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Lesley emerged from the bushes, heading straight for the abandoned house. Guinevere was supposedly at the second floor where Granger had left her.
Granger was too occupied finishing off the Shadowbringer for the fight could be heard. It was as clear as day and Lesley would know when the Death Chanter had finished the battle when the gunshots would stop.
Helcurt was one powerful demon, having been bestowed his powers from the Abyss. The demon was hungry for power, sacrificing anyone to increase it.
And that is why she let Guinevere go. Matter of factly, this was all just a part of her plan. It was sheer cruelty sacrificing her for survival. After all, Gusion intended to bring her alive. But what happens if she wasn't alive anymore? Gusion would mourn for years, yes, but he'll move on, eventually. And that's when she'll step into his life, more than an ally.
Though it had seemed the Death Chanter was about to ruin her plan.
Lesley wasn't going back to the Capitol with Guinevere to fulfill what she owed Gusion. In fact Guinevere wasn't going anywhere.
To make it simple, Lesley wanted Gusion all for herself and to make it possible, she'll have to go through the limits. She will kill Guinevere with her own hands and frame who will win between Helcurt and Granger's battle.
To Lesley, Guinevere would be better off dead. She had already ruined the reputation and alliance between two of the most entitled families in the Land of Dawn. Guinevere had been spoiled and selfish, taking everything for granted especially the true love of Gusion.
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Granger forced himself to shuffle back to his footing after numerous times of being ruthlessly attacked. Scratches were drawn in almost every inch of his jacket, and had it not been made to be unbreakable, he would've been dead minutes ago.
"This is getting tedious!" Helcurt loudly growled. "If you're not going to be my dinner for tonight, then so be it."
Darkness loomed all around, blinding Granger whole. When he ran towards Helcurt's position, he was gone, and there was only one person that starving death incarnate was after at.
Granger headed for the abandoned house, hoping he would make it in time. The door was already wide open. Granger hastened. He climbed the stairs, purposely missing two steps forward. He was about to burst through the bedroom door when he hears Helcurt roared.
Hauling himself inside, he sees Helcurt alone. Had he swallowed her whole or what? He thought.
"Where is she?!" Helcurt shouted sharply but Granger hadn't flinched.
"I should be the one asking you that, you feline bastard."
"Then I guess I'll have no choice but to eat you instead!" The four-footed demon raced forward.
Granger summoned his guitar case and turned it into a massive gun, shooting forward killer rocket-size bullets.
Getting low on health, Helcurt escaped by jumping off the window, leaving behind shards of glass.
Luckily Granger brought a spell which he always uses in his missions. He summoned up Harper, a magical assistant.
"What can I help you with?" The little guy asked.
"Locate Gwen for me."
Harper reveals a map on the floor. There was a flickering violet dot on the map's South. Granger tapped the dot, revealing the image of Guinevere being carried by an unidentifiable woman, a long sniper rifle slung on her shoulder. Thankfully, Guinevere had awaken. She was fidgeting but there seemed to be a resistance.
This sniper must also be the one who shot Alucard. She was going after Guinevere all along. Granger was about to close the map and chase them when another red dot appeared a few feet behind them.
"I gotta go fast," Granger muttered before hauling himself up from his crouch and taking off.
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Granger had become redundant for Helcurt. He figured he wasn't as powerful as the Baroque daughter. Helcurt could almost imagine what it would feel like to possess such magic. He will overrule the Moniyan Empire in the easiest way possible, having not only Dark but also Light magic within him.
There was only one problem, though. Guinevere wasn't alone. Somehow the female sniper he let escape earlier went back for her rescue. What a shame it is that he doesn't spare anyone who gets in his way.
"I'm so weak," Guinevere said in only but a mere whisper.
Lesley stopped at her tracks and spun around when she heard Helcurt's awful laughter fading into the Dark Forest's fainted silence. Her eyes went wide at his nearing demonic figure.
"Shoot!" She cursed aloud, making Guinevere hummed questionably.
Lesley puts her down and grabbed her rifle, pulling the trigger at Helcurt numerous times. It pushed him away to retreat, but she knew he would be back after he recovers shortly so she needed to get them out of here as fast as possible.
Granger had encountered the Shadowbringer once again and he doesn't hesitate to fire at him remorselessly.
"Ugh! Leave before I devour all of you!"
"You leave before I'll be the one to end you." Granger scoffed. "Now run before I change my mind, pussycat."
The beast bellowed begrudgingly before walking into the pitch black fog. Granger ran towards the opposite.
Lesley had hid themselves behind a tree. She waited for Helcurt to come back as she aimed at where she last seen him. A figure reemerges, but instead of Helcurt it was Granger. This was not going to end well for him.
It took Granger less than a second to espy Lesley sniping on him. When she fired a shot, he was able to dodge it. Lesley fired another in hopes of hitting him this time, only to receive the same fate.
The sun was setting and in a few seconds, nothing could be seen in the Forest anymore until the sun would reappear. He had to act fast and get out of here or there would be feasts for the demons.
"Why do you need Guinevere?" Granger questioned aloud.
"I'm assigned to take her back to where she belongs."
His guts were right. "Who sent you?"
"None of your goddamn business, Death Chanter!"
He cringed at the fact that he was becoming known throughout the Land. And due to his exposure being a great disadvantage, he hates how he let Guinevere involve. Not that he cares anymore. So long as Guinevere was at his side, everyone opposed to their love should get off, or if deeply against, killed.
Granger caught the sight of Guinevere behind the tree with Lesley. He also heard Helcurt coming back. There was only one thing to do and it was to have Helcurt target the sniper instead of Gwen. But it's going to be risky and he needs to get ahead of time.
Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok...
Granger counted in his head, waiting for the right timing. "Hey, listen." He told Lesley, his voice almost wavering. "I admit that Guinevere doesn't deserve to be with me. She's safer if I leave her for good and that's why I'm letting her go with you. So please, just let me see her one last time."
Lesley empathizes, but she remained adamant and simply replied. "No."
Helcurt was nearing.
"I beg of you. Please."
"No, no, no, no, no and no-"
Granger had enough and began suppressing fire. Lesley pushed herself against the tree. Looking back, Granger was gone on his spot.
"Back again, aren't we?" Helcurt chuckled in front of her, causing her to become invisible and run for her life, leaving Guinevere alone. "At last..." Helcurt smiled down hungrily over Guinevere. "Your powers will be mine- gah!"
Granger fired his super bullets more than once, causing the demon to fleet for his escape. But before he could, Granger shot his last super bullet once Helcurt was a distance away from Guinevere. The Shadowbringer collapsed to the floor with a grunt.
"Gwen?" Granger rolls her to lay on her back. She was only half-awake, still heavily affected by Helcurt's poisonous blades.
"Granger..." She gasped, her tone puny and pitiful. His fists tightened on the soil, confusedly enraged seeing her so vulnerable.
"Stay with me, Gwen." He said. As he was about to pull her up into his arms, she pushes him off and threw a radioactive ball of her magic to the person about to finish the two of them.