The boat creaked moving downstream.

On one edge stood Oliver shielding Aaliyah behind him while on the other side stood Flair calmly looking at Oliver.

"Your pupils changed?" He mumbled looking at his eyes, a small smile on his face, "Should I be afraid now?"

Oliver tilted his head, small circles emerging on his forearm, they looped around before slowly sweeping down, moving in different directions.

Taking out a bottle containing different metals such as Iron, steel, tin, copper, bronze Aaliyah spread it around.

They glowed softly flicking, before moving up aimmed at Flair.

"Are you not going to prepare yourself?" Flair asked, hand clasping behind his back, looking at Oliver.

"For someone like you?" He scoffed not bothering to hide his annoyance.

Flair raised his brow in suprise a chuckle excasped his twisted lips, "blood of Casita made you arrogant like them, huh?"

Oliver ignored him as he glanced at Aaliyah, who stood beside him ready to fight with him.

'She will be anything but hindrance.' thought Oliver observing her.

He knows that the man infront of him is powerful enough to kill both of them and not to mention the cramped boat wasn't in their favour.

"Are you ready?" Oliver asked keeping an eye on Flair.

"Yes." Aaliyah replied, her eyes filled with determination, her gaze on Flair as well.

"Good." Oliver mumbled before placing his hand on her chest pushing her.

Aaliyah's eyes widened as a portal emerged, expanded behind her engulfing her entirely.

"OLIVE—."

Her voice cut through as the portal closed throwing her into a safe place.

Flair chuckled again his crimson eyes staring at Oliver as he asked, mockingly, "Saving your little lover are you?"

"Who the hell are you?" Oliver asked, slowly sitting down on the boat surface.

"Haven't I already introduced myself?" Flair asked tilting his head.

Leaning against the boat's wall Oliver asked, "You did? I tend to forget worthless peasent."

Flair smile widened clearly enjoying Oliver's last moment, "Calling your death worthless peasent, you sure are foolish."

Oliver kept on staring at him, his golden eyes filled with boredom, "Why are you trying to kill me?"

Flair smiled as he replied, "Because my goddess wants your blood."

"For what?" Oliver shot back, "Surely your goddess isn't like you, right?"

"You don't know the worth foreshaken family's blood." Flair replied, "your kind have the best blood to use in rituals."

Oliver turned silent, Flair's word have given him enough clues for him to pridicted why are they doing that.

Oliver stares back in his eyes as he asked softly, "Is she planning to descend with her divine body?"

Flair smiled neither denying or accepting his words. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"I see." Oliver mumbled rubbing his chin, his gaze thoughtful.

"Now, if you would kindly—."

Flair's word abruptly stopped as he shifted his body, a blade made of pure wind passed where is head was supposed to be.

"Tch." Oliver clicked his tongue as he stood up, streching his body.

Flair turned and looked at him, his playfulness now turned into seriousness as he took a step forward.

His body blurred, the boat creaked as he arrived right infront of Oliver.

His clawed hand moved but where the man struck was now an opened portal that engulfed Oliver.

Another portal emerged behind him, giving Oliver a clear shot at his exposed back.

With a knife made of wind Oliver aimed at his back, but Flair managed to twist away to his right.

Backing and turning around, he looked at Oliver.

Again Flair attacked, crimson eyes glaring at him, body blurring in darkness.

And again, Oliver slipped into the portal, emerging behind him to attack but too slow to land a hit.

Again and again it kept on until Flair snarled, "Stop hiding!!"

Tens of Wips made of blood manifested around his body ready to attack.

And just as Oliver walked out of portal they rushed at him.

Bearly doudging them Oliver twisted his body before staring at Flair. He circled around him, before manifesting spear made of pure wind around him.

Flair pounced at Oliver the boat surface creaking as he twisted around to avoid the spear.

Oliver didn't back down this time as he met his claw with his blade—It broke.

He twisted in time to avoid the claw rushing at his heart, he rubbed his side, blood dripping from it.

"You are a better fighter then I thought." Flair remarked licking the blood in his claws.

Oliver tilted his head in response as he glanced back, the waterfall roaring behind him.

