The alley was drenched in darkness, the scent of blood thick in the air.
Dozens of lifeless bodies lay piled up, their vacant eyes staring into nothingness.
In front of me, a man trembled violently, his back pressed against the cold brick wall. His breath hitched, his eyes wide with terror.
"P-Please! Forgive me! I swear—I won't do it again!" he screamed, his voice cracking.
A second later, a bullet tore through his skull.
The sound of his body collapsing onto the heap of corpses was swallowed by the silence of the night. I lowered my gun, exhaling slowly.
"…Guns really aren't my style."
Behind me, Zack rummaged through the dead, his hands expertly searching for anything of value. He barely glanced up as he spoke.
"You looked good doing it, though."
Then, with a smirk, he added, "By the way, can we talk about that new hairstyle of yours?"
I ran a hand through my hair—longer on the right side, messy yet deliberate.
"Just trying something new," I muttered.
"Well, if we're heading into war, we might as well look cool," Zack chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah," I sighed. "So? Found anything useful?"
"Should've. These scumbags must have had something worth taking."
Zack let out a dry laugh. "Mostly family photos. Lots of them." He tossed a few aside before holding up a small handful of gemstones. "Other than that, just these."
I leaned against the cold wall, lighting a cigarette. The ember glowed faintly in the darkness, casting flickering shadows on the bloodstained ground.
"Guess they were just worthless criminals after all."
"By the way, we're all fugitives now," Zack muttered, slipping another gem into his pocket.
"And apparently, anyone who wipes out every last member of Venganza will be handsomely rewarded."
He let out a low chuckle. "Criminals hunting criminals… kinda funny, don't you think?"
I exhaled, watching the smoke from my cigarette curl into the cold night air.
"We're not criminals." I flicked the ashes onto the pile of corpses. "We're vigilantes."
Zack snorted. "Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night." He stretched his arms. "Alright, let's get out of here—"
Before he could finish, a sudden shout pierced the alley.
"FREEZE! THERE'S NO WAY OUT!"
A squad of armed officers emerged from the shadows, their weapons aimed directly at us.
Zack yawned, unfazed. "Man, I was just about to call it a night."
"I SAID, FREEZE!" one of the officers barked.
Zack sighed. "You guys are really annoying."
With a swift flick of his wrist, a knife flew through the air—embedding itself between the eyes of the officer who had shouted.
The man crumpled instantly, blood splattering onto the pavement.
The remaining officers barely had time to react before they opened fire.
Too slow.
We moved as one, slipping through the hail of bullets with practiced ease.
I closed the distance between me and one of them, weaving past his desperate attempts to shoot. His hands trembled.
Pathetic.
Before he could even register what happened, I had wrenched the gun from his grasp and pressed the barrel against his temple.
"Freeze." My voice was ice.
The rest of the officers hesitated. Their fingers hovered over their triggers, but they knew—one wrong move, and their comrade would be the next to drop.
Zack grinned, tossing a smoke bomb onto the ground. A thick cloud swallowed the alley, distorting their vision.
"Time to go," he murmured.
Without another word, we vanished into the night.
We arrived at the hotel and made our way to the room we had booked.
Inside, Chronia, Arthur, and Lycaon were deep in conversation, their voices filling the dimly lit space.
As for Oris? I sent him somewhere to find someone I wanted to recruit.
It was his first mission after joining Venganza.
As we stepped in, their attention shifted toward us. "Oh! Welcome back," Chronia greeted.
My eyes immediately landed on Lycaon. "How's your wound?"
"Better…" He stretched his shoulders, wincing slightly. "And damn… that Boomera explosion was insane."
Zack let out a tired sigh as he collapsed onto a chair. "We're home."
Arthur leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "And? How did the investigation go? Any new recruits?"
I shook my head, "No. Instead, we got ambushed by those damn officers out of nowhere"
Arthur smirked, "Hah. Bet they weren't much of a challenge."
Before I could respond, a sudden gust of wind blew through the room.
The hotel window had swung open, curtains flaring wildly.
Our gazes snapped toward it—toward her.
A girl sat casually on the window frame, her long white hair flowing behind her, crimson eyes glowing under the moonlight.
"You guys looking for new members?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips. "I'll join."
Zack reacted instantly, hurling a knife straight at her.
She didn't even flinch. With an effortless motion, she deflected it midair.
Chronia lunged forward, attempting to bind her movements—but before her hands could reach, the girl's body twisted into a swarm of bats, scattering into the room before reforming behind Chronia.
"Hey, take it easy on me," she teased, her form shifting back into a human. Her eyes locked onto mine.
"Yo, long time no see, Arche."
"Yeah… long time no see, Valeria."
"…You two know each other?" Chronia asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
I let out a small sigh. "Yeah. She's an… acquaintance." Then, turning back to Valeria, I continued, "By the way—"
Before I could finish my sentence, she yanked me onto the bed.
In one swift motion, she straddled me, her cold fingers undoing my shirt buttons.
And then—her fangs sank into my neck.
"ARCHE?!" Chronia shrieked, her face instantly turning red.
The others immediately tensed, hands ready to draw their weapons.
"Relax," I muttered, barely fazed. "She's just a vampire."
Valeria hummed against my skin as she drank, a shiver running down my spine.
"…She really likes sucking my blood."
That explanation was enough for the others to slowly back down—except for Chronia, who was now radiating a murderous aura.
After what felt like an eternity, Valeria finally pulled away, licking the last drop from her lips.
"Aaah… your blood is as sweet as ever," she purred, her crimson eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.
She then turned her gaze to the others, who were still glaring daggers at her.
