That single slash contained Vermilion Demon Lord‘s supreme demonic aura, imbued with the will to erase all things. The air ahead of the blade ignited under sheer force, tracing a burning black are across the sky.
Radmus let out a piercing shriek, summoning every ounce of power to use the blood-red coffin. At the same moment, the blood corpse’s energy rampaged inside him, turning his entire form into a gigantic crimson sphere that hurled itself against Jared’s descending sword.
Squelch!
The blade sliced through the crimson sphere and bit deep into the coffin. No earth-shaking explosion followed-only a muffled, visceral-sounding tear.
The Vermilion Devil Flame surged, devouring the blood-red coffin.
Cracks spider-webbed across the lid until, with a sharp crack, the entire coffin shattered, scattering countless red fragments through the air.
Radmus screamed in terror. Bereft of the coffin’s protection, lay completely exposed beneath Jared’s blade.
The devil flame from the Dragonslayer Sword engulfed at once, ravenously burning the blood corpse energy within him.
“No…! Lord Blood Corpse, save me!” He howled in despair, trying to summon the blood corpse energy, but the devil flame clung like maggots on bone, ruthlessly suppressing every trace of energy inside him.
Jared’s gaze held not a shred of mercy. Remembering Dincellus’ sacrifice and the carnage at Bloodbane Palace, flicked his wrist and drove the sword-wreathed in roaring flame-straight down through the top of Radmus’ skull.
“Argh!” A shriek of agony split the heavens as Radmus’ body burned away within the Vermilion Devil Flame, turning to ash. Even the soul remnant of the blood corpse was incinerated to nothing, leaving only the faintest tang of blood and char in the air.
The wind gradually fell silent.
Jared withdrew the Dragonslayer Sword, the devil flames receding from his form. He sucked in deep, ragged breaths, his face as pale as paper, the cost of borrowing such power was steep.
He looked over the desolation, the shattered earth, the litter of corpses, and exhaustion mingled with sorrow in his eyes.
Jhaelyn and the others hurried forward, steadying the swaying Jared. “Jared, are you all right?” Jhaelyn asked, worry plain.
Jared shook his head and stared toward Bloodbane Palace, his voice hoarse. “I’m fine… It‘s just… Bloodbane Palace…”
Jemima exhaled a soft sigh. “Let’s see if there are any survivors first.”
The group searched the rubble and eventually found only a handful of Bloodbane Palace disciples, grievously wounded and unconscious, their breaths as thin as gossamer.
Jared looked at the heartbroken Nymeria, then at the distant scorch mark where Dincelius had self-destructed, a maelstrom of mixed emotions churning in his chest.
He had slain Radmus, yet Bloodbane Palace lay in ruins, and Dincelius was gone forever.
Nymeria pushed herself up with measured steadiness, then bent at the waist in a profound, almost reverential bow toward Jared.
“Jared, thank you… Thank you for avenging Bloodbane Palace and my father!”
Though grief weighed heavily on her, gratitude toward Jared still swelled in chest.
“Ms. Nymeria, had I arrived a little earlier, perhaps Mr. Dincellius would still be alive…” Self-reproach flickered across Jared’s face.
“This was fate… It had nothing to do with you,” Nymeria said, shaking head.
“What will you do now?” Jared asked, worry coloring his tone.
Nymeria cast a long look at the shattered ruins of Bloodbane Palace and the mountains of corpses piled within them. For a moment, felt utterly adrift.
“I want to rebuild Bloodbane Palace…” murmured after a short silence.
“All by yourself?” Jared’s brows drew together.
Given current strength, rebuilding the sect again would be harder than climbing the very heavens.
“She still has me…” Just then, a lone figure drifted slowly down from the sky.
As the newcomer drew near, Jared paused in surprise, and Nymeria’s eyes widened as well.
“Elder Godric?” cried, astonished.
“Ms. Nymeria, Bloodbane Palace lies in ruins. It is our duty to restore it. From this day forward, I will stake my life on aiding you in that task…”
When finished, Godric swept his gaze across the blood-soaked hills of corpses, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Nymeria nodded with fierce determination; with Godric’s support, rebuilding Bloodbane Palace no longer felt like a distant dream.
