It started from the lower districts, a black fog interspersed with white flashes, engulfing everything it came in contact with.
Of course, it didn’t end there as it spread swiftly, moving from the lower districts to the middle districts and even the upper districts before finally coming to a stop just in front of the council hall.
A formation, a mostly invincible barrier with four corners, prevented it from touching the building.
Alex watched everything from atop the building he’d purchased in the middle districts.
Accompanying him was Azazel and Charlotte with Humphrey nowhere to be found.
With a snap, the fog disappeared, but it wasn’t the only thing that vanished.
Everyone, all those that had been fighting or fleeing or hiding, were taken away, ensuring that Sklaviunt was now mostly empty.
With this, Alex ensured Thera wouldn’t be able to get her hands on more sacrifices if the situation demanded it.
Just then, Humphrey appeared at which point Alex broke the silence.
Mostly fine. His incredible healing factor ensured that.
"Did you restrain him?"
Just like you asked. Don’t worry, he won’t be a problem.
Satisfied, Alex nodded. "Good, now we can focus on saving Arwen and..."
He trailed off as he saw as an illusory clock appeared over Sklaviunt and with the movement of the clock hands, managed to shift daybreak to nighttime.
"She’s gotten desperate." Alex breathed out as he immediately snapped, teleporting to the council hall in the upper districts.
His figure emerged alone from a deluge of black and white only to be met with a familiar face.
It was Councilwoman Thera, though, for some reason, she appeared older... at least older than the last time he saw her.
He wondered if it had something to do with how she managed to survive the blast.
Speaking of... "How did you do it?" Alex inquired as he took a step forward.
"I could ask you the same," Thera replied. "How did you manage to survive that blast?... I made sure it was impossible to escape."
"Yet here you are, standing before me, unharmed." Alex managed a smirk. "If you can escape, so can I."
"I guess you are right," Thera remarked.
As Alex took another step forward, Thera put her hand up. "That’s about far enough. Otherwise, I might be forced to end the life of your subordinate."
"Somewhere safe... for now, at least."
"You haven’t killed her?... Tortured her?... Corrupted her?"
Thera smirked. "I considered those things but alas, my hands are tired."
"Your hands are tied?" Alex raised a brow.
"Indeed, so how about we make a deal?... You stand there and let the ritual happen, or I kill her."
Alex scoffed. "You must think me stupid to even consider the possibility that I would take that deal."
"You don’t have a choice," Thera said. "You either take it or she dies."
Silence followed as Alex kept to his thoughts and Thera waited, prepared to strike the moment something went wrong.
The standoff persisted for a bit before ultimately, Alex replied. "Fine then. I guess we’ve got a deal."
"Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are things to be done."
After saying that, Thera turned to leave only for Alex to remark.
Thera paused, her back turned to him as she replied. "What is it?"
"Let me in. I want to see her."
This time, Thera was the one to scoff as she replied. "You must think me a fool to even consider the possibility that I would agree to that."
Then, she left, passing through the formation which rippled like water with her entry only to once again become as sturdy as an iron wall the next.
Alex clicked his tongue as he left the vicinity only to speak up. "Are you in?"
A hoarse voice echoed in his thoughts a moment later.
Using Azazel’s perfect invisibility, he would enter the formation protecting the council hall at the same time as Thera since they couldn’t be sure of the criteria needed to walk past the barrier.
After that, his job was to find Arwen and free her, after which Alex would break in and destroy everything in one go.
This was the only way to ensure Arwen’s survival and though there were other ways, Alex couldn’t stomach the possibility of Arwen dying.
So, he had to hope that Azazel would be able to do everything properly and, more importantly, fast enough; else, they might all be forced to witness the entry of a 2nd-class Otherworldly into Eventide.
The building echoed with chants as the council members, led by Thera, began to speak in a foul language, invoking forces from beyond and stirring the aether in the process.
Azazel left them to their antics as he moved through the building in search of Arwen.
Unfortunately, no matter where he looked, there was nothing that remotely pointed to Arwen’s presence, leaving Alex worried and listless.
Soon, the chanting in the main hall reached a crescendo, and above the building, in the forcibly created night sky, a storm cloud had begun to form, releasing purplish red lightning that flashed with an uncanny vengeance.
"Damn it, what’s taking so long?" Alex cursed as he realized they were running out of time.
Master, I believe we should move now. The young Miss would not wish for us to allow the Serpent to come into Eventide.
"I know." Alex clicked his tongue. "It would be a disaster. Another Blood Feast."
If it truly meant another Blood Feast, then that meant the stakes were no lesser than back then which also meant he couldn’t just ignore things.
If he didn’t act now, soon, the entire world would be engulfed by the Abyss at which point, everything would be over.
The thought of such a fate frightened him and so, with no other choice, he acted.
"I’m sorry, Arwen." He said as he stepped out of where he’d been at which point he felt the aether ripple, almost like someone had exerted their Will on it.
Instinctively, he snapped and shifted positions, appearing on a building on another end, allowing him to swiftly pinpoint the origin of what he’d felt.
At the same time, where he’d been, the entire area crumbled to dust, as though ravaged by the whims of time.
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