"I beg your pardon?" Zero's voice oozed with exasperation. "Did you just mention y'all planning to make a meal out of me?"
Sol's gaze descended upon Zero, her expression cold as the grass withered around her. "Is that an issue?"
"Well, kinda?" Zero replied. The numbness was dissipating, and if he could muster enough strength, he might be able to teleport Menelik and himself to safety. However, Oiwa remained too far away. He lacked the mana and vigor to reach her as well. He'd need a different strategy. "Give me a minute or two to regain feeling in my legs, and we can discuss this properly?"
Sol maintained her unwavering stare, her indifference palpable. "You're quite audacious, aren't you?"
Zero raised an eyebrow as he wiggled his toes, confirming his mobility. "Eh, I wouldn't label myself as audacious. I prefer the term... arrogant." Zero gripped Menelik's ankle and promptly teleported them both away, leaving Oiwa with Maeve and Sol.
Sol shifted her gaze from where Zero had vanished, then turned her attention to Oiwa. "Decisions, decisions, and it appears you weren't one of them."
Oiwa's lip curled as she pondered her next move, muttering under her breath, "Fucking dickheads."
Maeve took a deliberate step forward, her pace unhurried as she approached Oiwa. Kneeling beside her, she firmly grasped Oiwa's chin and drew her closer, her voice a hushed whisper. "When I give the word 'run,' you sprint as fast as you can."
Oiwa, initially puzzled, nodded in response. As Maeve rose to her feet and uttered the command, Oiwa wasted no time. She dashed down the hill, putting all her energy into escaping. However, her flight was short-lived. Just as she covered about thirty meters, Maeve unfurled her cloak, and a menacing demon hand shot out, seizing Oiwa and yanking her backward. Oiwa was swiftly pulled into Maeve's cloak, vanishing from sight.
Sol placed her hand on Maeve's shoulder, her aura exerting pressure that made Maeve's knees buckle slightly. "I almost thought I'd have to kill you."
Maeve shook her head, her eyes fixed on the faint aura trail left by Zero's teleportation. "I failed to capture them all. Would you like to kill me for my failure?"
Sol let out a scoff and a light laugh. "No, I don't believe that's required." Her gaze shifted toward the approaching eclipse. "They'll return for their comrades soon enough." She then turned her attention to the castle. "We need to move the castle, has Luna completed the preparations?"
"I'm uncertain, my Queen. Should I verify?"
Sol nodded firmly. "Yes, please do that. Meanwhile, I'll check on our little friends in the North."
"I thought Zus had already dealt with Taurean Village and the Lycans?"
Sol's smile was cryptic as she replied, "Oh, my dearest, I'm not referring to them. I wanna talk to the Elves."
Zero and Menelik materialized in the bedroom atop the Guild Office in Chańi, just South of Amapá and the looming castle. They landed with a resounding thud, and Menelik wasted no time in leaping to his feet. His fists pounded relentlessly into Zero's face, each blow causing Zero's head to snap from side to side.
"YOU." Punch. "STUPID." Punch. "PIECE." Punch. "OF." Punch. "SHIT." Punch.
Before Menelik could deliver another punch, Zero's roar echoed through the room, sending Menelik hurtling into the ceiling, dislodging dust from the rafters. He crashed back down, his glare fixed intensely on Zero.
"Alright, bumperton," Menelik demanded, "start talking. Where did she take them all?"
"I assume the Void," Zero replied, his gaze shifting toward the window and the encroaching eclipse. "That dark place she took us to when we battled Virgil's children things."
Zero rose to his feet, leaving Menelik to take a seat on the bed. Menelik didn't respond immediately, instead letting out a subtle sigh.
"What's the plan of attack?" Menelik inquired.
"Attack," Zero retorted, and in an instant, he teleported away, leaving Menelik alone in the Guild Office.
"I really hate him," Menelik muttered under his breath.
Zero materialized at the treeline, collapsing onto the ground and coughing uncontrollably. "Well, this ain't exactly a heroic entrance," he grumbled under his breath, reminding himself that he still had a ways to go before he'd be back to full strength. With a determined push, he hauled himself up, using a nearby tree for support, and took a deep breath before resuming his journey.
