that's the thing Artorius, and his cronies won't expect.."

Eizen suddenly shouted, "Avernus! Get over here!"

Avernus joined Eizen, Rokurou and Laphicet as they were arguing.

Rokurou was sneering at Eizen, talking calmly in contrast to Eizen tensing up, "... But they only live for a year. The stag can survive through the whole winter."

"They live hard and die young! Is the beauty of such a life lost on you?!" Eizen frantically declared.

"What is it now?" Avernus asked.

Eizen pointed at the daemon beetle in Laphicet's hands and said,

"We need a final vote. Is this thing a rhinoceros beetle or a stag beetle?"

Avernus moved closer and checked the insect, "Hmm... are these horns or pincers? They are shaped like horns, but their placement is like pincers. I don't think he can move them. Maybe call it ‘Laphicet Rhinostagros’ for the moment?"

Rokurou sneered and said, "It seems you spend too much time with women. Their indecisive nature has already gotten into you."

Eizen shook his head in disappointment too, "Rhinostagros?! Are you nuts? You can't just blurt out a name out of nowhere."

Avernus frowned as their argument heated up. "This type of beetle is nothing like those two you mentioned. This is from a different subspecies. You two are the ones who know nothing about beetles."

The girls were standing behind them, untouched by the topic and looking weary and dumbfounded, wondering why this unimportant subject had engaged their minds to a great extent: a grown pirate, a swordsman, and a sorcerer looking ridiculous.

"Why are you boys so excited about some bugs? They all look like cockroaches to me." Velvet coldly expressed.

Avernus looked back and loudly sighed in frustration, "Cockroaches? Those are totally different species."

Velvet bared her teeth. "You three all look like children. Talking over some insects and bugs?! It is unbearable to even look at you sometimes!"

"I will call it Rhinostagros for now." Amidst the argument, Laphicet calmly said

Everyone looked at him. Girls didn't care that much. Rokurou and Eizen seemed okay with it, and Avernus nodded agreeably.

"Rhinostagros for now until we can find someone knowledgeable enough of beetles," Eizen said.

Avernus and Rokurou agreed too. Magilou slid to Laphicet's side and quietly whispered. "Trying to impress your pappy Avernus, my little Malak?"

Laphicet cheeks turned pink, "No! I was trying to end their argument. That was it!"

Velvet and Eleanor noticed Laphicet's reaction to Magilou's strange whispering and came to their side protectively. "Say anything freakishly Magilou to Laphicet, and I will devour you instantly."

"Oh! Here comes the miscreant villainess!" Magilou raised her hands in a mocking surrender, pretending to be scared and walked away.

Suddenly they heard a voice calling them from the other side of the road. "Hey, you guys! What's up?"

Looking at their front, they saw a silvered man with a brown, open coat. Velvet recognized him; Zaveid the whirlwind. The same malak they encountered before attacking the Empyrean throne. Eizen quickly dashed towards him in a blink of an eye, but Zaveid pulled out a strange small weapon and pointed at him, grinning confidently. "Wow, easy there. I don't have time to fight today. Got a date that I need to catch!"

Avernus's eyes narrowed at the pistol Zaveid was holding, and his eyes gleamed with recognition. " That's the ancient dragon-killer weapon !"

Eizen stopped and gazed over the pistol. "That artifact belongs to Aifread. Why do you have it?"

Zaveid glanced at the weapon with approval. "Hmm... just picked it up off the ground somewhere."

Eizen knew he was lying and raised his clenched fist. "Don't screw with me, tough guy. I have ways of making you talk."

Zaveid’s eyes caught Avernus and Tia and recognized them. "And you got that rogue shepherd with you too. It is so tempting to have a spar with you all right now and see how much pain gets you to open up!”

"Cocky little bastard,” Avernus sneered. “If you really want that beating so bad, I'm happy to oblige."

"It's not up to you two how this goes. If I want to talk, we'll talk. And if I want to fight, we'll fight."

