“Hebimichi Kamae,” the boy whispered, inhaling deeply as he lowered himself, evenly distributing his weight for a perfect balance. Focusing intently, he directed all his aura into his legs, compressing it until a pained grunt escaped his lips, tightly coiling the compressed aura like a snake poised to strike. With a controlled exhale, he muttered, “Oshiyoseru.” Releasing his aura downward, he propelled himself forward with the velocity and accuracy of a striking serpent.

Elysian moved like a blur; his ability propelled him to the point that he effortlessly dodged the blood spears hurtling towards him. However, as he got closer, the intensity of the attack increased exponentially. Spears materialized seemingly out of thin air, their numbers multiplying with each passing moment. The deadly velocity surged even more, making it increasingly difficult for the boy to evade them entirely. Despite his absurd speed, a few managed to graze him, leaving him wounded and bloodied.

‘Sh*t! This is bad.’

As Elysian closed in on her, the spears materialized with alarming speed, seemingly multiplying before his very eyes. With his velocity, he propelled himself towards them, his momentum pushing him straight into their deadly path. With a pained grunt, the spears pierced his flesh, sinking into his shoulders and arm, threatening to impale him further if he dared to press on.

‘Damn it, this won’t cut it. At this rate, I’ll be a porcupine before I can even reach her. If I use another ability, I’ll drain all my energy and end up with aura exhaustion, and then I’m done.

Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!

Do I even have a choice? If I back off now, I won’t have the energy to launch another assault.

F*ck! I’m screwed. Really screwed!’

When he saw the wall of spears, Elysian quickly realized that it was impossible to advance any further. Left with no option, he gritted his teeth and muttered, “Hebi no Suikyō.” In an instant, his forward motion slowed significantly. Despite this, it allowed him to deftly maneuver through the onslaught of spears, his aura swiftly shifting from one leg to another with remarkable deft and precision. Allowing him to navigate through the relentless barrage, he danced between wave after wave of spears, his movements calculated and deliberate, evading the deadly onslaught masterfully.

‘I’m not fond of relying on this ability, more so in this situation; it drains so much aura. But I’m left with no other option. I just hope I don’t spend all my energy before reaching that cursed woman.’

However, as Elysian drew closer, even this ability started to fail him under the overwhelming onslaught of spears. They multiplied so rapidly that there was nearly no room for him to maneuver. Undeterred, he pressed forward since he did not have any choice. Desperation led him to make a risky move by allowing a few non-lethal spears to hit him in exchange for gaining precious ground toward the creature. Remarkably, his gamble paid off. Amidst the seemingly impenetrable wall of spears, he discovered a gap—a space—that offered him a clear path toward his target.

‘Finally!’

Without the energy for another ability, Elysian relied only on enhancing his legs, pushing himself forward with every ounce of strength. Suddenly, a cluster of spears materialized in his path. Rather than panicking, he remained composed, his expression as frigid as ice itself.

Years of brutal combat had sharpened his instincts, teaching him to face challenges head-on with unwavering resolve. Focused solely on his objective, he refused to falter, especially when it was within reach.

As the spears lanced towards him, he calculated his move with precision. With a swift, agile leap akin to that of a cat on the hunt, he gracefully evaded the spears. Suspended in mid-air, he concentrated all his aura on his right hand.

‘Fate, do you believe I’ll let you snatch this victory away from me? Not a chance!’

As he descended upon his enemy, Elysian’s muscles strained with the intensity of his resolve, pouring all his strength and will into this one decisive strike. Just as his fist was about to hit her unprotected head, spikes of blood burst from the creature’s body, ripping through his flesh with a savage force. They pierced his chest, lacerated his legs, and drove into his right arm, forcibly halting his attack in mid-motion, leaving him momentarily stunned and vulnerable. However, this momentary setback only fueled his fury. With rage as his driving force, he clenched his teeth and seized the nearest spike with his right hand, using it as leverage to pull himself closer to the woman.

‘F*ck you!’ the boy screamed, his words not aimed directly at the creature or fate but at anyone who dared to toy with him for their own amusement, whether they be gods or demons alike. With his left arm, he delivered a resounding slap to the woman’s face. Though lacking in force, it silenced her maniacal cry and laughter instantly, the sound of his slap echoing through her now silent realm. In that suspended moment, time seemed to freeze as tension rose in the air.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

‘Sh*t! I hope she’s not furious.’

As the suffocating atmosphere worsened, Elysian could only hang in the air, pierced by the bloody spike, powerless to do anything as he waited for his uncertain fate. Suddenly, the woman’s body started trembling as if she couldn’t control the emotions contained within her.

‘Yep, I’m screwed.’

BloodShade slowly turned towards him, her eyes filled with tears streaming down her face. This wasn’t the face of a woman overwhelmed by fury; instead, it reflected the anguish of a broken soul. In that particular moment, she was not a creature of hate and malice but an ordinary person who had suffered at the cruel hands of fate. Deep within her eyes, a sliver of sanity began to resurface, bringing with it the return of her shattered self.

‘Why am I always weak to these kinds of people?

