Chapter Sixty-Three: Life as Brilliant as Summer Flowers
“Boom——!!!”
Accompanied by a tremendous explosion, mixed with a gust of blood-red light, the loud blast echoed throughout the entire street.
Passersby were startled and quickly turned to look towards the source of the sound, only to find rows of heavily armored guards sealing off the nearby streets and dispersing the crowd.
“The private guard of the Latusos family is handling a supernatural incident here; irrelevant personnel, leave quickly to avoid casualties!” the leading captain shouted loudly.
In the upper district of the royal capital, you might not know the Church of Light or the Judgment Tower, but you absolutely cannot be unaware of the Grand Nobles.
In some circumstances, the reputation of those twelve round-table nobles is even close to that of the Hiren Emperor.
Thus, upon hearing that it was the Violet Family at work, the pedestrians wisely pretended not to see anything and left the scene of the conflict without hesitation.
At this moment, deep in the alley, at the entrance of a magical device shop, chaos reigned.
Dozens of heavily armored knights were being mowed down like wheat, but they could not inflict any harm on the figure before them, who looked like a little girl.
Octave was smiling, a trickle of enemy blood slowly flowing from the corner of her crimson lips.
“It’s been many years since I’ve tasted such fresh blood,” she said, extending her small pink tongue to lightly lick her fingertips. “How nostalgic.”
Ever since Shaya rescued her and learned that Octave was a Bloodsucker, he ordered her to refrain from hunting humans for blood.
As compensation, Shaya would regularly come to her, providing enough blood for her to be satisfied.
After all, the medical level of this world is no better than her previous life, with no existence of blood banks, and blood cannot be preserved for long. However, as an immortal, Shaya’s own blood could be considered endless.
She gazed at the encroaching perimeter tightening in the alley, letting out a sigh.
“It’s only been a few years of peace, and it seems I’ll have to escape the country overnight again.”
“This is the last thing I can do for you, Shaya.”
A hint of softness and nostalgia flashed in Octave’s eyes, as if recalling that boy.
She then slightly bowed and vanished from her spot.
The red light in her eyes stretched into thin lines in the air.
“Clang, clang, clang, clang—”
The little Bloodsucker darted into the crowd with a speed that the human eye couldn’t capture.
In an instant, the soldiers beneath the Extraordinary Knights were cut down as easily as grass, blood spraying into the air!
With every onslaught, countless streams of blood shot into the sky, forming thin rivers that flowed across the ground, staining the entire alley red.
“Blood Puppet: Heroic Warrior.”
With a deep chant, a blood-red magical matrix slowly formed beneath Octave’s feet.
Following that, various forms of warriors made of blood, wielding a variety of weapons, emerged slowly from the blood soaking the ground.
Their eyes also glowed with blood light.
In the distance.
Standing heavily surrounded by soldiers, Count Violet overlooked from a height in another building.
The incident a few days ago at the Violet Manor had caused him great losses; not only did he lose ritual materials worth over a million gold coins, but his wife was also abducted, making him a laughing stock in the circles.
He was acutely aware that Novella, in both appearance and demeanor, was extremely attractive to men.
So after three days, it was highly likely some undesirable things had occurred that he didn’t wish to see.
It wasn’t that he cared about his wife’s chastity; he was more afraid it would affect his plans.
With this thought, he glanced at the Mysterious Man in Black Robe beside him.
On the mysterious man’s collar, one could vaguely see a broken sun embroidered with golden threads.
“She is a Bloodsucker skilled in blood magic. The more living beings in the area, the stronger she becomes,” the mysterious man said calmly, showing little respect for the count. “Her strength is likely at the level of an eighth-ring Grand Sorcerer.”
“In a narrow alley battle, knights are at a disadvantage; should we intervene?” Count Violet suggested.
“We can, but we should wait until your men are mostly dead before we strike. The ritual is near; I must ensure I maintain my perfect condition,” the mysterious man said coldly.
“Alright.”
Strangely, Count Violet showed no anger and nodded his head.
Because in the face of that plan, anything can be sacrificed.
…
Damn!
Damn!
Damn!
I actually didn’t think of this!
No wonder Count Violet and that ‘Sun’ organization would set the altar underground instead of at ground level!
