Welcome back to the latest chapter of the story! Previously, Marta and the others traveled to the secret training spot Topaz's grandfather trained her while also learning more about her and Scarlet along the way.
Topaz revealed her past with her grandfather and her parents before destorying the great boulder and obtaining her grandfather's Onyx Smasher, a pair of gauntlets and greives she now wears with pride.
Just as they left, Tenebrae informed them of the presences that followed them and as if on cue, both Richter and Decus struck in an attempt to harm Marta. Thankfully, Marta has her team with her as the girls prepared to face down the two men.
But the question remains... who is the unknown presence Tenebrae is sensing if not Aqua, Richter and Decus? After a brief look into the present, we will witness this epic showdown!
Grass Field Outskirts [Present Day]
The group is left speechless as they process the information they heard.
Scarlet having a boyfriend was the last thing they expected, but the fact she had to part ways with this Kai just to ensure Marta and her team's well being was shocking. A difficult thing for anyone to do. Lloyd understood that very well as he had to be on his own without his beloved Colette by his side...
Than there was Topaz. Like the other girls, Topaz had a tough past. Being forced into a role she didn't want as she didn't wish to be a traditional housewife like her parents, wishing to seek strength and improvement as a martial artist just like her grandfather at the cost of being estranged with her parents, especially since they tried to force her to give up the path she wants to follow and to forget her own grandfather. Emil and Regal especially felt appaled by how callous they were to Topaz.
Yet, despite that, Topaz remained true to herself and ultimately succeeded in her final test, obtaining her grandfather's weapoms as proof of her triumph. The same black guantlets and greives from the picture Marta showed them.
But than the unexpected occurred...
"Richter and Decus came at you at once!?" Emil spoke in shock and worry. Richter and Decus are both strong in their own right. Richter with his innate talent and Decus thanks to his Exsphere. Plus, thinking back at it now, Richter is able to briefly channel the power of the Demonic Realm for a sruge in power thanks to the deal he made to kill Ratatosk... as in Emil himself. Marta didn't know back than, but she was dealing with a dangerous foe and to know Marta's friends had to deal with him too...
"Yeah... Tenebrae couldn't tell Aqua was there intially since he sensed multiple presences." Marta explained, wishing Tenebrae did say something sooner, but understood why he was uncertain as he couldn't be certain if Aqua was close by or not at the time.
"Either way, it didn't change the fact Lady Marta and the others were now engaged in battle with nit just Richter, but Decus as well. I have never seen Decus fight before, but I figured he would be a dangerous foe to overcome." Tenebrae continued as he recalled that battle very vividly.
Especially when Vermillion saw Richter... especially when that unknown presence... or presences rather to be more accurate... came to light...
Forest Clearing [Near the Hima area]
Marta, Emerald, Selene and Lavender glared at Decus while Scarlet, Vermillion, Topaz and Azure glared at Richter while Tenebrae floated out of reach. He sensed Aqua was close by and can even see her across the clearing. Tenebrae guessed she kept herself hidden to avoid being spotted by Decus and assumed for a monster.
"Decus..." Marta said with a rough acceptance as she readied her spinner as she plans to ultilize the training Vermillion and Emerald taught her against two skilled opponents.
"Sorry Marta, but you knew this was coming." Decus spoke as he readied himself to slay Marta.
"So... Alice's Lap-Dog finally shows himself." Selene spoke in a venomous tone toward Decus.
"Lap-Dog!? Oh my dear Selene you wound me! I'm Alice's knight, not a dog!" Decus replied in a theatrical way of speaking while making it clear that he finds being called a "lap-dog" an insult.
"It's true! Considering how horribly she treats you! Always insulting you and rejecting your feelings!" Selene shouted back at the Espionage Captain, something the other girls sympathize with despite their own dislike of Alice.
"I will win my beloved's affections one way or another! Either way, you can make this easy by subduing Marta. Do that and Commander Brute will forgive your transgressions." Decus offered Marta's Former Unit a chance to rejoin and...
"Not a chance! I won't sell out Marta after what she did for me!" Selene threw the offer back in Decus' face.
"That's right! You, Alice and Richter are huge jerks, period!" Emerald fumed at Decus, making her statement loud and clear.
"I've hated hunting down Marta and I won't do it again!" Lavender squeezed her ball as she stood her ground. Hearing her friends stand by her side made Marta's heart soar.
"Scarlet, you seriously intend to betray Brute after all this?" Richter adressed the Crimson Swordsmaiden calmly with an air of disappointment and questioning in his voice.
