BXBX NOVEL Chapter 379 Between the Kingdoms
They were members of an unnamed organization, led by a newly infamous figure, the witch who betrayed all witches, Mary Rose. All present followed her will, aspiring to achieve the unimaginable: to bring Tiamat back and steal her essence.
Mary Rose stood tall, an imposing and elegant figure with pale skin and hair as white as snow. Her gaze was cold and calculating, and her dark attire gleamed with a threatening purple aura.
The room was silent, save for the pulsating dark energy emanating from the magical circle at the table's center.
All eyes were on the scene, where a woman with black hair, the powerful Fenrir, was trapped in a web of intricate spells, with an oppressive aura draining her divine and life force.
Fenrir struggled against the chains of magic, but her energy was being siphoned, channeled into the circle over which Mary Rose held absolute control.
The witch smiled in satisfaction as murmurs rippled among the gathered members. Some were monstrous or human-like in appearance, while others were shadowy spirits or cursed beings, including vampires and creatures beyond mortal comprehension.
"My dear companions," began Mary Rose, her voice slicing through the silence like a sharp dagger, "we are mere steps away from achieving what we have plotted for ages. Tiamat, the Dragon of the Apocalypse, will soon be ours. And with her return, the balance of the Realms will be irreversibly altered. But we have an obstacle in our way…"
She paused, gauging the effect of her words, then continued with a serious look.
"Dante Scarlet," she uttered the name with palpable disdain. "A vampire who should be a mere nuisance, yet he now poses a growing threat. He has done the unexpected… Mastered two of the Seven Deadly Sins: Greed and Lust. This makes him dangerous, as each Sin grants him unique powers, which jeopardizes our succession to revive Tiamat."
The murmurs intensified, with expressions of unease and anger etched onto their faces. A demon with fiery eyes and scales of black skin, known as Zarak, raised his hand.
"If this Dante Scarlet continues absorbing the power of the Deadly Sins, what does that mean for our plan, Mary Rose?" Zarak asked, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
Mary Rose's smile darkened, a sinister glint crossing her eyes. She approached Fenrir, who remained bound, drained of her strength. "I plan to use the Sins as an energy source to break Tiamat's seal. The Seven Deadly Sins must belong to us, along with the Virtues. Only then can we harness the power needed to complete Tiamat's ritual."
Another figure, a woman cloaked in shadows with an ethereal presence and eyes like red flames, rose with supernatural grace. She was known as Carmelia, an ancient vampire of the first generation. She inclined her head in respectful acknowledgment, though a lethal smile played on her lips.
"Allow me to hunt Dante Scarlet," Carmelia spoke, her voice smooth and deadly. "I know his path. I understand how he thinks, and my informants have already contacted me about his current location. He's distracted, trying to monopolize the Werewolf Queen for himself, giving us a perfect window to strike. And when I find him, it will only be a matter of time before I extract the information we need… or his heart, if you prefer."
The gathered members laughed, but Mary Rose raised her hand, calling for silence. She looked at Carmelia, assessing the proposal. "Dante is skilled, undeniably. But he's not immortal and makes mistakes. His obsession with his wives could be his weakness." Mary Rose gestured toward Fenrir, who continued to struggle in vain against the binding spell. "However, Dante is not alone. He's a leader, and any action against him must be coordinated, especially with those at his side… He has Lilith and Valentina, as well as two dragons."
A red-skinned creature with four muscular arms, known as Belzur, stepped forward and spoke in a gravelly voice: "With Carmelia on the hunt, I suggest that my guard and I advance on the Virtues. After all, in this era, the Virtues that have emerged are truly weak. Besides Sara Vortex and Joan of Arc, who's under Dante's control, we still have the other five unguarded."
Mary Rose nodded. "Good idea, Belzur. We must ensure that the Virtues are isolated. Not just Dante, but anyone who poses a threat to our plan must be eliminated. We want Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, and Vanity in our hands. As for the Virtues… well, they don't need to be alive to serve their purpose. Two will suffice to supplement the remaining energy, as I believe it's impossible to steal Lust and Greed from Dante."
The meeting continued with dark discussions and insidious plans. Fenrir, unable to resist, watched Mary Rose's speech in despair, realizing just how deep and dangerous the conspiracy to revive Tiamat truly was. She felt the weight of imminent defeat, yet a small spark of hope remained in her heart.
"I need to escape…" Fenrir murmured, glancing around at the room like a caged bird.
Mary Rose, noticing the desperate look in Fenrir's eyes, approached her and, in a taunting gesture, bent down to Fenrir's level, staring directly into her eyes.
