Hana was perplexed.

A part of her wanted to wander off and find her two beloved friends on her own, while another part of her wanted to wait for Mir to finish the fight with Isleif. However, the fight didn't seem to be ending anytime soon. 

Mir had the upper hand for a minute or so, landing a few good hits on Isleif. 

Isleif, knowing he was on the losing end, suddenly created some distance between them and whipped out an object. 

The battle was in a stalemate now, with neither side moving. 

Mir was staring intently at the object in Isleif's hands. It was a vial of blood, and there was a black mist circling around the vial. 

"That blood…"

Isleif smirked. "You know what it is, don't you?"

"Are you planning to drink it?! Are you crazy, you are only a mere mortal with an incomplete soul--"

"He said I could drink it to get more power, and I have to suffer a little," Isleif shrugged, flicking the cap of the vial off with a finger. "If I can get more power to defeat you, who cares about suffering?"

"You are insane!" 

Isleif gulped the blood down without hesitation. 

Mir gasped, impaling his sword into the ground and the air started to glitter around him before a long stretch of barrier formed around him. 

"Supreme--Hana!"

Han gasped, looking at Mir. 

"Get out of here! As far as you can run to!"

"Wh-what?"

"I can't guarantee your safety!"

"But where do I--"

Isleif let out a choked yell, an unknown force swirling around him. The sounds of bones cracking could be heard from his body, and Isleif stepped forward, crushing the empty vial under his left foot. 

"That...bastard, this isn't a little--aargh!" 

Isleif howled in pain, kneeling down on the ground. His bones started to crack even further, his right eye changing in colour. The sclera of his right eye had begun to turn black.

The two people watched, apprehensive. 

Just then, his bones extended and formed a wing behind his back, on the right side. 

Mir widened his eyes in horror, his face growing pale.

"Hana! Go now, quickly!" 

Hana felt a chill run down her spine, everything in her body was telling her to get away from this red-haired man. 

As far as possible. 

Hana spun around, sprinting away, her footsteps muffled against the grass. 

The visibility in this area was worse due to the fog, and Hana was soon out of their sights. 

Mir turned back to look at Isleif, who slowly stood up to his feet. 

The same red-haired man had a wing on the right side of his back with razor-sharp edges. The wing made out of his own bones, blood staining every part of it, and it was still growing, black feathers slowly sprouting out from it. 

The right side of his body was nothing like this left side. His veins were lining every part of his body on the right side, his clothing ripped. Moreover, instead of the usual blue-greenish veins, his veins were black. 

"Becoming a partial demon, at the expense of your own life force," Mir enclosed himself within his shield, furrowing deeply. "Is that what you really want?"

"I only want power." Isleif responded, his voice cold and distorted.

The look in his eyes was empty, lacking any spark in them. 

Isleif charged forward, clenching his right fist, still equipping his metal knuckle. A black mist wrapped around his knuckles, making it seem like it was spiked. His spiked knuckle connected with the shield, shattering it into pieces and Mir was blasted away. 

Mir halted himself using his sword and wings, glancing up hurriedly. 

Isleif charged at him again, and the two men were once again in an intense battle. Nevertheless, this time, Mir found himself at a disadvantage. 

Mir was punched into the air, and he flipped in the air, landing safely on the ground. There was a cut on his cheek, blood dripping down from it.  

I have no other choice, if I want to make it out alive. 

Combining the powers of dark magic, demon blood and moreover, being the soul fragment of Xue himself. 

He is a powerful abomination at this moment. 

Mir raised his sword into the air, and an aura of light surrounded him.

"I wasn't planning to use my elemental powers, but you left me with no choice."

"I don't really care." Isleif smirked, the empty look still remained in his different-coloured eyes. 

One completely demonic, while the other still human. 

Isleif went in for the attack again, and before he could reach Mir, a shockwave sent him flying. He landed on the ground in one smooth motion, looking up, unfazed. 

Mir was no longer dressed in robes, instead, he was wearing a magnificent armor that covered his entire body. It was difficult to determine the material of his armor, and it didn’t seem to belong in the mortal world.

