Chapter 258: Why was he… still not giving up…?

"NO!!!"

Lucian screamed as he noticed Varek dashing towards Naomi.

He ran forward as well. At the same time, the energy around him moved, the debris flowed, all appearing in front of Varek.

At the same time, dense violet energy surrounded Naomi and Lucian lifted her into the air as well, moving her away from Varek.

BOOOOM

Varek crushed through the debris. The broken boulders surrounded him, the dust tried to move into his eyes. Varek, however, was prepared for all this.

He closed his eyes.

The Vampire, however, knew how dangerous Lucian would become if he was given a chance to attack.

So while his eyes were closed, a large number of blood weapons appeared around him. This time, they all targeted Naomi.

Lucian continued moving Naomi with Telekinesis. At the same time, he formed barriers around her, protecting her from the incoming projectiles. From the large spears and blades to the small threads and needles, he protected her from them all.

He used large boulders as shields, and the smaller ones were used to deflect the incoming attacks.

He gave it his all to protect Naomi.

But at the same time, he also needed to be careful about one thing.

He couldn’t move Naomi too suddenly. Her body was still that of a normal Human, it wouldn’t be able to survive sudden movements at high speed, not until he specifically protected her from the impact, and with his mind already occupied on so many fronts, he couldn’t exactly do that right no—

Pierce

Just as Lucian was thinking all this, a blood spear pierced through his chest.

"LUCIAN!!!"

Naomi screamed.

The spear was aimed at his heart, just like the one that had targeted Isolde, but Lucian’s instincts were sharper. He moved his body at the very last moment, dodging a fatal attack.

But...

"Khkrk..."

He was still hurt.

He coughed out blood again, tasting its iron-like flavour for the nth time.

Varek did not stop.

Pierce Pierce

Two more blood spears pierced his calves, bringing him to his knees.

His body functions began to give in, his focus deviated for the slightest moment, and that moment was all Varek needed to close the distance—not from him, but to Naomi.

"NOO!"

Lucian screamed again.

Varek, however, was already in front of Naomi.

A ridiculous amount of violet energy moved. This time, it directly surrounded Varek. Lucian was trying to forcefully move Varek away.

That managed to slow him for a very short moment.

Lucian used that chance to move Naomi away.

BOOM

Varek, on the other hand, released an absurd amount of energy to free himself from Lucian’s Telekinesis, and he moved again, chasing Naomi down, this time with him being much closer to the target.

Lucian did everything in his power—debris, barriers, dust, anything. He did anything and everything he could think of, putting all his focus on saving Naomi, leaving his own defence entirely to his instincts.

Which, to some level, worked.

Whenever Varek attacked him, his body avoided the lethal attacks at the last second. The blade that should have cut his head off only cut his shoulder, the one that was supposed to chop off his arm only managed to leave a deep wound.

So yes, Lucian was still keeping himself alive but...

The cost was high.

Very, very high.

His wounds were grave, there was blood all around him, which only gave Varek more opportunities to attack him.

Now, none of Varek’s attacks managed to finish him off. His attacks, however, were doing damage, and that damage was taking its toll.

Lucian’s body was starting to shut down, his vision was becoming blurry, and even though he still had an almost endless amount of energy, his control over it was dwindling.

Even protecting Naomi was becoming more and more difficult. The barriers he was summoning were becoming weaker, the debris he was controlling was shaking, he had started losing control over them from time to time, and because of that—

Varek was getting closer and closer to Naomi.

"LUCIAN!!"

Naomi screamed at him again, staring at his bloodied state with horrified eyes.

And even in this situation, even in this state, Lucian stared at her and his violet eyes glowed with a strong light.

The message was still the same.

Do not surrender.

That look froze Naomi.

Just... what the hell was wrong with this man...?

Why was he... still not giving up...?

Was this... really the same Lucian she knew...?

She thought inwardly and the next second, the answer arrived.

Yes.

He was the same.

Naomi remembered the old Lucian struggling in the gym to lift weights that even boys in their early teens managed to lift. She remembered him sitting at his study desk, reading the same thing with the same concentration for the tenth time, even though he knew he would not retain most of it.

It was the same.

Even back then, he never gave up, no matter what his odds were.

And even now, that hadn’t changed. The only thing that had changed was perhaps what was at stake here.

Lucian’s sweat had now been replaced by his blood, while his eyes...

His eyes remained the same.

And when Naomi saw that, she too strengthened herself.

What worse could happen anyway? Even if she died, she would return to the real world.

And just as Naomi thought that—

Something grabbed her mouth.

She looked up, her eyes widening in fright when she saw Varek standing right in front of her with a big grin on his face, holding her mouth, making sure she did not surrender and leave.

"LEAVE HER THIS INSTANT!!"

Lucian screamed as he stood up.

Pierce Pierce

Just then, two more spears pierced through his thighs.

"MMHHMM!!!"

Naomi tried to scream, but no words came out.

Varek was holding her mouth and her entire jaw too tightly. Varek, however, wasn’t particularly concerned about her.

His eyes had turned back towards Lucian.

"You want me to release her?"

He tilted his head with a big grin.

"Why don’t you come here and make me then?"

He offered, still keeping Naomi in the air. With his strength, lifting her up with a single hand couldn’t have been simpler.

And Lucian—

"I said... release her."

He spoke, his violet eyes glowing with very, very intense anger, and even with four blood spears pierced through his legs—

He stepped forward.

That sight alone made Varek pause for a moment, but he did not care. He let Lucian get close.

Lucian kept walking with a bloodied, broken body. Varek actually waited.

Then, when Lucian was finally standing in front of him, he grabbed Varek’s hand that was holding Naomi and—

"I said let go."

He glared at him.

And in his mind—

Lucian heard a question.

What is it you desire?