The grey skies drummed. The violent gust brought forth showering clouds moved people into buildings. It’s been a while since the capital of Rozzosea’s had rain in it’s streets.

Lemi looked out the window of her clinic.

“Geez, what brought this all the sudden. It feels like a bad omen fell on Halsgrof on the day of the ceremony.” Kridas mumbled.

“Does it not rain in Halsgrof?”

“Hardly in the capital. I never thought it could be this bad, but props to the architect who designed the sewage system eras ago. It might not seem like it, rain is one of things we giants hate. The feeling of suddenly becoming soaked when we can’t feel it is Ugh… Sometimes our tallness gets the better of us and lightning sometimes strikes us. That’s why the walls are build taller than mountains and direct clouds around the capital.”

“You giants have skin as tough as scalmen. It can’t be helped."

“You sound worried.”

“It’s been two days since I last saw Kihet. Last time we talked, he said he had something important to do. I hope he didn’t go off on an adventure on the day of the ceremony.”

“Say, didn’t Salith want to talk to him?”

“Don’t tell me those two are having an affair behind Sorah’s back?!”

“Holy Lemi, your delusions are becoming overexaggerated. My granddaughter doesn’t even have the slightest interest in romance.”

“I’m supposed to keep an eye on Kihet for Sorah’s sake! Ever since all of us left the village, Kihet’s been getting chummy with a lot of girls!”

The wooden roofs creaked, unsure if the supports could hold its rotting joints. Bam! Crash! Thunder clapped. Lightning flashed seconds after to reveal something unexpected. An army of cloaked warriors of steel and armor marched down the empty streets.

One soldier broke off the group rolled into the clinic wearing a leather layer that kept her dry.

“Grandfather! Grandfather!”

“Speak of the devil. Salith, good timing. We want to ask-.”

“Have you two seen Holy Kihet?”

“We haven’t.” Lemi exchanged looks with Kridas. “We thought he was with you. Did something happen to him?”

“I can’t tell you much, but we lost track of him. He was searching the wine cellars when we noticed he hadn’t come back.”

“He wasn’t in the cellar?”

“That place is a dead end. Other than fermenting alcohol, it leads to a dug-out cavern with nothing else. It’s like, he was spirited away or something. He gave us information before he disappeared.”

“Then all those soldiers…” Kridas looked outside. “They’re faces from different groups. Sal, what is happening?”

“On behalf of her Highness’ will, we will question the King for capturing Holy Kihet.”

“Her Highness accused of the King?”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t this news bring more problems to the ceremony?”

“Yes. We can use that to our advantage. Holy Lemi, I’ll need your cooperation to stall the treaty as long as you can until our rescue operation succeeds. Grandfather, I need you to keep a sharp eye for the King and the Ogre. They’re planning something against Xu’s Prince. We’ll meet you at the ceremony as soon as possible.”

“I don’t know what’s going on anymore, but I got it.” Kridas sighed. “Stall em.”

“Lady Salith, please find Kihet.”

“Leave it to my group. I have Carmyn and Alam working on it.”

I always wondered where my naïvety came from and why it’s always like karma striking me when I least suspected. I had a hunch Eizan set up a trap for me and fell for it anyways.

Rozzosea’s King and Eizan waited for me on the other side with dozens of guards that were controlled by golden dusts. I was overwhelmed with pure numbers and was captured. I remember they spoke something about the Queen managing to escape their clutches before I passed out. That’s one good news.

“Wake up Enui. Sleep time is over.”

The interrogator splashed a pale of cold water at me. As if the weather wasn’t already cold.

I was confused, but I suspect I was put inside one of the deepest rooms in jail. The chamber was wide. The stone walls were stained of black tar oozing mysteriously between the concrete, the corner was polluted with feces of the previous prisoners.

How many days passed? I lost track of time. This interrogator would wake me up and ask me questions at random times.

“Wake up!”

He proceeded to smack me across the face with the bucket. I would’ve blocked it with my arms if they weren’t tied down. Looking closely, I was rooted onto a chair. They tied the straps so tight my arms went numb. There was this prickly sensation of trillions of invisible needles stabbing my veins.

“How’s that? Awake yet?”