"Yes... I realize I don't need to be in the Vanguard to repay him. I can still keep Marta safe to repay him... even from you, despite my gratitude for you saving me back than too. Besides... I don't wish to hurt my friend anymore and there's nothing you can do to change my mind!" Scarlet voiced her intentions clear to Richter.
"It's a bad day to be you "Chief". I just completed my final test and earned my grandfather's Onyx Smasher. Something tells me you're in for a bad day, Mr. Abend!" Topaz cracked her knuckles with a smirk on anticipation as she stared down her former superior.
"I figured you to be more smarted than this Richter. Strong you may be, we got the numbers advantage and we've also gotten stronger since we last met." Azure said as she cocked the Aquamarine Cannon, ready to fire at anytime.
"So... if you understand what's going to happen. Stand down now." Vermillion spoke to Richter, who looked at her in confusion with her mysterious and ephemeral visage.
"That voice... Vermillion!?" Richter exclaimed in surprise at the Lady Knight now that she no longer wore her helmet. Decus took a peak to see her face as Vermillion glanced back at her.
"She's not wearing her helmet and... her ears!" Decus noticed the telltale signs of a full elf on Vermillion.
"Yes... I am an Elf... a full blood." Vermillion said what was on Decus' mind, surprising the Espionage Captain and the Red Haired Man.
"So... you decided to not hide your face from the world anymore? Have to say, it's good look for you." Richter said with a smirk and a voice of approval. This surprised everyone, knowing how closed off he is. But, he sounded a bit familiar with Vermillion. Did they know each other personally?
"Can't say the same for you. Hunting down Marta and trying to murder someone important as Ratatosk." Vermillion shot back, prompting Richter to frown again.
"Marta, allow me, Scarlet, Topaz and Azure to handle Richter." The Lady Knight asked the Young Girl, who can only look in concern.
"Why? We can stand together!" Marta argued back as she thinks their might be more soldiers close by.
"I trust you can handle Decus... but with Richter... it's personal." Vermillion growled in a mix of rage and sadness. Marta didn't understand, but she figured it might be best to let the strongest fighters and the most smart one handle Richter.
"Tenebrae! Keep watch over them for me!" Marta called out to Tenebrae. At first he didn't wish to leave Marta alone, but having grown to trust her friends...
"Understood." Tenebrae replied as he kept close to Vermillion's group
"It's Ratatosk I want! Not you Vermillion!" Richter shouted as he leaped into the air, ready to attack Marta again but before he can even get to her, Topaz rushed in frot of him and..,
"Rising Comet!" Topaz shouted as she delived a poweful rising uppercut into Richter's chin, sending him flying away. Scarlet, Vermillion and Azure ran after him with Topaz not far behind. Marta's eyes widen at the increased strengh from Topaz. Could it be her grandfather's weapons?
Decus was taken aback before he regained himself as he glanced seriously at Marta, determined to carry out Alice's wishes.
"You know, I heard from Alice you bested her with a Mystic Arte. Can't say I'm happy to hear that... but I appreciate you not taking her life." Decus replied in a serious tone of voice, one of the few moments when he's not acting silly or goofy.
"She was causing problems in Emerald's home and tried to murder us! Even so, no one needed to die, not even Alice." Marta retorted back, making her distaste for killing other people very apparent.
"Besides, we've been bullied by her long enough! And the fact you don't even try to make her stop makes you just as culpable!" Emerald shouted back at the Espionage Captain as he didn't have much to say back.
"For the record, I do try to ask her not to be so harsh on you girls... but I can't force Alice to change how she feels abaout people." Decus spoke calmly, making a valid point about how you can't force someone to change their mind about people.
"Either way... you're not touching Marta!" Lavender spoke as she threw her ball with Decus batting it away as Marta and Emerald charged forth to meet Decus in battle.
Forest Riverside [Near the Hima area]
Tenebrae kept a safe distance as he kept close to Topaz, Scarlet, Azure and Vermillion.
The four woman went into the clearing as Richter slowly got himself back up. He planted his axe and rubbed his chin.
"Tch... your reaction speed improved Topaz. I'll admit I ran blindly into that one." Richter spoke with slight praise, admitting the folly of ignoring the other girls and hyperfocusing on Marta.
"Heh..." Topaz smirked as she eyed the man down as he picked his axe up.
"I'll tell you now, you're making a mistake protecting Ratatosk." Richter spoke to the four girls.
"Oh? And I suppose you know everything?" Scarlet mocked him with a question, which irritated Richter, but he remained composed.
