"Is that all you can do?"

A chilling silence lingered in the air.

The cold wind breezed past Azariah as he stared at Faye.

A mocking smile played on her lips as she tossed the axe hammer onto the bridge.

The neck that should have been severed now looked perfectly fine, with no visible scratch.

Azariah bit his lip, glancing at Arianell, who struggled to stand. Her burned leg forced her to limp, an agonizing look on her face.

"Let me kill her, boy," Faye said, a twisted smile on her face. "I'm not here for you. Let me kill her, and you'll be free." She repeated the offer, her tone eerily calm.

"You think I'm foolish enough to believe that?" Azariah scoffed, glaring at her as he circled around to position himself between Faye and Arianell.

"Believe it or not, all I want is your safety," she replied, an earnest look on her face.

Faye knew hurting him would only anger her goddess, Ishtar, who had specifically ordered her to bring Azariah back unharmed, without a single scratch.

'Why does Lady Ishtar want this worthless boy?' Faye wondered as she observed Azariah, who now stood close to Arianell.

She had discovered that he was far more talented than most people knew.

Even his body was sturdy enough to withstand her attacks without fainting or breaking his bones.

But was he truly worthy of the goddess's favor?

'I am not worthy enough to doubt what my lady wants,' Faye reminded herself, focusing back on the two who now stood opposite her, their eyes locked on hers.

"Do you have any plans?" Arianell mumbled, jerking her leg to get the blood flowing through it.

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"You're the smart one here," Azariah scoffed, lowering his body and drawing his katana. "You think of a plan."

"I don't have any," she grimaced, clenching the sword she had picked up again. "Not in front of a near-immortal opponent."

"She's not immortal, just has ridiculous regeneration," Azariah corrected her while looping the chain around his hand for a firmer grip.

"I know that, idiot," she grumbled softly, slapping her leg hard to replace the numbness with pain.

"Arianell."

"What?"

"Run awa—"

"No," she interrupted, shaking her head. "I will not."

"You'll die, idiot!" Azariah hissed, glaring at her.

She was silent for a moment before softly replying, "Doesn't matter."

All Azariah could do was glare at her, but she didn't budge.

"Are you two done?" Faye asked, her left hand still bound by the chain, mirroring Azariah.

"Try to stall her and make sure not to die," Arianell whispered, her jaw clenched.

Azariah nodded, glancing at her as she flanked Faye from the right while he prowled forward.

Bending his knee, he flicked the katana with his thumb, taking it out of its sheath.

Correcting his posture, he rushed in, rotating his katana to slice at her torso.

Faye twisted her body to dodge the blow before twirling around to parry Arianell's sword.

"Uzume bloodline—Kagura: Onikenbai," Arianell whispered softly.

A white layer of flames ignited on her sword, illuminating the gloom around them.

Faye jerked her chained hand to off-balance Azariah, who was attacking her.

She propelled herself backward as Arianell pressed forward, swinging her flaming sword, which Faye continued to dodge.

"Tch."

Faye clicked her tongue in annoyance as Azariah grabbed the chain, circling it around her body.

Grabbing the katana like a blade, he crouched down, slicing the back of her knees.

She stumbled slightly, giving Arianell enough time to swing her ignited sword diagonally at her neck.

Using her arm as a shield, Faye blocked the attack, the sword digging deep into her skin, reaching the bone.

She winced in pain, distracted, giving Azariah enough time to stab his katana into the back of her neck, the tip emerging from her throat.

Her head snapped back, glaring at Azariah.

She kicked Arianell in the ribs before grabbing the chain and straining it, lifting Azariah off the ground, attempting to slam him down.

The wind whistled in his ears as he found himself upside-down.

"First form: Větrem," Azariah whispered, using his blessing.

The force behind Faye's hand abruptly slowed, allowing him to land on his feet.

He then grabbed the chain firmly, straining it before picking her up.

Boom!

Faye's body slammed hard onto the ground, cracks forming on the surface like lightning strikes.

The katana in her neck dug deeper, the hilt now stuck inside her throat.

She groaned but quickly returned to her feet, parrying Arianell's sword with her claws.

