The Duke's Passion



856 If you're saving someone, don't die.

"Thank you!"

Lilou's breath hitched, wide-eyed. Throughout her battle with Acheron, the latter didn't speak a word. He would launch calculated attacks; he would repel her assaults strategically. But Acheron didn't indulge in a conversation with her as his eyes were plain, as if he was under control.

To hear his voice, albeit faint, took Lilou off guard.

Lilou turned on her heel. Her eyes fell on the man lying flat on his back. Acheron's neck was still bleeding, but he wasn't stopping the bleeding with his hand. His eyes were on the dark sky covering the entire Spade Kingdom.

"I..." Acheron panted for air. Breathing was hard for him, let alone speaking. However, he still tried his best to say his last words. "... sorry. I couldn't change anything, even after returning from the dead"

A tear rolled down his eyes as regret and remorse filled his eyes. Lilou's jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth, balling her hand into a tight fist.

"Please... save... his breath hitched as blood spurted out of his wounded neck. "... the people, my lady'

Ilis mouth was left open, lips quivering as he tried his best to say more. However, all he could do was gasp for air until he took his last breath with his eyes and mouth open. Another drop of tear rolled down his temple, revealing that a once mighty, brave, and righteous knight died with nothing but regret.

Be it then or now, Acheron stuck to his loyalty. He treated Zero as his own. The only difference was that before the regression, Acheron didn't regret anything. He found honor in fighting alongside Zero and supporting his king.

But now, Acheron died with nothing but regret. Who wouldn't? Zero, his king, massacred his own people for his greed. Zero turned into a real mad king and he used even his most loyal people.

"You didn't have to say that," she whispered, marching back to where Acheron was lying. She squatted down beside him, closing his eyes ever so tenderly. "Whether or not you asked me to, I already planned to salvage anything in this madness Zero started."

Another deep breath slipped past Lilou's nostrils, retrieving her hand from Acheron's shut eyes. The heaviness in her heart slightly lightened, knowing Acheron regretted his actions in the end. Although she couldn't bring him back to life, she wished that if he would live in his next life, he could make proper decisions and live a happier life.

"A parental love is truly amazing in its own way, but could be destructive," she murmured as she pushed herself up, eyes down at Acheron. "Sometimes, parents love their children too much they were unaware it was already wrong

Lilou could understand that. She was also a parent and, as such, she knew she would try to understand her children and not judge them. The only difference between her and Acheron was that she would never tolerate her children if their deeds had the intention of hurting others. Lilou turned around ever so slowly, dragging her feet away from the scene. Rufus lured the

undead to wherever he planned, so the only undead in the area were those he had cleansed or slain. Looking around at the scene, it was hard to discern which one was dead or unconscious.

Everyone was just on the ground.

Blood was everywhere.

What an unsightly scene to behold.

'Now that I am done with Acheron, I should... her train of thoughts trailed off, looking heavenward.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lilou narrowed her eyes, staring at the layer of darkness covering the sky. The sky was pitch black, but she could feel it thicken.

"What is going on...?" she asked herself, sensing this unsettling power crawling under her skin. The layer of darkness covering the land of Spade didn't feel anything previously. The appearance of it brought forth panic in those within it, but as they stayed longer, they almost forgot about its existence. But now, there was this sense of dread crawling up her spine as the wind blew past her.

They weren't just in the dark field.

Lilou couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but she was certain somewhere in this land something was happening. Whatever it was, she already didn't like it.

"Sam," another whisper slipped past her lips. "What the hell are you doing??"

********

[FORT]

"Move!!!" Kristina yelled her lungs out, shouting for everyone to hasten their movements.

As planned, they had formed many small units that a member of the Divine Order led. Many had already departed the fort to assist Rufus in cleansing the area. However, with the number of soldiers, it was impossible to clear the fort in a blink of an eye.

Kristina still had to shout to keep them moving and keep them motivated. The sea was wild, but what lies in the land of Spade was far more unbridled. They needed more firm courage and a clear mind to do their task efficiently.

SHRIEEEK!!

Kristina cringed as she covered one of her cars. Her cars were already bleeding because she had to endure the Kraken's piercing screams previously. But that didn't stop her from going through their plans. Some knights also slowed down, covering their cars to avoid inflicting more damage before heading to the real battlefield.

Looking back to where Stefan was fighting the Kraken, her eyes slowly went wide. Her mouth fell open, watching Stefan move like a bolt of lightning. Minutes ago, he was fighting the Kraken meticulously, calculating all his movements, and making sure he had a surface to land on.

But now, Stefan was just launching a continuous attack at the Kraken. He wasn't even thinking about where to land anymore. Stefan would sometimes land on the ocean and sink, only to resurface straight to attack the Kraken.

"Ile must've lost his mind," whispered Kristina, watching Stefan's attack turn more and more aggressive. "Why is he in a rush now of all time when everyone already reached the land..." Kristina trailed off, furrowing her brows. Watching Stefan made her realize one thing. He looked as if he was mindlessly and aggressively attacking the Kraken, but from a soldier's point of view, Stefan looked as though he was trying to reach something.

She slowly moved her gaze to the direction Stefan was aiming for if he continued this way. Much to her dismay, she caught something dangling in one of the Kraken's tentacles. From her vantage point, she couldn't see it properly. Thus, she narrowed her eyes and focused on it, only to gasp upon recognizing who it was.

"The Earl - Her heart thudded as she caught another tentacle from the corner of her eyes. As soon as she saw the tentacle erect until it looked like a gigantic spear, her eyes went wide. Without thinking twice, Kristina called forth her Mace, throwing it into the Kraken's tentacle that was charging at Stefan.

"Your Majesty!!! Kristina screamed at the top of her lungs, almost making her bleeding cars shatter. Her voice echoed, and fortunately, it reached Stefan faster than the tentacle did.

Her Mace was faster, though. As soon as Stefan turned his head, there wasn't enough time for him to dodge the sharp tentacle. Fortunately, Kristina's weapon hit it right on time, repelling it away with a piercing clang.

"Ah, god..." Kristina huffed, heaving a sigh of relief while opening her hand. Iler weapon flew back to her grip like a boomerang, shifting her sharp eyes at Stefan. "If you're saving someone,

don't die!"

SPLASH!