In my response, I choked a bit. Some water got up to my nose and down the wrong pipe.

“How about now?!”

Dissatisfied, the interrogator’s fist landed right into my stomach. I felt my organs twist, my stomach churned as the chair flipped back with me on it.

“Talk. What were you doing snooping around the study chamber? Were you trying to assassinate his Highness?”

“I wasn’t!”

His face frowned. He lifted me back up by claw holding my face and threw me back down.

“Just as the Ogre suspected. You might be an imposter pretending to be the Holy race. Tell me the truth before I carve out your ears and tail.”

-That’s right! It was Eizan! He said something sacrifices for a ritual. It makes sense now why there are so many bodies. What kind of ritual are they trying to complete?-

I was brought here after I chased his son through a portal, I was knocked out. That Ogre is collaborating with Rozzosea’s King for a scheme to ruin the ceremony.

“You got it all wrong! It was Eizan. He’s sacrificing people and planning to ruin the treaty between Rozzosea and Xu-!”

Just from the excruciating pain, I almost blacked out. I can hear my bloody scream echo throughout wherever this place is. I thrashed around, doing my best to break off the restraints.

Even though small cuts and bruises hurt a while ago I couldn’t feel anything after a portion of my back was torn off. The fact seeing my tail ripped away had silenced me, forcing painful screams instead of insults I wanted to throw at him. It was so painful my lungs refused to breathe.

By then, I almost suffocated myself. My ears were ringing, my vision blurred, my nose was covered in mucus, my body covered in cold sweat and shivered from going into shock.

“I think I’ll keep this as a trophy. Tail first. Ears next.”

He was really smug.

“Well? Tell me the truth or the next one will hurt a lot more.”

-I swear I’m going to kill him.-

I glared at the interrogator. A unquenchable thirst for revenge flooding my mind as I thought of methods to torture him a thousand times more painful than just flaying him alive.

“Ho? Nice eyes you’re making. It’s a shame I wasn’t given permission to gouged them out.”

The interrogator pricked the tip of his knife on my face and cut a shallow scar across my nose. Irritated, he stabbed the knife and kept it lodged into my shoulder when I didn’t respond.

“AARGH!”

“Tell me what your intentions were! If you’re not going to give me the answers I want, maybe your friend at the clinic will. I could have some fun with her.”

“You-!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you meet your friend first before I start playing with her.”

He turned around, signalling drugged guards outside the cells to assemble. He pulled one aside into my cell.

“Stand here and make sure he doesn’t cause a ruckus. If he does something suspicious, do what you want but don’t kill him. I still need to make him confess and let him see his friend. Hurry up men, grab your gear and get ready to go.”

-Don’t you dare drag Lemi in this!-

I was about to shout at the interrogator when I spotted something faint lurking on the other side of the steel bars bringing a layer of fog with it. As I focused on the blur, it took shape. It was the Apparition that sealed the Shadow Knight by the tower near my village. He blatantly stood in the way as the interrogator and his followers passed by without noticing.

The guard didn’t seem to notice him as the Apparition boldly phased through the bars and towards me. He jabbed his finger to my chest, whispering words an ominous phrase.

“Time draws near. Now go. I wish to see this millennial wait come to an end.”

As usual, the Apparition left words of nonsense only I could hear.

In the next moment, my arms felt like they were on fire. It was an empowering but painful experience. A torrent of negative emotions flooded out. My mind almost went berserk from who knows what that was, but when I regained my senses, the Apparition was gone.

More importantly, I’m free from cuffs that tied me down. They were melted off, silver embers fluttering and disappearing. The fumes were scentless and silent embers sizzled from my mysterious mark on my arms.

I held my breath, yanking the knife free from my shoulder, scraping some filth off the ground and slowly crept towards the careless watcher trying to put a flame on his tobacco.

“Hey.”

As he turned around, I slapped a handful of feces towards his face and quickly went for the throat. Climbing on his back, I pushed the entire length of the knife into one side of the neck.

He tried to fight back, but I vaulted over his shoulder and dragged my weapon across his throat spilling blood violently everywhere. My rags were splattered his blood. My hands felt strangely warm, but I was shivering down to my bones. I killed a person just taking orders from another.