Zaveid slowly brought the weapon to his head and stopped the barrel at his temple. To everyone's surprise, he shot it point-blank. His head jolted a bit, and a green aura engulfed his body, absorbing the power. "I'd play more with you, but I don't want to keep ol' pointy-beard waiting."

With a grin, Zavied’s body disappeared into thin air.

Avernus and Eizen took off to give pursuit, but Laphicet intervened, shouting. "Guys, stop! We need to get the flowers to everyone on the ship!"

Eizen and Avernus turned to the group while keeping up with running. "You can handle it!"

Tia stayed with the rest. Velvet noticed it and turned to her. "Aren't you going to follow him?"

"No, he will be fine. I need to stay and look after Laphicet if anything happens. That's what he wants."

"How do you even know that when you two don't even talk together?" Velvet wondered.

"We talk. Our bond and one of his abilities as a Shepherd permit us to communicate via a telepathic link." Tia answered her and, in turn, irritated Velvet. Tia’s I'm-above-you-all gesture didn't help with that feeling either.

"Let's head back to the village." Velvet suggested. Everyone agreed, and they headed back.

Avernus and Eizen ran across the fields in pursuit of Zaveid for some time.

"I know that you're interested in Aifread's relic. That's the only reason you're following him." Eisen said.

"That weapon that he "stole" from my continent? Yeah, that's one of the reasons. It's not like he didn't want the Dreamshadow either. They're not souvenirs that you put on a shelf or in a holster to look pretty."

They stopped near the fork on the road, looking around the area for any sign of Zaveid.

"We're pirates if you still don't know and not exactly working as a charity group. Siegfried is Aifread most prized possession, and I'm sure as hell won't allow it to fall into the hands of someone like Zaveid or even you." Eizen said threateningly.

Avernus noticed a trace of wind magic around a cave nearby. "Do you even know what that weapon's main function is?"

Eizen followed him into the cave, "I don't know exactly, Aifread had something in mind, but he didn't tell me that much. All I know is what Zaveid did with the relic."

"It empowered his elemental abilities. There are other "lethal" features too, but there is another important one that nobody knows or even cares, at least not people from Midgand."

Eizen sneered. "I'm sure Aifread would love to hear your instructions."

"Those traits are useless to normal humans,” Avernus said, scanning the wind trails. “They can't even trigger its main function. Not even an exorcist or Artorius."

Avernus managed to find the exit and the remainder of Zaveid's travelling arte and continued their pursuit.

Velvet's group was already on their way back towards Avernus and Eizen. After they gave the flowers to Benwick, he said something about a trap that Melchior sprung for Zaveid. They quickly took off to inform Avernus and Eizen before they were caught in the trap.

As usual, Velvet was leading the group. Tia went to her side. "It seems you can't bring yourself to tell him. If you're having problems, I'll tell him on your behalf."

Velvet gritted her teeth in mild anger, "I will tell him myself. Just not now."

Eleanor noticed that Velvet and Tia are busy talking with each other. She thought it's the best time to gather information from Laphicet and others about his connections to Velvet and Avernus.

"Hey, Laphicet, can I ask you a question about Velvet and Avernus? I'm not looking to exploit or take advantage of weakness or anything..." She innocently inquired.

"Don't worry about it. I don't doubt you or your intentions, Eleanor."

"Thanks, Laphicet. Umm, I know Avernus told me something about helping Velvet with her revenge, but I'm still unsure why he is doing this? Is there something more to his motivations?"

Laphicet stared at the ground, thinking, "I remember Velvet telling me about Avernus and his brother enduring a lot of pain, and I understand that they know each other from before... I'm sorry, that's the only thing I know."

Eleanor suddenly felt his negative emotions and tried to cheer him up, "But you seem to care about them both, and they care about you too. But why is that? Do you think there is a particular reason?"

Laphicet's face changed into a cheerful expression. "Yeah, Velvet is always there for me, and she saved me numerous times. But Avernus is kind of different..."

"Huh?"

