Location: The Karsus Estate

The sound of footsteps reverberated through the grand hallway as the young man strode purposefully across the smooth, mosaic marble floor.

Despite the fierce storm raging outside, the soundproofed windows allowed only a faint murmur of its fury to penetrate the opulent interior.

Flashes of lightning pierced the darkness, their brilliance muted by the bright lights that bathed the hallway in a steady glow.

In the illumination, the serious expression on the young man's face was starkly evident as he advanced toward the imposing door.

His golden eyes gleamed with a hint of malevolence, accentuated by the deepening scowl etched upon his features with each determined step.

Restless fingers brushed against the ugly scar marring his left cheek, a stark contrast to his otherwise ethereal beauty.

"What are you doing standing there like a fool, Cyrus? Enter," commanded the cold, harsh voice of his brother from beyond the closed doors.

With a resigned sigh, Cyrus Karsus pushed open the ornate doors and entered the lavishly appointed office, bowing his head. "Your senses are sharp as always, Silas."

"I sensed your presence the instant you set foot in the mansion, Cyrus," replied Silas Karsus, fixing his deep black irises on his younger brother.

Silas's shoulder-length black hair, adorned with striking blue highlights, shimmered in the light cast by the ornate chandelier.

Unlike his brother, Silas's handsome visage was unmarred by scars. But his condition was far worse.

The barely audible hum of the motor filled the silence as Silas maneuvered his automated wheelchair toward the draped window.

The drapes parted effortlessly, revealing the tumultuous storm outside.

Rain pounded against the massive glass panes, while flashes of lightning illuminated Silas's obsidian eyes with an electric intensity.

"What is it?" he asked, his gaze still fixed on the raging storm outside.

Cyrus took a deep breath and spoke, "Our spy has news about her, and it is bad."

"Every piece of news about her is bad," growled the elder Karsus brother. "And now my day is ruined."

He gripped the armrest of his wheelchair, and a terrifying aura descended on the room, suffocating Cyrus.

"That cursed, half-blooded abomination destroyed my future as a warlock, along with my ability to walk," Silas spat out, his voice layered with ardor, causing even the resolute Cyrus to quail in fear.

"Not even the most advanced ardor medical procedures could repair the damage she inflicted upon me."

"She killed Mother and our youngest brother," Cyrus added gravely.

"Ah, yes," Silas responded with a dry chuckle, "but they are in a better state than I am. At least they are at peace in death, while I am left crippled, condemned to this damned wheelchair."

"You can use the exoskeleton that was made for you," Cyrus pointed out, massaging his head as if he had had this conversation many times before.

"I look like a fucking clown in that!" Silas retorted sharply.

"I'll ask Father to arrange for a sleeker model," Cyrus persisted.

"Father?" Silas laughed bitterly. "He abandoned me after the incident, deeming me unworthy to inherit the duchy."

"That vixen didn't just destroy my ability to walk but also stripped me of my mastery over ardor and strand. Now, all I can do is unleash my aura," Silas concluded, his voice heavy with resignation and bitterness.

"I should have impaled that whore while she still carried that cursed half-blood in her womb all those years ago," Silas seethed, his voice thick with venom.

Cyrus's eye twitched at his brother's relentless tirade. "Are you quite finished with yet another rant about your wretched state and that abominable half-blood?"

Silas swiftly spun around in his wheelchair, fixing Cyrus with a chilling glare. "What did you just say?"

"Exactly what I said," Cyrus retorted, his patience wearing thin. "You launch into these tirades every time I bring news concerning her. Now shut up and listen, or I'll personally see to it that you take a tumble out of that window."

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His golden eyes flashed dangerously in the flickering light of the storm, his scar lending him a terrifying countenance.

Silas fixed his brother with a steely glare before letting out a resigned sigh. "What news does the spy bring?"

Cyrus's expression darkened. "She has become a Reaper and is on the verge of attaining S rank status."

Silas narrowed his eyes. "She has one more year left, right?"

Cyrus nodded gravely. "Indeed. And it's entirely plausible that she will achieve S rank by then. And when she is free, what is to stop her from visiting us and finishing what she started four years ago?"

Silas's eyes glinted dangerously. "She can never touch Father."

"And what about us?" Cyrus's expression grew grim. "You are crippled, and I am only an intermediate A ranker. She will slaughter us like pigs."

