An unreasonable duel

Rita gasped as Corban was struck before he could even attempt to defend himself, while Eugene seemed to be coming back to his senses.

Judging from the embarrassed look in his eyes, he definitely remembered everything he had done but when he turned towards Hal, he found him simply staring at the spot where Corban's burnt body lay.

The glowing aura had receded from Hal's body but his frown remained ever present as he stared at Corban's body.

Corban's scream at the the point of his death revealed the possibility of someone else behind the scenes and the fact that Rita and Eugene had been unsuccessful in defeating him (Soul Locking Orb or not) was a testament to his strength which by default, he should not have had.

Hal understood that for him to have the upper hand against the duo, he must have been at the peak stage of the Cosmic Armament realm. He was at such a realm at the same time as the Great family heads and yet he did not seek for a change in status.

Was it because he was a low key person who sought to be away from the spotlight? Hal didn't think so. And as he reviewed Rita's memory of the fight, a statement Corban had made caught his attention.

Corban had asked if Rita wanted to know how he became that powerful. It seemed like useless banter but what if it wasn't.

'I don't like this' Hal sighed

'You don't know for sure' Grimiore told him

'Well then I guess his treasury should prove something' Hal said

'And what if you happen to be correct? What then?'

'For now, nothing. Me and whoever this is have no grudges or conflict of interest. Yet'

Hal was only saying this as a present analysis, he had no idea how this backer would react to the anahilation of the whole Holger family.

The soul locking orb was definitely the Holger family's prized artifact but it was only mainly useful in a passive way. Which begs the question;

What steps has this investor taken to make the Holger family stronger, and was their endgame?

But all that was for later as Hal got into a comfortable position and retreated into his soul world to appear before the two figures before they could vanish into the darkness

"Well hello" he smiled and the two jolted and looked up at him

Hal couldn't see their faces for they were covered in red and pink respectively but he could sense their surprise

"I think it's high time we had a little chat"

...

Edgar castle

"Father, it's been almost an hour since the dome appeared around the Holger estate and noone knows what is going on inside" Marlon reported but Hector simply continued his meal without any form of concern

"So?" He asked in a flat tone of voice

"Shouldn't we do something" Marlon couldn't understand his father's apathy

"what can be done? If someone wants the Holger family to themselves. then who am I to interfere. Son, there are more pressing matters than the decrease in slave supply"

"But what if we are accused in the absense of a culprit or implicated in the presence of one?" Marlon asked

Hector frowned. "Why would we be?, I have allowed their 'business' to thrive thus far, have I not? I see no reason for suspicions"

Marlon wished to speak but a look from his father silenced him and his heart ached as he thought of what could be Adler's fate at that moment, but he would be damned if he let his father know of his secret desires.

He sighed and decided to keep quiet while hoping in his heart of hearts that she was okay.

"Have the preparations begun?"

Hector's question brought him back to his senses.

"Yes they are, but father are you sure about that... location? Marlon asked in an urgent voice and it caused Hector to pause his meal and look his son in the eye for the first time in their meeting

"What's wrong?" Hector asked

"Well, my sources tell me that he is back" Marlon reported

"You mean..."

"Yes father. The Tretch King is out of seclusion and he has been having occasional fits of bloodlust. That location is close to his area of activity" Marlon explained

"Then move the location, but I also want extra protection for the contestants. Have more of our men hide as escorts"

"Yes father" Marlon turned to leave

"And Marlon? Be careful. Love... Is a fickle thing"

Marlon broke into cold sweats.

***

Payne Estate

"It's HIM!!!" Gregory yelled

"My lord, calm down" said Burt the butler

"I know it's Him!!" Gregory yelled once again in a deranged manner as he stared at Burt like he was the enemy

"My lord I believe you, but what does that change. You can't go inside the estate until the dome is down" Burt was not just speaking to calm him down.

He had gone ahead to check once the first bout of mood swings began and from it he had felt an energy that his Lord could break through but would sap his energy too much for him to be useful in combat.

-Toss-

*Bang!*

Now he was destroying his possessions.

Burt secretly shook his head as he witnessed his Lord's rage. After the deathmatch, Mistress Lilian had secluded herself to mourn and his Lord Gregory was wallowing in pain and regret and most of all helplessness.

Helplessness that he could not attack Hal without incurring the wrath of the Mayor, but that helplessness was slowly making way for a deranged precise purpose

"He knew they were my allies. He is using this to go after me. I will kill him, maybe I can't kill 'her', but I will definitely kill him!"

'All in all' Burt thought as he continued to try to pacify his Lord 'The day he finally loses his shit, Hal Payne can say goodbye to living'.

Lillian sat in her room cross-legged and contrary to what Burt thought, she was not moping around but simply absorbing Cosmic energy in a rush as she tried to push for a breakthrough.

Rad's death had given Lillian much needed clarity and she knew what she must do.

Through constant absorption of cosmic Energy, her body had no need for mundane practices like eating or sleeping and she did not stop for any. she was focussed and for the first time in her life, she would do what she wants.

...

Meanwhile, in Hal's Soul world..

The two figures 'stared' at Hal while he continued to smile down at them.

"So, who are you and what are you doing in here?"

"Well it seems we can't hide anymore" The red figure said

"It's not like there was any point to hiding anymore, all thanks to this cheating bastard" The pink figure agreed while adding her snide comment with a point in the red figure's direction.

As one the red and pink hue on their bodies were sucked in and their true forms revealed.

The male was about 2 meters tall with a buff physique and blood red hairs and an armor of the same color. In his hands was his bloodline Armament, Executioner, it was a little different from the one Hal had used. It lacked the crisscrossing black veins.

The pink figure was revealed to be a busty lady of about 1.7 meters, with eye catching back curves, and pink lines on her body as she wore... Nothing.

Allowing Hal to feast his eyes on the art that was her body.

"Impressive. I like your sense of fashion"

"You do?" She turned and posed to further highlight her delectable curves

"Absolutely. Top notch" Hal said while nodding and stroking his chin

"Hey" called a gruff voice by the side "What about me?" The blood-red haired man asked while flexing his muscles

"You? Meh" Hal scoffed

"Tiberius, Are you jealous? The lady giggled

"He is being bias, I'm a beefcake" Tiberius said, disgruntled

"Sure you are" The lady rolled her eyes

"So, who are you? Hal asked again

"I'm Myra" she replied sauntering over to him and touching his body, well the apparition of his body in his soul world

"Hehe, so quick to ask for my name, are you smitten already?" Myra spoke in a whisper into his ear

"Enough joking around. What are you really?" Hal said in an attempt to be serious but there were flames already rising in his body that had everything to do with the seductress

"Isn't it obvious? I'm a succubus. He is a blood fiend" She said and pointed at Tiberius

"Yes that was fairly obvious. But it does not explain why you are in my soul"

"For that answer we must duel" Tiberius announced

"What?"

"Did I stutter? I said we must duel before I can reveal anything to you" Tiberius repeated while smacking the flat of Executioner's blade on his palm

Hal turned towards Myra

"Is he serious?" He asked her but Myra shrugged and declined to comment

"My Executioner against yours" Tiberius said pointing Executioner at Hal

"This is my soul. You can't possibly expect to defeat me in it" Hal said but Tiberius laughed

"And what control do you have over your soul" With a wave of his hand Tiberius cut off Hal's connection to the outside, trapping him in his own soul

"We duel or you don't leave"