Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Desperate Struggle
"Then let’s start round two, my comrade," said Ryutaro.
"Alright, my comrade," replied Morz’rath.
After saying that, Ryutaro swiftly rushed towards Bloodflare, holding Morz’rath in his hand.
However, as Ryutaro was about to strike Bloodflare, an invisible shield appeared in front of Bloodflare.
"What?!" Ryutaro exclaimed.
"Hahaha, even though you’ve gotten a new weapon, trash will always be trash," said Bloodflare.
Hearing those words, Ryutaro relentlessly attacked, but to no avail.
"Damn, what should I do? I’ve tried attacking several times!" Ryutaro grumbled.
After saying that, his father’s voice echoed in his mind, teaching him a technique to break the shield.
"Son, use Dread-Fang," his father instructed.
"Dread-Fang? What is that, father?" Ryutaro asked.
"Dread-Fang is one of Morz’rath’s basic techniques. It’s a special slash that I created, and it can only be used with Morz’rath’s blade," his father explained.
"Will that technique be able to break his invisible shield?" Ryutaro inquired.
"Yes, because this technique focuses the curse of the demon on the blade’s tip, creating invisible wolf fangs or dark dragon-like energy that ordinary beings can’t see. This attack targets not the physical form of the enemy, but the energy structure and the dimension where the magic resides," his father explained.
"Then quickly, teach me the technique!" Ryutaro urged.
"Alright," his father said.
Following his father’s instructions, Ryutaro immediately unleashed the technique.
"Hahaha, you think that with that technique you can break my shield?" Bloodflare laughed.
"We’ll see if you can still say the same thing," Ryutaro responded.
In an instant, demonic energy gathered around Morz’rath’s blade. Once all the energy was collected, Ryutaro shouted the name of the technique.
"Dread-Fang... break the evil!!!"
Ryutaro rushed toward Bloodflare. As Morz’rath’s blade swung, a black shadow resembling demonic fangs or a dragon’s head materialized.
With a single swing, the "fang" slipped through the cracks of reality, sniffing and tearing apart Bloodflare’s invisible shield, shattering it from within, like a mirror shattered by the echo of ancient fear.
Charlotte, or rather Bloodflare, was momentarily stunned as she saw her shield begin to crack.
"What... how is this possible?" Charlotte, or rather Bloodflare, said in disbelief.
Bloodflare attempted to strengthen her shield, but before she could do so, the shield had already been destroyed.
As the shield shattered, Charlotte’s body was thrown backward, releasing the Bloodflare sword she had been holding.
"Is it over?" Ryutaro asked.
But as Ryutaro tried to approach Charlotte’s body, the Bloodflare sword moved once again toward Charlotte’s hand, regaining control.
"Damn, she can still move!" Ryutaro cursed.
Ryutaro attempted to block her, but again, he failed.
Once the sword returned to Charlotte’s hand, she, or rather Bloodflare, stood up again.
"Hahaha, not bad. You were able to break my shield, but you’re still not strong enough," Bloodflare taunted.
Bloodflare immediately prepared to unleash her second form.
"Is she going to transform?" Ryutaro wondered.
As he saw Bloodflare preparing to transform, Ryutaro suddenly felt an unbearable headache.
"Arghhh!" Ryutaro screamed in pain.
His father’s voice in his mind became more urgent.
"Damn, the effect of that magic is almost over!" Ryutaro’s father exclaimed.
As Ryutaro endured the excruciating pain, Bloodflare completed her transformation. What was once a sword became a black scythe, and Charlotte’s clothing changed into a black gown with red patterns due to the evolution.
"Hahaha, finally, I can unveil my second form after all this time!" Bloodflare laughed.
Ryutaro struggled to withstand the pain, fighting to stay on his feet to face the transformed Bloodflare.
"Damn, I was so close to defeating Bloodflare and saving Charlotte from her influence," Ryutaro muttered, holding back his pain.
Ryutaro finally lost consciousness, unable to bear the agony in his head.
"Ugh, after all this time evolving, she faints. Fine, I should leave and make her even more despairing by showing her her comrade’s death," Bloodflare said.
Bloodflare immediately summoned her demonic wings and flew out of the cave.
As Bloodflare exited the cave, Morz’rath, still in Ryutaro’s grip, suddenly emitted a bright red light.
Ryutaro’s consciousness was transferred to a different dimension, along with his father’s soul.
"Son, wake up!" his father urged.
Ryutaro immediately rose from the ground.
"Father? How can you be here? What happened? I thought I was unconscious? And where are we?" Ryutaro asked.
"I don’t know either. After you fainted, Morz’rath shone very brightly, and then we were brought here," his father explained.
"What? But weren’t you the one who created the sword? How do you not know?" Ryutaro wondered.
"Yes, I created Morz’rath, but I don’t remember setting anything like this up," his father replied.
"Could it be because of the demon god’s body I used to forge Morz’rath?" Ryutaro asked.
"That could be it," his father said.
