69~ Dawn of Vengeance

The Dawn of Vengeance

Dawn was approaching.

Amira was fast asleep, while Elyes remained awake. He entered her room and found her shivering from the cold. He smiled, pulled the blanket over her to cover her properly, then gently kissed her cheek before leaving the room.

He stepped outside, the wind stirring his clothes, and found Wail and Evelyn waiting for him.

He looked at Evelyn and asked,

"Are you coming with us?"

Wail answered on her behalf.

"Yes. She'll lead us to the exact location. Since the place is crawling with mindless ones, she'll take care of them while you and I search for the Bloody Eyes users."

Elyes furrowed his brows slightly.

"You said there were seven of them at their last meeting, right? You still haven't told me how many are left."

Wail replied coldly,

"Excluding Evelyn, Heda, and Amin, there are four left, including Vale. I think he'll keep himself for last."

Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise.

"Actually, there are only three! Haven't you already defeated Bahaa...?"

She suddenly stopped, as though realizing what had slipped out of her mouth, then fell silent.

Elyes turned toward Wail, looking astonished.

"Bahaa? What are you talking about?"

Wail's cold expression remained unchanged. He turned away and said,

"Come on. Let's go."

But Elyes didn't move.

"Wail, answer me! Did you fight Bahaa?!"

Wail didn't respond. Before Elyes could repeat his question, Amira's voice came from behind them.

"Wail... Did you really meet Bahaa?"

Wail stopped for a moment. His fists clenched as he was forced to confront what he had been trying to avoid.

He answered in a low voice,

"Yes... I killed him."

Silence fell.

Elyes froze in place, while Amira's eyes widened, as though she couldn't comprehend what she had just heard.

Wail turned toward her and spoke quietly.

"Didn't you decide to forget him and live with Elyes instead? I thought it wouldn't matter to you anymore."

Elyes lunged at him and grabbed his arm tightly, fury blazing in his eyes.

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"You bastard...!"

But Wail interrupted him firmly.

"This is far bigger than our personal conflict. Let's finish what we came here to do first. After that, we can come back to this."

Elyes glared at him furiously, gritting his teeth before finally releasing his arm.

Then he turned toward Amira.

"I don't know how long it'll take, but we'll come back. I promise."

Amira couldn't find the words to respond. She continued staring at them, unable to hide the shock Wail's words had left her in.

Moments later, the auras of all three rose around them, and they took off into the sky, leaving Amira alone in front of the house.

Tears streamed silently down her face. She wasn't just struggling to accept Bahaa's death, but also the changes in Wail and the anger that had nearly driven Elyes into another confrontation with him.

---

"So you've finally decided to make your move, little brother..."

Vale sat in his usual place atop the castle, waiting for Wail to arrive.

Beside him, Kyle wore a broad grin, while another man stood with them, looking excited about what awaited them.

The man spoke eagerly.

"At last, we'll get the chance to face the boy who defeated Aetherion!"

Kyle turned toward him.

"You never stop talking about that knight ever since our battle against him. Don't you think it's time to forget about him?"

The wind stirred the man's cloak, revealing burn scars covering the left side of his face.

He answered steadily,

"He was the strongest opponent I've ever faced. I'd be delighted to get the chance to fight someone even stronger than him."

Kyle laughed dismissively.

"Don't overestimate him, Isaac. He wasn't nearly as strong as you make him out to be."

Vale interrupted them.

"You wouldn't have stood a chance against him if Wail hadn't fought with all his strength. Isn't that right?"

Kyle turned toward him in irritation.

"Damn you! You never even fought him, so don't act like you know everything about him!"

A faint smile appeared on Vale's face.

"I don't know anything, do I?"

He began laughing quietly, and his laughter gradually grew louder. Slowly, he raised his hand.

In the next instant, Kyle and Isaac vanished from where they stood.

After they disappeared, a massive crater appeared in the spot where they had been standing.

Vale's laughter stopped. His smile gradually faded, replaced by a cold, expressionless stare.

---

The lower floors of the castle were teeming with monstrous creatures whose bodies were made of thick red liquid.

