Akiara's vision started to become hazy and her grip on the serpent's tail loosens up. She closed her eyes losing consciousness. Just then Arrow jumped and slashed off the tail with his claws releasing Akiara from the grip. As she was falling down he catch her and lands on the ground. She coughs catching her breathe.

"*coughs* Thanks Arrow." she thanked while coughing.

"I'm sorry for not coming sooner." Arrow's eyes were filled with guilt.

She ruffled his hair, "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

The serpent's shriek and tremor ruined their happy moment. They looked at it. They nodded and ran different directions. Akiara grabbed her sword and ran towards it. Arrow's eyes changed to dragon's eyes and his hands shifted to claws. They attacked simultaneously making it weak. As it was about to regenerate Akiara activated magic infusion of sword.

Her eyes glowed like bright dark blue and her aura giving off blue flame that engulfed her, "Magic infusion. Earth magic." She stabbed the ground. Suddenly spikes from ground stabbed the serpent at various parts. Its eyes lost its glow like it short-circuited and collapsed on the ground. Arrow took her sword and dissected it to find its core. He found it and took it out.

She walked towards him, "Looks we can rest for a while."

"Yes big sis." They walked back to the camp.

Everyone woke up in the morning and packed up to continue their journey. They noticed Arrow and Akiara were sleeping in front of the bonfire place. They watched how peacefully they slept in sitting position. Akiara's head was leaned on Arrow's shoulder while his head leaned on her head. Mizuki and Suki-san looked pissed off. They walked towards them and grabbed Arrow's cloak collar shaking him violently. Akiara woke up immediately by Arrow's sudden movement. She glanced at Arrow. She saw Suki-san and Mizuki were scolding him for sleeping beside her.

"Ahem.. Good morning." She greeted in angry tone.

They heard her voice and looked at her. Her one eyebrow was raised and she looked quite angry for causing commotion early in the morning. They let go off his collar which made him fall on the ground. They scratches their nape smiling awkwardly.

"G-good morning." they greeted back. She shook her head and got up from her seat. They continue their journey to Ubiria kingdom. On their way they slayed monsters, rested to gain energy then again continue their journey.

_________

Vasilindro empire

Crown Prince's study room

Crown Prince, Rafael Von Aldair was reading economic and political situation of the empire as a part of his study session. He suddenly stopped reading and asked while looking at papers, "Brother, is there someone who possessed scarlet eyes?"

Preston, his aide and second prince looked startled by his question. He tried to brush it off, "Why do you ask that, Your Highness?"

Rafael looked at Preston meeting his eyes spoke, "Brother, I had another vision."

"Vision? What did you see this time?"

"I saw that.... a woman with scarlet eyes along with another girl saves the world from asmodians."

"Your Highness, scarlet eyes bearers are nothing but monsters."

"Brother, are you telling me that my visions are false?" He asked in angry tone.

"No Your Highness, I wouldn't dare to. But that's true. That woman is a fugitive. But how will she save the world when she is mere monster?" then suddenly he realized, "Your Highness, you said that there was another lady beside the scarlet eyes bearer right?"

"Yes? What to do with it?"

"Can you give me the description on how that lady looks like?" He suddenly started acting like a detective.

"She has black hair and ocean blue eyes."

His eyes grew wide hearing it, "As far as I remember the scarlet bearer killed former crown prince because he sexually assaulted her friend."

"Which means the black haired girl is still alive right?" Rafael's face lit up.

"But how are we supposed to find her? I mean there are even other black haired bearers among the heroes."

"*Sigh* your right." He looked at him with determined look, "If those two save the world I will remove the charges pressed on scarlet bearer and give nobility's title."

"But Your Highness isn't it a bit risky decision?"

"Don't worry brother I know the scarlet bearer would never kill big brother without any mere reason." Preston smiled back. After then they went back to minding their business.

Suddenly a soldier burst into his room, "Your Highness, we are under attack!"

"What?!" suddenly windows open and cold wind and snow flutters the curtains and papers.

