The field was steaming. The walls of Sorriso were cracked, the towers toppled.
The sky — gray — was cut by lightning and green flames.
At the center, Anatoly, Disaster XI, rose like a living eclipse, while the White Wolf and the Queen of the Skies circled him with astrophysics and impact.
Tailer:
— Shit, this freak won’t die…
Valquíria, forcing her body to stand:
— After everything he still didn’t die… I’m practically at my limit after that black dragon…
Freya (lumpa):
— Endure, my Queen. Don’t forget: I am here with you…
— What is he made of…? What kind of abomination is he, anyway?
Anatoly:
— White rat, I’ll kill you both here. Looks like you’ve got no more cards left… cornered, little rat?
Tailer, smiling:
— A cornered rat bites too. Careful.
Veins bulged on Anatoly’s forehead — pure rage.
— Miserable little rat… so arrogant when you’ve got nowhere to run. I’ll do better, little rat: I’ll rip out those rodent teeth of yours. After all, a rat can't bite without teeth, right?
— And I’ll rip that damned smile off your face…
— Dark Blood Magic: BLOOD ARSENAL.
A vortex of blood rose, forming thousands of crimson blades in the sky, casting shadows across the entire west wing — a terrifying sight.
A Gath officer watched. Black hair, short to the shoulders. Presence and authority. Gloves covering only three fingers: thumb, index and middle — Gath mana gloves. Essence shaped, not fabric.
The “G” printed on the back of her vest gleamed between sparks, dust and urgency.
— If that hits the ground, many wounded will die under the rubble!
She shouted: — Gath Squad! MOVE!
That was the pressure on the Gath. The pain, the guilt if they failed. Because when there are wounded, they save.
But when a Gath is wounded… there is no one who comes to save them.
And even knowing that, they never hesitate.
Even if they might die, even without knowing if anyone will come back for them.
They continue.
Why?
Because that is what it means to be a Gath.
Tailer, looking at the sky:
— Gonna go all out, huh? You scared of a rat, freak? Not even polite enough to show your face.
Anatoly:
— Think I’m a child for you to try persuasion tricks? Nice try.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
— Little rat… try not to die. Are you going to run and leave the Queen behind? What will you do now?
Hahahahaha…
Tailer:
— Shit. I at least have to soften this. The shock might kill many wounded the Gath are carrying — and the Gath won’t leave without taking everyone.
Tailer:
— Hey, Queen. You ready?
Valquíria, smiling, breathless:
— I was born ready, professor. Bring it. If this bastard doesn’t die, we hit him until he turns to dust.
Tailer:
— Good. Didn’t expect less from a Fernandes.
Anatoly:
— Hahaha, good, little rats. Try holding this. What will you abandon? Your lives? The wounded? Will you cry?
— BLACK FALL! DEVASTATION OF THE CRIMSON EMPEROR!
Thousands of blood swords dropped from the sky. The ground rumbled. Mana vibrated, threatening everything.
Tailer:
— DOMINAE! REALM OF THE ABSOLUTE ECHO! DOMAIN OF THE GREAT WOLF FENRIR!
Tailer’s aura exploded — cold, heavy — like space.
Valquíria and Freya, in unison:
— HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Emerald aura surged to the limit. Mana refinement shone. The bond with Freya rose from 40% to 60%.
— Legacy of the Valkyries: EMPRESS OF JADE!
Tailer, voice firm:
— Displacement vectors… ZERO ABSOLUTE.
DUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Time seemed to stop. Gravity… did not exist.
He touched Valquíria.
ASTROPHYSICAL LEAP.
The blades fell at unbelievable speed. And Tailer and Valquíria…
At the same speed, repelled each blade.
Seen from afar? Only two flashes crossing the sky:
One white. One emerald green.
They shouted in unison:
— Supreme Combination!
Astrophysical Vectors of the Emerald Queen! — ZERO ABSOLUTE IMPACT!
An emerald ray rose to the sky.
What fell… was a rain of blood.
Anatoly (laughing):
— Good, little rats. But it’s not enough…
They destroyed the first vortex.
But what will they do about the second?
Tailer, eyes widening:
— Shit…
Valquíria fell, exhausted. The Regina Caeli slipped from her hands.
They were falling, without mana, without impulse.
The second fall of blades was coming…
Straight for them. And for the ground full of survivors.
Tailer:
— I can’t use the vectors… SHIT!
Then.
Something vibrated beneath the earth. Not lightning.
It was… laughter.
Rocks rose. The ground lifted like a beating heart.
He emerged from the rubble, covered in blood and dust.
Eyes burning.
Voice ripping across the field:
— HEARTS! FORM THE LINE!
The echo shook the valley.
Men and women appeared among the debris. Even wounded. Even bleeding.
All raised shields.
They did not run.
They did not protect.
They became the wall.
Luiz Fernandes walked.
Torn mantle dragging blood. At his waist, a keychain hung — a spear shaped like a heart.
The metal chimed.
And from it came…
A crimson smoke. Spinning. Laughing. Grinning.
— Oho… oho…
A 20cm figure spun in the air, tiny hands clapping.
Arlec. The Jester of Hearts.
— You’re all dirty, Luizinho… did hell hug you?
Luiz smiled:
— If you were quiet, I’d think hell was over.
Arlec cackled, spinning upside-down:
— Hell never ends… But we can make it laugh!
Blood evaporated around Luiz. Mana condensed. The battlefield began to pulse.
dum… dum… dum…
It was the sound of hundreds of hearts.
The Hearts roared:
— IF THE GROUND CAN’T HOLD — WE HOLD THE SKY!
Anatoly watched.
— A mortal holding the earth with flesh and will? How pathetic… and beautiful.
Then…
— DOMINAE — DOMAIN OF THE KING OF HEARTS!
Luiz swung the long spear in his right hand.
— SWING OF THE HEARTS’ JOKER!
BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM
The second wave of crimson blades… evaporated.
Tailer, smiling:
— There it is… my joker up the sleeve, bastard.
Tailer and Valquíria fell.
But did not hit the ground.
Autumn leaves caught them.
Luiz collapsed, his body still in meltdown from fighting Langris.
— Very well, boy of Hearts. Rest. We take it from here.
Luiz raised his half-open gaze.
— Kotan…
THE PATRIARCHS HAD ARRIVED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
End of Chapter 7
