The Ghersengs in the meantime were fighting off the blood monsters and the soldiers of the black company. They were more superior warriors than both the monsters and the soldiers, but there was one blood monster that was fast and deadly.

The blood monster was Emilia who with her blood sword was holding her own against many of the Ghersengs.

Two Ghersengs were killed instantly when bullets made from blood went through their iron masks. It was Markus.

As he and his monsters and soldiers were battling the Ghersengs, their situation became more tumultuous as a spear grew in length and attacked Markus. He formed a shield made from blood and looked pleased as he stared at who came from the side of the Fairfax army. It was Doreen.

Doreen without any speech with great anger rushed at Markus. Emilia's blood monster defended Markus and came between them.

"You didn't..." Doreen said shocked and with a slight disgust in her tone.

Markus commanded Emilia to attack Doreen. She shielded herself with her shield as Emilia was swinging her sword at her. She flew in the air and floated all over trying to find a spot where it could deal a blow, but Doreen was able to block every attack with her shield.

Her shield started to shine a light again that caused part of Emilia's sword to turn into stone. This forced Markus to call back Emilia.

Doreen then walked toward Markus.

"You really have changed. You even desecrated Emilia by turning her into that thing," Doreen said furiously.

"I tried to make her dream come true, but I failed to protect her while I was doing it. I think she would now like to help me achieve my dream as I finally have one myself," Markus explained casually.

Doreen plunged her spear that pierced through the blood shield of Markus and almost killed him if it hadn't missed.

"You obviously never even knew her," Doreen said with an angry tone.

Markus got irritated with the comments of Doreen and started to force more blood to come out of the wound he had inflicted on himself.

"You will regret your words…."

"And you will regret your actions."

~ ~

In the meantime, Edward and others of the Fairfax kingdom were able to repel the attack on their flank and were pushing back the varangians.

Pema was still stuck behind the enemy lines. The varangian crossbowmen had tried to shoot him down, but he had either punched all the arrows that were trying to hit him, or his carbon skin had shielded him.

Skal then walked toward a couple of varangians and then cut them down with his curved blade and his new butcher's knife.

"Next one to interrupt me from my hunt will die like them!" Skal said to the varangians.

Pema and Skal were circling each other like two predatorial animals.

Skal then bolted at Pema who was too slow to dodge the attack. The curved blade of Skal scratched the half of the face of Pema that had turned into carbon. It was too close to comfort for Pema who then tried to elbow Skal who also dodged the attack.

"It seems you have learned new tricks. Your divinity has improved," Skal said.

"And you have gotten faster," Pema said back.

"Yeah, thanks to the bounty hunters that started to hunt me down kind of forced me to evolve. But I am thankful for it. There was also some from different worlds and their meat was…...refreshingly new."

Pema and Skal started to fight one another in a fierce battle. Skal was faster and was aiming at Pema's body parts that were unguarded by his carbon skin.

Pema was having a hard time trying to guard him and was too slow with his fists and kicks when he tried to hit back.

Skal was circling and attacking Pema from all over with his two blades. Pema then stomped on the ground which made the earth shake and Skal lose his balance.

Pema then grabbed the curved blade of Skal and with his other hand with an open palm struck at him.

As the strike was not lethal, Skal quickly recovered and continued his relentless attacks, but slowly Pema was getting a hang of the rhythm Skal was attacking him.

Speed beats power, but timing beats speed.

Pema grabbed the blade of Skal as it was coming down on him and then, as hard as he could, punched him on his side. The only thing that saved him was that he was able to place his butcher's knife to block the attack.

Skal then kicked Pema and got himself freed. He staggered backward as Pema was all composed.

"A good meal will always fight back. The better the struggle, the better the food," Skal said while holding on to his side.

They all then looked ahead as the varangians were in full rout and slowly the crossbowmen started to flee as well.

"Let's see each other again, Pema of the Dechen tribe," Skal said and ran away as well.