C2 V23 Betrayals.

The situation was dire. Eloise looked between the bodies, searching everywhere for the figure of someone she knew.

Her face was half charred, her body filled with wounds she could barely stand.

"Eloise..." Said a trembling voice

Her eyes squinted:

"E-Emilie?" She looked in the direction.

A vast hole passed through the middle of her, her black body burning with tiny purple bubbles boiling, making her body soft, dripping from what had once been her skin.

Eloise approached her with no voice.

As she continued to watch, her body shook more and more.

"T-Take the stick from my waist."

She couldn't even see her mouth. As she spoke, boiling bubbles passed through her body, further accentuating her pain.

There was one last look of pity. Then, with a determined look, Eloise searched her body and put her hand on Tenebre.

Eloise fell unconscious. Her body fell onto Emily's, her cells, her organs, everything but her thoughts merging with her.

The hole in her abdomen closed, her body returned to normal, and her power increased.

[You have obtained a second part of the system! Congratulations!]

Emily stood up and noticed that the Paladin barriers still remained in place.

She counted a few hundred people alive, all the Knights of Cleppe still alive, as well as most of the Grandmaster Knights. The others seemed to be at least Knight level - seeing their equipment.

"What are you doing?!" A thunderous voice asked them. It was one of the Paladins.

The other Paladin replied, "They have betrayed humanity; the numbers speak for themselves. This is your last chance: continue the fight or die.

"What are you waiting for?" Asked one of the Demons, "The fight is not over; exterminate them."

"I didn't think the army wanted to destroy Dhorkar." Said one of the Knights of Cleppe. "Let us out or face us to the death."

"But with pleasure," a Paladin smiled. Around twenty figures appeared out of nowhere, causing space to fluctuate for a short time.

"Two of your 'Knights' are equivalent to a Paladin, right? I'd love to see how you win in 8 vs. 25."

Claire's face - one of the Knights of Cleppe - broke down.

"Break free from your seals!" she barked, "And transform!"

All but Jean complied. They drew in the necessary energy with a short breath, and,

two heads flew off.

Claire had killed them in their moment of weakness. The two were the ones sent by the church of Cleppe, the ones who could boost and protect them.

"Hehe, it's always fun to lie."

The Paladins laughed from above.

"Why?!" A voice called out, making them look towards it. It was Jean.

"Why?" Repeated with disdain a Paladin who had just appeared. "Some days ago, a coalition attacked the so-called revolutionaries and hybrids, headed by Dhorkar's 'saintess.' But the Dhorkarians betrayed humans, demons, and angels! They sided with the hybrids and killed half of the strength of our primordial family, making us weak against the beasts. They were all killed, except for the saintess, who escaped, having monopolized their energies.

All the forces supporting Dhorkar were destroyed, including Cleppe and all his allies, regardless of the country. The people were slaughtered, their energies stolen. Do you know why I'm telling you this? Because among the casualties of the saintess' sneak attack was my sister. You will pay; dying won't be so easy." His smile had long since twisted, giving way to eyes of pure hatred.

With a wave of his hand, all the Knights of Cleppe not present, as well as the Viscountess, Louis, and all the leaders of the allied forces, appeared. Headless, their bodies were cut into thousands of pieces by what must have been endless torture.