Capítulo 25: Echoes of Confrontation
In the wake of Damien's unrelenting actions, Zac's response was poised and decisive. "My pleasure," he declared as he deftly manipulated the energy spheres, orchestrating their explosive demise.
A desperate cry tore through the air as Victor, in a futile attempt to avert the unfolding tragedy, lunged towards Gavin. But fate was indifferent, and Gavin met a devastating end, reduced to fragments. In the aftermath, Victor, paralyzed by shock, failed to deploy his protective barrier in time, becoming an unintended canvas for the gruesome aftermath.
Gavin, the beacon of their lineage's aspirations, now lay shattered. Amidst a pool of geniuses, none could rival his brilliance. Having just emerged from seclusion, Victor held the promise of imparting his unparalleled knowledge through personal mentorship.
The weight of the loss hung in the air, and Victor, a mere shell of himself, stood as a poignant testament to the profound impact of Gavin's sudden departure.
Dimitri found himself in a state of profound disbelief, never anticipating that the situation would spiral so drastically out of control. The gravity of the moment settled upon him, bringing with it the stark realization that his own existence now teetered on the precipice of oblivion. With Gavin's demise staining the air, the impending threat extended beyond Damien's wrath—Victor, his father, now harbored a lethal intent towards Dimitri for orchestrating the tragic event.
In Dimitri's strategic miscalculation, he had naively expected Damien to yield to the leverage of the two young individuals in exchange for the preservation of Clarisse and Elise's lives. However, this misconception underscored a fundamental misjudgment of Damien's character. Damien was not one to yield to coercion or respond favorably to threats; his nature was far more complex and unforgiving than Dimitri had initially comprehended.
Victor's anguished roar echoed through the library, a potent blend of sorrow and fury. "Damien, I will end you," he vowed, the resonance of his threat permeating the air. Abruptly, scarlet threads cascaded from the gourd at his waist, their emergence signaling the activation of his formidable bloodline power.
Dubbed "Bloodlink," Victor's ability diverged from conventional Blood Manipulation. Rather than commanding the entirety of blood's potential, he specialized in weaving intricate threads that obeyed his command. The crimson tendrils multiplied rapidly, reaching a crescendo as their numbers soared into the triple digits. With a mere flick of his fingers, Victor orchestrated a macabre dance, the threads converging on Damien from various angles.
Meanwhile, Damien, undeterred, unleashed his own aura, conjuring a blood barrier that enveloped him protectively.
Amidst the chaotic tableau, a cloaked figure, previously concealed in the shadows, deftly vanished from its post near Bella and Zac. Swiftly reappearing behind Dimitri, who held the sisters captive within the tumult of combat, the shadowy enigma executed a precise strike. A resounding impact echoed as Dimitri received an abrupt blow to the back of his head, the world around him dimming into unconsciousness.
As Dimitri succumbed to slumber, the mysterious figure seamlessly shouldered the responsibility of extracting him and the sisters from the battlefield. With calculated efficiency, the shadow navigated the periphery of the conflict, cradling Dimitri and the sisters in its unseen grasp. Simultaneously, a companion shadow emerged, bearing Zac and Bella in its ethereal custody.
Zac's discerning gaze fell upon the enigmatic figures, draped in obsidian-hued robes that clung to their forms with an air of mystique. A hood concealed their countenance, shrouding their identity, while an enigmatic mask further veiled any attempts at recognition, rendering gender an elusive mystery. A palpable chill emanated from them, an otherworldly aura that hinted at an unsettling presence, as though they were embodiments of the very shadows they traversed. In the realm of secrecy, these figures held mastery, perpetually concealed within the dimmest corners, eluding the watchful eyes of the world.
In their veiled existence, the Twin Shadows emerged as enigmatic sentinels, skilled in the art of remaining hidden within the tapestry of darkness. With an uncanny ability to seamlessly blend into the shadows, they stood as the true architects of the unseen.
Intrigued by the veiled guardians, Zac's inquisitiveness was met with an explanation from Elise, positioned at his side. "They are known as the Twin Shadows. Their identities remain a well-guarded secret, known only to our uncle. They returned with him from an expedition beyond our borders, accompanying him since his ascent to the leadership of the clan. Their enigmatic presence has been a constant ever since."
With a lingering gaze on the enigmatic Twin Shadows, Zac redirected his focus back to the intensifying conflict unfolding before him. The clash between Damien and Victor had reached a fervent crescendo, revealing a stark contrast in their blood-manipulating abilities. Damien's prowess with Blood Manipulation surpassed Victor's Bloodlink, yet the latter's longevity and unwavering control lent him a formidable edge, allowing him to hold his ground against the relentless assault.
Despite the apparent advantage, Victor's measured control stemmed from a lifetime of honing his ability, a precision that equaled Damien's raw power. While Victor refined his mastery with singular focus, Damien grappled with the multifaceted nature of Blood Manipulation, making him a versatile but less specialized combatant.
The battleground witnessed a relentless exchange of blows, a symphony of clash and parry that sustained a precarious equilibrium. Damien, mindful of the surroundings, tempered his offensive maneuvers to minimize collateral damage within the library's hallowed halls.
