Lilith's violet eyes flickered toward the shadows where Kai and Elara were hiding. A smirk tugged at her lips as she crossed her arms. "Come out, little spies," she called, her voice carrying an amused edge.
Kai and Elara exchanged glances, silently weighing their options.
"Well, so much for stealth," Kai muttered, shrugging.
Elara sighed. "I told you we were too close."
With a smirk, Kai stepped forward, hands in his pockets. "Hey, so... when exactly did you notice us?"
Elara followed close behind, her posture tense and ready for a fight.
Lilith tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Since the moment you entered the woods. You're not nearly as sneaky as you think." Her gaze lingered on Kai, assessing him with curiosity. "And you... your aura is interesting."
Kai chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "What can I say? I tend to leave an impression. So, you're a half-demon? Or just a blood mage with some flair? Either way, what's a woman like you doing in a place like this?"
Elara narrowed her eyes. "Are you behind the disappearances? We know people have gone missing."
Lilith let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You think I kidnapped them? How simple-minded."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "So if it wasn't you, then what's with the whole eerie ritual setup? Pretty sure normal people don't gather in the woods at night, chanting around glowing symbols."
Lilith's smirk widened. "Blood magic is a tool, just like any other form of magic. The question is, do you fear it because you don't understand it?"
Kai laughed, crossing his arms. "Fear? Nah, I just like knowing when people are up to something shady. Keeps things interesting."
Elara remained tense. "Enough games. Where are the missing villagers?"
Lilith chuckled darkly, her eyes gleaming. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know?"
Kai narrowed his eyes and activated Skill: Appraisal. A translucent screen appeared before him, displaying Lilith Veyne's skills and stats. His expression shifted slightly as he scanned the details.
Lilith Veyne - Status Screen
Name: Lilith Veyne
Age: 24
Species: Half-Demon
Gender: Female
Level: 52
Class: Blood Mage / Shadow Sorceress
Occupation: Cult Leader of the Blood Moon
Nicknames: The Crimson Enchantress, Mistress of the Dark Pact
Health Points (HP): 4,200/4,200
Magic Points (MP): 15,000/15,000
Strength: 280
Agility: 310
Attack: 500
Intelligence: 720
Defense: 275
Skills
Blood Magic Abilities:
Crimson Pact: Sacrifices health to amplify magical attacks.
Sanguine Chains: Binds enemies with blood-forged chains that drain stamina.
Hemocurse: Places a curse on an enemy, making them suffer pain proportional to the damage they deal.
Revenant's Mark: Marks an enemy, causing them to be hunted by blood wraiths.
Life Reap: Absorbs HP from nearby enemies, fueling Lilith's own vitality.
Shadow Sorcery:
Veil of Night: Envelops an area in magical darkness, blinding foes.
Phantom Step: Teleports short distances in a blur of shadows.
Umbral Spear: Launches a piercing spear of condensed shadow energy.
Spectral Binding: Temporarily freezes an enemy in place with an ethereal hold.
Dark Covenant: Sacrifices MP to temporarily summon a greater demonic entity.
Unique Skills:
Demon's Embrace: Temporarily enhances her demonic features, increasing all stats by 30%.
Blood Moon Ascension: During a full moon, all her magic gains increased potency and reduced MP cost.
Eternal Hex: Any enemy struck by her magic suffers continuous debuffs that grow stronger over time.
Crimson Dominion: The more enemies she kills, the stronger she becomes.
Shadow's Grasp: Allows her to corrupt weaker minds, bending them to her will temporarily.
Kai's brows lifted as he scanned the screen. "Huh," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "You're way stronger than you look."
Lilith's smirk didn't waver. "Flattered. But what do you plan to do with that information?"
Kai chuckled. "Depends. How about you tell me the real truth behind all this?" He flashed a teasing grin. "Maybe if you ask nicely, I'll go easy on you."
Elara groaned. "Kai! Stop flirting with the enemy!"
Lilith laughed, clearly entertained. "Oh, I like him. Shame we're on opposite sides."
Elara stepped forward, eyes burning with frustration. "We're here to stop you! Whatever you're planning, it ends now!"
Lilith's smile never faded. "Is that so?" She nodded toward the cult members. "Let's test that confidence."
Without warning, several of the cultists unleashed magic blasts aimed directly at Kai and Elara.
Kai grinned, raising a hand. "Skill: Bone Fortress!"
A towering barrier of bones erupted from the ground, shielding them from the incoming attacks. The magical blasts collided with the barrier, sending shockwaves through the clearing.
Lilith's eyes flickered with intrigue as she observed the skill. "A Death Mage? Now that's rare."