I almost vomited when I came to realize the scene I created. I’ve took countless lives from my village because of an accident. In all my living years, I’ve only hunted monsters and never directly murdered a person.

-I went ahead a did it, didn’t I? I killed someone from a different race. I don’t like this, but they’re going to get Lemi at this rate.-

Despite finding myself terrifyingly calm, I searched for equipment and there were only torture tools laying around. I picked up a saw, scalpels, a hammer and created makeshift armguards of iron stakes wrapped around my forearm tied together with leather belts. The sword the giant had was too big for me to use. Its size was almost a bastard sword for me and weighted more than I could carry.

Those guards shouldn’t be out of this place yet. I can follow their trail to the armory to catch up.

-Lemi, try your best to postpone the ceremony. In the meantime, the rest of us will infiltrate the palace to find and position ourselves.-

The bells from the church rang as Lemi and Kridas arrived at the audience hall. On one side, warriors of Rozzosea, and the other, soldiers of Xu. The two armies faced each other, opening a path for Lemi and Kridas. Their faces were indistinguishable because of the helmets and masks covering their faces.

Shibata, Eizan and Xu’s noblemen stood on one side. The king of Rozzosea and his advisors stood behind their marbled table. Both gave their opposite party confident expressions and turned to face Lemi.

“I am Lemi, an Envoy sent by the Elder of my Village. I will act as meditator to oversee the exchange of this treaty. King of Rozzosea; Farakos Glaedus, Prince of Xu; Wu Shibata. Do either of you object?”

“I do not.” The King firmly crossed his arms.

“I don’t, but are we not missing a few figures? I do not see Kihet nor Rozzosea’s Queen anywhere.” Shiba asked curiously.

“That’s true.” Lemi slowly moved her eyes onto the King. “I was informed Kihet had ran into problems getting here, but to think the Queen is absent. That is unusual.”

“My wife is feeling unwell at the moment. I have taken upon the task to accept this exchange in her place.”

“She’s unwell? Shall I administer some medicine for her highness? I am a healer.”

“T-that will not be necessary. My wife simple needs rest from the assignments she’s been flooded herself in.”

Lemi caught a suspicious glance from Kridas standing beside her. As much as she wanted to lash out at the King, she doesn’t have any hard evidence to condemn him. She took a deep breath, hiding her anger for now.

-I know what happened to Kihet. Lady Salith, please hurry and rescue him.-

Faces grew more unsettling as everyone waited for Kihet’s arrival. Rozzosea’s King looked especially annoyed in this long wait.

“We have a meditator and I an acting as the queen’s substitute, could we not begin?”

“I agree.” Eizan spoke up. “We are only wasting time. If we dwell on Holy Kihet’s late arrival, the shadows lurking between the borders are only going to grow stronger.”

-And this Ogre is the mastermind? He’s trying to push forward the ceremony with a good point. I’m not good at debates like Elius and Sorah or as pushy as Megith, what can I say?-

“T-that’s true. E-erm. It’s just that…”

-Think. Think Lemi. How can I stall longer?-

In that moment, Lemi locked eyes with Shibata. The Prince sensed her comfortableness being pressured and stood from his seat.

“I would like to proceed, but have we not agree we would have both Holy ones present before proceeding?” Shiba frowned. “We should not disrespect the promise we have made.”

“More lives will be lost if we wait. We must quickly act and exterminate their numbers before they grow any further. Two towns have been burned down because we took our time to choose the day of this agreement!”

“With all due respect your highness, Xu has also lost much from the emergence of these shadows creatures. The outskirts of Xu are inhabitable because of their poison infecting my land.”

“Then we must complete this exchange now.”

“I too understand your loss.” Shiba stood firm. “Sending in our forces at the enemy hastily will punish ourselves. Either way, we will need time to assemble our armies and integrate the Holy ones into our battle plans. They will be the driving force to push the enemy back where they belong.”

“I don’t mean to doubt the Enuis, but what makes you sure adding two more fighters would let us win?”

“Very rarely do Enuis present themselves to the world. When they do, it is because they sense a threat bigger than we could imagine. Their judgement comes from the Creator’s will and have always stood victorious in all their legends.”

“Legends? Prince, you’re just believing in tales and fables?”

