Chapter 265: Crimson Dawn (4)

My blade stopped mid air as I beat my wings and put some distance between me and Uriithe. My gaze snapped towards the source of the voice – the blonde priestess standing on the far side of the Plaza.

Her white and golden dress fit her perfectly. Despite the wind tugging at her clothes and blowing her hair around, she looked near perfect – just like a puppet of Uriithe would look like.

"…Alina?" I heard Vincent mumble as the last of the Ereth soldiers was felled by Fetheion. The young man stumbled towards her, only to be stopped by Erik.

"Is it true, Alina?" The young paladin asked, his voice heavy, his expression dark. "Were you the one who killed Kai?"

The treacherous priestess tightened her grasp around her golden staff. "I killed a demon who had fallen to darkness!" She shouted, her voice echoing throughout the city. "The same demon who failed to save Samantha!"

Vincent flinched. He glanced at me, only to see my flames flare up.

Traitor!

I could feel Dorith's hate within me. He wanted me to kill Uriithe so badly that it was getting difficult to resist the urge to attack her without any reservations.

But my hatred was now focused on someone else. A silhouette, moving from shadow to shadow, using the crimson lights of the dawning sun to stay out of sight. It took me less than a moment to locate it, and as soon as I did, I readied my sword and dashed towards it.

The silhouette didn't notice me at first – not because I was being discreet, but because they thought them were completely hidden from view. When they realised that I was focused on them, it was already too late.

I heard Joshua's pained scream as my blade cut through cloth and flesh, spilling red blood everywhere. Holding his arm, the young man stumbled back, now fully visible. His face twisted with fear and agony as I raised my sword to kill him.

"No!" Alina shouted once more. A barrier appeared around the young man, saving him from certain death. My blade hit the barrier, cracking it. I raised my blade again to shatter the barrier, but by the time I did so, the deep cut on the young man's arm had already been healed.

"That is enough, Fetheion!" Uriithe's voice sounded. The smugness she had was gone, now I could hear the fear, the worry, the uncertainty in her voice. "Enough blood has been spilled today, let's call this a draw." 

For a moment, I feared. I feared that Fetheion would accept her offer, that we would leave with nothing to show for. 

But the Exiled Divine simply laughed in her face. His nearly hysterical laugh sent a chill down my spine. "Funny, Uriithe. You die today, and with you, so does the Pillar of Baile Chailce." 

"I gave you a chance, Fetheion!" Uriithe shouted. I mana begin to gather around the both of them. A bright, golden light, mixed with a dark crimson around Uriithe, and sheer darkness around Fetheion. 

"Kai, stop it!" Alina shouted as I decided to leave the two Divines to their own battle, and once again focused on Joshua, who had gotten back up on his feet by now. His wounds were healed, and I could see his expression change from agony to disgust as he looked at me.

"I should have made sure you stayed dead!" He shouted as he pulled two daggers seemingly out of thin air. I laughed in his face – as if he could have done that.

And I should have left you two to die long ago. 

His expression changed as he noticed I wasn't really speaking in a conventional manner. Hearing my voice in his mind, his face turned pale. 

"You're insane," He whispered as he readied his blades. "I'll put you down!" He suddenly shouted with a maniacal expression.

"Joshua, wait! You can't take him on alone!" Alina's nearly desperate shout wasn't enough to phase me or stop Joshua.

I was hungry for vengeance. Without a second of hesitation, I used Fallen Grace and Death's Scythe and struck the young man's guard with no remorse.

Surprised by my strength and speed, Joshua leapt back and disappeared into the shadows. I calmly watched him as he moved around me – did he really think I could be fooled by such a simple, cheap trick?

I waited for a moment, then allowed my flames to leap on him.

His gaze focused on me, and our eyes met.

"Fuck." He whispered. "You can see me, don't you?" All blood was drawn from his face as he mumbled. 

I only showed him a wicked smile as my flames reached him. 

Alina shouted something, but the I could understand her over the sound of my roaring flames as they tried to engulf Joshua.

"Kai, wait!" Someone grabbed my arm as a battle of magic between my flames and Alina's protection raged around Joshua. I glanced to my left, at Vincent. "He's my brother," He whispered. "Don't kill him, please."

For a moment, I didn't reply. My cold gaze focused on his almost begging expression. 

"Please," He whispered again. I could tell he feared me – it was obvious. 

I glanced at Joshua. Whatever smugness he carried was gone – looked like he was about to faint. 

Hmph.

I turned my back on him and focused my gaze on Fetheion and Uriithe.

Their battle was not at all like mine was.

There were no swords clashing, no spells flying around.

They simply stood across the battlefield, their gazes locked. While it was probably unseen to others, I could see the battle raging between them. It was their auras – the gold-crimson hue around Uriithe fought against the darkness that enveloped Fetheion.

"Thanks," I heard Vincent whisper by my side. 

I raised my chin – the flames of vengeance still burned within my heart, yet how could I look him in the eye, then kill his brother? If I did that, how would I be different than the demons?

Mona and the others also approached me. In the meantime, my flames finally quelled around Joshua. I didn't even look at him, I just shot a meaningful glance at Vincent, who immediately nodded. He knew that his own brother was his responsibility.

"Josh," He said, approaching the young man. I watched them from the corner of my eye as Vincent reached out to his brother. "Please just-" 

My eyes widened as Vincent's words were interrupted by a wordless gasp.

As Joshua pulled the dagger from his brother's stomach, Vincent fell to the ground with a thud.

DIE!