Chapter 750: [Final Event] [Blood Moon Festival] [32] Victor Raven VS Leon Grimlock

"You’re quite late, Amael."

How the hell things had spiraled this far...

I took a quick look around.

First, Cyril himself.

The mana rolling off him wasn’t normal—thick, heavy, and tainted with blood. I’d only seen mana like that once before: Elizabeth during the Blood Moon War. And even then, what she released was on a completely different dimension obviously. Cyril didn’t come close, but disturbingly... he resembled Rucain’s strength. Worse, the Blood Moon Spell overhead was reacting to him. Feeding him. And he was feeding it right back.

When I’d been rushing here, I had only caught glimpses, but now it was impossible to miss: the crimson dome above us grew clearer, almost ’solidifying’, and the mana circle etched on it was expanding—becoming more complex with every heartbeat.

I forced myself to sweep my gaze around.

That’s when I spotted Kendel Teraquin.

How he’d escaped prison was anyone’s guess, but the important part was clear—he wasn’t on Cyril’s side.

And then my eyes landed on James Raven, kneeling on the ground with Leora in his arms.

I grimaced slightly at the sight. Leora was pale—too pale—even for a vampire. She twitched weakly, fighting to stay conscious. But at least she wasn’t dead. James’s blood flowed into her, and thanks to their regenerative ability, she stood a real chance.

A small wave of relief loosened my chest.

Alicia definitely wouldn’t have wanted Leora to die. And honestly, Leora didn’t deserve such a pointless end.

"Professor," I called as I approached. James lifted his head, eyes tight with worry. "You should take her to the Tree. Now."

Every resident of Sancta Vedelia carried the Tree’s blessing. Inside it, their bodies healed faster, stronger, and deeper. Leora would survive there.

James didn’t argue. He simply nodded, adjusting Leora carefully in his arms. Before leaving, though, he shot Cyril a hard to read gaze.

When they disappeared, I finally turned fully toward Cyril.

"You know," I said, staring at him, "you hurt the woman who gave birth to you. The one who still loves you—even though you turned out to be trash. She reached out to you again and again, and you still did this."

Cyril scoffed. "And what does any of that matter to you?"

"Nothing," I admitted. "You’re right. But people only understand the value of something after they’ve lost it."

I would know.

I’d already lost my real family once... and naïvely, the family I thought I had in this world too.

Cyril smirked. "You’re starting to sound like Connor. I expected a man of violence, not speeches and sentimental nonsense like your brother."

I lifted my hand, and Trinity Nihil materialized with a resonant hum.

Vysindra’s flames instantly roared to life, swallowing the white blade in cascading purple fire.

"Unfortunately for you," I said, stepping forward, "I’m nothing like him."

-BOOOOM!!

Our blades collided the moment I closed the distance.

His crimson blade met Trinity Nihil with enough force to create a shockwave, sending fire and blood-like energy spiraling outward in violent ripples.

But Cyril held his ground.

He smirked, pressing back without effort.

He was strong—ridiculously strong. And unlike with Rucain, I knew instantly that taking Cyril by surprise wasn’t going to happen.

The Blood Moon Spell was practically drowning him in power. Every second that passed, as more people collapsed around the ritual, his body absorbed more mana, more blood, more everything. He was growing... and I wasn’t sure there was a cap.

"You came to fight me with such pathetic strength, Amael?" Cyril barked a laugh and shoved me backward with nothing but raw force.

My feet skidded across the crimson-stained ground.

Yeah. His strength was overwhelming. Expected, honestly—he’d reached the realm of a Demigod. Rucain had been the same, and even then I’d made damn sure to never take a direct hit. One solid blow from someone at that level could flatten me... or outright kill me.

So I didn’t resist the push. I let my body roll with the motion, using it to glide backward—just as Cyril immediately pounced forward, blade slicing through the air in a vicious arc. The blood trailing behind his sword twisted into spikes and fired at me like a hailstorm.

I moved Trinity Nihil in a blur, cutting down five of them—but two still slipped in.

One tore across my arm, drawing a hot line of blood.

The other slammed into my shoulder, sending a sharp sting through my body.

Before I could reset my stance, Cyril was already in my face, blade descending again.

-BOOOOM!!

The impact rattled my bones. My arm went slightly numb even though Trinity Nihil held firm.

"Why did you come here, Amael?!" Cyril’s smirk stretched wider as he swung again, forcing me to deflect his blade with another tight parry. I diverted the strike just enough so the damage would be manageable. If I were using any sword other than Trinity Nihil, I’d already be bleeding out on the floor.