"...Sometimes, I feel that I know him from somewhere, and my intuition tells me to trust him, but I will get blocked now and then. Like a curtain that keeps moving between him and me, and I always try to move through it. From time to time, I manage to overcome it and see him on the other side of the veil."

Eleanor couldn't tell and didn't understand what he was saying, "I'm sorry, Laphicet, I was kind of lost on that one."

Magilou smirked as she was eavesdropping on their conversation, "Malakhim's perception, Eleanor. Their senses are much different from us humans. What he said is that he is drawn to him by instinct. I don't know why either, but I think it has to do with Avernus being a Shepherd."

Eleanor sighed at hearing their vague explanations. Day after day, she would learn something new, but all of them were contrary to her expectations.

As they moved through the secluded waters of Fens of Nog, Tia decided to have her own fun and stir Velvet up, "You're beautiful, Velvet."

Velvet began to sulk and kept staring at her front, pretending that she didn't care much about her compliment. "Hmph."

"But you are always dressed in such rags. It suits you, I suppose." Tiamat's eyes began to check Velvet's chest and belly area as she was assessing them. "A little tear here, a little rip there to show some skin. I understand."

Velvet finally turned to her in annoyance, "You know that I scavenged these clothes from different sets of prisoner outfits, I hope."

Tiamat continued as if she didn't hear Velvet, "Maybe I could get you in a nice dress one day. Silk... no, why not velvet fabric. You're a daemon. You won't feel hot or cold. Dark red velvet, yes... with gold embroidery... it should be cut low in the front, like now, I don't want to hide your features. Even though you're young, you've developed nice breasts."

Velvet suddenly blushed and frowned at Tia. "S-stop staring at my chest like that. It is disturbing!"

Magilou sighed. "Yeah, some people are just lucky. But some men prefer small breasts too, you know."

Eleanor’s face was heated up in embarrassment, and she blushed. "Have you no shame, Malak?! This is not something you should discuss in public!”

"Ah, relax, Eleanor. If it wasn't for Avernus's orders, my clothes were even more revealing than Velvet's, and it's a shame to let that body go to waste." Tia resumed her gazing over at Velvet’s body. "You don't think that outfit would be suitable? And remember, if it's cut low in the front, I must put your hair up to show off that lovely neck of yours. Although your hair is beautiful and long, I suggest you keep it like this."

Velvet winced. "You are insane, Tiamat. I would sooner let Magilou dress me."

Rokurou burst into laughter. "Hah! I'd even pay Magilou to see that."

Velvet walked faster and increased her distance in silence. Tiamat smirked and watched as Laphicet joined Velvet. She then turned to Eleanor. "An innocent, pure Malak and a Shepherd, helping a daemon. Not an everyday sight. Am I right, Eleanor?"

"But why?" Eleanor mumbled, her curiosity flaring.

"Truth is rarely pure and never simple. The great advantage about it is that nobody ever believes it."

Eleanor was baffled at Tia’s riddle. "What do you mean?"

"The very concept of it is fading out of the world, and lies will pass into history. Like what Artorius and Abbey did... it is the cruel cycle of humans betraying one another, and the world will pay for it in the end."

"You and your riddles, malak." Eleanor shook her head and tried to forget about the whole ordeal.

After passing the cave, they finally found Avernus and Eizen in one of Abbey's camps.

Laphicet quickly ran towards them.

Eizen watched the group approaching. "Did you manage to get the medicine to the ship's crew?"

Laphicet nodded his head. The camp was filled with beaten and unconscious exorcists. Rokurou leaned and checked one of them for a beating pulse. "These soldiers won't be happy in the morning, but they're alive. Is this your work?"

"No, they were like this when we got here. It must have been Zaveid."

"Not a single kill..." Velvet observed.

Avernus was probing the area, searching for Zaveid. "He clearly knows that he's walking into a trap. I don't get why he roped Eizen and me into it."

"I know, if he didn't need our help, then what need did he have to mention Aifread in all of this?" Eizen wondered.