"Oh my~ Did I scare them?" She smirked, tilting her head. "How adorable~"
"Have you never met a vampire before? Arche was totally chill when she found out I was one," Valeria scoffed.
"Seriously, Arche?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.
I just nodded, not even bothered. Zack, on the other hand, leaned in. "Oh! You mean Oronella?"
I nodded again. Zack and I had both met the same vampire, after all.
Arthur blinked, clearly confused. "Who?" He tilted his head like a confused puppy.
"Anyway" With a playful giggle, she wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me even closer.
"He's my snack, just so you all know~"
Chronia clenched her fists, her voice low and seething. "This brat…"
"Why are you here? And where is Oswald?" I asked, my tone even.
Valeria tilted her head slightly, then smiled. "Oswald? Oh, he's dead."
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
"…Dead?" Arthur repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yup." Valeria's response was disturbingly casual.
"He just wasn't strong enough." Her smirk widened, as if the words themselves amused her.
I shoved her away, my brows furrowed. "Was he killed, or—"
"You think too negatively," she cut me off, eyes gleaming. "He only died because of old age."
Then, with an almost cruel amusement, she leaned in, staring straight into my eyes.
"What's wrong? Gonna cry for your dead friend? How pathetic."
I exhaled slowly. "No. It's just… surprising."
Arthur shot me an incredulous look. "Arche! Aren't you even a little sad that your friend just died?!"
I shrugged. "Not really. He was old, anyway."
Valeria let out a sudden burst of laughter, clutching her stomach.
"Aha~ I almost forgot how messed up you are!" she grinned, wiping a nonexistent tear from her eye.
"I bet Oswald would've loved your reaction."
Still chuckling, she reached out and ruffled my hair. "Such a cruel one."
Before I could swat her hand away, Chronia yanked Valeria back, effortlessly lifting her off the ground.
"Get away from Arche, you damn brat!" Chronia growled, her glare sharp enough to kill.
Valeria, still smirking, tilted her head at Chronia. "Oh? How adorable."
Then, with a fluid motion, she wrapped her arms around Chronia's waist and pulled her in.
"I'm assuming you like Arche, right?"
Chronia's face turned red, but she didn't hesitate. "Of course! I like Arche!" she declared without a shred of doubt.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alright, enough from both of you."
"Hey, you said you wanted to join, right?" Zack asked, his tone skeptical.
"Yeah. Are you actually serious about that?" Lycaon added, his sharp gaze locked onto Valeria.
Valeria smirked and finally released Chronia from her grasp.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be serious?" She stretched lazily. "Besides, I have nothing better to do now that my partner is dead."
A brief silence followed before Lycaon spoke up again. "I have a question. How did you even know about us?"
Valeria gave a casual shrug. "You guys are making a name for yourselves."
Then, her eyes flicked toward Lycaon, a glint of amusement in them.
"Quite the name, actually. A group of fugitives feared by both criminals and law enforcement… Not bad."
"She… she's right," Zack admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
He then turned to me. "What do you think, boss? Accept her or not?"
I sighed, leaning back against the wall. "There's no harm in accepting her."
My gaze shifted to Valeria. "Besides, I have to admit… she does have great abilities."
Valeria grinned. "Oh my, thanks for the flattery~"
She twirled a strand of her white hair between her fingers. "But I hope you guys can keep up with me."
Chronia folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Oh? How great is this kid, exactly?" she asked, a sharp edge to her voice.
Valeria chuckled. "Kid? I'm older than you, you know."
Then, with a smug smirk, she turned to Chronia. "But you're right about one thing."
Her red eyes gleamed under the dim light. "I'm great. I'm perfect. And there's no one better than me."
"Oh yeah, Arche—there's something we discussed earlier," Arthur suddenly spoke, his tone grim.
I turned to him, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "In the city… people have been dying."
He slid a newspaper across the table. The headline was bold and chilling: Mysterious Deaths Plague the City—Officials Suspect Poisoning.
"The victims all collapsed suddenly," Arthur continued. "No signs of struggle, no known illnesses. Just… dead."
Zack leaned in beside me, scanning the article. "So, what do you want us to do?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
Arthur's eyes darkened. "Find out who's behind this, of course."
He exhaled sharply before adding, "Back then, you wouldn't even ask—you'd already be out there looking for answers."
His words hung in the air like a quiet accusation. "You've changed, huh, Arche?" he muttered.
Valeria chuckled, crossing her arms.
"Heh. A man who just has to meddle in other people's business," she said, voice laced with sarcasm.
I shot her a cold glare. "Shut up."
Zack tapped a finger against the newspaper. "You think this is the work of a person?"
I exhaled slowly. "There's no natural plague going around… so yeah, it's a strong possibility."
"If someone really is controlling poison, we need to recruit them," Lycaon spoke up, his golden eyes gleaming with interest.
Chronia folded her arms. "Do you have a plan, Arche?"
I leaned back against the chair, letting the weight of the situation settle in.
Then, with a sigh, I straightened up and cleared my throat.
"Alright, students—whoever wants to volunteer as bait, raise your hand."
I spoke with the exaggerated tone of a teacher addressing a classroom.
Arthur, out of pure reflex, raised his hand.
A beat of silence.
Then his eyes widened. "…A-ah—"
Zack snorted.
"The class president instincts never die, huh?" I smirked.
Arthur's face twisted in annoyance. "Shut up! You always do this! Even back in the academy!"
I grinned, sticking out my tongue in response. "Well, too late now."
I pushed myself off the chair, grabbing my coat. "Let's move."
