Chapter 40

  In the forest east of the Hell Star’s domain, in the resting place of the dead, under the setting twin suns, Leo and Melody met with Ryan.

  “I love this badge. We can find each other’s location using this,” Ryan said.

  Leo replied, “It is indeed useful.”

  Melody sighed. “Enough nonsense. What is the situation? Did you find out something yet?”

  Ryan replied, “Indeed I did. The whole army of the Hell Star is gathered here. They are trying to perform a ritual under the Blood Moon. Their goal is to destroy the totem.”

  Leo interrupted, “The very totem holding back the curse of the undead?”

  “Exactly that,” Ryan said. He continued, “For this, they are going to use a gem. The knights called it the Blood Tear. If the tear is gone, then the ritual is as good as finished. The ritual can only be performed when the totem is weakened to its maximum—when the Blood Moon is at its peak for about two hours. About the leader and the child, they are still missing, but I am sure they have not been spotted yet. That’s all I found out.”

  Melody, stunned, asked, “So you know how to be useful?”

  Ryan scoffed. “With a mouth like that, you will never get married.”

  Melody snapped, “I will kill you.”

  Leo stepped between them. “Enough. Now we have something important to do.”

  The two stopped and listened.

  Leo continued, “We have to destroy the Blood Tear if we want to protect the demons of the realm. The only thing holding back the undead is the Totem of Life. If that falls, then all life shall perish.”

  Ryan, eyes wide, said, “The best time to do that is during the ceremony. They intend to do the ceremony in front of the totem, when they will have the least guard.”

  Melody added, “That may be the best time indeed. The size of the magic circle engraved around the totem—it would require an enormous amount of mana. Even two Demonic Stars would not be enough. It would require all the knights here to also transfer their mana to fully activate it. So my guess is, that is the moment they are most vulnerable.”

  Leo nodded. “Then let’s do it as you say. It would be impossible to snatch it from their hands, but a shot from afar… maybe that could work.”

  Ryan grinned. “You still got those magic bombs?”

  “Hehehe… I got it,” Ryan replied.

  Leo continued, “Then all that’s left is to find the right spot and wait.”

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  “After jumping around the forest for six whole hours, I can think of a spot or two,” Ryan said.

  Leo smiled. “Then I am counting on you, my friend.”

  Melody sighed. “I hope this knucklehead doesn’t get us killed.”

  “Trust me, I got it. Now follow me,” Ryan said, walking ahead.

  “Isn’t that the way we just came?” Leo asked.

  “My bad. It’s this way,” Ryan corrected.

  Melody muttered, dread filling her eyes, “I am surely dying today.”

  The trio continued walking discreetly, avoiding the knights. Using Ryan’s stealth and experience as a rat of the slums, they evaded patrols and finally reached the spot Ryan had chosen.

  “This is it,” Ryan said.

  “What now?” Melody asked.

  “We prepare and wait,” Leo replied.

  The trio prepared the magic stones. Ryan tied them together and attached a single fuse to them all. Melody added magic circles to grant stealth, avoiding the mana detection of the well-trained Hell Knights.

  Leo took position, carrying the bomb that would save tomorrow.

  Time passed.

  The tomb became more and more crowded with knights and grey-robed blood mages. The twin suns finally set, giving rise to a bright full blue moon in the sky. As time passed, it was devoured by darkness, bleeding red.

  Just as it turned completely red, a huge demon arrived, clad in armor. In his hand, he carried a box.

  He walked toward the center of the circle near the totem, surrounded by his knights standing in disciplined files and ranks, the mages forming a circle between the knights and the Hell Star.

  A mage approached and said, “Your Majesty, it is time.”

  The Hell Star replied, “All get ready.”

  He opened the box, took out the red stone, and raised it to the sky.

  The Blood Moon reached its peak.

  The mana in the air grew heavy. The bond between the land and the mana weakened.

  Ryan aimed the bomb at the Blood Tear.

  The Hell Star spoke, “Begin the ritual.”

  The mages began chanting. Each slit their own wrists. Blood flowed into the carved ground, forming a blood mana circle. The knights focused their mana and shared it with their general, the Hell Star.

  The blood converged at his feet, ascended his armor, and entered the Blood Tear, which glowed with a terrifying crimson light.

  The knights fell to their knees one by one as their mana drained away.

  “Ryan, get ready,” Melody urged.

  The blood mages collapsed one by one until only the Hell Star stood.

  The totem shook violently. Cracks formed. Blood seeped from the ground. The earth trembled.

  “Ryan, now,” Leo said.

  Ryan launched the bomb.

  It flew straight toward the Blood Tear floating in the Hell Star’s hands. The knights and mages were already down, and the Hell Star’s strength was heavily drained.

  The bomb struck.

  The Blood Tear shattered into pieces.

  The Hell Star snapped out of his trance. Seeing the Blood Tear destroyed, he roared in fury. His armor shook as his mana burst forth, suppressing all life around him.

  The trio was pinned to the ground.

  The mana stored in the Blood Tear returned to the knights. They rose again.

  “Intruders! Catch them!” a Hell Knight shouted.

  On the ground, Ryan muttered, “We are so dead.”

  “At least it ends with us,” Melody said.

  Leo, crushed to the ground, whispered, “The mission is accomplished.”

  The knights reached them and bound them in chains.

  At that moment, the head blood mage chanted a forbidden spell. The shattered pieces of the Blood Tear reassembled into a whole.

  “Your Highness,” the mage said, “it is almost over. Just a bit longer and we will succeed.”

  The Hell Star turned his red gaze upon the bound trio.

  “The Blood Tear… it’s back,” Ryan said.

  “It was all in vain,” Melody whispered.

  Leo murmured, “Forgive me, sister. I was not able to keep my promise to you.”

  The Hell Star took his massive war hammer from his back and raised it high.

  Leo smiled. He glanced at the two beside him and said, “To meet such wonderful demons and befriend you was the greatest glory of my life.”

  “It was an honour, Captain,” Ryan and Melody said in unison.

  The Hell Star swung his hammer down. the trio closed their eyes ready to accept the inevitable.

  Stay tuned to find out what happens next.