Kai laughed, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Surprised? Guess I'm full of fun little tricks."
Lilith smirked, her aura intensifying. "This just got interesting."
Kai smirked, eyeing the twelve cultists surrounding Lilith. "Oh man, you have an army of twelve guys, and it's just us?" He whistled dramatically, his smirk widening.
Lilith chuckled, arms crossed. "Numbers don't decide battles, only power does. And you, Death Mage, are in my domain."
Kai laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, you thought I was serious? I was just messing with you. Skill: Eternal Vanguard!"
Fourteen black circles materialized around him, pulsating with energy. From them, elite skeleton warriors emerged, clad in dark armor, wielding spectral weapons. They stood in perfect formation, awaiting Kai's command.
Lilith's violet eyes glimmered with intrigue. "Interesting... you truly are rare. A Death Mage with such control? I underestimated you."
Kai grinned. "You wouldn't be the first."
Elara unsheathed her sword, stepping into a battle stance. "Enough talk. Let's end this."
Lilith's smirk didn't fade. "Agreed. Let's see if you can keep up."
With a single command, both sides charged. Cultists and undead warriors clashed, metal striking against magic-infused weapons. The battlefield erupted into chaos, with Kai standing back, watching the fight unfold, his crimson eyes flickering between Elara and Lilith.
Elara rushed forward, her blade slicing through the air toward Lilith. The half-demon swiftly dodged, her movements fluid and precise. "You're fast," Lilith remarked, summoning a dagger made of blood magic. "But not fast enough."
They exchanged blows, Elara's sword clashing against Lilith's crimson blade, sending sparks flying. The intensity between them grew as they spoke through gritted teeth.
"You think blood magic gives you the right to play with people's lives?!" Elara hissed.
Lilith smirked, parrying her attack. "Magic is neither good nor evil. Only those who use it decide what it becomes."
Meanwhile, Kai observed, nodding approvingly as his elite skeleton warriors pushed back the cultists. "Good, my undead boys are doing work. That's what I like to see."
But his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift in the battle. Both Elara and Lilith activated their skills at the same time.
Lilith whispered an incantation, and dark crimson energy surrounded her, while Elara's blade glowed with radiant force. They dashed toward each other, their forms blurring with sheer speed. A single clash reverberated through the air.
Then—
They passed each other.
Neither looked back.
Kai was about to make a snide remark when his skill, Death Sense, activated. His heart dropped.
Before he could say anything, Elara fell to the ground.
She didn't move.
Blood pooled beneath her.
Kai's eyes went wide. He stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened. His mind screamed, but no words came out.
Lilith wiped a smear of blood from her lip, breathing heavily. "Ah... fascinating," she murmured. "The effects of my blood magic are more... potent than expected. Another pawn for my research."
Kai's thoughts spiraled. Everything around him faded as rage overtook him.
Then—
Lilith was gone.
The next second, she was slammed into a tree, the force so powerful she coughed up blood.
She gasped, looking around in shock. "Where did he—?"
Kai stood in front of Elara, his expression unreadable. He knelt down, his hands trembling as he lifted her into his arms.
"Wake up," he whispered, tears slipping down his face.
Nothing.
Kai clenched his jaw, inhaling sharply. "Skill: Resurrection Manipulation!"
Dark energy surrounded Elara's body. A chant escaped his lips—words of death and rebirth. The world around them seemed to hold its breath.
A radiant light engulfed her.
Seconds passed.
Then her eyes fluttered open.
She gasped, blinking up at him. "Kai...? What happened?"
Kai exhaled, relief washing over him. "You... you almost—" He swallowed hard. "Are you okay? How do you feel?"
Elara sat up, wincing. "Sore... but alive."
Kai turned back toward Lilith, his crimson eyes burning with something terrifying.
His body trembled, power surging beyond his control. His markings glowed brighter, his very aura distorting the air around him.
Elara stared at him, wide-eyed. "Kai...?"
Lilith, still catching her breath, chuckled. "So... you were holding back? This is going to be fun."
Kai clenched his fists, his voice low, seething. "You. Will. Pay."
Kai's entire body transformed, his aura surging outward in waves of raw death magic. His markings pulsed, glowing a deep crimson, and his hair lifted, carried by the sheer force of his power. His eyes blazed with intensity, no longer just reflecting his emotions but radiating pure energy. His very presence distorted the air around him, a force that made even the cultists watching in the distance hesitate.
Lilith's violet eyes gleamed with interest. "So, this is what happens when you let loose," she mused, folding her arms. "Fascinating."
