Chapter 189: Capture the Heart: Part-5
Whew
Aether whistled softly as he stood in the corner, watching Aria fight against the werewolf with just her sword. The once fearsome creature was now trembling in front of her.
‘Looks like she’s really good at fighting, but…’ Aether noticed that although she had a determined expression, it wasn’t the face of a true hunter, ‘She needs a little more push.’
It wasn’t like it was his mission to push her to reveal her true potential… It was rather Aether’s personal desire to see her unleash her full strength.
To be honest, he kind of liked her hunting expression; it was both exciting and thrilling for him to see her like that…. Her blue eyes shone brightly when she was in hunt mode… It’s beautiful truly!!
He just wanted to see her more, to watch her break free from any constraints.
‘Ting!’
Aria blocked Kaelen’s sharp claws and pushed him back, swinging her blade as she nearly sliced through his skin.
“Grrrrr!!” Kaelen growled in anger, glaring at Aria with bloodlust.
Aria, with a haughty smile, fought him fiercely.
She never felt more alive than when she was in the midst of battle.
It was as if she was reliving her past self, a warrior who thrived in combat.
Her smile grew wider whenever the blood of her prey splattered.
The veins in her body pulsed with adrenaline as her heart beat wildly.
‘W-What the…?’ She was shocked to feel this sensation.
‘W-Why am I happy?’ she wondered but didn’t stop. She dodged Kaelen’s fangs, which were about to pierce her body, and slammed his mouth with the hilt of her sword.
Kaelen winced in pain, horrified to see a woman who was starting to hurt him without even using her Arcane Card….. He groaned in anger.
He could not let this chance slip away. If he lost now, he might never get another opportunity. He wanted his second-tier tribe to become the rulers, determined not to let this slip away!
“Arcane!” he mumbled, his voice barely audible. In an instant, a shimmering rainbow-coloured card materialized before him. The card turned into particles that swirled around him, quickly enveloping his legs and mouth.
‘ssssshhh!’
His nails lengthened grotesquely, becoming razor-sharp talons that glinted menacingly under the dim light. His fangs followed suit, growing longer and sharper until they resembled the deadly teeth of a sabre-toothed tiger more than those of a werewolf. His eyes glowed with a feral intensity, betraying the monstrous power within.
From his elongated fangs and nails, a thick, purplish-black liquid began to ooze. The viscous substance dripped slowly, leaving dark stains wherever it touched.
This was his desired weapon.
Though Aether had a surprised expression, Aria did not. She simply motioned for him to come at her.
“HHOOOOOOOO!!!” He howled as he slammed his foot to the ground, causing it to tremble. A piece of the ground was pulled up and shot towards her.
Aria snorted before cutting through the stones, but then suddenly, Kaelen appeared and slashed with his claws. Aria blocked just in time, but then…
‘Crack’
Her sword cracked slightly, and she immediately stepped back. However, Kaelen didn’t give her a chance to recover, continuing his assault while Aria blocked his relentless attacks.
‘She’s still not using her Arcane Card…’ Aether frowned, seeing Aria backing down as Kaelen seemed to turn the tables.
Aether wanted to intervene but knew this wasn’t the right time.
Kaelen frowned, seeing her still able to block his attacks… Feeling his time running out, he resorted to verbal attacks.
“Do you think your husband would let this slide?!” he sneered.
Aria stumbled a little. Seeing her reaction, Kaelen continued his verbal assault.
“He will make you pay for cheating on him!”
‘Ting’
“He will make your tribe pay for your sins!”
‘Tingg’
‘Crack’
“You are going to be caged in the palace again!!”
“Tanggg’
‘Crack’
“And most of all… you will be alone!”
‘Crack’
‘Chrrkk’
Thud
Kaelen’s nails broke through her sword and pierced her shoulder, slamming her against a nearby tree.
Aria suddenly felt a paralyzing fear… the fear of being alone and caged! Her hunting and happy expression crumbled as her breath hitched.
“A-Alone…” she mumbled in fear, and just as the fear threatened to overtake her again,
BOOOM!!
Suddenly, Kaelen was hit by an orange flame, sending him flying.
“SHE IS NOT ALONE!!” Aether intervened, shouting at Kaelen as he appeared before Aria. His voice rang out with unwavering determination.
Aria’s eyes flinched before she looked at Aether, who spoke with a gentle yet resolute voice,
“She is not alone… not anymore.
If she is caged, I will break it!
If she is a sinner, then I will bear it!
And… Most of all, she is the most faithful woman I have ever seen!!
I am here for her!!”
Most of his words genuinely came from his heart. Aether had never seen a woman as faithful as Aria, who had remained devoted to her husband for over a hundred years, except in the novels he read.
“Don’t you dare sully her with your filthy words!” Aether said, his face darkening with anger. He was furious at Kaelen’s insults.
Aria was totally taken aback before tears dripped from her eyes.
Kaelen growled, “I’ll kill you, bastard!!” he shouted as he leapt at Aether, the hooded figure kept interfering!
“My Aria is a born hunter…” Aether mumbled before glancing at Aria.
‘Ssshhh’
A gentle breeze slightly lifted his hoody.
Aria could see the tenderness in his eyes, even if it was just for a brief moment. With that tender look, he said,
“A Hunter should Hunt, Not Prey!”
Aether stepped forward to save the damsel in distress.
This time, Aether took Kaelen seriously, knowing that if he didn’t, he would get seriously injured. He maxed out his strength and magic affinity.
His flames changed into a brilliant yellow colour.
“Come at me, Doggy”
“Don’t call me Doggy!!!” Kaelen roared in response, his anger fueling his attack. With a primal snarl, he lunged forward, his claws extended like gleaming daggers aimed at Aether’s throat.
Aether caught the claw mid-air, and the liquid oozing from Kaelen’s nails evaporated before it even touched Aether’s skin.
Aether smiled while Kaelen frowned.
“Now it’s time to tame the doggy,” Aether said with a smirk as he began his counterattack.
They exchanged blows, Aether dodging every attack and landing powerful punches on Kaelen’s werewolf body.
Kaelen’s fur burned to a crisp under Aether’s fiery blows. ‘He is different than before…’ Kaelen thought, struggling to keep up.
As the fight continued, Aether found himself enjoying the battle.
Notifications flooded his vision, but he ignored them, needing to focus on the fight. Just as he was about to end this game and move on to the next,
“Trrrrrr”
Suddenly, the ground trembled, followed by a bright light that enveloped the entire area.
“Hmm?
” W-What the?” Both of them stopped and looked toward the source, only to see Aria standing in the middle of the light.
She looked like a divine angel as her hair fluttered in heavy air!
And most of all,
“What the fuck, bro!!” Aether screamed, feeling a deadly fear wash over him.
“I don’t know, bro!!” Kaelen also screamed in fear, his wolf instincts telling him to run as far as possible from the… Hunter.
For a fraction of a second, Aether and Kaelen became unlikely bros before Kaelen ran away.
The next thing Aether saw was a simple arrow passing by him before hitting Kaelen, and then,
BOOOMMMMM!!!
The explosion rocked the area, sending shockwaves through the ground as the light intensified.
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