The tension was palpable as the masked man and Evelyn faced off from atop separate buildings, their eyes locked in an unyielding stare. His frown, concealed behind the mask, radiated frustration, while Evelyn's warm smile offered a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. The oppressive heat of the underground city, devoid of any cooling breeze, added to the discomfort. Dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, Evelyn felt beads of sweat forming on her skin. Yet, despite the stifling warmth, she appeared unfazed, her composure unbroken as if the sweltering heat were merely a trivial inconvenience.
Aren't you supposed to take my head?" he finally broke the silence, his tone laced with mockery. "She kept threatening me, even after losing her weapon to a mere human. Always said I'd regret it once she's free. What a pitiful celestial she turned out to be. And her so-called partner, the self-proclaimed King of the Sea? Pathetic, both of them—nothing but a pair of delusional losers."
"Celestial? King of the Sea? What nonsense are you rambling about?" Evelyn chuckled, her voice light with amusement. "And for the record, I don't take orders from strangers. So, if you don't cooperate, I might just start believing she's right." She ran a finger slowly across her neck in a mock execution gesture, her smile daring and taunting, as if she relished provoking the masked man.
He brandished his weapon, pointing it menacingly at Evelyn. "I thought upper-class filth like you would know everything," he sneered. "But it seems you're just as clueless as the rest. I should've killed those girls instead of sparing them and only taking out the soldiers. No matter—this trident will help me remake the world. A world without the cowards who dare call themselves heroes." His laughter echoed through the city, cold and unhinged.
"I don't know what connection you have with that bloodsucker," he continued, "but good luck getting through to her now." With a sharp motion, he struck the ground with the trident's handle. The earth quaked beneath them for a moment before settling, leaving a sinister sense of foreboding in its wake.
Slowly, he removed his mask, revealing a twisted smile. Evelyn raised a brow and asked why he'd bothered to unveil himself. His grin widened. "Because," he said darkly, "you're going to die, and I want you to see the face of the man who caused it."
The man's sharp blue eyes studied Evelyn as he shifted into a defensive stance. Anticipating what Evelyn might do next—especially concerning her vampire ally—he carefully widened the distance between them, retreating to another rooftop.
Evelyn appeared momentarily confused, glancing around as if trying to grasp the situation. For a fleeting moment, she feigned surprise, her expression innocent. Then, her lips curled into a knowing smile. The man's confidence wavered as his eyes narrowed, his stance faltering.
"Ethan told me everything," Evelyn said, her voice calm but laced with quiet menace. She raised a hand and gestured to the scene around them. "You're standing over there," she pointed out. "The people down below? They're too close to you. And Selene?" Evelyn tilted her head and smirked. "She'll come from behind." She traced an invisible line in the air with her finger as if plotting out the inevitable. "I'm closer to her. All it takes is a single drop of blood to bring her back to her senses."
The man's eyes widened in alarm as Evelyn took a slow step forward. "You didn't plan all this out, did you?" she teased. "You just woke up and decided to cause chaos. No strategy, no foresight—just you, your overblown ego, and that trident you're clinging to like a child with a toy."
A shadow darted through the dimly lit city, moving with uncanny speed toward Evelyn. The air crackled with tension as Evelyn turned, her movements calm and deliberate. She extended her arm gracefully, her expression serene despite the imminent threat. A faint smile tugged at her lips, betraying no fear—only resolve.
In a blur, Selene reached her, her ravenous hunger palpable after months without blood. With a feral intensity, Selene sank her fangs into Evelyn's outstretched hand. The force of the bite was brutal, the sharp crunch of bone shattering under the pressure causing Evelyn to flinch. Pain rippled through her, but her smile never wavered.
"That's nothing I can't handle," she murmured, her voice steady despite the searing pain, her eyes locked on Selene as if daring her to take more.
Selene gripped Evelyn's hand firmly, her lips pressed against the wound as she fed, the tension in her movements betraying her struggle for control. The masked man took the opportunity to launch a barrage of icicles in their direction, hoping to catch them off guard.