"You know Dante is right behind us, don't you?" she mocked. "He's stubborn and relentless, a true nuisance. And yet, so predictable. Soon, he'll be nothing more than a fleeting memory, another obstacle overcome." Mary Rose traced a line along Fenrir's cheek with a sharp claw. "He'll never be a match for the power we're about to unleash."
Fenrir tried to speak, but her strength was drained, and the magic imprisoning her stole even her ability to form words. She could only watch as Mary Rose returned to the center of the room, resuming her speech.
"We can no longer underestimate the impact this vampire is having. From now on, the Seven Deadly Sins and the Virtues are our priorities. Eliminate any opposition, capture what we need, and make sure each of these powers is ours. This is the moment to seal the fate of the Realms," Mary Rose declared with intense fervor, her eyes glowing with a deadly purple light.
She raised her hands, and the circle around Fenrir flared with even greater intensity, draining what remained of her energy. A muffled scream of pain escaped the wolf as her essence was channeled into the main spell. The energy reverberated through the walls of the Castle, like a wave of dark power that seemed to herald an era of darkness.
Carmélia and Belzur exchanged a knowing look. They understood that the hunt was about to begin and that each move, each battle fought, would bring them closer to the final plan: the rebirth of Tiamat and the total domination of the Realms. To them, Dante Scarlet and anyone daring to resist was merely an obstacle to be crushed on their path to ultimate glory.
Mary Rose concluded the meeting with a grand gesture, and the members of the Order began to disperse, prepared to fulfill their missions. The room was gradually engulfed by darkness as the Castle returned to its spectral silence, awaiting the chaos that was about to unfold in the Realms.
Fenrir, weak and alone, struggled against the spell that bound her, but her mind remained resolute.
"Dante Scarlet… find me, and I will help you…" She could only hope he'd be fast enough, before her power was fully drained and her spirit destroyed.
"When this stops… I'll unleash my full power… even if it's to help the one who killed my father… I'll destroy this entire sector…" Fenrir murmured.
Your journey continues at empire
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Location: Iron Mountain... Forge of Solaris.
"Hey! Stop eating, you crazy girl! You're munching on iron!" shouted a stout dwarf with a thick beard, frowning at the sight of a young dwarf nibbling on a piece of metal as if it were a snack. She looked up, her eyes sparkling with surprise, and flashed a smile full of irony and iron crumbs.
The young dwarf, just over 4 feet tall, had a charming appearance that stood out amid the harsh environment of the forge. Her short, vibrant red hair with a pinkish hue contrasted with the simplicity of her leather clothing, which, despite being functional, gave her an unexpected charm. She looked at the older dwarf with a mischievous glint and took another bite of the metal before responding.
"Oh, relax, Durin," she said, chewing. "It's just a little nibble... a mix of minerals has never killed anyone."
Durin huffed, shaking his head disapprovingly but unable to hide a small smile. "And do you think you'll grow taller by eating iron, Runa? We're not making steel dwarves here!" He laughed but quickly regained his serious tone. "Now put that down and come here. I need you to help me with a sword for a very special client."
Runa took one last bite and, reluctantly, placed the piece of iron back on the workbench. "Alright, alright. But I'll tell you one thing, Durin. The day I figure out how to turn iron into a good snack, I'll revolutionize the dwarven diet."
Durin let out a hearty laugh. "If you manage that, Runa, I'll give you half of the Forge of Solaris as a gift!"
She chuckled, but in the depths of her eyes, there was a spark of ambition and a desire to prove she could achieve more than anyone expected of her. Runa may be small and young, but she had grand plans.
"Look who I found." A huge man's voice reached her ears, and she was seized by the collar, starting to struggle.
"KYAAA, LET ME GO! GIANT, LET ME GO!!" She screamed, closing her eyes in sheer terror.
"When you told me you found the sin of gluttony, I didn't expect her to be so... cute." He said as the dwarf Durin bowed slightly.
"I greet the prince." He said quickly, and Runa opened her eyes immediately, but instead of the prince, she saw a demon... a massive demon standing two meters tall!
"Oh, sorry for the sudden visit, Durin," Clovis said, looking at the dwarf. "I have some business with your granddaughter here, is that alright?" Clovis said with a smile, clearly indicating that no harm would come to her.
"Y-yes..." Durin replied, but before he could look at the man holding his granddaughter like a shopping bag...
"Oh yes, this is Dante Scarlet." Clovis introduced, and Runa's face froze immediately.
"D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-DANTE SCARLET?" she screamed, staring at the man in the long coat with red hair. "Hello, Runa of the Sin of Gluttony," he said, smiling at her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."