Chapter 35
"So… are these weapons supposed to be ours?" Lucien asked, staring at the rows of kneeling warriors. "You may all rise. Only the weak bow to the strong."
"The weapons show that you passed," Lucas said as the warriors stood. "If you can wield them, they're yours. And what makes you think we're still stronger than you?"
Lucien's jaw tightened. "I remember everything...the day we met, the training, and even…" His voice drifted as he clenched his fist.
"It's all in the past," Theresa said gently, pulling him into a hug. "You're one of us now. That's what he wanted."
"You're our new Alpha," Solvian added, glancing at their brothers and sisters. "Rule like he would've wanted. We may have lost Thessaria, but the team still stands. Don't let grief weigh you down."
Tears slid down Lucien's cheeks as he hugged Theresa back. He wiped his face, straightened, and forced a small smile.
"Tomorrow, we train with these weapons at midnight. During the day, we feast and visit the grave of our fallen."
He walked past everyone before stopping near the slime and the Obsidian Panther.
"Human forms. We don't need attention where we're going."
Drufas and his team watched, confused and uneasy.
"Who is Thessaria…?" the female knight whispered.
Lucien paused and turned slowly. "You. You. You. You. And you." He pointed at the female knight, Lily, the executioner, the archer, and Drufas. "Follow me."
He glanced at the others. "The rest didn't make it this far."
The Obsidian Panther stepped toward the remaining warriors.
"Wait, what's go—"
"Eyes forward," Lucien said without turning. "I hate duplicate power."
The group followed him into the cave.
Behind them, screams erupted, brutal, cut off by claws and explosions. Blood sprayed across stone. Lily turned in horror just long enough to see bodies collapse, the Obsidian Panther standing atop them like a shadow of death.
Drufas grabbed her hand. "He told you. Don't look."
She covered her mouth, trembling—torn between crying and vomiting. The executioner lowered his head, silent.
"First time seeing blood?" Lucien asked lightly as he stopped before a line of stone thrones. He circled the one belonging to Ethen, his expression unreadable. He raised a hand to touch it.
"Those people were innocent!" Lily burst out. "They didn't deserve that!"
"How slow can you be?" Lucien murmured. "None of them deserved the life they held."
"Who are you to decide that?!"
He chuckled and looked over his shoulder. "Little girl… every one of them was already dead. Raise your hand."
She lifted her left hand.
"No. The other one."
When she raised it, she saw a thin purple line engraved into her flesh glowing faintly like a drawn symbol. Lucien snapped his fingers. Every mark on every chosen member flashed, then shattered like glass.
"On them," Lucien said, "it would have been futile."
"Those marks…" Drufas muttered, staring at his vanished symbol. "The Vorathian Widow's bite… Once its curse roots fully, the soul leaves the body. The body becomes a living husk that transforms into the spider."
"Correct." Lucien's voice softened. "Sorry you had to witness that, child."
Lily could only stare, numb.
"I lived three months in this hell," Lucien said as he slouched lazily onto Ethen's throne, chin resting on his hand. "Sometimes the wrong thing is the only thing that saves others."
Chris entered. "Tomorrow I'll gather gear for the team."
"I'll collect potions," Seraphine added.
Solvian approached with the rest of their siblings. "Lucien… what's our role?"
Lucien rose from the throne. "Master Ethen had one goal—to see all his brethren enter the capital. I'll fulfill that goal."
He extended his hand. "Will you allow me to, dear brother?"
Solvian hesitated, then clasped his hand. "All for our brother's cause."
"Did you say Ethen…?" Drufas asked quietly.
"Yes. Do you know him?" Lucien asked.
Drufas looked around. Chris shook his head. Lucas too.
"No… The name just sounded familiar."
"I see." Lucien turned away. "Then let's rest. Tomorrow, we move."
Lily remained frozen. Her mind couldn't process what she had witnessed. A seven-year-old had slaughtered half her team without hesitation and everyone accepted it.
"Dwelling on the past helps no one," Nekubuki said calmly as he passed. "Rest. Tomorrow is the final day of your peaceful lives."
To be continued…