We made our way to the park at the center of the city, taking cover and keeping our eyes trained on Arthur.
"Uh… looks like this isn't working," Arthur muttered, frustration evident in his voice.
"Pathetic," Valeria scoffed, her tone laced with disdain. "Look how obvious he's trying to act as bait."
Suddenly, a woman appeared. The first thing that stood out was… her chest—flat as a board.
It had been a while since I'd seen someone like her.
"Oh! Hello, what are you doing here?" Arthur greeted, his voice a little too eager.
"I'm lost. Can you help me?" the woman said, her tone soft, almost too innocent.
Arthur stepped forward, ready to assist.
But before he could make a move, Chronia froze time around them.
"Arthur, stop."
Zack, acting quickly, lunged to bind the woman's legs, but she was fast—too fast. She dodged effortlessly, like she was expecting it.
"She's nimble," Lycaon observed, his body already shifting into his werewolf form. His claws extended, ready for anything.
"Don't let your guard down, Arthur," Zack added, his voice sharp as he appeared behind him.
I watched the scene unfold, unable to hide my amusement. "He really hasn't changed… always helping random people."
Arthur's face reddened with irritation. "Shut up! At least I'm not the one running my mouth all the time."
"Wait, where's the brat?" Chronia asked, looking around.
Valeria was nowhere to be found.
Chronia scowled. "Well, she might be scared."
"A girl like that… join our team?" Chronia grumbled. "Seriously, she's more trouble than she's worth."
The woman's voice interrupted the tension. "Who's the boss?"
I stepped forward, my gaze locking with hers. "Arche—the fool hero, that's me."
Her lips curled into an eerie smile. "Is that so? Nice to meet you."
And then… her voice changed, sharp and unsettling.
Green gas started to seep from the air around us, thick and foul.
Chronia was the first to react, her body collapsing as she coughed violently. I quickly covered my nose, realizing the danger.
"It's poison!" I shouted, panic setting in.
"Get out of here!" I shouted, grabbing Chronia's limp form and lifting her up.
But before I could escape, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.
An arrow.
My body went cold, the poison coursing through me. My limbs went weak, and the world around me blurred.
Poison again?
The darkness took over, and I collapsed, unconscious.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was everyone staring at me. they all looked relieved.
"We made it back to the hotel, huh?"
Before I could even sit up, Chronia lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck in a tight hug.
"Thank God…" she muttered, her voice shaking slightly.
I sighed, feeling a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder. "Chronia… my shoulder still hurts, you know…" I whispered, barely managing to breathe.
"Ah! Right! Sorry!" She quickly pulled away, her face turning red with embarrassment.
I turned my gaze toward Zack. "So, what the hell happened to me?"
Zack leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Your shoulder got sliced open and laced with poison. We need to get you to a hospital."
I stiffened. A hospital?
I sat there, completely silent. Then, as my brain processed his words, memories of what happened flashed through my mind.
"…Where is Valeria?" I asked, my tone now serious.
Chronia's expression instantly darkened.
"Don't mind that brat! She abandoned us! That damn traitor—"
Before she could finish her rant, something stirred inside her shirt pocket.
A small bat crawled out, twitching its wings. "AAAHH!!!" Chronia screamed, leaping backward in sheer panic.
In an instant, the bat shifted and reformed into Valeria, now standing with a smug grin.
"Who are you calling a brat?" she sneered, amusement dancing in her crimson eyes.
Chronia's face was frozen in shock, her hands still trembling from the surprise.
Valeria stretched her arms lazily, looking utterly unbothered. "And you were saying I abandoned you guys, huh~?"
I sighed and leaned my head back against the pillow. "Valeria… just remove the damn poison already."
She let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, you humans and your fragile little bodies."
She stepped closer, her gaze settling on my wound. "Fine, but only because you asked."
Then, with a sly smirk, she added, "But the others have to leave first. I want some privacy with Arche~"
Chronia immediately flared up. "What are you planning, brat?!" She took a step forward, looking ready to strangle Valeria on the spot.
Lycaon, ever the peacekeeper, simply grabbed Chronia by the back of her collar and started dragging her away. "Come on, let's go."
Chronia flailed. "LET ME AT HER! I SWEAR I'LL RIP HER HEAD OFF—"
The door slammed shut behind them.
Arthur lingered for a moment, arms crossed. "Can I trust you with this?"
Valeria rolled her eyes. "Oh please, this isn't the first time."
Arthur sighed. "Fine. We'll be outside."
Zack gave me a knowing smirk before following the others.
And just like that, the room fell silent, leaving only me and Valeria.
She sat beside me on the bed, her fingers gently brushing over my wound as she smirked.
"…Now then, let's have some fun, shall we?" Valeria locked the door and shut the window with a deliberate, soft click.
"Isn't it too much to ask them to leave?" I asked, watching her intently.
Valeria's eyes gleamed with an unsettling calm, and her hair gradually turned a deep crimson, her form shifting, becoming more mature with each passing second.
"I just don't want them seeing me like this," she replied, her voice laced with amusement.
"I still want them to think of me as a mischievous little loli," she added with a mischievous grin, as if the thought amused her.
Her transformation was not just cosmetic. There was an ominous weight to it.
"And also," she continued, her tone shifting slightly more serious, "I need this form to draw out the poison. This is no ordinary poison."
She moved closer, and with a precise motion, she pulled my shirt open, her fingers brushing against my skin as she positioned herself above the wound.
"Don't be too happy about this," I muttered, watching her carefully.
She didn't answer immediately, her focus on my shoulder.
