Chapter 112: The Red Flag

Lena’s pulse thundered in her ears as the three men closed in, their sinister grins carving shadows into their faces under the eerie red light. The oppressive atmosphere thickened with each passing second, but she refused to falter. Her wooden guardian creaked beside her, its limbs shifting into a battle stance. The faint scent of fresh-cut wood filled the air, grounding her amidst the chaos. She clenched her jaw, knowing she had gambled everything for this single-use magical item, a desperate trade-off.

The scarred thug struck first, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee as he swung his club. The wooden guardian met the strike head-on, the impact reverberating with a deep thud. The thug grunted, his stance faltering, but before he could react further, the guardian’s arm morphed into a jagged stake. In one swift, mechanical movement, it slashed across his chest, tearing through flesh. Blood sprayed out in an arc, staining the guardian’s wooden form. The thug stumbled back, gasping, his fingers trembling as they pressed against the gushing wound.

“You bastard!” the second thug roared, charging with wild fury. His club whooshed through the air, aiming to crush the wooden warrior. The guardian pivoted sharply, parrying with its remaining arm, but cracks spread across its limbs. Lena winced, knowing her guardian wouldn’t last much longer under this onslaught.

Behind her, Julius advanced, his twisted grin deepening as he drew his short sword. His voice cut through the din like a blade. “You really thought that would be enough?” His eyes gleamed, reflecting the red glow that emanated from the ethereal walls surrounding them. The air seemed to pulse with his confidence, an oppressive aura that made Lena’s skin crawl.

Breathing heavily, she pulled two knives from her bag, the cool metal biting into her palms. With a swift flick of her wrists, she hurled them at Julius. He deflected both with effortless precision, the blades clanging off his short sword. His smirk widened.

“Nice try,” he sneered, taking another step forward. “But you’ll need more than that.”

Lena retreated instinctively, her back pressing against the eerie, glowing walls of the domain. Her heart raced as she scanned for an opening, but there was none. The red light from the flag bathed everything in a surreal glow, making her feel trapped in a nightmare.

“Julius, stop this madness!” she shouted, her voice trembling with both fear and defiance. “You’re only digging your own grave!”

Julius laughed, the sound low and menacing. “You think you can talk your way out of this? You’re nothing but a naive fool, playing with powers you don’t understand.” His skin began to darken, veins pulsating with a crimson hue, his muscles swelling unnaturally. “And now, you’re in my domain. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.”

Lena’s grip tightened around the remaining knife in her hand. She knew giving in to fear would mean death. With a deep breath, she steadied herself, locking eyes with Julius.

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Meanwhile, the wooden guardian struggled against the remaining thug. Its once-imposing frame was now riddled with cracks, splinters flying with each blow. One of its arms hung limp, barely attached after the latest brutal swing. Still, it retaliated, its sharp wooden limb piercing the thug’s shoulder, eliciting a pained grunt. Yet, it was clear—the guardian was faltering.

Lena clenched her fists, her heart pounding. “Stop this madness, Julius! You’re going too far!” she shouted, desperation lacing her voice.

Julius’s laughter echoed through the clearing, cold and detached. His gaze flicked to the blood-red flag fluttering ominously. “A mistake? No, Lena. Within my flag’s domain, I am a god!” His skin continued to darken to a deep crimson, veins pulsing with unnatural vigor. His eyebrows thickened into a grotesque unibrow, and his once-piercing green eyes were now an unsettling black void. The sinister red aura surrounding him pulsed with raw energy, making the air thick and oppressive.

Julius stepped forward, his hulking figure exuding raw power. He raised his arm, and with a final, devastating punch, shattered the wooden guardian. It exploded into a rain of splinters, scattering across the ground like broken shards of hope.

Lena stumbled back, her breath hitching. Her last line of defense lay in ruins, and Julius stood before her, grinning wickedly. His transformation wasn’t just physical—it was monstrous. She stared at the splintered remains of her protector, her mind racing for an escape. But deep down, she knew there was nowhere to run.

“You’re pathetic,” he taunted, stepping closer to her. "This town will soon be a place of chaos. No one will be safe. And when the Flower Princess returns, Reinhart will be hers again.”

Lena, her face etched in disbelief, glared at him. “The Flower Princess is a myth. You're insane if you think otherwise.”

Julius chuckled, his gaze chilling. “You’re the ignorant one. Plans are already in motion. You’ll understand soon enough—the Flower Princess’s power is beyond what you can imagine.”

Lena’s heartbeat drummed in her ears as the weight of Julius’s madness fully sank in. She clenched her teeth, adrenaline surging through her veins. This is my last chance. She bolted toward the glowing center of the flag, her eyes locked on its pulsating red light. Desperation sharpened her focus as she hurled another knife, aiming to sever its magic at the source.

Clang!

The knife ricocheted off Julius’s forearm. His crimson skin gleamed in the eerie light, the blade leaving nothing but a shallow scrape. "Nowhere to run," he sneered, his voice thick with malice. In two strides, he closed the distance, his muscular form radiating raw power.

Before Lena could react, a brutal swing connected with her side, sending her sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded across her ribs, her vision spinning as her cheek pressed into the dirt. She gasped for air, her limbs heavy, as though the domain itself was suffocating her. Darkness clawed at the edges of her sight, but she forced herself to push up on shaky arms.

Julius loomed over her, his face twisted into a cruel grin. Slowly, he raised his foot, aiming to crush her beneath his heel. Lena braced herself, her fingers trembling as she tried to crawl away, knowing she wouldn’t make it.

Then, from the edge of the clearing, a shadow emerged—a hooded figure stepping into the red-hued light. Their presence was commanding, their face hidden beneath a dark mask.

Julius’s foot hovered mid-air, his grin faltering. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by suspicion. "Who the hell are you?" he snarled, eyes narrowing at the intruder.

“What…? How did you get in here?” he hissed, his voice laced with confusion. The domain wasn’t supposed to be discoverable, let alone penetrable. Realization dawned on his face, and he sneered. “So, you’ve got a magical artifact, then. Bad luck—you’re about to join her in the dirt.”