The biggest change about Mir was his sword. It was originally a sword with a unique design, and its uses were like a normal sword. However, right now, it was lined with fire and crackling with electricity. In addition to that, the fire wasn't a fiery red-yellowish flame, it was a mixture between green and white. 

His current appearance was more like an angel from the heavens. It was also his actual appearance he donned in times of war. 

Isleif smirked even wider, and there was finally a spark in his empty eyes. "If I can defeat you, I will rule part of the heavenly realm."

"You can try."

The two men clashed, one with fire and electricity, the other with fire and dark magic. 

The peacefulness at the bottom of Death's Edge had been completely disrupted. 

***

A pair of demons in the cave turned their head at the same time, remaining quiet as they gazed in the same direction. 

"This power is yours," Veau stated calmly, turning back to Zeau. "You gave your blood to a mortal?"

"He used it so quickly?" Zeau raised his eyebrows, smiling. "Even if he is Xue's soul fragment, he is still a mortal and not a complete soul."

"A mortal drinking the blood of a demon," Veau mused, nonchalant. "It saps at their rationality, and their own life force."

"Mhmm."

"That is why you taught him how to absorb the other soul fragments?"

"You figured it out again!"

Veau sighed. 

Zeau gave his brother a questioning look. 

"Zeau, what do you seek to accomplish from this? To delay Xue?"

"And also, to make him suffer longer."

Veau raised his eyebrows. "Why would you want to delay the inevitable? We have more than enough time."

"Didn't you hear? It was to make him suffer too.

"Wasting your time and blood," Veau sighed, shaking his head. "It’s not worth it."

Zeau dropped his smile, narrowing his eyes at Veau. 

"Are you feeling sentimental now, brother?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I was gone for three years, and three years ago, the Veau I knew would not care if I did this."

Veau smiled lazily. 

"Then again, you have always been fickle. Sometimes, I wonder if I even know you, properly."

"Do you?"

Zeau rolled his eyes. "There you go again."

Veau shrugged. "Why do you assume I'm being sentimental?"

"You spent a long time getting along with the Supreme God-in-line, didn't you? Almost two hundred years."

"And…?" Veau raised his eyebrows. 

"Even though it was all a farce to gain his trust, distract him, and set our plans into motion."

Veau scoffed. 

"In the end, you betrayed him," Zeau narrowed his eyes even further. "But you still treated him like a friend, no?"

"Hmm, I did?"

"And now he wants to get his revenge on you, and everyone else."

"Yes, his revenge…" Veau sighed, crossing his arms across his chest. "Everything is all about revenge--"

"Sc..ums." 

A new voice croaked out, interrupting their conversation. 

The two demons finally brought their attention back to their handsome prisoner chained to the wall. His different coloured eyes were glaring murderously at the two of them. 

"Xue...treated all of you...like his own people, his...comrades," the man struggled out, coughing harshly. "Especially you, Veau…"

Veau observed the man with a blank stare, his lazy smile faltering. 

"You are even talking now? You must be really eager after hearing about Xue." Zeau plastered his smile back on.

"..."

The man remained silent, not wanting to talk anymore.

"Of course he is," Veau responded, nonchalant. "It's his old friend. Right, K'xug?

"Don't you dare...call my name...in such a friendly manner…"

"Heh, was I friendly?"

"All of you are--despicable trash, and filthy..." K'xug spat out, his voice growing softer and softer as he went on.

"Brother, what other uses does he have for us? Killing him seems tempting now, he is clearly on the side of the angels."

K'xug chuckled weakly at Zeau's words. 

"You are laughing?"

"I have never once picked sides, I am always on Xue's side...and no one else."

"How touching." Veau hummed thoughtfully. 

"He is clearly no good to us alive. I'll say it again, kill him!"

"Wait, he still has some use, Zeau."

Zeau sighed in frustration, flinging Veau's hand away on his shoulder. "One of these days, I'll finish him off myself, whether you allow it or not."

Zeau stormed off, and Veau sighed, shaking his head.

