(Miabi POV)
While I had my doubts already, I still denied the fact that Erika was capable of such monstrosity. Such cruelty was rather unbecoming of someone kind and gentle like her.
Then, I heard the Head asking her with a serious yet venomous tone.
"What's the meaning of this Erika!? I demand that you explain yourself at once!!!"
My sister merely chuckled in response.
"Fufufu, is it not obvious? I'm simply weeding out the irrelevant fools who I consider to be a plague in our household. Well, at least in death, should they be of great use instead as a way to make a bargain with my new Lord."
The intense shock was evident on the Aventus's faces at the mention of her sinister intentions.
"New Lord? Erika… you would not dare!!!"
"Fufu, and why not, dear Head? We are Warlocks, beings of darkness and debauchery. Why should we limit ourselves to the triviality of the thing that society calls morality when a quick and sure way to power is right at our very fingertips?"
I was utterly confused at this scenery that was played and in return, became conflicted with my feelings about this.
One of the family members, a middle-aged man, expressed his disdain about the matter and approached Erika.
"Tsk, how low of you. To think that you of all people would stoop this low in consorting with Evil spirits, even after everything that we provided for you."
"Everything?"
In the blink of an eye, the man suddenly grunted as he clutched his head in unbearable pain. With the swipe of Erika's hand, the man's head instantly separated from his body, resulting in a bloody mess as blood splashed out from the inside of his neck, much to our very horror.
I stared in complete fear and panic at what I just witnessed at that very moment.
My sister… murdered someone in cold blood.
And as a child and being green in the world of violence, I trembled in total anxiety at seeing how gory the man's death truly was.
Nevertheless, I remained resolute and tried my utmost best to at least not scurry away like a pathetic and scared little girl, even if that's exactly what I felt at that instant.
I heard Erika responding to them with a burst of maniacal laughter, an expression that I never heard from her, not even once. She was renowned as a sane individual with a good heart. To witness her in this state of craziness was something that I can't just believe.
"Fufufu, don't make me laugh. Your so-called everything did not even tantamount to the exhilarating power that I was bestowed by my Lord. Your education, your teachings, your instructions, it's merely not enough."
In that very moment, a dark violet sinister aura engulfed a good portion of her body, basking on the thrilling power as clear by the wide grin on her face.
"Fufufu, I present to you, the pinnacle of Dark Magic, one that's given to me generously by my Lord… the Dark God of Depravity, Darkness, and Disease… Daelus!!!"
Before they could even express more of their bewilderment, a series of black tendrils made themselves known as it made their relentless assault on each of the six Aventus Warlocks, including the Head himself.
Two of them were caught off guard as the tendril stab them in the chest. To make things even more abhorrent, their still-beating hearts were plucked out as they suffered one of the most painful of deaths.
Luckily for the rest of them, the four remaining Warlocks were able to conjure a dark barrier to protect themselves from the tendrils and they made their retreat a few paces away from their younger enemy.
"Hmm, how boring. And here I thought that I would at least get a decent challenge from the lot of you. Oh well, at least you'll be a great addition in my offerings to Lord Daelus, fufufu."
I truly wonder how my sister casually dismissed the deaths of her fellow Warlocks as if they were merely nothing.
Was she really my sister? No… this was all just a bad dream. Maybe I'm just seeing things.
"Erika!!!"
The Head at this point was filled with justifiable anger at seeing his comrades being murdered by the young girl.
He then looked at his remaining subordinates who were still alive and said-
"The three of you, I want you to head back and inform the Elders of the situation."
The said trio was dumbfounded by their master's request and they all expressed their disagreement in an instant.
"What are you saying Tyrnos!? We can't just leave you behind in facing off this monster!!!"
One of them, the eldest of the trio with brown hair said with utmost concern.
The Head Tyrnos shook his head and stared at them with the most serious of looks.
"Idiots. If Erika indeed made a deal with the Dark God Daelus, then only I can stand a chance against her. I don't want anyone dying under my command any longer. To be frank, the three of you would just stand in my way, and unleashing my full power with you around is out of the question."
With his reasoning, the three sighed in utter defeat as they gave in at the end.
"Very well. I'll also bring reinforcements. Please don't die… brother."
"Heh, as if I'll allow myself to be killed by a little girl of all people."
Adhering to Tyrnos's command, the three left the area, even if they were reluctant. In the end, the Head's word was law in the Aventus Household, and a Warlock should follow them without question.