His destination was to the north, through the dense, eerie Amapá. Zero aimed to traverse it, or better yet, find a way around it. He had no interest in picking any unnecessary fights; his mana was running low, and exhaustion threatened to overpower him.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the silence weighed on him like a heavy cloak. No birdsong, no Willow Wisps' nocturnal melodies, not even the faint chirps of Flameflies. It was as if life itself had abandoned the island. Zero couldn't decide if it was the vampires' handiwork, leaving a trail of destruction, or if the creatures had retreated into hiding. He hoped for the latter, but recent events made him fear the former might be true.
Zero's mind raced, retracing the past three months, the events that had brought him here, and the uncertainties ahead. His original plan had been simple: reunite Varin with her mother and then set sail for the Kikimaru Islands in search of the elusive Goliath, the Gargoyle King. While he suspected it was just a tall tale or an ego boost for the king, he felt an irresistible pull to investigate. King Goliath was rumored to be the last person to visit Magic's End—a place said to grant a single wish without limitations, even the power to resurrect the dead.
A sudden snap of a branch snapped Zero from his thoughts. He swiftly pivoted to the left, narrowly avoiding a vampire lunging at him. In a flash, Zero summoned his trusty short sword, casting a radiant blue glow that briefly illuminated the forest. With a practiced transmutation, he converted it into a dagger and hurled it with unerring precision. The blade found its mark, turning the vampire to ash with a hiss.
Zero adjusted his stance, every sense now on high alert. He couldn't sense any immediate threats, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down, especially in this eerie, lifeless forest. His fatigue had nearly cost him this time; he couldn't afford any more surprises.
As Zero emerged from the forest, he found himself greeted by vast, rolling fields of grass that stretched out before him. The top of a nearby hill beckoned, and from there, he hoped to chart a course around Amapá. Though he had the power to teleport to Taurean Village, he knew it was a risky move. If the Lycans had fallen, arriving in their midst would likely spell his doom.
With determined steps, he moved through the fields. The vibrant green grass swayed gently in the breeze. It was here, amidst the tranquil landscape, that Zero noticed something peculiar—the Suns were no longer moving. It wasn't the usual cycle of day and night; instead, it was a perpetual twilight. That's when it all clicked into place. The vampires weren't just aiming to conquer Sidra; they had grander ambitions. They intended to eclipse the Suns and plunge the entire planet into eternal darkness. This wasn't a battle for one region; it was a struggle for the fate of all Arrithia.
"I beg your pardon?" Zero's voice oozed with exasperation. "Did you just mention y'all planning to make a meal out of me?"
Sol's gaze descended upon Zero, her expression cold as the grass withered around her. "Is that an issue?"
"Well, kinda?" Zero replied. The numbness was dissipating, and if he could muster enough strength, he might be able to teleport Menelik and himself to safety. However, Oiwa remained too far away. He lacked the mana and vigor to reach her as well. He'd need a different strategy. "Give me a minute or two to regain feeling in my legs, and we can discuss this properly?"
Sol maintained her unwavering stare, her indifference palpable. "You're quite audacious, aren't you?"
Zero raised an eyebrow as he wiggled his toes, confirming his mobility. "Eh, I wouldn't label myself as audacious. I prefer the term... arrogant." Zero gripped Menelik's ankle and promptly teleported them both away, leaving Oiwa with Maeve and Sol.
Sol shifted her gaze from where Zero had vanished, then turned her attention to Oiwa. "Decisions, decisions, and it appears you weren't one of them."
Oiwa's lip curled as she pondered her next move, muttering under her breath, "Fucking dickheads."
Maeve took a deliberate step forward, her pace unhurried as she approached Oiwa. Kneeling beside her, she firmly grasped Oiwa's chin and drew her closer, her voice a hushed whisper. "When I give the word 'run,' you sprint as fast as you can."
Oiwa, initially puzzled, nodded in response. As Maeve rose to her feet and uttered the command, Oiwa wasted no time. She dashed down the hill, putting all her energy into escaping. However, her flight was short-lived. Just as she covered about thirty meters, Maeve unfurled her cloak, and a menacing demon hand shot out, seizing Oiwa and yanking her backward. Oiwa was swiftly pulled into Maeve's cloak, vanishing from sight.
Sol placed her hand on Maeve's shoulder, her aura exerting pressure that made Maeve's knees buckle slightly. "I almost thought I'd have to kill you."
Maeve shook her head, her eyes fixed on the faint aura trail left by Zero's teleportation. "I failed to capture them all. Would you like to kill me for my failure?"
