Chapter 257: I had fun today, Mother of Dragons.
And as Lucian stared back at him, while his body worked tirelessly, trying to heal more than sixteen broken bones, three ruptured organs, and a large hole that had formed in his back—
Something began to sink into his mind.
His battle with Rhydan.
All this while, he had been comparing himself with Rhydan, constantly replaying their second battle in his head, the battle where he stood toe to toe with him.
A battle that gave him confidence that he could stand against beings like Varek and even defeat them.
But...
He had missed one crucial detail.
Rhydan fought him honourably.
The Wolf knew Naomi and the others were weaker than the people standing behind him. He could have attacked them, he could have forced Lucian to defend, he could have used Naomi exactly like Varek was doing now, heck, he could have done even better and ordered his companions to move as well.
But he never did.
Because they had agreed to a duel and Rhydan honoured it.
Even when Lucian gained endless Energy from Evelyn, even when he started pushing Rhydan back, the Wolf never went back on his word.
The Vampire, however... was different.
He had no honour to begin with.
So he continued targeting Lucian’s allies.
Another blood spear moved towards Naomi, Lucian formed barriers, Varek attacked him, Lucian turned too late and his body was sent flying again.
His remaining ribs cracked as well, his entire ribcage was close to complete collapse.
"LUCIAN!"
Naomi screamed, staring at it all with terrified eyes, not liking this one bit. But every single time she looked at him, Lucian glared at her.
His eyes repeated the same thing again and again, even as he coughed blood.
Then, instead of moving towards Lucian, Varek moved towards Naomi and the others.
That was when Isolde moved.
"KEEP THY FILTHY HANDS AWAY FROM THE BEARER OF THE—"
A blood blade almost took her head off. Lord Whiskers slapped her head, she ducked and continued her presentation.
"—FORBIDDEN STAR!"
"WHY ARE YOU STILL LIKE THIS!?"
Sabine screamed.
Isolde did not care. Her cards flashed, then suddenly—
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The ground surrounding Varek exploded.
Smoke covered him, Sabine appeared behind him with a dagger in her hand, stabbing towards Varek’s neck.
Or at least that’s what she tried, but at the last moment, a hand shot out of the smoke and caught her wrist.
"...fuck."
Sabine cursed.
Varek threw her body and she slammed into the wall.
"Ghah!"
Her dagger fell to the ground.
Varek then moved towards Sabine. That was when Lucian moved, forcing his body to stand in front of Varek.
Varek grinned.
Just then, multiple pieces of debris attacked him. The Vampire stumbled back. Even at this stage, he still wasn’t taking Lucian head-on.
Sabine scrambled back, using this moment to create some distance.
Her eyes observed the entire battlefield from a distance.
She stared at Varek, at Naomi, Isolde, then at Lucian, at the broken state he was in, then—
She glanced at the open corridor behind her.
"I... I think you will be better off without me, one less target to protect, no?"
She let out a small laugh, then, before anyone could turn towards her—
She ran.
Naomi’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Sabine!"
She tried to call out.
The Relic Hunter did not listen, she did not even turn around.
She just left.
Naomi couldn’t believe it. Surprisingly, Isolde did not show any reaction, almost as if she had been expecting this.
Varek tried to chase after the Relic Hunter. With his speed, catching an injured Human who was already moving like her back was broken wouldn’t take more than a few seconds, but just as he tried to move towards her—
Three large boulders appeared in front of him.
He stared at Lucian.
Lucian stared back.
He was going to protect Sabine.
Not because he cared about her. The instant she stepped away, she did not matter. However, one thing she said was true.
With her gone, the battle would be comparatively easier, so he would keep her that way.
"You are going to protect someone who abandoned you like this?"
Varek asked curiously.
Lucian did not answer.
Varek only grinned at that.
"How long do you think before the Witch does the same?"
He spoke as he turned towards Isolde.
Lucian did the same.
And Isolde—
She stared back at the two men staring at her, then she extended the hand that still held her flask.
’Even now...?’
Lucian didn’t know whether to laugh or facepalm.
But then—
The Witch poured the wine onto the ground.
Lucian blinked at that.
The drunk... was wasting her drink...?
...what?
And just as the liquid touched the floor—
BOOOOM
A vast amount of magical power exploded, more than thirty cards flew out from Isolde’s clothes, spreading all over the corridor.
The entire corridor began to tremble.
Varek’s smile disappeared that very instant.
His instincts screamed.
He couldn’t let her complete this spell.
This time, the Witch did not make any exaggerated poses or shout any ridiculous title, no dramatic laugh, nothing.
She only stared at the Vampire with terrifyingly cold eyes.
Lucian stared at her.
For the first time—
He could see it.
The heir of the Blackthorn Circle.
"Lucian."
She called.
"Keep him here."
She commanded.
And Lucian showed a big smile.
"With pleasure."
Varek moved immediately, his instincts flaring strongly as the Witch completed her spell. He needed to kill the Witch before she completed it.
Lucian moved to stop him, forming about thirty barriers right in front of him. Varek smashed through them.
Lucian pulled Isolde backwards with Telekinesis. Isolde did not stop casting.
Varek did not care.
He changed direction and rushed towards Naomi instead.
"NO!"
Lucian screamed, instantly dropping all his defences and rushing towards Naomi instead, and that brief moment cost him dearly.
Pierce
Before he could react—
Varek formed a blood spear right behind Isolde, a spear that pierced right through Isolde’s heart.
"NO!!"
Lucian screamed.
As for Isolde—
Before her heart could be pierced, her body turned translucent.
She was being eliminated.
"I had fun today, Mother of Dragons.
Do not forget to visit me when you get out."
She grinned at him, her previous seriousness disappearing as if it had all been an illusion.
With that, the Witch and her cards disappeared, eliminated from the Trial.
That made Lucian pause for a slight moment. He was, however, pulled out of his reverie the very next moment when his ears caught movement.
Varek was getting close to Naomi.
"NO!!!"