Along with that word said, the Crescent Saber flashed to severe Declan’s head. But it turned out Declan was still able to block it with the pole of his trident.

”Good, faking obtusity to make me underestimate you,” Calhoun said as he smiled frighteningly. “But I’ve grown bored. Let’s end this game by testing each other’s ultimate move!”

Calhoun roared. Suddenly his hair began to wave wildly like a torch fire. Smoke was puffing from his entire reddening body. He looked like a boiled crab. This is the sign of his incoming ultimate move.

Declan complied, “Of course, with pleasure!” His body began to glow along with his profusely emanating aura.

A moment later, both fighters charged.

Calhoun moved faster than his counterpart. That being an advantage for his ultimate move. He rotated his body left and right, swinging two to four slashes at every spin from unexpected directions. Sometimes he added combined attacks and acrobatic leaps that was hard to predict. His every move carried solid, thick dark energy. Anyone who got hit by it would suffer a hellish pain that creep slowly that any victim would wish for an instant death instead.

“Afterlife Punishment!”

Realizing the situation, Declan focused all his energy. “Path of Enlightenment!” was the name of his move. Strangely enough, his both hands were swung backwards. With splendid agility, Declan evaded the the black aura of Calhoun’s saber. When he entered Calhoun’s attack range his tri-pronged trident began to writhe like a white snake, strangling over Calhoun’s dark saber. Delicate yet strong, strong yet delicate.

Sealing the saber’s path.

Disrupting enemy's defense.

Finding weak spots, then…

Smashing towards victory.

Yet Calhoun’s savage move was nothing ordinary. His attacks grew in speed and frequency, flogging upon the enemy's defense from his blind spots.

And then, the two warriors exchanged slashes, stabs and blocks too many to describe. Only the clattering sounds of colliding weapons could be heard.

A moment later, both of them charged again after completing their respective moves. They landed behind each other’s back, with a distance about five steps from each other.

Staying still.

Frozen.

Who won?

Who lost?

At the same time, Maven was startled. She didn’t realize she was looking towards Declan and Calhoun. Suffocation and worry were stomping upon her heart, distracting her. Such was an absolute taboo in any fight.

As experienced as she was, Theana keenly exploited this chance. She thrusted her forks with full strength to Maven’s heart. It was impossible for Maven to dodge it.

Yet just an inch before the tip of the fork reached her chest, suddenly Maven rotated her body, evaded death with her natural agility as an elf. She instead counter-attacked with Treacherous Stab.

Theana reacted as well. She crouched and Maven’s dagger grazed her back. She screamed in pain, lost her balance and fell on her knees on the floor.

It was Maven’s turn to seize the chance and deliver death to Theana. Yet she only stood on the spot. She was groaning, her left hand was rubbing on the wound on the left side of her abdomen which was bleeding again. She passed her chance by a blink of an eye. Theana was already standing firmly and casually, caressing her blueish ponytail.

”Huh, don’t get cocky just because you’re an elf, little girl. Even a strong elf like… yeah, like your father ended up on his knees, No matter how skilled his was in the art of the sword, no matter how fast his natural regeneration could be, he still ran out of his blood, like a leaking wineskin. Haha, how satisfying view it was. And you, the daughter will give me that same satisfaction soon enough. Such is the peak of joy and delight!”

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Maven growled. “Joy? Achievement? So, you think destroying other people’s lives is just an entertainment? You're rotten to the core, Theana! A coward who dances above another’s suffering! Your soul is already lost, and likewise your man. You’re already beyond help! Therefore, let my dagger be the one to deliver the consequences!”

She then disappeared from sight.

Theana was aghast. She didn’t think her opponent will ever succeed in perfecting the forbidden art, Shadowless Wolf, this quick. Even Theana herself needed ten years to master it perfectly.

The Blue Snake then also vanished, trying to counter her disciple with the same forbidden move, which only the theory Theana ever told Maven.

Perhaps Maven was only being reckless to use it. Only in a direct collision the answer would come. Their clashes were unseen. Even the colliding weapons barely created any sound. Only crates and goods breaking showed the traces of their fight. Until they reappeared again in the middle of the room. Maven on her knees and Theana… lying on the floor.

Maven was holding her abdomen, bearing the pain from her fresh wound, a fork scratch that stretched horizontally around. She slowly stood up and looked to the left. She was terrified by what she saw.

Declan was faltering, his tri-pronged trident had been dropped from his hands. His body was bleeding all over, and there was a blade sticking to his neck. It was Calhoun’s Crescent Moon Saber.

Startled, Maven reacted instantly. She pulled Theana upwards, putting her dagger on Theana’s neck and tightly strangled her both hands.

”Ah.. it turns out you have lost… Thea,” Calhoun commented as he turned his hostage around towards Maven and Theana. “At first I wanted to simply finish this loser priest. But it seems like I have to use him first in case something like this occurs. Hmph, I hate to do this, but there’s no other choice. Hey, elf traitor, let go of Theana or I’ll kill this brat!”

Maven stared back sharply and shouted, “Think again! Your wife’s life is in my hands, now. You kill that priest, she’s gone. That way we’ll both lose something, won’t we?”

Hearing Maven’s threat, Calhoun gritted his teeth. He looked at the already weakening Theana, resigning her fate to the hands of her disciple who has already surpassed her.

Realizing Calhoun’s attitude, Declan seized the chance by striking his trident pole onto Calhoun’s saber. Not only that, the cleric also landed a crushing kick on his captor's abdomen and he bounced back. This time only Theana was being kept hostage, a very disadvantageous position for her husband.

“Damn it!” Furious, Calhoun charged anyway with his sabers. Maven was surprised, but it was too late to act. Calhoun had already buried his double-bladed saber through his wife’s belly, all the way so it also pierced Maven who was right behind her, right on her belly.

Quickly Maven jerked back, preventing the saber from going deeper into her belly. While not destroying any vital organ, the wound on the side of her stomach was pretty deep and bleeding. Maven groaned in unbearable pain. Yet what had transpired before her eyes was even more painful.

“You’re crazy! Y-you killed your own wife… just to get at me…!” Maven stuttered.

On the contrary, Calhoun smiled contentedly. “There, Thea, what did I tell you? Maven might be fast, but she has no talent to be a criminal. No way she will ever understand the core value of the Viperwolves, it’s better to die before the people of the law kill us. Should a husband and wife part ways, this is a much better way.”

With her face turning pale, Theana struggled to speak, ”Right, Calhoun… you are still… unwavering in your principles… That’s why… I love you and… willing to die for you…. Now I’m content…. to be able to die for you….”

The husband still showed his resolution. Not a single tear running down his cheeks.

His wife continued, “I have only one regret…. I have never been able…. to be a proper mother…. Calhoun, I shall go first… I’ll be waiting for you… with love…. behind the gates of hell…."

Theana LaSalle, the Blue Snake slumped, breathing her last in the embrace of her beloved man.

Still carrying his wife’s corpse, Calhoun walked forward with one saber readied, growling full of grudge, “Now, let’s kill this traitor, Thea, so you can torment her to your heart’s content in hell.”

Maven was powerless before the incoming death. She was already too shaken to even lift her dagger. Her vision started to get blurry.

Only her hearing was clear when suddenly she heard a yell, “You forgot, I’m still around!” accompanied by the sound of striking weapon.

Maven forced her eyes to see more clearly. Something bursted out from Calhoun’s chest, along with blood. It was the head of Declan's trident.

Facing his demise, Calhoun forced a smile. “Ah... I’ll be apparently the one… to accompany you, Thea…. I couldn’t avenge you, but at least… we’ll be together forever… I’m content… truly… content…”

The Golden Wolf, Calhoun Cavendier fell lifeless. His body befell Theana’s that both of them lied in hugging position, over the coins and jewels scattering on the floor.

Declan pulled his trident out from Calhoun’s stiffening and weakly declaring, “This is the end of The Viperwolves.”

Maven agreed. “Yes indeed. It’s finally over…”

Her feet, her body, she could feel no longer. She grew limp then collapsed.

Aghast, Declan rushed for his partner. “Mave! Mave, hang in there! Viavitali!”

The gentle light warmly poured over Maven’s body. It was the Great Heal spell. If being casted without interruption, its magic power could recover even a dying person.

By now, Maven was already too tired. She curled a smile, accompanying the release of the heaviest burden of her life.

The girl collapsed on the ground. Her consciousness grew faint, as did her vision.