Sol let out a scoff and a light laugh. "No, I don't believe that's required." Her gaze shifted toward the approaching eclipse. "They'll return for their comrades soon enough." She then turned her attention to the castle. "We need to move the castle, has Luna completed the preparations?"
"I'm uncertain, my Queen. Should I verify?"
Sol nodded firmly. "Yes, please do that. Meanwhile, I'll check on our little friends in the North."
"I thought Zus had already dealt with Taurean Village and the Lycans?"
Sol's smile was cryptic as she replied, "Oh, my dearest, I'm not referring to them. I wanna talk to the Elves."
Zero and Menelik materialized in the bedroom atop the Guild Office in Chańi, just South of Amapá and the looming castle. They landed with a resounding thud, and Menelik wasted no time in leaping to his feet. His fists pounded relentlessly into Zero's face, each blow causing Zero's head to snap from side to side.
"YOU." Punch. "STUPID." Punch. "PIECE." Punch. "OF." Punch. "SHIT." Punch.
Before Menelik could deliver another punch, Zero's roar echoed through the room, sending Menelik hurtling into the ceiling, dislodging dust from the rafters. He crashed back down, his glare fixed intensely on Zero.
"Alright, bumperton," Menelik demanded, "start talking. Where did she take them all?"
"I assume the Void," Zero replied, his gaze shifting toward the window and the encroaching eclipse. "That dark place she took us to when we battled Virgil's children things."
Zero rose to his feet, leaving Menelik to take a seat on the bed. Menelik didn't respond immediately, instead letting out a subtle sigh.
"What's the plan of attack?" Menelik inquired.
"Attack," Zero retorted, and in an instant, he teleported away, leaving Menelik alone in the Guild Office.
"I really hate him," Menelik muttered under his breath.
Zero materialized at the treeline, collapsing onto the ground and coughing uncontrollably. "Well, this ain't exactly a heroic entrance," he grumbled under his breath, reminding himself that he still had a ways to go before he'd be back to full strength. With a determined push, he hauled himself up, using a nearby tree for support, and took a deep breath before resuming his journey.
His destination was to the north, through the dense, eerie Amapá. Zero aimed to traverse it, or better yet, find a way around it. He had no interest in picking any unnecessary fights; his mana was running low, and exhaustion threatened to overpower him.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the silence weighed on him like a heavy cloak. No birdsong, no Willow Wisps' nocturnal melodies, not even the faint chirps of Flameflies. It was as if life itself had abandoned the island. Zero couldn't decide if it was the vampires' handiwork, leaving a trail of destruction, or if the creatures had retreated into hiding. He hoped for the latter, but recent events made him fear the former might be true.
Zero's mind raced, retracing the past three months, the events that had brought him here, and the uncertainties ahead. His original plan had been simple: reunite Varin with her mother and then set sail for the Kikimaru Islands in search of the elusive Goliath, the Gargoyle King. While he suspected it was just a tall tale or an ego boost for the king, he felt an irresistible pull to investigate. King Goliath was rumored to be the last person to visit Magic's End—a place said to grant a single wish without limitations, even the power to resurrect the dead.
A sudden snap of a branch snapped Zero from his thoughts. He swiftly pivoted to the left, narrowly avoiding a vampire lunging at him. In a flash, Zero summoned his trusty short sword, casting a radiant blue glow that briefly illuminated the forest. With a practiced transmutation, he converted it into a dagger and hurled it with unerring precision. The blade found its mark, turning the vampire to ash with a hiss.
Zero adjusted his stance, every sense now on high alert. He couldn't sense any immediate threats, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down, especially in this eerie, lifeless forest. His fatigue had nearly cost him this time; he couldn't afford any more surprises.
As Zero emerged from the forest, he found himself greeted by vast, rolling fields of grass that stretched out before him. The top of a nearby hill beckoned, and from there, he hoped to chart a course around Amapá. Though he had the power to teleport to Taurean Village, he knew it was a risky move. If the Lycans had fallen, arriving in their midst would likely spell his doom.
With determined steps, he moved through the fields. The vibrant green grass swayed gently in the breeze. It was here, amidst the tranquil landscape, that Zero noticed something peculiar—the Suns were no longer moving. It wasn't the usual cycle of day and night; instead, it was a perpetual twilight. That's when it all clicked into place. The vampires weren't just aiming to conquer Sidra; they had grander ambitions. They intended to eclipse the Suns and plunge the entire planet into eternal darkness. This wasn't a battle for one region; it was a struggle for the fate of all Arrithia.