Though Victor's initial surge of anger had subsided, the wounds inflicted upon his lineage remained unhealed, a sentiment mirrored in his unyielding stance against Damien. Gavin's significance resonated deeply, fueling Victor's determination to seek retribution.
Amidst the clash, Damien conjured an array of weapons forged from blood, launching them with precision towards Victor. In response, Victor seamlessly intertwined his threads, crafting spears that hurtled towards Damien in a calculated counterattack.
A sudden cessation enveloped the battlefield, freezing the mid-air assaults from both Victor and Damien, as if an invisible force had pressed pause on their turbulent confrontation. The intricate weapons, once hurtling with intent, abruptly reverted to liquid form, obediently retreating into their respective gourds.
In the aftermath of this unforeseen intermission, Victor and Damien shared a moment of shared astonishment. Their expressions transitioned from fierce determination to a bemused acknowledgment, as if a veil of understanding had descended upon them. The battlefield, a theater of conflict mere moments ago, now stood suspended in a curious stillness.
Zac and the assembled onlookers, caught off guard by this inexplicable turn of events, exchanged bewildered glances. The air crackled with confusion, everyone grappling with the sudden and unexplained halt in hostilities.
In the hushed aftermath of the halted confrontation, Damien issued a directive to Clarisse, prompting her to usher Zac and Bella away for a castle tour. As the trio departed, the shadows departed with Dimitri, and Damien took the decisive step of sealing the library doors behind them. The lingering air of tension hung palpably between Damien and Victor as they faced each other in the now-quiet space.
An unexpected sigh echoed through the library, permeating the silence. A mysterious voice, like a whisper from the depths of history, resonated through the chamber. "Why must you two engage in conflict?" The question, carrying the weight of wisdom, heralded the arrival of an aged figure—Vanhog Crimson.
Damien, in a gesture of respect, inclined his head slightly, acknowledging his father. "Father," he greeted.
"Brother," Victor followed suit with a nod, his acknowledgment tinged with a sense of gravity.
The revelation of Vanhog's presence became evident from the moment their skirmish was halted, as he stood as the sole individual within the clan possessing the ability to cease their volatile clash.
In the composed ambience of the library, Vanhog Crimson, the venerable patriarch, sought elucidation on the genesis of familial strife. With unwavering poise, he continued his inquiry.
Damien, in turn, meticulously laid bare the intricacies of the situation, providing a comprehensive account of the events that transpired. As the narrative unfolded, Vanhog absorbed the details with a measured demeanor, contemplating the complexities inherent in familial discord.
Upon concluding his analysis, Vanhog addressed Victor, his words carrying the weight of wisdom. "Victor, it is crucial to acknowledge that Gavin and Dimitri initiated this sequence of events. They bear responsibility for the turmoil that ensued," he declared, his tone underscoring the gravity of the familial strife. A sigh punctuated his statement, revealing the somber reality that lingered in the room.
However, the patriarch's discerning gaze then shifted to Damien, and a sternness seeped into his voice. "But, Damien, who granted you the authority to pass judgment on members of the main family? Regardless of their transgressions, due process demands that they be afforded an opportunity for trial," Vanhog admonished. The scolding undertone in his voice highlighted the gravity of Damien's overreaching actions, adding a layer of tension to the familial reckoning.
Vanhog Crimson, his voice carrying an air of solemnity, addressed Victor with a resolute conviction. "Even if I were present in this circumstance, I would align with Damien's decision. Furthermore, Dimitri, your son, must face the consequences as well," he declared with unwavering seriousness.
A heavy sigh punctuated the gravity of Vanhog's words. "Damien's warning should have sufficed. Why, Victor, did you provoke that young girl? The death of Gavin must now serve to quell the ire of the girl's master," Van's voice resonated through the hall, breaking the pervasive silence.
Victor, taken aback by this revelation, witnessed a side of his brother he had rarely glimpsed. Vanhog, typically forthright, now veiled his sentiments in sighs, hinting at unspoken complexities beneath the surface. The unexpected turn of events unveiled a layer of intrigue, leaving Victor pondering the hidden motives behind his brother's unusual display of emotion.
""Master" …. Are you talking about the little girl's master? Is he stronger than you? Who is he? Which power is he from?" Victor barraged Van with a chain of questions.
In response to Victor's barrage of inquiries, Vanhog Crimson, maintaining his composed demeanor, offered insights into the mysterious figure. "Indeed, I speak of the little girl's master. Regarding his strength, identity, and affiliation, I am in the dark. Our encounter was brief, and what I can affirm is that he is an entity our Crimson Family must not provoke. Not even our esteemed queen would find it easy to contend with him," Van conveyed with a solemn expression etched upon his face.
Victor, his countenance oscillating between disbelief and rejection, countered, "Brother, this has to be a jest. Who, in this world, could possibly surpass the might of our queen?"
"I wish I could align with your sentiment. The queen holds a paramount position in our beliefs and governance," Van admitted, a tinge of conflict evident in his words. "Yet, I cannot dismiss the formidable power I sensed emanating from that individual during our encounter. Therein lies the dilemma," he concluded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation that now cast a shadow over the Crimson Family's understanding of power dynamics.
Regalos
-- Regalo
recibido Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder