Morrigan chased after the masked man. He was retreating while holding his chest. His pace was somewhere between running and walking. Black blood dripped on the ground as he passed through. Morrigan could feel that he was at death’s door. His mana was flickering and the blood he lost was fatal. Morrigan would like to the credit for damaging him but she knew that the wounds she and Ama inflicted were just catalysts.

The reason for man’s state was simple: Corruption. His soul and body were so corrupted with demonic energy that they were collapsing. Acquiring large amounts of an energy type at once, even one natural like mana could easily kill someone. And he was overflowing with one of the most malevolent ones; demonic energy.

Morrigan was glad. She was tired, exhausted beyond what she could describe. This level of exhaustion wasn’t something she experienced before. She wasn’t even sure when she last felt very exhausted. Her beastkin heritage coupled with her training and mana meant that she could walk for days before she needed rest. However, the problem was she wasn’t walking now. She has been pushing herself to the limit both physically and mentally since she first fought against monsters with Poyraz.

Her legs felt like heavy logs. Just lifting them off the ground felt like an impossible task. Her lungs burned. It was like she had been slashed by a hot blade. Her face was a shade of red and purple due to her lungs not being able to take enough oxygen for the strenuous movements she had to perform to attack and dodge.

Despite all that, she pushed on. Like a predator chasing after its wounded prey, she closed on. She grabbed the hilt of her daggers with both of her hands. She will put her dagger through a man’s skull the moment she catches on to him.

“I must save them… I must protect them…”

“I am sorry. I am sorry.”

The man talked nonsense as he stumbled. Morrigan wanted to scream and insult the man yet she knew better. She couldn’t waste her breath. Her muscles already screamed for oxygen. She gritted her teeth.

Out of nowhere, a cold wave of wind cut man’s path, causing him to fall.

“Reinforcements are here!”

An unnaturally cheerful voice rang out and Morrigan took a sigh of relief. Not her comrades were able to kill that giant beetle but they were also in a condition to help her. The exhaustion she was holding took effect with her relief. Her knees shook but a pair of familiar hands grabbed and supported her. She looked at the Amaterasu’s mature and reassuring eyes. Poyraz, who was on her left gave her a nod. Gökbörü imitated his partner and nodded. Lily, on the other hand, looked less tired than others as he held his swords, ready to fire another wind blade.

“I must give it to her. I must tell her the heritage. I must beg forgiveness.”

The man crawled for something on the ground in a delirious state. He was covered in mud. His exposed skin was all rotten and black. Morrigan felt only small amounts of pity for the man. She didn’t understand why she was feeling pity for someone who killed her kin and made a deal with demons but she couldn’t help it.

The pity she felt disappeared with a trace when she saw what the man was crawling to. It was her dagger. Her Father’s dagger. Morrigan nearly jumped to the man’s throat if it wasn’t for the small figure running to block her path.

“Stop this please!”

Morrigan knew her. It was the girl Poyraz brought. The shard of Calamity. What was her name?

“Larve! Why are you here!”

Poyraz growled with a bloodlust that made Morrigan’s hair stand up even though it wasn’t directed at her. She was also sure it wasn’t directed to Larve.

“You don’t understand! He is confused! His eyes! UH.. Uh…”

Larve was unaffected by Poyraz’s roar as she looked around like she was searching for something.

“He needs glasses!”

“Larve! You promised to listen to me! Now get here! That man hurt a lot of people!”

“I know! But I can help!”

Poyraz lowered his stance. Morrigan could see that he was planning to close the distance between Larve and get her.

“I learned this!”

She turned her back to them and faced the man. She extended her arms to the man. Poyraz jumped toward her and grabbed her. Morrigan expected Poyraz to jump back with Larve in his arms but that didn’t happen. Morrigan and others closed on to see what was happening.

Morrigan was surprised by what she saw. A water ball was forming on Larve’s hands. She was puffing like it was taking a lot of effort. Morrigan glanced at Amaterasu but she was frowning as if she was deep in thought. The water ball slowly flew to the man and washed him.

The blackened mask slowly cracked and fell off.

“W-What is this!”

Amaterasu loudly exclaimed while Morrigan could only gasp.

Despite not seeing him for years…

Despite the scars covering his face…

Despite the corruption taking effect…

They could recognize the face. How could they not? He was their mentor, their family, their friend.

“Grandpa Adonis, why?”

Morrigan’s voice cracked. She felt as if thousands of broken glass shards filled her throat. Adonis slowly raised his head to look at them.

“Little ones? You grew up?”

Red tears flowed down from his face. He looked at his hands, then his body.

“I see. I was weak. It took advantage of my weakness.”

He looked at an unseen being.

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“My eyes are open now. I won’t listen to you.”

He raised the dagger as he bowed his head.

“I am sorry little ones. I am so sorry. It was all my fault. Your parent’s death… If it wasn’t for my naivety that we can live with humans they wouldn’t be dead right now.”

Morrigan took a step forward. She stood tall without Amaterasu’s support.

“Raise your head.”

She ordered.

“I can’t face with you. Please. Punish me.”

“I said raised your head! As Morrigan Blackclaw, I am giving you an order!”

Adonis raised his head and looked at Morrigan.

“I know that humans betrayed us. However, it wasn’t your fault. It was just an evil action taken by a group of humans. It was their fault. Also, your ideals weren’t naive at all. Look at us.”

Adonis looked at Lily and Poyraz standing together with Morrigan and Amaterasu.

“We are carrying your will and ideals just like we carry our parent’s and ancestor’s. So, please don’t badmouth yourself, Grandpa.”

Morrigan’s eyes filled with tears.

“But how are you in this state, Grandpa? How can you make deals with demons?”

Amaterasu asked, sounding betrayed.

“I was weak. On death’s door. My mind was shattered with guilt and pain. It took advantage of me. Oh, Ancestors and poor souls. Please forgive me. The things I have done…”

Adonis groaned in pure anguish. Amaterasu covered her face with her hand to hide her tears.

“Kill me. Little one’s help awakened but it was still inside of me. It is clawing and screaming to get out. I know the burden I am putting you through but please.”

Adonis raised the dagger higher.

“If you die now your soul will be taken by demons! I can’t allow that!”

Amaterasu shouted. Adonis shook his head.

“I am already dead little one. The only reason I can stand is demonic force. I am just a Revenant made from the memories and body of the man you knew. My body will fall apart without it. Please, before it uses me to hurt more people kill me.”

“But what about your soul?”

Amaterasu fell on her knees and shook the man.

“It is my punishment. I deserve it after allowing myself to be corrupted like th-“

“Uhum.”

Poyraz cleared his throat.

“I am sorry but I will not allow it. I am the Champion of Aliera and this is the Sacred Sword of Selection. I will purify your soul and send it to the place it belongs, not to hell.”

Morrigan and Amaterasu turned to Poyraz with hopeful eyes. Adonis looked at Poyraz and then to his granddaughters.

“I see. I see that you succeeded where I failed. I couldn’t be more proud. Thank you, Champion of the Star. Please, help them.”

Poyraz nodded silently as he raised his sword.

“But we…”

Morrigan was about to protest but Adonis shook his head.

“I know you want to say goodbye but we have to hurry. I won’t be able to hold it any longer. Its voice is getting louder.”

Black veins popped all around Adonis’s body as he started to shake. Lily took Larve in his arms and turned around despite her protests. She was too young and pure to fully understand what was happening. Poyraz looked at Morrigan and Amaterasu and waited for them to look away but they didn’t. Poyraz took a deep breath. If it was their decision to witness it, he had no choice but to respect it.

“I will make it quick and painless.”

He raised his sword but just as he was about to behead Adonis a black shield formed around him. He took a step back, the divine force inside him making him react without his will.

“Tch, thc.”

He heard someone click his tongue in a mocking manner.

“What a shame. At least I will get to meet with the Champion of Aliera.”

Adonis fell to the ground, shaking and screaming uncontrollably. Morrigan and Amaterasu tried to move forward but Poyraz stopped them by stretching his hand.

"Stop! Don't come closer! Step away."

Amaterasu pulled Morrigan back even though she was as worried as her friend. However, as a mage, she had to be calm and collected.

"Hello, Poyraz Karabulut, the Champion of Aliera, wielder of the Sacred Sword of Selection, Partner to Wolf King's Heir, Outworlder. I would have liked to greet you with robust wines, rich dinner, and countless courtesans on our feet but fate doesn't always give us what we want, doesn't it?"

Despite the silky voice implying hostility, Poyraz put one foot back and got ready to strike or dodge. His mind raced. How could this being know all of that?

Black smoke exiting out of Adonis's body took the form of a man. The questions only increased when he saw the man in front of him. He towered over Poyraz by at least a head. His skin was flawless pale porcelain, contrasting starkly with their obsidian-black hair that cascaded down to their neck in glossy waves. Poyraz's eyes met with the crimson gaze of the man and he felt inferior for no reason.

Lust.

Envy.

Submission.

Poyraz stabbed his sword to the ground. He then created a wave of mana but it just passed through the man and stopped but the same black shield when it was about to hit Adonis who was seizing on the ground.

"Is this a way to treat a fellow gentleman?"

Man laughed.

"I don't associate with terrorists and demons. Especially not when they have an aura of corruption."

Poyraz barked.

"Oh, sorry about it. You see, it is not intentional. It is just that mortals see their true desires when interacting with me. You can see it like the Sun warming up this planet. I am just existing and people are being affected."

"Bullshit."

For a second man's flawless face was disturbed by a frown.

"My, my. That foul mouth doesn't fit on a divine hero like yourself. Accusing me of trying to corrupt you without any evidence is also will only make you look bad."

Poyraz raised his body. His body language was reminiscent of a wolf ready to attack.

"I am not going to enter a battle of words with the literal devil. If you are trying to somehow manipulate or corrupt me, it is not going to work. If you are here to stop me from saving his soul, it is also not going to work."

Man put his hand to his chest.

"Oh, please. I am just here to have a little chat. Let's keep it civil."