I had a very bitter expression as I walked away from the clearing.

That despicable woman…

She'd made me kill an innocent woman.

Was she just toying with me?

Or worse—manipulating everyone around her?

"It was not your fault." Amaya said.

"I did kill her," I replied, glancing at her.

Amaya glanced ahead. "I also killed people without meaning to. Is it my fault?" She asked me.

"Do you know what happened back there?" I shifted the subject.

"The Blood Moon Spell," she said immediately.

"The Vampire Witch—and the Blood Lords who serve her—can place people under that spell. The first step is simple: the Blood Moon's light shines upon vampires, making them stronger, and the Vampire Witch herself even more powerful. But the Blood Moon can also be used by the Witch—and by anyone who has received her blood—to seize control of a person's will entirely."

What kind of power is that…?

"How do you break it?" I asked.

"You can't."

I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at her. "…What?"

"There's no way to cut it off," Amaya said, shaking her head. "If you kill Rulana, everyone she's placed under the Blood Moon Spell will die along with her."

"You've got to be kidding me." My voice dropped to a bitter mutter.

So once they're taken… they're as good as dead?

"That is why it's a forbidden spell," Amaya continued. "The Vampire Witch seeks a new vessel—one strong enough to contain her essence. She needs enormous amounts of blood for the ritual, which she's been gathering for the past decade through her Knights. They capture people alive, drain them, and prepare the final stage of the Blood Moon. If she succeeds, she will cast it over all of Sancta Vedelia."

I was left speechless.

I'd read about her in historical records. That had been bad enough. But this… this was far beyond anything those books hinted at.

"Why?" I asked quietly.

Amaya's eyes flickered, her voice colder now. "Revenge. Against everyone."

My fists tightened until my nails dug into my palms.

She had to be stopped.

There wasn't even a choice.

This wasn't some distant threat I could ignore. If the Vampire Witch unleashed the full Blood Moon over Sancta Vedelia, the present as I knew it would be gone. The people I cared about might never even be born—wiped away by a world under her complete control.

I couldn't just shrug and hope the so-called Heroes would handle it like the history books said they had.

Because there was always the chance—no matter how slim—that my actions had already changed the course of events. That the future I'd read about wouldn't happen. That the Vampire Witch wouldn't die when she was supposed to.

If that happened… we were doomed.

I glanced sideways at Amaya.

Obviously, killing her was out of the question.

That left only one path forward—find the Vampire Witch's original body… and destroy it.

But before that…

Rulana.

She was first.

"So you mean the only reason you can't spot her is because she's hiding behind the others?" I asked, glancing sideways at Amaya.

"I can see her," she replied calmly.

"Then why didn't you bother telling me that woman wasn't Rulana?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, disbelief lacing my words.

Her crimson eyes flicked toward me. "Would it have changed anything?"

I opened my mouth, then shut it again. "…Well, right."

She had a point. Nothing would have changed. We hadn't even known who the woman truly was until it was already too late. Still, the spell she used had been dangerous—too dangerous to ignore.

"I guess you're immune to her spell?" I asked, though the answer was obvious.

Amaya gave a small, silent nod.

"As expected," I muttered under my breath. "What about me, then?"

The silence between us stretched, heavier than I liked. Finally, she spoke: "Humans are easy prey for spells like hers. Vampires are even weaker against it. The Vampire Witch carries the blood of Merithra—the Goddess who created us. That's why her influence over Vampires is so strong."

I blinked, taken aback. "Wait, wait. Are you telling me all the Vampires, and even her Knights, are walking around under her spell?"

"Not all of them," Amaya said, shaking her head. "Those who carry her Blood like the Blood Lords still have their own will. But many others… follow her blindly. They believe her voice carries Merithra's will. Some obey out of devotion, others because the spell leaves them no choice."

It was understandable. In war, power dictated loyalty. No one was going to hold a democratic vote on whether to obey her or not. And as always, there were good Vampires too—the ones who stayed quiet, powerless to resist, forced to endure in silence.

"Well, either way, I'm not about to risk falling under that woman's control. So if you sense she's about to use that spell, you'd better tell me first."

