“Ria, let’s teach him a lesson,” he said with a clear voice.
“Yes, brother Rain,” Ria answered with a sweet voice.
Warmund’s eyes furrowed. “Those are my words,” he said, as he swiftly drew his blade. The wind screeched, and the snow parted ways.
Rain quickly moved forward, ducking his head and grabbing the sachet just before Warmund’s blade could touch him. A burst of light emitted in front of Warmund’s position.
“Walnut Head, go die,” a pretty voice but coated with ginger. Light arrow flew fast.
Warmund instinctively retracted his sword to block the incoming light.
Wang! The light arrow touched his blade, ricocheted cut his cheek, causing blood to seep out.
Rain rolled on the floor, then stood up and ran while tying his candy sachet bag around his neck. “Wow, Ria, your words are so cruel,” he said as he climbed the house.
Warmund was shocked. He touched his face and saw the red blood on his hand. “What is that, an arrow?” he wondered. He looked around to find who had caused his wound, but Rain was already running far away. “Where are you going?” he shouted as he dashed out.
Willna raised her hands to block Warmund’s way. “Warmund, you have already lost. Please give up and cancel the fight.”
“Make way, Willanna,” he scolded.
“No, Mundi! He is much stronger than you. You can defeat him,” Willna said, her eyes turning purple.
Warmund’s eyes grew grim. “Go away…”
Willna grabbed his hand. “Please, we can not lose you. Mother and father, let me look after you.”
A crimson light emerged on his chest as his eyebrows furrowed, and the blood veins in his hand throbbed. With a displeased expression, he extended his hands towards her and uttered, “Space—”
Swoosh! A light arrow hit his hand, burning white and cutting into his skin.
“Arrggghhh,” he pushed Willna away, gripping his hand tightly. There was no blood, but the pain surged through every nerve. Blood rushed to his eyes as he looked at the child on the roof. “You! Lowly Follower!”
“I warned you.” Rain’s eyes shone golden, his voice coated with the sharpness of an iron blade. “To be kind.”
“Get down!”
“I’m not blind. Your space detection is here.” Rain’s foot knocked on the front roof tiles. “If you want—”
Warmund reached his hand forward, clenching it. “Space Crush.”
The front house roof crumbled into a ball. Rain lost his balance slightly but quickly stepped back, free from the spell. “Oh, oh, oh. You have emotional problems, little Mundi.”
He dashed out and reached his hand out. “Space Crush.”
Rain agilely dodged it all. “Ha, ha, ha. Are you a grumpy kid playing with a toy house?”
Warmund swiftly attacked, trying to catch Rain’s agile moves, but he couldn’t keep up. He wondered why Rain’s speed was increasing.
“Oui, Oui. You’ve damaged all the houses. You have to pay for the repair costs, okay? I didn’t do anything, okay?” He moved to the next house roof and climbed on a rope that led to the castle wall.
Warmund jumped onto the roof and ran after him, a vibrant blade in his hand emitting a humming sound. The air gathered around his blade.
Slash! An air blade flew towards Rain.
Rain leaped off the rope, narrowly evading the blade. The blade sliced through the rope and continued to cut deep into the wall, leaving a big, scar-like slash on the pure white brick.
Rolling his body along the castle wall, Rain landed with his knees and summoned a light arrow in his hand. He swiftly shot the arrow at Warmund.
Wink! The Space Follower blocked the arrow with a slash, but another arrow was already on its way towards Warmund’s face. He tilted his head in an attempt to dodge it, but it pierced his ear.
“Arrrrgh!” He cried out in pain, but the pain was just beginning. A strange sound crawled into his ear.
“It’s your fault.” “You are weak.” “You’re just a kid.” “You’re a disgrace to Rexton.” “Again.” “Again.” “Again.” “Again.” “Why are you so stubborn, Mundi?” “It’s all your fault.”
His knees fell down on the roof, pressing both hands against it, causing the tiles to crack. “No, I haven’t done anything wrong.” The veins on his neck pulsed as he vomited up a pile of white grains.
Another arrow swiftly flew, slicing through another ear.
Warmund cried out in pain and howled in agony as the sound echoed in his head once more.