“Eizan, we are granted such privileges to meet Enuis. They are standing right before us. They are real. That could mean these legends are also real. They could have left us against those monsters alone and live in perfect isolation being protected by the Creator. But they chose to expose themselves to us. For that, we should be thankful and stand by our agreement of a simple promise in return.”

“But, Prince-.”

“Have you thought Enuis were just a myth until now?”

“Prince-.”

“Tell me.”

There was silence as Shibata glared at Eizan.

“Y-yes. I was never certain of their existence until now.”

“Anyone else?”

Throughout the room, the audience including some of the soldiers raised their hand. Murmurs began to favour this ceremony to wait for Kihet.

-I can see why Kihet thinks highly of him. He was able to control the room through his voice.-

“Very well. I shall wait a few hours for Holy Kihet at most.” The King clicked his tongue.

With a smile, Shiba returned to his seat and gave Lemi a wink.

“S-stop him! Don’t let that monster near me!”

The lasso missed its target but tightened around one of the guard’s neck, dragging him into the dark corridor with overwhelming strength. His comrades ran after him only to hear disturbing noise of flesh being stabbed and find the body mutilated.

The interrogator nearly lost his breath as he examined barbaric brutality inflicted on the victim. Throat slit, eyes gouged, limbs halfway dismembered. The weapon, a saw, was left dug in the collarbone.

“Useless trashes!” The Interrogator kicked two of his hypnotized soldiers. “If these guys aren’t my meat shield, that would’ve been me. Why can’t these dumbass pawns do anything?!”

“At least they fulfill their roles unlike you.”

“Behind-?! You two, kill him!”

Two guards moving as dead as zombies rushed to meet me head on. The one leading the charge had a shield as wide as the hallway.

I moved quickly in this narrow space, utilizing my small stature to weave in and out of attacks. My size was a blessing against Giants in tight corridors, allowing me to slip between their legs and get behind them. The sensation of adrenaline filled my body as I hopped off the wall and clawed my way up the shield. I jumped above the first attacker and dived for a killing blow at the spearman. I snatched a dagger off spearman’s waist, stabbing the hypnotized defender’s abdomen between plates of armor.

“Useless!” The interrogator waved his sword.

I tipped the corpse at him and saw an opportunity to parry his weapon to plunge a scalpel coated in filth into his wrist. After showing a provoking grin, I fled back to the shadows.

“ARGH! This rat! I’m going to kill you! How dare you stab me with shit on it!”

He dashed after me in a raging fit when suddenly, something unsuspected tangled his feet and brought him down. He tripped over a rope trap.

Extreme pain came from both sides of his body after a moment of realization. He saw two large curved blades on his left and right. Two battle axes cleanly dismembered his arms. He vaguely remembered these weapons were taken from his henchmen I ambushed moments ago.

“GAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! M-My arms! You fucker!”

“You’re too loud.”

I positioned an iron stake pointing close to the eyes.

“No. No! STOOOPPP! I’m sorry! I’ll do anything, spare me!”

“I don’t think you can do anything without your arms, but there’s something you can tell me.”

“A-anything!”

“Tell me where the exit is.”

“The exit-?” The Giant flinched seeing the iron stake jerk closer to his eye. “Two floors above! The stairs are around this corridor!”

“I see. Thanks.”

There was a moment of relief on the Interrogator’s face as I retracted the stake from his face. His eyes went wide and started screaming in terror as he watched me turn back, poked his temple and mercilessly raised my hammer.

“No! Please! I told you what you want! Please, Holy one! Don’t kill me!”

Watching him beg like that infuriated me. When he was torturing me, he was holding a smile across his face while I suffered. You dammed hypocrite! But he isn’t me. I grew up being the type of person who shouldn’t fall to his level.

“You want me to let you go? After you took my tail, threatened to violate my friend. You want me to forget all of this and let you live peacefully without consequences?”

I stomped on his head.

“I’ve decided after what you did, I can’t let you live. But I’m not you. I don’t take pleasure torturing others, but I do hold grudges.”

“No! NOOOOOO!”

The Interrogator let out a terrified cry and passed away after all my remaining iron stakes pounded into him. First, I pounded a stake on his tailbone for taking my tail. Next his shoulder for leaving the knife in mine. Then his back, for punching me in my stomach. When he looked like a broken man from suffering all that pain, I ended his life with three stakes through his skull.