As Selene's senses sharpened and clarity returned, she released Evelyn's hand and wiped her mouth, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I regret letting you see me like that," she admitted softly. With a swift motion, she stepped in front of Evelyn, her eyes glowing with determination. Manipulating her blood, she obliterated the incoming projectiles in a dazzling display of precision. "I'll handle this," she said firmly.
Evelyn, her voice calm and detached, turned to leave, tossing her sword to Selene without a second glance. "Since your useless friends couldn't provide me with any valuable information, handle your mess yourselves. And if you want to find your so-called celestial friend, take the trident from him. Good luck with that."
Without waiting for a response, Evelyn walked away, her composed demeanour unshaken despite the chaos behind her.
The heavy air of the underground city seemed to thrum with tension, the faint hum of distant machinery underscoring the eerie stillness. The dim, flickering lights cast long shadows over Evelyn and Selene as they stood atop the building, the masked man's distant figure a silent threat on another rooftop.
Before Evelyn could leap from the edge, Selene's voice broke through the weighty silence. "Why did you come to this forbidden island?" she asked, her tone equal parts curiosity and caution.
Evelyn paused, the oppressive warmth of the city pressing against her as she turned to face Selene. Her voice was steady as she replied, "I heard rumours. This island is said to be a haven for lawbreakers, a place where secrets fester and alliances crumble. I came here to find answers—answers about the King of the East."
Selene's eyes narrowed, trying to read the intent behind Evelyn's words. They spoke quietly, their voices low and guarded, despite how quiet it was. Evelyn's determination burned bright against the oppressive atmosphere; her purpose unwavering even in the face of danger.
Unbeknownst to them, the masked man on the other rooftop was watching, calculating. His stance shifted, a predator biding his time, his weapon glinting faintly in the dim light as he prepared his next move.
Suddenly, a blur of motion broke the tension. Ethan appeared beside them; his presence so sudden it felt almost unnatural. Ethan hadn't relied on his teleportation coin this time. He wrapped Selene in a firm embrace, his voice thick with relief. "I was worried about you," he murmured, his words carrying a rare tenderness that seemed out of place in the harsh environment.
Selene's hardened expression softened slightly as she allowed the brief comfort of his hug. Evelyn watched them for a moment, her own face unreadable, before shifting her gaze back toward the masked man. The oppressive atmosphere grew heavier still, as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break.
From the opposite rooftop, the man's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Turning your back on your enemy? A rookie mistake," he taunted. With the trident gripped tightly in his hands, he swung it in a wide horizontal arc. A gleaming crescent of ice hurtled toward them, sharp and deadly. Without giving them a moment to react, he conjured a cluster of icicles and struck them forward with the trident, each shard streaking through the air, aimed directly at Ethan.
A crimson web of blood slashed through the oncoming attacks, shattering the ice into harmless fragments and shielding the trio. Selene lowered her arm, her gaze softening as she turned to Evelyn. "I'm sorry for breaking your hand... and for feeding from you," she murmured. Her voice carried genuine regret, though her resolve remained firm. "Wait a little longer. Mira will be able to give you the information you're after."
Without waiting for a reply, Selene shifted her focus to Ethan. "Protect her," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for debate.
Ethan blinked, his shock evident as he looked between Selene and Evelyn. His mind reeled. Protect her? This girl with that unnerving smile and a power that could control others like puppets? He couldn't fathom why Selene would entrust him with such a task.
Noticing his hesitation, Evelyn smiled—a knowing, almost teasing expression. Ethan's discomfort deepened under her gaze. What Selene didn't realize, and what Ethan seemed to fear, was that Evelyn's new gift was far more manipulative than anyone could imagine. Selene remained blissfully unaware of how much Evelyn had changed.
Evelyn had an uncanny sense of everyone's next move the moment they conceived it in their minds. It was like watching the future unfold in real time. A plan began to take shape in her thoughts.
As Selene leaped onto the adjacent rooftop to confront the masked man, Evelyn lowered herself to the ground, gracefully crossing her legs into a Sukhasana pose. She brought her fists together in front of her chest, a serene yet focused energy radiating from her.
Before she proceeded, she opened her eyes and glanced at Ethan, who stood uncertainly beside her. With a warm yet calculated smile, she said, "Selene won't forgive you if anything happens to me. So, for your own sake, follow orders."
