Asher's blood-forged wings sliced through the air as he soared forward, Serena right behind him.
The Black Hollow Citadel—a towering fortress of obsidian stone—stood ominously in the distance. Its walls stretched for miles, fortified by massive arcane barriers that shimmered with an eerie glow. This was a domain belonging to another god, one outside Malfus's influence.
If they could just make it inside… Follow current novels on Novel~Fire. (n)et
"How long until we reach it?" Serena shouted over the wind.
"Three minutes," Asher replied. "If we don't get shot down first."
Serena cursed under her breath. "They're not gonna make this easy, are they?"
As if in response, a hailstorm of dark projectiles suddenly erupted from below.
Dozens of black spears, pulsating with fiendish energy, shot toward them at blinding speed.
Asher's eyes gleamed red.
With a sharp flick of his hand, his wings expanded, morphing into a massive barrier of hardened blood.
The spears slammed into his defense, shattering on impact—
but more were coming.
Serena twisted midair, her daggers flaring with intense heat. "I got the left!"
"Then I'll take the right," Asher responded, retracting his wings.
They split apart, each weaving through the deadly barrage like shadows in a storm.
Below them, cultists in crimson robes stood in formation, their hands raised in unison as they chanted forbidden spells.
A colossal glyph of blood and bone formed in the sky—
Serena's eyes narrowed. "Oh, hell no."
She vanished in a streak of flame, reappearing above the cultists.
And in an instant, their heads hit the ground.
A deep, guttural growl echoed across the battlefield.
A titanic fiend, covered in writhing chains, emerged from the summoning circle before it fully collapsed.
Its eight crimson eyes locked onto them, hatred radiating from its grotesque form.
Serena groaned. "Seriously? We're so close to the border!"
Asher exhaled, gripping his scythe tighter. "Then let's end this fast."
The fiend lunged forward, its claws swiping through the air with bone-shattering force.
Asher and Serena dodged in opposite directions.
"Left or right?" Serena called.
"I'll go high," Asher answered.
Serena nodded. "Then I'll tear out its legs."
They attacked simultaneously.
Asher launched himself upward, his scythe elongating into a wicked, serrated edge.
Serena slid under the beast, her daggers flashing as she sliced through its tendons.
The fiend let out a deafening shriek, staggering as its movements became sluggish.
Asher struck the killing blow.
With a single, devastating swing, his scythe cleaved straight through the fiend's skull.
Its body erupted into black mist, dispersing into nothing.
The battlefield fell silent.
Asher didn't waste time. "We're moving—now!"
Serena nodded, and they shot toward the citadel.
This was their only chance.
And they weren't going to waste it.
Asher and Serena raced through the sky, the towering walls of Black Hollow Citadel looming ever closer.
They were almost there.
A violent shockwave erupted behind them.
Asher glanced back—his eyes narrowed.
A figure cloaked in blood-red energy hovered in the air, floating above the battlefield like a god of war.
A member of the Blood Cross's inner circle.
Serena tensed. "Tell me we can outrun him."
Asher's grip tightened on his scythe. "Not likely."
The High Priest slowly raised a hand.
Chains of cursed blood materialized in the air, twisting like vipers—
Asher reacted instantly.
With a snap of his fingers, the air exploded in a flurry of crimson blades.
His blood control clashed against the incoming attack, but the High Priest's magic was on another level.
The chains pushed through.
One wrapped around Serena's ankle.
Her eyes widened. "Asher—!"
Asher slashed through the air, his scythe severing the chain just before it could pull her back.
Serena flipped midair, steadying herself.
"That was too close," she muttered.
Asher exhaled. "We're not done yet."
The High Priest descended, his blood-red aura expanding like a storm.
"You killed Veyrn," he said, his voice calm—almost amused. "Did you think the Blood Cross would let that go unanswered?"
Asher and Serena landed on a nearby cliffside, just short of the citadel's barrier.
"Didn't really care," Asher admitted.
Serena scoffed. "Yeah, we kind of assumed you'd be pissed."
The High Priest chuckled. "Pissed? No, child."
His eyes gleamed with madness.
A crimson sigil formed beneath him.
Asher's instincts screamed.
A monolithic spike of blood erupted from the earth, aiming straight for them.
Serena blurred out of the way.
Asher twisted, narrowly dodging, but—
A thin cut appeared on his cheek.
He clicked his tongue. "That was close."
Serena gritted her teeth. "We don't have time for this."
Asher nodded. "We need an opening."
Serena's grip tightened on her daggers. "Then let's make one."
Asher smirked. "I like the way you think."
Asher flashed forward, his scythe whirling in a deadly arc.
Serena moved alongside him, her daggers igniting in flames.
The High Priest smiled.
"Come then, Children of Blood."
The battle had begun.
The night crackled with power as the battle erupted in full force.
Asher's scythe carved through the air, a crimson arc ripping toward the High Priest, but the man barely moved, his fingers tracing a sigil in the air.
A barrier of blood surged up in an instant, blocking Asher's attack completely.
Serena darted in from the side, her flaming daggers aimed at his throat.
The High Priest parried with a blade of solid blood, countering effortlessly.
Serena skidded back, eyes narrowing. "He's fast."
"More than that," Asher muttered. "He's toying with us."
The High Priest smirked. "Oh? You noticed?"
The battlefield trembled.
From the pools of blood left behind by the fallen, twisted figures began to rise—grotesque humanoid shapes forged entirely from blood.
Asher exhaled slowly. "Of course he can do that."
Serena clicked her tongue. "This just keeps getting better."
The High Priest chuckled. "You should feel honored," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "To be deemed worthy of my personal attention… It's quite rare."
Asher rolled his shoulders.
"Funny," he said. "You'll be the second priest I kill this week."
The High Priest's smirk twitched.
Serena snorted. "I can't tell if you just pissed him off or made him even more excited."
"Why not both?" Asher muttered.
Asher lunged forward, his scythe glowing a deep crimson, the weapon amplified by his blood control.
Serena vanished in a blur, her daggers gleaming with fire and fury.
The Blood Golems charged.
The High Priest watched them come.