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146 - A Strange Connection
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-11-01 22:00:18ARAH
Before she could locate the source of the voice, Mayor Velazquez snapped her attention back.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” the mayor said, clapping her hands before glancing at Mabel and leaning in slightly. In a feigned whisper, she told her, “You’ve been extremely helpful, dear. But this is the part where you run.”
Mabel whimpered, casting Arah one last, terrified glance before hurrying back to the others. Arah swallowed, unable to bring herself to meet her friends’ eyes.
“Isn’t it amusing, Miss Arah?” the mayor said. “Your friends seem more frightened of you than of us.” She tilted her head. “That’s the thing about keeping company with ordinary humans—they always end up disappointing you. And you, them.”
Arah’s breaths shook with anger as she clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. “Let them go,
Bab terkait
MAD END'S DECEPTION 147 - His True Sight
GILDEONHis fire blade clashed violently against Vergilius’s cane, each strike lighting up the foggy churchyard. The scent of burning foliage filled the air as they crashed through twisted shrubs, igniting a nearby holy statue. Vergilius blocked and countered each hit, his strikes growing heavier, more forceful.Gildeon’s eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. Every clash sent a strange pulse up his blade, as if its energy was being siphoned. Vergilius’s strikes were gaining strength. His flames flickered, dimming as the cane sapped their intensity.“Already exhausted, salamander?” Vergilius taunted, dodging Gildeon’s last strike with ease. “What a shame. I expected more from you.”Vergilius attacked again, and Gildeon parried just in time. The elder vampire’s cane absorbed more of his fiery blade’s power, channeling it into himself.If this continued, Gildeon would be vulner
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-02MAD END'S DECEPTION 148 - This Land is Ours
ARAHShe staggered back, heart pounding as Lokius shifted from one cat form to another. Alaunus’s fingers curled, and suddenly, scratches and stab wounds appeared on Lokius’s feline body—likely old scars that had reopened. Alaunus moved in, fists flying, landing punch after punch, each one dodged by Lokius, who swiped back with sharp claws. Every strike met a counter and neither gave an inch.Meanwhile, Roselia flung a long string of flowers toward Vienna, twisting them tightly around her wrist. Arah watched Vienna summon her ability-link bangles back. One snapped onto her own neck and the other onto Roselia’s, gaining control over the flowers. A fresh string of flowers rose from the stage, lashing through the air like a whip across Roselia’s back, sending her to her knees, gasping.“Stop this, please!” Arah cried, voice cracking as she called their names in desperation. But they didn’t turn, didn’t even flinch. Rage twisted their faces. Whateve
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-05MAD END'S DECEPTION 149 - Waiting For You
ARAHShe turned down more twisting paths, still stepping backward and glancing over her shoulder from time to time. There was no point in running if the vampire witch could easily reach her in a heartbeat. All she could do now was stay alert and find a way to escape.“So, you and your coven have been here all along?” she asked, hoping to stall but also genuinely curious.“A woman we attempted to turn long ago was a clairvoyant,” Mayor Velazquez replied, her expression growing more predatory with each step.“Clairvoyant?”“A human who could see through time and space, read the past and future,” the mayor explained, making a playful gesture with her hand. “One who could peer into realms beyond this world—including where you came from.”Arah pondered this. It sounded similar to the sylphs’ oracle and the salamanders’ seers.“She foresaw t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-06MAD END'S DECEPTION 150 - Intention of Magic
ARAHTwo black owls with white, piercing eyes launched into the air, their wings beating in a rhythmic thrum that sliced through the silence. She stared, mouth agape. Despite everything, she still couldn’t believe it had worked. Her current tattoos weren’t sigils—or at least, they hadn’t been intended as such. They were inked into her skin with Earthland tools, without the intention of magic.But this wasn’t the time to marvel. The fight was far from over.Mayor Velazquez sneered, dark amusement glinting in her red eyes. “You think those things can hurt me?” she mocked, clicking her tongue. With a flick of her wrist, a fresh stream of water erupted from the fountain, twisting like a serpent.Arah clenched her jaw and commanded the owls. They dove, wings outstretched, slicing through the air with a powerful whoosh. Their feathers rippled as they deflected the surge—droplets splattered against
