Chapter 133: ¹³³The Last Blood
?"Feeding a starving world."
?The words tumbled softly from King Evander’s lips. So calm, yet heavily steeped in the poisonous miasma billowing from the black stone altar behind him.
?At the center of the circular chamber bathed in the red glow of shattered stained glass, the Marble King displayed a sickeningly serene smile. His navy robe remained flawlessly spotless.
?Alaric von Rosenberg wasted no time arguing with a monster.
?Shing!
?The Duke of the North’s pale blue eyes flared with unadulterated rage. With a low rumble that shook the tower walls, he swept his greatsword in a single, fluid breath.
?"Glacier Cleave!"
?Sshhk-crrrk!
?A wave of pale blue ice surged across the marble floor. The air at the tower’s summit shrieked as the temperature plummeted instantly, sending plumes of freezing vapor rising to frost over everything in its path.
?Yet, King Evander merely shifted half a step. His movements were far too graceful, as if executing a refined dance.
?Crash!
?The tip of the glacier missed by mere inches, slamming into the stone wall and freezing it instantly.
?Evander chuckled softly, the smile stretching wider across his classically handsome face as he raised his unarmed right hand.
?Hsssh!
?Dense crimson mist seeped from the King’s skin. It didn’t merely evaporate—it writhed with life. Piercing through Alaric’s icy haze, it clung tightly to the Duke’s skin and white bear-pelt cloak.
?"Ugh...!"
?Alaric let out a muffled groan. It felt as though thousands of invisible leeches were draining the strength and warmth right out of his muscles, making his massive frame feel as heavy as an anchor.
?Evander offered no respite, flicking his wrist.
?Whoosh!
?The blood within the mist condensed in midair, transforming into a Crimson Spear—a deep-red pike pulsing like a living organ. It shot forward like lightning, targeting Alaric’s chest.
?A Master Knight’s instincts saved the Duke’s life. Despite his weighed-down body, Alaric instinctively spun his greatsword, using the broad blade as a shield.
?Clang! BOOM!
?A violent explosion erupted as the blood spear shattered against the icy blade, showering the room with frozen blood shrapnel like shattered glass.
?Alaric turned his face away, but several shards of frozen blood still slipped past his defense, lacerating his cheek and temple.
?Skrrrt!
?The Duke of the North was pushed back three full steps, his heavy iron boots gouging the marble floor. Fresh blood trickled from his temple, freezing instantly the moment it touched his sideburns.
?Evander didn’t give chase. He clasped his hands behind his back, savoring his opponent’s agony while his sapphire crown caught the crimson moonlight perfectly.
?"Hmm, the blood of the Rosenberg lineage has always been so cold and rigid," Evander whispered softly, sounding like a deadly lullaby. "But in the end, it’s just another fluid waiting to be spilled. You cannot win, Alaric. I only need one last drop of blood to complete this offering."
?"Bah!"
?Alaric grunted harshly, spitting blood onto the stone.
?He straightened his massive frame once more, raising his greatsword and pointing its tip directly at Evander’s face. The man of the North was far from done.
?Meanwhile, on the lower floors of Veylor Castle...
?The west wing corridor had been reduced to absolute ruin. Marble walls had collapsed, and supporting pillars stood cracked and charred.
𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
?In a corner of the hallway, Caelum von Valois leaned against a lone surviving pillar. His grey coat was torn open at the left shoulder, his hands clutching a wound that oozed fresh blood.
?The Second Prince’s blue eyes were wide with terror.
?His older brother, Edward von Valois, had truly lost every shred of his humanity.
?"GRRRR...!"
?The Crown Prince roared like a wild beast. His white-and-gold military uniform hung in charred shreds. Crimson eyes glowed with madness as blood-laced saliva dripped from between his newly sharpened fangs.
?Whoosh!
?Edward lunged forward with unnatural speed. His joints popped with rigid stiffness, yet radiated a terrifying surge of monstrous strength as his talons swung lethally toward the neck of the man before him.
?Duke Reinhard von Ashford didn’t flinch.
?The Southern politician stood tall and poised. His copper hair remained impeccably combed, and his dark silk robe bore not a single wrinkle. His golden eyes looked upon Edward as if viewing a rabid dog.