Ethan frowned but relented, stepping forward to shield Evelyn in case of any stray attacks. He positioned himself as a barrier, his tension palpable, though he avoided making eye contact with her.
Evelyn's smile lingered as she closed her eyes once more, her breathing steady. The atmosphere around her shifted, a faint ripple of energy emanating from her. Quietly, she activated her first gift, drawing on its power with deliberate precision. The underground city seemed to hold its breath, the tension thickening with every second.
As Evelyn delved deeper into her gift, the world around her shifted. Her surroundings melted away, replaced by an endless expanse of calm, glassy sea. The water, eerily still and unbroken by even the faintest ripple, stretched endlessly into the horizon, merging seamlessly with the pale, soundless sky.
Remaining in her meditative posture, Evelyn became aware of a glowing ring forming beneath her, its soft light expanding upward into a shimmering, crystalline dome that encased her. The dome sparkled like frozen starlight, its transparency allowing her to glimpse the vast, unchanging sea beyond.
She whispered to herself, her voice low and tinged with unease, "This has never happened before."
The atmosphere was unsettlingly silent, a complete absence of sound that pressed down on her senses. Every other time she had tapped into this power, it had been familiar, predictable—but now, something was undeniably different.
Her unease deepened as she observed the faint pulsations of light coursing through the crystalline dome, resonating like an unseen heartbeat. Evelyn's instincts screamed that something fundamental about her gift had changed—and not necessarily for the better. She steadied her breathing, preparing herself for whatever was about to unfold in this strange, altered realm.
The serene expanse around Evelyn began to shift violently, as though her gift were being torn apart from within. To her left, the crystalline dome melted away, giving way to a shadowy cave that seemed to stretch endlessly into the void. From its depths, grotesque and misshapen beings emerged, their glowing eyes fixed on the dome as they charged toward it, clawing and battering at its shimmering surface.
On her right, the tranquil sea churned and rippled. From the depths, radiant figures of light ascended, their forms graceful yet equally menacing. They surged forward with purpose, joining the fray as they hammered against the dome with blinding intensity.
"What is going on?" Evelyn muttered, her voice quivering with confusion as the opposing forces attacked from both sides. Then it hit her, the weight of the realization crashing down like a tidal wave. She remembered what had happened after Victor had given her the serum—the chaos, the uncontrollable surge of power.
Just like then, multiple gifts had vied for dominance within her, each attempting to take control of her essence. This is the same, she thought, her gaze darting between the dark and light forces. But now, it's externalized.
The beings weren't just figments of her imagination. They represented the gifts trying to manifest through her. And she understood—once she completed summoning her soldiers, they wouldn't just be warriors; they would inherit their own gifts, fragments of the power now tearing at her mind.
Evelyn tightened her fists, her breathing steadying as she whispered to herself, "I need to finish this, or it'll consume me." The clash of light and dark surged around her, but she refused to falter, her resolve solidifying like the crystalline dome protecting her.
Outside, the battle between Selene and the man raged with unrelenting intensity, their movements a blur of skill and power. Yet, as the clash of light and darkness within Evelyn reached its peak, a wave of raw energy erupted from her. The surge radiated outward like a shockwave, blanketing the underground city in suffocating pressure.
Below, those under Evelyn's control collapsed like puppets with severed strings, their bodies crumpling as unconsciousness claimed them. The weight of the energy was unbearable for anyone not directly involved in the battle. Even Selene and the man, though able to withstand it, found themselves immobilized, their movements frozen by the oppressive force.
The underground city groaned under the strain. Walls cracked, buildings trembled, and debris rained down as Evelyn's uncontained power ricocheted within the enclosed space, amplifying its destructive effects. The air itself seemed to shudder, dense with tension, and impossible to breathe.
For those who remained conscious, it was torment. Every second stretched into an eternity, their bodies and minds strained to their limits under the crushing atmosphere.
Then, amidst the chaos, Evelyn's lips parted. In a voice barely louder than a whisper, yet reverberating with authority, she uttered a single word:
"Arise."
The moment hung suspended, her command reverberating like a bell through the tumult, promising that something monumental was about to unfold.