Something terrible awakened in me. My blood-soaked hands weren’t shaking. My pulse was frighteningly normal. I was completely calm. All those years being scorned, wishing revenge from experiences back at the village caught up. Those welled up emotions exploded and gave fuel to my murder spree.

“Where do I go from here?”

I stayed within the shadows but not straying far from light sources. The nauseating smell from the level below was unpleasant. I was glad there was draft venting the stench although it was cold, and I was in nothing but prisoner rags. My bare feet began to freeze.

What’s more, the place was strangely haunted. The bustling streets of Halsgrof was absent. I remembered hearing traffic even as far as in the castle grounds which meant I was moved outside Rozzosea’s capital. But where?

Scouring for the stairs, I prompted up to a path of curious items that guided me to a post skirmish scene. Leather cuirass with fresh blood, scattered weapons, broken helmets and wasted healing ointments. There were bodies inside one of the cells, chained up.

-Bandits? The soldiers held them as prisoners? Then I’m really not in Halsgrof.-

I salvaged for mismatched sets of armor, cutting off materials and tightening loose wears. I yanked a hatchet off a corpse’s head and created a cheap sling using strips from a cloak.

I stared intently at the stairs when I suddenly heard metal clashing.

It was unknown if the intruders were friend or foe, but they were hostile to each other. The noise gradually grew as I climbed up. I poked my head around the corner and saw two figures finishing off remaining guards.

One of them held a bow while the other moved swiftly with two swords. An archer and a dual blade swordsman. A battle against them in this environment would be disadvantageous. They look well coordinated in their attacks.

But as I back away, I accidentally rattled some dangling chains.

“Who’s there?!”

-Shit, they heard me.-

A flurry of arrows stopped me from running downstairs and forced to engage the swordsman. In a blink of an eye, the swordsman closed the gap between us.

Although it was obvious a cross attack is imminent, one could not forget about the Giant’s signature strength. Blocking and parrying was out of the question. If I was Draigh, I would be able to tank attacks no problem, but I’m far being as strong as him.

I ducked from a cross slash that was aimed at chest height of a Giant. The attack shaved off strands of my hair, but I remained composed and watched for their next movements. I needed to use the swordsman to keep myself out of the archer’s line of fire. If I get shot, it’s over.

The archer nocked more arrows, the swordsman began twisting its upper body.

I flicked out my hatchet, using its heel to hook the swords away. [Crescent Moon Dance] was used to slip behind him. With me sticking close to the swordsman, the archer hesitated to shoot. I immediately tightened the sling around the swordsman’s neck and used his own weight to throw him off balance onto the floor.

I raised my hatchet, preparing to cleave down.

“Alam!” The Archer shouted.

“Alam?”

“That voice… Holy Kihet?”

A wave of confusion hit us as we exchanged looks. I awkwardly lowered the hatchet.

“I-it’s me. Look!” Alam lifted his visor. “F-friends, yeah?”

“Yeah…”

-It’s Alam and Carmyn. They’re here. Thank god.-

All the tension built up from fighting my way out caught up. I can feel strength fading my legs as I fell on my backside. All the weapons held by my ribbons fell onto the floor. My body began to feel cold even with layers of clothing I took from corpses. I felt tired, but I kept my eyes open for as long as I can.

“Carmyn, bandages now! He’s losing a lot of blood!” Alam bellowed.

“They… they ripped off his tail?"

“Carmyn!”

“I know! Get some healing ointments ready. With any luck, the bleeding will stop, but he’s looking pale.”

“I can’t believe how he could move in this state. Enuis are really something, right, Holy Kihet? Sorry bud but we can’t have you sleep yet. We still need to bring you back.”

Every now and then, Alam shook and asked question to keep me awake all the way back to the capital.

“Salith, we found Holy Kihet!”

“Good. How is he?”

“In a worse state than all of us imagined.” Carmyn answered. “We stopped by Holy Lemi’s clinic to get the nurses to close the wounds as best they could.”

“Salith, they cut off his tail.” Alam added, carrying Kihet. “Hey, Holy Kihet. Still awake?”

