Chapter 177: The enemy of my enemy... is an even worse enemy

"N-No... not them... please, not them..." Mia stammers.

Her eyes are wide with terror, and her whole body is shaking.

"M-Mia, what’s going on? Who the hell are they...?" Chris asks, alarmed by his sister’s reaction.

"The Crimson Requiem," Isabelle says through clenched teeth.

"Y-You mean that insanely strong vampire team you told me about...? D-Don’t tell me they’re working with Zayn?!"

"No. And that might be our lucky break," Isabelle replies, her eyes darting back and forth between Zayn and the Crimson Requiem.

"Our lucky break? What do you mean?"

"Zayn and the Crimson Requiem are here for the same reason. They belong to different factions, so there’s no way either side will let the Tear of Azkarith fall into the other’s hands. In other words, they’re going to kill each other."

"I really hope you’re right..."

"Ugh, looks like someone beat us to it," Evelyne grumbles, her eyes locked on Zayn.

"Yeah... and it’s none other than the infamous Zayn Thzraneel," Dorian adds.

Then he gives Blake a light nudge with his elbow.

"You’d better convince your father to reward us properly when we get back to Mildlar. We’re not just bringing him the heads of Platinum Death and Mia Valakys, along with her divine artifact. We’re bringing back the head of that traitor, Zayn Thzraneel, too."

"Then make it quick."

"Constantine Serev. It’s been a long time. You’re looking well," Zayn says with a sinister grin.

Constantine doesn’t answer.

He just stares at Zayn with a hard, disappointed look — the kind of look a father would give a son who let him down.

More than anyone else, Constantine had seen Zayn’s potential. He’d started training him personally long before Zayn ever joined the Crimson Requiem.

After Zayn murdered his own parents and abandoned the kingdom, Constantine was so devastated that he never took another promising young fighter under his wing again.

"I figured you’re here for the divine artifact too. Too bad for you, Constantine. You’re too late," Zayn says. "As you can see, this is already my hunting ground. Just be patient. I’ll deal with you soon enough... assuming you don’t run away after seeing how strong I really am."

"I’ve got a better idea," Evelyne says with a sadistic grin. "We’ll kill you, Platinum Death, and Mia Valakys. Oh, speaking of that..."

She turns to Dorian and Lazarus.

"...one hundred points for Platinum Death, fifty for Zayn Thzraneel... and how much for Mia Valakys? Twenty? No clue who those other two kids are, but they’re vampires, so let’s make it ten points each."

"So whoever kills Platinum Death wins. Yeah, I like that," Lazarus replies as he forms a blood spear.

Dorian nods as well, forming a pair of twin swords.

A violent crimson aura erupts around Zayn.

"I see. Then I’ll have to get rid of you first."

He shoots toward the Crimson Requiem at blinding speed.

Just before he can reach them with a slash of his saber, Blake thrusts out his arm. A torrent of blood bursts from his palm, instantly hardening into a crystal shield floating in midair that catches Zayn’s strike.

The impact shatters the shield, but the countless shards filling Zayn’s vision give Constantine the opening he needs.

He charges in and slams his weapon — a massive double-faced war hammer — straight into Zayn’s chest, sending him crashing into the ground.

The blow shatters Zayn’s ribcage, but it regenerates almost immediately.

A moment later, he’s back on his feet as if nothing had happened.

"W-What the hell was that...? An Innatus...?" Chris asks Isabelle, staring at Blake’s crystal shield.

"Exactly. And a ridiculously powerful one. His Innatus lets him control the temperature of his own blood however he wants, turning it into solid ice or scorching-hot vapor."

"Damn... that guy’s seriously strong..."

"He’s not just strong," Mia says through gritted teeth. "T-That guy... he’s the son of the man who killed my father!"

Mia clenches her fists so tightly that her nails dig into her palms.

The moment Isabelle notices, she grabs Mia by the arm.

"Don’t even think about doing something stupid! We have to use this chance to get out of here!"

Mia lets out a long sigh.

"...Okay. Let’s go."

Isabelle, Mia, Chris, and Leon barely manage to take a few steps before Zayn flashes in front of them, cutting off their escape.

"Oh, no. You four aren’t going anywhere."

"The traitor’s right," Evelyne hisses from behind them. "You’re the guests of honor. You can’t leave your own party this early."

A razor-sharp dagger forms between her index and middle fingers, ready to be thrown.

"Let the fun begin."

◇◇◇

"Huh... I could’ve sworn this was the area where they lived. So where the hell is their house?" Raelor Valraen mutters.

He’s been gliding over the hills around Tama for several minutes, searching for one particular house.

Then a violent explosion erupts from the spot where he’d parted ways with Zayn Thzraneel just a little while ago, catching his attention.

"Looks like we weren’t the only ones who found Mia Valakys," he says as he spots the Crimson Requiem, recognizing them instantly by their striking blood-red armor. "No matter. Zayn Thzraneel can handle himself just fine. Or at least... I hope he can."

He keeps gliding over the area, completely unconcerned about Zayn’s safety, even after watching him get slammed into the ground by a devastating hammer strike from one of the Crimson Requiem’s members.

A short while later...

"There it is. That has to be the place."

Raelor lands near a small house with a large garden at the foot of one of the hills.

"No doubt about it. It looks exactly the same as it did three years ago."

As he gets closer, he hears muffled moans, gasps, and cries of pleasure from both a man and a woman coming from inside the house.

The voices are familiar.

"Yes... it’s definitely them. It’s fortunate that Eliss’s children never moved away after what happened that night. More importantly... they’re not alone."

Raelor walks calmly to the front door.

I’ve finally found you, Princess Zaira Narkhalis.

Then he knocks.