“It’s your fault.” “What have you done!” “Why did you kill your own mother!” “Bastard!” “Again.” “Again.” “Again.” “Again.” “Why are you so pitiful, Mundi?” “It’s all your fault”
He covered his ears, desperately pleading, “No, no, please.” Tears welled up in his eyes, his face dirty with vomit stains. He punched the tiles to regain his senses, then looked at the black child standing on the opposite side of the wall tower. His eyes turned red. “You are cursed. How dare you use that curse in our holy land.”
“It’s not cursed, It’s gleamed.”
On the opposite side, a beacon of light illuminated only half of his face, with bloodstains from the cold winter already staining his face. However, his eyes glowed warmly, like a summer breeze. Rain calmly looked at Warmund and spoke with a gentle voice, “What are you hearing, Mundi?” Rain conjured another arrow of light, causing his entire face to be visible, reflecting sadness. “Your father? or your mother?”
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“Do not speak to me, Devil!” Warmund shouted.
“Ah, so you heard your father’s voice.” Rain aimed forward, and the light sparkled, transforming into star particles.
Struggling, Warmund grabbed his sword, his hand trembling violently as he tried to hold it in front of him. The light on his chest changed erratically, all in a gloomy tone.
“Mr. Rain,” Willna shouted, standing on the road and looking up at Rain on the wall.
Rain glanced at her and said, “Do not worry, Anna. This arrow will awaken him.”
“Please, don’t,” tears welled up in her eyes. “He’s all I have left.”
“Do not beg for mercy from that Devil,” he said as he struggled to stand up, the light in his hand shining brightly. “I will kill—”
Swoosh! A golden arrow flashed and flew towards Warmund, taking the shape of a star brighter than any in the sky. It aimed directly at his chest, at his heart.
“Space distortion.”
Suddenly, the arrow disappeared from its target and appeared on a lady’s chest on the street instead.
Thud, thud, Willna stepped back, looked at the golden arrow on her chest. Her hand hung in the air, trying to catch it and remove it, but it passed through as if it was transparent. Unsure of what to do, she looked at her little brother. “Mundi…” But his eyes remained fixed on his enemy, refusing to look at her at all.
On the contrary, his enemy stared at her with wide eyes as his small hands quickly descended, his body rotating swiftly. Light on his face was so bright, it was a little dazzling, causing her head to feel blurry as her body slowly fell. “Brother Rain—”
“Anna!” Rain shouted, dashing quickly to catch her.
“Brother Rain…” Her voice faded.
“Space Crush”
Rain embraced her body and swiftly ran out. Suddenly, the ground beneath them crumbled into a ball-shaped hole.
“Bastard! Your sister is here too,” Rain shouted, blood leaking from his legs. Warmund’s attack had pierced his skin.
Warmund ignored his words. “You Devil must die.” He reached out his hand. “Space Crush”
Rain ran quickly, dodging all the attacks as he veered left and right. However, due to his unstable legs and the lady in his arms, his movements became staggered. The broken floor trapped his leg.
Suddenly, a blade flew towards him. Warmund had already appeared in front of him.
Rain stopped and dashed back. He’s fast, but not fast enough. The sword’s path continued to cut through Willna’s back. Reacting swiftly, he twisted his body to intercept the blade instead.
Slash! Red blood sprayed, staining the snow.
Rain held Willna’s body tightly. Both of them were sent flying by the impact, sliding across the snowfield.
Rain quickly turned to look at the lady next to him. “Anna, are you okay?” His eyes widened with shock and concern. He gently touched her face, noticing the red blood. Fortunately for him, it was his blood that sprayed onto her face.
The warmth of his blood brought her back to her senses. “Ah, sorry, sorry, brother Rain. Are you okay?” Willa swiftly sat up, pressing her hand on Rain’s arm to stop the bleeding.
Rain looked at her with relieved eyes. “Thank Mother Earth, you’re still okay.” He gently rubbed her head for a moment, then stood up and looked at the approaching shadow.
Warmund’s body was hidden in the shadow of the wall. The white in his eyes contrasted with the red on his chest. Hot breath escaped his mouth, while white mana flickered on his hands.
Rain looked at him, his eyebrows lowering as his golden eyes shone brightly. “You crossed the line, Warmund. I will settle—”
Willna touched his hand, her hand shaking. “Please don’t kill him.”
“But he will kill you instead, just like he has done to everyone, Anna. His name has already become tarnished,” Rain said.