Shaya raced through the building, occasionally leaping high.
When thinking carefully, the Violet Manor, located on the outskirts of the royal capital, didn’t seem too far from the edge of the upper district’s Minton Street.
If what Selly said was true, that the sewers of the royal capital crisscrossed, then given the Violet Manor’s nature of having hidden passages, there might indeed be one leading to that cave.
Stay calm.
The urgent task is to hurry back; I hope I’m not too late.
Lady Violet was involved in this ritual’s key, so her life was temporarily safe, but Octave may not be.
First, she’s a heretic, a member of the Bloodsucker hunted by the Church of Light; if a conflict breaks out, her identity would be exposed, and she would become the target of everyone’s attack.
Moreover, while she possesses the strength of an eighth-ring Grand Sorcerer, after being saved by Shaya for years, she still had lingering injuries that had not healed.
If she really got into a fight with someone stronger than her, it would be easy for her to show a flaw.
If it comes to worst… then just run, old lady!
After all, escaping is what you do best, right?
“Boom——!!!”
At that moment, Shaya, with exceptionally keen hearing, faintly heard an explosion coming from the direction he was heading toward.
Looking far away, he could vaguely see smoke rising on the other side of the city.
His pupils contracted.
What was supposed to come has finally arrived.
“Sun…”
Shaya clenched his fists tightly.
…
Wrapped in her blanket, Novella had stopped weeping at some point.
Since earlier, outside, there had been uproarious sounds of battle.
Because Octave had instructed her, besides Shaya and herself, not to open the door for anyone else, and to treat unusual sounds the same way.
With lingering moisture in her eyes, she stared blankly at a corner of the wall.
Would she die?
Novella silently questioned herself.
Though Octave’s tone suggested she was an extraordinary Bloodsucker, having lived her entire life sheltered in a greenhouse, Lady Violet was completely oblivious to the matters of the extraordinary realm.
To her, that white-haired little girl looked like she was still at an age of clinging to her mother.
But just like this—
I am indeed a terrible person.
In a moment, Novella was suddenly filled with strong disgust for her cowardly actions.
In fact, all of this started because of her.
Whether it was leading Cain to that underground altar, inciting Count Violet’s wrath, or later shamelessly agreeing to his elopement request.
Moreover, she was still hiding in her bedroom like a coward, trembling, letting another little girl younger than her daughter face all of this.
She… must be bleeding, right?
Novella involuntarily recalled her carefree memories when she was a carefree young girl studying theology in a convent of the Church of Abundance.
That was a little city in the eastern Bairang Province, entirely dependent on agriculture, a place where the blessings of the Goddess of Light had not reached.
Everyone there was a devout follower of the Goddess of Abundance.
Before being found and taken away by the Violet Family, her life was carefree; though not wealthy, it was very happy.
However, after coming to the royal capital and becoming the nominal mistress of the Violet Manor, she was quickly discovered to be suffering from some illness.
Novella distinctly remembered the day her illness was discovered; her husband’s eyes sparkled with a hint of joy.
From that day on, the tone of her life had completely turned gray, as if she had been captured from a carefree jungle and placed in a birdcage, becoming a canary.
Thus, although she was already over thirty, Novella had not truly experienced much of the world, her mental age remained quite young.
She had never gained growth.
As time passed, that feeling gradually deepened.
Originally bright and curious because she came to the big city, her heart also gradually withered and dimmed.
During those days that felt like imprisonment, one day, Lady Violet suddenly found a book on the bookshelf.
“Jane Eyre.”
It was the first time she saw such a love-themed novel in her life, and she quickly became immersed, unable to extricate herself.
So, she asked the maid to buy other works by the same author and read them with abandon.
Fascinating!
Exciting!
That was the only thought in Novella’s mind while reading these books.
After finishing them all, feeling lost, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity.
What kind of person could write a work with such varied styles and deep plots?
Compared to other books she read later, the author’s personal mark was not strong, even to the point of being bizarrely variable, with thoughts that seemed to run wild, lacking in trajectory, intangible, and eye-opening.
Thus, Cain’s works became Novella’s spiritual support during those many years of solitude.
