Chapter 37: Bad Blood
Don't think you can judge people based on first impressions. People have different sides to them depending on the situation they're in.
— Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
Light tore the veil of darkness as day conquered night.
Eloise wiped the sweat off her face, her breath still uneven. The morning air was cold, but her body hadn't caught up—it still burned from the strain. Training before sunrise wasn't discipline anymore. It was necessity.
She steadied herself, eyes narrowing at the horizon. Mt. Uthus stood in the distance like a silent judge, watching.
"You're slowing down."
The voice came from behind her—calm, almost indifferent.
"He has woken up," Eloise replied, turning to Lue.
"That has been three days now… tell me, why didn't you attend the Tribunal?" Lue asked.
"I decided that I had to use this opportunity to grow as strong as possible."
"You said he had a damaged mageroot," Lue pressed, leaning casually against a stone pillar, arms folded.
"Yep. He can use magic, but not as much—and nowhere near as destructive as before."
A brief silence followed.
"I'll be returning to Aurelia soon. King Anael—"
"Never mind it. I'll take care of issues here," Eloise cut in. "By the way, greet my parents for me."
She turned away, facing the three Thorne triplets.
_Swoosh_
A green energy lance formed in her hand, humming with compressed force.
Lue watched for a moment, a faint smile crossing her face. Then she nodded once and left the field without another word.
_Night time_
Eloise yawned.
She stared ahead, though nothing was there.
[Yggdrasil System]
Avatar: Eloise
Life Force: 1000/1000
Rank: Advanced Tier 1
Blessed: Three
A small smile formed. Progress—real progress.
"Who's there?"
Light gathered in her palm, expanding into a glowing sphere that flooded the area.
"So, the Vaciems have already taught you light magic."
The voice came from the dark—measured, almost amused.
Crimson eyes appeared first. Then the figure stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
A Spear of Longinus materialized in her other hand, its presence distorting the air around it.
"I'm Miguel Arcangelo III." He brushed his hair back, posture relaxed.
"Doesn't ring a bell." Eloise shifted her stance, ready.
"It shouldn't," he replied. "You, on the other hand… is very useful."
BOOM
An explosion tore through the silence somewhere in the distance.
In the next instant—
He was gone.
She was gone.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Multiple detonations echoed across Uthean.
Then—
Portals opened.
And an army poured through.
Lion C Guild
Nero stood at the balcony, eyes fixed on the sky now riddled with fractures of red.
"Is it them?" Rach asked, already drawing his daggers, one foot resting on the railing.
"I'm sure."
A stringless bow formed in Nero's grip.
"Theo, Mellissa, Jason—protect the civilians."
He bent his knee slightly—
Then launched into the sky.
Rach followed instantly, his speed tearing through the air as he collided with the incoming wave. Vampires, werewolves, nagas—cut down before they could stabilize.
Theo and Mellissa were already on field, but there were no civilians, only the shadow of something they recognized.
"Hm."
Nero inhaled slowly, raising his bow toward one of the larger portals.
Zing
A string of pure energy formed. He pulled. Released.
Boom
The arrow detonated on impact—erasing hundreds in a single blast.
"Branch Master…"
The voice came like a whisper carried by the wind.
Swoosh
Nero shifted mid-air.
Daggers sliced through the space he'd occupied a moment earlier.
He turned.
"This should be the third time you've attacked this county."
His gaze settled on her.
Scarlet hair draped across her face, partially hiding distant, emotionless eyes.
"If I'm right…"
He lowered his bow slightly, analyzing.
"You were part of the last attack."
The woman didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She vanished.
Slice
Steel met air inches from Nero's throat.
He twisted, barely avoiding it, and countered with a close-range burst—forcing distance between them.
Now the air shifted.
This wasn't a random assault.
It was coordinated.
And personal.