Marcel was fading in and out of consciousness, gasping and gargling blood stuck in his throat; he reached for his family. However, his helpless and weakened body failed him, causing him to tumble. As he listened to his murderer, his body was numb, and all he could do was watch and pray that somebody would hear his internal cry of plea. He looked at his wife. She was terrified, gripping Montclair tightly, causing a singular drop of tear to stream down his face.

"Holy king, midnight the first of our lineage. I beg you for your assistance; I ask for one second. One second access to your power to save our bloodline. To save the woman I love and my child. Holy King Midnight, master of the crimson moon and liberator of the Aeather, lend me your strength. I beg you."

Dark particles fluttered around the room, and the dark figure was preparing to kill his family. Marcel felt a rush of energy that shot through his veins like an injection from a physician. His body was hot but cool. His mind was light but determined. His heart was heavy, but now it was free.

The Dark Pale figure shouts, pointing at Marcel's family. He inched closer to them while towing Marcel by his long hair.

"No matter, my mission is almost complete. I want you to watch as I kill your last hope. Your precious little family," he gave a sinister laugh.

He then aimed.

"Die"

The dark, sizzling beam, with static electricity enclosing and coursing through its inner workings, traveled toward the family. Its mission was to kill and destroy.

However, to Marcel, it was as if time had frozen. The beam seemed to stand still, and the dark figure and its companions appeared frozen. A harsh bell rang in the distant sky, and as if an angel descending from heaven, a light blue figure called towards him, causing him to peel his head towards the ceiling.

A dark, blueish figure descended towards him in a matter of moments, its eyes glowing white as snow. Its arm radiates warmth like a hug from a mother.

It reached its hands towards Marcel's head, palming his face and whispering.

"My child, I have watched your sacrifice, and now you shall be rewarded for your actions. Save your child, but know your journey does not end here. It has only begun."

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Marcel's eyes opened, his nostrils flaring and teeth grinding; the figure had disappeared before he could utter a word. With no time, using the last of his granted strength, he pointed his hands towards his family, causing whitish light particles to emerge from the ground while everyone stayed frozen.

He then looked at the figure whose face was more brightly lit up. He had a craving on his pale forehead.

"Necromancer," he whispered to himself.

Extending his palm and figure out, he chanted.

"Second configuration, Crimson moon."

As if responding to his triumphant recovery, time unfroze itself. Before the beam landed its mark, the family vanished, leaving behind a slew of dust particles and Marcel. In place of Mary, there was a gaping hole whose boundary was sizzling hot. The hole not only obliterated the wall of the house but extended to the faraway distant housing and infrastructure. Describing the aftermath would be like trying to map the ocean's waves, but know this: the streets were blood red that night.

Necromancer's eye twitched. He mechanically turned his crusted neck, glaring at Marcel.

" Ughhhh, you really could not have made my job easier; I really wanted to retire with this job."

He palmed his face, smearing some of marcels blood on his hair. He gave a nervous laugh.

" Did you really think you accomplished something? You only but him a couple years at most; he will find him, and when he does, ohhh, man, you will beg me to end your son's life." He snapped at the other figures, and they instantly vanished, leaving no trace of their existence.

" He will be safe, that's all I care about. I die knowing I didn't fail again," Marcel mumbled, gasping for air.

As Marcel took his last breath, his muscles relaxed, and his heart slowed down, matching the sound of a silent breeze.

However, Necromancer kneeled down, getting on the same level as Marcel.

" Huh, death, is that what I heard you just say," he laughed uncontrollably.

" I mean, I wasn't able to kill your son yet, but we will make something of your pathetic life, he is coming, and failing him is not an option,"

Necromancer laid his hand on the gaping hole in Marcel's chest and gave him an eerie look. Then, like the withdrawal of a tide during a tsunami, all the blood he had last quickly stepped back into his body, even the ones on Necromancer's hair. And without a moment to waste, Marcel jolted up his body, which was warm and full of life.

"' Wha... What did you do to me," He padded down his body and coursed the scar and wound on his chest.

" How."

" Marcel, don't you understand this is bigger than yourself and that little organization you have," Necromancer spoke, twitching his eyes.

He slowly walked around to the back of Marcel, who still could not comprehend his own existence.

" I mean, I have done many jobs and have hunted men across the country because of money, for sports, political assertion, but.."

" What do you want with my boy," Marcel yelled, interrupting him.

" SILENCE."

Marcel became speechless, unable to utter a word.

Necromancer adjusted his coat. " As I was saying, your family's death was none of that. Marcel, the powers that be, the gods, or the divine, if that's what you want to call them, want you dead. I was shocked at what they were willing to do to make sure your lineage died. I don't know what about you, and that boy has them so scared, but he is coming soon, the leader."

" When he comes, at least he can see I have not fully failed him."

He straightens his hands and quickly strikes the back of Marcel's head, causing him to pass out.

" I really hope I get my bonus for all this hard work."