Her lips pressed gently to the wound, and I could feel the distinct sensation of her drawing out the poison—slow, deliberate, and almost painful in its intensity.
Minutes passed, her silence heavy in the air. Finally, she pulled away, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, her smirk never leaving her face.
"Poison doesn't taste good, you know," she remarked nonchalantly, her voice almost teasing.
I exhaled, feeling the pressure lift slightly from my body. "I feel much better now."
She tilted her head, an amused glint in her eye. "Don't get too comfortable. The poison's out, but you'll still feel its effects lingering for a while."
I glanced down at the wound, now free from the toxin, and then back at her. "The important thing is that the poison's no longer in my body."
I sat on the edge of the bed, exhaling slowly as I reached for my shirt.
Just as I was about to put it back on, Valeria's voice cut through the silence.
"Why do you want to fight against Lunar Ascendance, Arche?" Her tone was calm, yet there was an unsettling weight behind her words.
"Is it just because they're an evil organization that threatens human lives?"
She paused, her crimson eyes studying me. "You know you could die, right?"
I looked at her, meeting her gaze without hesitation.
"Why did you choose to sacrifice your own life for the sake of others?"
Her body shifted back, shrinking into the form of a child once again.
She looked smaller now, yet her words carried an eerie gravity.
I let the silence stretch before finally answering.
"Not really," I said. "I fight them for the two women I love."
The room felt heavier as those words left my mouth.
At first, I had only been half-hearted in my resolve to oppose Lunar Ascendance.
It was just another battle, another struggle in a long list of conflicts I'd been dragged into.
But everything changed when I learned they were planning to attack Robetta.
And when I found out that my mother was still alive—living there, unaware of the storm heading her way—my hesitation disappeared.
This fight was no longer just about stopping an evil organization.
This was for her.
For Elaina.
For my mother.
I clenched my fist, grounding myself in that truth. Valeria blinked, processing my words. Then, with a sharp exhale, she scoffed.
"Two women you love, huh?" She repeated, a slow, mocking smirk spreading across her lips.
"How cliché."
She shook her head in disappointment. "Seriously?" she sneered. "So, all of this—risking your life, standing in the way of an unstoppable force—is just for love?"
Her eyes flickered with something unreadable.
"You're a selfish person, huh?" Valeria muttered. "I misjudged you."
Then, after a beat, she laughed—a dry, humorless chuckle. "Ah, no… You've always been like this."
She turned toward the door without looking at me. "You guys can come in now."
The door creaked open.
Chronia, Arthur, Lycaon, and Zack stepped inside, their expressions tense.
They had been listening.
Of course they had.
The weight of their stares pressed down on me, but I didn't say anything.
There was nothing to explain.
I had already made my choice.
"Are you feeling better, Arche?" Arthur asked, his expression filled with concern.
"It's much better," I replied, rolling my shoulder a little.
Zack squinted at me before turning to Valeria. "No way... What did you do to him, Valeria?"
Valeria smirked, arms crossed. "I just sucked his—"
"You WHAT?!" Chronia suddenly shouted, her face instantly turning red.
I sighed. "She sucked the poison, Chronia."
Chronia cleared her throat, pretending she hadn't just imagined something completely different. "R-Right. Of course. Poison. Yes. Ahem."
"Anyway," Lycaon suddenly interjected, his voice filled with determination. "Since Arche has recovered, we must find that woman!"
He clenched his fists, his presence suddenly imposing. "If they dare mess with Venganza, we must strike back!"
Then, without warning—
"Awoooooo—!"
We all stood there, watching in awkward silence as Lycaon howled at the ceiling.
"...Lycaon," Zack deadpanned. "If you want to howl, at least change into your werewolf form first."
Lycaon blinked. "Oh. Right." He coughed and straightened his posture, as if he hadn't just embarrassed himself.
Arthur, trying to move past that moment, sighed. "But the problem is, we don't have any leads on that woman. No name, no location... nothing."
Valeria, who had been sitting on a nearby chair with her legs crossed, tapped her fingers on the armrest.
"I might know a thing or two about the woman you're looking for," she said nonchalantly.
The room went dead silent.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"You... know her?" Chronia asked suspiciously.
"Of course I do," Valeria replied with a smirk. "She's a big-time criminal. Goes by the name Vena."
"Vena, huh..." Zack muttered.
"And," Valeria continued, "I also have one very valuable piece of information that could lead us straight to her."
We all leaned in closer, our focus entirely on Valeria.
A long pause.
A dramatic silence.
Then—
"Well?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Valeria smirked. "First... who's buying me dinner?"
Chronia facepalmed. Arthur sighed. Lycaon groaned.
I, on the other hand, just smirked.
"Now you're speaking my language."
Night had fallen, and we had all decided to visit the hot springs.
Steam rose from the water, the atmosphere was calm, and most importantly—there were no other people around.
The perfect way to relax.
Chronia and Valeria had gone to the women's side, leaving just the four of us guys soaking in the warm water.
"...Are you sure we're in the right place?" Lycaon asked, looking around suspiciously.
"Well... let's just enjoy this while we can," Zack replied, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
Then, out of nowhere—Zack and Lycaon turned to stare at me and Arthur.
Noticing their intense gazes, Arthur frowned. "What? What's with those looks?"
Zack squinted. "..You two... you have the same burn scars, right?"
At that, Arthur and I exchanged glances before shrugging.
I had a burn scar on my left back. Arthur had one on his right.
"Ah," Arthur said, leaning against the edge of the pool. "Back in the academy, Arche and I fought against our teacher."
"Long story short, we both got burned during that fight."
