Aria's eyes couldn't help but tremble as blood trickled from the corners of her mother's lips. Despite the pain gnawing at her, her mother offered her a tender smile. With a delicate gesture, she placed her hand on her daughter's face, wiping away the tears streaming down her beautiful face.
Vengus slowly withdrew his sword, and his body then fell into Aria's arms, while her mother began to inexorably lose her life's blood. Aria's eyes, filled with helplessness, watched this tragic scene unfold before her. It was at that precise moment that Aria plunged into an abyss of despair, bitterly realizing just how powerless she felt in the face of the unfolding situation.
"Mom, mom, hold on!" she cried out with tear-filled eyes.
Aria began to scream in piercing pain, her white clothes and hands stained with her mother's blood. She couldn't believe it; she didn't want to believe it, but seeing her mother covered in blood brought her back to this grim reality.
"Ah! Ah! Help me! Please, someone!" (Aria)
A voice then rang out, sending shivers down her spine as she looked up to see Vengus:
"No one will come to help you, no one will save you, no one will save your mother, just as no one could save your pathetic village. Now, you will watch your mother bleed out, see life slowly leave her, while you can do nothing," Vengus sadistically declared.
Aria's body began to tremble, her eyes flickering under the overwhelming weight of emotions.
"You feel it, don't you? That fear, that terror growing within you! Seeping into every fiber of your being. I've seen it countless times, in every village pillaged and massacred, that helplessness, that despair in all those eyes wondering why?" (Vengus)
He now wore a wide smile, revealing a diabolical expression in the heart of this palace now consumed by flames. He savored every moment of this morbid scene, watching with perverse pleasure as the girl held her mother on the brink of death.
"What have we done to deserve this? We don't have the right to live, why?" cried Aria in tears.
She had finally broken down, the psychological burden becoming too much to bear. All her inner demons and fears resurfaced, overwhelming her in an oppressive way.
Vengus then looked at her amused before responding in a way that froze her:
"You have the right to live, but only as our playthings, to be persecuted and used as we see fit. Do you deserve it? Probably not, but playthings don't have a say; you are our slaves! Why? Because you are different and simply weak, because you have lost, and losers have never had a say. You will be persecuted, killed, violated until the very end of each of your miserable existences, for this is the world ruled by the great goddess Hamnésia, who condemned you from birth. You are destined to endure persecution, no matter how many of you we kill, rape, torture, you are nothing, your lives are worthless. Such are the rules and hierarchy she established; we are superior to you in every way, and therefore, you are forever condemned to be our slaves." (Vengus)
Driven by a sinister desire and cruelty, he raised his sword in a perverse quest for satisfaction and entertainment. The elongated blade pierced Aria's flesh, finding its residence in her right shoulder. The pain, sharp and burning, instantly spread throughout her being, tearing agonized screams from her.
"You see, I can do whatever I want with you." (Vengus)
He then pierced her right shoulder again, and a cry of sharp pain escaped Aria's lips. Vengus, sadistic and unrelenting, took wicked pleasure in twirling his fiery sword in the gaping wound. Aria, torn between agony and terror, screamed as the pain became unbearable, the fire devouring her flesh and corroding her skin. It was a moment of brutal cruelty, where reality blurred with horror, and Aria's suffering became Vengus's macabre plaything. Every second was an eternity of torture, every rotation of the flaming sword sent unbearable waves of pain into her already tormented mind. The fire gnawing at her skin left an indelible mark and a nauseating smell.
"Please, stop..." pleaded Élie weakly.
She was on the verge of death, but all that mattered to her was her daughter; Aria's cries of pain sent shivers down her spine and constricted her heart, creating excruciating pain.
"Don't speak, conserve your strength, Mom!" Aria pleaded, momentarily forgetting the pain.
"Stop? Certainly not! I wonder if you'll scream as much in pain or scream louder than when your husband died if I were to kill your daughter before your eyes?" (Vengus)
"No, please!" Élie whispered, a shiver of horror coursing through her body.
"You belong to me, your life and even your death." he smiled with a demonic laugh.
