Kaprice was on the defensive as Countess Lirael circled above with her wings unfurled and radiant as it casted a distorted light across the battlefield. The gusts from each beat of her wings sent waves of unsteady air that rocked blew her braids behind her. Below, the burburu moved in a horrifying blur, with it claws carving deep grooves into the ground as it lunged for her with relentless ferocity.
Kaprice rolled clear of a clawed swipe with her dress snagging on a jagged rock as the burburu's appendage narrowly missed her. She sprang to her feet with her sword glinting in the dim battlefield light, and she swung in a tight arc. The blade sliced cleanly through the air and forced the creature to rear back. She followed up with another strike aimed at its leg, but the burburu twisted and evaded her with agility.
From above, Lirael extended her arms. Kapri looked up as she sensed the Donn emitting from behind her. More missiles rippled through existence around her--with a flick of her wrist she scent a barrage of them raining down on Kapri. The struck the ground with explosive force that sent debris flying as Kaprice ducked and darted between impacts and her boots skidding on the loosened soil.
"Are you trying to destroy Eludiria?" Kapri yelled up at her.
"Pathetic," Lirael sneered, her voice carrying over the chaos. "As if I give a damn about this count. It makes no difference to me rather its him or buried under ash and snow!"
Kapri didn't respond. Instead, she spun toward the burburu with her blade flashing in a rapid flurry of strikes that finally connected with one of its limbs. The creature shrieked as black blood gushed from the wound and stained the earth. But its counterattack came swiftly: a claw lashed out and caught Kapri in the side as she was hurled her into the dirt. She gasped, the wind knocked from her lungs, but forced herself to roll just as another set of missiles from Lirael slammed into the ground where she'd fallen. Her sword the only thing pulling her just in time to avoid the missiles impact as they moved closer towards town.
The Countess swooped low, wings slicing the air with lethal precision. Kaprice surged upward, using the momentum to swing her sword upward. The blade scraped against the underside of Lirael's wing, earning a sharp hiss of pain. Lirael retaliated immediately, with her nails raking across Kapri as she grabbed at her. Kaprice gritted her teeth through the pain, shifted her weight, and kicked out, landing a solid blow to the Countess's chest. The impact sent Kaprice skidding backward, but the brief reprieve gave her just enough time to recover her stance.
The burburu surged forward, faster now, its wounds apparently ignored. Kaprice dodged the initial swipe but found herself boxed in as the creature pivoted unnaturally and its claws slashed in rapid succession. She ducked, sidestepped, and countered, her blade carving deep into its side. The creature screeched, its blood spurting in a wide arc that splattered across Kaprice's face and arms.
Above, Lirael's expression flickered with alarm. Her sharp gaze darted to the wound as if calculating the burburu's weakening state. Seem to be of great impact as she screamed.
"You useless thing!" she snapped with her tone cracking with frustration. She extended a hand, as her Donn emitted more so she could pull out more missiles and sent them cascading down without regard for who she is trying to hit, even the buburu.
Kaprice grunted as she dived under the burburu to avoid the barrage, then springing up to deliver a vicious upward slash that split the creature's abdomen while it was distracted trying to avoid the missiles too. The beast collapsed with an ear-splitting shriek as its legs twitching wildly.
Lirael cursed, and her wings beated furiously as she rose higher.
"No matter," she snarled, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. More portals shimmered into existence, their edges crackling with power. "You've only delayed the inevitable."
Kapri steadied herself with her body aching but her grip on her sword firm. She adjusted her stance, her sharp gaze locking onto the Countess. There was uncertainty of how much longer she could dodge the Countess's attack.
Kapri, battered but relentless, turned her eyes to the sky and locked eyes locked on the Countess hovering just out of reach. The burburu snarled, its limbs scraping the ground as it inched toward her. Kapri's chest heaved, but there was no retreat in her—only forward. Kapri dropped her sword as she shouted, her voice full, "Come down here and fight, then! Try tossing me around again."
To her surprise, in a flash, Countess Lirael descended with her wings slicing through the air with an ominous hum. Kapri braced herself. Lirael landed with a loud thud that left an impact crater and dust and snow kicked up. She folded her wings back as she flexed her fingers as she balled them into a fist.