Truthfully, I didn't think I was weak enough to be controlled by someone else. Still… the thought of the Blood Moon Spell unsettled me. It was a Forbidden Spell, and forbidden spells were forbidden for a reason.

"I can make you immune, if you wish," Amaya said suddenly.

That caught me off guard. "Huh? Seriously?"

She stopped walking and turned toward me.

"Yes." She lifted her hand, fingertips brushing along my cheek before trailing lightly down my neck. "But I will need your blood for it."

I narrowed my eyes at her touch. "You're not just saying that to get a drink, are you?"

"You don't trust me?" She asked, tilting her head.

"I don't trust your thirst," I countered, brushing her hand away and continuing forward. "Anyway, I should be fine."

I wasn't entirely sure if I believed my own words. Still, I doubted Nemes would let me be ensnared by a random woman's spell. At worst, she would intervene.

"Just in case though," I added, "be ready to step in."

Her brow arched. "Step in?"

"Yeah. Try something if it comes down to it. She won't kill you, remember? You can use that to—"

-Spurt!

My words cut off as a sudden, wet sound echoed through the air.

"That is indeed… a good idea."

"….!"

My whole body froze.

I lowered my gaze in disbelief—only to see the gleaming tip of a sword jutting through my stomach. Dark red blood welled from the wound, spilling down the blade and dripping onto the ground below.

"Argh…!" I grunted, teeth clenched as fire lanced through my stomach.

I had nearly been killed. One breath too slow, one blink too late, and that blade would have torn me apart completely.

"You managed to move your body at the last second," a woman's voice rang out behind me, calm yet mocking. "As expected… you're the one who killed Lakalros."

I forced my head around despite the pain. Standing there was a woman with long, snow-white hair. Her crimson eyes glowed like two drops of fresh blood.

I didn't need to think twice.

That was her.

The real deal.

The true Rulana.

"Let him go," Amaya spoke coldly.

Rulana's gaze shifted lazily toward her. She smiled, tilting her head ever so slightly.

"Amaya… it's time you stopped playing games. Haven't you had enough sightseeing? You belong with us."

"Leave. Him." Amaya's voice sharpened, dropping to a dangerous tone.

A crimson aura began to seep from her body, rolling off her in thick, dangerous waves.

Rulana's smile vanished instantly. Without hesitation, she leapt backward, widening the distance between them.

I collapsed to my knees, blood dripping steadily from my wound. Amaya darted to my side. "Are you alright?"

"Y–yeah," I groaned, "just a sword sticking out of my stomach. Otherwise, I'm perfectly fine."

The pain was unbearable, like my insides were on fire.

"A–Arghh!" I screamed as Amaya yanked the blade out of me in one swift motion. "Damn it—warn me next time!"

I staggered, barely managing to stand, one hand clutching my stomach. My white shirt was completely ruined, soaked in crimson.

When I lifted my gaze, Rulana was already upon me.

Instinct took over—I raised my left arm in defense.

-BAM!

The impact was brutal. My body shot through the air like a ragdoll, smashing into a tree so hard the trunk splintered and toppled behind me.

Rulana appeared in front of me before I could even breathe. Her expression was calm, almost pitying. "Unfortunately for you," she whispered, crimson eyes flashing, "Lakalros was the weakest among us."

Her lips curled into a smirk as she conjured another blade, its edge glistening wickedly. She thrust it straight toward my face.

"Reflect."

-BOOOOM!

An explosion of force sent Rulana flying back, her body slamming against the ground in the distance.

I staggered upright, blood dripping from my mouth. My body screamed in protest, but I had no choice. I didn't even have Healing Vials left, and with a wound this deep, not even Fate could patch me up quickly.

Wiping the blood from my lips, I glared at Rulana. Flames roared to life around me as I summoned Anathemas Fire, the purple blaze hissing and snarling at my command.

"Get back, Amaya," I rasped out.

She gave me a nod and retreated without hesitation.

Rulana rose gracefully, smiling as though none of it mattered. She extended her hand, and blood swirled around her body like a living storm.

She was stronger than Lakalros—without a doubt.

"You couldn't beat me before," she mocked. "And now, in this broken state, you think you stand a chance—?"

-Spurt!

Her words cut short. Her eyes widened in shock as a white blade pierced straight through her chest.

