Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 496: Never Again

Chapter 496: Never Again

The battle was gruesome as Veronica fought alongside her fellow Valkyries against the Classless monstrosities of the Abyss.

Despite being Classless, none dared to underestimate these creatures as Lucia and her group of Vampires aided the Valkyries, making it the first time in a history riddled with bloodshed and constant conflict, that denizens of the Great Families would work together with Creatures of the Night.

By the time they were done, the battlefield was riddled with marks of battle, the air rife with the pungent smell of the Abyss.

Despite being a Homunculi, Veronica couldn’t help but gag as she wiped her blade before turning her gaze toward the black veil that now encompassed the entirety of the Eastern Highlands.

"I told you." Lucia intoned as she approached. "The Highlands are no longer the land of Night."

"And it would seem I was wrong to doubt you," Veronica muttered, unsure of how she was to break the news to the Family Heads that yet another enemy had somehow found its way into the Eastern Highlands.

There was no way this could be regarded as a good thing because at least the Creatures of the Night could be reasoned with.

Those who had dared to reason with the Abyss had all lost their minds without a doubt.

Letting out a sigh, she thought to order a retreat only for Lucia to speak up at that time.

"Something is coming."

Frowning, Veronica glanced back at the dark veil, expecting to see more Classless monstrosities but instead of that, what emerged was a man, or at least, it looked like one.

The man regarded them for a prolonged time before flashing a smile.

Then, he turned and reentered the veil.

"What... was that?"

It wouldn’t be long before she realized the implications of the man’s actions.

***

"Good job." Alex intoned as he appeared beside Elena, wrapped in Eternal Night with his facial features obscured by a mask.

Elena glanced at him. "Thanks."

Though he stood upright, Elena could tell that he was in a terrible state.

Taking the risk of going through the broken space around the mountain left Alex with injuries that he would not be recovering from.

At this point, this clone was running on fumes.

"Take everyone and run. I’ll handle the Devil."

"But..."

"Do as I’ve said. Head outside, a Homunculi that goes by the name Lucille is waiting to take you guys to BlackWatch. Take the time to recover and prepare."

Realizing that there was no point in arguing, Elena nodded before proceeding to do as he’d asked.

She teleported, picking up each person and tossing them into a dimension of her making before finally entering it herself.

It took seconds and so by the time Amase emerged from the white hole unscathed, they were already gone.

"I’m guessing you stole the destructive capabilities of the attack." Alex intoned calmly.

Amase grinned.

I thought I had you in my grasp.

"Must be mistaken."

A clone?... Quite interesting.

Alex offered no response but his expression was hardly appealing as he stared coldly at the Devil of Greed.

Letting out a slight chuckle, Amase intoned.

I can steal your soul, and make it so that you never end up using your clones to resurrect.

"But you won’t because if not for me, you and the rest of your sisters would be dead, so enough with the theatrics and return to the palace floor you crawled out from."

Rude?

"I brought you here to help, not to make matters worse. I have already lost once, do not think I am in the mood to lose again." Alex spat coldly, revealing his innermost feelings.

Amase clicked her tongue.

Fine then, but the next time we meet, Dark Lord, perhaps, in person or through a proxy, I shall happily forget the favor you have done for the Infernal Palace.

Alex snorted. "And I won’t hesitate to end you then. I don’t mind adding to my tally of slain devils."

Amase offered no response, instead turning and with a casual wave, opening an entrance into the Infernal Palace.

As she walked through, her last words lingered in Alex’s ears.

I will remember you.

And just like that, she was gone as quickly as she’d arrived.

Alex counted to three in his head before falling to his knees and coughing blood along with his organs that had turned to mush.

He trembled as death flashed before his eyes.

To die was nothing fun and he could feel that the more he died, the more his humanity was affected.

Even his attachment to his memories was getting affected as well.

If he continued like this, it wouldn’t be long before apathy to all things would become the norm.

Just the thought of it frightened him just as much as losing his memories to Nyx.

Clutching his chest, he fell to the ground on his back as blood began to leak from his orifices, making for a pathetic sight.

Though it hurt, he knew it was worth it.

He couldn’t risk losing the team he had struggled to put together and this incident taught him a valuable lesson.

So even as he closed his eyes, accepting the painful death that came upon him, he swore to himself.

Never again.

***

"A madman," Lucille muttered as she kept her eyes on where Alex had passed through to get past the chaotic distortions rippling through space.

To take such a risk for those within went to show just how much he valued them.

Perhaps, she might have misunderstood the one known as the Dark Lord.

She thought him to be a tyrant, a maniac, and a bloodthirsty monstrosity that needed to be put down.

But with all he had done so far along with Aiden’s assessment, she realized that it was time to do away with her previous thoughts on him.

Just then, a golden glow flashed beside her, revealing Elena along with the others.

"Are you Lucille?... Alex sent us," Elena muttered while hyperventilating.

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