Silas's fingers intertwined as he contemplated their predicament. "We must eliminate her."

The situation required delicate handling.

The Shield stood as a vital bulwark against the encroaching threat of the daemons. Any damage to the structure in their attempts to get rid of her would have dire consequences.

They couldn't send assassins disguised as Deathwalkers to the Shield either.

She had a very keen nose for assassins, and the no-killing rule inside the Shield would alert the AI, leading to the killer facing an army of seasoned Deathwalkers thirsty for blood.

Not even the hardiest assassin would want to face those insane killing machines.

Silas noticed the expression on his brother's face. "You look like you figured out a way."

Cyrus's lips curled into a sly smile. "Indeed, I have." He produced a glass canister from his pocket, its ends adorned with intricately engraved metal runes.

To an outsider, it might resemble an ornate soda can, but to Silas, it was unmistakably something more significant.

Silas's eyes widened at the sight of the canister. "Is that...?"

Cyrus nodded. "The wraith trapper, ready for use."

He held up the glass canister. "This device can ensnare a wraith in its ethereal form for an extended duration. The runes act as a lure, attracting the wraith as soon as it emerges from a daemon and securely imprisoning it."

"With this version, we can trap up to a hundred wraiths." He tapped a small cap on the top of the canister. "Release this, and the trapped wraiths will escape."

Silas arched an eyebrow. "You think they would possess her?"

Cyrus nodded. "Even if she doesn't get possessed, the wraiths surrounding her would tear her to pieces."

His older brother gave him a disturbing smile. "That sounds delightful. Send it to our spy immediately and instruct them to start filling it up."

Cyrus nodded. "Understood. I even have a plan to finish her off."

He outlined the plan, and a wide grin spread across Silas's face. "That is a good one! We could use a servant for this."

He glanced at his brother. "You better get started."

"Understood," Cyrus affirmed before turning to leave.

"Oh, and Cyrus?" Silas called out.

Cyrus turned back to face him.

Silas's expression turned serious. "Father must not know of this."

"Of course," Cyrus assured him before exiting the office.

Silas maneuvered his wheelchair next to the window, observing the intensifying storm outside.

Lightning illuminated his obsidian eyes as a malevolent smile played across his lips.

"Enjoy your life while it lasts, you vixen."

*******

[Back To Mordred]

"Are you sure about this?" I yelled over the deafening roar of the ardor rail guns, their relentless barrage pounding the battlefield.

Iris nodded, excitement gleaming in her bright blue eyes, her smile wild and daring. "Of course! This is going to be highly effective and fun!"

I stared at her, then shrugged. "Fine." With a swift motion, I wrapped one of my blood tentacles around her waist.

"Ah! That’s tight!" she exclaimed with a yelp as I lifted her into the air.

"Oops," I smirked, adjusting my grip before launching her forward.

"HEADS UP, YOU BASTARDS!" I bellowed, hurling Iris straight at the approaching horde of daemons emerging from the Tear.

As she hurtled toward them, Iris cloaked herself in darkness, her form dissolving into shadow.

At the last moment, just before colliding with the horde, she unleashed an explosion of sharp tentacles made of pure darkness, shredding the daemons into unrecognizable chunks.

I whistled as I watched the aftermath. "That was a thing of beauty."

"Can’t believe that actually worked!" Artemis exclaimed, landing beside me, her Yoyo glowing bright green as powerful winds swirled around it.

"It’s Iris, after all." I grinned as I watched The Fairy of Tenebris weave through the remnants of the enemy forces, her movements fluid and graceful amidst the chaos.

Artemis nodded with a smile. "You two make quite the couple."

I smiled back. "Indeed we are."

Suddenly, a daemon appeared right beside me, its daggers flashing as it lunged at my face.

Sparks flew as I stopped the attack with a blood tentacle, staring into the blank, swirling void where its face should be.

"I guess this isn’t the best time to admire my girlfriend’s insanity and beauty," I noted, casually pushing the daemon back.

Artemis shrugged. "Maybe not, but it’s kinda sweet."

"Really?" I turned to her, catching the glint of her golden eyes.

She nodded, smiling. "What’s wrong with thinking about love in the middle of a battle?"

"Huh. Wise words for a fifteen-year-old." I chuckled, then turned back to the daemon, my mood brightening.

"Now, about your heart… Let's see how black it is in my hands."