"Did you come to witness my wedding with Celes?!" He roared.

He launched a wave of blood straight at me—dense enough to crush a building.

I instantly triggered the Anathema’s Fire, letting the purple fire wrap around me. The flames devoured the blood, shielding me from being flattened.

"You’re late, Amael," Cyril said mockingly. "Once I’m done wiping out Central Vedelia, Celeste will have no choice but to kneel. Her power, her body—everything—will be mine."

-BOOOOM!!

"You’re dreaming way too hard," I muttered.

I tightened my grip on Trinity Nihil with my right hand—and clenched my left.

Wrath.

-BAM!!

My fist shattered his blood barrier and slammed into him.

Cyril grunted—genuine pain flickering across his face. His smile evaporated instantly. Then, fueled by rage or instinct, he closed the distance in a blink and swung with even more force. Flames—blood flames—exploded from his blade, crashing into me and eating away at the Anathema’s Fire like acid.

It was the first time I’d ever seen my flames getting overwhelmed in this way.

Cyril’s grin returned but then vines erupted out of nowhere, coiling around his arms and yanking his sword off-course.

I didn’t waste the opening.

Trinity Nihil came down in a swift arc—but Cyril reacted just as fast. Blood geysered around him, forming another barrier. The blade screeched uselessly against it.

I clenched my left hand again calling Wrath.

My fist punched straight through the barrier.

And again.

A second surge of Wrath, and my fist smashed into his face.

-BAM!!

He flew back, crashing into the ground. I didn’t give him a second to breathe. I shot forward, the world blurring beneath my feet. Trinity Nihil rose above my head—white sands swirling around the blade, and five blazing rings of Vysindra spinning violently around it.

Then I brought it down.

Cyril lifted his gaze, eyes widening as he hastily summoned another barrier, thicker, darker, pulsing with stolen life.

-BOOOOOOM!!!

The explosion lit up the entire dome.

Before I could even register the aftermath of the explosion, Cyril flickered out of sight—and reappeared behind me. His blade was already in motion, a crimson arc slicing toward my neck.

Instinct kicked in.

I swung Trinity Nihil backward in a desperate, awkward angle. I caught the attack, but the stance was so off-balance that my fingers slipped—and the blade flew from my hand.

Cyril’s smirk widened.

His kick slammed into my ribs with brutal force.

-CRACK!

"Ughh!"

The impact tore through my layer of Ruah like wet paper. Pain flared violently along my side as I was hurled across the floor, bones snapping under the pressure.

Cyril was already on me again, closing the distance with terrifying speed, sword raised for another strike.

"Reflect!"

Three mirrors materialized between us in a flash of light.

Cyril’s blade shattered all of them instantly—but the reflected force slowed his swing enough for me to twist my head aside. The blade skimmed past, carving a burning line across my cheek.

Cyril’s eyes narrowed.

His knee slammed into my stomach.

-BAM!

Air burst from my lungs, and I crashed hard into the ground, gasping. This bastard was fast. Too fast.

He descended after me again, sword raised high, blood dripping from the crimson steel. He wasn’t giving me even a second to recall Trinity Nihil.

"Damn it—"

White sands coiled up my right arm, spiraling rapidly. At the same time, the Anathemas Fire surged forth, twining together with the sands in a twisting helix of power. In an instant, a purple sword formed in my hand.

I barely had half a second. I swung it upward to intercept Cyril’s blade.

-CRACK!!

The glass sword shattered immediately but the explosion that followed—

-BOOOOOOM!!!

—was massive.

The shockwave blasted both of us away. Cyril’s eyes flew wide, clearly not expecting that kind of detonation. Cuts streaked across his face, bruises forming only to heal seconds later.

"What the hell was that?" He groaned, wiping blood from his chin as his wounds stitched shut.

"I wonder," I replied with a faint smirk, wiping the blood running down my lip. Trinity Nihil materialized back into my hand a moment later. "Creative improvisation."

"He’s getting stronger," Kendel said suddenly, stepping to my side.

"I noticed," I shot back dryly.

We stood in silence for a moment as I steadied my breathing.

"Where did the sudden change of heart come from?" I asked.

"You get a lot of time to think, sitting in a cell," Kendel answered simply.

"Did you think about the people who died because of you?" I asked coldly.

"A lot," he said, and his voice was sincere. "But I still hate your kind."

I snorted. "Runs in the family, apparently."

"Even Freydis—who hated them more than I ever did—took a liking to you," he muttered.

"Oh, don’t start," I groaned. "If you’re about to make some heartfelt pathetic plea for me to take care of your sister, save it. I’m in no mood."

