A few miles from where the cave was located.

Maxwell was addressing the multitudes of dark armies in front of him, they were floating in the air waiting for his instructions. "Alright, everyone, pay attention. You will follow Nostro and wait for his signal before you attack the enemies. No one attack without his signal, do you understand!" he said.

"Yes, my Lord!" the dark shadow armies replied in unison.

"You will wait here for the signal. I sent someone in that area to monitor their activities," Maxwell said.

Nostro and the dark armies' did as they were told. While Xenon and Lothaire are in the vampire's den unaware of what's going on and what their brother was planning tonight.

Maxwell left his armies... going somewhere.

~

Back in the cave.

Jegun addressed the elves. "It's now time for us to leave," he said and smiled to everyone inside the chamber. "Let's go!

He guided the elves towards the secret exit of the cave on the other side. The rest were already there waiting for them.

While in another chamber.

Zemeth and Ivy were locked in a deep embrace. "This is it! We are going to finally leave the castle tonight!" he said.

"I'm excited and feeling nervous as well," Ivy confessed her feelings, her heart was throbbing in anticipation.

Zemeth looked into Ivy's eyes. "I love you!" he said softly.

"I love you too!" Ivy replied and smiled sweetly.

"Let's go!" Zemeth said and hold her hand. They exited the chamber going to the secret exit.

A few minutes later. The crowd gathered near the secret exit of the cave.

Ramza, Simuz, Bhork, and Dredo were checking the surrounding areas for any dark armies. They found none.

"The area is clear, we can't detect enemies lurking nearby," Ramza told Zemeth.

Zemeth nodded at Jegun.

Bhork, Dredo, and Jegun took their position in front of the elves who already boarded their magic carpet.

Jegun looked at the king of the elves. "Let's go!" he said and they hovered in the air going to the place where the blazing barrier was located.

Agran was holding Ella's hand while Zemeth did the same to Ivy. The leaves were hovering in the air as well. Ramza and Simuz were following them from behind scanning the area around them with a hawk's eyes trying to spot enemies lurking in the dark, fearing an ambush.

A few minutes later.

They finally arrived safely in the area.

Ramza, Simuz, Bhork, and Dredo took their position in the front line, ready to defend the area from the enemies. They transformed themselves into their silver assassin uniform as their silver wings spread majestically behind their back.

Jegun immediately created the translucent barrier separating them from the boys. Then he waved his hand in front of him and the blazing barrier appeared in all its glory for everyone to see.

Everyone gasped in fear. The blazing barrier was like a massive wall coated with pulsating molten lava. It was a terrifying sight to see.

Zemeth holds the golden dagger in his hand and looked at Ella. "Ready?" he asked her.

Ella nodded her head and closed her eyes. Ivy holds her sister's other arm as Zemeth cut her arms, allowing the daggers sharp blade to cut into her flesh. Ella winced in pain and bit her lip trying hard to prevent herself from screaming in pain. This is not the time to be weak!

Done, Zemeth withdraws the dagger...and raised it above his head and waited for it to transform into a mighty sword that can cut the blazing barrier.

Agran quickly wrapped a clothe around Ella's wound to stop the blood from coming out of her skin.

"Huh?" Zemeth brows furrowed. Why the dagger is not transforming into a sword?

Everyone was staring at the dagger. Jegun was also puzzled.

Zemeth looked at Jegun, his spirits start to go weak in desperation. If the dagger won't transform into a powerful sword then all their preparations will go to waste. They can't leave this castle tonight!

"W-why it's not working?" Jegun asked.

Zemeth was shaking his head perplexedly while staring at the dagger.

Everyone was looking extremely sad and worried.

Ivy looked at the dagger and Zemeth. "Try my blood, maybe my sister's blood was already contaminated due to the poisonous bite given by the monster to her," she suggested and offered her arms to him.

Jegun nodded her head in agreement. "Just try it, Zemeth, nothing to lose..." he told him. Inside his mind, he was already losing hope, getting out of the castle seems hopeless now.

Their excitement began to plummet.

Zemeth holds Ivy's arms firmly and cuts her right arm using the dagger, a few seconds later, the golden dagger starts to shine brightly producing a blinding light. Ivy shut off her eyes to protect it from the blinding glare.

Zemeth withdraws the dagger and raised it above his head. Alas! The dagger suddenly turned into a golden sword.

Everyone cheered in happiness as huge relief washed over them.

Agran was already wrapping Ivy's wound with the piece of clothing he prepared especially for this scenario.

Jegun looked at the king of elves. "Get your clan ready, my friend!" he said.

"Okay," the king of elves nodded his head and shouted his instruction to his clan. "Get ready everyone, follow the formation!" he said as the magic carpet took their positions based on what they have practice inside the cave.

