Zane was everywhere at once. His knives, thrown with precision, embedded themselves in the gargoylesâ joints, slowing their jerky movements. When one got too close, his short sword quickly hacked it apart.
Kris, meanwhile, served as protection. His flaming spear traced wide arcs, repelling the attackers and breaking their charges.
<Blazing Lion: Roar!>
The tip of his spear released a compact fireball that exploded in the center of the two magma golems, sending them flying in pieces. He covered Zaneâs blind spots, parrying a claw that could have pierced straight through with a powerful rotating staff strike that pulverized the creatureâs limb.
The black blade was barely visible, a shadow that sliced through the light and tore apart, no need for flashy explosions.
An epic gargoyle tried to bypass him through the air to attack Isabella from behind. Kaiser simply raised his left hand.
<Targeted Attraction.>
The creature in mid-flight was brutally yanked toward the ground as if by an invisible thread, crashing at his feet. Before it could rise, the black blade descended once, cleanly severing the gargoyleâs head.
He then moved, not running but in a series of leaps exploiting blind spots.
<Sundering Eclipse: Crescent Moon!>
An invisible double slash severed the wings of two gargoyles attempting to encircle Zane.
Then with a kick amplified by a concentration of aura, he propelled a nascent magma golem directly into the path of Oliviaâs khopesh, which finished it off.
She used her temporal magic to create slowdown bubbles that disrupted the gargoylesâ attacks.
The plateau was gradually cleared...
*Oliviaâs Point of View*
Night had fallen over the plateau, blacker and deeper than Tenebrisâs daytime. Only the distant glow of volcanoes and the faint light of our mana stones broke the darkness.
Kaiser and I were on watch, sitting back to back on an elevated rock, monitoring the surroundings. The silence between us was heavy with what had happened the night before, that strange fever that had seized us.
It was he who broke the silence, his voice stripped of its usual sarcastic tone. "In truth, I came here at Arianaâs request. She asked me to kill you."
It took me a moment to reply, watching the moving shadows in the valley. I wasnât really surprised. From my research, it was known that Kaiser had once been madly in love with her; he would probably do anything she asked, and she... maybe she just had a deal with Adrian.
"So? Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I donât want to kill you."
I snorted: "Do you think Iâm going to trust you after you told me you came here to kill me?"
He let out a brief, joyless laugh. "No. Iâm just saying I like you, Olivia."
I turned slightly, catching his profile in the dimness. "Itâs the aphrodisiac..."
"Maybe," he admitted, meeting my gaze. His expression was serious, almost worried. A vulnerability I didnât know he had. "Iâve always respected your obsession, that thirst for greatness. Turning humiliation into fuel for success. So I thought we were alike. And I decided on a whim to help you with your goal."
"I see... I thought you were tougher than that," I commented with a faint smile.
It always felt good to see someone who understood what you felt.
Strangely, we barely knew each other. But he seemed to know me down to the smallest detail.
âIs it just an impression because of the aphrodisiac?â
"I thought I was more emotionless myself. It seems you make me lose my composure, Princess~."
"Kleopatra..."
"Kleopatra?"
"Itâs the name my mother wanted to give me. Even though my father decided to call me Olivia," I added.
"Itâs a beautiful name. Can I call you that?"
I narrowed my eyes with a slight smile: "If I can also call you Kai."
"Kai? Like a nickname. That sounds a bit too couple-y, doesnât it? Hahaha. Unless there really was a double meaning, Kleopatra?"
"Who Kai is. Only time will tell."
There was a slight silence. It wasnât awkward, just the two of us back to back gazing at the sky.
My thoughts drifted.
Soon after, our watch ended. We each returned to our tents.
...
*Kaiserâs Point of View*
I had lied a little to Olivia by saying I had come to kill her, but deep down, everything I said I truly meant.
"Kleopatra... I didnât know that name; itâs pretty original. Does Oliviaâs mother come from ancient Egypt or something?"
As I headed back to my tent, a silhouette emerged from a rock. Kris grabbed my arm with force.
"One minute, Kaiser," Krisâs voice growled, muffled by anger. "I need to know. What are your real objectives here? With my sister? With the princess? Iâm not fooled. I see what youâre scheming."
I freed my hand easily, but his strength wasnât small.
Rubbing his arm in an annoyed manner. "My objectives? I want to build relationships. Diplomatic, commercial, or maybe even carnal..." A mocking smile curled my lips. "And if along the way I can fuck your sister, whereâs the harm? Sheâs of age and consenting, last time I checked."
"BASTARD!"
His aura flared, a wave of pure heat and rage surged. "If you touch a single hair on her head, I swear that..."
"That what?" Kaiser interrupted, his smile turning icy. "Youâre going to challenge me to a duel? Youâre going to run crying to daddy the duke?"
I patted his shoulder.
Get used to the idea, Kris. The only time Iâm going to touch the hair on her head is when I take her doggy style. She likes it pretty rough~. Now, if youâll excuse me, I need sleep. Attempts at intimidation are exhausting."
I turned on my heel, leaving Kris trembling with rage on the spot.
âMan, this guy really wants to kill me...â
I laughed inwardly.
"Instead of worrying about Isabella, you should watch your little girlfriend on my list, Kris~."
I wasnât sadistic, but in a way, tormenting Kris delighted me with pleasure.