'Better Instinct, reaction, power and even is higher in rank.' Oliver thought analysing the man infront of him, he was better than him in every way.

'Moving to a better place should be my priority.' He thought looking at the man, a portal emerged behind him engulfing him entirely while a portal opened right beside Flair.

Flair twisted his body waited for him to attack but a few seconds passed but he didn't came out.

Only then did a thought passed in his mind, 'Did he run away?'

Anger surged, his crimson eyes blazed with anger as he looked around.

"OLIVER!!!"

He yelled his body morphed, his vintage suit tearing as a bat like wing emerged , sharp as a needle that curved over its back. He jumped moving towards the bridge of dawn.

***

***

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

Christina stared at the burning tower.

The assailants have already taken down all the guards that were 'supposed' to protect them.

The twenty or so men, approached them circling from all sides.

"All of you stand behind me!!" Daphne shouted, hand gripping on a sword.

The students followed her instruction as they moved taking out their weapons as well.

"A-Az." Christina turned to look at Ashlyn, her face was pale like blood drained out form it.

"He will be alright." Christina mumbled taking out her duel sword.

"B-but—"

"I said he will be alright!!" She yelled glaring at Ashlyn, "he will or else I will kill him."

Ashlyn nodded hesitately avert her gaze form Christina's anger filled expression.

"They are after me." Olesia mumbled, tightly grabbing Willis in her arms.

"I can guess that much." Christina mumbled looking at the assailants.

They were not even glancing at Daphne but had their look on Olesia.

"Give her to us and you will live." One of them said pointing at Olesia.

The students and even Daphne looked at her wondering who she is.

"Christina—."

"No." Christina denied before Daphne could say anything, "I am not giving her to them."

Her words did annoyed Daphne but she didn't questioned her.

And Christina knew better, giving Olesia to them would only bring them warth of foreshaken family.

"Ashlyn." Christina mumbled glancing back at her, "now is the time, move away and they probably won't hurt yo—."

"No." Ashlyn cut in, "I won't leave Willis alone."

Her words irked Christina to no end but she kept her mouth shut as one of them rushed assailants rushed towards them.

Sparks of lightning wrapped her body, her blue eyes fixed on the man prowling with a sword.

She bend both her knees, dropping into a low squat while keeping the torso bolt upright, her sword parallel to each other, she stomped the ground, her body blurring.

CLANG!!

The sound of metal clashing resonated throughout the bridge as her blade met his.

The man makes another attack. This one is pretty straightforward: a quick snapping cut in the direction of her ribcage. She parries it.

She sidestepped lowering her swords, his sword fall down, her sword brighten up coated with lightning.

The man screech and shuffles toward Christina, she parries the attack, turns around, and cuts both of his legs off just above the knees.

The man collapse down and before he could scream, she whipped the sword around sideways, cutting the man body in half just above the navel.

His body fall down.

Her body blurred again as she returned back to her position protecting Olesia.

It all happened in just a few seconds but when the assailants registered their causality they all rushed towards them.

Daphne tired to interfere but three of the assailants blocked her way.

While chubby also rushed in to help Christina only to stopped halfway.

Christina lowered her torso bending her knees ready to fight them until she noticed Ashlyn from the corner of her eyes.

She was pale as paper, her eyes on the fallen body cut into half as she desperately tried not to throw up.

Death wasn't new to her—her mother died when she was just a child but death as grusme as that man's was first for her.

"Ashlyn!!" Christina yelled making her flinch in response, eyes turned towards her now filled with fear, "One mistake and you could die, so focus!!"

She nodded her head vigorously not trying to argue with her.

'It's for protecting others.' she thought trying not to run away from fear, 'She did it to protect her friend.'

She glanced at Willis, hiding in Olesia's arm with his eyes closed.

She exalted shraply strengthen herself as they rushed towards them.

'Huff... Should I use it?'

Christina exhaled softly, torn in her thoughts as she looked around. Making up her mind she gently closed her eyes.

Her body, clad in blue lightning, began to change. The lightning burned brighter, and the color of her hair started to turn gol—.

BOOM!!!

Her eyes snapped open as a figure crashed down right in front of her, cracking the ground.

"AZ!!"