The Smiling Death

Amon waved his hand in front of his face.

The battlefield had vanished beneath a sea of dust and smoke. Splintered trees burned around him, while the ground still trembled from the colossal explosion.

Visibility was almost nonexistent. He could barely see more than a few metres ahead.

His sharp black eyes narrowed.

’No...Someone like Alaric won’t die from a single clash like that. He will be fine even after this.’

Without another thought, he sprinted toward the centre of the explosion.

His sword remained firmly gripped in his right hand.

His hatchet rested in his left.

Both weapons were coated in dense shadows that continuously flowed across their surfaces like living smoke.

Every second mattered.

He rushed through the smoke as fast as his battered body allowed.

Then a silhouette gradually emerged.

Amon’s heart sank. Standing amidst the devastation was Alaric. His clothes were torn and stained with blood.

Several wounds covered his body, but he remained standing.

Purple lightning still crackled around his sword.

Not far before him Seraphina had collapsed onto one knee.

Her divine sword had slipped from her fingers and lay several feet away.

Her golden aura had almost completely disappeared.

Her breathing was shallow. Blood dripped from countless wounds.

She had reached her limit.

"Damn it..."

Amon clenched his teeth. A single drop of blood slowly floated out from one of his wounds.

Then another. His eyes became frighteningly calm.

’This is dangerous... But it’s my only chance. If this fails... we all die.’

Meanwhile Alaric casually swung his sword.

Whoosh!

A powerful gust erupted from the blade, blowing away the surrounding smoke and dust.

The battlefield became visible once more. His cold violet eyes settled upon Seraphina. A cruel smile spread across his face.

"I’ll kill you first...Seraphina Luminous."

Seraphina slowly raised her head. Her vision remained blurred. The world spun around her.

She couldn’t even feel her own arms anymore.

Her body refused to move.

’Move...Please...Move...’

But nothing happened.

She could only watch helplessly as Alaric slowly raised his sword.

Purple lightning gathered along its blade. The killing intent pouring from him was overwhelming.

The sword descended. Straight toward her neck.

Then

CRUNCH!!

Warm blood splashed across her face.

Seraphina froze from the sensation.

She blinked several times before slowly looking upward.

Standing before her, shielding her with his own body was Amon.

"A... Amon...?"

Her trembling voice barely escaped her lips. The metallic scent of fresh blood filled the air. It was warm against her cheeks.

Her golden eyes slowly widened in horror. The tip of Alaric’s sword had pierced completely through Amon’s abdomen.

The bloodstained blade emerged from his back.

For a brief moment time itself seemed to stop.

Alaric merely smiled.

His own body was covered with injuries and dust from the previous clash, yet his grin remained as cruel as ever.

"You really thought I didn’t notice you approaching?"

He chuckled.

"I saw you the entire time. I simply didn’t care. I was planning to kill both of you anyway. So whether you jumped in now or later...made no difference."

Amon coughed.

Blood spilled from his mouth, splattering onto Alaric’s forearm and the hilt of his sword.

Alaric didn’t even flinch. He was also weakened from taht attack Seraphina had done one him. But he was still at the state where he could fight well.

So he poured more mana into the blade.

CRACK!!

Purple lightning surged violently through the sword. The electricity traveled directly into Amon’s body.

His muscles convulsed. The flesh around the wound began to burn from the inside.

Even then Amon didn’t scream.

Instead he suddenly grabbed Alaric’s sword arm with both hands.

His grip tightened like iron.

"A-Amon! You should–"

Amon cut of her and said."You have done your joh Seraphina. Now let me do the last hit!"

He smiled.

A calm almost unsettling smile.

"You think..."

Amon coughed again, blood staining his lips.

"...it’s over? You wanted revenge.You wanted to torture me. You wanted to kill my friends in front of my eyes..."

He slowly lifted his head.

"...didn’t you? How about I send you to the same place where your lover is resting?"

Alaric frowned.

"That’s right. After I kill you...I’ll finish the rest."

He tried to pull his sword free.

It wouldn’t move.

"...What?"

At that exact moment the blood splattered across Seraphina’s face suddenly trembled.

Then it moved. Like a living creature. It shot through the air toward Alaric. At the same time, blood continuously flowing from Amon’s wound surged outward.

The crimson liquid wrapped tightly around Alaric’s sword arm, binding it to Amon’s body.

"What the hell...?!"

Alaric’s eyes widened.

Before he could react dark shadows erupted from beneath his feet.

They coiled around both of his legs like giant serpents before tightening with crushing force.

He was aslo weakened after clashing with Seraphina, not fully recovered. So it was easier to held him.

The earth beneath him cracked.

Then above Amon’s body...

Blood gathered rapidly in mid-air.

More and more...

Until it formed a gigantic crimson spear. The weapon slowly began spinning.

Faster.

Faster.

Until it became nothing more than a crimson vortex.

Darkness answered Amon’s call.

The surrounding darkness flowed toward the spear, wrapping around it like black smoke.

The crimson weapon gradually turned pitch black.

Twisted streams of darkness spiralled around it, releasing an ominous aura that made even the surrounding air tremble.

All of it had happened within only a few seconds.

Alaric’s expression finally changed.

Then he laughed.

"You think...this can stop me?"

He unleashed his mana. Purple lightning exploded from his body.

He gathered what remained of his strength, preparing to tear himself free by force.

But suddenly his smile froze. His pupils contracted. He felt something beneath his skin.

Something moving. Like countless tiny threads crawling through his veins.

His eyes snapped toward Amon.

"What...What did you do?!"

Panic appeared on Alaric’s face and Amon.

Still smiling despite the sword through his body. Prepared to reveal his final gamble.

Despite his heart beat beating fast like drum against his chest.

He was not afraid.