"But in the end, we managed to defeat her," Arthur added with a hint of pride.
Lycaon rubbed his chin. "I see... so it's like a bonding birthmark."
"And the shape is exactly the same," Zack added, tilting his head as he compared our scars.
Arthur nodded. "Yeah, it's like a reminder of our battle, a mark of our determination, a symbol of—"
"Yeah, yeah, cool story." Lycaon waved him off before turning to me. "Hey, Arche, what do you think?"
Silence.
"...Arche?" Arthur turned to look at me.
I was completely zoned out, floating on my back with a blissful expression.
"Ahhh... This water is amazing..." I muttered.
Arthur twitched. "Are you even listening?!"
I cracked open one eye. "Huh? Yeah, totally. Something about a hot spring? No, wait—our teacher? Yeah, she was a hot spring, right?"
Arthur facepalmed so hard, the sound echoed through the entire bathhouse.
"I'll leave the rest to you..." I sighed in satisfaction, stretching my arms as I leaned back against the edge of the hot spring.
"He's really enjoying himself..." Arthur muttered, raising an eyebrow.
Feeling refreshed, I stood up to grab a towel—only for Zack to suddenly grab my wrist.
"..Arche..." Zack said in a serious tone.
I blinked. "Huh? What's up?"
Zack narrowed his eyes. "How old are you now?"
"...Twenty," I answered, confused.
For some reason, Zack, Lycaon, and Arthur all stared at my lower body in stunned silence.
Then Zack, with the most serious expression I had ever seen, muttered:
"At that age... you sure have a dragon..."
I followed their gaze, looked down, and instantly understood.
"...Thanks I guess," I nodded solemnly, accepting the compliment like a true gentleman.
I casually grabbed a towel and covered myself. Then, all three of us turned to Arthur.
Arthur, now bright red, was desperately covering his crotch with both hands.
"Don't be shy, Arthur~" Zack teased.
"Yeah, come on, be proud of yourself!" Lycaon added, snickering.
"Back off!" Arthur shouted, turning away as Zack and Lycaon started messing with him.
"Ahh... so peaceful..." I sighed, leaning against the wall, being too relaxed can make me too lazy to move
A sudden loud noise erupted from the women's hot spring. My heads snapped toward the direction of the sound.
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the changing room.
Meanwhile, Zack and Lycaon had finally finished teasing Arthur.
"So, if Arche's got a dragon... what does that make Arthur? A Wyvern?" Zack mused.
Lycaon squinted. "Hmm... maybe something bigger?"
Arthur, still covering himself, groaned. "I can't get married anymore..."
BOOM!
The wall separating the men's and women's hot springs collapsed in a massive splash of water.
All three of them turned to see the chaos unfolding—Chronia was already engaged in a heated battle with Vena.
Arthur immediately shut his eyes and turned away.
Meanwhile, the women—who were in various stages of being not dressed—turned toward the men's side, their expressions ranging from murderous to deeply unimpressed.
"Hey, if you wanna fight, at least put on some clothes first," Zack said, as if this was just a minor inconvenience.
Chronia and Vena both turned toward them—then, without hesitation, unleashed a massive wave of water in their direction.
"OI! WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU EVEN ON?!" Zack yelled as the tsunami hit them.
At that moment, I stepped out of the changing room, fully dressed and armed with my dual blades.
When I blinked, Chronia was already in her combat outfit, as if she had used some kind of speed-dressing magic.
Wasting no time, I charged toward the women's hot spring, eyes locked onto Vena.
She immediately reacted, launching a high-speed kick at me. I barely dodged, feeling the wind of her attack rush past my face.
Before I could counter, Valeria suddenly appeared from the shadows, lunging for Vena's arm in an attempt to restrain her.
But Vena—grinning—twisted away at the last second, slipping out of Valeria's grasp like a ghost.
Tch. Fast.
Looks like this wasn't going to be easy.
"I hope you don't mind if I play around a little longer," Vena said, her voice teasing.
With a flick of her fingers, a purple liquid dripped and hit the hot spring, instantly turning the water toxic.
"Damn it," I muttered.
Without warning, Valeria lunged forward. Her movements were like a shadow, too fast for ordinary eyes. She aimed for Vena's neck, but—
Ding!
A wall of poison solidified, stopping her strike. Valeria twisted in mid-air, landing on the stone wall with a hiss. "Quick reactions, huh?"
"Of course," Vena answered nonchalantly. "But how about you stay still for a while?"
Instantly, greenish gas spread around her. The foul smell hit, enough to make my lungs burn.
"Chronia!" I called out.
"I know!" Chronia snapped her fingers. In an instant, time around me slowed.
I could see the poison particles floating in the air, moving like suspended drops in water.
Wasting no time, I leapt toward Vena, my dual blades crossing, ready to strike.
But—
Vena raised her hand. The poison that had been floating in the air suddenly darted toward me.
Time returned to normal, and I had to twist in mid-air to avoid the rain of poison.
I managed to land, but the sleeve of my tunic was already touched by a few drops.
In seconds, the fabric began to disintegrate, leaving a red burn on my skin.
"Can't get close?" Vena chuckled.
Then, as if to mock me further, she appeared right in front of me in a blur of poisonous mist.
Her eyes gleamed, and I only had a split second to raise my blades to block her poisonous claws.
Clang!
A tremor shot through my arms as my blades caught the strike. But Vena didn't stop.
She kept pressing, forcing me to retreat toward the edge of the hot spring.
"Arche, move to the right!" Chronia shouted.
I instinctively followed her command, and in a flash—ZWOOSH!