Until a few days ago at the banquet in the Violet Manor, feeling that her days were numbered, Novella took the initiative to make a request to Count Violet.
“Could you send an invitation to the bestselling author ‘Cain’ of St. Frey Publishing House?”
Perhaps considering the couple’s bond over the years or perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt, Count Violet, after careful consideration, agreed to the request.
Then, on that dark and stormy night, such a dramatic scene unfolded between Shaya and Novella.
Sometimes, the connections between people can be so wonderful.
In just a few hours after meeting him, Novella felt her experiences were more interesting and exciting than the past ten years combined.
Even after hearing about the explosion at the Violet Manor, she felt a bit shamefully delighted.
Like the Count of Monte Cristo returning from revenge.
And in the days that followed, while left with Octave, it hadn’t been dull.
Though she referred to herself as the “fat woman,” Novella could tell the little girl meant no malice.
Moreover, she had just stepped up to protect her.
This was not merely a matter of responsibility but a strength and courage that Novella lacked.
They were all strong individuals, capable of living freely in this world.
So… what about me?
Novella hugged her knees and shivered slightly.
The tree-shaped mark on her chest felt unusually hot.
She realized her deadline might be today.
Thus, Novella subconsciously recalled what Shaya had said after proposing an elopement.
“Since you like ‘Jane Eyre,’ you should be able to read the core theme of my book.”
“From beginning to end, I have been encouraging women reading this book to be as strong as Jane Eyre, daring to pursue love, daring to rebel against the existing order.”
Then, she felt something and shifted her gaze to the title page of the “Jane Eyre” she was holding.
On the title page, not only was there Cain’s signature, but also a message of encouragement left by Shaya.
A line of encouragement for a patient nearing the end of life.
“May you, live as brilliantly as summer flowers, and die as quietly as autumn leaves.”
She gently wiped away her tears, savoring each word of this line.
…
“Blood Puppet: Blood Marsh!”
Formed by dozens of knights and grand knights, as well as many extraordinary knights, the assault team lay dead like cut wheat on the street.
The blood spreading across the ground repelled other warriors wanting to come from all directions.
This street, with the fight between the eighth-ring Grand Sorcerer and countless knights, had completely turned into ruins.
Had it not been for Octave intentionally controlling her power and not wanting to harm innocents, otherwise half the city would have turned to ashes with the full force of an eighth-ring Grand Sorcerer.
At this moment, Octave’s condition did not seem good.
A deep, visible-to-the-bone wound was slowly oozing on her snowy shoulder.
But just as it was about to heal, a holy and mighty force of light would suddenly burst forth, enlarging the wound again.
“If it weren’t for the fact that it’s daytime now, and I’m rather weak, you would have all been wiped out by me already,” Octave said mockingly, breathing lightly while covering her shoulder wound.
This wound was left by an extraordinary knight skilled in assassination from the Night Shadow Association.
The adversary had sacrificed thirty-six lives to hold the Grand Sorcerer for a second, then in an instant, thrust an ancient artifact called “Holy Anthem” into her shoulder blade.
This dagger with sacred attributes was kryptonite to a supernatural being like a Bloodsucker.
Thus, the previously capable Octave now appeared quite strained.
Inside her body, the hidden injury that had not healed since being rescued by Shaya began to act up.
“Although this area is close to the city outskirts, the noise is too loud and might draw others’ attention,” Count Violet reminded.
This battle had been going on for over ten minutes; those who were observant might have noticed what was happening here.
“I understand,” the mysterious man said indifferently.
The next moment, his figure appeared deep in the alley, face-to-face with Octave.
A horrifying aura rose, sending chills through her.
“…… Sorcerer?”
Octave wiped the blood splattered on her face, saying with little fluctuation.
In truth, she had sensed that she was being locked onto by a gaze far beyond her power from the beginning, so she was not too surprised now.
“After today, perhaps not anymore,” the mysterious man said.
He then gently extended a hand: “Although I really want to advise you to surrender and join us, it seems you are not a Bloodsucker who would yield to power, so I respect the pride you maintain and have decided to grant you a dignified death.”
“Dimensional: Void Divine Coffin.”