"You’re mouthy, but you’re right—we don’t have time."

"Are you two done chatting?"

Cyril’s voice cut through the air.

Kendel and I turned—and both of us froze.

Dozens. Dozens of humanoid figures made of blood had appeared around Cyril. Faceless, formless, but seemingly alive. Each one gripped a crude blood-forged blade.

"Another Forbidden Blood Art?" I muttered, clicking my tongue. "He really threw his morals out the window..."

But I noticed something worse.

Each figure had a different shape. Different size. Different outline.

A cold realization crept down my spine.

He wasn’t molding these from random blood.

These were the people he—and more likely Lazarus—had sacrificed.

Cyril only smirked, confirming it without needing to speak.

"Behold," he said, spreading his arms as the blood puppets shifted in unison.

"The power of Merithra’s arts."

***

On the opposite end of Central Vedelia, another battle was tearing the city apart—one just as violent, just as hopeless.

The earth had already given up. Streets were split into jagged scars, and everything within dozens of meters—homes, shops, the remnants of a quiet neighborhood—had been reduced to ash. Purple flames crawled over the rubble like hungry spirits, devouring anything still recognizable.

-BAAAM!!

"Victor!!" Jennyfer’s voice cracked as she watched Victor’s body get launched across the battlefield, smashing into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.

A whisper brushed the back of her neck.

"Do you really think you’ve got time to worry about someone else?"

Leon’s voice slid into her ear.

He appeared behind her in a blur—faster than lightning, faster than thought—and swung with murderous intent.

A beam of white light snapped into reality.

Alector had moved first, a shimmering barrier blooming around Jennyfer as he tapped into the Tree of Eden. The power of the Guardian of the Tree itself surged outward—he didn’t have the luxury to hold back. Leon wasn’t someone you fought half-heartedly.

-BOOOOM!!

The shockwave tore through the area. Jennyfer was thrown off her feet despite the barrier, crashing through the dirt before she rolled back up, lightning crackling violently around her skin.

But Leon was already behind her again.

She froze—her instincts couldn’t even keep up.

-BOOOM!!

Victor dropped in like a meteor, swinging a massive blood-forged greatsword that howled as it tore the air apart.

Leon was forced to retreat, boots grinding across the ground as he skidded backward.

"V–Victor..." Jennyfer breathed, eyes widening. His forehead was split open, blood streaming down his face, skin pale from exhaustion. He looked terrible—no, he looked barely alive.

The truth stung her: Leon had been playing with them. Toying with Victor like a cat with a dying mouse.

"I... I’m fine." Victor tried to smile, but it came out shaky. His vampiric regeneration was working, sure, but that wasn’t what mattered. His spirit was starting to crack.

He tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white, glaring daggers at Leon.

Leon didn’t hide his amusement.

"What the fuck do you want?!" Victor snapped, finally losing what little patience he had left.

Leon tilted his head, that eerie onyx-black eye glowing.

"Do you feel it, Victor? The pain?" His voice softened into something sadistic. "You already know I could kill that precious woman of yours whenever I want. And you’d be able to do nothing but watch. So tell me... if she dies, what exactly will you do?"

Something cold and murderous flickered in Victor’s eyes—pure killing intent.

"That’s more like the Victor I remember," Leon chuckled darkly.

He summoned a black sword wreathed in shadow and blurred out of sight the next instant.

Jennyfer’s heart jumped.

Lightning burst from her skin, raising every sense she had.

She knew what Leon was trying to do—break Victor by killing her first.

But Victor understood even faster.

He flashed in front of her, blood swirling around them like a crimson storm as he erected a thick barrier of congealed blood. Jennyfer blinked in shock.

"Victor!! Wait—!"

Too late.

-BAAM!!

A shockwave ripped the air apart as Leon appeared again, overwhelming Victor instantly with a vicious kick to the ribs.

"Ugh...!" Victor snarled, somehow holding his ground instead of folding.

Leon’s eyes narrowed. Victor’s entire body had begun to glow faintly—pure white light outlining his form.

"The Apostle’s blessing... the power of Nihil," Leon muttered, annoyed.

Victor gritted his teeth and swung his greatsword with a roar, the blade cutting a white arc through the flames—

But Leon had already vanished.

A heartbeat later, Leon stomped down on the sword’s blade, pinning it to the ground, and then smashed his heel into Victor’s face.

-BAAAM!!

Victor skidded back, but the divine glow around him only intensified.

He didn’t stay down this time.

Victor lunged, grabbing Leon’s ankle like a vice and twisting, trying to slam him into the earth—

But Leon’s presence exploded outward, the air turning heavy.