?Right before Edward’s claws could tear into his throat, Reinhard snapped his fingers.
?Snap!
?BOOM!
?A ring of blazing orange-white flame erupted from beneath the marble. Edward was blasted into the air, his back slamming into a pillar before he crashed violently onto the floor. Half of his face and shoulder were blistered and charred, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.
?Scrambling back to his feet, Edward’s primal instincts registered total danger. Instead of attacking again, he spun on his heel and leaped toward a shattered stained-glass window, attempting to flee.
?"Hah... what a nuisance," Reinhard muttered under his breath.
?The Fire Mage had no intention of letting his feral prey escape.
?"Phoenix Dive."
?Skipping any lengthy incantation, Reinhard leaped into the air. Orange flames engulfed both his legs, propelling him forward like a comet through the shattered window frame.
?Crash!
?Midair in the night sky, Reinhard slammed his flaming knee directly into Edward’s spine. The two plunged downward, crashing onto the inner courtyard grounds.
?Crack!
?Edward’s body struck the marble so hard the stones fractured beneath him, accompanied by the sickening crunch of breaking bones. Reinhard landed soundly, pinning the monster’s chest beneath one knee.
?Edward thrashed wildly, his eyes burning with frantic malice as his jaws snapped empty air in a desperate attempt to bite the Fire Mage.
?Reinhard slowly rose, raising his right hand chest-high.
?Whoosh!
?A human-sized orb of brilliant orange-white fire materialized above his palm. Its scorching heat distorted the very air of the courtyard. Without a moment’s hesitation, Reinhard drove the fireball directly into Edward’s chest.
?No grand explosion followed. Instead, the flame sank into his body, consuming the lingering cursed magic and incinerating what remained of the Crown Prince’s soul from within.
?"AAARRRGGHH!"
?Edward shrieked in agony. It was no longer the roar of a beast, but the torment of a human whose soul was being burned down to its very roots.
?Within seconds, Edward’s body withered, blackened, and crumbled into freezing ash that was swept away by the night wind of Astrea.
?Reinhard lowered his hand and turned to look up toward Veylor’s highest tower.
?But just as he was about to step toward the main staircase, the courtyard ground vibrated softly.
?Grrrr...!
?From the shadows of the pillars and gardens, dozens of red-eyed humans emerged. Ferocious growls echoed in unison as they surrounded the Duke of the South from every side.
?"Tch." Reinhard clicked his tongue, his expression darkening.
?Flames reignited around both his hands. He was pinned down in the courtyard, with no quick path to reach the top and assist Alaric.
?At the summit of the tower...
?Alaric von Rosenberg’s condition grew increasingly dire. The chamber was frozen solid, yet fresh blood kept dripping onto the icy floor.
?His white bear-pelt cloak hung in shreds against his armor. He gasped heavily, his breath rising in thick plumes of steam as his massive body swayed unsteadily.
?King Evander remained untouched across the room. His sapphire crown gleamed brightly while the crimson blood-miasma flowed faster toward the altar.
?"Surrender, Alaric," Evander coaxed gently.
?Alaric didn’t answer. His pale blue eyes burned with the resolute death wish of a northern warrior.
?He plunged his greatsword into the icy floor and spread both arms wide. Forcing every remaining drop of his Master Knight Aura from his pores, he condensed it within his heart.
?Evander’s serene expression cracked. "Huh... Alaric, what are you trying to—"
?"Absolute Zero Domain!"
?Srrrrk!
?The air in the summit chamber froze instantly. Temperatures plunged far beyond the realm of magical logic. Colossal ice crystals crawled viciously across the walls, sealing the ceiling and swallowing the altar as ice shards rained down like falling glass.
?Alaric ripped his sword from the frost. Though his own hands had frozen blue, he swept the blade in one final horizontal cleave.
?A strike powered by every last drop of his life force.
?Evander’s eyes widened. Raising both hands at once, the blood upon the altar erupted into the air.
?"Blood Moon Blessing!"
?BOOOM!
