The angel, the ghost and the nightmare pt.1

Dalia raised her hands to fight. Shirei's eyes fell on the little girl as Marina thought on what to do.

"Move!" The blonde shouted, "Go away!"

Lorenzo gripped his peculiar weapon between his fingers, "Marina, what's happening?"

The daughter of Ien turned to look at her brother. Lorenzo had masterfully forged the 'multi-everything'. It looked like a massive hammer, with a hammered steel head and some grooves along the handle to improve the grip. However, what made it truly standout was a central red case set into the top of the handle. The case didn't just look like a decorative element; anything could be hidden inside it: technological devices, screwdrivers, keys, even other weapons. With the multi-everything in his hands, Marina thought that her brother would be ready to face any enemy that came his way.

When the surprise over the weapon was gone, Marina replied: "Lore, have you gone crazy?! Stay back!"

"I made a big mess..." said Dalia, grinding her teeth, "A big trouble, Shirei..."

"Everyone go! Now!"

Francesca reached them last as the remaining demigods moved away entirely.

"Can someone explain to me what we should do?"

Marina looked at her tensely, "Stay back, it's better if you stay out of this!"

"Aena… is Aena here?"

Shirei moved and, with a lightning movement, went around Marina to hold her in a vice. The millimeter precision amazed the demigoddess, who tried to wriggle to escape his grasp. In another situation, being so close to him would have made her blush, but she suspected that could never happen. Marina tried to react, but she was immobilized: "What the heck!?"

"Where?" The boy asked, blocking her arm and pushing the blade into her neck.

"I-I don't... I... Shirei...!"

"Shirei, stop!"

Dalia stepped between the two and pushed her brother away using all her strength. Cragar's son simply let go and took a few steps back. Marina began to breathe deeply again and coughed, she was scared to death. Shirei looked down at the black-haired girl, not recognizing her, and blinked.

"What do you want?" He asked, keeping a rather calm tone of voice.

"You need to calm down!"

"I am. I'm always calm."

Marina touched her neck again, "Hollow..."

'Shirei', without the slightest change in expression, moved his arm and threw the Blade of Discord. The weapon traveled at great speed a few centimeters from Dalia's face, slightly wounding her cheek. Cragar's daughter froze and so did the other demigods. Marina grabbed Dalia's arm and pulled her behind her. What they had in front of them was not the boy she had met in the last few days. If they had hesitated, perhaps, they could have ended up paying dearly for the mistake. Dalia closed her eyes and her cheekbone spasmed.

"Dalia, is everything okay?"

The demigoddess didn't have time to respond before something caught the attention of the entire group. Behind them, shadows twisted, dancing in an ominous vortex that consumed space itself. From that swirl of darkness, a gap opened up, emitting a piercing hiss. Through the hole of darkness, a creature materialized so magnificent and terrifying that it struck raw terror into the hearts of all demigods still nearby. Clad in matte black armor, the being exuded an aura of power and evil. His skin glowed a ghostly purple color, revealing his nature. An impenetrable helmet hid his face, so that no one could see above his lips. Two wonderful wings, similar to those of a corrupt angel, emerged from his shoulder blades and stood out menacingly in the void. He held tightly to the blade 'Shirei' had just thrown which, in his right hand, took on a more sinister and lethal glow. Lorenzo and Francesca turned to see the scene and jumped.

"Holy gods, what have I done…" Dalia wanted to beat herself up.

"So what do we do?" Lorenzo asked, trying not to tremble.

Marina slammed her wrists together and activated the transformation mechanism of her weapons, a few moments later she held two long and shining metal daggers in her hands. Luckily she had found them after her visit to the laboratory, otherwise she would have been disarmed at that moment. The gift had been given by the divine Aena herself, and although she had never had the chance to use them against a demigod, she suspected that they possessed their own magic related to the power of love.

"Do not hinder me", replied 'Shirei', "I have no interest in harming you."

"You talk too much little brother, it's better if you come to your senses," Dalia countered, taking one of the two daggers from her best friend's hand.

Francesca approached Ien's daughter, "Marina, what can we do?"

"It's better if you don't interfere... for your own safety..."

"I have to protect myself, from Shirei?" Lorenzo asked, scared.

Marina grimaced and put on a sad expression, "I think so."

The boy closed his eyes, then raised his right foot and took a simple step. As soon as he touched the earth, the ground darkened with a pitch-colored stain that gradually spread, staining the entire arena. The ring on his index finger shone royal purple and was in perfect harmony with the dark aura emanating from Cragar's son. 'Shirei' was doing something, Marina was convinced of it, and nothing good loomed.

Lorenzo inhaled, "Francesca, go away."

"You're crazy if you think I'm just going to walk away and leave you to be the hero."

Dalia began to curse "Damn, damn, damn..."

"Shirei... Shirei!" Marina shouted.

"Who would he be?" The boy replied

"What's happening? Why are you like this?"

Before 'Shirei' could respond, Salix broke in and advanced against Cragar's son.

"Now I recognize you," he said with an amused smile.

Marina turned to Tefine's son, trying to persuade him, "We have to stop him here, we can't risk Aena killing him!"

"Kill?" Salix looked at the girl out of the corner of his eye and laughed out loud, "You'll have to see if she survives."

Ien's daughter was shocked, he couldn't be serious.

'Shirei' looked at the dark demigod, "Salvaterra."

The boy grimaced, "No, not that name."

Dalia also approached, still keeping her attention on the mysterious ghostly angel summoned by 'Shirei', "Do you know each other?"