"Maybe he knows that you two are close?" Avernus guessed.

Eizen walked towards the middle of the camp and looked at the horizon, remembering something, "When I met Aifread, I was wallowing in despair that I would ever find a way to break the Reaper's Curse. "Stop denying reality," he told me. "If you were really born with that curse, then it's a part of you. But if the Reaper learns to grasp the wheel of his life, even he may find his creed, his path through stormy waters." And so I joined him aboard the Van Eltia."

"Looks like you owe that man a lot. Guess it explains why you want to find him so badly." Avernus said.

"I do. If he's dead, but his death came as the result of him living life on his terms, I could accept it." Eizen then turned and looked at Avernus, his brows knotted a bit more,

"But if anyone, and I mean anyone, tries to crush his way of life. I could never forgive them."

Avernus closed his eyes and sighed, "If it is directed at me, then you should know that I've no intention of destroying his creed, but..." Avernus clenched his left hand. "If his or anyone's creed comes into conflict with mine, you can be sure as hell that I don't give a damn about squashing their pesky little belief. Life is like a game. You cross the wrong path with others, and you can expect to pay in return if you don't know how to play. So spare me the lecture, pirate."

"Avernus... Eizen..." Laphicet's mood changed for the worse. The rest of the group also stood in shock as to why those two suddenly decided it was the best time for a dispute. Then, they heard clapping coming from behind a tent, "That is super great, you two. I didn't expect you rogues to throw away your secrets at each other. If you have secrets, talk about them at home." Zaveid showed himself, coming out of the shadows.

"Zaveid, isn't there any way you can work with us somehow?" Laphicet innocently asked.

Zaveid chuckled. "My creed is different from theirs. And certainly not if they're going to keep acting like this."

Avernus sneered at Zaveid. "He really wants and doesn't want our help at the same time. Pretty weak for even a malak." He turned to Eizen. “Don’t you agree?”

“That’s true. He is nothing but a coward, it seems.” Eizen stood by Avernus, gazing mockingly at Zaveid.

"Then what was the point of all that blustering?” Magilou wondered. “He could have just stayed hidden, weirdo."

"That was the whole point." Avernus crossed his arms, gazing triumphantly.

"He is luring us to the Lothringen Tower,” Eizen added. “We needed to be sure. He is a wind Malak, he could've just vanished and not show himself, but Avernus said that his emotions and faith are heavily conflicted. Zaveid is hard to read. Therefore he decided that we show some kind of disagreement between each other to force him to open up."

Velvet shook her head, “So it was Avernus’s idea? Dumbass.”

Avernus began to nod, “Thank you so much, Velvet slowly. Much appreciated."

Zaveid groaned and, without saying a word, disappeared into a trail of wind.

The group resumed their trip to the Lothringen Tower. This base served as a training ground for exorcists. It felt like walking into a lion’s den. After passing through a long-stone bridge, they reached an enormous tower decorated with blue flags of the Abbey.

"No guards, no exorcists. This trap couldn't be clearer." Magilou observed.

"We will not get ambushed, Magilou," Avernus assured.

Weapons in hand, The team, entered the tower cautiously. As they predicted, the place was empty. They could hear the sound of their boots, shoes, and sandals echoing through the place.

Avernus gazed over the area with a familiar feeling. "I don't know, but it feels kind of like home."

"Do you have towers like these back in your country?" Eleanor asked.

"Castles and fortresses mostly. Sorcery is deeply rooted in our culture... well, I can still hear Magisters and my peers shouting at me."

Eizen suddenly broke into a run. He caught a glimpse of someone chained on a cross in the distance. The team followed him, and they entered a large chamber.

Eizen recognized the man.

“Aifried.”

Eizen slowly ambled toward Aifried.

Tia stopped, looking up and scanning the area. " Something's not right ."

Aifread struggled to raise his head. The man managed to crack a smile. "Eizen... It's good to see you again."

Eizen stood in total calmness. "... So you're still alive. You could've sent me a letter."