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-07MAD END'S DECEPTION 151 - A Difficult Choice
GILDEONStrong magic surrounded him, pulsing from the fog. It thickened, humming with energy until he realized he was no longer in the churchyard, nor was it a night.He stood slowly, finding himself inside a grander church. Tall, arched windows let sunlight stream in, casting colored patterns on the stone floors. Ornate wooden pews were filled with people listening to the parish priest—a solid, imposing old man. At the back sat a young man in a black robe, his curly hair and sharp eyes strikingly familiar.It was Vergilius.Gildeon felt suspended in time, searching for the present Vergilius or his copies but finding none. Had the fog brought him back to the past again? What was Drusden up to now?He moved cautiously as the communion began. Young Vergilius assisted the priest, his eyes warm and innocent. A young woman approached. Gildeon noticed the faint smile exchanged between her and Young Vergilius. The old priest caught
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-12MAD END'S DECEPTION 152 - Beyond Dangerous
GILDEONPresent Vergilius seethed beside him, dark eyes fixed on Father Jean. Young Vergilius stood frozen. Shock and confusion etched on his face, likely not expecting the old man to betray him, let alone accuse him of defiling the woman he loved.Young Vergilius tried to deny the accusation as guards dragged him away. But his word meant little against the ironically respected priest. There was clearly no way to save his skin. Charlotte’s father appeared, enraged. He beat Young Vergilius nearly to death.The scene shifted. Gildeon found himself in a dank prison cell. Young Vergilius slumped against a filthy wall, surrounded by rats, stripped of his robe and collar. Bruises marred his face and body, and each breath was visibly painful. His expression cycled between anger, despair, and frustration. He muttered a broken prayer, running his hands down his face before looking up, teeth gritted.“Why have you forsaken me, my Lord?&
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-13MAD END'S DECEPTION 153 - Three Strikes
GILDEONHe watched the next scene unfold. Young Vergilius, now a vampire, stood in the old priest’s depraved chamber. The sick bastard had gathered another group of young women, some already naked on his bed.The old man paused halfway through removing his robe and turned to the doorway. “Vergilius, is that you?” he exclaimed, narrowing his eyes. “Word reached me that you had escaped, you ingrate! Bold of you to show your face here after you nearly sent me to meet our Lord.”“Our Lord?” Young Vergilius scoffed, glancing at the naked girls. “You dare invoke His name while committing such a profane act, you old wretch.”Without waiting for a response, Young Vergilius launched himself at the old priest, hurling him across the room. His mouth latched onto the man’s neck, and the wet sound of blood being drawn filled the air as the girls around them screamed, too terrified to move.Gildeon watched as Young Vergilius nearly drained the p
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-15MAD END'S DECEPTION 154 - Marked Bride
GILDEONThree strikes.He had only three moves left before his body would give out. He needed to conserve his remaining energy—to fight the enchanted poison coursing through him while ensuring he would still be alive for the next few hours.Gildeon had to bet everything on these final attacks.“Overconfident, are we, salamander?” Vergilius said, a wry smile curling his lips.Gildeon shrugged. “I just like my odds.”Vergilius looked composed, but the way his fingers brushed the brim of his hat told Gildeon that the elder vampire’s fight was nearing its end. Even so, Vergilius would certainly want to drag Gildeon down with him.‘He can only try,’ Gildeon thought.His chest heaved, hot steam slipping through his gritted teeth in a hiss. The battle haze enveloped him. Fire surged in his arms, crackling as it burned from within. Swiftly, he unleashed a torrent of flame
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-19
Bab terbaru
MAD END'S DECEPTION 187 - Remember Me
