Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 43: Reveal [2]

Vergil stilled. "Everyone scatter."

The group broke apart, drawing their weapons as Lisa began chanting while Thorne roared to intercept.

But Vergil remained calm, not moving from his spot. The puppet and his eyes locked onto one another. A message perhaps?

He slowly drew his sword as it gleamed in the pale light that pierced the ruins before stepping forward.

His sword moving in a downward arc, a single precise cut that made a light thud as the doll’s head rolled to the side.

Its body followed soon after.

Vergil only exhaled. "Don’t slow down." He sheathed his sword. "There’s more."

Eleanor nodded while Thorne, still wide eyed. "Who does such things?"

Another sound approached, moving to the centre where they were positioned. Claws dragging against cracked tile, dozens of legs clicking in unison.

Vergil’s hand lingered on the hilt of his sword but he didn’t draw it.

"Eleanor,’ his voice echoed firmly through the ruins.

She didn’t need further instructions, already stepping forward to take the mantle, her clothes fluttered as the ambient mana crackled around her.

Her hands extended as a glowing blueprint circle ignited, forming a circular pattern with geometric runes and a pulsing current.

"Volt Lance." She whispered as the Lightning erupted. The spear shot forward illuminating the hallway in an explosive flash — spearing the shadow ahead as it nailed it into the wall.

The creature twitched once, shrieking in a tongue that didnt belong to itself before it finally became still.

The others flinched at the sight, staring at the wall that now sizzled where the lightning scorched, residual sparks snapped in the air like angry wasps.

Kael’s eyes focussed on Eleanor. ’She’s grown stronger, that spell would’ve been quite dangerous — for the old me.’

Lisa spoke uo from behind, moving towards Eleanor’s side. "Incredible, what spell was that?"

"Volt lance."

"Would’ve taken a lot longer if it wasn’t for her," Darin chuckled before nudging Vergil. "Remind me not to stand in front of her."

Swoosh!

In an instant, Vergil drew his sword in another arc, not at the monsters but for Darin’s neck. The blood spurted from his head before dropping to the ground.

None of the party members could react nor expect this would happen. Eleanor was shocked and so was Morvax.

Eleanor’s eyes widened, her breath hitched before regaining her composure.

"What did you do!" Lisa hissed, raising her staff against him. The fear was present in not just hers but the whole team.

Morvax quietly watched, his brows furrowing. "What is he trying to accomplish?"

Vergil remained silent, his mouth didn’t move but his stance shifted.

"Was everything your doing?" Lisa said in a horrid voice.

Vergil didn’t speak, only watching as the blood from Darin began to flow into the jade.

’This psychopath, but how could it benefit him?’ Morvax could only contemplate on what and why Vergil was doing this. But he did in fact enjoy the show being put on.

Vergil surged forward, his mana pulsed through his veins as he activated Mana Affinity and Shadow Dash — blurring like a shadow given form as he aimed for Lisa who stood near the centre.

"No you don’t!" Thorne roared, stepping in with his axe mid-swing trying to intercept the attack from Vergil’s side.

"Entangling Snare."

Before he could take another step, the round beneath erupted with thick green roots as they coiled around Thorne’s legs like serpents.

They yanked him backwards before slamming him into the floor. "Your siding with him — Eleanor?" He shouted in disbelief. "I should have known."

"I never said I was on your side." Eleanor shrugged.

Lisa didn’t hesitate. Her staff blazed with a cold light. "Frost Shard."

A land of ice shot towards Vergil, its tip honed to pierce him.

But he barely moved his head, the sharp edge grazed past his cheek and shattered against a ruined wall.

Mana surged as he snapped his fingers, flames begun to wrap around his blade.

"Ember Blaze." He muttered as the sword gleamed a soft red.

Lisa’s fave twisted in horor. "Vergil, wait please — I have—"

Vergil raised his sword. In one fluid motion, he brought the ember-lit blade down–clean, precise, cruel.

A crack echoed through the ruined chamber as the sword split through flesh and bone.

Lira’s body went limp mid-chant, her eyes wide in silent disbelief before she collapsed, lifeless, onto the bloodstained altar stones.

Morvax only watched. A twisted mixture of amusement and unease formed in his mind.

’He’s not even trying, is this who he really is. No restraint, no mortality. Just violence incarnate.’

Thump!

The red stone hovering above the altar pulsed once then twice. A soft gentle hum filled the room as both Lira and Darins blood slithered towards the altar. The fluid crept up the stone like veins moving back to the heart.

The Crimson light grew brighter, and now pulsing like a slow ominous heartbeat.

"W-What... what’s happening?" Thorne shouted from behind, still caught in the binding roots, his face twisted in fury and terror.

Vergil didn’t even glance at him. He simply wiped the blood from his blade with a calm flick.

Eleanor stood to the side, her face unreadable. Only the faint twitch of her fingers betraying her preparations to cast another spell.

Morvax’s heart thundered in exhilaration as he stared at his masterpiece. ’The gate... its almost ready." Vergil was doing this on purpose. Was he trying to draw something out?

To him he was witnessing a spectacle. Vergil was insane but methodical. And thats what makes it so delicious.

Vergils eyes focussed on the tied down Thorne. "Let’s continue."

Thorne roared in fury, veins bulging along his neck as she smashed through the last of the snare veins. His heavy shield, a thick slab of reinforced metal scraped against the floor as he charged like a raging beast.

"You bastard," he shouted. "I’ll kill you!" The air trembled at the remark but Vergil didnt flinch. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

He stepped into a grounded stance–left foot forward, knees low, one arm angled down while the other hovered near his chest. His sword now sheathed — calm in the face of chaos. "You don’t get to decide that."

Thorne came barreling in, shield raised to bash through him.

Vergil sidestepped at the last second, twisting with the motion before driving his fist directly into Thorne’s gut, the impact echoing like a drumbeat.

Thorne staggered, spit flying from his mouth. Before he could recover, Vergil’s second strike came–a sharp hook across the side of his head.

Then another and another.

Until he finally crumpled to the ground a few steps from the altar with a groan, his shield clattering besides him.

Thorne crumpled to the ground with a groan, unconscious, his shield clattering beside him.

Vergil exhaled slowly. Then, without hesitation, he reached down, grabbed the shield, and flipped it with one hand. It was thick and sturdy–but not too thick.

He raised it high. "I said die for me."

SPLAT!

The hield met his neck — as a trail of blood slithered along with the rest of the parties. Being absorbed by the jade.

Kael and Vergil’s eyes locked together.