Chapter 83: Mahraj Vs. Maria (Last Part)

The group that was sent to retrieve Martha hurried after the gate let them in. At first, the gate was firmly shut, as if it were rejecting anyone from entering it. Its pulsation stopped, and the reaction from it became extremely weaker than when it first materialized. It was as if it were going to break any time now.

"What on earth is going on here…?"

Matthias leaked a voice. His hand covered his face, shielding it from the shockwave that hit them all of a sudden just after entering the gate.

Black mist was not there, nor was anything that would obstruct their eyes from going through the inside of the gate with ease.

However, in their eyes, a petite girl was sitting on the ground, inside a small, clumsy circlet. The girl did not even pay them a glance. Her eyes were glued to something else.

Beside the girl, about seven meters horizontally from her, Martha was slumped. She was inside what seemed to be a transparent, blackish cage. She was conscious, but just like the girl, her eyes were not even noticing the arrival of Matthias's group.

"Your Eminence!" the subordinates called. Their voice was filled with the utmost joy. Their mistress was safe and well. With that, Martha noticed them. But instead of happiness, her eyes leaked a look of worry.

With a trembling voice, she called out to them, "Fools! Get down! Otherwise you will die!"

As if on cue, another shockwave blows at them, dragging them to the ground with its fission wave. Other followers flew meters away from their initial position before finally stopping.

"What the…?"

Their eyes wandered in search for the culprit, but once they saw it, their eyes went wide like a saucer.

Two entities were clashing in the open air. One with beautiful crimson bat wings, while the other was one with two horns protruding—jet black wings as if crows were pasted on that person's back.

The one with bat wings held a halberd; she was swinging this giant weapon with ease as if it were nothing. Meeting all her strikes were the person's two double-edged blades, a dual wield. With each strike from both of them, the air shook, sending tremors to the surrounding area. Dust flew no more. The battlefield was filled with holes, crevices, and burns. It was in a devastating state.

If one strikes, the other will block—the air will tremble, and a wave of shock would be sent to the surrounding area. This would repeat itself again and again, changing only the role of who attacks whom.

The fighting stopped for a moment. Then, after a little rest, they would clash again. The two entities were flying over the battlefield, dancing in mid-air in black and red lights. Unlike the outside world, inside the gate was dimly lit, giving them a good opportunity to watch the fight with ease. Though some of the movements made by the two flying objects were hard for them to recognize, they were fighting at a crazy speed after all.

***

"A-amazing…"

From behind the group, a voice leaked out. It was a voice of admiration. This voice came from the only woman in the group. Reina.

"This is the second time I saw a fight like this," she said as if in a trance, "that person. He was not Gleren, was he?"

Flying around was someone with Gleren's body. But Reina knew for sure that it was a different persona. A smile creeped over Reina's beautiful face. Her lips thinned, and the corner of her mouth rose into a crescent shape.

Mahraj," she said in a static voice. She knew her. Her eyes were filled with joy, an expression that was not familiar to those who were close to her. At the next moment, her voice sounded as if she were singing.

"Found you~." She kept on smiling. "Ah~. But this won't do." She said in a voice that can be heard only by herself.

"Both of you are still not ripe for the picking after all." Reina went on, her eyes emitting an eerie light that was not supposed to fit her character. With that, she snapped her finger.

"Eh?" Reina leaked out a puzzled voice. "What happened?" she murmured—the eerie light of her eyes disappeared.

***

The atmosphere became truly uncomfortable. The shaking of the air can be felt anywhere inside the Solomon's Gate. In the open air of this place, the two of them continued their fight.

"KAHAHAHAHA! That's it! That's it! Fight! More! Give me more!"

Maria's hysterical laugh reverberated. Though loud, only the two of them could hear it—three, actually.

"You sounded like a broken recorder. Are you sure you're okay?!"

Mahraj replied, his blade swinging from two sides in a cross-like slash. The handle of Maria's halberd blocked the blade. Sparks flew, and wave force spread throughout the field. Their weapons locked again.

"Take this!" Maria brought down her halberd from above. In response, Mahraj crossed her two blades to block it.

"Hm?" from inside the body, and Gleren was disturbed. "What is happening?" he mused.

"What is it, dear?" Mahraj quizzed. "Something the matter?" she uttered; her blade still locked with Maria's weapon.

"Mahraj, try to give her a kick." Without questioning back, Mahraj removed her blades from the lock and spun in mid-air, throwing a spin kick towards Maria.

"As I thought," Gleren voiced.

Maria went hurling down after receiving the kick. "Eh?" Mahraj's voice leaked, unable to process what just happened. Sure, it was a strong kick, but it should not be enough to down Maria.

Inside a crevice created by Maria's fall, she slowly crawled, struggling to stand on her own. Seeing this, Mahraj scowled. What is happening?

"For some reason, Maria is weakening. Mahraj, it's time. Let's switch." Gleren said in a serious tone.

"Eh~. Already? But, well. If you say so." After smiling, she descended to the ground. She complained, but because it was Gleren, she obeyed easily. Once in the ground, her horn returned, and her wings dispersed, sowing black feathers before doing so. And with that, she closed her eyes. "It's up to you now, dear." They swapped.