In a final act of merciless cruelty, he then swung his sword down upon Aria, the deadly blade relentlessly aimed at her heart. The metallic sound of the steel slicing through the air echoed like a sinister death knell, announcing what seemed to be the inevitable end of her life. Vengus's eyes, gleeful and unrelenting, appeared devoid of any trace of humanity. Aria, already gripped by unbearable pain and unable to move, could only watch resignedly as death approached her.
"No!" Elie cried out desperately.
The sword then pierced through Aria under her mother's helpless gaze, a scene no mother should ever have to witness. However, the sword had once again missed Aria's heart, and Vengus's expression furrowed as he had truly aimed for it. Yet he immediately understood what had happened when a shiver ran up his spine. Dark, shining red eyes locked onto his, as if they were sucking out his soul. The sword then struck again, piercing Aria's body once more under her mother's helpless gaze, creating a horrifying scene no mother should ever experience.
The satisfaction on his face lasted only a few seconds, as his blade had once again pierced Aria's shoulder, causing confusion in Vengus's gaze. However, he immediately grasped what had occurred when a shiver ran up his spine. Eyes of a dark and brilliant red color locked onto his.
"Their lives belong only to them; yours, on the other hand, I will take!" declared Logan as he narrowly deflected his blade.
Logan's eyes suddenly lit up with a mysterious and powerful glow. As the tension in the air reached its peak, a spike shot up from the ground with surprising speed, attempting to impale Vengus. However, with the reflexes of a seasoned warrior, he managed to deflect the spike at the very last moment. The impact still sent him flying several meters away.
"Logan, my mother, save her, please!" she immediately cried out.
He looked at Elie lying in his arms, assessing her breathing and complexion, but most notably, he couldn't miss the enormous pool of blood beneath them. With a sad look and a weak voice, he said to her,
"Elie is going to die." (Logan)
"What?" she responded, frozen, trying to comprehend.
"She's lost too much blood, and the healing potions we have won't mend mortal wounds. She has at most 5 minutes left to live, maybe less. Say your goodbyes before it's too late." (Logan)
Logan's words pierced her like hundreds of knives as she tried to deny reality.
"We can reach Marie, we can..."
"Aria, it's too late..." her mother interrupted, caressing her face.
She knew better than anyone; she felt it, death was knocking at her door, and no one could save her. With her heart pierced, she felt it slowing down gradually.
"I want you to listen carefully. I am deeply proud of the person you've become. Of seeing you one last time when I thought I'd never see you again, not even in my wildest dreams. Of being able to touch the face I tenderly caressed when you were a child. Although our reunion was short-lived, now you must focus on the future." (Elie)
"The future?" (Aria)
"Aria, our tribe relies on you as the new leader; it's your responsibility now." (Elie)
"I'm not ready," she replied, sobbing.
"Perhaps, but fortunately, you're not alone today, and your father and I will watch over you from above. I love you, Aria," she said with an emotional voice, her eyes reflecting sincere pride.
"I love you too, Mom," Aria said, tears streaming down her face.
She then made eye contact with Logan, who was looking at her with a strong gaze, concealing visible sadness.
"You'll protect them, won't you?" (Elie)
"I'll fight for each of them!" Logan declared with conviction.
She gazed at Logan, his red eyes showing no sign of falsehood but rather an unwavering determination.
"I see, with you, they're in good hands..." (Elie)
Elie's hand, which had been gently caressing Aria's face, fell heavily, a sign that Elie had taken her last breath. Yet, there was a peaceful smile on Elie's face, as if she had found comfort. In any case, she was now far from the cruelty of this world. Overwhelmed by pain and grief, Aria burst into heart-wrenching cries and tears, rending the air in the place where flames consumed everything in their path. Her wails seemed to harmonize with the roars of the flames, creating a mournful symphony of pain and destruction.
Logan's heart tightened painfully as he heard Aria's cries of distress, helpless in the face of the tragedy unfolding before him. The loss of Elie and Aria's suffering were unbearable, creating a chasm of sadness and despair in his own heart.
