Axel and Rowin sat down at a dimly lit bar, the scent of cheap alcohol mingling with the scent of stale air. The room was packed with chatter, but all Axel could hear was Rowin's voice and the low hum of his own thoughts. The table between them held a few half-empty glasses, untouched since they were set down, a silent testament to their real purpose for being there.
The conversation had gone quiet, with Axel staring down at his hands, as though searching for answers hidden in his own fingers.
He couldn't understand how it had happened—how he had lost two whole weeks. **Two weeks**, he thought. The days had slipped through his fingers like sand, but Velerium had assured him time hadn't passed like this. So, what the hell was going on? Had Velerium lied to him, or was there something more sinister at play?
He felt uneasy, as if a large part of his mind was locked away, and the key was somewhere out of reach. It didn't help that Velerium himself had been strangely absent recently. Not a word, not a whisper. Axel clenched his fist beneath the table.
Rowin, looking more disheveled and ill than he had last time, cleared his throat and began again, "Noel... she's Dawning Blood, Axel. She's responsible for the murders of countless hunters and civilians."
Axel stared at Rowin as if he had been slapped. **Noel?** It didn't make sense. The Noel he knew was kind-hearted, always looking out for others. He replayed the memories in his mind—their long talks, the adventures they had gone on together, the way she had looked after him. How could someone so gentle be capable of such cruelty?
Axel's voice dropped to a whisper as if he were speaking to himself, "Still, I can't believe Noel would do such a thing." Your adventure continues at m v|l-e'-novelhall.net
Rowin sighed, watching Axel wrestle with the truth. He knew this was hard for him. He could see the disbelief etched across Axel's face, but the facts were undeniable. Dawning Blood was one of the most notorious criminals to exist, and now, the very person Axel had trusted was tied to it. It was a cruel twist of fate, but there was no escaping it.
Rowin's face darkened as he muttered, "Apart from that, things have gotten worse for the Tiger Association... and the board."
Axel's brow furrowed. He was just barely managing to process the bombshell about Noel, and now there was **more** trouble? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "What now?" He let out a weary sigh. "Can't I catch a moment's peace after barely surviving the last ordeal?"
His words surprised even him, the frustration slipping past his guard. Rowin's eyes widened, taken aback by Axel's outburst, but he quickly recovered. Axel was in a fragile state, and pushing him too hard now would be dangerous.
"Aren't you eager to know what's going on with the Tiger Association?" Rowin leaned forward, trying to pull Axel back to reality. He needed him to focus.
Axel shook his head slowly, his mind elsewhere. "No... not really. I'm more concerned about Trisha, my sister... and the guild we built together." The words slipped out before he could stop them, cursed by the truth that seemed to flow unbidden from his lips lately. Axel winced.
He wasn't supposed to say that. Not now, not with so much hanging in the balance.
"Axel..." Rowin began, trying to keep his voice steady, "You should be more worried about yourself. You're a wanted fugitive now, for God's sake. You're being hunted because of your connection to Dawning Blood."
Axel stood, his body trembling with raw, manic energy. His eyes had gone pitch black, with only the crimson glow of his irises shining through, casting an eerie glow. His grin was inhumanly wide, stretching across his face like a devil relishing the chaos.
"What... the hell is this?" Rowin choked, his voice weak as fear paralyzed him.
The bar erupted into chaos. Screams filled the air as patrons scrambled for the exits, knocking over chairs and tables in their frantic rush to escape.
Axel's grin widened, his body trembling with excitement. His voice was a growl, low and filled with something primal. "Hehehe... this is **more** fulfilling than I thought. So much more..."
{MORE}
{DEVOUR MORE}
{MORE DEVOUR MORE}
{THE TASTY SOULS... I CRAVE}
Axel licked his lips, his dark eyes scanning the terrified crowd. The hunger in him grew stronger, an insatiable desire to kill, to consume. His voice became more monstrous with each passing second. "LOOK AT THEM... ALL MY PREY... I CAN'T RESIST...
I MUST KILL THEM ALL!"
Rowin's heart raced, his mind screaming at him to **run**. But his legs wouldn't move.
Something far darker was awakening inside Axel.
***Author's note***
Very Bad news guys. I just got an health issue and it's vreally affecting me a lot so far. I can manage to release the desired numbers of chapters, although won't be able to mass release anytime soon.
Please support me during this times and enjoy, bare with me. It won't be easy to scale through this one... Thanks for your support.