Clang!
A sharp, tallic ring echoed through the underground chamber as a sword suddenly intercepted Gray’s descending dagger.
"W-what?!"
The force of the block was imnse, sending vibrations up his arm and forcing him to take two full steps back.
’...Who the fuc...k?’
Gray’s eyes narrowed sharply at first, cold killing intent flaring in his black pupils.
But the mont his gaze landed on the person holding the sword, his eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise.
Standing between him and his kneeling father was a woman of breathtaking beauty and elegance.
She had long, flowing silver hair that cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight, reaching all the way to her waist.
A few strands frad her flawless face, accentuating her sharp, refined features.
Her eyes were a striking violet hue, deep, mysterious, and glowing dimly.
Her body was the epito of mature, aristocratic allure.
She possessed massive, heavy breasts that strained against the fabric of her dress, easily G-cup or larger, full and perfectly shaped.
Her waist was slim and toned, flaring out into wide, shapely hips that gave her an hourglass figure worthy of a goddess.
Her legs were long, slender, and toned, emphasized by the high slit on the left side of her elegant dark violet dress, which revealed a tantalizing view of her smooth, pale thigh with every slight movent.
The dress itself was luxurious, made of fine silk and embroidered with subtle silver threads that matched her hair.
It hugged her curves tightly around the chest and waist before flowing down gracefully, the high slit allowing freedom of movent while simultaneously drawing attention to her long, beautiful legs.
A silver necklace with a single dark athyst rested between her cleavage, completing her noble and seductive appearance.
Alina Von D’Aurélion.
His eldest sister.
She stood tall and composed, her sword still raised in a perfect defensive posture, the blade gleaming under the dim blue light of the underground chamber.
Her violet eyes locked onto Gray’s, not looking away from him.
For a long mont, neither of them spoke.
The Duke Caelis, still on the ground behind her, let out a shaky, relieved breath.
"Alina... my daughter... you ca..." he whispered hoarsely, his voice filled with actual hope upon seeing Alina.
Alina didn’t even glance at him.
Gray stared at the scene for a long mont... his eldest sister standing protectively in front of the man who had ruined his life.
The absurdity of it hit him.
And then... he laughed.
A low, cold, humorless laugh echoed through the underground chamber. It wasn’t joyful, but instead, it was dark, mocking, and filled with disbelief.
"From everyone... I thought that would protect that bastard... You were the last one I thought would do it," Gray said, still chuckling lowly as he shook his head.
"How ironic."
His laughter slowly died down, but as it did, his killing intent surged like a torrent.
The entire chamber grew colder, and the air itself seed to thicken with malice.
An overwhelming pressure radiated from Gray’s body, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on everything around him.
The blue crystals on the walls flickered violently and just fell from the ceiling.
Duke Caelis’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
He felt like an invisible mountain was crushing him, forcing him even lower to the ground. His body trembled uncontrollably as fear gripped his heart.
However... the pressure never reached him.
Alina stood like an immovable wall.
A faint golden-red aura surrounded her body, completely neutralizing Gray’s killing intent before it could touch their father.
As a Sovereign Realm expert, she could one-shot Gray if she truly wished to, and right now, she was effortlessly blocking his full murderous pressure without even drawing her sword.
Gray clicked his tongue in annoyance.
’...I should’ve saved the Authority of Destruction for a mont like this.’
Alina let out a soft, tired sigh.
Her violet eyes t Gray’s black ones with a complex mix of emotions and a hint of affection that hadn’t completely disappeared despite the years.
"Gray," she called out his na softly.
"Unfortunately... you cannot kill him yet. He’s being protected by the Crimson Night Order. If you kill him now, you’ll turn the entire organization into your enemy."
Gray’s frown deepened.
Just a few minutes ago, he had killed several demons connected to the Crimson Night Order, but they were rely disposable pawns.
The organization wouldn’t care about losing low and mid-tier demons.
But his father...?
If the Duke was under direct protection from the Order itself, then killing him would an declaring war on one of the most dangerous hidden powers on the continent.
And more importantly... offending Jasmine’s sister.
Gray’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Jasmine had already lost so much. He refused to be the one who forced her to lose the only family she still cared about.
’Jasmine.’
[Yes, Gray?]
Her voice ca softly inside his mind.
Gray stared at his father, who was still trembling on the ground behind Alina, and at his eldest sister standing protectively in front of him.
’Is there any way for to et your sister directly? If I can speak with her... I might be able to kill my father without turning the entire Crimson Night Order into my enemy.’