He released his Sin of Pride.

Victor froze mid-movement. His body reacted instinctively—stiff, as though crushed under invisible weight.

"That damn Apostle power..." Leon growled, swinging his blade with a surge of contempt.

-BOOOOM!!

Victor blocked with his greatsword, but the force still sent him flying backward, tumbling across broken stone until he finally crashed to a stop—pushed far, far away from Jennyfer.

Leon chuckled under his breath as he drove his sword straight into Victor’s blood barrier.

The crimson shell shattered instantly—like glass touched by a hammer.

But Jennyfer wasn’t inside.

There was a clean hole ripped through the back.

-BOOOOM!!

Leon lifted his arm before a lightning-coated leg slammed into it with enough force to crack the air.

Jennyfer gritted her teeth, electricity exploding around her like a storm losing its mind. She raised her hand and unleashed a full-powered thunderbolt straight into Leon’s chest.

-BOOOOM!!!

Dust and raw mana burst outward.

When it cleared... Leon stood there without a single scratch.

Jennyfer’s eyes widened. "I—Impossible..."

"The Sin of Pride," Leon said. "Mana doesn’t work on me."

"W-What...?" Jennyfer whispered, horror creeping into her voice.

Leon’s blade flashed toward her throat but a massive white root burst from the ground, intercepting the swing. The sword sliced through one root, then another, before colliding with an entire wall of twisted vines and branches that wrapped tightly around Jennyfer.

Alector was finally going all out, drawing deeply from the Holy Tree of Eden.

"You think that will stop me?" Leon sneered.

Purple fire roared over his blade.

-BOOOOM!!

The roots blackened, shriveled, and crumbled into ash.

Jennyfer didn’t wait—she blasted backward in a burst of lightning, her body turning into a streak of blue-white light.

But Leon blurred with her.

He reappeared at her side midair, his black sword already swinging.

Jennyfer twisted—barely—her reflexes pushed beyond their limits. Even so, Leon’s blade grazed her, and for a moment she felt death breathing on her neck.

His sword rose to strike again and Victor’s greatsword crashed into his blade at the perfect moment.

Victor growled, the white glow of the Apostle’s blessing shooting up the length of his sword.

Leon’s eyes met his—cold, amused—and then his figure simply vanished.

"What—?!"

Victor didn’t even blink before his instincts screamed.

He looked up.

A massive sphere of purple fire, pulsating like a living heart, was falling toward him.

"Shit—!"

He planted his feet, gripping his sword with both hands. White light flared, blood coiled up the blade, and he swung upward with everything he had.

-BOOOOOOOM!!!

The fireball detonated on contact. Flames swallowed his skin, biting deep. He slid back dozens of meters, boots carving trenches into the dirt, but he still pushed, still roared, still sliced through the burning core.

The explosion tossed him like a ragdoll.

"Hold on, boy!" Alector sprinted toward him but Leon was suddenly beside the Guardian.

-BOOOOM!

Leon’s black sword cleaved toward him.

The Holy Tree reacted instantly. Roots erupted from the ground, wrapping Alector in thick layers. But Leon’s blade, coated in Pride, sliced through them, cutting deeper and deeper.

And the moment the sword pierced the inner layer...

Leon smirked.

"Anathemas Fire."

A purple inferno erupted point-blank.

-BOOOOOOOM!!!

Victor’s heart nearly stopped.

"Alector—!!"

He forced himself upright, gripping his sword. But the pain hit him all at once. Blood spilled from his mouth and he collapsed onto one knee.

"Victor!!!" Jennyfer shouted, bolting toward him only to feel death coming.

Leon’s sword was already swinging toward her neck.

Victor reached for her—but he was too far.

Too slow.

Jennyfer shut her eyes bracing herself but...

-Crackle!

Leon’s eyes widened.

A golden flash appeared between them.

A sword of pure lightning collided with Leon’s blade.

-BOOOOOOM!!!

The shockwave blasted Leon backward, forcing him to skid across the ground for several meters before he dug his heels in and stopped.

Jennyfer and Victor froze.

Leon stared too.

A figure landed lightly on the cracked terrain—white hair whipping wildly, lightning crawling over his entire body like living armor. His mana pressure was immense, heavy enough to bend the air.

Victor widened his eyes. "W-Who are you...?"

The newcomer looked toward him, lightning-blue eyes glowing fiercely.

"Jayden," he said simply.

"...!" Jennyfer gasped.

He turned his gaze to her, stepping forward as lightning coiled around his arms and smiled faintly.

"Or, you can call me Reinhart."