Free Web NovelChapter 39: The Time Has Come to Make a Decision...
Lucien smiled calmly.
As if he were enjoying every second of the fight.
Misty attacked from his left.
She spun around and launched a kick toward his face.
The hero caught her ankle with one hand.
"Nice try."
The dancer smiled.
"Thanks."
Audrey attacked from the opposite side.
A knife wrapped in dark energy descended directly toward his neck.
Lucien raised his free hand, and the blade collided with his palm.
It didn’t even manage to cut him.
"And you’re fun too."
"I’m going to rip your head off."
"I’ve heard that one before."
Nox watched the scene.
’What the hell is this monster?’
The cat girl was still kneeling beside the wolves’ bodies.
Tears streamed down her face.
Nox pointed at her.
"Stay there."
The young woman looked up.
"What?"
"I need to help my girls."
For a brief moment, her expression changed.
Her eyes remained fixed on him.
As if she were seeing something she never expected to find.
Someone willing to stand against a Hero for the sake of others.
Nox paid her no attention.
His Demonic Dual Knives appeared in his hands.
Darkness wrapped around his body, and he vanished.
An instant later, he appeared behind Lucien.
The daggers descended straight toward the hero’s back.
But the blond man disappeared in a flash of light, and the blades sliced through nothing but air.
Misty looked around.
"Where did he go?"
Audrey frowned.
"This man is incredibly fast."
Then they heard a woman’s scream.
Everyone turned.
It came from the far end of the bridge.
Where Claws and Tessa were.
"Shit."
Nox shot forward.
Wind Legs propelled his body, and snow exploded beneath his feet.
And when he arrived...
His blood boiled.
Claws was lying beside one of the railings.
Beaten and dazed.
And farther ahead...
Tessa was sprawled on the ground, covered in blood.
She no longer had arms.
She was little more than a torso and a head.
Lucien had one foot resting on her.
As if she were garbage.
"Leave her alone."
The hero turned his head.
"Why?"
He pressed down harder.
The inquisitor let out a scream of pain.
"I’m not going to waste the opportunity to have fun with a stupid inquisitor."
He smiled.
"Especially when she happens to be my rival’s sister."
Nox froze for a moment.
"Sister?"
Tessa tried to speak, but she could barely breathe.
Lucien laughed.
"How disappointing."
Nox vanished.
Wind Legs and Grand Hunter’s Agility activated at the same time.
His body shot across the bridge like a projectile.
He unleashed multiple strikes with his daggers without thinking.
At last, he managed to hit him.
Small cuts appeared on the hero’s arms.
Lucien examined the wounds as they began to burn.
"Oh."
He looked genuinely surprised.
"Now that actually looks dangerous."
Behind Nox, Audrey drew her bow.
A Dark Arrow appeared.
"Hunter’s Mark."
The mark engraved itself onto the arrow aimed at Lucien.
The huntress smiled.
"Now I’ve got you." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Lucien dodged one of Nox’s attacks, and the Dark Arrow struck his neck.
But it only managed to leave a tiny scratch.
Nothing more.
Audrey’s eyes widened.
"That didn’t work as well as I expected."
"I’m pretty durable."
"You disgust me."
"Me too," Nox replied.
Then Misty appeared, using Razor Gust.
Several cutting gusts slammed into the other side of Lucien’s neck.
The hero finally had to defend himself.
He retreated several steps while avoiding Nox’s attacks.
"You seem awfully angry about the poor inquisitor."
He glanced at Tessa.
"But I’m sure she’d take any opportunity she could get to kill all of you."
Nobody answered.
Because something was happening.
Tessa’s eyes began to glow.
A golden light appeared within them.
The woman trembled.
Her breathing became uneven.
Blood continued to pour from her body.
And then...
Energy began to emerge from her.
Like a luminous mist rising toward the sky.
Lucien laughed.
"Looks like someone is about to lose her Title."
Nox felt his stomach twist.
’No... not now.’
But the distraction was enough.
Lucien took advantage of it.
His body turned into light and shot toward the Capital.
"Coward!" Misty shouted.
"He’s not getting away unharmed."
Audrey raised her bow.
Hunter’s Mark was still active.
Another Dark Arrow formed and shot after the hero through the snowy forest.
Misty turned toward Nox.
"It’s time."
Nox looked at Tessa.
The energy continued leaving her body.
"This is happening way too fast."
"Make your decision."
Misty’s voice was completely serious.
"Now."
"Misty..."
"Either you give her a Title."
The dancer pointed at the inquisitor.
"Or you let her die here."
The last traces of energy left Tessa’s body.
They rose into the sky, pierced through the clouds, and vanished.
The light faded from her eyes.
Her body fell motionless onto the snow, and the blood continued spreading around her.
Then a window appeared before Nox.
[Compatibility Detected.]
[Fallen Genesis conditions fulfilled.]
[Compatible Individual: Tessa]
[Would you like to grant a Fallen Form?]
[Please assign a new Title.]
Nox looked at the inquisitor.
He remembered when she tried to kill them.
He remembered all the arguments with Audrey.
But he also remembered the conversations during their journey.
He remembered how she helped them find a place to stay for the night.
He remembered how she never once tried to escape.
And he remembered the woman dying before him.
Abandoned by the Church.
Forgotten by her sisters.
And, apparently, discarded.
Nox closed his eyes and spoke.
"The Fallen Phoenix."
The window shone intensely.
[Title Accepted.]