Hmm… People? Human? She isn’t one, right? Well, to whatever entity, human or otherwise. Does it even matter? Nearly all creatures have emotions and desires.’

Suddenly, the blood spike melted, dissolving back into the lake of blood. Elysian fell back into the crimson pool with a grunt, the vile taste of blood filling his mouth. He wanted to curse and retch, but he was too exhausted and wounded to even complain. Instead, he mustered every ounce of strength still left in him as he rose to his feet, each movement accompanied by a grunt of pain as his wounds protested against his efforts. With melancholic eyes, he watched the woman, bearing witness to sorrow and suffering as tears cascaded down her cheeks, mingling with the crimson pool beneath her.

Elysian just stood there in silence, not because he was unsure of what to say, but because he simply didn’t want to say anything. Both of them were broken creatures, and he knew full well that words of sympathy would only ring hollow. Instead, he understood that the greatest comfort he could offer was his silent presence, reassuring them that they were not alone in their suffering.

BloodShade’s gaze shifted towards him; her expression was a mixture of sadness and pain. “What is that look in your eyes, boy?” she asked, managing a faint smile despite her anguish. “I don’t need your pity.”

“I know,” Elysian responded softly, kneeling in front of her and gently wiping away her tears.

The creature did not recoil at the boy’s sudden yet kind gesture; instead, she welcomed it, quietly observing him with a sense of curiosity and camaraderie. In his eyes, she saw a reflection of her own brokenness—a shared understanding of the pain they both carried within.

“I don’t pity you. How could I?” the young noble continued, pointing to his own face. “Look at me; I’m in an even worse situation than you.”

The woman blinked, studying his face carefully, when she noticed the blood, tears, and sweat that adorned his already unremarkable features, making them appear even worse. This sight elicited a genuine laugh from her, one she believed she might have lost long ago beneath all the pain and suffering she had suffered.

‘I know I’m trying to be funny, but is she enjoying this a bit too much?

Do I truly need to degrade myself like this? Well, two women did cry in my company tonight. Ah, what lengths must I go to simply make a woman laugh? Tsk. Whatever.’

Watching her laugh so hard, the boy simply shrugged, seemingly indifferent at first. However, despite his initial resistance, a grin spread across his face as he found himself drawn into her infectious delight. With a chuckle slipping past his lips, he surrendered to the moment and joined in her laughter.

They laughed together for a while, their shared mirth creating a sense of warmth and joy in the air. In that rare moment, nothing else seemed to matter except them and the happiness they found in each other’s company.

As the two were lost in their own world, BloodShade’s realm slowly began to revert to its former state. Although not obvious, if one focused enough, the broken obsidian pillars started to reform, and the lake of blood started to refill, drop by drop. Nevertheless, it would require time and a considerable amount of blood before it could fully return to its previous glory.

‘Hmm… Let's see.’

“You’re really cruel, you know,” Elysian said, snorting at her as their laughter slowly died down. “You keep insulting my appearance. I’m not ugly; I’m just ordinary. There’s a big difference.”

“Is there?” the creature asked, raising her brow while staring at him.

‘This woman.’

“Of course there is. There’s a huge difference. People like you, born beautiful like goddesses, can’t understand the little nuances that plague mere mortals like me and my ilk,” the young noble responded, sighing in exasperation. “Whatever. I don’t really care.”

“You don’t care? You seem pretty affected,” BloodShade remarked, chuckling at his frowning face.

“I’m not,” Elysian retorted, scowling at her. “As we all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It might be that you simply lack the refined taste necessary to appreciate the uniqueness of my appearance and the regal presence I exude.”

“You’re right,” the woman agreed, nodding at him as she pondered for a moment. “Maybe I just have exquisite taste and lack the necessary insight to appreciate peculiarities. Don’t worry, you’ll find someone who’s blind. After all, this is a big world.”

‘Did she just insult me? Screw you!’

“Quit glaring at me, boy,” the creature said in a cold, malevolent voice. “Or I might gouge that eye of yours.”

Swallowing hard, Elysian forced a smile, and replied, “I’ve only just healed my eye, and you’re already threatening to take it out again? Don’t you have a conscience?”

“I don’t,” the woman responded flatly before a grin spread across her gorgeous face. “Neither do you, so let’s cease these charades. I can easily see through your facade, boy. You should change that gaze in your eyes; it’s obvious. I know you’re just trying to lull me into lowering my guard and forging some semblance of connection with you.”

‘She’s indeed smart. Ancient entities like her are hard to manipulate.

I disagree with one thing: I have a conscience—though it’s cold.’

“Let's get one thing straight: I was honest and did not fake my emotions earlier,” Elysian explained, smiling warmly at her. “Whether you like it or not, we share similarities in certain aspects, though not in the face department.”

Chuckling at his words, the creature's gaze softened slightly as she looked fondly at the boy. “I know. We are both broken souls. And ruthless. So, drop the facade and reveal your true self, so that we can discuss business.”

‘Business… I like that word.’

With a nod, Elysian’s smile widened, stretching into a grin, while his warm eyes suddenly shifted, morphing into something cold and calculating. “Let’s talk business then.”