Chapter 228 - The Demon Warlord Vs Jennie ( Part 6 )

Rudy’s words hung in the air.

"Then I’m going with you."

Jennie stared at her.

For several seconds, she was speechless.

Ruins of Seraiya stretched behind them, bathed in the morning sunlight. Broken towers stood among the ruins like dead skeletons, casting their shadows on rubble-filled roads. Gray smoke still rose above the kingdom, floating in thin stripes and accompanied by the sounds of reconstruction work, which had already started—the noise of stones being thrown around, orders of soldiers setting up patrol points, mutterings of civilians rebuilding their lives.

But none of this matter.

Jennie’s attention was solely concentrated on the woman in front of her.

Rudy Kiss.

The girl who appeared in her life as an impossible answer to a question that she never knew how to ask. Reincarnation of Lisa KingHeart. Her younger sister from the life, which was supposed to stay buried under a layer of thousands of years of history.

And now... the last target of the ritual for demons.

Jennie’s face became hard. Her voice was cold.

"No."

Rudy blinked. "No?"

"You heard me."

Jennie turned her back, silver-white hair catching the sunlight.

"You are not coming."

Rudy crossed her arms. "That’s not your decision to make."

"It is when your decision leads to your death."

Rudy’s face acquired an expression of slight amusement. "Interesting."

Jennie turned around. "What?"

"You sound exactly like someone else."

Jennie frowned. "Who?"

"Lilia."

Jennie froze. This name hit her as if with a physical impact—suddenly and fiercely, robbing her of breath.

Rudy smiled. "She would say the same thing."

Jennie’s face became hard. "Don’t compare me to her."

"Why?"

"Because I’m going to resurrect her."

"I know."

"Then stay here."

Rudy shook her head. "No."

Jennie’s golden eyes became narrowed. "Rudy."

"Jennie."

Their eyes locked on each other. Several seconds passed without movement.

Five Divine Swords floated motionless behind Jennie, creating a strange feeling of pressure in the air. Golden glow of Excalibur was pulsating softly, crimson glow of Gram was flickering with restrained energy.

Rudy didn’t move back. Her golden eyes were calm—stable and confident.

Jennie finally let out a sigh. "You don’t understand."

"I understand perfectly."

"No, you don’t."

Jennie pointed to the horizon. Her voice was sharp with frustration.

"Demon Continent is not a battlefield where we come, kill a few demons and leave."

Her voice became colder.

"That is their territory."

Rudy nodded. "I know."

"They have five Demon Generals."

"Five that we know."

"And Zuko."

Rudy’s face became serious. "Demon Emperor."

Jennie nodded. "Exactly."

She approached and pressed her presence to Rudy like a physical entity.

"And you are one of the last two Legendary Divine Mark bearers."

Rudy’s hand instinctively went to her chest. This mark, hidden under her clothes, was pulsating faintly—with warm, golden glow, reacting to her emotions.

"If they will catch you..."

"They will complete the ritual."

"Yes."

Jennie’s voice became sharper. "And I’m not going to let that happen."

Rudy looked at her for a long moment.

Then she smiled.

"You really haven’t changed."

Jennie frowned. "What does that mean?"

"You still think that protecting people means standing between them and danger."

Jennie didn’t answer.

Rudy stepped closer.

"You think that if someone is following you into danger, he or she belongs to you."

She pointed to Jennie’s chest.

"But you never consider a chance that this someone is choosing the danger on his or her own."

Jennie looked away.

Rudy continued. "I’m choosing this."

Jennie sighed. "You don’t have to."

Rudy’s smile vanished.

"Neither did you."

Jennie looked at her.

Rudy stepped closer.

"You didn’t have to become Raven."

"You didn’t have to fight Draven."

"You didn’t have to protect Seraiya."

"You didn’t have to control five Divine Swords."

"And you certainly didn’t have to pursue Lilia."

Jennie’s fingers tightened.

"But you chose to."

Rudy stepped closer.

"So let me choose too."

Jennie stared at her.

Morning wind blew between them, carrying ashes and sounds of rebuilding. Sun was slowly rising in the sky, bathing ruins in golden light.

Finally, Jennie said quietly, "This is not about choice."

Rudy tilted her head. "Then what is it about?"

Jennie’s eyes lowered. "I’m afraid."

