BLERGH.
Neoma finally understood why Nero made her body bleed while summoning the Goddess of Fortune.
The same thing happened to her.
[Am I a disgrace to the Rosehearts?]
Neoma received proper training from her mother— the Mona Roseheart— on how to summon Spirits and gods.
William, her reluctant mentor, also taught her a thing or two about Summoning.
But she was often too lazy to follow the proper procedures.
[Like I said before, I'm the type to throw the manual and fix or build things by solely following my gut feeling.]
Summoning a god was different, though.
Hence, Neoma was forced to create a magic circle using her Roseheart Blood.
And that was when things got ugly.
She coughed up a huge chunk of blood.
Her ears bled because of the loud ringing in her head.
She got a nosebleed.
And she even cried tears.
"Ruto."
"Yes?"
"Don't look at me," Neoma said in a cracked voice. "I'm a mess right now. I don't want you to see me in this state. You only have to remember me when I'm at my prettiest."
"Neoma, you're not dying so this won't be the last time I get to see you."
"How do you know I'm not dying?! Can't you see that my beautiful face is covered in blood?"
"You told me not to look at you."
Oh, right.
But she didn't want to admit it when she was wrong.
[Only for petty things, just to be clear.]
"You're so annoying, Ruto. You used to pacify me every time I throw a tantrum. But you're acting so nonchalant right now," Neoma said, sulking. And then she turned to Ruto even though she just said that she didn't want him to see her face a moment ago. But what could she do? She was feeling dramatic at the moment.
"You don't love me anymore, do you?"
Ruto just remained 'nonchalant', and then he gently caressed her blood-covered face. "I love you, Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio."
Oh, okay.
So, right now, she was forced to use her new technique.
And that new technique was making a pair of hawk wings with her Shadows.
"You're starting to get annoying, young duchess," Helstor said, sneering. But although he was sneering, it was clear that he was starting to get annoyed for real. "I don't want to kill you because your blood as a Quinzel is precious, but you leave me with no choice."
Hanna stopped flying around when Helstor withdrew the little creepy hands that were trying to grab her earlier.
She was now suspended in the air, trying to prepare herself for the god's next attack.
The God of Eternal Darkness stood on the railing of the balcony, creepy-looking miasma with hundreds of eyes oozing from his feet. Then the black smoke— studded with hundreds of rolling eyes— started to climb up to his legs.
Hanna felt a chill down her spine.
Helstor was preparing to kill her with one blow, and she could feel it.
[Will my Shadow Veil enough to block his attack?]
Hanna wasn't sure, but she still raised her hands and began creating a shield.
[If push comes to shove, I know that Lord Manu and Prince Skylus will help me create a stronger shield.]
Moreover, her father was there.
[Everything will be alright— oh.]
Hanna's eyes widened in shock when a sharp and shining blade was pierced through Helstor's chest.
It was the Holy Sword.
[Calypso!]
And the owner of that Holy Sword...
Hanna let out a sigh of relief. "Nero."
***
WHEN Nero opened his eyes, the first thing that he saw was Hanna suspended in the air while in the middle of creating a barrier.
And she was doing that to prepare to block Helstor's attack.
[That bastard has finally shown up, indeed.]
Nero gripped Calypso tighter, and walked towards Helstor quietly— ignoring the shocked look everyone was giving him.
And then he casually stabbed Helstor from behind with the Holy Sword.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Helstor greeted him when he looked over his shoulder. The bastard god smirked, blood dripping at the corner of his mouth. "Didn't your father teach you that it's shameful for an emperor to stab an enemy from behind like a coward?"
"I wouldn't know because it was Neoma who raised me and not my father," Nero said casually, twisting the blade of the Holy Sword to hurt Helstor even more. "And Neoma taught me it's okay to use dirty tricks if the opponent is an irredeemable scum like you."
***
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