___________

At night Akiara sat in front of the bonfire and took out Arnon's diary to read. She continued reading,

I was astonished to find out Grace was my aide. When I asked her why she hid the fact, she said she only did what Goddess asked her to. she said she came from another world to help me. She promised me she will tell everything when the time will be right.>

"There was someone like me?"

She got killed by the dark swordmaster. Sadness and grief was not the time to do it. I still fought against him and when my blade reached his neck..... he flinched and stabbed me on my stomach causing me cough up blood. He ran away. I understood that his weakness must be the neck. I walked towards->

Her reading got interfered when Suki-san came from behind.

"Aki-chan?" Suki-san called her.

She hid the diary inside her jacket, "Yes?"

"You won't mind if I sit beside you?" She shook her head. She sat beside her and rested her head on her shoulder and threw a twig on the fire.

"Hey Aki-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Don't you wanna know what happened after you went missing?"

"Not interested."

"Why is that so?"

"Because I don't want to know."

"Ahem." Mizuki cleared her throat. Both glanced at her. She was sitting beside Akiara on the right side. Akiara leaned her head on her shoulder. Suki-san glanced at Akiara. She noticed she fell asleep.

"So you are trying your best to win her heart." Mizuki asked.

"It's nothing like that." Suki-san replied sternly.

"I see." Suki-san kissed Akiara's forehead and walked back to tent.

She intertwined her fingers with hers, "Aki, no matter what I will never leave your side. I promise." she gently picked her up and walked inside the tent.

Next morning, they continued their journey. They reached Ubiria kingdom.

"How are we supposed to go in when there are monster guards?" Akane pointed out.

Akiara glanced at Arrow and nodded. As he was sneaking away she tapped his shoulder and whispered, "Don't let anyone find out." He nodded back and walked away. After sometime, a dragon appeared showering fire balls at the kingdom. The guards at the gate got distracted and went inside.

"Hey look! The guards left the station!" Cordelia said pointing at the gates.

"This is the chance to go in." Akane shouted. They entered the kingdom and gathered in an empty house.

"We will go in different directions then we will meet in front of the palace." Suki-san said looking outside for any suspicious behavior.

"Alright." They went to roof and jumped to other directions.

Mizuki grabbed Akiara's hand and hid behind a large chimney.

Akiara looked nervous, "W-what are you doing? Someone might see us."

Mizuki kissed her, "Stay safe." she smiled warmly.

"I will." She gave a quick peck and ran off to different direction. Mizuki touched her lips and smiled. She also ran off to different direction.

After two-three hours, they gathered in front of the palace. Akane killed two guards and her followers opened the gates. Skeleton soldiers and bodiless knights in armor got alerted and charged towards them.

"These monsters are on different levels than what we fought. So everyone good luck and come back alive!" Akiara said making everyone hyped up.

"YES!" Everyone shouted. Arrow snuck behind them. Akiara smiled.

They also charged towards them. As they were fighting, they saw disadvantages when fighting against skeleton soldiers and bodiless knights. Their limbs will come back to their body and become even more powerful. Akiara thought, "There has to be a weakness in them." Then she suddenly remembered reading the diary, Skeleton soldiers weakness is on their chest. A small core hidden inside will break and the trapped soul will leave the body. As for the heartless knights, you need to use holy power to exorcise them.>

She stabbed the chest on a skeleton soldier. A small light flew away while the skeleton disintegrated. Akiara shouted, "Skeleton soldiers weakness is on the chest!"

Everyone started doing what Akiara said. But Akiara did not have time to waste. She ran to Mizuki.

"Mizuki, use your holy power to kill those heartless knights." Akiara said while fighting against the knights.

Shapeshifting magic broke as Mizuki activated her holy powers. Her scarlet eyes changed to fire opal color, "Holy light." she stabbed her sword on the ground. Suddenly a blinding light from the ground covered the palace. When it faded away all the souls dissipated. Clanking of armors could be heard as the souls trapped inside them faded away.