"All I know is he's a Demon Lord who seeks to destroy the world." Richter spoke in a quick reply, his voice dripping with hate.
"Demon Lord?" Azure spoke skeptically, keeping her gun aimed at him.
"I don't know what you've heard, but if you know what's best for this world, you'd hand over the Core Marta has on her forehead." Richter warned the four women in question, apparently wanting to avoid fighting them.
"Why? So you can decapitate her and gloat over it?" Vermillion spoke in a venomous tone of voice thay took the other girls by surprise and even Richter seemed taken aback.
"You think I enjoy this?" Richter spoke in a low yet hurt growl as if he's been offended by the accusation
"I know I'm not one to talk, but this isn't like you Vermillion. You're awfully chummy with the Chief." Scarlet spoke while raising an eyebrow. The Lady Knight was silent for a moment until...
"I spoke with him for the past year while we were in the Vanguard. He's a respectable individual and I was intrigued by him. We're something of acquaintances and he became someone I looked up too. And now... he's officially broken that respect." Vermillion spoke in a bittersweet tone as she pointed her sword at him with her eyes filled with hurt in them. Richter just looked down for a brief moment before refocussing his attention on the girls.
"Yeah... also, "Demon Lord"? Marta and Tenebrae told us he's a Summon Spirit and the Lord of Monsters. Quite contradictory and a rather lame way to turn us against them." Topaz spoke back to Richter while making some hand gestures to drive the point home.
"I don't expect you to believe me, but I figured you'd have more common sense than this." Richter replied back with his dry and sardonic wit.
"If you won't back off of Marta and bite your tongue, I will gladly remove it for you!" Scarlet spoked as she rested her hand on her sword.
"Very well. Come take it." Richter spoke with a dry smirk. Things remained quiet for a few tense moments as Tenebrae observed everything until...
*SWOOSH!*
Scarlet charged forth with her blade and began to swing in succession with Richter's swings of his sword and axe. Tenebrae was amazed by the speed he saw as Topaz joined in on the fray.
"Save some for me!" Topaz spoke in an excited tone as she began to throw punches and kicks at the Red Haired man, yet, he's able to somehow keep up with them both. As if he can easily multitask fighting multiple foes at once like a tactical genius.
"How'd you do it, Tenebonehead?" Said a familar voice as Tenebrae groaned at the insult he recognized all too well. Aqua materialized before him in a ripple like effect and floated in front of him.
"Centurion Aqua, so we meet properly this time in this day and age." Tenebrae spoke calmly, recalling he saw her briefly when he retrieved Ratatosk's Core.
"Yes, considering you escaped with Lord Ratatosk's Core." Aqua replied bitterly to the Centurion of Darkness.
"You know what Lord Ratatosk is up too and you're leading them on? How spiteful can you get? Don't you know what will happen!?" Aqua attempted to guilt trip Tenebrae in regards to what the two Centurions know. Tenebrae remained silent as he does know what might happen, and yet still...
"Even so, I can't allow Lord Ratatosk to be killed or have you forgotten what could happen as well?" Tenebrae spoke with loyalty while making a counter argument, which leaves Aqua uneasy as she's well aware of that other worst possible outcome... one involving demons.
"At least mankind may have a fighting chance in that scenario!" Aqua fought back verbally as the fight raged on below. Azure heard the loud voice from Aqua.
"What the...? Tenebrae, get back!" Azure shouted as she shot at Aqua as she avoided and swam away with Tenebrae pursuing her.
"Wait Azure! I think she's a Centurion like Tenebrae. Let them talk it out." Vermillion spoke as she watched the two speed off.
"So... is that Aqua? The Centurion with Richter that Marta and Emerald saw? She's... curiously attractive for a fish woman..." Azure spoke in a contemplative and questioning tone of voice.
"True, but that might be due to her more humanoid appearance than anything e- don't try to distract me with complementing people's looks. We need to focus on dealing with Richter." Vermillion spoke in some form of agreement before trying to get Azure back on the subject on handling their current opponent.
As Tenebrae and Aqua stared each other down, Tenebrae wanted to question Aqua, but he knew she won't ask that easily with so many here and instead sent monsters down. As Azure and Vermillion were about to rush Richter, a swarm of ten Polwigles appeared in front of them.
"Good thing I made pacts with monsters unlike you lazy Tenebonehead. Pontus, lead the Polwigle Sqaud to victory!" Aqua insulted Tenebrae before ordering her Polwigles to attack the two women. Tenebrae mentally cursed himself for not forging connections with any monsters, even other Dark Types.
