Alice falls flat onto the ground.

Blood continues to drip as Axel lowers the sword. . He towers over Alice as his shadow casts upon her. The battle has truly come to an end with Axel being the one still left standing.

Drip . . . drip, drip.

It continues to drizzle onto the battlefield, lightning crackles off in the distance as Axel doesn't move, staring intensely into the fallen warrior. .

Drip . . . drip, drip.

Alice begins to open her eyes . .

She stares into the great beyond with the cold sensation of the drizzling hitting her face.

Her eyes widen as Axel holds the very collar that was around her neck. The slave curse deactivates and the heavy burden around her neck fades away.

She doesn't utter a single word, but her eyes start to tremble. She freezes in place, almost as if time itself has stopped. An overwhelming amount of emotions start to possess her as tears swell up in her eyes.

Axel stabs the ground next to her with a cold demeanor.

" . . I hate people like you . . . So powerless to do anything, it makes me want to vomit," Axel leaves the sword pierced into the ground before turning to Alice.

"Pick up that sword . ."

He stands menacingly with his eyes glaring deep into her soul, thunder roars behind him before he turns around, and starts walking away . .

"If you still have something to fight for, then pick up that sword . ."

He speaks in a cold voice, walking away with his head tuckered down.

His words leave her speechless . . They sink deep into her heart as she begins to cry without holding back. Her heart shatters as she lets out all the suffering and misery in her life in the form of tears. She cries her sorrows away and covers her eyes with her hands.

At the very end of her dark, miserable tunnel, there shines a light, an angel . .

"Why . ."

" . . Did you let me live . ."

The pain in her heart deepens . .

"Why couldn't I have met you sooner . . ."

Axel stops in his tracks, before turning his head. His face displays no ounce of emotions.

And yet . .

From out of his pitch-black eyes . . .

A single tear falls from his eye, one with so much grief and sorrow . .

For the first time since being reborn, Axel shows an emotion that isn't rage, empathy. .

He lowers his head and walks away from the moonlight glow.

He punches a wall out of frustration. Why? Why did he decide to spare her? He gains nothing in doing so. He could have easily killed her and taken her power as his own, nothing was preventing him from doing so, and yet, he ultimately doesn't. Not even Axel knows why, he keeps asking himself this question as his nerves grow more irritated by the second.

What is wrong with him?

He stays silent as the void in his heart increases. He lifts his head and bathes in the drizzle, self-reflecting for quite some time. . . . .

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Crack!

" . . . . . . . . . Oh? . . . ." Says Yokubo before staring at his hand in a curious manner.

"What's wrong sire?" Asks Frank.

Yokubo remains silent for a few seconds, before turning to Frank.

". . Alice's slave curse has broken. Which means she has either died, or somebody shattered the slave collar," the room goes silent, he ponders for a moment before glancing over to Frank in an almost pleased expression, he was anticipating for this to happen.

"Tell all the knights that they will be on patrol for tonight, no one shall get an ounce of sleep until dawn. Also, alert my three vanguards, tell them to grab Alice's sister and take her to a secure location, I am not convinced that Alice is dead," says Yokubo.

"And what makes you think that?" Asks Frank. Yokubo smiles at Frank's response, almost finding it amusing.

"I can see the stats, HP, and location from my slaves at all times Frank. It could have been a swift kill that abruptly ended my connection with her, but the slave curse tends to fade away rather than abruptly ending when the slave dies," says Yokubo.

Franks lowers his head, understanding what he's implying.

"Okay then sire, I shall alert the vanguard and the commanders."

He leaves with great haste as Yokubo stares at the grand windows. Rather than appearing shocked or worried, he seems delighted with the outcome. A creepy smile rises from his lips as he watches the storm on the horizon, quickly approaching them as the first droplet slams against the window.

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Thunder roars as it lights up the entire night sky!! Startling all the animals nearby as a horse gallops through the muddy road! Heavy rainfalls upon the two as Axel steers the horse towards the castle.

"How much farther do we have left?!" Asks Axel, having to force a yell because of the loud rain.

Alice is behind him and wrapping her wounds with the bandages provided by one of the pouches.

"Judging by how fast we're going, it shouldn't take that long anymore!"

"Good, I don't know how long I can keep going with this stupid horse!" Says Axel as he stares down the horse with a grudge.

Alice just shakes her head disapprovingly.