"And when have you ever written a letter to another man, Eizen?"

"True, aside from my little brother, not even once." Eizen waited for an answer, narrowing his eyes.

"Your brother? Ah, yes, you told me th-"

In a blink of an eye, Eizen dashed at him and delivered a heavy punch into his gut. Aifried’s body recoiled in pain.

"I've got no brother."

The immense power of his punch quickly dispatched the illusion, and the imitation of Aifread disappeared into thin air.

Eizen turned immediately, knowing that another danger was indeed lurking around somewhere.

Another presence appeared between Eizen and the group. The pirate readied his fists again, whirling for another attack, but suddenly froze in his place, eyes widening in shock.

Avernus also recognized her.

" Edna ?!"

A small, blond girl with a white dress and an umbrella looked at Eizen, twirling her umbrella in her hand.

A flood of concerning thoughts crossed Eizen and Avernus’s minds. If it was another illusion, then they sure had already invaded Avernus’s mind. Little he knew Eizen was also a candidate.

Out of the blue, a loud shot pulled them out of their deadlock.

A shining bullet streaked through the chamber and hit Edna’s head, throwing her to the ground. Avernus whipped his head to the source, watching Zaveid cocking his pistol and grinning in satisfaction.

"Thanks for luring them out! I owe you one."

Zaveid jumped down from the balcony. He scanned the area."Now, Come out, you old geezer."

The air around them twisted, and magic distorted reality. Avernus focused his attention on the source and an older man with a grey beard and a large hat walked out of the distortion.

“Melchior.” Avernus recognized.

"You got through my double illusion. That is impressive. I shouldn't have let you get away last time. I won't make that mistake again." Melchior said, glaring at Zaveid.

Avernus pulled his staff and whirled it in his hand, placing it toward his back. "It would be so much better if you could just shut up and fight, old man."

Melchior stroked his beard, switching his attention to Avernus. "Ah, it is you . The failed prodigal son. I have brought the cure to your sickening existence.”

Avernus narrowed his eyes. “Prodigal son?” He smirked. “ Guess you truly are the mad one. Let’s beat some sense into you.”

Two white orbs appeared and landed beside Melchior, turning into battle-ready malaks. Edna's imposter struggled to stand and wandered around aimlessly, seemingly lost.

"What?... Where am I..." she mumbled.

Melchior noted her behaviour. "Her consciousness has returned! So that is the power of that weapon!"

With a clap of his hands, Melchior summoned an orb of malevolence floating above him. He gestured at the malak, and the ball flew instantly to malak. The blackness engulfed her body, and she twitched, whirled and winced in pain.

The malak mutated. Her humanoid body burst into a draconic daemon, baring fangs and horns.

Eleanor stumbled backward. Her body shook in fear and dismay. "Why?! This cannot be!"

As the team readied themselves to fight the Drake, the other two malaks emanate malevolence, and they, too, succumbed to the malevolence surging around them.

Melchior stepped back in shock, and his body disappeared into a wave of light. He reappeared near the exit door, gazing over the daemons and turning to Eizen. "A chain reaction of malevolence. Your "Reaper's Curse" is quite the scary affliction."

Zaveid and Avernus both scrambled toward Melchior as began to run away.

Magilou yelled, mimicking Avernus's voice, "Hey, "we will not get trapped, Magilou" ... get ourselves trapped!”

Avernus shouted in response. "Shut up, Magilou!... Tia! Stay with them. I will handle Melchior!"

Tia nodded, and the team prepared themselves to face the three daemons.

Avernus and Zaveid exited the room and saw Melchior pounding up the circular stairs. Avernus focused his magic to his core and used his teleportation, disappearing into a blue mist. He suddenly appeared in front of Melchior and swung wildly at him, but his weapon went through his body.

"Damn it. It was an illusion!"

Zaveid spotted Melchior further up the tower. "He is mine!"