Suddenly, the dimension, which had been bright white, turned red.
"What’s happening? Why is it turning red?" Ryutaro asked.
"It seems we need to be careful, son. The aura here feels very ominous," his father warned.
Not long after, a magnificent castle appeared in the distance, surrounded by a blood-filled pool glowing beneath it.
Ryutaro immediately pointed it out to his father.
"Father, look! Why did a castle appear all of a sudden?" Ryutaro asked. freewёbnoνel.com
"I don’t know either," his father replied.
"Hmm, how about we go inside? There’s no point in just standing here doing nothing," Ryutaro suggested.
"You’re right, son. Let’s go inside, but stay cautious. I don’t know what awaits us in there," his father cautioned.
"Understood, father," Ryutaro said.
With careful steps, they both entered the castle.
---
Meanwhile, in the real world:
Suddenly, an earthquake shook the area as Bloodflare broke free.
Outside, everyone felt the tremor.
"Did you feel that? Another earthquake?" Grace asked.
"You’re right, why has there been two earthquakes today?" Aurelia replied.
"And we still don’t know what’s really happening inside or Ryutaro’s condition," Miyuki added.
"Hopefully, nothing bad happened to him," Alice said.
Soon after, Charlotte, or rather Bloodflare, emerged from the cave.
"Hahaha, it’s been a hundred years, and finally, I’m out!" Bloodflare laughed.
Grace, seeing Charlotte, immediately asked, "Charlotte, is that you? Why did you come out alone? What happened to Ryutaro?"
"Hoo, are you Ryutaro’s beloved?" Bloodflare teased.
"What do you mean? Why would you say that?" Grace asked.
"Yeah, since when did you forget your memory like that?" Aurelia added.
After hearing this, Charlotte, or rather Bloodflare, immediately attacked without warning.
Rin, aware of the situation, rushed to where Grace and the others were, while Lilith waited at the cave entrance for Ryutaro to emerge.
Orphesius, Sylvara, and Zarek also rushed to join Grace and the others.
Upon arrival, Rin quickly cut off the magic released by Charlotte, or rather Bloodflare. freewebnσvel.cøm
"You’re Bloodflare, aren’t you?" Rin asked.
"Hoo, you know me? Looks like I’ve found an interesting person," Bloodflare said.
Grace, Aurelia, Miyuki, and Alice were shocked by Rin’s statement.
"Is she not Charlotte?" Grace asked.
"No wonder she’s wearing those clothes," Aurelia observed.
"If I’m not mistaken, isn’t Bloodflare Valen’s sword?" Miyuki asked.
"Yes, it’s Valen’s sword," Rin confirmed.
"But didn’t Ryutaro say Charlotte was Valen’s reincarnation?" Alice added.
"Yes, she is Valen’s reincarnation, which is why her soul and blood didn’t get drained completely," Rin explained.
Hearing Rin’s explanation, Grace immediately asked, "What did you do to Charlotte? And where is Ryutaro?"
"Ryutaro? He’s still inside the cave, but whether he’s alive or dead, I don’t know. The important thing is, if he’s still alive, I’ll give him a sense of hopelessness like never before," Bloodflare replied.
Upon hearing that, Grace rushed towards Bloodflare.
"Dammit! What did you do to Ryutaro?" Grace shouted.
"Hahaha, of course, I defeated him. He’s so weak," Bloodflare taunted.
Hearing that, Grace grew angrier, but Rin held her back.
"Hold on, she said Ryutaro fainted inside the cave, so he’s probably still unconscious," Rin said.
"But what if Ryutaro didn’t make it?" Grace asked, worried.
"That’s a concern for later, but I’m sure Kevin’s kid isn’t that weak," Rin assured her.
After hearing Rin’s words, Grace calmed down.
"Come on, hit me again. I’m getting bored," Bloodflare taunted.
Suddenly, Orphesius launched an attack from afar.
"Who is that?" Bloodflare asked.
"I’m Orphesius, the tenth member of Ashen Fang," Orphesius replied.
"Are you close to Ryutaro?" Bloodflare asked.
"No, no, no, I’m not close to him," Orphesius answered.
"Then why are you attacking me?" Bloodflare asked.
"Because I’m the only one who can defeat Ryutaro, and I won’t let you take that from me," Orphesius said.
"Hoo, interesting. Alright, show me your power, human," Bloodflare said.
And so, Orphesius and Bloodflare began to battle, while Sylvara and Zarek, who had just arrived, sighed as they watched Orphesius’s actions.
Can Orphesius defeat her? Or will he be the one to lose? And what is this castle that Ryutaro and his father entered? Also, why did Ryutaro’s Morz’rath sword shine red and bring his consciousness to another dimension? Find out in the next Chapter of The Battle of Dread-Fang.
*If I made any minor mistakes that might be distracting, I sincerely apologize. I have done my best for this novel, and if you enjoy it, please consider giving it a like and sharing your feedback, suggestions, or criticism so I can learn and improve. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next Chapter!*