At the center of the crevice, Maria crawled. She held her head as if suppressing a severe headache. In a mellow tone, she whispered to herself. "She's waking up."

***

"Oh. My body. It felt strange now that I can actually move it. It's been a while."

I was admiring the sight of my own hand. Closing and opening it felt really strange. But well, it's a pleasant feeling otherwise.

I stretched my limbs, checking for any abnormalities. So far, so good. I don't feel anything other than the exhausting feeling of moving around. I see. So, the fatigue that was accumulated when Mahraj was using my body will be felt by me, too. What a carefree bounce back!

"Now then," I said, surveying the area. My eyes caught Lev, Martha, and Matthias' goons. They were tending to Martha, who was having a hard time standing. They must be here to take her back. Lev was just staring at me.

Ahead of me, a few meters away, Maria was there. Slumped on the ground. She was breathing roughly, as if battling with herself.

I brought myself toward her.

"Tired?" I asked, genuinely concerned. But to my surprise, my kindness was returned with a scowl.

"Enough with your sarcasm. You know well how I am right now." Actually, I was not giving her any sarcastic remarks. This girl, really? Just what part of my concern felt sarcastic to you? Geez. Getting angry with her in that state won't help.

"Can you stand?" I reached my arm out to her. She slapped it away. I can feel my vein bulging on my forehead, but I am a person with great patience, so I will just let it slide.

"Do not touch me. Remember my words. I will enslave you." Oh?

"That so?" I smiled. "Somehow that sounded kinda lewd."

"Wha—you bastard!" She must want to retaliate, but her body is at its limit. I grinned ear to ear, seeing that she couldn't get back at me.

"Well, whatever. She will wake soon. Mark my works, boy. Once I returned, you will have no peace. Your dear little oldwife, Mahraj, will be no match for me. Your blood will be mine."

I stared at her, a little puzzled. Some of her words struck me, but the most concerning one was the topic of my blood. "Hey, why do you want my blood that badly?" I finally asked.

"Huh?" She knitted her brows. Her eyes darted after that. It was as if she were searching for words for a reply. In the end, her mouth was kept shut. What a troublesome woman,

"Then. Will you have my blood? Right here, right now?"

"What?!" She said, her voice genuine with surprise. "What are you planning?" She quipped with a scowl.

"It's just a few, right?" I said. "It's not like you will drain all my blood, right? If so, then go for it. I am not someone stingy. Rather, I believe myself to be a generous person." I told her. In the back of my mind, an image of Vince, my subordinate, came with an insult. "LIAR!" but I ignored it.

"A few bloods are nothing. Mind you, I was donating my blood to hospitals every 3 months." Maria was looking at me blankly while I was saying this. It felt like she had something to say, but her mouth only opened and closed for a while. After what felt like forever, she finally spoke.

"You really are a fool, aren't you?" She said with a sigh, but her voice sounded happy. I went near her and kneeled. I could hear Mahraj's retorting voice, but I ignored her.

"You can just ask honestly if you want my blood. Fighting just to obtain it felt stupid for me.

Maria touched my cheek. She was searching for words to speak, but I think she was unable to do so.

"Don't regret this." she said. I smiled at her.

"I am a person who does things without regret." When I said that, I could see the face of my buddy Edward scowling. He was holding the figure that I accidentally broke. I cried for it for days. And to my sorrow, I bought ten more of those. I was scolded by Sofy after that… I, uh… did not regret my decision.

"Well. If you say so." She whispered sweetly. She held the back of my neck and pulled me closed to her. Her breath touched my right neck. I feel back for her; I should have showered first, but she seems fine, so that's that. A second later, a pain ran through my neck and I felt my blood gushing out. After a little while, Maria parted her lips for my neck.

As she did, her mouth leaked some blood, but that picture was not something scary for me. Rather, the image she produced that time was extremely bewitching. She smiled with a satisfied face. "As I thought," she said, "it should be no one but you." My brows furrowed from her word, but she touched my cheek once again. She was smiling. An innocent one compared to the one she gave while we were fighting.

"Please take care of Maria for me, Master." She whispered peacefully before finally closing her eyes in sleep. Her crimson hair returned to its former silver hue.

"Hey… what do you mean by master?!" I asked, but the culprit herself was now asleep. Geez. What a really troublesome girl. I sighed.

I picked Maria's body up and held her up like a princess. I carried her towards the group of people who went inside this place to pick us up.

Once I was a few meters away, I saw Reina waving her hand slightly.

"Good work." she said curtly. I nodded in response.

"Hm. So, this is Maria?" She was scanning her from her head to toe. At that moment, Reina's eyes shined faint gold light. I squinted a little to have a better look, but it was gone the moment I did.

"Wh-what is it?" Reina asked, stuttering a little. Oh, so she was the same.

"Nothing. Let's just get out of here. I feel tired and dirty and hungry and tired."

Reina sighed, but she smiled gently and said, "Yes, yes. Let's go."

With that, we left the gate. Sigh… I felt like half of my life was drained just from this battle. What a blunder I made!

But those last words from Maria... argh. What a pain.