Chapter 129: Don’t Make Neros Angry
Their footsteps echoed loudly through the dark corridor.
Max was just half a step ahead, guiding the way without hesitation thanks to his enhanced vision. Chloe ran beside him, holding the cape with one hand... and gripping his with the other, tightly, so she wouldn’t get lost in the darkness.
"...I don’t remember much from before I woke up on top of you," Chloe said suddenly, between heavy breaths.
Max tilted his head slightly, not slowing down.
"What do you mean you don’t remember anything before that?"
Chloe frowned, concentrating.
"I was in my room. Calm. Safe."
Pause.
"I had taken a bath, after spending a good while practicing the language... I was getting dressed..."
Her expression tightened.
"...and after that, nothing."
She squeezed his hand a little tighter.
"The last thing I remember is standing... and then suddenly..."
She looked toward him, even though she couldn’t see him.
"...I was lying on top of you, on the floor of a dark hallway."
Max narrowed his eyes.
"...that’s strange."
Chloe let out a soft snort.
"That’s why I’m telling you."
Silence lingered for a couple of seconds, broken only by their steps.
Max thought. Fast.
The sect. The seven-pointed star.
Memories from the game. Mechanics. Enemies.
And then he remembered something important...
"...the one with the staff..." he murmured.
Chloe tilted her head.
"What?"
Max nodded to himself as he kept running.
"One of them fights with magic."
His tone grew more serious.
"That group uses a pretty strong sleep spell."
He clenched his jaw.
"But it’s not instant. It requires concentration."
Chloe’s eyes widened slightly in understanding.
"...then that must be the one who put me to sleep."
Max nodded.
"Most likely."
Chloe made a small face.
"...great."
She smiled.
"So getting close is a bad idea, right?"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"He could put us to sleep again."
Max shook his head without stopping.
"Don’t worry."
His gaze hardened.
"That guy is fighting right now."
He turned another corner, guiding her firmly.
"As long as someone keeps him busy..."
He thought of Elanor. Of how she had deflected that spell.
"...he won’t be able to focus enough to cast it."
Chloe stayed quiet for a second. Then tightened her grip on his hand again.
"...good."
Max felt a small shiver run up his arm.
He said nothing. But he noticed it.
’...focus...’
He knew this wasn’t the time to get distracted. Chloe couldn’t see anything. She barely knew the castle. If he let go, she could get lost... or worse.
It was necessary.
Even so...
His pulse sped up a little more.
Chloe, unaware, smiled faintly.
"By the way..." she murmured.
Max glanced at her.
"What?"
Chloe tilted her head, a dangerous spark in her voice.
"As soon as you see that guy with the staff..."
Her smile widened.
"...tell me exactly where he is."
She squeezed Max’s fingers lightly.
"...I want to return the favor for not even giving me time to get dressed."
Max let out a soft nasal laugh.
"...fair enough."
They didn’t slow down.
Ahead, the sounds of battle grew louder.
Closer.
Sparks of light. Echoes of steel. Magic clashing against stone.
They were almost there.
***
The clash of steel echoed violently through the corridor.
Moonlight stepped back again and again, blocking as best she could against the orc swordsman’s rapid thrusts.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG
Sparks flew with every impact.
"—tch!"
She frowned, barely blocking another strike in time.
But then, a body was sent flying from the side.
It was the orc with the boots. Straight toward them.
Moon’s eyes widened for a split second...
And she smiled.
"Good."
Instead of blocking, she slid to the side with a burst of wind beneath her feet.
The swordsman couldn’t stop in time.
CRASH
Both orcs collided with a heavy impact, completely losing their balance.
And before they hit the ground...
Neros dropped from above. Heavy. Furious, because they had broken the sword Sophie had given him. He crushed them into the floor. The impact shook the corridor.
The two orcs tried to move, growling...
But couldn’t.
Neros’s weight and strength pinned them completely.
The knight pressed one knee onto one, and his forearm onto the other, applying his full weight.
His expression... wasn’t kind.
"...don’t even think about moving."
Moon landed beside him, amused.
"That was cool."
Neros didn’t reply immediately. His gaze was fixed. Angry.
Very angry.
"...girl."
Moon tilted her head.
"Yes?"
Neros extended a hand without taking his eyes off the orcs.
"Take off my gloves, please."
He smiled.
"...I want to feel this."
Moon blinked... then grinned excitedly.
"Oh!"
She hurried over and started removing them.
"Anything else? Water? A chair?"
Neros shook his head slightly.
"...this will do."
Moon finished and stepped back.
Neros clenched his fists.
CRACK
His knuckles cracked. Then the first punch landed. Straight to one orc’s face.
Then another.
And another.
THUD—CRACK—THAM
Bare fists. No restraint. Each impact louder than the last.
"That’s for..."
HIT
"...my sword."
HIT
"...idiots."
HIT
But suddenly, a gust of wind tore through the corridor. Violent and abrupt.
Neros was lifted off the ground.
"...—?!"
His body was thrown backward.
CRASH
He slammed into the wall, his head hitting a painting that shattered in half.
Moon’s eyes widened.
"Hey!"
Elanor stood a few meters back, frowning.
"...that wasn’t me..." she murmured, realizing instantly.
The staff-wielding orc lowered his weapon slowly. The gem still glowing.
He had deflected Elanor’s attack... and redirected it.
And not only that, the two orcs on the ground stood up. As if nothing had happened.
A magical aura surrounded them. Bright. Pulsing.
The swordsman rolled his neck.
The one with the boots dusted himself off.
As if Neros’s blows hadn’t been enough.
The one with the staff smiled faintly.
"Don’t let your guard down."
His voice was calm.
"Remember your role."
The two nodded...
And their eyes locked onto Moon.
Moon tilted her head.
"...uh..."
But then, a hammer flew across the corridor. Spinning. Fast.
The orc with the boots reacted instantly.
CLANG
He kicked it midair, deflecting it.
The weapon flew back, returning to its owner.
But before he could react—
THUD
A punch hit him. Straight to the face.
Chloe’s steel gauntlet connected perfectly. The sound was sharp. Brutal.
The orc was launched like a projectile.
CRASH
He flew across the corridor and slammed into the far wall.
He stayed there. Motionless.
Moon grinned widely.
"You’re here!"
The swordsman tensed instantly. Raised his weapon. Took a stance.
Waiting to react to whoever moved first.
But he didn’t see what came next.
A shadow behind him.
Neros. Back on his feet. A thin line of blood on his forehead... and an even worse expression than before.
"Don’t get distracted."
His voice was low. His hand closed around the orc’s neck, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing.
The swordsman dropped his weapon by reflex. Neros caught it midair with his other hand. Examined it for a moment.
"...hm."
He turned it, evaluating the metal.
"This will do."
He tightened his grip on the orc’s throat.
"...I’ll have Frida fix my little sister’s gift with this."
And his gaze hardened again.
"...and then..."
The air around him seemed to tighten.
"...we continue."