"You asked for it, Kaprice," Lirael hissed, her lips curling into a vicious smile.
Without warning, Lirael moved with brutal speed and she launched herself toward Kapri. Kapri barely had time to react as the Countess's claws swiped through the air, narrowly missing her face. Kapri countered with a rapid combination of punches—each strike precise as she aimed for Lirael's torso and face. But the Countess weaved and dodged before ducking under Kapri's jab and delivering a crushing punch to Kapri's stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of Kapri as it sent her back flying onto the hard, cold ground.
Kapri got up and came back around with a hard right hook to Lirael's jaw. The Countess staggered but recovered quickly and retaliated with a brutal knee aimed for Kapri's ribs. The pain shot through her side, but Kapri gritted her teeth and pressed forward, using her footwork to stay just out of range of Lirael's strong punches. She threw another punch, this time landing it square in the Countess's ribs, but Lirael sneered in response. She flicked her wings sharply, creating a gust of wind that threw Kapri off balance.
"You think you can out-box me?" Lirael mocked, her voice like ice. "You're just a human in a demon's game, little girl."
Kapri's response was a low growl as she snapped back and she threw a flurry of jabs and hooks. Each punch came faster than the last, but Lirael countered with calculated precision, ducking and dodging, her wings whipping around to deflect the blows.
Kapri wasn't even sure if she didn't regret pretending like she had the strength to match a noble demon. She knew she would not had survived those missiles.
Behind them, the burburu had regained its composure. It saw an opening and lunged toward Kapri, its grotesque limbs swiping at her. Kapri reacted quickly, sidestepping the first strike, but the burburu's claws caught her leg and sent her crashing to the ground. Kapri's breath left her in a ragged gasp before Lirael tried to stomp down on her. She cursed, rolling to the side as the burburu tried to pin her.
Lirael, moved with lightning speed as she raked a dagger toward Kapri's throat. But Kapri wasn't helpless yet. With a grunt, she lashed out with a wild punch, connecting with Lirael's chin and, caused the Countess to stagger for a while. She quickly pushed herself up with one leg aching from the burburu's attack, but her resolve hardening.
The burburu wasn't done. It growled in frustration, its mandibles clicking as it lunged again. This time, Kapri was ready. She threw a hard punch to its face. As it stumbled, Lirael swooped in for a strike, aiming to catch Kapri off guard. She sidestepped, ducked under Lirael's wing swipe, and with a swift punch to the Countess's stomach, she sent Lirael soaring upwards before she crashed into the ground.
She wanted to hiss in pain as she used a lot of her strength to send her flying like that.
Lirael hissed with frustration evident in her eyes as she gave the burburu a look of scorn.
"No more mistakes," she growled, her wings flaring dangerously as she got up. The Countess's patience was wearing thin, but Kapri could see it now—the hesitation. Lirael was faltering, and it gave her the opening she needed.
Kapri wasn't going to let it slip away.
"Pathetic," Lirael sneered, hovering just out of reach. "You're falling apart, Kaprice."
The burburu lunged again, so predictable that Kapri predictably sidestepped. She grabbed her sword and slashed out. The blade sank into the burburu's side with blood spraying across her face and arms.
"No!" Lirael's voice cracked, panic creeping into her words. "You idiot! Stop bleeding, damn it!"
The burburu shrieked, staggering from the blow but pressing on with undeterred ferocity. Kapri noticed the thin thread of fear in Lirael's tone. It wasn't for the burburu—it was for herself.
"You feel that?" Kapri spat as she steped toward the creature. Not even looking at Countess Lirael. "That's me about to tear apart everything you're clinging to. Every ounce of SE you're leeching from this world does not belong to you."
With a single, brutal motion, Kapri sliced through the burburu's chest. Her blade tearing through its body. The creature let out a choked, tortured scream before it collapsed in a heap, blood pooling around its massive, twisted form.