ARAHFear coiled around her ribs like a vice.“I-it’s me,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.Gildeon didn’t flinch. His lips remained curled back, exposing sharp teeth. His expression was predatory, enraged. In his eyes, she was someone else—an enemy.What had Drusden done to him?She tried to choke out his name again, but her throat tightened, the pressure crushing her windpipe. Her pulse pounded—a frantic drumbeat against his grip. The steam curling from his scaled body rolled over her in suffocating, blistering waves.How the hell was she supposed to stop this?Through tear-blurred eyes, Arah caught a flicker of movement—an outline shifting, pulsing like a mirage behind Gildeon. Her eyes widened as she remembered her creature-helper.Gildeon hissed, his body tensing as his free hand shot back, claws poised to seize whatever had latched onto him. The creature clung to his neck, jaws clenched, its form flickering in and out of focus.The grip around Arah’s throat sl
MAD END'S DECEPTION 186 - Been Happy Once
ARAHDays passed. Drusden had recovered, but he remained at Roselia’s farmhouse.Roselia taught him about the old world and the ways of hedge witches. Drusden then hunted the dark witch responsible for the devastation—and eventually killed him.Together, they worked to cleanse the village of its plague and heal the people.Arah witnessed something shift between Roselia and Drusden. It was likely during this time that they began developing feelings for each other.Drusden also bonded with young Alaunus, though their connection was anything but paternal. He spoke to Alaunus about mankind’s corruption and the rewards of embracing a higher power as a witch.Roselia noticed it too, and Arah was sure it bothered her.Then came the day Drusden told Roselia everything—about Zephyr, about the vision of an army—an elite force of witches transformed into higher mortals meant to help Zephyr rule over Earthland.Arah wouldn’t have been surprised if Roselia had kept this knowledge even from Gildeon
MAD END'S DECEPTION 185 - Source of More Power
ARAHTo say this was a massive shock would be an understatement. The idea of a lower mortal becoming a higher mortal was probably the last thing she had ever expected to hear.How could that even be possible? Flying to Shamibar in Zylas’s dragon form was already mind-blowing. But the idea of altering the very nature of a mortal by merely passing through the Mad End’s Wall? That was a whole different realm of insanity.No matter how she tried to make sense of it, the logic eluded her. Unless Zephyr was lying to Drusden. Maybe the sylph simply said whatever he needed to get what he wanted.“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” she whispered.In the next memory, Zephyr was gone. Arah barely had time to take in her surroundings before Drusden crumpled to the ground. Blood seeped from his ear as he fought to stay conscious.The stench hit her—a suffocating, sickly blend of rotting meat, unwashed bodies, and the sharp tang of smoke. She swallowed hard against the bile rising in her throat
MAD END'S DECEPTION 184 - Seize Greater Power
ARAHThe next memory swept her onto the battlements, where she had a clear view of the invasion unfolding below. This was a different place, a different time. A different nation. The people spoke in foreign tongues.Men in ragged clothing, their faces twisted with barbaric fury, slaughtered civilians with swords and axes. Limbs were severed, bodies crumpled in pools of blood. Women screamed as they were dragged away—some ruthlessly stripped of their clothes, preyed upon by these animals. Children’s throats were slit without hesitation.Arah grimaced in horror at every atrocity, her stomach churning. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to forget—to block out the carnage. But every anguished scream, every whispered prayer of the helpless, cut through her like a blade, carving into her heart and twisting her gut.Zephyr’s voice interrupted her thoughts.“Look at them,” he said to Drusden as he stood on the parapet ledge, gazing down at the massacre below. “Look at how your kind d
MAD END'S DECEPTION 183 - Worst Death
ARAHZephyr brought Drusden to Yonah’s temple. And as she had with Marianne, Arah watched Drusden enter the Dark Plane with Zephyr’s help. It took longer this time, and at one point, she thought Drusden would die right there on his knees.When Drusden snapped back to consciousness, his palms slapped against the stone floor. His breath came in ragged gasps, sweat beading on his forehead. His skin was ghostly pale, his wide eyes unfocused—like a man who had stared into the abyss and seen something stare back.“What have you sacrificed, human?” Zephyr asked, crouching before him.Drusden slowly lifted his head, fat tears streaming down his cheeks. “My spirit will live on even after death,” he said softly. “I will never be able to reunite with my family.”Arah couldn’t begin to imagine the misery Drusden would endure for the price he paid.A small smile appeared on Zephyr’s lips. “For that sacrifice, the power you obtained must be great. Show me.”Without a word, Drusden exhaled, and a bi