The Polwigles charged the two, as they were caught off guard as the dog piled them.
"What are these things!?" Vermillion question as she shook them off of her.
"Polwigles! They're water type monsters! A bad mistake on her end!" Azure said as she shot an electirc charge at a Polwigle, knocking it out.
This cause Aqua to tense a little as if she's in pain. Than...
"Zaratan!" Aqua shouted as she summoned a turtle like monster to charge and attack the two women. It was than Scarlet and Topaz heard and saw the commotion. Water monsters summoned by another Centurion.
"Tch! That fishstick is Aqua!?" Scarlet grunted as she vlocked an attack by an unrelenting Richter.
"Got to say... she's surprisingly attractive for a fish lady." Topaz spoke as she resumed attacking Richter while Azure and Vermillion fended off the Polwigle Squad and the Zaratan.
"We do not need this right now!" Azure said as she fires her gun to zap and stun them until one Polwigle knocked her gun away.
"Keep that away from her Pontus!" Aqua cheered on her monsters like a doting mother would.
Vermillion clashed with the Zaratan as she gritted her teeth, taking a pained looked at Richter.
"I won't let you win...!" Vermillion growled in a mix of rage and sorrow as she strained against the turtle monster.
Forest Clearing [Near the Hima area]
"Rings of Saturn!" Lavender shouted as the rings flew out from her ball, aiming the rings at Decus to try and hold him long enough for a solid beating, only for Decus to stand his ground and...
"Decus Strumwind!" Decus shouted as he moved forward while swinging his sword three times, before jumping at Lavender with a spinning slash. Lavender blocked in in time as it knocked her flying back as Selene kept her distance and cast a spell...
"Icicle Rain!" Selene shouted as she summoned a flurry of icicles rain down from above onto Decus...
"Decus Trombe!" Decus shouted as he stab his sword in the grouna and spin kicks while holding onto the grip on his blades hilt, kicking the ice shards away, forcing Marta and Emerald to dodge. Selene hunkered down as the ice shards nicked her arms and legs.
"How is he...!? Tornado Bomb!" Emerald shouted as she threw a paper bomb, charged up with a wind power element as it exploded, creating a tornado like vacuum, but once again...
"Decus Ausbruch!" Decus shouted as he detonated the tornado by swinging his flame covered sword down with both hands, blasting Emerald into a tree, knocking the wind out of her.
"Gyah!" The kunoichi yelled as she landed on her stomach. Marta glanced in surprise. She knew Decus was had to be strong to obtain the rank of captain, but these were the skills expected of the Combat Unit.
"No way... why isn't he part of the Combat Unit...?" Marta spoke in disbelief, surprised that Decus has a plan to counteract each of her teams Artes unless...
'Has he been spying on us!? For Alice!? Himself!?' Marta speculated as she can't fathom Decus being able to do this. Unfortunately, Marta's Artes may be known to Decus as Alice may have told the Espionage Captain about her new skills by now. Marta glared defiantly as she rushed Decus as she swiped her spinner at him.
He blocked it and is about to sweep her legs until she lept and twirled over him. Marta than kicked his arm.
"Gkkk!" Decus grunted as he swung his blade at her as Marta arched her body backward. The blade swung over her face, cutting a few strands of hair. Her eyes went wide at how close that sword was as she backflipped, kicking the sword upward. Decus's arm flew up as he held onto the blade as he hobbled on one foot.
Marta steadied her breathing as Emerald stood up and threw two yellow colored kunai at Decus' feet, creating a tremor around him. Decus grunted as the area broke around him and he fell in, yelling all the while. The four girls regrouped.
"Got to love the Earth Infused Kunais... he won't get out of there." Emerald smirked as they heard a rumble after a minute or two.
"You got to be be kidding me!?" Lavender shouted as the rumble implies Decus is already back! Sure enough, he broke out of the ground and...
"Decus Stein Hagel!" Decus shouted as heroll jumps into the air and descends, unleashing an energetic slash with his sword five feet in front of them, sending rocks flying at the four girls, sending Marta and Selene onto the ground.
"Ugh!" Marta winced as she fell onto her side.
"Ahh!" Selene gasped as she fell on her back.
Emerald pulled out Jade Star and...
"Demon Wind Shuriken!" Emerald shouted as her weapon enveloped itself with wind covering it as she threw it. Decus' eyes bulged out as he arched his body back, but unlike Marta's graceful form, Decus conked his head on the dirt, watching the shuriken sliced about six trees in succession with the wind dissapating as it came back to Emerald's hand.
