Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Episode 96.
After Aiden departed somewhere, only Yuriel remained in the thicket, keeping watch ahead.
The cave was quite distant and pitch-black, making it impossible for her vision to clearly discern the interior. She could barely make out the shapes of figures and the general unfolding events.
Shortly after Yuron and Gielran entered a standoff, Saya's form collapsed with a thud.
Yuriel fixed her gaze on the fallen Saya. The nine-tailed fox lay prostrate, dying. Aiden had left his lover behind like that. As always, there must have been a reason. Yet, Aiden's coldness struck her as bitterly cruel.
It wasn't something that had happened to Yuriel herself. Moreover, the nine-tailed fox was both her romantic rival and the one who had inflicted humiliation upon her. Still, she felt pity. Perhaps it was due to an unsettling sense that this could happen to anyone.
Whatever the reason, it was heartbreaking.
Then, the fading blue pupils began to glow. Saya's gaze shifted toward the thicket, locking eyes with Yuriel. The bright light revealed her expression clearly.
Saya formed a bitter fox-like smile. Her keen sense of smell had detected Aiden's visit. Then, she quickly lowered her head again. Yuriel also wore a somewhat complicated expression.
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by a thunderous roar erupting from the cave.
"You bastard!"
The Sword Saint swung his wooden branch horizontally. An intangible force grazed Yuron's hair. CRASH! An unfortunate section of the outer wall crumbled away.
"M-Master!"
"Can't you just back off?!"
Judging by Aiden's departure, Gielran was undoubtedly acting. His performance was so convincing that even Gusian hadn't realized it yet.
The problem was Siron. The unconscious woman slowly raised her upper body. Immediately, she glared down at Saya, filling both fists with demonic energy.
Her intent was to crush the brain, extract the heart, and pulverize the body into dust. Even Saya couldn't survive that.
This wasn't a clone but her true body. A single-tailed fox wasn't a complete immortal.
With Saya on the verge of death, Yuriel had to act on Aiden's words: 'Move only if someone is truly about to die. Do not reveal yourself unless absolutely necessary.' Saya's death would have been an opportunity for Yuriel. But she didn't want to let someone die. Such methods didn't align with Yuriel's values at all.
Just as Yuriel was about to chant a hymn, a sound tore through the air. SHIIING! A flying chain suddenly wrapped around Siron's arm.
Deril. He arrived at the cave entrance, panting heavily.
"Whew, perfect timing. Hey! Eyes over here!"
Gusian's face twisted in displeasure. He growled in a low, threatening voice.
"So your gall's burst right out of your belly."
"Shut your trap, you bastard. All you know is cheap tricks—what kind of Archdemon is that?"
Gusian turned his irritated gaze toward Siron.
"Rip her apart—!"
Siron's eyes burned crimson. With a sharp tug on the chain, Deril's body was yanked into the air. The distance closed instantly.
Siron raised her leg. Just as she was about to bring it down on Deril's skull, the chain snapped.
Gielran's sword energy. Deril crashed to the ground, tumbling head over heels.
"Deril, you wretch! Can't you just disappear?!"
Gusian glared at Gielran with annoyance. If this continued, there'd be no end. He immediately manipulated his authority, Marionette, stirring the demonic energy hidden within Gielran's mind. 'Fenrir is Deril, not Saya.' That was the command he issued.
Simultaneously, Gusian furrowed his brow deeply. There was no demonic energy in Gielran's head. In other words, Marionette had already been released.
He was utterly baffled. Why was his authority undone? That meant Gielran's actions had been an act all along... No, there was no time to ponder.
Things were spiraling out of control.
Like a cornered cockroach, Gusian's mind raced. He immediately dispersed demonic energy in all directions.
The moment the cave and its surroundings were engulfed in black smoke, he sensed Yuriel. 'The Holy Light has arrived.' Yuriel's presence confirmed it, but he couldn't detect Aiden's energy. That was the bigger problem. There must be some scheme at play.
He made a lightning-fast decision. 'Return to the Demon Realm.' Though he'd suffered severe losses, there was no other choice. As a demon, he had to thwart Aiden's plans.
Gusian looked down at the black heart in his hand. To return, it had to be destroyed, but his clone's physical strength wasn't enough.
He planned to use demonic energy. Soon, black smoke began coiling around the heart.
The moment Deril saw this, he shouted loudly.
"Old man! Steal the heart!"
On his way here, Aiden had repeatedly emphasized one thing: 'The heart must not be destroyed. Protect it at all costs.' Before Deril's words even finished, Gielran moved at supersonic speed. WHOOSH! A sword energy sliced vertically, severing Gusian's arm.
The falling wrist and heart. The Sword Saint stepped forward, swiftly snatching the lump of flesh. He immediately moved beside Deril and Yuron.
"M-Master...!"
"I'm ashamed."
An Archdemon's authority and illusions were something mortals could never defend against. Even the Sword Saint couldn't escape that rule.
Gusian glared at the group with a hardened expression, muttering.
"Damn insects..."
Sein, who arrived belatedly, briefly explained to Gielran.
"The Holy One said to protect Gusian's heart."
He didn't know the reason. Gielran simply nodded.
"I shall do so."