Trinity Nihil.

She turned her head slowly and saw it jutting out from a mirror behind her—my reflection staring back, sword in hand.

"Now," I said hoarsely, blood trailing from my lips, "we're even."

"You—!" She gasped, fury twisting her face. She leapt back instantly, but I was already on her.

-BAM!

My fist crashed against her face, sending her sprawling across the ground.

"Arghh!" She cried, crashing against the dirt.

I staggered, coughing up blood, then raised my hand skyward. "Vysindra Burning Fireball."

A massive sphere of purple fire roared into existence above me, heat licking my skin. With a grimace, I hurled it downward.

The fireball screamed through the air, striking Rulana with a thunderous explosion.

-BOOOOM!

The earth shook, smoke and ash rising in a blinding wave of heat.

But when the smoke cleared…

Rulana stood there, her entire body encased in a blood-red barrier, not a single scratch marring her skin. The flames licked uselessly against the shield before sputtering out.

She lowered her hand slowly, crimson eyes gleaming with cold amusement.

"You're playing with dangerous flames," Rulana said coldly, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Let's see what you're really capable of."

She snapped her fingers.

At once, the red mist swirling around us thickened, dark shapes materializing within it. One after another, figures emerged—men, women, and children. They weren't warriors, not even soldiers. They were simply dressed in ordinary clothes, their faces pale, their eyes glowing with a blood-red light.

The missing residents of Natulen.

All of them… under her control.

"Kill him," Rulana ordered softly, almost lazily.

The villagers' eyes flared brighter, and in the next instant they rushed toward me as one, their movements jerky yet terrifyingly fast.

"Damn it all!" I cursed, summoning a burning blade of fire into my hand. My grip tightened around the hilt as I spun, ready to cut them down but then my strike froze mid-swing.

My eyes landed on a small figure among the horde. A girl, no older than ten. Her tiny frame shook as she ran forward, eyes glowing red, her mouth twisted unnaturally.

For the briefest moment, hesitation paralyzed me.

-Spurt!!

"Ugh!"

Pain tore across my back as a blade slashed deep into me. The hesitation had cost me. I stumbled forward, spitting more blood, my vision blurring as my body screamed in agony.

My face felt drained of all color.

My breath came ragged.

The villagers closed in, their crimson eyes staring without mercy. I gritted my teeth, forcing my body upright.

If their only fate was death, then I wouldn't waste time cutting down innocents one by one. The only mercy I could offer was a swift end—by killing Rulana, the one controlling them.

I clenched my fists, summoning Amunet's Hands to hurl myself toward her at breakneck speed. My body blurred, cutting through the crowd of thralls like a streak of fire. I raised my blade, closing the gap and suddenly, a blinding light smashed into me.

"Ugh!" I was thrown back violently, the force sending me skidding across the ground until my body finally dug to a halt.

Annoyed, I forced my head up, glaring into the sky. "What now?!"

Above us floated a man clad in radiant, golden armor, a gleaming helmet hiding part of his face. Every inch of him radiated power.

Judging from Rulana's scowl, he wasn't one of her allies.

But that didn't mean he was mine either.

His piercing blue eyes fixed on me. "Are you the Vessel of Samael Eveningstar?"

"Who knows?" I groaned in answer.

In a blink, he was gone from the sky—only to reappear directly in front of me. My instincts barely registered his presence before something slammed into my stomach like a hammer of lightning.

The air was torn from my lungs.

My ribs felt like they cracked under the sheer force.

"Ugghhh!"

I was launched backward, crashing into the dirt, the world spinning around me.

Faster than Rulana.

Stronger.

I coughed blood, struggling to lift my head, glaring up at him. "Who… are you?"

The man spread his arms wide, his golden armor gleaming brilliantly as the air around him erupted into violent gusts of wind. The very ground trembled under his presence. Both Rulana and I were forced back by the storm that exploded from him.

"I am no mere mortal for you to question," he declared, his voice tinged with both pride and disdain. "But since you bear the vessel of a Ymir's King, I shall grace you with my name."

He raised his chin, eyes burning like the sky itself.

"Zeus is my father," he thundered, "and Caerus… is my name."

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