She propelled herself back, creating some distance between them as she looked at her hand, cut by Arianell's sword.

Unlike her other injuries, this one was taking longer to heal.

"Your family is hated by vampires because of this," Faye whispered as her throat healed, glancing at her hand.

Arianell remained silent, not responding as she touched her ribcage.

"Are you okay?" Azariah asked, glancing at her.

"One fractured rib," she whispered softly, straightening her body. "Not a big deal."

Azariah nodded, reaching out to touch her back.

A small purple mark emerged on her body as he kept his eyes on Faye, who slowly unbound her chained hand.

"Enough playing around," Faye whispered, throwing the chain down, her crimson eyes fixed on Azariah. "Surrender now, boy, while I'm asking nicely."

"Surrender?" Azariah tilted his head. "To a bloodsucker?"

"I can also take you to my lady with some broken bones," she replied, her eyes darkening.

"So you were lying," Azariah snarled, glaring at her.

Faye remained silent as her body started to morph.

A pair of bat wings emerged from her back, flapping menacingly.

"Is that going to—"

Azariah's words halted abruptly as her body blurred, rushing toward him at blinding speed.

Using both hands, he crossed his arms in front of him as she punched him with full force.

Crack!

"ARGH!!"

A yell of pain escaped his lips as his body was pushed back, his legs now missing the solid ground.

"Azariah!"

He heard a shout, his eyes opening to see Arianell turned towards him.

Faye's body blurred once again as she reached out to grab Arianell's heart.

"...Andarnaur's first ring," Azariah whispered, extending his hand toward her.

The mark on Arianell's body glowed brightly, and like a planet pulled toward the sun, her body was propelled back toward Azariah.

Faye missed her heart by a mere second as she fell from the tower with Azariah.

"Amun-Ra's blessing: Sefīgá," Azariah whispered, grabbing Arianell and wrapping his arms around her.

She didn't have time to register what was happening, an absent look on her face.

Azariah closed his eyes, bracing for the impact that came crashing down the next second.

Boom!

"Argh!!"

Pain. Like hammers hitting his head. Knives stabbing into his side. Long needles digging into his hand.

He tried to open his eyes but found he couldn't.

More pain, all over, but spiking in his head, his ribs, his hand.

"Az!!"

A sound, a yell, made him calm down.

He groaned again, unwrapping his arms to let Arianell roll to the side.

"Huff..."

Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled sharply before snapping his eyes open.

His body ached with pain, but at the same time, the impact filled his mana reserves to the brim.

Adrenaline rushed through him as he stood up again, glancing around until his eyes found Christina beside him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, supporting him as he stood up, looking around at the hostile figures clad in grey.

"Not the best place to land," he mumbled softly with a chuckle.

"Shut up," Christina snarled, glaring at him before turning to the assailants. "Rest for a while; I'll take care of them."

"They're not the problem," Azariah whispered, looking up as a woman slowly descended, flapping her bat-like wings.

A portal opened beside him as a boy with black hair leisurely stepped out.

"Still alive?" Oliver asked, looking at Azariah with a light smile.

"Yeah..." Azariah whispered, glancing at Arianell, who was staring at him.

"Anyway, we've got company," Oliver mumbled, rubbing his chin and looking in the direction opposite the waterfall.

A silhouette was rushing toward them with killing intent so powerful they could feel it from there.

Azariah tensed up as he looked around until his gaze landed on Willis.

"Willis, come here," Azariah called out. He could only use a vampire's regeneration when Willis was inside the tattoo.

But Willis didn't budge, snuggling deeper into Olesia's arms.

"I'll take care of him," Olesia mumbled, holding Willis tightly.

"Tch." Azariah clicked his tongue as he nodded slowly, his eyes meeting Ashlyn's.

Even in such a dire situation, she smiled softly, waving her hand.

He returned the smile before turning his attention to Faye. "I'll take care of that vampire," he declared.

"I'll handle the other one," Oliver chimed in, glancing back.

"No, you're not doing anything alone," Christina interjected, shaking her head firmly.

"Then help me a little," Azariah whispered, stretching his body as he prepared for the fight ahead.

He moved forward, whispering softly, "Amun-Ra's blessing: Third Form."