Chronicles of Forgotten Extra-Chapter 175: The Edge of Betrayal

"Huh? Dain, what are you doing?" Cecilia asked.

Dain didn't respond immediately. His eyes locked onto Aziel with a strange look—too calm. Too steady.

Just before she could get a response.

A thundering voice erupted. The ground trembled.

And the air shifted.

Something was wrong.

Aziel quickly held Cecilia in his protective embrace instinctively.

What was that?

He looked at Cecilia. "Are you okay?"

Cecilia nodded. "Mhmm." Her beet-red eyes didn't hide her flustered emotions.

Dain smiled wider.

It wasn't the smile of a friend.

"Even now you chose him…huh, Cecilia?" He muttered.

Aziel, seeing nothing dangerous, released Cecilia from his grasp.

Aziel turned to him, frowning.

"What are you talking ab—"

He never finished.

A reddish-black spear of mana exploded from the ground beneath him.

"Aziel!!" Cecilia, sensing something, screamed, shoving him aside.

The spear grazed Aziel's arm slightly, slicing through the fabric of his clothes and flesh as he fell.

Blood droplets splattered on the ground.

Aziel rolled, holding back pain. "What the hell are you doing—Dain?"

Dain was still calm—his robe shredded, revealing corrupted veins running through his body. His eyes glowed an unnatural red.

"No more hiding."

His voice echoed with layered tones—human and something far worse beneath.

He raised a hand. A mana lance materialised behind him, aimed at Aziel.

"Stop!" Cecilia moved forward, pulling out her bow—but Dain snapped his fingers. A cursed seal erupted beneath her feet.

It was an artifact he had borrowed for his mission. He wasn't going to hurt his dear Cecilia.

She was just manipulated… She didn't need to die.

She will understand me … once I killed him.

Yeah, she will definitely understand.

I just need to take care of this pest. Once he dies… Cecilia will be mine… and mine alone.

Cecilia gasped, falling to her knees as her mana was sealed. Several black chains erupted from the ground, binding her completely.

The chains even covered her face making here unable to utter a single word.

But her eyes weren't covered. Dain wanted her to see the weakness of the person she chose over him.

Aziel's breath caught.

"CECILIA!!!" He screamed, trying to run towards her.

Just then, a mana lance came flying in his direction. He barely dodged it, rolling to the side.

Aziel turned towards Dain. The patterns on the body … he recognised them.

The seal of the demon. Dain has sold his soul to demons.

Cecilia will be fine if I defeat him.

I will protect her.

He drew his katana with trembling hands.

"You were our friend," he said, voice low.

"I was," Dain replied, expression blank. "But you were in the way."

"Always… in my way…"

"But no more… today will be the day you die."

The first lance was fired.

Aziel burst into flames from beneath his feet—Flame Step.

A pillar of fire erupted, launching him sideways at fast speed. The lance missed, slamming into the earth and exploding into black smoke.

Aziel's katana ignited in his grip, fire coating itself around the blade like a living serpent.

"You want her?" Aziel muttered. His body shook—not from fear, but fury. "You'll have to go through me."

He only had one thought.

I need to protect Cecilia.

He lunged forward, flame bursting behind his heels like rocket jets.

Dain raised a palm, another lance forming—but Aziel was already there.

A horizontal arc of flame flew toward Dain.

Dain blocked it with a mana shield, but cracks formed instantly from the heat and force.

He clicked his tongue, leaping back. "You got faster," he muttered. "But it's not enough."

His hands moved in a blur—magic circles overlapping like layers of a curse mid-air.

Aziel's eyes widened.

Shit.

A second later, many chains made out of dark energy shot from the ground like spears.

Aziel blasted fire at his feet again—dodging two, slicing one with his burning katana—but the last wrapped around his ankle.

"Guh—!" He fell forward, slamming into the ground.

Dain approached slowly, smirking. "You're weaker than I expected."

Aziel clenched his teeth, veins bulging in his neck as fire swelled around his body.

"I'm not done yet."

The fire around his body surged. The chain around his ankle melted.

He moved, his katana glowing with fury, and slashed upward—

Flame Crescent.

A wave of fire sliced through the air, heading straight for Dain.

But Dain didn't dodge.

A dome of corrupted mana formed around him, the flames crashing against it and dispersing without a trace.

Dain hadn't even flinched.

Aziel's breathing came out ragged. His heart pounded heavily in his ribcage.

He had put almost half of his mana in that last attack.

"You're burning yourself out," Dain said. His voice was distorted—less human now. "And I'm just getting started."

Cracks spread along his skin—glowing red like magma.

The corrupted mana around him became denser.

Aziel's heart pounded.

He's getting stronger.

Aziel's hands trembled slightly as he gripped his katana.

He had trained endlessly. And yet… he had only managed to break into Beginner Initiate Rank, barely.

Dain had once stood beside him at the same level.

But now… as corrupted energy leaked from Dain, Aziel felt it.

His aura just spiked—

"Don't give me that look," Dain said, his eyes completely black. "You were always just one step ahead. Now? I'll erase that step—and everything else."

A sound echoed across the ruined field.

A pulse of energy surged out of Dain.

Initiate Advanced Rank.

Aziel's breathing turned rough.

No…

He barely blocked the next strike.

Dain moved like a phantom, his demonic strength sending shockwaves with each blow.

Aziel tried to counter—he blasted flames at his feet, Flame Step, and swung wide—Flame Crescent.

But Dain shook his hand, dispersing Aziel's attack easily.

Aziel's katana shook as he barely blocked an attack before Dain's knee slammed into his ribs.

Crack.

He spat blood as he flew across the ground.

Still—he stood back up.

I need to save her…. I need to save her.

The fire started to feed on his own arms now, scorching his own flesh just to stay in the fight.

"I won't let you hurt her…" he muttered.

Dain didn't even reply. He vanished—appeared behind Aziel—slammed a punch into his back.

Aziel crashed into a stone pillar.

The crash echoed like thunder.

Aziel still stood back up, broken and bloodied, bones groaning.

I need to save her.

His katana was still in his hand—but just barely. His vision was blurry.

But he didn't run.

Cecilia looked from the sidelines. Her face filled with tears. She wanted to scream for him to run away. But she couldn't even utter a single word.

Please, Aziel… run away… survive.

Please.

I beg you…

How can I survive if you die... please.

But Aziel raised his katana again. His fire burnt weakly now.

Dain frowned. "Why are you still getting up?"

Aziel's lips curled faintly. "Because even if I fall… you're not taking her."

The final blow came swiftly.

A blast of corrupted mana knocked Aziel back—his body hitting the ground hard, blood seeping into the stone.

But he didn't die.

Dain looked down at him, breathing heavily.

"…Still standing in the end, huh?"

He walked towards Cecilia—still bound by the seal, watching in horror. He slowly traced his demonized hand on her pale white skin…

"Now then… Where were we?"

Aziel's body was broken and bloodied—but his eyes never left Cecilia.

You're not taking her.

He whispered but no sound came out..Then everything went dark.