A quick slash flew past me. Valeria! She used the momentum to strike at Vena from the opposite side.
"Aww… clever," Vena said, her body retreating in an impossible motion, but something seemed different—her once-perfect kimono now bore a small tear.
"She can be hurt," I muttered with a grin.
Chronia snapped her fingers again. I knew what that meant.
Time slowed once more, and I took the opportunity to strike.
I rushed toward Vena, pushing her toward Valeria.
"Game over," I said, swinging both blades simultaneously, just as Valeria's slash came in.
Purple blood splattered. Vena coughed, staring at the gash across her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly, as if she didn't expect to actually get hit.
"Heh… I let my guard down," she murmured.
She took several steps back, and her body began to shift into mist.
"This was fun," she said, smiling. "But next time, I won't play around."
In an instant, she vanished, leaving only traces of evaporating poison in the air.
I took a deep breath, glancing at the wound on my arm before looking over at Valeria and Chronia.
"Did we win?" I asked.
"For now," Valeria answered, licking the blood from her blade.
Chronia simply adjusted her clock. "I hate fighting in places like this," she grumbled.
I sighed, sitting on the edge of the stone, looking up at the night sky above the now-quiet hot springs.
Arthur, Zack, and Lycaon had just arrived, still adjusting their clothes.
"Where's Vena?" Arthur asked, scanning the area.
"Too late. She already ran away," I replied flatly.
Lycaon clicked his tongue. "Told you we shouldn't have wasted time changing clothes."
Zack rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say. When you transform, you don't have to worry about clothes in the first place."
Lycaon just shrugged.
The next night, we perched on a rooftop, overlooking the city bathed in dim streetlights.
"A woman who can control poison, huh? What a pain in the ass," Zack muttered.
Arthur, still mulling over yesterday's events, turned to Valeria.
"By the way, how did you even know Vena would be at the hot springs?"
Valeria smirked. "Wow. You really are an idiot, huh?"
Arthur frowned. "Excuse me—"
"She's a big-time criminal. Infamous. Feared. A person like that tends to have a pattern," Valeria explained, resting her chin on her hand.
"Not to mention, she's the type who sometimes likes to be a little too open. Makes gathering intel on her way too easy."
She flipped her long white hair back.
"Including the little detail that she prefers quiet, secluded hot springs where she can relax alone."
Arthur blinked. "...Oh. That makes sense."
Before anyone could respond—A voice, smooth and chilling, whispered behind us.
"Talking about me?"
A cold sensation ran down my spine.
We turned around, and there she was.
Vena.
Standing there like a specter, a chilling smile stretched across her lips.
"AAAHH! GHOST!" Chronia screamed.
Zack reacted instantly, lunging at her with his knife—
But she moved. Effortlessly.
Dodging his strike with almost unnatural grace. "If you want to fight," she said, her eerie smile never fading.
"Then come down here."
She leapt from the rooftop, landing soundlessly in the city park below.
Without hesitation, we followed.
Vena tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Let's count… one, two, three, four, five, six." She pointed at each of us, her lips curling into a grin.
"Mhm! I can fight you guys," she nodded to herself, as if she had just done some simple math homework.
I narrowed my eyes. "You must be pretty confident. Let me guess… there's something you're aiming for?"
"Of course!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "I want to be a captain! I'm sick of being a soldier."
She sighed, clearly frustrated. "Working under an organization isn't as easy as it looks, you know."
The moment those words left her mouth, she froze. A flicker of realization crossed her face.
"Ah! I was supposed to reveal that after I defeated you guys."
She clicked her tongue. "Damn it… and I even killed people just to lure you out—"
"Oh?" Zack cut in, a sharp smirk on his lips. "You say that like you already know us."
Vena grinned. "Oh, I do."
She tilted her head, her voice dripping with amusement.
"News about you guys has already reached the Organization, you know. You're fugitives with quite a price on your heads."
Her eyes gleamed with something wicked.
"And the higher-ups? They're very interested in you. His Majesty DEATH has promised a handsome reward to anyone who can bring you down."
She placed a hand on her hip. "I was one of them too."
The moment those words left her mouth, she flinched. "Agh! Enough talking! I'll just kill you all now!"
Chronia sighed, shaking her head. "She really is a straightforward one, huh?"
Before anyone could answer, a deep growl echoed through the night.
Lycaon's body twisted, muscles expanding as his form shifted. His claws extended, sharp and menacing.
A werewolf now stood where he once had been.
I exhaled slowly, tightening my grip on my weapon. "Alright, then," I muttered.
"Let's get this over with."
"Hoping to win by ganging up on me? How amusing."
I gripped both my blades tightly. Beside me, Arthur stood with his sword drawn, his expression calm.
Chronia flicked her pocket watch, ready to manipulate time.
Zack spun his knife between his fingers, while Valeria stood slightly behind, her eyes glinting red.
Lycaon, in his werewolf form, let out a low growl, his claws digging into the ground.
"In that case," I began, "let's see how long you can last, Vena."
Without warning, Lycaon was the first to charge.
His movement was like lightning, his massive claws tearing through the air. But just before he could reach Vena—
Whoosh!
Poison surged from the ground, forming sharp spears that shot toward him.
Lycaon twisted midair, dodging, but Vena had already moved her hand again. Poisonous vapors rose, turning the air into a thick green mist.
Arthur swung his sword, creating a gust of wind that parted the mist, giving us an opening.
I seized the opportunity and dashed forward, both blades raised to strike.
Clang!
My blades clashed against a hardened layer of poison, solidified like a shield. Vena chuckled.