I remained on my spot and decided to continue observing the ongoing scenario.
Oh, how I regretted that fateful decision of mine.
(Tyrnos POV)
Erika, to her credit, was being polite as she simply stood on her spot and waited until we made our next move, an indication of how confident she was of her newly acquired magic.
Although, her patience was limited and she yawned in a carefree manner.
"Are you done saying your last words to your precious comrades, Lord Tyrnos? Since I'm feeling in a good mood right now, I'll allow you to make the first move."
"Hmph, I'll make sure that you'll regret that decision of yours, little girl."
With my precious subordinates long gone now, now was the perfect time to unleash my magic without restrain.
I picked out one of the small transparent vials from my pocket that I always keep and open the lid. Blood can be seen from the inside of the vial as I quickly scattered the contents to the ground.
"Blood Summoning: Sanguine Guardians."
Four armored figures were swiftly summoned as they appeared from each of their red magic circle.
The Guardians were akin to Knights wearing a set of Plate Armor. Their whole bodies were clad in red blood and each of them was equipped with different weaponry, from a sword and shield, a halberd, a two-handed axe, and a giant Warhammer.
This was my magic, the magic of Blood or simply Blood Magic for short. My skill in the blood arts was second to none since I only require a few drops of blood in casting my spells.
And one vial of blood is equivalent to summoning my A to S-rank spells. In this battle, I decided to not hold back and conjure spells of the said level.
It was also one of the reasons why I was chosen as the 25th Head of the House of Aventus. My prodigious skill in Blood Magic was recognized by the whole household.
"Kill her."
With a single command, the Guardians understood their summoner's command without question as Tyrnos pointed at their target.
Erika remained deathly relaxed as her tendrils made their move again and attacked the summons who wished to do her harm.
The Guardians were holding the tendrils off rather well as they unleased their attacks with drastic ferocity. But their efforts were dwindling with each passing moment since the tendrils would regenerate themselves when it was cut down.
I deduced that it must have something to do with Erika healing them. As long as she was around, then this stalemate will simply go on. Thus I needed to takedown Erika while she was distracted from the attacking Blood Knights.
I then took out another vial and splattered it on the air. In a quick fashion, he chanted the next spell.
"Blood Star Shower."
Multiple thin blasts of blood were formed as they made their way towards Erika at a fast speed.
Her eyes widened a bit as she saw the red projectiles aiming right at her. She swiftly retorted by using her left hand to invoke a violet magic circle and summoned another set of tendrils to answer the attack.
Now that she was fully occupied, I began maneuvering at Erika on her right flank and swiftly used another vial to conjure a weapon on my hand.
"Blood Magic: Bow of the Blood God."
A red bow and arrow appeared in my hand as I quickly aimed it right at the young girl. Firing the arrow, the abrupt shot was incredibly precise as it pierced right at Erika's head, causing an explosion and all her tendrils to disappear.
When the smoke finally cleared, I breath a sigh of relief as I approached and saw the girl's fallen gruesome form. I clearly saw Erika's head being gone as a result of the explosion.
"*Sigh* That's what you get for being too arrogant, little girl. Such a shame, for a prodigy like you to be selfish and hungry for more power, resorting to sinful acts such as this."
What a waste indeed. I had high hopes for Erika as I sincerely thought that she must be the one who shall change the Aventus House for the better. She was highly regarded among her peers and if it were up to me, then I would name her as my successor without question when she came of age.
Sadly, the higher-ups would tell so otherwise. Those damn cynical old fools always stick themselves firmly to tradition, not wanting to entertain with the notion of change. Erika does not possess the pure blood as what the elders had said when I suggested her being the heiress, and inducting her into the main clan was already pushing it.
Oh well, the girl was tainted and blinded by power. I can't allow someone like her to take the mantle of leadership.
Garnos, Anders, Lucas…
Your deaths were at least avenged.
*Blergh!!!*
As I was about to dispose of her corpse, I unexpectedly felt a sharp pain right in my chest.
And looking at where I felt the agony, my eyes widened upon seeing the familiar black tendril wiggling at the hole that it caused in my chest as if it had a mind of its own and mocking me in my torment.
Then, much to my utter terror, the tendril started to form a mouth, baring its menacing teeth as it grinned sadistically at me.
"Peek-a-boo!!"