As everyone were enjoying their victory, suddenly vengeful spirits possessing rotten dead bodies charged towards them. Akiara used this as a chance to sneak inside the palace. She grabbed Mizuki's hand and went inside the palace. As they were running Mizuki asked, "Why are we going inside leaving them behind?"

She stopped running. She gestured her hand showing slitting of throat and mumbled, "His weakness."

"Whose?" she pointed upwards. As she glanced upwards Akiara's eyes glowed as she evaded Kuro's surprise attack from above.

He smiled like maniac and jumped back. "We meet again, sweetie." He teased.

"Don't call me sweetie. It grosses me out." Akiara replied with her sword pointing towards him.

He raised both his hands, "Okay okay sorry." he pointed his sword which emitted dark energy and dashed towards them.

Mizuki also unsheathed her sword and deflected his attack. They were clashing with swords. Akiara and Mizuki couldn't land a single blow on Kuro whereas they got grazed on their arms, body and legs. Blood soaked their clothes. They panted but still looking serious.

Kuro laughed, "My my.... look at your situation. You guys are injured whereas me I am not even hurt." he suddenly noticed his sword was slowly losing its darkness.

Both looked at each other and nodded. They ran in different directions and charged towards him. His intuition warned him. He jumped backwards, "Not a chance." he vanished leaving raven feathers behind. Both hit their sword and fell down.

"Ow ow ow ow" both writhed in pain.

Mizuki noticed feathers, "Where did he go?"

"Don't know." Akiara stood up and then helped her get up. "We should split up and search for him."

They nodded and headed different directions. As Mizuki was searching rooms to rooms. As she entered the throne room she suddenly felt cold blade touching her neck. She glanced over her shoulder. It was Kuro smiling. She grabbed his hand and poked his chest with other hand making him losing his grip. She flipped him hitting him on the ground.

"What's wrong with you girls? Always throwing me?" Kuro stood up. He charged towards her. Both started clashing with swords. As they clashed he threw away her sword. She started fighting barehanded. But eventually she got overpowered and he got her neck strangling her.

"Who are you to give off such holy aura?" Kuro asked.

"I.....-I don't know either." She replied.

"You are a threat to asmodians. I must kill you." His grip got tighter choking her to death.

Suddenly someone slashed off his hand. He looked towards the person. It was Akiara. She gave deadly glare to him. His hands grew back revealing monstrous arms.

"A-Aki?" Mizuki mumbled still catching her breathe.

"Just rest here. I will finish this real quick." Akiara leaned her against the wall and charged towards Kuro. As they were clashing he noticed his sword was showing its true form.

He jumped back and asked, "Who are you really?"

"Why do you want to know?" Akiara asked.

"My sword's been acting weirdly ever since I fought against you. Are you perhaps Hero's aide?"

This made Akiara look confused, "What?"

He again attacked her with surprise. She evaded it on time saving her neck. Her eyes glowed even brighter releasing blue flames that engulfed her body landing a heavy blow on Kuro. As he deflected it a large crater was made because of the blow. The whole palace started to shake because of the heavy clashing of the swords. Both were panting. Both jumped at the same time. Akiara held her sword tightly ready to swing and Kuro pointing his sword.

"AKIARA! STOP IT!" Mizuki shouted as she ran towards them.

As Akiara got stabbed on her side abdomen she shouted slicing off his head, "Divine slash!"

She fell down and landed on her legs. She collapsed and glanced at Kuro. She passed out from blood loss. She slowly opened her eyes. She was standing in front of Kuro. He looked different. His eyes were green like forest and his hair was rather dark blue. He was smiling brightly.

"Who are you?" Akiara asked.

"You don't recognize me? I'm Kuro." Kuro replied.

"But.... your appearance?"

"This is how I look like." he walked towards her and clasped her hands, "Thank you. Thank you so much for breaking the curse. Because of you I'm free and able to die peacefully."

She tilted her head, "So you are saying that you all dark emperors are actually cursed?"

"Yes. Our souls are trapped by the evil god. Thanks to your divine slash it broke the chains that binded me and I'm free. Thank you." with a bright smile his soul dissipated like flower petals.