MAD END'S DECEPTION 182 - Too Painful For Words
ARAHAnother death was reported—a woman who sold milk and eggs, saving every coin to buy medicine for her bedridden father.Arah watched as Drusden slammed his fists onto the desk, sending a quill and inkpot rattling, scrolls tumbling to the floor. His jaw tightened, nostrils flaring as he ducked his head, a muscle ticking in his temple. Even his men, though silent, shared his frustration.She still didn’t know how the deaths were connected to the ministers, but she believed in Drusden’s suspicions. This whole thing reeked of injustice. And more than anything, she wanted to see what he would do about it.The next day, Drusden and his men arrived at one of the ministers’ workshops. The place reeked of ink and damp parchment—likely the very goods being produced here.“Y-you shouldn’t be here, Inspector,” one of the workshop guards stammered, his face pale. “The ministers won’t take kindly to this.”Drusden barely spared him a glance. “I’m not here for their kindness, boy,” he said sharp
MAD END'S DECEPTION 181 - Nothing Too Tragic
ARAHDrusden looked almost the same as he did in the present—just younger. His brown hair was longer, and his face was more open, easier to read. There was no trace of his usual smugness. Instead, he was serious. Dutiful. His tone lacked the usual edge of playfulness she had grown so used to.How could he be the same Drusden, yet different at the same time? Maybe witch power really could change people after all.She followed Drusden through the streets until he stopped in front of a small house. Sympathy softened his features as he spoke to the victim’s wife. Inside, four children sat around a table—faces thin, clothes worn—with nothing but bowls of plain porridge in front of them.Arah felt a tug in her chest. It was obvious they weren’t eating enough. And now, with their provider gone, how would they survive?“I am deeply sorry,” Drusden said.The woman broke down, shoulders trembling as she wept.Drusden’s gaze flickered to the children, their wide eyes full of questions they were
MAD END'S DECEPTION 180 - Inspector Heman
ARAHIt was up to her to pull him out of it.The weight of that realization pressed down on Arah like a boulder. She was determined—of course, she was—but how was she supposed to do it? The thought of failing, of not being enough to help Gildeon, curled around her ribs like a vice.She shook her head, shoving the doubt aside. This wasn’t the time for uncertainty. Gildeon needed her, and that was all that mattered.She sprinted down the prison hallway, dodging jagged chunks of fallen stone and splintered beams. Behind her, the sounds of battle raged—Roselia and Lokius locked in a deadly clash.Then, a sharp cry of pain.Roselia.Arah faltered, her body twisting instinctively toward the sound. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn back, to help. But she knew Roselia wouldn’t want that. She wouldn’t forgive Arah for wasting time—not when Gildeon’s life hung in the balance.Gritting her teeth, Arah forced her feet forward.Outside, the fog wall loomed before her—a towering, imp
MAD END'S DECEPTION 179 - Key To Your Mind
GILDEONIn a blink, he was back in Drusden’s throne room. He dropped to his knees, palms flat on the cold floor, breath ragged. He hadn’t even realized he’d shifted back to his mortal form. His chest tightened, a storm of emotions threatening to tear free.His mysterious birth mother. His father’s death…He slammed his palms against the floor, frustration boiling over. Haemos and Kohina knew who he really was. Why the fuck had they kept it from him?Footsteps. Brown boots halted in front of him—Drusden’s. The Headwitch crouched, head tilted.“If you need a shoulder to cry on, mine’s available, salamander,” Drusden mocked.Gildeon’s glare burned as he met the bastard’s smug face.“Not gonna lie. Your father’s memory might be my favorite one I’ve delved into.” Drusden paced, dragging from his cigarette. “Learned a lot about your kind. Shame we never got the real answer about your mother.”He stopped, gaze lifting to Dragon Zylas as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “I really thought I’