In the silence that followed, Kapri's gaze turned back to Countess Lirael. The demon's expression shifted to something close to fear as she hovered while she calculated her next move. Her wings fluttered erratically, no longer as composed and confident as before. Before she could make another attack, Kapri gripped the half of Lord Dazriel's heart still lodged in the burburu's remains, pulling it free with a forceful yank.
"You can't fix that mess." Kapri taunted, spitting blood as she forced herself upright. She pointed her sword at the creature.
Lirael's eyes narrowed into furious slits, but there was no denying the truth in Kapri's words. Her elegant mask cracked further with her movements more erratic as she darted around Kapri and the burburu.
"Shut up!" Lirael snarled, the shrillness in her voice betraying her usual composure. "I'm not like you. I will not be broken."
The half heart—shaped like a spool, delicate yet ominous—pulsed once in her hands as it filled the air with the steady hum of Donn. Lirael seemed to recoil at the sight, her eyes flicking between Kapri and the heart with dread.
The burburu lunged again, its claws aimed for Kapri's throat. Kapri ducked low and thrust her sword upward, driving it deep into the creature's abdomen. It thrashed violently, one of its claws slamming into her shoulder and sending her crashing to the ground. Her vision blurred from the pain, but she clung to her weapon, twisting it deeper into the creature's body. Black blood poured from the wound as the burburu gave a final with an agonized screech before collapsing.
Kapri pushed herself to her knees, her body screaming in protest. Her dress was torn and bloodied, clinging to her damp, cold skin as she struggled to her feet. Lirael hovered nearby with her wings twitching, her expression now a mask of simmering fury and tightly held panic.
"You've ruined it," Lirael spat, her voice quaking. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Kapri raised her sword, her hand trembling but resolute. "Yeah," she growled. "And you're next. You delusional bitch."
Lirael tried to flee as her wings flared wide and sent a powerful gust of air in an attempt to scatter Kapri's focus. But before she could ascend into the sky, Kavi appeared, tossing a glowing soul thread at Lirael's foot. The thread latched onto her ankles, binding from flying further.
Kapri grinned, her heart pounding in her chest as she propelled herself upward along the glistening, silken thread. The wind whipped at her face and tore at her torn dress, but her focus remained unshaken. Her boots griped the thread as her fingers pulled her higher. Lirael hovered above, wings glinting in the eerie battlefield light, her expression shifting from smug confidence to startled irritation when she realized Kapri was closing the distance.
With a final surge of energy, Kapri vaulted the last few feet and reached Lirael just as the Countess tried to tear away. Her hand shot out, fingers digging into the demon's wing where the delicate, membrane-like structure met the powerful bone. Lirael hissed, her body jerking in midair as she tried to shake Kapri loose, but Kapri held firm. Her muscles burned with exertion as she hauled herself closer and raised her sword for a strike.
The blade gleamed as it arced downward, aiming for the vulnerable seam of Lirael's wing. But the demon twisted with inhuman agility, her wing snapping upward to catch the blade. The impact sent a jarring vibration through Kapri's arm and momentarily numbed her fingers. Before she could recover, Lirael surged forward with her body spinning in a graceful yet savage pirouette.
The motion was brutal. Lirael's momentum wrenched Kapri from her tenuous hold, and she found herself flung through the air as she tumbled head over heels. The world blurred—a chaotic mix of sky, thread, and battlefield—before gravity seized her fully.
Kapri hit the ground with bone-rattling force, the impact driving the air from her lungs. Her body skidded across the dirt, ash, and icy snow tearing at her skin and dress. She came to a stop in a crumpled heap as she gasped for breath while pain radiated from her ribs and shoulder.
Above her, Lirael hovered, her wings beating rhythmically, though there was a faint shudder to their movements. A thin tear in the wing's edge glistened with a dark, black fluid. Lirael's face twisted in a mixture of anger and disdain with her silver eyes narrowed.
Kavi gritted his teeth, gripping the thread with all his strength while her arms straining to keep it taut. The shimmering filament anchored Lirael in place, preventing her from gaining the height advantage she so desperately sought. Her wings flapped violently, each powerful stroke sending gusts of wind that forced Kavi to plant her feet more firmly with her boots scraping against the slick ground.