Kihet nodded weakly.

“Those bastards.” Salith gritted her teeth. “We can’t afford to delay any longer. Let’s move.”

Salith led her team marching towards the ceremony.

“You can’t enter here! The ceremony is still ongoing!”

“Move out of the way.”

“I won’t let you!”

She ignored the guard and continued marching straight towards him.

“Hey!”

“Kill him.”

One of her soldiers caved the guard’s helmet into the head with a war hammer. The body was tossed aside, helplessly watching Salith’s group batter down the steel doors.

Her group marched in to surround Rozzosea’s king.

“What the?!”

“An attack?”

“Your majesty, Farakos Glaedus. We ask you to comply and surrender yourself! The Queen hereby declares you a traitor to your country. We suspect you are collaborating with Ambassador Eizan for dealings of golden dust usage!”

“With Eizan?” Shibata asked. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Prince-.”

“Do NOT interrupt me, Ogre.” Salith shattered one of the marbled tables with her mace, effectively silencing further murmurs. “This is Rozzosea’s land and to think you would dare to manipulate the King to cause harm to her majesty!”

“I did no such thing.”

“Vermin. You dare to lie even in front of Holy Lemi? If you think for a second we don’t have evidence of your deeds you’re wrong. We also located Holy Kihet imprisoned outside of the capital. Alam, bring Holy Kihet in.”

Alam carefully moved Kihet into the room, showcasing wounds inflicted onto his body. He was dozing off but doing his best to stay conscious.

“Sh… Shiba… I, I have proof. Ugh…”

“Stay strong, buddy!” Alam panicked, doing his best supporting Kihet.

Suddenly something powdery fluttered down from the ceiling. Everyone looked up, discovering the ceiling was filled with floating swords of light hanging like icicles. Their tips all pointed towards Eizan. A strong surge of magical presence hit the room as all eyes fell onto Lemi who invoked the magical blades.

“What did you do to Kihet?”

Her eyes were bloodshot and clearly enraged. From one who always smiled, her expression as of now was frightening, coldly staring into Eizan’s soul. If a gaze could kill, a thought crossed through Eizan’s mind he should’ve been dead by now.

“Holy Lemi, please calm down. You’re acting too rash.”

“I am calm, Kridas. I just wanted to know why. Depending on his answer, these swords might turn him nothing more than mere ashes. How dare you do this to Kihet.”

“Holy Lemi, I understand your worries, but please allow me to clarify the situation!” Shibata shouted then turned to Eizan. “I have no idea what you dragged yourself into. What did you to Holy Kihet?”

He guided his golden sword above Eizan’s neck.

“With this much evidence you are without a doubt guilty. Before a subject of mine, you were a dear friend. I will allow you explain your actions before I execute you.”

“That will not be necessary.”

The bellowing voice belonged to Rozzosea’s King as he stood up. Lemi aimed half the floating swords at him. Kridas, Saltih and soldiers in the room ready their weapons as a caution, watching the King make his way towards the center.

“Eizan, due to your greediness, you’ve slipped up. We lost many supplies of golden dusts. Your curiosity for that sigil has exposed us.”

“I agree, but its power just fascinates me.”

“Eizan, I can’t believe you were the one responsible for kidnapping civilians! You are no longer a friend. You are a Demon! I demand immediate execution of Ikki Eizan!”

“They have confessed!” Salith declared. “Soldiers, arrest the Ogre and the King!”

“For his majesty!”

The Devil folk behind Eizan quickly turned on Shibata while the King’s guards collided against Salith’s soldiers. Their minds were corrupted by golden dusts as seen behind their visors as they mindlessly hack and slash all those who dare to lay hands on Eizan and Rozzosea’s king.

“Hey, the soldiers in the room-!” In a panic, Alam slashed down a soldier. “Holy Lemi, behind you!”

A mindless Giant lunged towards Lemi, but Kridas was there to act as her guard. He brought the attacker down with a punch and cleaved down on the body.

“Holy Lemi, it’s dangerous! We need to move towards Salith now!”

“I can launch my spell-.”

“Not yet. The soldiers are mixed up. We don’t know who’s a friendly but keep them up for now.”

“Understood, but Prince Shibata.”