?Alaric’s strike collided with the blood barrier. Two absolute powers violently clashed, sending shockwaves that shattered the last remaining fragments of stained glass into dust.
?Alaric’s lethal frost pierced through the defense, but its strength was spent.
?Shing!
?A razor-sharp ice shard whipped past, grazing King Evander’s cheek. A single bead of fresh blood ran down the flawless face of the Marble Ruler.
?Yet, the curtain of blood remained standing.
?From behind the red shadows, a colossal spear of blood shot forth silently.
?Thwack!
?The spear struck dead center in Alaric’s chest, tearing through armor, flesh, and heart before erupting out his back.
?Alaric froze, his eyes wide. The power in his fingers evaporated in an instant. His greatsword slipped from his grasp, clattering loudly against the frozen ground.
?Clang!
?Evander lowered his hand, retracting the bloody lance. Fresh blood gushed from the Duke’s chest, levitating into the air before being sucked into the pulsing altar.
?The Duke’s colossal frame collapsed, his knees hitting the ice with a heavy thud. His right hand pressed against the gaping chest wound, feebly trying to hold back his fading breath.
?The night wind at the tower’s summit died instantly.
?Not because it had calmed, but because something far greater forced the very atmosphere into submission.
?From within the mist, a pair of massive reddish-black wings unfurled, sweeping across the sky. Azhyrael folded back as a pair of dark leather boots touched down noiselessly upon the stone floor.
?Ethan Valen stood there. His dark trench coat fluttered softly, crimson eyes glowing brightly in the pitch-black night.
?The young man surveyed his surroundings. His high-collared black tunic and dark coat absorbed the red glow of the night. Beneath his shirt, the Horned Crown tattoo pulsed faintly, responding to the scent of an ancient demon.
?Alaric forced his heavy head upward.
?His fading pale blue eyes caught sight of Ethan. No shock. No anger. Only a profoundly bitter sense of relief.
?"Valen..." Alaric’s voice was raspy, choked by the blood in his throat. "...You’re... late."
?Ethan didn’t answer. His expression was as cold as the bottom of an abyss. He walked over calmly, kneeling at the Duke of the North’s side.
?King Evander didn’t interfere. He folded his hands behind his back, watching like a spectator sitting in the front row of a theater.
?Alaric’s huge, trembling hand reached out, tightly gripping the sleeve of Ethan’s coat.
?"He planned it... for seven whole years..." Alaric whispered weakly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Evander... he knows about your family... about that night, Valen..."
?Ethan stared into the northern warrior’s eyes without blinking. "I know."
?Alaric went silent for a moment. A faint, ironical smile touched his lips. He tried to laugh, but only a wet, bloody cough escaped his lungs.
?"You really are... an annoying little devil," Alaric rasped, wheezing.
?His grip on Ethan’s coat faltered, yet with the last dregs of his strength, he squeezed it one last time.
?"The rest..." Alaric whispered, barely audible. "...I’m leaving... to you..."
?The giant hand slipped free, falling limp onto the icy floor.
?The Duke of the North collapsed completely.
?Alaric von Rosenberg was dead.
?Ethan slowly stood up. He gazed down at the body of the northern warrior for a quiet moment—a silent tribute from one Demon Lord to a fallen knight.
?Then, Ethan unbuttoned his dark trench coat, letting the heavy fabric slide down onto the ice. His black tunic was now fully exposed, absorbing the crimson glare of the room.
?Ethan raised his right hand chest-high.
?Hsssh!
?Pitch-black Sin Mana surged from his palm, condensing in midair and crushing the atmosphere atop the tower into a suffocating vacuum.
?King Evander smiled brightly. "What a dramatic end, isn’t it? The blood of a Master Knight is the finest nourishment to rouse the Queen. And your presence, Ethan Valen... completes this grand stage. You are the dessert I’ve been anticipating the most."
?Ethan fixed a frigid glare on the ruler of Astrea.
?"You talk too much," Ethan stated flatly. "That’s your fatal flaw, Your Majesty."
?King Evander laughed, his rich baritone echoing through the night.
?Beneath the blood-red glow of the full moon, the two monsters locked eyes.
?The bloody night at Veylor Castle had only just reached its main act.