The estate was a battlefield, its once-pristine grounds now a chaotic mess of shattered stone and swirling dust. It was easy to tell that no ordinary beasts were clashing here—this was a war between titans.
Lilith let out a low whistle, her dark red eyes gleaming with amusement as she watched Valen's display of power. "Isn't he on par with a Noble at this point? That monster… he just keeps getting hotter," she smirked, her voice dripping with playful admiration.
"Too bad it's Elijah he's going against. I hope he doesn't die—I'd love to get to know him better."
The air grew heavy, the pressure in the estate intensifying to an almost unbearable level. The source? Elijah. He emerged from the rubble, his broken hands healing with eerie speed, the bones snapping back into place with audible cracks.
"Just today,I've been sent flying twice." Elijah said, brushing his hair back with both hands, his voice calm but laced with menace,
" Just today, I've had my hands broken." He cracked his neck, his fangs bared. His crimson eyes glowed brighter than ever, the intricate noble pattern pulsing with a darker energy. A third eye opened on his forehead.
"Very well… I'll acknowledge you're strong." His expression shifting into something unrecognizable—something far more sinister, like he swapped personalities with the devil. "As a reward, I'll show you a glimpse of what years of torment have given me. Try as much as possible to stay alive."
Lilith's playful smirk faltered, replaced by genuine fear. "Hey, hey, hey. Why's he going this far? She said to bring them alive you doofus," she muttered, her voice trembling.
Valen turned to Sarah, his scarlet eyes slowly forming the noble pattern, the intricate marks stretching across his face like veins of crimson light. "Take Damien away from here. It's about to get really messy. Hurry," he ordered, his tone left no room for argument.
Sarah hesitated, her eyes darting to Ivy and the others. "But what about them?"
"They're fine… just exhausted," Valen assured her. "Go."
Sarah nodded, her face pale but determined. She hoisted Damien onto her back, her movements quick but careful. As she turned to leave, Valen's voice stopped her.
"Thank you, Sarah," he said, his tone softer now. "For standing up for Palmer back there. It made him really happy."
Sarah's cheeks flushed, but she didn't respond. Instead, she glanced around at the devastation, her heart heavy with worry. "I don't really know what's going on," she said, her voice trembling, "but you all must come back alive. That's an order. I'll fire you if you don't."
Valen paused a look at her, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "Roger, Princess," he said, giving her a nod.
As Sarah hurried away with Damien, Valen's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of dark vein-like lines on Damien's neck. He frowned but pushed the thought aside—there were more pressing matters to deal with.
"Hey, Palmer, Kael, Ivy, Kole," Valen called out, his voice cutting through the tension. "Quit your sulking and pick yourselves up. It's no use holding back now. You heard our master's order, right? We're fired if we don't make it back."
Like zombies called to duty, Kael, Kole, and Ivy stirred, their injuries fading as they rose to their feet.
"That'd really suck, man," Kael said, spitting blood from his mouth. "Where do we start from if we get fired?"
"You mean where will the kids start from, don't you?" Kole added, his eyes pulsing with the same noble pattern
"My poor baby Sarah won't have anyone to teach her what it means to be a woman with me gone," Ivy said, her voice dripping with mock concern. "She'd get used by those playboys. Guess we can't afford to die."
Ivy and Kole walked over to Kael, biting into his neck to replenish their strength. Kael winced but didn't complain—this was their way of preparing for the fight ahead.
"You seem awfully happy, Palmer," Valen remarked, glancing at his creator.
Palmer's heart—no, his entire being—thrummed with excitement as his cells worked furiously to regenerate. He stood tall, his scarlet eyes locking onto Elijah. "She reminded me of Elijah when we were young," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's just funny to see the humans he despises so much use his own words against him."
Lilith, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, found herself surrounded by the very people she thought she had taken out. Ivy, Kole, and Kael closed in, their eyes glowing with renewed determination.
"You didn't miss us much, did you?" Ivy sneered, her fangs glinting in the dim light.
"Three versus one," Lilith said, "I don't like coming back to my meal, but I'll make you guys an exception." She chuckled.
Meanwhile, Valen and Palmer stood side by side, facing Elijah. The air between them crackled with tension, the pressure almost suffocating.
"I don't like you making us hold back because he's family," Valen said, his voice low but firm. "Your balance on whose side to pick is wavering. We can't protect them if we're fighting an enemy who is at max output when your balance is shaking."
Palmer's smile faded, replaced by a look of resolve. "Sorry for the wait," he said, his voice steady. "Let's beat him to a pulp before we open his eyes."
Valen smirked, his crimson eyes blazing. "Roger that!"