Zemeth didn't waste time, he hovered in the air and slice a portion of the blazing barrier, creating a square opening approximately 10 meters in width and 8 meters in length.

The portion of the blazing barrier that was struck by the golden sword crumbled into the ground.

Jegun shouted to his friend the king of elves. "GOOOOOOOO!"

The magic carpet that contains the king of elves and his family zoomed forward passing flawlessly through the opening that was created by the golden sword, more magic carpet followed at the same speed.

Meanwhile, at the front.

Ramza looked up ahead and saw the sky darkening as the dark armies of the vampires filled the sky, they were approaching the area at lightning speed. "Oh...no...we got company! Get ready comrades!"

Jegun made an opening of the translucent barrier that he created and Zemeth passed through it ready to fight the enemies together with his friends.

Zemeth and his men wielded their words and the fight began as the dark armies descended on the men in throngs. The scene was like a war between angels and demons. As the winged creatures fiercely fought the dark shadows that are tuning into ashes the moment their bodies were sliced by the swords of the Nephilim assassins.

"Ella, Agran, get in the carpet now!" Jegun shouted. He looked at the leaves hovering in the air. "What are you waiting for! Go now!"

The leaves flew towards the opening.

Ella and Agran made a quick dash into the magic carpet, Agran ordered the magic carpet to zoom forward, the carpet obeyed and they zoomed passing through the opening... outside the castle.

Ivy watched in happiness as her sister was already outside.

Jegun watched the blazing barrier starting to repair itself. "Oh no! The barrier is closing in!" he shouted at the men in front who are busy fighting the dark shadow. Damn! They can't hear him!

He quickly made an opening from the translucent barrier and shouted at the men outside. "Boys, retreat! The barrier is closing in, hurry! Let's go!"

Zemeth spoke without looking at his companions. "Boys, retreat! Go inside now and leave! I'm going to use my thunderbolt!" he shouted.

Ramza, Simuz, Bhork, and Dredo entered the opening one by one while Zemeth released the thunderbolt in his fingers, as silver lightning exploded in every direction piercing the dark shadows in front of Zemeth into ashes.

Zemeth entered the translucent barrier that was already weakening.

Jegun grabbed Ivy and pulled her into the magic carpet as they zoomed passing the closing barrier.

Zemeth flew into the opening one minute before it completely shut off.

His feet finally landed on the grass outside. Whew! That was close!

FREE AT LAST!

He was breathing hard and his eyes landed on Ivy. She rushed to his side and they locked each other in a sweet embrace. "We made it!" he whispered happily into her ears.

"Yes, we did it!" Ivy murmured as tears of happiness fall from her eyes.

Jegun roamed her eyes at everyone. "No one's hurt?" he asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Good! Let's just stay here for a while to calm our nerves and take a few minutes of rest before we go our separate ways," he said.

They glanced at the castle looming at the top of the hills. As the bright full moon above illuminated the castle, giving it a sinister glow. They can't believe that they just escape the forsaken castle! Extreme happiness and relief washed over their faces. Everyone was rejoicing in their minds. They all wanted to celebrate but dared not raise their voices or else they will alert the attention of the people inside the castle.

They rested on the grassy ground and calmed their nerves.

Then suddenly...a thick black smoke blanketed the whole area, sending everyone into panic mode.

"Huh?"

"What's going!?"

"What is this smoke!?"

"What's going on! I can't see anyone!"

"Everyone let's stay together. No one move! We don't know where is the enemy's location at this moment!" Jegun's voice rang in the air trying to calm everyone. "Are you guys, okay?"

"Yes, we're okay," they all replied in unison.

"Okay, stay where you are. I think the black smoke is thinning..." said Jegun.

Slowly the smoke vanishes, and finally it completely disappeared from their sight, as if it didn't exist at all.

Then Ella screamed upon seeing someone crumbled on the grassy ground, it's no other than Zemeth. He has a nasty cut on his neck, as fresh blood gushed out from his neck.

"Ivy...they took Ivy away!" he said and closed his eyes, his breathing was faltering, he was on his final breath.

"Where is my sister!" Ella shouted in panic, trying to find her sister among the crowd. Her heart was beating faster in her rib cage. She can't find her!

Jegun and the men rushed to Zemeth's side. Agran immediately wrapped a cloth around Zemeth's neck to prevent the blood from pouring out.

"Everyone...find out Ivy nearby!" Jegun ordered.

They scattered in all directions and began looking for Ivy in neighboring areas.

Jegun put Zemeth's head on his lap and hold the bottle of magical healing potion in his hands and opened the lid. He immediately poured the potion into Zemeth's mouth.

The king of elves stared at Zemeth's pale face, shaking his head worriedly. It's hard to believe that after escaping the castle, a tragedy took place soon after. The price to pay for attaining freedom was truly unexpected!