Ryke stood frozen.
Cold sweat covered his face.
His body trembled slightly.
A chill ran through him from head to toe.
Even breathing had become difficult.
*What the hell is this feeling...?*
*I can barely breathe.*
A voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
"Rykey boy."
Ryke's eyes shifted.
Kaelira stood nearby with a wide smile on her face.
"Stop trembling like a damn leaf."
Ryke stared at her.
Then—
his eyes narrowed.
"Like you're one to talk."
He glanced over her trembling body.
"You're trembling too."
Kaelira's smile widened.
"Yeah."
"But I'm nothing like you."
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I'm not trembling from fear."
"I'm trembling from excitement."
She looked toward Draven.
"Just like I thought."
"The feeling that pushed me to choose to follow him..."
Her smile became even wider.
"It was right."
Ryke simply stared at her.
Then—
he slowly glanced toward Pythia.
She had a wide smile on her face.
Ryke's expression twitched.
*Crazy.*
*They're all fucking crazy.*
---
On the other side—
Draven remained completely silent.
His crimson eyes were fixed on Hannah.
Hannah's gaze remained calm.
But then—
her eyes shifted.
They settled on the two babies resting in Vaelith's arms.
Her eyes flickered slightly.
She looked at Elenya.
Then Lucifer.
"Are those...?"
She paused.
"So Auntie did give birth."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I'm glad to know that."
Silence.
Draven continued staring at her.
Hannah looked back at him.
"I've been trying to find you."
She paused.
"After seeing the report about the bounty..."
Aldric stood nearby.
His expression slowly became uncomfortable.
*What the hell...?*
*This is so damn awkward.*
Hannah continued.
"I'm glad I managed to find you."
She looked directly at Draven.
"So..."
"What is your plan?"
"Where are you—"
Suddenly—
**SPLASH!**
Blood sprayed through the air.
Hannah's eyes widened.
Aldric's expression changed instantly.
"What the hell...?"
Draven was suddenly standing directly beside Hannah.
His arm—
was buried straight through her stomach.
Blood stained his hand.
Hannah stared down at the arm piercing through her body.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Then—
she slowly raised her gaze.
Draven's crimson eyes stared directly into hers.
His expression remained completely calm.
"Thanks."
His voice was cold.
"It's nice to see you care."
Before he could say anything else—
"Princess!"
Illyria's voice rang through the hall.
**BOOM!**
Mana exploded around her.
In an instant—
she appeared before Draven.
A massive wave of mana swung toward him.
Draven immediately pulled his bloody arm free.
**SHRAK!**
He moved aside, narrowly avoiding the attack.
His eyes shifted toward Illyria.
Anger surged through her.
Mana gathered around her body.
Then—
several enormous spears of water formed in the air.
Behind her—
a massive mermaid-like figure appeared.
The figure towered behind Illyria, surrounded by swirling water.
The water spears immediately launched toward Draven.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Draven stared at the incoming attack.
Then—
his gaze shifted toward Illyria.
"You're supposed to be her guard."
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"So what do you think you're doing?"
Behind him—
blood sprayed from Hannah's wounds.
Her body finally gave out.
She collapsed.
"Princess!"
Illyria immediately moved.
She caught Hannah before she could hit the ground.
Her expression changed when she saw the blood covering Hannah's body.
"Princess, are you—"
Hannah's eyes remained open, but her body was limp.
Illyria quickly surrounded her wounds with water mana.
**SHIIIIING!**
Glowing water covered the wound across Hannah's stomach.
The bleeding began to slow.
Illyria held Hannah tightly in her arms.
Her eyes then turned toward Draven.
Meanwhile—
Draven had blocked the incoming attack.
His crimson eyes remained fixed on Illyria.
The atmosphere between them became deathly silent.
Neither side moved.
Aldric stared at the scene before him.
For a moment—
he was completely caught off guard.
"That was unexpected."
He looked toward Hannah.
"I thought—"
He stopped himself.
"Damnit."
He shook his head.
"It doesn't matter."
His gaze shifted toward Illyria.
"You damn elves and your spirits."
Aldric raised his arm.
Mana immediately surged around his body.
But—
he suddenly froze.
His eyes shifted toward Draven.
Draven was glaring at him.
Intently.
Aldric felt that gaze.
His expression twitched.
"...Damn brat."
He slowly lowered his arm.
Then—
he looked at Draven with confusion.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"I'm confused."
Draven said nothing.
---
Illyria's mana continued surging.
Her gaze remained fixed on Draven.
Pure killing intent filled her eyes.
The atmosphere around her became increasingly oppressive.
She held Hannah in her arms.
Glowing water continued covering the wound across Hannah's stomach.
Yet her attention never left Draven.
---
On the other side—
the others stared in shock.
Ryke's face was completely covered with disbelief.
"What the hell...?"
He stared at Draven.
"I wasn't expecting that at all."
Pythia's eyes remained fixed on her lord.
"My Lord..."
---
Suddenly—
dozens of water attacks manifested around Illyria.
Spears.
Blades.
Waves of condensed water.
All of them were aimed directly at Draven.
Draven simply stared at them.
His expression remained cold.
Then—
he spoke.
"You should do your job."
His gaze shifted toward Hannah.
"And keep her safe."
Illyria's jaws clenched tightly.
Her killing intent intensified.
Draven glanced slightly to the side.
"Vaelith."
Vaelith immediately responded.
"Yes, My Lord."
She moved without hesitation.
Mana surged around her body.
She quickly caught up to Nia.
Then—
using her mana, Vaelith lifted herself into the air.
Nia remained with her.
The two flew past behind Draven.
They headed toward the others gathered around the spatial transfer circle.
---
Aldric glanced toward the direction Vaelith was heading.
His eyes landed on the spatial circle.
He saw Lyriana.
Pythia.
Ryke.
Kaelira.
The others.
His expression changed.
"...Oh."
Without wasting another moment—
his black wings spread wide.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Aldric shot into the air.
He flew toward the spatial transfer circle as well.
---
Draven remained where he stood.
The black cat rested comfortably on his shoulder.
It simply watched the chaos unfolding around them.
Draven's crimson eyes remained fixed on Illyria.
Illyria glared back.
Pure killing intent radiated from her body.
Her teeth clenched.
Her expression twisted with anger.
A low growl escaped her.
"You truly are a demon."
Her voice was filled with anger.
"And I'll make sure you pay for this."
Draven stared at her.
His expression didn't change.
"Do your job better."
Illyria's eyes widened slightly.
Draven turned away.
"Stupid kid."
He began walking toward the spatial transfer circle.
The black cat remained perched on his shoulder.
Draven let out a quiet breath.
"...Thanks."
He continued walking.
---
But—
after taking several steps—
Draven suddenly stopped.
His eyes shifted behind him.
His body turned.
His hand tightened around the Blood Scythe.
**SHING!**
In the next instant—
he swung it.
**SHRAK!**
The blade cut straight through the guard captain.
The man had been standing there the entire time.
Watching everything unfold.
His eyes widened.
He didn't even have time to react.
His body was cleanly cut in two.
**SPLASH!**
Blood sprayed across the damaged floor.
The upper half of his body fell one way.
The lower half fell the other.
Silence.
Draven's scythe continued through the motion.
Then—
**CLANG!**
The Blood Scythe stabbed into the ground.
Draven looked toward the body.
His expression remained completely indifferent.
Then—
he turned away.
And continued toward the spatial transfer circle.