Decus immediately sprang to his feet, rubbing the bump on his head as Selene, having gotten back up, rushed up to him with a charged spell in hand.
"Stalagmite!" Selene shouted giant pillar of stone, surrounded by smaller, angled stone pillars, from below Decus, launching him up into the air. Lavender ran up, ready to unleash an Arte of her own...
"Mercury Wave!" Lavender shouted as she dribbled her ball, sednign out waves of energy around her, the energy wave weaking gravity around her and keeping Decus airborn for a moment longer. Marta stood back up as she ran and lept up into the air with a graceful spin. Emerald ran up and jumped, holding Jade Star above her head, allowing Marta to use it as a makeshift platform as Marta jumped off it and was above Decus as she slammed an axe kick into his stomach, sending him into the ground.
"ACK!" Decus let out in pain as a piller of dust rose up. Marta landed on the ground, panting a little bit. However, Decus got back up and swung at Marta with the Young Girl blocking it with her spinner and pressing her hand against it.
"Have to admit... I didn't think you'd get this good!" Lavender threw her ball at Decus as he dodged, accidentally hitting Marta and knocking her away. This horrifed Lavender as her eyes widen!
"Oh no!" Lavender shouted in horror as Decus lept up in the air as Marta hit the ground.
"I dedicate this to Alice!" Decus shouted as he aimed his sword toward Marta's chest... where her heart is!
"Marta!" Emerald cried out in horror as her friend is about to be run through!
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Lavender cried as she and Emerald tried to run toward Marta in vain. The Vibrant Girl could only blame herself as it she hit Marta after Decus dodged. Marta's eyes widen as she sees Decus coming toward her and her life flashed before her eyes...
*SQUISH!*
Marta's eyes remained wide, but the blade was only an inch away from her chest as blood fell on her face. Decus landed on the ground, but his blade hit the wrong mark. He stabbed someone... on her back...
Marta's heart stopped in terror as she saw Selene shielding her... her eyes blank and blood trickling out of her mouth... Decus' sword in her back... with the Young Girl's cerulean eyes shrinking in horror...
"SELENEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Marta screamed in despair as her voice echoed through out the forest.
Forest Riverside [Near the Hima area]
The battle raged on between Richter and the rest of Marta's group as Scarlet and Topaz continued their offensive while Azure and Vermillion held of the Polwigles and the Zaratan. Vermillion managed to throw the Zaratan down hard onto it's back with immense savagery, to keep it from getting back up.
"Pontus! Flip Zaratan back up on it's feet!" Aqua, shocked that an elf could do this, instructed her Polwigle Sqaud Leader to help the turtle monster.
"Vermillion! I got these fish fries! Go and help them out!" Azure shouted as she used her gun to zap them down. Vermillion nodded as she came charging Richter, her eyes wet. Tenebrae noticed this unusal behavior coming from the Lady Knight.
"RICHTEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRR!" Vermillion screamed at the top of her lungs, prompting Scarlet, Topaz and Richter to cease foghting for a moment as Vermillion rammed the Red Haired Man down the cliff.
"Vermillion!" Scarlet and Topaz yelled as they never seen Vermillion act like this before. It worried them greatly.
"Topaz, stay with Azure! I'm going after Vermillion!" Scarlet commanded as she jumped down the mountain. Tenebrae, not fully trusting the Crimson Swordsmaiden yet, decided to ignore Aqua and follow them, clearly concerned about Vermillion's scream of bloody murder.
"Hey! Where are you going you spiteful-" Aqua scolded Tenebrae as Topaz lept up and tried to punch the Centurion of Water.
"You know... I love me a good fish filet!" Topaz smirked, cracking a seafood joke at Aqua's expense. Tenebrae smiled as he saw the look of dosgust on Aqua's face as he teleported.
Forest Depths [Near the Hima area]
Tenebrae got to the bottom first as he saw Vermillion and Richter roll down the cliff as Vermillion and Richter stood up.
"What the hell has gotten into you Vermillion!?" Richter shouted in disbelief that Vermillion would tackle her, not aware Tenebrae came down here.
"That was betraying my trust in you Richter!" Vermillion cried as tears flowed down her eyes. Tenebrae was shocked to see this coming from Vermillion and based on what he saw, Richter was taken aback by this sudden side of her.
"What does trust have to do with this? I'm trying to save this world from Ratatosk." Richter spoke bluntly to Vermillion. Tenebrae's eye furrowed as he understood Richter's words loud and clear... after all, he did see and hear things his Lord said.
