Chapter Forty-Six: Blades Drawn

Black scythe and silver sword clashed again and again, our figures, Star Whisper and I, weaving past each other, separating, only to cross blades once more.

“Star Whisper, stop this! You’re not my match!” After parrying another of his strikes, I shouted at him.

“So what? Today, one of us must remain here—it’s either you or me. There’s no other choice.” Star Whisper’s voice was resolute, and his sword flashed toward me once more.

“Why? There’s no reason for us to fight to the death. Why are you so stubborn?” I couldn’t understand the root of Star Whisper’s obstinacy.

“Because you are of the bloodline, and I am a Blood Hunter. That alone is enough.” His words were calm, but his swordplay grew only more fierce.

“I don’t believe you. I can’t believe you’d raise your sword against me for such a trivial reason. The Star Whisper I know would never do this.” I looked into his eyes, my voice unwavering. No matter how cold his gaze became, deep within him remained the gentle Star Whisper I once knew—the blood flowing in his veins told me so, for it was my own.

“I am no longer the Star Whisper you knew. That Star Whisper died the day Xiaoyou perished. What stands before you now is nothing but a spirit bent on vengeance.” Star Whisper’s tone was ice-cold.

“Why? Why?” I screamed inwardly. As Star Whisper’s power surged, I could acutely feel my own blood coursing within him—infused with my magic, my lineage, my soul. Never before had our spirits been so close. I could feel his agony with every strike, pain behind every swing of his sword. “Why, when it hurts so much, do you continue to torment yourself?” I could not fathom it.

“Liliana, is this all your strength amounts to? How disappointing.” Star Whisper roared, attacking me relentlessly.

“Star Whisper, do you truly wish to die?” I could hold back no longer. I shouted, swinging my scythe in arcs of shadow toward him, venting my pain and anger.

“I died long ago. When Xiaoyou died in my place, that was the end of me.” Star Whisper’s own howl was heavy with resentment. I could hear the confession of his soul—the bitterness that it wasn’t him who died, the self-loathing for being too weak to avenge Xiaoyou, the hatred of his own helplessness.

“If you wish to die so much, then let me fulfill your wish.” My scythe vanished from sight in an instant, and when it reappeared, its blade was poised at Star Whisper’s throat.

“So this is the difference between us? If you truly fought in earnest, I couldn’t withstand even a single blow.” Star Whisper gave a bitter laugh. “So all this time, you only spared me out of pity? I don’t need your pity!” he screamed.

“Pity you? Don’t be ridiculous. What makes you worthy of my pity?” I replied with disdain. “Remember this, Star Whisper: the life you cling to now is no longer yours. Xiaoyou exchanged her life for yours. What right do you have to throw it away?” I shouted, my eyes glimmering with tears.

“You don’t understand. I wasn’t worth saving. I wronged Xiaoyou.” Star Whisper fell to his knees, his voice wracked with pain.

“Perhaps I don’t understand. But it’s not for you to decide whether you were worth it. If you claim you weren’t, then you’re saying Xiaoyou’s death was meaningless. That, I will never allow. If you still wish for death, I won’t stop you. But if you die before my eyes, I will feel nothing but regret for Xiaoyou.” Angry, I turned my back on Star Whisper, not sparing him another glance, and strode toward another battlefield, leaving him there, blankly staring at the sky.

“Liriel, make it quick—we have no time to waste!” I called to Liriel, who, together with Ashius, was pressing the Optimists hard. Though they were on the back foot, the Optimists could hold out for now.

From the ruins, I sensed a growing power—a monstrous presence was on the verge of being born. This force was beyond the measure of a Grand Duke; only from my father had I sensed such might. Could it be that the one lurking behind the vampires was not a Grand Duke, but a Prince? No, impossible. If a vampire prince were present, my father would never stand by idly.

Ang and the white-robed elder were still locked in combat, evenly matched and unable to overcome one another.

“Ang, let’s join forces and finish this old man,” I urged. We had to end this quickly; I had a bad feeling. If we couldn’t stop whatever was lurking in the ruins in time, disaster would surely follow. Gripping my scythe, I leapt into the fray with Ang and the white-robed elder. “Night Scythe Art—Nightmare Lotus!” I murmured, unleashing my ultimate move in hopes of a swift victory.

“Damn you, vampire!” With my sudden involvement, the balance was shattered, and the white-robed elder let out a furious roar as the tide turned against him.

“Night Scythe Art—Eternal Night Moonfall!”

As the battle dragged on, I felt the power within the ruins pulse violently, a crushing pressure bearing down on me. Growing anxious, I realized a single strike of Night Scythe Art would not be enough to swiftly defeat this detestable Blood Hunter elder. Gathering my magic, I sliced forth with the second technique.

Black shadows erupted from the ground, spreading in all directions, then stretching to the heavens, enveloping the three of us in darkness deeper than any night—the domain of Eternal Night. Within the gloom, a silver gleam flashed; the moon’s light, overseeing all, was the glow of my scythe’s blade, a radiance undimmed even by endless night.

“Argh! Damn it!” When the shadows dispersed, the battlefield was revealed. The white-robed elder, pinned by Ang, had failed to avoid my blade; a deep wound slashed across his back.

“As expected of an S-class Blood Hunter—to avoid a fatal blow even under such circumstances,” I praised sincerely. “Enough. You’ve lost. I have no wish to pursue you further today, but do not test my patience.” My words were cold.

“Damn you. We lost today, but don’t be so pleased. The debt you’ve given me, I will repay one day.” The white-robed elder snarled, gathering the Blood Hunters for retreat. As he left, I caught Star Whisper among the crowd. He glanced back at me, his gaze full of complicated emotion.

“Hmph! Lilith, why not finish them off?” Liriel complained.

“To kill them would be too costly. If an S-class Blood Hunter is determined to flee, we cannot stop him. Better to let him leave with fear in his heart than create a vengeful enemy,” I explained. “Besides, we no longer have time for drawn-out battles.” My eyes turned toward the ruins.

“What overwhelming magic… What’s going on? This power far surpasses that of a Grand Duke—has that accursed vampire become a Prince?” Liriel was shaken by the force pouring from the ruins.

“I am certain he has not. If he had, we would already be dead, and he would no longer have need to hide in the shadows. Now, let us see what manner of existence lurks here,” I declared resolutely.

“Damn it! Why did I fail again? I gathered so much power—why have I failed yet again?” Just as we prepared to enter the ruins, a thunderous roar of rage echoed from within.