Kai clenched his fists, his voice dripping with restrained fury. "Why? Why are you doing all this?! Tell me! Why the sacrifices? Why the cult?!" His aura flared violently, shaking the ground beneath them.
Lilith let out a soft, almost amused laugh, her dark hair swaying in the wind of their power. "Why? Because power is the only currency that matters in this world, Kai. And those too weak to grasp it? They exist only to fuel those who do."
Kai's anger flared, his grip on his power tightening. "That's your answer?! You're insane!"
Lilith smirked. "Insanity and ambition? They're closer than you think."
"Enough of this," Kai growled. "Skill: Phantom Blades! GO!"
A storm of spectral blades materialized, hovering for a brief moment before launching toward Lilith at terrifying speed. She dodged effortlessly, moving like a shadow through the air. But one blade struck her, sending her skidding across the ground, kicking up dirt and debris.
Lilith wiped blood from her lip, her eyes gleaming with excitement rather than fear. "That actually hurt. You really are something special."
Kai exhaled, his power rising even further, distorting reality around him. "Then let's finish this."
Battle Erupts
The battlefield erupted as Kai and Lilith clashed with unmatched ferocity. Each attack sent shockwaves through the clearing, shaking the trees. Their fight became a blur of death magic and blood magic, their abilities colliding in explosive bursts of power.
Elara, watching from a distance, felt a cold chill creep down her spine. "What... is happening to him?" Her fists clenched. I've never seen Kai like this before. He's... too powerful.
Kai teleported behind Lilith, swinging his Soul Scythe downward. She ducked, countering with a blood-infused strike that sent him hurtling backward. He flipped mid-air, landing with a smirk. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle this."
Lilith's hands flared with crimson energy. "Then I'll stop holding back. Skill: Umbral Spear x40!"
Forty dark spears materialized above her and shot toward Kai like a storm. Still in mid-air, Kai sliced through them with insane speed, his scythe flashing as it deflected the attacks one by one.
As he descended, his glowing eyes locked onto Lilith. "It's over!"
Kai dove from the sky, his Soul Scythe pulsing with overwhelming power. The air trembled, his descent like a meteor. Lilith braced herself—but at the last second, Kai stopped his blade, the weapon's edge hovering inches from her face.
A massive shockwave erupted from the force, dust and smoke billowing outward, shaking the entire battlefield.
Lilith's eyes widened as she stared at the blade so close to her. "You... stopped?"
Kai's expression was unreadable, his aura still raging around him. "You're not evil," he said. "You're reckless, dangerous... but you're not a monster."
For the first time, Lilith looked genuinely surprised.
Then, she laughed.
Elara, still recovering, huffed loudly. "You're both insane! First, you're trying to kill each other, now you're talking like old friends?!"
Kai helped Elara to her feet, his voice softer than before. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Elara blinked, then quickly turned away, crossing her arms. "Tch... don't get all sentimental on me now."
Kai chuckled. "You're really bad at accepting affection, you know that?"
Just as they were about to leave, Lilith's voice stopped them.
"Wait, Kai."
He paused, turning back to face her. "What now? Didn't get enough of fighting me?"
Lilith smiled, brushing her dark hair back. "Would it be a problem if... I came with you?"
Both Kai and Elara froze.
"YOU WHAT?!" Elara practically shouted. "You were literally just trying to kill us! Why would we take you with us?!"
Kai, recovering first, grinned. "Wow. I knew I was charming, but I didn't expect to convert you so fast."
Lilith chuckled, tilting her head. "Seeing your control over death magic intrigued me. I want to study it, understand it. I think I could learn something by traveling with you."
Elara looked between them, her annoyance growing. "No. Absolutely not. This is a terrible idea."
Kai smirked. "Too bad, because I say yes. Welcome aboard, Lilith."
Lilith smiled. "Good. This should be... fun."
Elara groaned, rubbing her temples. "I swear, Kai, one day you're going to get us all killed."
Kai just laughed, throwing an arm over her shoulder as they walked away. "Relax, Captain. What's the worst that could happen?"
Lilith's soft laughter followed them, her eyes gleaming with mischief and curiosity.
Kai suddenly paused. "Wait. Where are the villagers you kidnapped anyway?"
Lilith turned, flashing him a coy smirk. "Oh, they're not far. Whether they're still breathing or not... well, that depends."
Elara clenched her fists. "You better not be playing with us. Where are they?!"
Lilith sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll take you to them. But I make no promises about what you'll find."
Kai exhaled, his smirk fading as his serious expression returned. "Then let's go. If there's even a chance we can save them, we have to try."
Elara nodded. "For once, we agree."
Lilith simply smiled, watching Kai with genuine curiosity. "This is going to be interesting..."