Dean’s group was still running.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISH2EP8ioU
Larah was at the front, Dean a few meters behind, with Sark beside him.
"Dean, I don’t want to come too close, but your girlfriend is not right in the head!"
"Damn… She’s changing—into something evil. I don’t know what to do."
"Don’t you have special powers or something? Can’t you use them to make her normal again?"
"I don’t even know how to control them! I just hope she returns to her old self soon."
"You mean very soon, bro," Sark added.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbnNLf6tbb
He wanted to say more, but the sound of cracking ground interrupted him. A deep crack split the ground between Larah and Dean. Sark sprinted forward and stopped just before the gap widened. He turned back and bellowed:
"Come on, Dean!"
Dean understood immediately and dashed forward. With Sark’s help, he made it across just in time.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAOEExc8Dx
Larah hadn’t stopped. She hadn’t even looked back to see what was happening.
From within the crack, thick tentacles shot out, followed by a powerful roar.
"Dean, don’t wait for us! Go! We’ll handle it somehow!"19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkdAncqIpu
More and more tentacles emerged—dark blue and massive.
"Damn, how will we handle that shit?"
“Larah! Larah!”
"What is it?"
"Slow down!"
"We don’t have time!"
"You just abandoned Sark like that?! He saved us! He’s one of the reasons we made it this far!"
"Isn’t that what his mother wanted? To focus on the mission—to get to the White House? Even if people dear to us die! Isn’t that what I’m doing right now? If I go right at that intersection, the White House should be in sight."
Dean slowly approached her, his eyes locked on hers. They looked dark—hopeless. The light that once danced in them was gone.
"Where’s the Larah I know? I can’t recognize you anymore."
"Because you don’t want to. And it seems like you also can’t recognize the danger Hope is in. Dean… do you want to save Hope?"
"Yes, I want to! But—"
"Then follow me! Once we’re united again, everything will be fine. I know it."
She jogged off, and Dean followed, though his mind screamed.
(Dean: What is she turning into? Her eyes… Please, Larah, don’t force me to choose!)
At the intersection, they turned right. Sure enough, the White House was visible—still far, but within reach. To get there, they had to cross a meadow.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVsKf9oMza
The meadow itself was beautiful.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jcGbhGXdV
But the army of ghouls covering it was another story.
Two people stood in front of the ghouls. Larah recognized one instantly.
"Ezra," she muttered, face twisted with disgust like she had just smelled something rotten.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkF5XKso49
Beside Ezra stood Voltra. They seemed to be the last line of defense.
Unbothered, Larah walked forward. Only when Dean clutched her arm did she turn and ask,
"What is it?"
"Can’t you see the enemy?"
"Yes, I can. That’s why I’m going!" She pulled her arm free. "Stay here if you want. If I must, I’ll go alone."
And she did exactly that—her walk turning to a sprint, charging at the enemy.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpnsiobfgI
Dean hissed but followed her anyway.
Somewhere else
"Sadly, you’re not in a state to fight me, Seraphina," Bellrion continued. "I shall make this quick and kill you all."
"Wait, us too?" a priest asked nervously.
"It’s hard to distinguish between trash. So if you happen to get caught in the explosion, blame yourself. Blame your parents for giving life to you! I detest weak people. If anyone here is strong enough, step forward."
Nobody moved.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ0MkuJOEw
Only Seraphina tried. But even she faltered on her next step.
"What are you waiting for?" Bellrion mocked. "Transform! If you want to stand a chance, you’ll need your final form."
"...I see. You’ve reached your limit. A pity. So be it."
He raised an arm toward the heavens. Above him, a swirling orb of flames gathered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ2m9ymNx1
He hadn’t even launched it yet, but buildings began to melt. Clothes caught fire. Skin turned red.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ElAG0dNS
It wasn’t hot anymore—it was blazing.
"Everyone, gather behind me!" Seraphina yelled. The soldiers rushed to her.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjeRsWZLbB
"When he attacks, I’ll take it head-on. Use that chance to escape. Do not fight him! Never! He, Temphael, and a few others are the strongest king candidates."
She grinned.
(Seraphina: And then there’s Abbadon… A monster in his own right.)
"Did you hear me? Run and hide. Don’t come out until he’s gone! Because he crossed over through a sacrifice, he can’t stay long on this side!"
"Long enough to kill you," Bellrion replied, and launched the flaming orb.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx34vq63t1q
"Now die!"
Just as Seraphina gathered her final reserves to block it, she felt a powerful presence.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEe4yadgvk
A strong one.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hUPC4GmKr
Familiar.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ44HkvH5S6
She rejoiced.
A snake made of blood shot from the clouds and swallowed the orb of flames.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg77lSfR9J
It evaporated, leaving the sky filled with warm mist. Bellrion swiped his hand and blew the smokescreen away.
"My flames were extinguished. Interesting. That was… blood?"
The owner of that blood descended.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq3BRW0H6v
Bellrion smiled.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaJJ2ZW2js
The soldiers cheered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pp3a5zAaq
Nicole had returned.
Tears streamed from her eyes—but they were red, not from emotion, but blood itself.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1cWvC31oZ
Her eyes were now black and glowing red, as though they had devoured blood.
"State your name!" Bellrion commanded. "You must be a vampire—but the strongest is Dracule. Who are you?"
Nicole ignored him. She looked down at her soldiers, locking eyes with the injured Seraphina.
"Seraphina… you used your body to shield my people. You have my thanks. Rest now. We’ll take care of the rest, won’t we?"
The soldiers shouted in unison, fists raised.
"Now to you," Nicole turned to Bellrion. "You’re not even bothered that I ignored you."
"Would you be bothered if trash ignored you? No—you’d laugh.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8arpUiOO2
Your scent... I catch a faint smell of the King of the Beasts. Hahaha… so you devoured him."
Nicole clenched her fists. Her rage flared in her voice, in her posture.
"Listen! Commander Nootra is gone. Before he left, he entrusted me with something. He entrusted his people to me!19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyzO5tf7sz
Yes, we started off wrong.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8xXIqusFP
Yes, we suffered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77xRltr8SF
We lost too many.
But now it’s time for revenge.
I won’t lie and say I’m only here to protect the world. That’s bullshit.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwe2aV9hAz
I want to tear these demons, these angels—these fuckers—apart!
And I will.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBqnCulDtx
I have one command for you, the brave, the remaining…
DESTROY. THEM. ALL!"
As if possessed, the soldiers roared.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaV2M1QjP8
All fear was gone.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtTAUhvrWG
They moved as if reborn.
"A skill of the King of the Beasts," Bellrion muttered. "His voice acts like a drug—it revives the half-dead into beasts. Interesting. A vampire… and a werewolf."
"And soon…" Nicole growled,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARL4MbU92D
"...a dead dragon."19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRh8FhwOMI