"From what...? And you think murdering Marta will help with that!?" The Lady Knight snapped back angrily.
"A unfortunate sacrifice that must be made." Richter reluctantly admitted. Tenebrae can tell he doesn't want to kill Marta, but feels he has no other option, nor has he considered any other choice.
"Unfortunate!? You didn't even try to find an alternate solution!" Vermillion argued back, clearly incensed beyond belief as tears continued falling.
"If she handed it over, I would leave her be." Richter spoke sternly as Tenebrae shook his head. Marta can't hand it over willingly... she can't remove it herself anyway...
"And for Ratatosk... I think Tenebrae may be hiding more than he lets on..." Vermillion spoke to Richter, surprising the Centurion of Darkness. She knows about his intentions?
"Than... why are you helping him and Marta of you believe me!?" Richter questioned the Lady Knight's loyalties, in disbelief and bewilderment.
"I don't know what this Ratatosk did or said to you... but I personally believe in second chances and the ability to reform. That... and I'm sure Tenebrae has his reasons. That's why I chose tomplace my trust in him and see if it pays off." Vermillion replied to the Red Haired Man, leaving a look of utter shock and fury on Richter's face while Tenebrae found himself touched that despite her misgivings about him... she still chose to trust him.
"Second chances!? Redemption!? Are you listening to yourself!? There's NO Redemption for Ratatosk! Not in this lifetime or ever! He's a demon that threatens to destory all of mankind!" Richter lashed out in a furious rage at the Lady Knight.
"If it comes to that... so be it... but what if you're wrong for once...? What if this Ratatosk changes his mind?" Vermillion spoke in a cold and accepting tone, surprising Tenebrae. The Centurion does intend to follow and listen to Ratatosk and yet... he can't deny he hopes Ratatosk will change his mind about destroying mankind as even he thought it was too much.
"He won't change his mind! He made it absolutely clear! And why are you so focused on me specifically anyway!?" Richter yelled back before switching the topic to Vermillion, wondering why she's so angry with him.
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" Vermillion screamed at Richter with angry tears. Hearing this left Richter stumbling his words as he stared in disbelief with a slight blush. Even Tenebrae didn't expect this as he stared in surprise, his mouth agape and eyes wide.
"I... I admit it... when we spoke... we when spent time together... the past year... as I learned about you... as we spoke together... when I got you to open up a little bit... I fell in love with you... you could be a half-elf for all I care... and I would still love you. That's why... it hurts to see you want to murder my captain... my friend." Vermillion spoke in a much calm tone of voice, revealing that the time they spent together caused Vermillion to fall in love with Richter.
"When...?" Richter spoke, unable to find an appropriate response to this revelation. This was a first Tenebrae saw of Richter reacting in such a way. Than...
"Abend!" Sacrlet yelled as she slid down the hill and landed near Vermillion.
"Scarlet...?" The Lady Knight asked the Crimson Swordsmaiden in surprise that she came down here for her.
"So, he broke your heart did he? And before you ask how I know, I heard you scream your heart out when I got closer." Scarlet correctly guessed and explained herself to Vermillion as the Lady Knight statred in surprise.
"I'm sorry... for not telling you. I wasn't sure how'd you react." Vermillion spoke uncertainly, her face looking ashamed. Scarlet placed a hand.
"I know I wasn't a good friend... but... I'm here now... you being an elf doesn't matter to me anymore." Scarlet replied with a genuine smile to the Lady Knight.
"So Richter... will abandoned your weapons and flee?" Scarlet replied as she pointed her sword at Richter.
"I'm not leaving without that core! And Vermillion... I didn't know you felt this way about me... but there's no turning back for me... so I'm giving you a chance to walk away from this... or you could assit me." Richter denied Scarlet before giving Vermillion a choice to leave or join him.
"I won't... not even for you..." Vermillion replied with a heartbroken tone of voice as she aimed her sword at the Red Haired Man.
As Tenebrae observed, he pondered about the unknown presence. Where are they? Are they an ally of Richter and Decus? Are they a person they've never seen? Either way, they're not down here... The Centurion of Darkness only hoped they weren't gunning for Marta.
To Be Continued...
Decus and Richter are on the offensive! Vermillion revealed her hidden feelings for Richter and Selene has been wounded by Decus!
Can Vermillion stand up to Richter? Will Selene survive? And who is this unknown presence Tenebrae is sensing?
Tune in next time when we rejoin Marta and her allies!