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Chapter 114: 114. Try to kill him
Leo stood in the torch lit hallway, his twin axes vanishing into his item box as the Blood Dragger appeared in his hand, its red blade glowing faintly, eager for a fight. At the hallway’s end, Sylo stands, her eyes burning with frustration so strong it seemed to cut him into pieces. A hidden blade slid from her sleeve, dripping with a shiny, hissing poison. Her gaze locked onto Leo’s crimson eyes, promising to rip him apart.
Lysa huddled against the wall, her skinny body trembling, eyes wide with fear as she watched them.
Sylo lunged, fast and deadly, her poisoned blade aiming for Leo’s heart. He raised the Blood Dragger, its red edge ready to meet her strike—when a hand grabbed Sylo’s wrist, stopping her cold. Erin Dranemount appeared between them. Her violet eyes glanced at Sylo, a mocking smirk on her lips.
"Not so fast, darling," she said, voice sharp and cruel. With one hard kick to Sylo’s chest, she sent her crashing into the wall, the stone cracking loudly, dust falling. Leo’s eyes widened, impressed—Sylo was dangerous, but Erin tossed her aside like nothing.
Erin turned to Leo, her violet eyes blazing with anger and frustration as they met his red gaze. She marched over, boots splashing in blood, and grabbed the collar of his bloody black undershirt, pulling him close. "Leo, you idiot!" she snapped, voice sharp enough to cut through the noise.
Leo smirked, teasing despite the danger. "Stealing my fight? Didn’t know you were so greedy, Erin."
"Shut up!" she yelled, her shout bouncing off the stone walls. A cult soldier sneaked up behind them, sword raised. Without looking, Erin flicked her wrist, sending a sharp gust of wind mana through the air. The soldier’s head flew off, blood spraying, his body dropping instantly.
Leo’s smirk grew, genuinely impressed. "Okay, that was cool."
"Shut up!" Erin snapped again, gripping his collar tighter, pulling him so close their faces nearly touched. "What are you doing here, Leo? Who said you could jump into this death trap?"
Leo leaned in, voice playful but bold. "What, I need your permission now? Since when am I your pet?"
Erin gritted her teeth, her violet eyes flashing. "You think you can just walk into a cult hideout and get out alive? You’re reckless, Leo—almost crazy!"
His smirk faded, curiosity sparking. "Oh? But you sent Rin and manipulated me to fight Valtharion, planned every step like a master. But I can’t take on these cult weirdos? That’s not fair, is it?"
Erin’s voice lowered, each word sharp. "That was planned. Every risk covered, every move thought out to make you defeat the valtharion. But this?" She pointed to the bloody hallway, bodies scattered like broken toys. "This is a mess you’re not ready for. You’re lucky Draven ran because of me, or you’d be dead right now."
Leo’s eyes narrowed, interest growing. "So you know this cult inside out? Their names, their power, even my part in this? I just mentioned hitting a cult base, and you found me here like a tracker. What’s your deal, Erin?"
Her face hardened, shutting him out, but her voice had a hint of softness. "That’s not your business. My job is to keep you safe, and you’re making it so hard, running around like a dumb kid."
Leo’s tone softened, but his eyes stayed sharp. "They took Vivien, Erin. My little sister. They taunted me with her life. What could I do? Sit and wait for her body to show up?"
Erin’s grip loosened, her shout breaking with emotion. "Then you should’ve told me! You should’ve waited for me to help, not rushed in alone with your stupid plans!" Her voice shook, anger mixed with something deeper—fear, care, a worry Leo didn’t expect. She was a puzzle, like a mastermind who knew every move in this deadly game, yet falling apart with feelings, her fierce edge softened by a protectiveness he couldn’t understand.
Erin let go of Leo’s collar, stepping back with a tired sigh, her violet eyes still burning with frustration. "What now, Leo? You grab your sister and just leave?" she asked, voice sharp but with a hint of giving up.
Leo’s red eyes gleamed, voice firm. "Exactly."
Erin glanced toward the hallway’s turn, her voice softening. "Vivien."
Leo’s head snapped the same way, his heart jumping. Vivien peeked from behind a cell, her messy auburn hair falling over her face, her red eyes wide with fear. But when she saw Leo, relief washed over her, tears spilling as she ran, her small voice breaking. "Big brother!"
Leo raised a hand, voice gentle but strong. "Don’t come, I’m all bloody." But Vivien didn’t care, crashing into him, her small arms wrapping tight around his waist.
She pressed her face into his blood-soaked shirt, sobbing, the cold iron of her slave collar digging into his side. Her words were a messy, tearful mumble, but Leo felt her relief.
He smiled, resting a hand on her head, his touch soft. "Don’t cry, little devil. Your brother’s here to take you home."
Vivien looked up, tears streaking her face, searching his eyes. "Really?" she whispered, tired but hopeful.
Leo crouched a bit, chuckling. "Yeah. We’ve got Lucian’s birthday to celebrate, right?" Her lips curved into a weak, bright smile, joy breaking through her exhaustion.
Lysa, standing behind, whispered, "Vivien?" Vivien’s eyes lit up, joy flooding her face. "Lysa!" she cried, pulling away from Leo to run to her friend. The girls hugged tightly, holding each other, their slave collars clinking softly.
Leo’s eyes darkened as he looked at the iron bands around their necks, his jaw tightening. "What’s this cult doing to these people?" he growled.
Erin’s voice was low, her eyes on Sylo, who was crawling up from the rubble, blood dripping from her lips. "Ask her."
Sylo glared at Erin, mind racing. Who is this woman? Her power... it’s beyond the Ruler’s. Her teeth clenched, rage mixed with a spark of fear.
Leo’s voice broke the tension, sharp and bold. "Hey, Draven’s girl! What’s your deal? I heard Draven talking about weapons. What’s this cult up to?"
Sylo spat blood, wiping her mouth, her voice a nasty hiss. I don’t owe explanations to every idiot I meet. My only duty is to finish you."
Leo sighed, rubbing his neck, annoyed. "Why’s everyone so stubborn and eager to kill me?"
Sylo’s eyes narrowed, voice icy. "Because you’re an obstacle to our Goddess."
Leo’s eyebrow lifted, a mocking grin spreading. "Oh, that Goddess? Rash or Bash or something?"
Erin shot him an annoyed look, voice flat. "Ashtarya, you moron."
Leo shrugged, not caring. "Yeah, that."
Erin sighed, her patience running thin. She turned to Sylo, her smirk back, sharp and dangerous. "Hey, you want to kill the Ruler, right?"
Sylo’s eyes flicked to her. "More than anything."
Erin’s smirk grew, her violet eyes shining with challenge. "Then go for it. Try to kill him. I’ll just watch." She stepped back, crossing her arms.