Gusian's face twisted in bewilderment. Only then did he realize Aiden's intent. Aiden planned to bind Gusian to the continent.
If Aiden sealed the rift in the divine barrier, Gusian's soul couldn't return to the Demon Realm.
The reason he wasn't visible now was likely because he was performing that task.
There was only one option left: illusions. With Marionette undone, Gusian could use mirages.
He immediately activated his crimson eye, but it had no effect on Gielran. Only the small fry stiffened in place.
The Sword Saint moved at a speed untraceable by the eye. He stabbed Sein, Deril, and Yuron in order.
The illusions ensnaring the three vanished instantly. The clone's abilities couldn't surpass that artifact.
A crushing sense of defeat overwhelmed Gusian.
He couldn't think of any way to reclaim the heart from the Sword Saint's grasp.
Now that things had come to this, Yuriel no longer needed to hide. She rushed out of the thicket and ran toward Saya.
Siron, consumed by madness, convulsed again but was easily subdued by Gielran. With the illusions dispelled, no one present could oppose Gielran.
Not even Gusian. Unless it was his true body, that is.
Yuriel knelt beside the fallen Saya.
Everyone, including Gielran, gathered around Yuriel in a protective circle.
Deril kept his eyes fixed on Gusian as he spoke.
"Can you save her? Fox lady's condition looks pretty bad."
Saya's body was barely holding its form. The gaping holes no longer bled—there simply wasn't any blood left to spill.
Yuriel nodded and replied.
"It's possible. But I'll need to concentrate, so please watch over me."
Everyone nodded. Gielran responded.
"Focus solely on the healing."
As he spoke, he swung his wooden branch a few times. Simultaneously, Gusian, standing far away, shattered into pieces and collapsed to the ground.
The chunks of flesh scattered like smoke.
He might be reforming somewhere else, waiting to strike at their blind spot.
Yuriel ignored him and looked down at Saya.
Her already pale skin was growing even whiter.
Immortals weren't invincible. Though they could endure far longer than others, if left untreated for too long—or if Yuriel hadn't been here—even Saya wouldn't have escaped death.
That must be why Aiden left the Saintess behind. Yuriel thought so.
"Oh Saint Vacheksar, lend me the power to save this lamb."
As the hymn began, a radiant white light flowed from Yuriel's hands. The divine energy enveloped Saya warmly, seeping into her wounds.
Wandering near death, Saya was gently pushed forward by tender hands, walking toward the light. The warm sunlight melted death away.
When her surroundings finally brightened, Saya's gaze turned toward Yuriel.
Why? That thought came first. As Saya, she couldn't understand why this woman would do this.
Even if Aiden had ordered it, he wasn't here now. Wasn't this an opportunity? She could pretend to heal and then fail.
Even if that wasn't possible, there was no need to look so earnest and focused. Saya would never have spared Yuriel. '...Foolish woman.' As her wounds healed, Saya's expression darkened. She felt defeated, her pride wounded.
Yuriel looked at her and spoke in a relieved voice.
"Are you coming to your senses?"
Saya didn't answer. For some reason, she felt too embarrassed to speak.
Yuriel glanced at the comrades surrounding her and Saya.
"I need Saya's arm."
Deril nodded and tossed a chain, retrieving the pale forearm.
Yuriel carefully took it and began the procedure. Saya silently watched before murmuring softly.
"Debt."
"Huh?"
"...I owe you. I'll repay it."
Nine-tailed foxes were creatures who repaid debts. Now that she thought about it, Yuriel had saved Saya's life twice.
Once in the north, and now once more.
Yuriel smiled faintly.
"Then, do so."
"Stupid woman."
Saya slowly raised her upper body. Her authority over beauty began slowly erasing the ugly scars.
It was a trait similar to Atraksha, the Goddess of Love. Once the grooming was done, she returned to her usual appearance.
Deril glanced at her and remarked.
"Still look like a sculpture, sis."
"Annoying. Don't talk to me."
Saya lightly pushed Deril away and looked at Gielran.
"Aiden ordered this?"
She pointed at Gusian's heart. Gielran replied.
"He told us to protect it."
Saya wordlessly turned her back. Not fully recovered, waves of excruciating pain assaulted her.
Grimacing, she walked toward the opposite side of the cave.
Deril spoke up.
"Where are you going? It's safer to stick together."
"To Aiden. You all stay here."
Yuron hesitated.
"B-but Gusian—"
"He's not here anymore. Just keep an eye on the pea."
The "pea" referred to Siron. Gusian had fled long ago.
Saya could precisely pinpoint the direction his soul was escaping. Aiden's scent was coming from that way too.
She didn't know why, but Gusian was flying straight toward Aiden.
As Saya prepared to kick off the ground, Yuriel approached and cautiously said.
"Take me with you. The healing isn't complete yet, and my presence will make it much easier for the Holy One to deal with Gusian."
Saya looked at Yuriel with displeasure. After a brief internal struggle, she turned to Gielran.
"Old man, give me the fang."
Gielran tossed the necklace upward. Saya caught it and carelessly handed it to Yuriel.
Then, she wrapped her tail around her.
"Don't touch my body."
With those words, she soared into the sky.