Avernus readied his body for another warp to resume his attack, but suddenly, the wall beside him burst violently. As Avernus raised his staff defensively, an armoured figure rushed from debris and grabbed him by the staff. The knight pushed him and smashed his body into the wall behind him.

Avernus charged his weapon with magic, and the built-up magical power blasted the assailant, throwing him near the balcony’s railing. Avernus took a good look at him; He looked to be an exorcist, at the same height as him, wearing a long cloak, white and gold helmet, steel gauntlets, and boots. But he didn't use any weapons.

Avernus moved his head left and right, cracking his neck joints. "That was good. I’d give you that."

The warrior extended his hand, and a light orb appeared in front of him, levitating. He grabbed it and started to pull something out of light slowly. The mana turned material, and it shifted into a steel sword. He then conjured another light and grabbed it with his left hand. It changed shape and stretched into a large steel shield.

Avernus studied the conjuring artes. He pressed his lips as they looked familiar. The warrior dashed at him and tried to bash Avernus with his large shield. Avernus rolled out of the way and bounced back at him in an instant. The warrior raised his guard, and Avernus’s staff bounced back from the shield.

"So, have you found a reason to fight yet? The warrior teased, his voice rumbling behind his helmet.

Avernus pushed against him. His familiar voice, his familiar artes, boggled his mind to no end. His thoughts nearly overwhelmed him. He built up his anger and pushed his weapon on his shield harder. The exterior of the shield began to crack, forcing the warrior to step back.

Avernus gasped for air and demanded, "Who are you?"

The attacker raised his sword arm, Avernus heard movement behind him. He managed to dodge in time as another assailant tried to stab a spear through his back. Avernus noticed that the second one was a malak, the same as those ,turned into drakes. The warrior and malak both stood beside each other. They scrambled at him with intent to kill.

Avernus chose to defend against the warrior first. As he deflected a giant swing from the knight’s sword, his Malak dived from above to run his spear through. Avernus sidestep to the side, evading the attack.

The knight rumbled again. "Those who survive a long time on the battlefield start to think they're invincible. I bet you do too, buddy."

Avernus charged up his artes, his right arm began to glow, and a silver orb started to form on his hand, "I'm sick and tired of your nonsense, exorcist."

The warrior and Avernus rushed at each other, "Beast! Lion’s Howl!”

Avernus’s fist glowed with a silhouette of a lion with an opened jaw as he smashed the arte right into the knight. The attack dug into the shield, and It exploded into tiny pieces. The magical burst reached further and shattered the sword and part of his armour. The warrior was thrown at the other side, but he controlled his fall and landed on his feet.

"Same as ever... too eager to kill." The warrior quietly mumbled. “White Devil.”

Avernus shifted his attention to broken parts of the helmet. He could see a blue eye. His eyes widened but suddenly scowled. The warrior slowly took off his helmet, a young man with blue eyes, dark brown hair, and deep, warm skin tone.

"Lucian," Avernus remembered. That's right. This man was his comrade, companion, and now his enemy from the far-continent and his youth. Brother’s in arms, they called themselves.

"It's been a long time, buddy. I thought you were already fish food by now." Lucian taunted.

Avernus paled as he held his staff firmly. This was a surprise no one could've ever predicted.

"How...Why are you even here?!"

Lucian lowered his head and sneered at him like it was a joke. "Maybe for another time, now let's see." He looked at his Malak and snapped his finger. The malak shivered, and a cloud of thick black smoke began to envelop him.

"What the hell are you doing, Lucian? Are you out of your goddamn mind? People will die!" Avernus shouted, feeling the intensity of the malevolence mutating the malak.

"There's no mercy in war. People live, and people die. That's all there's to it. You taught me that once."

The malak instantly transformed into a large drake. It opened its wings and howled. The roar echoed through the tower and reached the bottom, shaking the foundation.

Then, Melchior appeared beside Lucian from thin air. "Lucian, it's time for us to leave this place. We have what we need."

