Esmeralda -albeit hesitant but saw no other option- started explaining what she knew about her student's current rampage and the history behind the sword she possessed.
...…••••••••••••••••••••••....
The sword was a special item possessed by the Haruno Clan, a group of family members who were forest-dwellers and did not associate with others outside their home.
They were especially gifted in the arts of swordsmanship and the sacred arts of Mana Harvest -explaining how Viola was talented in this field.
It is a tradition held by the Haruno Clan that the eldest child of the leader's family would be sent into the forest to find and claim the sword, showing that they would succeed the leader when they are old enough.
...…••••••••••••••••••••••....
"Why did you hide all this from us?!," Dante asked furiously because this information was not made known to the Imperial Knights and the Council of Mages.
"I'm sorry, but I made an oath with Viola not to reveal this to anyone, no matter the cost," Esmeralda replied, knowing fully well the consequences of her actions.
The other members of the Council were obviously made known of this matter and unanimously decided to wait after everything was cleared to make a decision concerning Esmeralda's actions.
What mattered the most to them was finding a way through the barrier to stop Viola.
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Meanwhile, Jason tried to pull Zhu Li out of the vines but his strength grew weaker as he pulled the vines vigorously.
"Those vines are made from the Ruins of Darkness. No one can break them apart from me!!," Viola said proudly as she approached Jason.
As she tried to strike Jason in his moments of weakness, he suddenly dodged that attack and appeared at the other end of the arena.
"You can't run away from me!! I created this barrier, hence I rule this arena!!," she said before lunging for Jason again in quick speed.
As fast as she was, Jason was able to match her speed and dodged every slash that came his way.
He then tried punching Viola, which worked and angered her even more.
"How about I make things easier for myself?!" She said and turned towards Zhu Li and rushed towards him.
Jason -realizing her intentions- also rushed to protect Zhu Li.
Unfortunately he was too late as she stabbed Zhu Li in the chest.
"Noooo!!, he yelled as he saw Zhu Li bleeding and possibly dead from the attack.
As he knelt down in tears -mainly because he was not a type of person who fancies killing another person- Viola then returned to his spot and tried finishing him off.
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As she tried to do so, a large black wolf suddenly appeared and grabbed her sword with its teeth and tossed her away from Jason.
Jason raised his head and saw the wolf, which looked back and transformed, revealing Zhu Li.
"You're a werewolf?!," he asked Zhu Li.
"Isn't it that obvious, dummy?!," Zhu replied and looked at Viola, who got up was enraged.
"You're my prey now, the both of you!!," she yelled at the both of them.
"Well, for now, it seems we have to join forces to stop her," Zhu Li told Jason, who hesitantly agreed.
"Alright! Follow my lead!!, he said and transformed into a wolf and charged towards Viola, which Jason behind him.
But Viola proved to be too powerful for them as she slashed Zhu Li in his wolf form and he fell to the ground.
However, as she did so, Zhu Li cut off the part of her hair covering her right eye; that made Viola very paranoid and disturbed.
"You damn brat!!," Viola yelled as she was in fury and did not notice Jason up in the air with her Aura Punch ready to strike.
"Don't forget about me!!," he yelled and punched her with a force that pushed her to the vines that she manifested and quickly wrapped around her.
"Let me go, you stupid vines!! I'm your creator!!," she screamed, knowing what would happen if she did not leave from her trap.
Quickly remembering the incident prior to him attacking Viola, Jason then rushed to Zhu Li, who was back in his human form and holding his chest in pain, which was severely bleeding from the attack she made earlier on.
"Hey, stay with me!! We'll get help!!," Jason said to Zhu Li, although he was not sure how he would be able to break this barrier around the arena.
"It…doesn't….matter," he coughed while lying on the ground.
"This blade was made by a very powerful entity especially against our kind, so there's no way I'll survive this. *Cough*"
"What do you mean, and why are you saying 'our kind'? I don't even know you," Jason questioned him.
Zhu Li then replied, "That's true, but I sense it within you. A familiar energy close to mine yet more powerful," leaving Jason all the more confused about what he meant.
"I guess this is it then. I hope you finally manifest your true form soon," he said as his eyes slowly closed and he stopped moving.
Jason became paralyzed in shock as he saw his opponent -but momentarily ally- who was lying in front of him, dead cold.
Viola then broke loose from the vines with her sword and saw Jason looking at her in a vengeful gaze.
Just as he tried taking a step towards Viola, she advanced towards him with her sword -too fast even Dante and Esmeralda could notice.
Soon, she was behind Jason and sheathed her sword back in place.
"Sonic Slash," was all she she said and suddenly, Jason's chest started bleeding from the cut.
"How did she master the Hermes Technique?! Even Father sustained damage trying to learn this forbidden ability," Vincent exclaimed as he analyzed Viola's attack and movement.
"Sorry, young lad, but this battle belongs to me," she whispered to Jason's ear as he stood there, bleeding before he fell to the ground.