Dawn- An age of Darkness

"I didn't think you'd be coming down." I tried acting tough.

Ve was still handling most of my weight. My chest was burning and I was still leaking blood. This curse was strong but it wasn't all powerful. 

But one thing was for sure, even without my heart beating, even though my blood had gone cold, even though I couldn't feel half of my left arm, I wasn't dead. I could still go on. The pain wasn't receding though.

'Damn you, Dick!'

The poor guy was resting peacefully on the ground. I still hope he wasn't dead though. It would have left a bad taste in my mouth.

"IT WAS GETTING TOO BORING, YOU SEE."

His voice was somewhere in the middle of seriousness and mockery. But even so, it made me tremble. And seriously? That was his reason?

I could almost roll my eyes, but at the same time, I couldn't. 

"Why are you here? I thought we had a deal!"

"AND WE STILL DO! YOU HAVE PROGRESSED RATHER WELL IN THESE PAST TEN MONTHS. AND THOUGH I'D LIKE TO CRUSH YOU AND SAVOR THE FUN, I HAVE OTHER THINGS TO ATTEND TO." He was almost disappointed at the thought he couldn't fight me now. But then- why?

I couldn't see his face; I couldn't see anything past that darkness. But I could see the madness in his glistening eyes and that mocking grin. 

"To destroy this town?"

"HMM… IF YOU SHOULD STAND IN MY WAY- THEN." His grin widened. "OTHERWISE, I'D TURN A BLIND EYE, IF YOU TURN A BLIND EYE."

If I turn a blind eye to what? If he wasn't here to fight me or destroy the city, then why was he here?

I seriously couldn't find a valid reason. 

"What?" Ve let out a small mumble. "He's crazy."

"Uh-huh." I couldn't disagree with that. But- I took a deep breath. If he wasn't here for me, then what the hell was he here for and why did Dick of all people betray me? "Why are you here?"

I took a good look at my surrounding. It was all but empty. The houses were in the distance and the vampire was nowhere to be found. 

We were alone. 

He slightly tilted his head to his left. "WHERE IS THE DAUGHTER OF DAMSEL?"

Alisa? He was here for Alisa?

"And what do you plan to do with her?" Ve asked, anger evident.

"NOTHNG MUCH. OUR DEAL IS OVER- THEREFORE I'VE COME TO RECLAIM MY COMPENSATION."

"Compensation?" I was confused, I really was. 

"YES, SHE MADE A DEAL WITH HER LIFE. HOWEVER, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, THEREFORE, ALL WILL BE OVER IF YOU WERE TO JUST REVEAL HER TO ME, AND I'D ME ON MY WAY." It was almost as though he was showing me mercy. 

It was almost as though he was mocking me. 

And it was almost as though, he knew, I wouldn't.

I grit my teeth. "And you think I'd sell out on her?"

He stopped grinning.

"IN THAT CASE, PLAYTIME WOULD BE OVER AND I'D HAVE TO TORTURE YOU TO DEATH BEFORE YOU SHOULD REVEAL HER." A large sigh. "IT WOULD BE SUCH A SHAME."

"Well, Goodluck with that."

I gripped the mystic blade tight, broke a small vile of elixir and downed it on one go.

Ve was wounded but she looked fine. She was good to go.

And with that small drop of elixir, I was also good to go. The wound was barely holding and didn't leak. It also didn't hurt as much. But my heart started beating again. And with every beat, a pulse of pain shot through my body. 

But I was still alive. 

This curse really was something. 

Dick was lying on the ground, so I took out the mystic shield from his pouch. It was a small shield enough to slot in between my mystic glove and arm guard. But the moment I wore it, I could feel a tremendous amount of power surging through me and it was as though I could take hits everywhere. The added benefit of wearing my mystic glove was also showing its effects as it hastened my healing. 

Sorry Dick, but I definitely had no plans on returning this thing anymore. 

The shield slotted in on my arm, so I didn't have to bother with using a hand on it. instead, I used the mystic sword with my right and the spear with my left hand. The four mystic equipment felt way too natural to me and gave me new strength. 

All the gems, the stones, everything glowed and covered me. I also used Imbuition and downed my second last high potion. I also threw a potion Ve's way.

I was glowing- I was out of breath, and all the wounds were disappearing. I was on the bleeding edge of my limit. 

All this time, the emperor was just looking at me, marveled. "AH, SUCH PROGRESS. YOU TRULY WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!" He didn't even bother trying to stop me. His eyes were clearly saying, 'come at me with everything.'

I didn't let his words bother me. "Ve, I know you want to fight but I think it's better if you were to run away now."

"Did you forget why Xerphas sent me with you?" She didn't need to support me anymore, but she still took her fighting stance. 

"I didn't. but I'm pretty sure he sent you for a different reason than to just throw your life away."

The dragons were dying out.

And I killed most of the last ones. Their leader was also dead.

It was only natural Xerphas would send her daughter with me in the hopes of preserving their race. I guess that dude trusted me a lot more than I thought and I was just a blockhead who never even considered that. 

So it was up to me to ensure that her daughter didn't pass away like this. 

"Even so." Ve stood by my side. "I won't leave. I'm a proud warrior of the dragon and the Alf race. I can't back down now." She snorted. "However, I won't throw down my life either. I'll aid you the best I can, if that's not enough, I'll fall back."

'Sounds good to me.'

Then- "Sorry to keep you waiting but- why do this? I've asked you before but- this time, I expect not a flimsy answer like you're bored." I glared. "We both know, it's not that simple."

I was just shooting stones in the darkness. I had no idea if he actually had any reasons or not but-

He let out a snort. "You're too sharp for your own good." His voice almost felt humane for a second. "HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES HERE. I'M JUST HERE FOR SOME FUN."

"Uh-Huh." Too bad.

I dashed forward in blazing speeds.