Avernus ran towards them, but the dragon charged his fire breath and launched it at him. The area of flame was too wide for him to dodge it. He stayed and smashed his staff on the ground, creating a bubble barrier. He could watch the flames flowing on the exterior of the shield. He kept the shield up for a few more seconds until the dragon's attack ended. As the flames subsided, he noticed that Melchior and Lucian were already gone.

Avernus couldn't process the fact that his old friend was here, in Midgand and worst, working with the Abbey. Ignorant of the dragon's presence, the creature swung its tail. It hit him hard in the stomach. The enormous pain echoed through his body, and he spat some blood as he fell from the top.

The agony was a wake-up call. Avernus yelled in anger and teleported himself to the top of the dragon. As he began to materialize above, the Dreamshadow glowed bright white and expanded from the bottom, the elemental blade extending like a reaper scythe. Avernus slashed the drake with all his might, piercing the area between its scales. The dragon cried in pain and dived down towards the bottom of the tower.

The team quickly came out of the large room to check the howling and the commotion. They looked above and saw the dragon coming down at them.

"Get Down!" Eizen warned.

The bursts of high-speed gusts of wind swept the bottom. Nearly sweeping Laphicet, which Velvet grabbed before he flew away. Tia checked the dragon and saw Avernus riding on its back. She could make some words that were coming from him,

"Throw me the damn weapon!"

Tia turned to Zaveid, extending her hand. "Hey, you! Give me the relic!"

Zaveid was watching the flying dragon in anger and dismay. "Why? What good will it do?!"

"Just shut up and give me the relic, or we're all dead!"

The dragon slammed his body into the walls, trying to get rid of Avernus. The resulting quakes began to demolish the tower. Debris and rubble began falling.

Eizen pointed to the exit door. "Everyone! To the exit!"

Zaveid looked at the flying dragon, "I'll give it to him!"

Avernus pushed the staff further into the dragon's flesh, causing him to screech in pain, and the dragon started to climb vertically. The team quickly escaped the tower through the exit door. Zaveid pointed the gun at his head and fired it, boosting his powers. He then disappeared as he dashed through the falling wreckage to the top.

The dragon reached the top ceiling and crashed into it, destroying it in the process. The resulting outburst threw Avernus off balance. As he fell, he saw the creature turned and dived right towards him.

"God damn it!" Avernus hollered.

Zaveid suddenly appeared near the top and called out to him, "Hey, dumbass. Catch!"

Avernus looked to his right and saw Zaveid throwing the gun. Everything began to slow down. He extended his arm as the adrenaline level in his blood was at its maximum. The gun kept getting closer and closer. In a matter of a second, he caught it.

Avernus held the weapon with his two hands. With great finesse and accuracy, Avernus aimed the gun right at the diving dragon.

His finger touched the trigger. The gun began to glow blue as it recognized him. A small needle went into his finger. Tiny drops of blood started to come out, and they immediately changed into tiny silver particles. Siegfried charged itself as it loaded a new bullet from a new source; Avernus's mana-blood.

The dragon opened its mouth and charged its fire breath. Avernus closed his left eye and trained the gun right at the creature's mouth.

"It’s over for you, you goddamn freak!"

He pulled the trigger, the barrel of the gun shined bright red and a beam of light shot out of the weapon. It instantly travelled into the dragon's mouth and exited from behind the skull, tearing up and blasting the back of his head.

The daemon shrieked for a brief moment, and its eyes went dark. The lifeless husk followed the same path. Avernus slowly looked behind him. They both were going to hit the ground in a few seconds.

"Velvet's going to be furious again."Your idiot highness went down like a little dumbass"."

Outside the tower, there was a moment of stillness and almost eerie. Suddenly an overwhelming blast of sound followed by a heavy quake was heard and felt coming from inside the tower. Clouds of dust, debris, and smoke came out the main door.

The group watched in dread and horror as the tower began to collapse on itself. Velvet stopped and watched the exit door, waiting for Avernus to dash out of it. Her stomach twisted again with a sense of worry for the rogue Shepherd.