As debris scattered, Vengus emerged, his face contorted in rage, but it slightly softened when he saw Elie's lifeless body with Aria crying beside her. However, his gaze immediately shifted to his new opponent. He glanced into the distance, finding his comrades lying lifeless on the ground.
He coldly assessed the situation. He had consumed a significant amount of mana and had taken numerous blows in the previous battle. And the man before him had just single-handedly defeated his comrades, most of whom were between levels 80 and 90.
However, with his level 130, he was convinced he could still win. After all, the man in front of him must be exhausted, whatever his power, after such a fierce battle. Some parts of his clothing were in tatters, revealing pieces of bruised skin and still-bleeding wounds. It was clear evidence of the intensity of his previous battle, and Vengus hoped it would work in his favor. He then tightened his grip on his blades, ready to engage in a new battle. Determination still shone in his eyes.
"I've learned new things from your men; let me show you!" (Logan)
Suddenly, several water spheres materialized in the air, taking form at a lightning-fast speed. They were propelled with disconcerting accuracy towards Vengus, who found himself instantly assaulted by more than a dozen of these water projectiles. He reacted with impressive agility, brandishing his two flaming daggers to counter the attacks coming from all directions.
The water spheres were sliced into pieces with precision by his blades, creating splashes and a misty cloud in the air. He was in defensive mode, using his skills to parry the relentless assaults. As Logan simultaneously faced Vengus's men, he clearly had reached a new level of mastery over water. Although modest, this advancement should not be underestimated. He had acquired the ability to maintain a dozen water spheres simultaneously.
"Note that mastering water is more challenging to control, as it is indeed more volatile compared to solid elements such as earth, for example, which tends to retain its shape once molded. Water, as a liquid, is fluid and can change shape very quickly, making its manipulation more complex. Furthermore, precise control of water requires higher computational power because one must constantly adjust the shape and pressure of the water to keep it under control.
Vengus, unable to merely defend himself, conjured fireballs on his side. These fiery spheres collided with Logan's water balls, creating mini-explosions of steam with each clash between opposing elements. The scene grew increasingly chaotic, with flashes of light and clouds of steam obscuring visibility. The confrontation between water and fire led to an intense duel, where each projectile was a potentially devastating weapon.
Unfortunately for Logan, Vengus, being more experienced, could materialize a greater number of fireballs, about fifteen more than him. Logan could only watch as 15 fireballs came hurtling towards him. "Caught in your own trap," he chuckled, amused by the situation. The fireballs hit Logan head-on, spaced apart, making Vengus smile. However, Vengus was taken aback when he saw Logan emerge completely unscathed.
"What!" (Vengus)
Logan remained visibly calm, his eyes gleaming with a gentle light. In reality, he was deeply immersed in his thoughts, skillfully juggling between managing his defense and offense. His brain had entered an intense phase of analysis and concentration to confront this situation. It wasn't the first time; when he had faced Vengus's men before, he couldn't deny that they had pushed him to his limits.
Multiple attacks had overwhelmed him from all sides and completely drained his mana. However, this urgent situation was seen as an opportunity for rapid growth because it's when we are pushed to our limits that we grow. When we are cornered by our own limitations, that's where we can surpass ourselves and grow.
So, cornered, he had no choice but to try new things and go further. And so, what he hadn't been able to do in the monster-filled forest, he was doing now. Successfully materializing water in a stable manner and using it for both offense and defense, they had defeated the four men in the end. However, he hadn't been able to do it in time, which had doomed Aria's mother.
And now, Vengus was also surpassing him in terms of speed, his attacks raining down on him. However, Vector Control easily deflected the attacks, and Logan understood that he, too, had given his all in his previous battle against Aria and her mother. But it was still incredible that he had so much strength left, as each attack was just a hair's breadth from breaking his defense, testing his defensive and control skills.
The tension was palpable, every move mattered, and the slightest misstep could be fatal. Logan had to draw upon all his resources to maintain his position and seek an opportunity to counterattack. The battle between these two masters of the elements reached an intensity rarely matched.
