The Damned Demon

Chapter 768: Until the End



The battlefield was a nightmare of chaos and despair, Esther and her soldiers pressed into a corner as the draconians closed in with their bloodlust-filled cries.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The metallic clang of weapons clashing and the screams of the dying filled the air as Esther fought valiantly, her dark blue staff swinging with lethal precision.

But the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming, her soldiers faltering as the draconians pushed harder.

Esther gritted her teeth, her blood magic waning as exhaustion crept into her limbs. Her pale, marble-like body was riddled with cuts here and there.

The soldiers around her fell one by one, leaving her surrounded by the snarling, red-eyed monsters. Her breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as she clutched her staff, preparing to fight until her last breath.

But then, a sudden chill swept through the battlefield, a wave of icy mana washing over the area. Esther barely had time to look up before the sky darkened, and a rain of bloody ice spikes cascaded down from above.

The crimson-hued spikes impaled the draconians surrounding her, their cries of triumph turning into screams of agony as their bodies were pierced and frozen in place.

The sudden silence was deafening, broken only by the crackling sound of ice spreading over the ground. Esther's wide eyes darted upward, and her breath hitched as a figure descended gracefully from the darkened sky.

The woman wore an elegant black off-shoulder gown that seemed untouched by the chaos of battle. Her dark red eyes gleamed with a chilling intensity, her expression cold yet intense.

She landed lightly before Esther, her aura radiating an icy authority that made the surviving draconians try to run away, only for her to raise her hand briefly and have their bodies get impaled with their own crystallized blood.

"I hope I am not too late, sister," the woman said, her voice laced with an unspoken edge. "Rebecca..." Esther breathed, her expression softening with relief despite her usual cold demeanor. Her eyes sparkled with a rare warmth as she stepped forward and grabbed Rebecca's shoulders. "Where were you? Do you have any idea how worried I was to not see you? I thought something happened to you or worse, you abandoned our kingdom and ran away."

Rebecca's expression tightened, her jaw clenching as she grabbed Esther's wrist, "You think so little of me as always, sister. Of course I had to save my son. It's a long story, and I didn't mean to run away, even if I did consider that option. But when everything is said and done, I couldn't leave you alone to fight, nor could I abandon my kingdom."

Her tone turned sharper as she continued, "But... where is our despicable king? I didn't sense his aura anywhere when I flew in. I thought he'd be showing off his immortal powers, hmph."

Esther's expression darkened, the relief in her eyes giving way to frustration and grim resolve, "About that..." she began, her voice heavy as she recounted what had happened.

Rebecca's eyes widened, her gaze trembling as she processed the news. "What?! You can't be serious! He left even before the war started?"

"I know it's shocking," Esther said firmly, "but there's no time to dwell on it. We have to fight as if he's not coming back. The draconians are pushing into our towns. We need to move, sister. Come with me." Without waiting for a response, she shot into the skies, leaving Rebecca to grunt in frustration before following her.

A while later, not far away, Sabina fell to her knees, her body trembling as she and Silvia finally placed the unconscious Jael in a safe spot.

Her bloodied chain hung limply at her side, the weight of exhaustion and despair pressing heavily on her, "Fuck this... Where is our husband? I swear I'm going to make him..." Her voice faltered as her heart swelled with a mix of anger, worry, and pain.

For the first time, her usual bravado cracked, "Damn it, Asher. What are you doing out there?"

"Our h-husband will come for us," Silvia stammered, her soft voice trembling as she sniffled. Her teary eyes remained fixed on her brother, who was being tended to by a physician, "He will never abandon us..."

Despite her words, doubt lingered in her heart, the fear of the unknown gnawing at her. Before either of them could say more, a voice called out weakly from the side, "Young Lady..." Both Sabina and Silvia turned their heads sharply, their eyes widening in shock.

Stumbling toward them was Vernon, his pale face sickly and his body riddled with deep gashes. He was supported by two of his soldiers, who struggled to keep him upright as blood dripped from his wounds.

"Silvia..." Vernon's voice was faint, but he managed a weak smile as he caught sight of her. "Father!" Silvia cried out, her voice cracking as she ran toward him, nearly tripping in her haste. The two soldiers gently lowered Vernon to lean against a sturdy pole as Silvia crouched before him.

Her trembling hands reached for his bloodied arms, "Someone, help! We need a physician over here!" she cried, panic lacing her voice.

"Silvia... It's okay," Vernon said softly, his hand weakly gripping her wrist. His voice was calm, but his breath came in shallow gasps.

"No, no, no, why aren't you healing? You need to be looked at," Silvia insisted, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face, "Please, Father, let Silvia help you."

