Standing in the middle of the carnage, the two figures stared at each other with caution and indifference, their armor and weapons covered in blood.
Soon, the one with a smaller frame as well as the two metal gloves on his hands straightened his back and began to laugh, his voice sounding like thunder within the silent forest.
"You! You are truly making my blood boil! Haha!"
Then, his lips curved into a devilish smile.
"I don't even know when was the last time when I fought against someone as strong as you! Perhaps during that damned war? No, I don't think so..."
Logan stared at the man before him, who called himself Drax, with cold indifference before his eyes got filled with rage.
"War? So you were also among those bastards during the Cursed War?"
Drax tilted his head a bit and raised an eyebrow in confusion. Then, the realization settled down on his face.
"Oh, you mean that little incident in the north? No, I was not talking about that one."
Logan's brows lowered into a tight scowl.
"What?"
Drax laughed and as he smashed both his metal gloves against each other he shook his head.
"Nothing. It's useless for you to know. After all, in a few moments, you will be already..."
And as he reached that point with his speech, his grin turned twisted, and said;
"Dead!"
BAM!!
Dust and debris flew in every direction as Drax's figure dashed forward and appeared before Logan, his right hand already raised and ready to be slammed down!
"Hmph!"
Logan, knowing just what kind of destruction could that Artifact around Drax's fists create just sneered and jumped backward, while also throwing several things forward.
They looked akin to small pebbles, but from a closer inspection, one would notice that all of them were rapidly becoming redder and redder as if something was burning them from within!
Drax, seeing this clicked his tongue.
BOOOM!
Soon, right before Drax, all the pebbles blew up, producing a great explosion and a large cloud of dust!
"I'll be honest with you... Your little tricks are starting to get on my nerves!"
Whoosh!
With a powerful swing, Drax moved his arm to the side and blasted the dust away from around, his gaze filled with annoyance and a surge of anger which soon turned into alarm.
Right above him, now only a few inches away from his face, the sharp blade of Logan's greatsword was descending on him with weight akin to a falling mountain, ready to obliterate him from existence! Furthermore, from behind, an arrow was already zooming through the air, targeting his heart with lightning speed!
It seemed at some point in time Stella had changed position, now aiding Logan from far away and attacking Drax from his blindspot!
"Tch..."
Clicking his tongue once again, knowing his chances to avoid both assaults in time were close to nill, Drax shifted his posture to the side a bit, then, with all his might, punched his fist upward at the descending devastation!
Swish!
"...Urgh!"
Groaning with pain as the arrow pierced just below his left shoulder, barely avoiding his heart, Drax clenched his teeth and poured more power into his punch.
BAM!
A powerful ripple swept every direction the next moment as Drax's Artifact and Logan's weapon collided with each other, resulting in the ground below their feet cracking a bit and debris being blown away with great force!
Showing a pained grimace, Drax revealed his teeth in a dark grin and stared right into Logan's ice-cold eyes.
"Not bad! Not bad at all! However, it's so unfortunate it has to end here."
And right as he said those words, the mist right behind Logan began to swirl and move before a figure revealed itself, his shortsword already slashing at his back!
"Father!"
On top of a tree not far away, Stella's gaze turned cold, and was ready to draw her bow to shoot when suddenly a voice filled with cunning alongside a cold touch before her throat froze her motionless.
"Oh, if I were you I would not do it."
"You!"
Stella widened her eyes and shifted her gaze to the side, watching as a familiar figure now stood behind her, pressing his dagger against the skin of her throat, threatening to cut it open any second if shown any resistance.
"Haha! Those eyes of yours... Oh, how I love them."
Max laughed coldly, only for the sound of flesh getting sliced and blood spilled to be resounded within the forest the following second, drawing both his and Stella's attention.
"DAD!!"
Watching with horror as her father was ambushed by Dax, slicing a deep gash into his back with his weapon, Stella wished to move only to be slapped back to reality by the sharp edge of the dagger in front of her throat.
"No, no, no... That won't do it. Just be a good girl and stay still." Max shook his head and taking Stella's bow out of her hands as well as making sure she had no other weapons hidden he made her jump down.
Meanwhile, standing in front of Logan, who now lay on the ground with an open wound on his back, one that revealed his flesh and some of his bones below, Dax looked at the sword in his hand and whistled with amusement.
"Father! This Artifact is truly something else. It sliced through his armor like nothing!"
Drax, glancing to the side showed a grin and shifted his attention back at Logan.
"Of course, it is, son. Anything belonging to those fools on the south is top-quality!"
Dax laughed with mockery and nodded.
"Indeed. Though, I still wish we could have amassed more like these. Our job here would be much easier."
Drax shook his head and as he saw how Logan was struggling to get up, as well as to reach for his weapon, laughed coldly and stomped on his hand. The sound of bone cracking was easily heard in the silent forest.
"Struggle as much as you want. Your life will end here soon either way."
Then, he glanced at the two approaching figures on his side and showed a wide, almost wicked grin.
"Though, you can rest with ease. I will spare your daughter's life. After all, it seems like my son took a liking to her."
With eyes filled with rage, Logan raised his head and through his clenched teeth he hissed;
"You... fucking bastard... Just dare to touch a single hair on her and I will... Urgh?!"
"Huh? Did you say something?" stomping on Logan's leg with more force, Drax tilted his head and asked with a puzzled look.
"You...!!"
Drax laughed seeing Logan's face, but suddenly his smile froze, his gaze immidieatly snapping to the side.
"...Father?
Seeing how he acted, both Dax and Max looked confused, which turned even deeper when they saw nothing where their father was starting at.
Except for corpses and rivers of blood, there was nothing there that either moved or was alive.
However, Drax just kept staring forward before he opened his mouth and began to speak;
"So? How long are you planning on hiding there?"
"?"
The twins looked at each other in confusion, but soon their eyes widened as the mist bit far away began to swirl and a figure revealed itself.
"Huh? You..."
Drax's raised a brow.
"Rose... Was your name, right?"