Faced with the escalating intensity of the battle, Logan focused even more intensely, seeking to tap into the deepest reserves of his power. The pressure was at its peak as Vengus rapidly closed the distance between them, attacking with his sharp blades while maintaining the deluge of fireballs.
Logan was now in the eye of the storm, his concentration at its peak as he juggled between deflecting fire attacks, defending against sword strikes, and trying to keep his own water balls under control. Every moment was crucial, and the slightest mistake could be fatal.
[Calculative capacity exceeded! Warning, you are out of mana due to your previous battle!]
Even when one of Vengus's blades hit him, causing a deep gash that lodged in his shoulder, cutting and burning his flesh, Logan didn't flinch. His determination remained unshaken, and he continued to focus with meticulous precision, observing every move of his opponent, anticipating every attack. Pain was there, throbbing, but he pushed it to the background, concentrating on the raging battle.
[Calculative capacity exceeded!]
This message began to repeat several times as a heap of new wounds accumulated on his body.
"So, I thought you were going to take my life!" Vengus declared, knowing he had a clear advantage.
However, what he didn't notice was that among the water balls Logan was summoning, there was now an additional one.
"Give up, it's almost over for you!" he shouted, believing in his victory.
[Calculative capacity exceeded!]
This time it was Logan's abdomen that was hit, blood spraying from the wound before the skin was burned. Meanwhile, two new water balls had appeared, as Vengus depleted his mana.
As Logan accumulated wounds and the battle raged on, the number of water balls he summoned continued to grow slowly but steadily. The fight became increasingly intense.
Moreover, as the number of water balls increased, fewer and fewer of Vengus's attacks managed to hit Logan. His defense was becoming stronger, and it became increasingly difficult for him to find an opening.
"What's happening?" Vengus wondered.
At first, he hadn't felt it, but now he could feel it and see it with his own eyes.
"The number of water balls has increased, and he's dodging my attacks more precisely!" (Vengus)
A chill ran down Vengus's spine because, despite the injuries inflicted and the attacks launched against his opponent, Logan had not uttered the slightest cry of pain. His guard had never weakened beyond a certain point. And his red, cold, calm eyes seemed to fixate on him with unwavering superiority, as if he stood above the fray like a god. Cold sweats began to flow down his face as his attacks hit less and less.
"Impossible... He's devouring me!" he groaned.
However, by then, it was already too late; the course of the battle had already changed, and a water ball struck Vengus head-on. The number of water balls Logan could summon had now surpassed that of Vengus. Not only that, but the balls began to take the form of water spears.
Signs of weakness in Vengus were becoming more and more evident, creating openings where Logan capitalized. Not only had he depleted much of his mana, but his opponent was growing stronger as the battle went on. It was as if he had no limit, as if he drew from an inexhaustible source of power.
Vengus's tremors betrayed his frustration and despair in the face of a situation that seemed increasingly out of control. The battle had taken an unexpected turn, and he was now facing a resilient and determined adversary who seemed capable of withstanding everything.
"How did you do it? You should be out of mana! It's impossible!" he cried in panic.
"Exclusive skill, I don't need mana to create attacks," Logan replied.
The realization struck Vengus like a thunderbolt. Not only had his opponent used their confrontation to become stronger, but he had also significantly depleted his own mana, while Logan hadn't consumed a drop.
This realization marked a turning point in the battle. Vengus now understood that he had been manipulated, that he had underestimated his opponent, and that he had lost the game. Frustration and despair overcame him as he realized the extent of his imminent defeat.
The epic battle had come to an end, leaving behind a landscape of destruction and desolation, where flames consumed everything in their path. At the end, he heard footsteps approaching him, and when he looked up, he saw those terrible red eyes piercing through him.
"Who are you?" he asked, his face tense and blood at the corners of his lips.
"I am the Avenger!" Logan declared, snatching his head off in one swift motion.
His head flew off into the distance, crashing into the debris as his body collapsed in a burst of blood. The calm that followed the storm was broken only by the crackling of flames and Aria's heart-wrenching sobs. Logan slowly approached her, his heart heavy with grief and guilt. He knelt beside her and gently picked up Elie's lifeless body.