"The same attack? Seriously? Didn't it already fail yesterday?"
I stepped back, but Zack was already behind her, his knife flashing toward her neck.
However, before his blade could pierce—Boom!
The poison around her exploded into sharp spikes, forcing Zack to leap back.
Valeria took the chance, leaping into the air and slipping behind Vena in an instant.
"I'm not stupid, you know?"
Suddenly, tendrils of poison rose from the ground, wrapping around Valeria's legs.
She hissed in frustration, struggling to free herself, but Vena simply smiled before clenching her fist.
Crack!
Valeria was slammed into the ground with brutal force.
"Valeria!" I shouted, but Chronia snapped her fingers immediately.
Time slowed. I could see Vena beginning to move for another attack.
Quickly, I lunged at her, slashing with both blades. But the moment time returned to normal—
Bang!
A blast of poison erupted from her body, forcing me to retreat.
Damn it, she read my move!
Arthur stepped in to replace me, his sword gleaming under the park lights.
He struck with precision, slicing through the air with sharp attacks that nearly reached Vena.
But once again, her poison morphed into a shield, blocking every strike.
Lycaon, driven by his animal instincts, lunged from the side. This time, his claws grazed Vena's shoulder, leaving a thin wound.
"Got you!" he smirked.
But Vena just chuckled. "Got what? This tiny scratch? Hah, what a cocky little pup."
The blood dripping from her wound turned into poisonous fumes, lashing back at Lycaon.
He coughed, retreating with glowing, furious eyes.
"I'm sick of this," Zack growled, then hurled his knife at incredible speed.
Vena tried to dodge—but Chronia snapped her fingers again.
Time froze.
In that brief moment, Zack repositioned himself for a better angle.
The instant time resumed, his knife drove straight into Vena's shoulder.
"Agh…!"
For the first time, Vena's expression changed. She grabbed the knife, pulling it out in one swift motion.
Thick, dark purple blood oozed from the wound, trickling down her arm.
"You guys… are seriously annoying," she muttered, her expression darkening.
I smirked. "Finally, you look like you're in pain."
Vena narrowed her eyes and raised her hand high. The poison in the air began to condense, swirling violently around her.
"I'm done playing around." Her gaze was ice-cold. "Now, taste real hell, you damn losers."
Poison began swirling around Vena, forming a toxic vortex ready to engulf anyone who got too close.
The air grew heavy, its pungent smell stinging our noses.
If we stayed here too long, our bodies would weaken.
"You think you can win just because you managed to wound me a little?" Vena smirked, thick purple blood still dripping from the wound on her shoulder. "Want me to show you what it feels like to die slowly?"
I tightened my grip on both swords, holding my breath as the poison began to engulf the area.
Chronia stood beside me, her eyes focused on her pocket watch.
Arthur raised his sword, ready to charge. Zack, Valeria, and Lycaon were all on high alert.
"Don't let her get a chance," Arthur signaled, then charged ahead.
CLANG!
Arthur's sword clashed with Vena's poison shield, creating purple sparks in the air.
Lycaon darted in beside him, his claws aimed at Vena's head, but she swiftly spun around, dodging while releasing a burst of poison from her palm.
I saw an opening. "Our turn!" I called to Zack and Chronia.
Chronia snapped her fingers—time slowed.
Zack and I moved in unison, closing the distance to Vena with incredible speed.
I swung my sword at her abdomen, while Zack aimed for her legs with his knife.
But even though time slowed, Vena still managed to react.
Her eyes narrowed, and poison erupted from her body, forcing us to retreat before our attacks landed.
"Shit, she can still move?!" Zack cursed, quickly jumping back.
"Of course." Vena chuckled, the blood from her shoulder slowly stopping its flow.
"You think I'd just sit still and take a pathetic attack like that?"
"In that case, let's make an attack you can't dodge!" Valeria leaped from behind, her claws glowing red under the moonlight.
In an instant, Valeria was behind Vena, gripping her shoulder with her vampiric strength. "Now you can't go anywhere, can you?"
But Vena only smirked. "Oh, I can go anywhere."
Suddenly, her body melted—not literally, but poison surrounded her, allowing her to slip free from Valeria's grasp.
In one swift motion, she reappeared behind Valeria, preparing to blast poison directly at her face.
Before that could happen, Chronia acted quickly.
Snap!
Time stopped again, just long enough for Valeria to dodge and retaliate with a kick to Vena's chest.
THUD!
Vena was sent flying, crashing into a tree trunk with force. She coughed weakly, purple blood spilling from her mouth.
"Haah… Haah…" Vena began to show signs of exhaustion.
I stepped forward, pointing my sword at her. "You can keep pretending to be strong, but we all know you're starting to falter, Vena."
Vena glared at me with an annoyed expression before smirking.
"Heh… Even if you win, I can still poison you whenever I want."
Arthur swung his sword, creating a gust of wind that cleared the remaining poison from the air. "You think we'll let that happen?"
Vena clicked her tongue, trying to stand. But her wounds were too severe, her breathing heavy, and the poison she used continuously started to eat away at her own energy.
"Tsk… You bastards… I don't like this," she muttered.
I approached her, looking down at her. "Surrender, or we'll keep going until you can't stand anymore."
Vena was silent for a moment before sighing deeply. "Damn…"
She collapsed to the ground, letting out a small laugh. "Alright, you win."
Vena sat on the ground, her breaths ragged, purple blood still dripping from her wounds.
I watched her cautiously, my sword still raised. "So… you're giving up?" I asked, tension still thick in my voice.
She only chuckled weakly. "Heh… giving up, huh?"