Surprised herself, Jennie confessed this fear aloud—it flew from her lips and was carried away by the wind.

Rudy’s expression softened.

Jennie continued, her voice becoming weaker.

"I’m afraid that if I’ll take you with me..."

She hesitated.

"...I’ll lose you too."

Rudy stopped completely.

Jennie looked at the ruins. "I couldn’t save Lilia."

Her voice cracked.

"I don’t want to see someone else to disappear because of me."

Rudy’s expression changed. For a moment, she saw not Raven. Not the holder of five Divine Swords. Not the reincarnation of Leonis KingHeart.

She saw Jennie. Just Jennie.

A person afraid of losing yet another person.

Rudy smiled gently. "Then don’t."

Jennie looked at her. "Don’t what?"

"Don’t lose me."

Jennie stared.

Rudy put her hand on Jennie’s shoulder. Her touch was warm—calming.

"You don’t have to protect me by leaving me behind."

She smiled.

"You can protect me by letting me stand beside you."

Jennie was silent.

Then Rudy said, "And besides..."

Her face became playful.

"If you are going alone, who will stop you from doing something incredibly stupid?"

Jennie frowned. "I don’t do anything incredibly stupid."

Rudy raised her eyebrow. "You fought a Demon General and controlled five Divine Swords at the same time."

"That was necessary."

"You jumped into a battlefield full of demons."

"Necessary."

"You tried to go to Demon Continent alone."

Jennie hesitated.

Rudy smiled. "Necessary?"

Jennie looked away. "...Possibly."

Rudy laughed. Her laughter was warm and genuine—a happy melody resounding in the ruins.

"Exactly."

For the first time that morning, Jennie smiled. Slightly. But Rudy noticed.

Then Rudy’s expression became serious again. "There is another reason why I’m going."

Jennie looked at her.

Rudy touched the Legendary Divine Mark beneath her clothes. "They want me."

Jennie nodded. "I know."

"They want Lilia."

Nodding again.

"And they want your Divine Swords."

Jennie’s expression hardened.

Rudy looked toward the horizon. "It means sooner or later the demons will come after me anyway."

Turning back to Jennie.

"Then why should I wait here for them?"

Jennie didn’t respond.

Rudy’s eyes darkened. "If I join you, at least I have a chance to choose how I’ll fight them."

Silence.

Jennie’s eyes moved to five swords hovering behind her. Excalibur. Leviathan. Tempest. Eclipse. Gram.

The demons want them. The ritual needs them. And now Rudy is another target.

Everything is connected.

Jennie’s gaze hardened. "The demons definitely expect this."

Rudy smirked. "Definitely."

"They even might be counting on joining us."

"Definitely."

"It doesn’t trouble you?"

Rudy shrugged. "It troubles me."

Jennie blinked. "Then why are you smiling?"

"Because if they plan to build a trap..."

Rudy’s smile became sinister – sharp and predatory.

"...they’re going to find out that traps work both ways."

Jennie looked at her.

Then laughed quietly. "You really are Lisa."

Rudy’s smile vanished. The name carried weight. One thousand years of memories. Family which doesn’t exist anymore. Brother which became somebody else.

Rudy looked at Jennie. "And you really are Leonis."

Jennie’s expression immediately changed.

Rudy noticed. "But..."

She smiled.

"...you’re also Jennie."

Jennie didn’t say anything.

Rudy continued. "I know that you don’t want to be defined by who you are."

Jennie looked at the ground.

"Neither do I."

The two stood in silence.

Then Rudy extended her hand. "Partners?"

Jennie looked at it.

For a second, she remembered another hand. Much smaller one. Little girl stretching her hand to her brother.

Lisa. Leonis. One thousand years ago.

Then she looked at Rudy. Not Lisa. Rudy.

Slowly taking her hand.

"Partners."

Rudy smiled. "Good."

A voice suddenly rang behind them.

"That’s convenient."

They both turned.

Roxy stood a few meters away from them. Arms crossed, unreadable expression. Violet hair was moving in the wind, fox ears were twitching with barely hidden emotions.

Jennie blinked. "Roxy."

Roxy walked toward them. "So..."

She glanced at Rudy. "You’re going too."

Rudy nodded. "Yes."

Roxy looked at Jennie. "And you agreed."

Jennie hesitated. "Eventually."