There was no grandiose opening, nor the world-destroying power that Octave had imagined would belong to a Sorcerer.
Four semi-transparent walls over a hundred meters tall descended from the sky, as if appearing out of nowhere, forming a cubic prison and confining Octave and the area within several dozen meters around her.
The surface of the barriers shimmered with a dreamy, bizarre glow and deep patterns; it looked fragile, as if it would shatter with a gentle touch.
“?!”
Without even the time to react, the little Bloodsucker was sealed within the coffin.
She manipulated the blood on the ground to condense into Blood Puppets, attempting to attack the barriers, but with an invisible ripple, they were utterly submerged and disappeared into the barriers.
“Useless.” The mysterious man shook his head, “This is a dimensional barrier leading to an unknown realm. Behind it is a spatial turbulence where humans cannot survive; once any part of the body crosses that boundary, it will be utterly crushed.”
“By the way, the barrier has no substance, so unless I release you, you cannot break through.”
Hearing this, Octave looked up at the sky above.
There, there was no barrier present.
So she smirked and leaped, with a pair of Bloodsucker wings spreading out from her back, transforming into a shadow as she flew upward.
But in the next second, Octave’s expression froze in place.
“Swish, swish, swish, swish——”
Accompanied by a series of fine piercing sounds, numerous sharp wooden spikes surged from the earth like thorns, instantly piercing through Octave’s body, pinning her in mid-air!
“I forgot to tell you.” The black-robed mysterious man smiled quietly, “I am dual-class.”
“……”
The look of incredulity and despair emerged on Octave’s face as she was pierced.
What kind of monster has Shaya provoked?
As a Bloodsucker, even though her body was pierced, her robust vitality kept her from nearing death.
However, if her brain were to be pierced by the ancient artifact with sacred attributes, it would be completely different.
Under her silent gaze, the mysterious man picked up the fallen “Holy Anthem” beside her, weighing it in his hand.
As a Space Sorcerer, with merely a simple teleportation spell, he could send the blade unimpeded into her brain.
Octave gently closed her eyes.
“Goodbye.”
The mysterious man stated coldly.
But at that moment, an unexpected voice suddenly rang out.
“Stop!”
Upon hearing this, the mysterious man turned his gaze toward the already ruined magical device shop.
Dressed in a black fringed gown, the noblewoman appeared at the door, having arrived there unbeknownst to anyone.
Her long hair cascaded behind her, her lovely face showing no panic as she gripped a sharp blade, positioned horizontally across her smooth neck, maintaining a calm demeanor.
Novella spoke again: “Everyone, put down your weapons and stand down.”
“Why should I listen to you?” the black-robed mysterious man chuckled lightly.
“I know that, in your eyes, I have never been considered a living human,” Novella’s aura seemed to shift dramatically, her former naivety and cowardice completely vanishing, “But even as an object, I am still the most important part of your so-called plan, right?”
“Go on,” the mysterious man said, a hint of appreciation in his tone.
“If I were to suffer any fatal injuries, then your plan would presumably be impossible to carry out,” Novella said calmly.
“Since that’s the case, shouldn’t everyone present here temporarily heed my advice and put down their weapons?”
“Who do you think you are, to believe I can’t strike before you harm yourself?” the black-robed man chuckled, “Besides, I don’t think a puppet who has been imprisoned in a manor her entire life would have the courage to kill herself.”
“Then, let’s see.”
Novella wiggled the blade in her hand, a stream of bright red blood gushing from the wound, yet her expression remained unchanged.
At this moment, a unique nobility and strength belonging to Lady Violet began to bloom from her.
“Clang——”
After a moment of silence, the black-robed mysterious man took the lead, discarding his dagger and eliminating the wooden spikes and spatial confinement restraining Octave.
Then, he continued: “My sincerity has been demonstrated.”
“Since you know your importance to our plan, then if we continue to use your life as leverage, shouldn’t we endlessly accede to all your demands?”
“You should also understand, this is impossible.”
“I certainly understand.” Novella nodded, “Let go of Octave and refrain from pursuing the innocent related to this matter afterward; that is my only request.”
“After this, I will leave with you.”
“Alright, I agree; I will withdraw my forces from here and give her time to escape the royal capital.”
