Chapter 164: Goodbye
When you had the ability to sense mana even with your eyes closed, what was the point of illumination?
Hades had discovered this newfound sense.
Even in pitch darkness, he could feel the beast’s movements—the way its mana surged, the way it gathered around certain body parts before a strike. It was as if Alazar’s own power betrayed him.
A warrior instinctively strengthened their body with mana. That was a subconscious action. But for Hades, it was also their greatest weakness. He could see every flare, every twitch, every intent.
SWAK!
Alazar’s fist cut through the air but met nothing. Hades had already bent low, slipping under with ease.
BAM!
His counter landed hard into the beast’s stomach, the same weak spot he had targeted earlier.
"Grrgh!" Alazar staggered, one hand clutching his belly, his fangs bared in fury.
"You weak little rat! To depend on such a cheap trick!"
Hades smirked in the darkness. "Cheap? Or just too much for you?"
He darted forward, fist cocked, but this time the wolf rolled away, sensing the danger.
DHAK!
Hades’ punch buried itself into the wall, cracks spreading from the impact. He had no time to curse—he felt mana spike from behind.
"Die, brat!"
Alazar’s kick came fast, but Hades twisted his body sideways, hand snapping out to catch the beast’s leg mid-air.
SNAP—CRUNCH!
Hades’s elbow slammed against the wolf’s knee. The sound was sickening.
"GHHAAAAA!" Alazar’s scream filled the bunker as he collapsed, his massive body trembling.
Hades didn’t stop. He yanked the wolf’s leg, dragging his towering form off balance, then drove his arm into Alazar’s throat.
THUD!
The seven-foot beast slammed to the ground, choking and gasping. Dust rose around them.
Hades stood above him, calm, his chest steady. "You’re too slow."
Alazar clawed weakly at the ground, his vision blurred from pain. His instincts screamed at him—it was getting harder to fight here. The darkness favored Hades too much.
’I need to get out...’
Snarling, he caught Hades’ descending foot with both hands. His grip tightened.
"I’m not blind, you fool!" With a roar, he shoved Hades backward, forcing him to stumble.
The boy slid a step, regaining his balance almost instantly, but the beast had already sprung up, limping yet desperate.
"Damn it!" Alazar cursed as his broken knee buckled, but he pushed forward anyway. He had memorized this bunker for a month—he knew exactly where freedom was.
Hades narrowed his eyes, mana sense flaring. The wolf was retreating. Running.
Then—
A faint glow pierced the darkness. Light seeped down the ladder shaft above.
"Ah," Hades muttered, his gaze snapping upward. His sharp eyes caught the last flick of a furry tail disappearing into the opening.
’This coward!’
Alazar had escaped, fleeing into the light above.
.....
"What are you gonna do with that money?" asked the elf walking beside Gerald.
Gerald had just been rewarded with a hefty sum for his loyalty and the valuable news he brought back from Aethernox.
He had been sent to that region a few weeks earlier.
Disguised as a wandering adventurer, Gerald moved from place to place, waiting patiently for the right moment—something worth bringing back to his Lord.
The man he had served faithfully for the last ten years: Lord Cravanvor.
And then, it happened.
About ten days ago, while training alone in the Death Well—the forest behind the castle—he felt it.
An aura so dark and suffocating that his knees almost gave out beneath him.
Never before had he felt something so unholy. His instincts screamed at him to flee.
But he didn’t. That wasn’t why he was there.
Steeling himself, Gerald tracked the source.
With years of practice in hiding his presence, he moved silently, erasing his footsteps as he closed in.
And then... he saw him.
The same man who had stolen his childhood friend.
The one Gerald despised from the deepest part of his heart.
Hades.
For a moment, Gerald couldn’t believe his eyes. How could someone who looked so calm radiate such chaos?
And then it clicked.
The same blood-red hair.
Peri staying at the castle, claiming to be the wife of that redhead.
It all made sense.
Peri was the daughter-in-law of the Matriarch.
And her husband—the man Gerald had just seen—was none other than the rumored Chaos Heir.
He wanted to stay, to dig deeper, but then he felt it—someone was tracing him.
It was impossible. Gerald had erased every step, every trace. Yet the fear gnawed at him until he chose to retreat, unwilling to risk blowing his cover.
As soon as he left the capital, he wasted no time reporting the news to his Lord.
Still, guilt clung to him. He knew what his actions meant. He was handing over the man Peri loved. He was about to rip away her happiness.
And yet... what choice did he have?
Please don’t hate me too much, Peri.
"Gerald."
The sudden voice of his companion pulled him from his thoughts. Gerald sighed.
"What is it, Rundolph? Didn’t I say I will—"
But then he realized. Rundolph hadn’t called to ask about money.
It was a warning.
Warning that someone had appeared on the quiet, empty street.
Someone Gerald could recognize even in a crowd.
"Peri." he breathed.
She stood there—same pale blond hair, same face he had loved for as long as he could remember. But the soft warmth that used to light her eyes was gone. Now she looked through him, empty and hard. Gerald had never seen her like this. The blankness felt like a blade.
"Tell me you didn’t do that," she said. "Tell me you didn’t betray me and put Hades in danger."
Rundolph drew a sharp breath, eyes sweeping the street to see if the blond elf had brought an army. But she was alone—steady and terrifyingly calm.
Gerald’s jaw tightened. "I did." The words fell out of him like a verdict. "I told Lord Cravanvor about him."
He stepped closer, voice low and urgent. "Now that you’re here, I have to take you with me. That man—he’s a monster, Peri. He’ll burn this world to ashes if he can. I won’t let you be part of that. You don’t deserve it."
He put a trembling hand to his chest, feeling his pulse hammering under his palm. "You deserve to be happy, Peri. You deserve a normal life—and I can give you that." His voice cracked. "Please. Just give me a chance—I swear—"
A cold ring hit his ears, like metal singing. He barely had time to tilt his head.
Blood sprayed. His ear split with a wet, shocking sound—
BOOOOOOOM.
An enormous blast ripped the air behind him. Dust and fire slammed forward. Gerald’s words were swallowed by the roar. The ground jumped; the world tilted.
Shards of wood and stone flew like rain.
Gerald’s eyes widened as he saw Peri standing there, a glowing bow in her hands as she muttered, "Farewell, Gerald."
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Husband fighting. Elf wife fighting. And about Luna? Zzzzzzz...