Roxy sighed. "Of course."

Walking closer. For a moment, looking at Jennie. Eyes meeting.

There was something unsaid between them. Something from the previous night. Something Roxy wasn’t ready to admit yet.

Jennie seemed to have noticed the change in her expression. "Roxy?"

"I’m fine."

Jennie stared.

Roxy immediately understood her mistake. Looking away. "...I mean, I’m fine."

Jennie smiled faintly. "You’re terrible at lying."

Roxy blushed. "Shut up."

Rudy watched the interaction silently. Her eyes traveling between them, picking unspoken tension. Saying nothing.

Instead, looking toward the horizon. "When are we leaving?"

Jennie’s expression became serious. "Today."

Roxy’s ears drooped. "Today?"

Jennie nodded. "If the ritual has already started, we can’t afford losing time."

Rudy nodded. "Then we need to find a route."

Jennie pointed toward the direction Lucas was standing in. "He knows."

A few hours later, the remaining members of Royal Knights gathered around the ruins of the palace.

Lucas stood above the large map spread on a cracked stone table. His armor was damaged, and his face was marked with fatigue. But his eyes were alert – the eyes of commander who didn’t finish his mission.

"The Demon Continent is here."

His finger went toward the far eastern corner of the map. Paper was old and damaged, its edges were torn, but marks were visible.

"There aren’t any established human routes."

Rudy inspected the map. "Then how ships reach it?"

"They don’t."

Lucas looked at her. "At least safely."

Jennie frowned. "There’s another way."

Everybody looked at her.

Jennie raised her hand. Five Divine Swords appeared, their power filling the ruined courtyard. Gold light, blue energy, silver lightning, black shadows, crimson fire.

"We can make a dimensional route."

Lucas immediately shook his head. "Not with the damage caused to magical infrastructure of Seraiya."

Jennie looked at Excalibur. "Then I’ll make it myself."

Roxy stared. "Jennie..."

Jennie smiled. "I won’t create a portal leading to the Demon Continent."

Looking at Rudy. "We just need to reach the nearest safe continent."

Rudy nodded. "Then continue our journey from there."

Lucas sighed. "That will work."

Rolling the map further open. His finger pointed at the small island lying on the eastern coast of the map.

"There is an abandoned island about several hundred kilometers from the Demon Continent. Old explorers called it the Ashen Isle."

Jennie memorized its location. "We’ll go there."

Lucas looked at her. Serious expression.

"Jennie."

She stopped.

"Bring her back."

Jennie nodded. "I will."

Lucas looked at Rudy. "And you."

Rudy smiled. "I’ll keep her alive."

Lucas chuckled. "Please do."

Roxy stood nearby.

Looking at Jennie, her heart aching with words she couldn’t say. With feelings she couldn’t express.

"Promise me something."

Jennie turned. "What?"

"Don’t disappear."

Jennie’s expression softened. "I won’t."

Roxy stared into her eyes. "You better not."

Jennie smiled. It was warm and gentle smile.

"I’ll come back."

Roxy nodded. "Then I’ll wait."

Jennie turned toward the horizon.

The five Divine Swords raised behind her, shining and forming a circle of light. Rudy stood next to her, holding her hand on the handle of her dagger. Snow appeared behind the remnants of a wall, his nine tails trailing behind him.

"Said anyone we’re going?"

Jennie looked at him. "No."

Snow shook his nine tails. "Shame."

He came closer to them. "I’m going too."

Jennie sighed. "Yeah, of course."

Snow smiled. "Someone needs to make sure you imbeciles will survive."

Rudy chuckled. Roxy shook her head.

And in that moment... it actually seemed ordinary.

Sort of.

But then Jennie looked towards the horizon. Her smile faded away.

The Demon Continent was waiting beyond the sea. Beyond it waited Morgatha, Lokiar, Azrael, Grom, Noctis and Zuko.

And somewhere in that darkness... Lilia was waiting.

Jennie clutched the broken gold hairpin in her hand. The sharp edges cut into her palm, grounding her.

"I’ll wait for you."

Her voice echoed through the wind toward the horizon.

"I’ll be there."

Rudy stood by her side. Snow stood behind them.

And far away... Roxy watched.

The journey had already started before they left.

Because from this moment on... it wasn’t just a rescue mission.

It was entering the heart of the Demon Empire.