Above—
Aldric continued watching Vaelith as she released an enormous amount of mana while flying toward the city.
His eyes narrowed.
*What is she trying to do?*
*Releasing mana like that...*
*She's basically asking for attention.*
Aldric's expression changed slightly.
*Is that it? Is she trying to—*
He suddenly stopped thinking.
The black cat on his shoulder had moved.
Aldric felt the weight disappear.
He immediately turned his head.
"Hey."
"Where are you going?"
The black cat was already falling.
Straight through the air.
Directly toward Draven.
Aldric's eyes widened slightly.
Below—
Draven noticed something descending toward him.
He raised his arm.
**THUMP!**
The cat landed against his hand.
Draven had caught it before it could crash into his face.
The black cat simply stared at him for a moment.
Then—
it began licking his face.
Draven remained completely still.
"...Yeah."
He looked at the cat.
"Nice to see you too."
A voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Hey, Draven."
Draven glanced upward.
Aldric was hovering above him.
The two brothers stared at each other.
Draven's expression remained cold.
"It's me, so don't go pissing yourself."
Aldric's expression twitched.
"Shut up, brat."
"I know that."
He folded his arms.
"And why the hell would I ever do something like that?"
Draven shrugged slightly.
"Yeah."
"If you say so."
"Shut up."
Aldric descended slightly.
His eyes moved over Draven.
"So..."
"What's with the look?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Is that from you awakening to your blood?"
"Or is it some kind of side effect from your mana pool?"
Draven frowned.
"Huh?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Aldric stared at him.
"What am I talking about?"
"The black eyes."
Draven's expression changed.
"...Black eyes?"
He muttered the words quietly.
Then—
his gaze shifted toward the Blood Scythe in his hand.
The scythe flickered slightly.
Draven raised the blade.
He stared at its surface.
Not at the weapon itself—
but at the reflection staring back at him.
Silence.
The black cat also looked toward the blade.
Its eyes fixed on Draven's reflection.
Draven remained silent.
After several moments—
"I don't know."
Aldric's eyes narrowed.
"Is that so?"
Draven lowered the scythe slightly.
Then—
he looked toward the distance.
"Do you know why Vaelith is here?"
Aldric shook his head.
"I don't know."
He glanced toward Vaelith.
"But I think she was trying to reach out."
"By releasing her mana like that."
Draven stared in Vaelith's direction.
For a moment—
he said nothing.
Then—
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Black wings suddenly erupted from his back.
The powerful force sent the surrounding air rushing outward.
Draven's wings spread wide.
His gaze shifted toward Lunaria.
Lunaria remained standing in the distance.
His body was battered from the battle.
Draven looked at him coldly.
"I don't have the time to fuck around with you now."
He paused.
"But I hope you come after me again."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"Then I'll make sure to kill you."
His wings swung.
**BOOOOOOM!**
Draven shot into the sky.
In an instant—
his figure disappeared into the distance.
Aldric watched him leave.
Then—
his gaze shifted toward Lunaria.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Damn elf."
He looked over Lunaria's battered body.
"You're not looking too good."
Aldric tilted his head.
"I don't know how you keep finding us."
He paused.
"I would say you're from the Holy Empire..."
His eyes narrowed.
"But your mana doesn't have any holy energy."
A faint smile appeared.
"So I don't know where you came from."
He shrugged.
"But I guess we'll see you again."
Aldric's black wings spread wider.
"But keep in mind..."
His smile widened.
"This battle—at least from what I witnessed—was one-sided."
Lunaria's expression hardened.
Aldric chuckled.
"You were being toyed with."
He looked directly at him.
"Just thought you should know."
Aldric's grin widened.
"And honestly..."
"I would've loved to kill you."
He turned toward the direction Draven had flown.
"But I don't have the time."
With a wide smile—
Aldric chuckled.
Then—
**FWOOOOOSH!**
His wings beat once.
He shot into the sky.
Following after Draven.
Leaving Lunaria alone behind them.
---
Inside one of the airships—
one of the officers monitoring the controls suddenly changed expression.
"Captain."
The captain turned toward him.
"What is it?"
The officer quickly reported.
"Sir, an unknown energy signature has just entered the city."
"There's a massive amount of energy being released from their location."
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"Energy?"
"Yes, sir."
Another officer suddenly spoke.
"Captain."
He looked at his readings.
"The Dark One and the vampire are heading toward the source of that energy."
The captain's expression became serious.
"So they're coming together."
He stared down toward Dresvalle.
"After everything that's happened..."
"Are they regrouping now?"
The officers remained silent.
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"What are they planning?"
---
On the other hand—
far below—
Lunaria remained standing on the battlefield.
His battered body was still covered in wounds.
He suddenly lowered his gaze.
His eyes fell upon his sword.
The blade trembled faintly in his hand.
Lunaria's eyes narrowed.
*They're heading in that direction.*
He could sense them.
The two presences that had led him here were moving toward the same location.
*Those two...*
His grip tightened around his sword.
*Two beings... who could they be?*
Lunaria stared toward the direction Draven and Aldric had disappeared.
He remained silent for a moment.
Then—
his eyes narrowed further.
*What are they planning?*
---
Meanwhile—
at the spatial port—
Vaelith and Nia slowly descended from the sky.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Their feet finally touched the ground.
The mana surrounding Vaelith gradually settled.
Nia released her grip and stood beside her.
Both of them looked upward.
For several moments—
they simply waited.
Then—
a figure appeared in the sky above them.
Draven.
He descended slowly.
His black wings spread behind him.
**WHOOSH!**
As he came closer—
Vaelith immediately recognized him.
Her expression softened.
She lowered her head.
"My Lord."
Draven landed in front of them.
His wings slowly folded behind him.
He looked toward Vaelith.
Nia, meanwhile—
simply stood there.
Her eyes remained fixed on Draven.
She didn't say a word.
---
On the other hand—
inside the spatial port—
Illyria suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed.
She slowly turned her head.
Something had entered her senses.
A powerful presence.
Her eyes narrowed.
*What is that...?*
She remained completely still.
Then—
she looked toward the direction of the entrance.
Something—
someone—
had arrived.