There was a long pause.
Then Jasmine’s voice returned, albeit a little hesitant.
[...If you use all the Demonic Energy currently stored in the Demon Converging Gourd, it should be possible to send her a ssage. A strong one that she would be able to feel clearly.]
Gray frowned deeply.
That energy belonged to Jasmine.
After weeks of hunting and absorbing demons, the gourd had accumulated enough demonic essence to recover at least 1% of her full power.
Even if they destroyed her temple later and reclaid more, that 1% was still incredibly valuable, especially while she was still recovering.
He remained silent for several seconds, weighing the cost.
But there was no other realistic choice.
Gray turned his gaze toward Alina and then spoke:
"Give ten minutes first."
Alina seed utterly confused by his sudden request. Her violet eyes flickered with surprise, but after studying his expression for a mont, she gave a slow nod.
"...Ten minutes," she agreed quietly.
"I’ll make sure no one interrupts you."
Gray nodded once in acknowledgnt.
He then turned his focus to his thoughts once again, speaking directly to Jasmine again.
’How do I send her a ssage?’
Jasmine was quiet for a mont. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost reluctant.
[...Pour all the demonic energy from the gourd into your palm. I will guide the rest. But Gray... are you sure? That energy is...]
’I’m sure,’ Gray cut her off gently but decisively. ’If it ans I don’t have to make you fight against your own sister... It’s worth it.’
Jasmine fell silent at those words before replying a few seconds later.
[...Thank you.]
Gray took out the Demon Converging Gourd from his dinsional storage.
The artifact pulsed with the accumulated Demonic Energy.
Without hesitation, he uncorked it and poured every last drop of accumulated demonic energy into his open palm.
A thick, pitch-black mist swirled violently around his hand, crackling with raw power. The energy was so dense it made the air around him distort.
[Now... focus... just imagine my sister’s title... and I will do the rest.]
Jasmine’s voice guided him carefully.
Gray closed his eyes and concentrated.
A mont later, the black mist shot upward like a reverse waterfall, twisting into a complex, ancient rune formation in the air above him.
The rune glowed with dark crimson light before shooting straight through the ceiling of the underground chamber, vanishing into the night sky as a silent ssage only one being in the world was ant to receive.
The Goddess of the Crimson Night... Sanguina.
Gray lowered his hand, the gourd now completely empty.
He felt a small pang of loss, knowing how much that energy could have helped Jasmine, but his expression remained cold and determined.
’How long do you think it’ll take until she replies?’
Jasmine was quiet for a mont inside his mind, as if carefully considering the question.
[...It depends on how busy she is.]
She replied softly and thoughtfully.
[If she’s in the middle of sothing important, it could take minutes... maybe even half an hour. But if she senses that the ssage ca from ... she’ll probably answer almost imdiately.]
Gray gave a small, internal nod.
’Understood.’
[Gray...]
Jasmine’s voice turned gentler, almost hesitant.
[Thank you again. You didn’t have to use that energy for this. I know how valuable it was for both you and .]
’It’s fine,’ he replied calmly.
’Your sister is important to you. That makes it important to .’
Twitch....!
Before either of them could say anything else, the entire underground chamber began to change.
Drip... drip...
The stone walls started lting, transforming into rippling pools of dark crimson blood.
The floor beneath their feet turned liquid, yet sohow remained solid enough to stand on.
The blue crystals on the walls dimd and were replaced by glowing red veins that pulsed like living arteries.
The temperature dropped sharply.
A heavy, tallic scent of blood filled the air.
Duke Caelis’s eyes widened in pure terror.
Without hesitation, he threw himself forward, slamming his forehead hard against the blood-covered floor in a deep, desperate kowtow.
"I greet the Goddess of the Crimson Night!" he shouted, his voice trembling with complete fear and reverence.
"This unworthy servant welcos your presence!"
Alina instantly grew cautious.
She stepped closer to Gray, positioning herself slightly in front of him in a protective stance. Her sword was raised, violet eyes scanning the surroundings sharply, ready for any threat.
As for Gray...
His black eyes actually lit up with surprise.
The overwhelming blood aura, the way reality itself had bent so effortlessly, the suffocating divine presence now filling the chamber... it was extrely clear.
’They really were sisters.’
The blood around them began to rise, forming a swirling vortex in the center of the chamber.
From within that vortex, a faint silhouette started to take shape, a figure of absolute authority and elegance slowly manifesting.
The Goddess of the Crimson Night had answered him.
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