Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 105 - 104 Unfinished Business

Chapter 105: Chapter 104 Unfinished Business

"But you are injured, I can’t let you fight, Luke. This is between me and him," Olivia tried to dissuade him.

"What’s your business is also mine. Remember, we are best friends. Friends don’t abandon each other," Luke stood up. He reached out his hand, and a heavy metal sword appeared in his hand. His eyes flickered towards Lucian, who was already surrounded by four people.

"You guys need more help than you think," he muttered, his gaze softened when he looked at her.

Olivia didn’t know why, but she had an unsettling feeling about this. Before she could say anything more, Luke charged into the battle, his sword slashing at one of the attackers. The clanging of swords echoed through the forest.

Olivia took out the sword Luke had given her. The blade engulfed with her flames, she charged towards Gauss, who seemed to not have recovered from the impact. As she got closer to him, another attacker appeared in between them.

Olivia’s brows furrowed. This wasn’t human, but she pushed her thoughts down and clashed. Her sword met with his... but the attacker’s sword was his hand. Olivia’s blood ran cold. They were fighting against transformed monsters.

The attacker’s movement quickened, which made it difficult for Olivia to defend against. Her movements were slow and sloppy.

Lucian drew a rune. A red fiery dragon flew out from the drawing. The dragon flew up, its eyes blazing with fury. It slithered in the air before turning, heading towards the attackers. It opened its mouth, releasing balls of flame.

Lucian’s eyes turned briefly towards Olivia. He was shocked to find out she did not escape. His teeth gritted when he realised that she was in trouble. His nose flared. Then, before the blink of an eye, he was already standing in between them, leaving the dragon to keep the other attackers busy.

His eyes burned with golden fury. His skin shifted, scales flickered across his skin, but it was so fast that Olivia missed it.

The attacker’s gaze turned into a horrified one, his eyes turned pitch black. A long tail with two pincers on the end appeared from his back. His skin turned hardened black.

Lucian scoffed. His flames took the form of a spear.

Clash. Clash.

The sparks from their collision momentarily illuminated the fog.

The shockwave knocked Olivia off balance, her boots sliding across the dirt. Lucian had grown stronger compared to before. But this wasn’t the time to stay idle. She turned, searching for Luke.

Panic twisted in her gut when she saw him defending against two attackers. She raced to his side, her sword blocking an attack that was aiming for his back.

He turned, "Olivia," he called, his eyes filled with gratitude. The two of them fought side by side against the attackers.

Lucian and the transformed monster fought aggressively. Lucian’s spear burned brighter, as if sensing the shift in his mood. Without hesitation, he lunged forward.

The transformed monster let out a guttural screech, but Lucian didn’t flinch. His movements were fast; they were almost impossible to follow. The spear cut through the air, landing deep into the monster’s chest.

Flames erupted instantly, engulfing the creature, who wailed as the fire consumed him from the inside out.

When the monster dropped to the ground, nothing remained but burned flesh and ashes.

Lucian turned around without a second glance. His breath hitched when he realised that Olivia and her friend were getting outnumbered.

He raced back to where Olivia and Luke were still locked in battle. Olivia’s flames danced wildly, while Luke’s sword carved arcs through the fog. But the numbers were against them.

The attackers transformed into half-human and half-monster. Out of the fog, more transformed monsters emerged, surrounding them with guttural snarls and glowing pitch-black eyes.

Lucian’s jaw clenched. Without speaking, he drew a rune in the air, his fingers glowing red as he moved. A circular line spread around them, pulsing with heat. As the monsters lunged forward, the rune flared, forming a fiery barrier that repelled their attack.

The impact shook the barrier like a wave crashing into a rock, but the rune held.

Olivia and Luke breathed out in relief. They were already getting drained from the continuous attacks. Olivia wondered if it was possible to leave the forest in one piece.

She turned to Lucian, panting. "Thanks," she muttered, but Lucian didn’t respond.

Her eyes flicked to Luke, and her breath caught in her throat.

"Luke," her voice cracked. Fear clawed at her chest as she rushed to his side. Getting closer, she felt a sharp pain searing through her.

Blood soaked through the side of his shirt. The wound on the side of his stomach had reopened, dripping steadily from beneath his shirt.

Luke clutched his sword tighter, his jaw clenched, refusing to utter a word as pain shot through his body.

"Are you okay? Oh my God, Luke. You are bleeding... I thought you would go, but you wouldn’t listen," she panicked.

"I’m fine, Olivia. It just reopened a little," Luke said with a forced smile. But Olivia didn’t believe him, so she ran to Lucian.

"Lucian..." Her voice trembled. "We have to find a way to escape. Luke can’t keep going like this."

Before Lucian could respond, a slow clap echoed through the mist.

Gauss emerged, walking with that same arrogant smirk, standing just behind the monsters. His presence was like a cold breeze—unwelcome and mocking. He slowly wiped away the streak of blood from the corner of his lips.

"Well, well," he drawled. "What a touching scene. The wounded friend. The girl who can’t stop running into trouble. And of course, the pretty boy who thinks he can save everyone."

His smile was sharp, cruel.

"Maybe if you both weren’t so damn troublesome, we wouldn’t have ordered you dead."

"And who is this ’we’ exactly?" Lucian asked, his hand clenching at his side.

"Someone wanted you dead, pretty boy, but I have unfinished business with you and Olivia," he grinned devilishly. "Your friend is just unfortunate to join in your fight," he added, as if he was sad for Luke.