He felt K'xug's gaze on him, and he turned to K'xug. The copper brown-haired man smiled faintly at him in the dim light. 

"Veau, the demon lord, is an actual coward."

Veau stiffened, his mouth twitching before he looked away. 

K'xug shut his eyes and hung his head down, inhaling deeply. 

"It has been forty years, Xue," K'xug muttered sadly to himself. "In those forty years...I couldn't help you."

***

Xue was changing into his new clothes when he sensed a shift in the air. He shot his head up, his eyes narrowing in a certain direction. He turned, walking back to the campfire he had sat up, and he hung his wet clothes on the tree branches before glancing at Cecil who sat down, resting against the tree. 

Xue managed to find a decent spot for them to set up a small camp, and Cecil woke up amidst his preparation. In her drowsy state, she managed to take out a set of clothing for Xue from her storage ring, telling him to change into it. 

It was a collared, long black shirt with black pants, covering his entire body. The outfit was accompanied with a black and white cloak, to protect the wearer from the cold. 

By the time he changed and came back, she was back to sleeping. 

Sunlight filtered through the trees, and the light bathed the sleeping Cecil in a warm, dim light. Along with the foggy mist in the air, from afar, the raven-haired beauty seemed like someone taking shelter after a heavy rain, the scene of her resting serenely against the tree in the foggy mist was picturesque. 

She was still drenched from falling into the swamp, and she hadn’t changed out from her soaked clothes. Fortunately, her clothes were thick enough so that it wasn’t see-through due to the water. 

Xue, who was still admiring her sleeping form, noticed the way she shivered unconsciously in her sleep. He removed the cloak, approaching her quietly as he crouched down, draping over the cloak over her body. 

Cecil’s eyelashes fluttered, and she met the gaze of an ash blonde-haired man, blinking sleepily. 

Xue paused, meeting her eyes before he glanced away, adjusting the cloak on her body. His fingers brushed against the fabric of her clothes, and her long, black hair. 

“...your cloak…”

He stood up once he was done, summoning out his spear as he turned back to the direction where he felt a twisted change in the air. 

Cecil blinked in confusion, staring down at the cloak around her body. 

“You should change into your own dry clothes while I’m gone.” 

“Where are you going?” Cecil asked, starting to remove the cloak. “I’ll come with you--” 

Xue crouched back down in a hurry, pushing her back gently. “Don’t need to, and keep the cloak with you.” 

“But--” 

“Stay here and rest,” Xue emphasised, his voice firm yet gentle. “Wait for me to come back, don't go anywhere.” 

Where I am going will not be safe for you.

Cecil hesitated.

“Where else can I go?” 

Upon hearing those words from her, Xue found himself smiling slightly as he turned to walk away.

"Xue."

Xue halted, looking back at Cecil.

"Take care out there," Cecil smiled softly at him, his cloak enveloping her. "And come back soon."

Xue found himself smiling again at her words.

Such words...I haven't heard them in a long time.

Xue nodded at her, his voice gentle. "I will."

He set off without another word. 

Cecil closed her eyes, sighing as she soaked in the warmth of the fire as it crackled. She wrapped the cloak tighter around her, falling asleep within seconds. 

***

Hana panted heavily, her hands on her knees as she glanced back, her eyes wide. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her, and she even readied her bow despite not knowing how to use it properly yet. 

She didn’t know where she was running, and now that she stopped to look around, she realised how she was completely lost. Her surroundings looked the same everywhere she turned, it was all trees and fog. 

Hana placed her hand on her chest, blinking rapidly.

“Where is this, where am I? How long have I been running for?” 

The feeling she felt from Isleif as he transformed was still in her body, adrenaline driving through her veins. She was in the state of extreme alertness, and she flinched when she heard a rustling noise, brandishing her shawl and holding her bow in her hands, pulling the bowstring back like Xue taught her. 

To her surprise, an ash blonde-haired man appeared from the trees, his eyes wide as he observed the frightened Hana in front of him. 

“Hana?” 

Hana inhaled sharply and she hastily put away her bow, throwing herself onto Xue as she embraced him. 