“I’ll go get him. You stay with Sal.”

In an instant, Shibata’s sword blurred and left after images. The Devils who surrounded him were cut down in a flash.

Eizan barely dodged Shibata’s whirlwind of slashes and dove back for a flurry of attacks.

“Xu’s Prince, step back!” Kridas bowled through the battlefield, unleashing an earth-shattering strike driving back Eizan. “You good?”

“I appreciate the thought, Giant. I can’t believe I would have a friend to betray me like this.”

“And I can’t believe the King turned into this tyrant too. Looks like we have something in common, but first we have to get you and the Holy Enuis out of here.”

“I can’t leave without the traitor’s head. He has to pay for what he’s done to my people!” Shibata rushed in, slicing past Rozzosea’s guard. “Eizan!”

“Hey, get back!”

Kridas pulled Shibata back and blocked a blow from the King’s halberd. A crater formed underneath him as he was forced to take a knee from overwhelming strength the King possessed.

“Shit!”

“Magnificent. I’ve always looked forward to fight against one of the veterans of the sieging corps. You are a worthy opponent!”

“Get away from my grandfather!”

Salith shield bashed the King’s side and raised her mace. Her swing seemingly missed as Eizan moved in front and knocked her weapon aside, exposing an opening.

“Not so fast, brute.”

“He deflected it?!”

She saw him aiming a small dagger in reverse grip into her exposed side. Before he stabbed her, Shibata drove him away with a butterfly axe kick and brandished his sword managing to cut off one of Eizan’s horns.

“Do not panic. It’s a form of self defense technique to deflect attacks by using the opponent’s momentum. He redirected your attack trajectory away from him.”

“Xu’s fighting style is sure different.” Salith said, bringing Kridas up on his feet and jerked her chin up. “For now, we have to go. Holy Lemi will take care of the rest.”

“As much as I’d like to kill Eizan, I’ll abide to cooperate with you. The Enui’s chief must know about this and we don’t want to get caught in friendly fire.”

The three of them quickly retreated to the entrance.

“Holy Lemi!”

“O’Light, bringer of justice, rain judgement upon my foes. Banish the darkness from their hearts and show mercy upon my enemy’s soul. Ank, Foram, Maks, Ashent, Dupil, Jeltz. Forgive my sin and grant mercy on their souls. I pray. [Divine blades of light]!”

The swords hanging from the ceiling rained down everyone in the room. The mindless soldiers, Rozzosea’s king and Eizan had numerous blades piercing through their chests.

Lemi fell on her knees.

“Holy Lemi!” Salith supported her.

“I apologize, but I have never used my magic to take people’s lives before.”

Salith felt guilty after knowing this was Lemi’s first time taking away someone’s life and to take numerous lives of one.

“Is it done?” Kridas asked.

As dust settle, they cautiously waited for survivors. The room burst with shadow tendrils. They flail disgustingly almost like living worms, eroding any dead bodies they touch. The whole patch took over floor and made a pool of darkness. Among the casualties, Rozzsea’s King and Eizan remain untouched as the energy swords stuck on their bodies were eroded and consumed by the black seaweed like things.

“This power… it’s excellent. It seems we’ve had enough sacrifices.”

“HAHAHA! The ritual was a success!” Eizan laughed.

A figure then raised itself in the middle of the room. It was covered in black miasma like the shadow knight, but it took on a different form. Its silhouette wore a witch’s hat, loose clothing and held an atrocious looking spear.

“What is that?!” Shibata exclaimed.

“Kihet, doesn’t that thing look similar to the one we faced back in the village?” Lemi trembled. “Why’s it here?”

“Leave.” Kihet painfully groaned. “We have to, leave!”

The Shadow Wizard gave the spear a flick, splitting the black clouds outside by summoning a meteorite and guided it towards them.

“Sal, outside! We have incoming!”

“Follow me! Alam and Carmyn are ahead clearing an escape route for us!”

They moved out of the halls before the ball of inferno crashed into them and eventually found them outside. However, the Shadow Wizard flicked the spear two more times, hurling five more meteors into the castle. Each one barely missing the group as they sprint out of collision range.

“Kihet, look! Our crest, they’ve turned dim!”

-What?-