The black-robed mysterious man promised without much hesitation.
“I won’t trust your promise, so before your plan is executed, I will maintain my state.”
“Fine,” the black-robed mysterious man waved his hand.
The surrounding soldiers immediately received orders, retreating from the nearby streets like a tide.
“Although she looks badly injured, considering the Bloodsucker’s powerful healing ability, she still maintains considerable combat capability,” the black-robed mysterious man shrugged, “So from now on, I won’t pursue her; there’s enough time for her to escape the scene.”
“As for what the Judgment Tower or Heretic Tribunal will do afterward, that falls beyond my capabilities.”
“How about that? Is my sincerity sufficient?”
“Of course.” Lady Violet chuckled lightly, “But before leaving, I wish to say a word to her.”
…
When Shaya hurried to the scene, what greeted his eyes was a street resembling a wasteland.
People were gradually gathering around the area, seeming to watch what had just transpired.
It was hard to believe that such a fierce battle happened in the royal capital, yet in such a short time, no official personnel had come to intervene.
Perhaps this was the result of the “Sun” organization intervening behind the scenes.
Shaya took a deep breath and quickly moved deeper into the alley.
Blood of a dark red hue was slowly drying across the ground; it was faintly visible just how intense the battle had been here.
He nervously looked around, then at the end of the ruins, he saw a small figure straining to prop itself up.
That figure was bathed in blood, covered in wounds.
“!!”
Shaya rushed forward, cradling Octave’s battered body in his arms.
“I’m sorry, I’m late.”
Although he felt this phrase sounded foolish, at this moment, nothing could truly express the guilt he felt inside.
“I’m fine,” Octave coughed lightly, spitting out a bit of blood before swallowing it back with some pain. “They… just left, taking the fat woman with them, saying they… were going to complete some plan.”
“I know, but right now, you are more important.”
Shaya took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“What? Are you worried about this old lady?” The little white-haired girl chuckled, “I… said, how could you, this brat… resist, resist… my allure as a mature woman?”
Shaya recalled the playful banter they had the last time they met, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. “You’re in this state and still have the mind to say such things?”
“By the way, this… is for you.”
As she spoke, Octave produced a book from her chest and handed it to Shaya.
It was the “Jane Eyre” that Novella had left behind.
“She said, thank you.” A hint of helplessness flashed in Octave’s eyes, “And… goodbye.”
“I understand.”
Shaya nodded with a lack of emotional fluctuation.
“Go chase them, don’t worry about me…” Octave’s brows furrowed tightly, “You must kill that old bastard for me… And then, rescue that fat woman.”
“Did you finish the targeted teleportation magical device I asked you to do last time?”
As he stared at the unfolding scene before him, Shaya suddenly seemed to recall something and asked.
“Of course, who do you think I am?”
As she spoke, Octave shakily took out a vine-woven magical staff embedded with a large piece of void stone from her dimensional ring.
Shaya nodded, taking the staff.
Then, he noticed the arcane, derisive pattern he used for teleportation to the Abyss Palace was floating in a peculiar state at the center of the void stone.
The staff, valued at hundreds of thousands of gold coins, had only one function: to transport a person to the Abyss Palace.
It had previously been mentioned that the forbidden book for the teleportation ceremony was provided to him by Octave, so she had some awareness of what he was currently doing.
“When you encounter that entity, just say you are Shaya’s friend. If she doesn’t know who Shaya is, tell her, ‘Cinderella and the Crystal Slipper.'”
Magical energy waves slowly coalesced in Shaya’s hand.
“What… what are you doing?” Octave exclaimed in surprise.
She tried to rise to stop Shaya, but even that simple action was nearly impossible now.
Simultaneously, in her vision, the soldiers and Night Shadow Association members who had retreated earlier were slowly nearing this street again.
Clearly, that black-robed mysterious man was not honoring his word as it appeared to be.
“Don’t worry, she is a good person and won’t hurt you,” Shaya gently patted her small head. “As for your revenge…”
The staff in his hand erupted with silver light, engulfing Octave and instantaneously making her disappear.
Shaya stood up slowly, facing countless knights and assassins.
A suit of black armor materialized upon his body.
“I understand.”