Xue stumbled back a little, surprised when he heard Hana sniffling. She tightened her arms around his neck even more, trembling a little.

“Xue! Oh thank god!” Hana cried out, utterly relieved. “You are here, and fine! I was so afraid after I saw what happened to you and Cecil!” 

Xue smiled gently, patting Hana on the back.

Hana gasped in realisation, withdrawing from the hug as tears clung to her eyelashes. “Is Cecil alright? Is she? Did anything happen to her? Where is she?” 

“She is fine, just resting.” 

Hana rubbed away the tears in her eyes, beaming. “That’s good, that’s good! As long as the two of you are fine!” 

“Hana, how did you come down here?” 

“Mmmm,” Hana furrowed her eyebrows, pouting. “I forgot his name, he had this really blue hair and we always see him around these days…” 

“Veau?” 

Hana brightened up, nodding eagerly. “He brought me down!” 

The heroine forgot to mention how she was dragged down rather than brought down, with her screams echoing throughout the area the entire time. 

Xue didn’t bother to understand Veau’s actions, only observing Hana for a while longer, confirming to himself that she wasn’t injured in any manner. 

“At least you are here, safe and sound,” Xue sighed in relief, patting her head. “You said Veau came down here with you? Where did he go?” 

“He just disappeared!” Hana gestured with her hands of Veau disappearing like the wind. “Like whoosh!”

Xue scoffed.

“I thought he came down here to help you and Cecil.”

“Veau would never do that.” Xue responded wryly. 

“Eh, why? The two of you seem like...friends.” 

Xue ruffled Hana’s hair, shaking his head at her. “That was...a long time ago, and something I don’t want to think about. He is a bad person, Hana, do not get dragged into his pace.” 

“Oh.” Hana nodded obediently, before beaming and hugging Xue again. “I am so happy that you are okay!” 

Xue wore a soft look on his face.

“Su-Supreme Goddess!” 

The look on Xue’s face hardened as he heard a familiar voice calling out in a familiar term he now disliked to hear. 

“Hana, get behind me.” 

Hana immediately hid behind Xue’s back, peeping her head out in the direction where the voice called out from. 

Within the fog, someone walked out from the trees and it was Mir. 

Compared to his grandiose state from before, the current Mir wore a battered armor and there were blood stains everywhere on his armor. His long, black hair was now disheveled and his wings had lost its lustre, a part of it had been completely torn apart with blood dripping down from it. 

Mir staggered, using his sword to support him and his face was bruised, no longer like the beautiful angel he was from before. 

“Why are you here?” Xue snarled, glaring at Mir. 

Mir paused, staring at Xue, wide-eyed. “Supreme God…!”

Xue clicked his tongue at being called that again. 

“Oh, she’s with you,” Mir sighed in relief at seeing Hana by Xue’s side. “I thought Isleif had gotten to her…”

Xue recognised the name of his soul fragment, furrowing his eyebrows at Mir. “He came down here with you?” 

“He did, and we fought,” Mir informed, nodding his head. “I was forced to fight him with my full strength and I barely won.” 

Xue was skeptical, until Hana tugged at his sleeve and glanced worriedly at Mir. “Xue, that soul fragment of yours...he’s scary, he has changed even more.” 

“Changed?” 

“He drank demon blood.” 

The frown on Xue’s face deepened, and he looked at Hana, wanting her to confirm Mir’s words.

Hana nodded in agreement. “He drank something red in colour from this small bottle! And then he...he became different. I was there, I saw it! He grew like a...like a wing!”

“You killed him?” Xue questioned Mir, unhappy. 

Mir shook his head weakly. “He escaped, he’s...he’s gone.” 

***

《 start 》

"Where else can I go?"

"Take care out there and come back soon."

Somehow, it's like you are saying you cannot go anywhere else unless you are with me.

Somehow, it's like you want me by your side.

That makes me happy.

You can do what you want.

You can say what you want.

You can go where you want.

Whatever it is, I do not mind.

As long as you are willing to stay by my side.

As long as you are safe and sound.

《 stop 》