"Why are you standing around? Go enjoy your first mission!" Axel said, pointing towards Manchester.
With tears in his eyes, Arthur gave Axel a tight hug, then put on his cape and grabbed his weapon. Determined, he made his way toward the city. There, he found Max about to attack a mother holding her baby.
Arthur's heart filled with anger. Without thinking, he shot his first arrow. It hit Max squarely in the back, right behind the heart. Max roared in pain as the mother used the chance to run away quietly.
Arthur approached carefully. Max turned to him, wincing in pain. "You… How are you alive? I thought you were dead," Max said, his voice shaking.
Arthur's red eyes glowed brighter. "Why should I give up and die when there is so much to fight for?" he replied firmly.
Desperate, Max threw a knife, but Arthur dodged it easily. Then, Max broke some bottles nearby and threw the glass shards, but Arthur avoided those too.
"Is that all you've got?" Arthur said, his tone sharp. "How did someone like you ever become a killer, Max deford?"
Max's voice cracked. "How do you know my name? That secret was buried!"
Arthur's eyes narrowed. "It took some digging to find out about 'The Mother Killer.' You've killed ten women, Max. One of them was my mother."
Max's eyes filled with tears. "I didn't mean to do it. I was following orders from Marcus—a demon."
"Marcus?" Arthur's voice dropped, his glowing eyes flaring. "Did he make you kill all of them?"
"Yes," Max admitted. "He threatened to kill my sister, Lily, the mayor of Star's Burg. I had no choice."
Before Arthur could respond, someone leaped down from a building behind him. Arthur's body tensed as Marcus appeared. His presence was cold and menacing. Max quickly bowed to him. "I've done everything you asked, sir."
"Good. You can leave now," Marcus said in a chilling voice.
Arthur took a step back, preparing to defend himself. Marcus smirked. "Ah, my descendant. It's an honor to meet you, the future king of demons."
Arthur scowled. "That will never happen. I refuse to be something so vile."
Marcus laughed. "You don't have a choice. It's your destiny to become the second heir to the demon kings."
"I said no!" Arthur shouted and fired an arrow at him. He fired several more, but none of them hit. Marcus closed in as Arthur backed into a corner.
"Accept your fate, Arthur Trams. Or should I say… your highness?" Marcus sneered.
"No! This can't be happening," Arthur muttered, panic creeping in.
Suddenly, his bag began to glow. A glass sword emerged, shimmering in the light. Marcus took a step back, his confidence shaken. "Not this again," he muttered.
Arthur gripped the sword, his fear replaced by resolve. "History repeats itself, doesn't it, Marcus?"
Marcus's smirk faded. Dawn broke over the city, and sunlight streamed through the buildings. Arthur seized the moment, shoving Marcus into the sunlight. Marcus screamed in agony.
"You will pay for this," Marcus growled as he opened a portal and escaped.
Arthur returned to the apartment, his white shirt stained with blood. Axel was waiting for him. "You let Max live. Why?" Axel asked.
Arthur handed him an arrow. "He told me the truth. I dealt with the real mastermind." He looked at the arrow. "This one's different. It's soaked with something red."
Axel inspected it. "It's his blood, straight from his heart."
"Why is that important?" Arthur asked.
"Drinking blood like this can increase your power. It's your choice whether to use it or not," Axel explained.
Arthur hesitated before drinking it. Energy surged through his body, but dizziness followed. His eyes flickered uncontrollably.
"Not again," Axel muttered before slapping him. "hay!, why did you slap me for?" Arthur asked ."You were about to pass out. The blood was too full of in-active magnitcalox."
Arthur coughed. "Thanks for the warning."
The next morning was a break from the chaos. Arthur had an entrance exam. He woke Amber, who was still fast asleep. "Amber, wake up! It's 8 a.m. Our exam is at 10!"
Amber sat up groggily. "What?!" She scrambled to get ready in record time.
Over breakfast, Richard smiled at their rush. "Relax. You'll both do great," he said with confidence.
The pair headed to the exam center, finishing their tests and scoring top marks. Their futures in Star's Burg Medical School were secure.