Suddenly, part of the wall shattered. The creatures turned toward the opening, and in the next instant, a brilliant yellow light flooded the area, unleashing an enormous beam that illuminated the entire floor.

Elyes was the one who had fired it.

The three entered the floor and proceeded cautiously. Elyes crouched to examine the red liquid scattered across the ground, then his eyes widened.

"Blood?"

Evelyn answered,

"It seems to have come from Isaac."

Wail looked at her, his expression changing slightly.

"Isaac? Is he one of them? You knew something about his ability and didn't tell us?"

Evelyn took a step back and answered hesitantly,

"I-I wasn't sure. I was afraid the information might be wrong and that you'd think I'd lied to you."

Wail sighed in irritation before saying,

"Fine. It doesn't matter. Tell us what you know."

Evelyn regained some of her composure and explained,

"Blood was constantly leaking from his body, and then it would take the form of these creatures."

Elyes raised his head toward her.

"So that's the ability of his Bloody Eyes?"

She answered seriously,

"Don't assume they rely only on Raw Energy and the Bloody Eyes. I believe they also possess elemental abilities."

Then she added,

"There's also his companion, Kyle. Honestly, I've never seen him use his power, so I don't know anything about him..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed the reactions of the other two.

Elyes struck his fist against his palm, looking excited, while Wail remained calm. He continued walking slowly, recalling the image of Aetherion in his mind.

Then he vanished in a flash of electricity.

Elyes turned toward Evelyn and asked,

"They were the ones who fought Aetherion, right?"

"Yes... Wail wants to avenge him..."

A few moments later, a group of mindless ones appeared in front of them.

Elyes charged toward them and shouted to Evelyn,

"I'll handle these, but they're the last ones I'll help you eliminate! Take care of the rest yourself!"

He lunged at the creatures, and yellow light flooded the area once more.

Evelyn watched what was happening.

This is my chance... I can escape now.

But as the thought crossed her mind, her expression grew uneasy, and she clenched her fists...

---

In a vast hall inside the castle, several people stood wearing black robes. Their Bloody Eyes had the same appearance as those of the mindless ones.

They were among the Raw Energy users under someone else's control...

At the far end of the hall, Isaac sat in his chair, calmly surveying the room.

One of the fighters rushed inside and shouted,

"Everyone! The light element user is..."

He couldn't finish his sentence.

A beam of light shot into the hall, illuminating every corner.

Elyes emerged from the light, advancing with steady steps.

"Is about to lighten up this place."

He looked toward Isaac, seated at the far end of the hall, wearing a confident smile. Isaac watched him with interest and said,

"Yooo... Dawn Light, I guess?"

Elyes chuckled softly as he remembered Zaki.

Who would've thought that ridiculous name would become this famous?

He turned his attention back to Isaac and said with a smile,

"Yes it is...You bloody eye."

Isaac smiled mockingly.

"Do you really think you and that Wail can deal with us all by yourselfs, you fools?"

Elyes scratched his head before answering indifferently,

"Well, we're the only two here at the moment... So yes, I think."

Isaac's confidence didn't waver.

"Your friend is fighting Kyle right now. He'll die soon, so as you."

Elyes didn't answer. He simply continued advancing toward him.

But Isaac's expression suddenly changed. His eyes widened as he focused on the energy radiating from Elyes.

Wait... This energy of his...

He raised his head and spoke seriously.

"You're the one who killed Luke that day, aren't you?"

Elyes stopped walking.

His smile vanished completely, replaced by a cold expression filled with anger and hatred.

He stared at Isaac before saying,

"So you're the man I've been looking for."

Isaac rose from his chair, an excited smile spreading across his face.

He shouted,

"it's just you here right?!"

Elyes answered calmly,

"Yeah...just me..."

In the next instant, an immense surge of orange energy erupted from his body, piercing through the castle's floors one after another before bursting into the sky.

Isaac retreated outside the castle and landed on the ground. Elyes followed him, his entire body enveloped in orange energy.

Isaac's Bloody Eyes began to glow as the two prepared to face each other.