Vernon shook his head faintly, his weary smile unwavering, "One of their commanders... They used a powerful poison. Without the antidote, there's nothing that can be done. It's not found in our kingdom." He paused, his voice growing fainter, "But... it's okay. We managed to kill everyone who attacked us here. Now-"

"It's not okay!" Silvia cried, her voice filled with anguish. "You can be healed with medicine... Maybe Mother knows what to do—"

Vernon's grip tightened slightly, his eyes clouding, "Silvia... listen to me. I don't have much time left. I'm sorry I lied. Your mother isn't fighting elsewhere. She's out there... doing something for your husband. But I don't know what."

Silvia's brows furrowed in confusion as she choked back a sob, "Mother... for Asher?"

Vernon coughed violently, blood staining his lips. His voice dropped to a whisper as he added, "When you see her again... Tell her I'm sorry for failing her. Tell her I hope she'll one day be free from everything that caused her pain, just like how she is free from me now."

"Father, please don't leave Silvia! You can't leave us!" Silvia pleaded, gripping his hand tightly as if her sheer will could keep him alive, "Y-You can tell her yourself..."

Vernon coughed, his breathing becoming shallow, each rasp a painful reminder of his fleeting strength.

Yet, his gaze remained tender as he looked at Silvia, the faintest trace of a smile gracing his bloodied lips.

Slowly, with great effort, he raised a trembling hand and cupped her tear-streaked cheek. His cold fingers brushed against her soft skin as his eyes, dimming with the light of life, locked

onto hers.

"I always hated who I was," he whispered, his voice weak yet steady, "until you and Jael were born. Your brother... he gave me the courage to become a better man. And you, my beautiful girl..." He paused, his voice cracking with emotion, "You made me feel my life was worth living because I... got to be your father until the end."

Silvia's trembling hands wrapped around his as tears streamed down her face, her lips quivering as she whispered, "Father, please...."

But Vernon's words were his last. The light in his eyes ebbed away, his gaze softening as the final breath escaped his lips. His hand, still resting on her cheek, fell limp. Silvia caught it, clutching it tightly as a heartbroken cry tore from her throat, "Father, NO!!!!"

Her anguished wail echoed through the air, cutting through the distant sounds of battle. Sabina stood nearby, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She pressed her lips together, taking in the heartbreaking sight of Silvia sobbing over her father's lifeless body. Closing her eyes briefly to compose herself, she slowly stepped

forward.

Silently, Sabina crouched behind Silvia and wrapped her arms around her from behind. She didn't say a word, simply holding the grieving young lady as her own tears spilled, tracing silent paths down her cheeks.

Silvia's sobs grew louder, her gasping cries shaking her body as she buried her face against her

father's chest.

A quiet shuffling of footsteps drew their attention. Jael, who had regained consciousness, walked toward them unsteadily, his face pale and his movements sluggish.

His eyes were moist, his lips pressed tightly together as he took in the sight of his father's lifeless body. After a moment, he crouched down behind Silvia, wrapping his arms gently

around her shoulders.

"It's okay, Silvia..." he murmured softly into her ear, his voice heavy with grief but steady enough to offer her comfort. "Father will be watching us... from the Seven Hells. He'll always

be with us."

The soldiers of House Valentine, witnessing the death of their lord, knelt in unison, bowing deeply. Their solemn gesture honored Vernon's valiant sacrifice, expressing their remorse and respect they had for their lord.

They couldn't have served a better man and prayed he would rest in peace. And for the next few moments, the entire place was drowned in a doleful silence.

Far across the kingdom, Ceti stood on the front lines, her armor splattered with blood as she barked orders to the Crimson Army.

Her voice was commanding and sharp, cutting through the chaos as she directed her soldiers to hold the line against the relentless draconian assault.

Suddenly, the faint glow of her Whisper Stone caught her eye. She snatched it from her belt and answered, her voice still stern and tinged with impatience. "Battlemaster..." a grave, weary voice spoke on the other end, making her brows furrow in surprise.

"Advisor Seron?" she asked, baffled by his call amidst the chaos. "What's going on?" She was surprised he called her in the middle of all this.

"I can't tell the queen about this while she is fighting," Seron said, his voice heavy with urgency, "So I had to call you. You must stop someone... someone only you might be able to

stop."

Ceti's brow furrowed deeper as she glanced back at the battlefield, "Who are you talking about? Forgive me, but I have my hands full here."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a deep sigh, "This is important, Ceti. The man you must stop... is my son. You have to stop him before he causes even more damage." Ceti's eyes widened, her expression trembling as the weight of his words sank in.