Silyan lunged forward in an instant. His movement was so swift that he left a trail of light in his wake. As he brought his sword down in a crushing overhead strike, Abaddon parried with his own black blade, now shrouded in dark mana. The collision of the two metals shook the forest with an explosive force. Light and darkness clashed at the point of impact, scattering shards of magical energy as they vied to annihilate one another.
Flapping his six wings powerfully, Abaddon ascended into the air and swung his sword sideways. A wave of black mana tore through the air, slicing the trees in its path like paper as it surged toward Silyan.
Silyan remained unfazed. With his free left hand, he traced a circle in the air. A golden-yellow shield materialized, absorbing and dissipating Abaddon's assault. Immediately after, he raised his sword; the light concentrating at its tip began to glow like a miniature star. Dozens of light beams rained down upon Abaddon like spears from the heavens. Abaddon maneuvered through the air to evade the bolts, but each spear that struck the ground caused massive explosions, melting the very earth.
"How much longer will you run, demon?" Silyan bellowed. He plunged his sword into the ground. Radiant chains of light erupted from the earth, coiling upward to ensnare Abaddon's ankles.
Abaddon pulled his sword to his chest with both hands. His six wings ignited simultaneously. "Demon Art: Blind Darkness!" Pure shadow erupted from his wings, instantly suffocating the light Silyan had created. The forest was plunged into pitch-black void. Silyan could no longer see even the glow of his own blade.
"Where are you!" Silyan shouted, swinging his sword blindly.
Abaddon emerged from the darkness like a ghost. Their blades clashed once more. This time, Abaddon was fiercer. Each strike sent tremors through Silyan's bones. Mustering every ounce of his mana, Silyan made one final move. A colossal burst of light tore through the darkness. The force of the explosion sent both warriors reeling back. Gasps for air, Silyan struggled to his feet; his armor was cracked, and the tip of his sword had turned black. Before him stood Abaddon, his six wings unfurled in majesty, resting his blade on his shoulder as he stared through his mask with eerie, piercing eyes.
The longer humans were exposed to demonic mana, the more their internal balance deteriorated. Fighting a demon for a prolonged period was a losing game. Silyan realized his mana was nearly spent; he knelt, leaning on his sword for support.
Abaddon sheathed his sword and swiftly vanished from the area. He knew that staying any longer would only bring more trouble for Nerya and Kael. As Silyan forced himself up, he wondered why the demon hadn't killed him. Turning to Nerya, he said: "Are you alright? How humiliating... as a Light Mage of the Kingdom, I failed to defeat a demon. Rest assured, guards will be stationed at the village borders. We will not allow the demon to enter here again."
Nerya could only stammer, "Y-yes, thank you."
Once Silyan left, silence returned to the area. Abaddon reported the events to Mezrathus. Mezrathus knew his son wouldn't attack humans without reason; he understood Abaddon had done it to protect his wife and child. "Abaddon, I forbid you from leaving the Demon Realm. Remain here until my next command. I will send word to Vaelmon; he will take Nerya and Kael under his protection. Rest easy," he said.
Abaddon had no choice but to obey his father's orders. He couldn't go near Nerya until the demon incident blew over. Rumors of a six-winged demon roaming the Kingdom and attacking a Light Mage of the Church had already spread. The Eastern Kingdom demanded an envoy from the Demon Realm and a logical explanation. The Demon King, Valtharond, summoned Mezrathus to his presence.
Valtharond: "Mezrathus, rumors of a six-winged demon clashing with a Light Mage in the Eastern and Northern territories are ravaging the Kingdom. They have demanded an envoy. You know why I summoned you, don't you?" Mezrathus: "Yes, my Lord. My bloodline carries the blood of the six-winged noble demons." Valtharond: "Then is it someone from your family who has declared war on these kingdoms?"
Mezrathus could not betray his son; he knew the King would not tolerate the existence of a half-blood child either. Mezrathus: "No, my Lord. Two of my sons are at the front lines, and one is always by my side. I have sent none of them to the human kingdoms." Valtharond: "I see. I will send an envoy to clarify the situation. If you hear anything, inform me. There is no need to stoke the embers of a war that has only just ended."
That night, Abaddon spoke to Nerya via communication magic. Nerya: "Abaddon, are you okay? I was so worried when you didn't return." Abaddon: "I'm fine. I won't be able to visit for a while. The Kingdom is on edge because I exposed myself. I'm sorry I had to leave you and Kael alone." Nerya: "It's okay. Kael is sleeping well now. The cracks on his body have almost completely closed."
However, Silyan's suspicions had not faded. One morning, he returned to Nerya's village with a squad of guards. "Lady Nerya, for your safety, we must relocate you and the child to the Church. We must ensure that demon does not return." Nerya: "Thank you for your concern, but there is no need. Guards are already stationed at the village entrance." Silyan: "Regrettably, this is a matter of security. You have no right to object."
Despite her protests, Nerya was forced into a carriage and taken toward the central Church of the Eastern Kingdom. Surrounded by guards, she was unable to use her communication magic. Upon arrival, they were placed in a room. Silyan's intent was not to harm her, but to use her as bait; he suspected a connection between this woman and the demon. Once the commotion settled, Nerya managed to reach Abaddon through a spell.
Nerya: "Abaddon, can you hear me? They've taken us to the Church. Silyan is keeping us here. There are guards everywhere. They don't seem to intend us harm, but Silyan is planning something. Please be careful."
Hearing this, Abaddon flew into a rage. He slammed his fist against the wall. His dark energy leaked uncontrollably, thickening the air in the room. He rushed to his father. Abaddon: "Father, they've taken Nerya and Kael! They are prisoners in the Church. I have to go! I'll tear that bastard Silyan and that Church to the ground!" Mezrathus: "Abaddon, stop! This is clearly bait. They are trying to lure you into the center to capture you. Nerya is Vaelmon's daughter; even if they don't know it yet, they wouldn't dare harm her. I will contact Vaelmon. Control your temper for now; do not act without thinking!"
Vaelmon paced back and forth in his study. The contents of the letter brought by the guard had shocked him. Nerya had been taken by the Church to a detention center. Elowen entered the room and saw the fury on her husband's face. "Dear, are you alright?" Her eyes drifted to the letter on the desk. "I received word from Mezrathus," Vaelmon said in a restless tone. "The Church grew suspicious and took Nerya to the central Church in the capital." "They took Nerya?" Elowen's voice trembled, but she held herself together.
Vaelmon stopped and struck the table with his fist. "Yes. That mage named Silyan is using Nerya as bait to find the demon's location. They've put our daughter in a cage, waiting for Abaddon to show himself." Elowen: "Bait? Surely they know she knows nothing. How could the King allow them to hold her?" Vaelmon: "The King likely doesn't even know," he said, grabbing his staff. "The moment the Church screams 'Demon Threat,' they seize all authority. They think they can corner Abaddon using Nerya."
Elowen approached her husband anxiously. "What are we going to do? Are you just going to go there and start a war with the Church?" Vaelmon: "I will try diplomacy first to open that door. But I have no intention of leaving my daughter as bait in the hands of those bastards. If they don't release her before Abaddon arrives, I will rewrite the rules of that Church myself!" Elowen: "Where is Abaddon?" Vaelmon: "Mezrathus is likely struggling to hold him back. If those two clash there, Abaddon will bring the Church down upon their heads. I am going there. Stay here and do not worry. I will bring Nerya back safely."
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