"Maleficent!" Fabian called out his dark spear as slashed the deadly blood needles coming from all direction.

Samael and Stefan just unleashed their bloodfield, but with two of them being unleashed, needle-like blood was flying in a random direction.

​​

"Good riddance, Maleficent is trembling…" Fabian gritted his teeth as he chuckled. "... in excitement."

His eyes never went wide ever until now. A complete 180 degree changed. Before Fabian could act on instinct, Rufus placed his blade at his neck.

"Brother, I hadn't had a wink of sleep and those two had totally lost it," Rufus muttered under his breath, obviously not pleased, and was tempted to join the party out of frustration. "You and I need to get a grip. The duchess is the bearer of Lakresha, she'd probably heading this way as we speak. Get her out of here."

Fabian took a deep breath, frowning at the orders given to him. "But Maleficent is hungry."

"Don't spoil it and continue its diet." Rufus patted Fabian's shoulder before he squeezed it and gazed at his brother. "The duchess."

"Fine," Fabian answered as he flung his dark spear, repelling the needle-like blood coming in their direction at a speed of light. "Good luck in the mist."

Fabian cast Rufus an indifferent glance as he took a step away. However, just as he did, he froze as he turned his head back to Rufus. Upon laying his eyes on his brother's alarmed expression, Maleficent's dark shroud covered Fabian's arm.

"Now!" Rufus growled, and Fabian immediately disappeared from his spot. "My lady…!"

Rufus slowly set his eyes towards the two vague figures fighting inside the mist. His expression seethed in rage, as this was truly not the time for this.

"Your Grace!" Rufus growled as he trudged inside the wild mist, bleeding as the needle-like blood grazed him. "My lord! The duchess is bleeding!"

But Samael and Stefan were caught in the heat of their battle. They would have smelled it if not for this red mist.

"My lo —" Rufus abruptly halted as he lifted his sword, blocking an incoming saber from his side with the flat side of his sword.

"Silvia," He hissed as he shot her a deadly glare. "I'm in no mood to play with you."

"It's your royal highness, Sir Barret, Silvia corrected with a scoff. "What does a mere knight like you trying to do?"

"I hadn't had a wink of sleep for days, your royal highness. So, I hope you forgive me." Rufus apologized, but couldn't even conceal his insincerity. "However, this is an important matter. We can't let His Majesty dying now, don't you think?"

"Which king are you talking about, Sir Barret?"

Rufus didn't reply immediately as he raised his gaze behind Silvia, before swinging his sword up. His hand unhesitatingly grabbed her wrist, pulling her behind him as deflected the incoming needle-like blood — which was much larger — away.

"Your royal highness, I don't know what you're planning. However, we should put the people of the kingdom first before our greed." He shot Silvia a glare. "Wait until the truce is over. Blood will surely wash over the Capital just as you wished."

Silvia clenched her teeth before she reluctantly drew her saber back. "The bearers of the Divine Order and my brothers will stop Stefan, you handle Hell yourself."

"No one else can handle him, anyway."

Silvia merely sneered as she cast him a look of disbelief. But she couldn't deny it, because if any of them other than Fabian or Rufus approached Hell, the man would kill them, no doubt.

"You're still as arrogant as ever, Darling," she murmured before disappearing from her spot and returned to where she came from.

Rufus tossed his sword lightly, holding it with its point facing down. "What a trouble…" he trailed off as he narrowed his eyes, pulling his sword back, standing in a throwing stance before he threw the sword towards the two figure's direction.

With the presence of an incoming sword, Samael and Stefan parted as they hopped back. Rufus' sword immediately pierced the ground between them.

"What a superhuman strength," Stefan commented as he gazed at the sword's handle that was the only part of the sword that didn't go through the ground.

Samael nodded, proud at his knight. "That's Rufus for…" He trailed off as he took a deep breath.

"My lord!" Rufus came jogging in his direction. "The duchess!"

As soon as Samael heard Lilou's name and distinguished whose faint blood he was smelling, he snapped and disappeared to follow where the scent was. Stefan furrowed his brows as he closed his eyes briefly before they snapped open, with panic washing over his face.

"Lilou!"

****

Meanwhile…

"Sis, what's up?" Yul smirked arrogantly at me. "I never thought your blood had such a sweet aroma."

"Yu," I called through my gritted teeth. "Stop… I can't hold it for too long."

I winced as Lakresha's blade cut deeper in my palm as I tried to stop it from killing Yul. Things happened so fast and I successfully ended up cornering Yul, but I couldn't kill him.

The only reason I pushed Yul to this terrible state was that he didn't fight me with an intention to kill. I fought with Lakresha intending to kill him.

"You are ready to kill me just moments ago, sis," Yul recalled as that was true, but I changed my mind. I couldn't kill him, but Lakresha wouldn't let go.

"Yul, I feel like I'll lose my mind as well," I panted as I've been having these strange, dangerous thoughts of how I'd minced Yul alive. "I don't want to kill you. So, please… if you want us to start over, don't die in my hand."

My eyes flickered with pain and desperation as my hand trembled, blood dripping sounded so overly loud in my ears while I ground my teeth.

"I don't think I need…" Yul trailed off as I flung Lakresha behind me, clashing blades against Fabian's dark spear.

I watched as Fabian's eyes slowly widened as he whispered, "My lady, your eye…"

I grimaced. "Mister Fabian, help Yul…" my words came out meek, aware and confused at how my left eye changed from olive to a deep crimson hue.