Below, Kapri struggled to push herself upright, her battered body slow to respond after the punishing impact of her fall. She watched as Nyxith appeared and darted along the thread with surprising speed and agility. Her saber gleamed in the pale light with poised to strike at Lirael's neck.
Nyxith's attack seemed perfectly timed—until an arrow sliced through the air with deadly precision and embedded itself deep into her upper arm. Nyxith cried out, the blade slipping from her grasp as she faltered. Blood seeped through the tear in her sleeve, and she lost her grip on the thread before her body twisted as she began to fall.
Jiron, watching from below, reacted instinctively. His boots kicked up snow as he sprinted toward her with his arms outstretched. He caught Nyxith midair with a grunt, his momentum carrying them both into a rough landing. Jiron winced as they hit the ground but managed to shield her from further harm.
The momentary relief of her rescue was shattered as another arrow struck the thread and severed it with a sharp twang. Lirael gave a triumphant cry it snapped with her wings spreading wide to regain her freedom. Kavi stumbled as she struggled to recover from the sudden loss of the anchor point.
Their attention snapped to the source of the arrows—a figure at the edge of the battlefield. Kraxil the Diminuitive stood with his bow drawn, a malicious grin stretching across his face and half his body bandaged.
Jiron reached for his rifle on his back. He raised it with his finger twitching near the trigger—but his aim wavered. Kraxil's other hand gripped Bilbo by the scruff of his neck, holding the demon like a shield. Bilbo, though squirming, didn't struggle much with his goat-like eyes glaring in silent defiance.
"Bilbo..." Jiron muttered under his breath, his hesitation costing him seconds.
Kraxil's smirk widened as he saw Jiron falter. Without a word, he stepped backward and disappeared into the shadows with Bilbo in tow. His retreat was swift, a blur that vanished as quickly as it had come. He left nothing but the tension of his threat hanging in the air.
Kapri, finally back on her feet. "Fuck!" Her voice echoed, but Kraxil was gone.
Jiron's knuckles whitened on the grip of his rifle. His hesitation weighed heavily, a bitter taste in his mouth as he lowered the gun.
"Damn it," he growled, his frustration aimed as much at himself as at the fleeing enemy. And from the fact he was sleeping with the enemy without an intimacy pact even attached to his soul.
Nyxith groaned as she clutching her injured arm. Blood dripped steadily from the arrow wound, pooling on the dirt below. Kavi rushed over to help, his face pale with worry and Kapri looked over to her with a sigh.
Jiron walked over to her as he pulled out ingredients to mix up healing soul alchemy.
"What now?" Kavi asked, his voice trembling as they watched Countess Lirael make her escape.
"We got what we came here for," Kapri said as she looked at the two very different halves of Lord Dazriel's heart. Though she wanted Countess Lirael's head for personal reasons now.
Velmuth tried to get away as he pulled out his wings, Kapri grabbed his hand as he floated up above her.
"Stay," she muttered to him. Velmuth narrowed his eyes as he looked around as everyone closed in on him as he touched the ground. His once-imposing figure now slumped, defeated.
Kapri sighed as she looked up at him, her gaze hardening.
"You look tired," she said, her voice surprisingly soft for the situation. "I can feel it."
Velmuth lifted his head slowly while he met Kapri's gaze.
"I am," he replied, as he looked away. "Constantly helping her chase a ghost that neither of us could catch."
Kapri's gaze narrowed, and she stood tall. "Let him go," she said firmly.
Jiron, who had been preparing to take a shot, hesitated, with his finger still on the trigger. "You're compromised," he said, voice tense. "I should not listen to you right now."
Kapri's eyes darkened, but her expression softened. "If you kill him, I'll be devastated beyond repair. You can't just kill him, Jiron. Not like this. Not until I get out of the intimacy pact."
Jiron stared at her for a long moment. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he lowered his gun.
Kapri grabbed Velmuth by the hand as she pulled him close as she felt a need to protect and be close to him.
"For now, you're staying right next to me," she told Velmuth, her voice firm, but the weariness creeping into her tone. She buried her face into his chest as she closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm tired too…"
The others stood in uneasy silence, watching the scene unfold..