"When the Harbinger of Death climbs onto your back, of course, you would try to shrug it off. Don't blame my horse for being afraid of you," replies Alice.

Since the two have the same goal in mind, they've made a temporary truce. Alice gave him a general layout of the castle as well as the information of his discovery and the weapons they possess. While Axel lets her live and gives her a chance to rescue her sister and run away to Beast Clan, where no humans can reach them. While they escape, Axel will be the main entertainer and attack the castle all by himself. It's such a ridiculous suicide charge, even with Axel's regenerative abilities, Alice felt guilty for having to use him as a scapegoat.

And yet, he insists this is how it's meant to be, telling Alice not to throw her life away in a pity attempt for revenge, not when she has someone to live for.

Even though Yokubo has made her life a living hell, Alice just needs to trust his word and have faith that he's going to defeat him. She has seen just how powerful Axel truly is, she knows Axel is unbelievably powerful, but then again, Yokubo is his own kind of monster.

They spot the castle on the horizon, Axel hurries the horse as he sets his eyes onto his prey.

"Are you done over there!?"

"Yeah! I've finished wrapping the bandages onto myself!"

There's no plan involved in this, Axel will simply charge straight through, and rampage his way to the audience room while Alice sneaks into the back and grabs her sister.

"Thank you . ." Says Alice, catching Axel completely by surprise.

"What are you thanking me for?"

Alice lets out a small smile, her ears slightly rise warmly by his response.

"If everything goes according to plan, then I believe this will be the last time we'll see each other. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me. Keeping me company during our journey, protecting me during the night, making me laugh, and most of all . . Sparring me and giving me another chance to see my sister."

Axel stays silent, almost as if her words went through one ear, and out the other.

" . . . Don't thank me, I'm not doing this out of being a good person, it just so happens to be letting you live benefits me more than killing you," he says with a cold voice.

Alice keeps a smile on her face nonetheless, knowing full well that his actions say otherwise.

The castle they're approaching quickly becomes bigger, freakishly big. Usually, structures like these would be called fortresses, a castle would be where royalty or the king lives. But the structure before is way too big to be called a fortress, it's a monstrosity, way bigger than any castle Axel has seen in the history books. It's the very definition of grand with the appearance being of an ominous, haunted castle. It sits very close to a raven, with the border that connects the two races behind it.

Just a little bit longer, Alice will be there any second from now to save her sister!

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Lightning flashes through the bar windows and into the dungeon. Scaring the knights, and frightening the prisoners. Water is starting to leak through the ceiling and into the cells. Everyone starts to shiver as the coldness from the outside starts to seek its way through the windows and cracks of the wall.

The one only who doesn't appear to have any sort of reaction is Annabelle, who is just staring at the carving she did next to her bed. Her body is also shivering with breath becoming visible through the cold mist, and yet she doesn't seem to notice it.

All the fruits and vegetables Alice gave to her are sitting on the floor in a pile, untouched.

And the potion Alice gave her rest in her palms.

" . . . Alice . ."

Her words quickly disappear into the wind. .

The cell door opens all of a sudden,

Annabelle turns to face the visitor and her eyes widen as her heart nearly drops to her stomach.

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Axel whips the horse as they nearly reach the castle! The horse runs along with the wind while Axel turns back!

"When I give you the signal! Take control of the horse!"

Alice nods, waiting patiently for the signal.

Thunder cracks in the sky! The rain pours even harder! The storm runs wild and goes berserk!!

They're vastly approaching the gates! In a few matters of seconds, all hell is about to break loose!

"Wait, look over there! Intruders!!!"

The knights spot the two and get their bows ready! Axel smiles sadistically as multiple arrows cut through the droplets of rain!!

The horse dodges and weaves its way through the hail of arrows as they approach the castle gates!

"You ready?"

"Yes!!"

Axel smiles as he gets on his two legs. He leaps off the horse amongst the chaos!

"Now!! Take the horse!"

Alice quickly takes his place and grabs the leash!!

"Thank you, Axel! Thank you!!" She shouts as the horse continues to gallop!

Axel laughs as he lands on the ground and jumps towards the knight with the floor shattering under him!!

"Come here Yokubo!! Let's see which one of us is the bigger monster!! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!"

"Haaaaaahhhhh it's the reaper!!!!"

Axel lands inside the castle and runs loose! Killing everyone without any mercy!