Suddenly, the poison spread across the ground began to pulse, as if it were alive. The air around us changed drastically—heavier, deadlier.
Shit.
"Get away from her!!" Chronia shouted, but it was too late.
With a single swift motion, Vena's body erupted with rampaging toxic energy.
A poisonous mist engulfed the entire garden, turning it into a deadly green abyss.
We were all thrown back. Arthur drove his sword into the ground to stay upright, Zack stumbled back while covering his nose, and Lycaon growled in frustration, his body clearly weakening from the poison in the air.
"Finally, I can get serious," Vena's voice echoed through the toxic fog.
Her silhouette emerged again, but this time… something was different.
Her body seemed fused with the poison, her hands trembling with raw lethal energy.
Her violet eyes glowed fiercely, and her entire form shimmered like liquid venom.
"Welcome to your personal hell," she said with a crazed grin.
She raised her hand, and in an instant, dozens of poison spears materialized in the air, hovering, targeting all of us.
"You're all finished!"
Without hesitation, the spears shot forward.
WHOOOSH!
I rolled to the side, barely dodging a spear that nearly impaled my chest.
Arthur slashed at several of them with his sword, but one managed to pierce his shoulder. He grunted but held his ground.
Zack and Lycaon dodged swiftly, but their wounds were accumulating. Valeria hissed, her crimson eyes burning with fury.
"We need to end this now!" Chronia shouted, snapping her fingers to slow time.
But—
"I've learned from before," Vena sneered, immediately unleashing a concentrated burst of poison straight at Chronia before she could activate her ability.
DUAGH!
Chronia was sent flying back, hitting the ground hard.
I clenched my teeth. "Damn it!"
We were cornered. Our breathing was heavy. The poison was spreading through our bodies, making our movements sluggish.
But then—
SWOOSH!
Valeria appeared behind Vena in an instant, her claws glowing blood-red.
"You talk too much," she muttered coldly.
Before Vena could react, Valeria drove her claws straight through her chest.
CRACK!
Purple blood splattered everywhere.
Vena's eyes widened. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but only a strangled gasp escaped.
Her body trembled, the poison around us slowly dissipating.
Valeria pulled her hand back, letting Vena fall to her knees.
But—In her final moments, Vena weakly smiled.
"Hahaha… I'm not going alone, you bastards…"
With one last effort, she raised her hand and fired a single shot of poison—straight at me.
I tried to move.
But I was too slow.
BANG!
The poison struck my chest with searing intensity.
An unbearable heat spread through me, like thousands of needles stabbing from the inside. My breath caught. My vision blurred.
My body collapsed forward… just as Vena's lifeless form hit the cold ground.
I heard Valeria scream. Chronia and Zack ran toward me. But their voices felt distant…
Damn… I got hit too, huh?
Slowly, my consciousness faded away.
Darkness.
That was all I could see.
Pain. Agony. A searing torment tearing through my body like wildfire.
It hurts.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
Help.
Someone—anyone—please… make it stop.
My body burned. My breath was shallow. My mind teetered on the edge of oblivion.
I wanted it to end.
I wanted everything to just—
I gasped, eyes snapping open.
The ceiling of my room blurred into view.
I was drenched in sweat. My heart pounded against my ribs, as if trying to escape the confines of my chest.
"…Arche?"
Arthur's voice pulled me back to reality.
"You okay?"
I tried to sit up, but my body protested. My chest ached, my limbs felt heavy.
"Valeria… she can't remove the poison," Chronia said. Her voice was tight, as if she was holding something back. "She tried, but—it's still inside you."
I turned to Valeria.
She wasn't smirking.
She wasn't making her usual teasing remarks.
Instead, she stood there—shoulders tense, hands clenched at her sides.
She was in her adult form, but her expression…
Defeated.
"Tch… I'm useless," she muttered. Her voice was barely a whisper.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"I can do so many things. I can tear through enemies, disappear into shadows, dodge attacks like it's a game—"
Her hands trembled.
"But I can't even save someone important to me."
"It's okay," I said softly.
Silence hung in the air before I spoke again. "Valeria… were you sad when Oswald died?"
Her body tensed.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Then—
"No! Of course not!" she snapped. Her voice was sharp, almost desperate. "I'm hundreds of years old, Arche."
Her fingers dug into her palms. "I've seen death more times than I can count. People come and go. That's just how it is."
But her voice—Her voice cracked.
Tears gathered at the edges of her crimson eyes. "I… I don't have anyone anymore," she whispered.
She bit her lip.
"Family… friends… all of them…"
"I already considered Oswald as my own family. I—"
Her words broke into a sob.
Her body shrank.
She reverted to her child form, curling into herself like a wounded animal.
"I don't want to lose my friends again…"
Her voice was so small.
So fragile.
I reached out, wiping away her tears.
"Neither do we," I murmured.
I turned to my friends, my gaze sweeping across each of them.
"Do you think any of us have families?"
The room was silent.
"If you don't have a family…" I continued, my voice unwavering, "then consider us your family."
I placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently. "Venganza—that's your new family now, Valeria the Crimson Devil."
Her breath hitched.
Her lips quivered—this time, not in sadness, but in something else.
Something warm.
Slowly, hesitantly, she smiled.
"You're right…" she whispered.
Her fingers clutched the fabric of my shirt, as if afraid I would disappear.
"...You guys are my new family."
She let out a soft, trembling laugh.
"I'm glad…"
A pause.
Then, her voice—small, yet filled with unspoken emotions—
"I'm glad to be here."
Family isn't always who you're born to—it's who offers you the warmth you were denied.