Willna’s eyes widened in shock, but she quickly shook her head vigorously. “Please, brother Rain, don’t do it, please.” A tear fell from her purple eyes and touched the snowy floor, disappearing quickly.
“Hahhh, okay.” Rain said as he looked at Willna, “But This is his last chance, okay?”
Willna nodded with tears.
Rain sighed and retrieved something from his bag, then threw it at Warmund.
Warmund casually caught it. It was a pure white jade coin, radiating a bright white light.
“Warmund, keep it well. That’s your mother’s totem,” he said.
“Do not call my name, Unorthodox Follower.” Warmund kept the white jade coin in his inner pocket.
“Okay, okay, sorry, I’m lost. Call me whatever you want,” Rain said as he touched one hand to his heart, red blood staining his body. Another hand lifted up beside him. “Though I am weak in faith, I will accept this weakness and repent for what I have done. Blind by lost faith,” Rain said with a calm tone.
Mana particles fell out of his amulet, and the light in the area faded away.
Willna touched Rain’s hand and said, “I’m so sorry, brother Rain, sorry for everything.”
Rain sat down and patted her hand. “It’s okay, Anna. We will find another coin to trade, or use milk or cookies instead,” he said softly, patting her back.
“I’m sorry,” her head hung down as she looked at the floor.
Warmund was not pleased with the scene in front of him. His big sister, who often followed him, was now in the hands of someone else. Furthermore, she called him ‘brother.’ That devil!
Gripping his sword tightly, Warmund declared, “We’re not finished yet.”
“What do you want?” A cold, icy voice pierced the air, causing the temperature to plummet and the surrounding snow to turn into frozen flakes.
Taken aback, Warmund stepped back, cracking ice, following his every move. The light on his chest turned purple.
Standing before him was the Blue Saint, her ice eyes fixed upon him. She asked, even colder than before, “Again, what do you want?” The snow halted to fall, stopped in the air.
Gathering his senses and summoning his courage, Warmund looked at her and replied, “Saint Aria, he lost the Scotoma Fight. He must obey my will.”
“You have already retrieved your thing,” Aria stated, as snow twirled around her.
“The Jade coin was originally mine, and he has already reclaimed his sachet,” Warmund responded, never blinking.
“Then?” Aria’s tone cracked like ice.
“Who is he?” Warmund pointed his finger at Rain.
“My follower.”
“Saint Aria, we all know that. But who is he really? His mana and skills are unknown to us. Moreover, his arrow skill is cursed,” Warmund clenched his hand, enduring the lingering echoes in his ears.
Aria remained silent, the snow swirling around her. The wind tousled her hair as her eyes fixated on the purple light emanating from Warmund’s chest, studying him intently.
With determination, Warmund tightened his grip on the handle of his blade and said, “If Saint Aria won’t disclose it, I will investigate myself. It is my will. Allow me to confirm his identity with the Holy Book,” his voice was stern and resolute.
Meanwhile, Ella watched from a distance, beads of cold sweat forming on her face. Clutching the black book tightly in her hands, she whispered, “Raccoon… What should I do? Which line from the codex can resolve this situation?”
The invisible blade formed on Aria’s hands, but a voice inside her whispered, “Aria, don’t worry, let him do.”
Aria swiftly glanced at Rain.
He smiled at her and nodded, saying, “It’s okay, the truth is the truth.”
Aria stepped away, not wanting to see that despicable follower again.
Warmund noticed her action, and his heart lifted slightly. “Let’s see who you really are,” he said.
His hand slowly lifted the book and pointed it at him. Willna grabbed his arm, apologizing. Ella didn’t know what to do, her hands clenching her skirt tightly. Rave and Ria stared at the enemy in front of them, their eyes shining with decision.
Jingle, jingle.
Finally, light emitted from the book, strangely turning crimson red. Its monotonous sound was strained, as if something strangled it. “Evaluation End. The End of world calamity tier. Red Witch, the Demon Lord of the North. Eternal Karmic. Annihilate the negative. All units of holy order unite the light to eradicate the devil. Regardless of a life.”
Rain’s eyes widened. “Faye!”
The Red Witch stood in front of Rain, saying, “Oopsie~ Darling, does that mean declaring war, right?” Her eyes transformed into vertical lines.