"Aria, let's go." (Logan)
Marie finally arrived at the exact moment when Logan delicately carried the lifeless body of a woman with white fur, her immaculate coat in stark contrast to the burning backdrop. The scene, at first glance, might have seemed beautiful, almost idyllic, with the flickering flames in the background, like a moving abstract painting. However, the beauty of this image was quickly overshadowed by the immense sadness that washed over Marie as she realized that the woman lying in Logan's arms was Aria's mother. Pain and loss were evident in Logan's eyes, while the world around them crumbled in a symphony of desolation.
"It's over," Logan said as he approached her.
"I see." (Marie)
Marie, her heart heavy with grief, opened a portal and walked through it without a word, with Aria following, her face pale and her eyes filled with sorrow. Logan, ready to cross as well, was interrupted by a voice that suddenly rang out, suspending time in an unreal echo.
"Halt in the name of the Church of the Blue Moon!"
Logan slowly turned around, his gaze meeting that of two men accompanied by an imposing cohort of individuals. One of them, dressed in an elegant white and blue robe. The other, adorned in golden armor with slight blue and black accents, bearing the distinctive symbol of the Sigma Kingdom—it was Zem.
POV ZEM
I had finally arrived at the scene, entering the building engulfed in flames, and saw a man about to enter a portal. When the man was addressed, he turned around, revealing the body of a woman in his arms, stained with blood. And he, too, had an incalculable number of wounds on his body. However, what caught my attention was the enchanting aura emanating from this man, concealed behind an enigmatic mask. Through the gaps in the mask, I glimpsed eyes of a cold and luminescent red, which seemed to shine with a light as intriguing as it was unsettling. This enigmatic emanation instantly created an aura of mystery and fascination, giving the scene a surreal quality.
"In the name of what?" (Logan)
"In the name of the Church of the Blue Moon!" the priest replied.
"Hum, ah ah ah!" (Logan)
The man began to laugh manically, as if he had lost his sanity. However, it was evident that he was deliberately mocking the Church, his bursts of laughter sounding like calculated provocation. A vein pulsed on the priest's face, whose features contorted with growing anger.
"How dare you mock the Church!" he shouted, launching a wind blade toward the man.
A brief shiver ran through my entire body, awakening my instincts. I drew my sword quickly and rushed in front of the priest, forming a human shield. At that very moment, the swirling flames that had ravaged the building all suddenly extinguished, their chaotic dances silenced. My sword intercepted just in time, stopping an attack that undoubtedly would have decapitated the priest if I hadn't intervened.
With the flames extinguished, a profound silence enveloped the place, making way for the soft and mysterious glow of one of the moons present in the sky. Strangely, it was the red moon, bathing the entire area in a scarlet light, creating an atmosphere both beautiful and unsettling. This light revealed the man in an even more striking manner, emphasizing his fiery eyes that shone with a vivid and intense brightness, as if they were a reflection of mystical power.
Suddenly, the entire building began to tremble violently, with the walls seeming as though they could collapse at any moment, as if the anger of the earth itself was rumbling. It was then that the man, with his penetrating gaze and a voice imbued with enigmatic power, began to speak:
"Church of the Blue Moon, you are responsible for so much evil: slavery, torture, discrimination, genocide. All of this because of you and your pathetic and wretched goddess. You do not understand the pain you have inflicted on different races, the suffering you have sown in their lives. I make you a promise today: I will wage a war upon you like none you've ever seen. You will no longer hear the screams and cries of the oppressed; soon, you will hear their cries of rage echo in every corner of this world. And I will break each and every one of you, one by one, should you cross my path, no matter who you are! Whether you belong to the Church or the Kingdom, today is but the beginning of our battle!" (Logan)
The man suddenly disappeared into the portal, which closed immediately, leaving behind a gaping void. The priest let out a cry of rage, powerless in the face of this affront. Meanwhile, a sly smile formed on my face, a glint of satisfaction in my eyes.
"So, there are still those capable of fighting for their convictions. I look forward to our next encounter!" (Zem)