Krollakia, Senaka, and Malina fled from the horde of corrupted beings chasing them from behind. Krollakia asked.
"Can't we just catch them? From what I can see, they just look like minions."
"If we fight carelessly, we'll end up surrounded instead!"
Above all, Dead Dagger assassins were mixed in among those corrupted beings. Naturally, there were also assassins who had turned into corrupted beings.
From the way they persistently targeted this side, Malina could be certain that Sabrina, their leader, was still alive.
"We absolutely must not try to fight!"
Malina knew Sabrina well. She was a very cold and thorough hunter. She never let go of prey she had once marked. The fact that she had dispatched assassins upon discovering her traces even after decades had passed proved this. She wasn't the head of an assassin organization for nothing.
A woman like sticky mud who never forgot grudges. Sabrina was that kind of monster. And now that monster had become far stronger than her prime, surpassing even that power.
'I don't know what kind of trap she might have set up, so I can't fight recklessly. I need to get away from here as much as possible and join up with the others.'
It would have been better if she had just died outright from Osian's attack. But this could conversely become an opportunity for her to put an end to this long bitter relationship with her own hands."......"
Seeing Malina's complicated expression, Senaka tapped the head of Krollakia, who was carrying her, with her small palm. She didn't speak, but knowing that action meant 'stop talking nonsense and keep running,' Krollakia clicked her tongue.
"Looks like all we're doing here is running around."
Though she complained outwardly, inwardly Krollakia was thinking similarly to Malina. Her scales had been trembling since a little while ago.
At first it was so subtle she couldn't perceive it. As time passed, that trembling grew stronger.
'This isn't good.'
Krollakia glanced back. She could see corrupted beings made of mixtures of beasts and humans, dotted with bones, flesh, and entrails, chasing them in a horde. It was a sight that couldn't be disguised even with the term "avant-garde modern art."
It was a horrific scene reminiscent of nightmares, but considering the combat power of the brothers and sisters gathered here, it wasn't particularly dangerous.
However, her scales kept warning of danger and the intensity of that danger was now clearly perceptible.
"It seems like we're falling into a trap even with this."
At Krollakia's words, Malina's expression hardened. If her younger sister was saying this much, it meant there was some dangerous element they hadn't perceived. If nothing else, Krollakia's crisis detection ability was real.
No matter how outstanding the superhuman organization called the Blood Brotherhood was, being small in number often led to hitting limits.
They had to move as secretly and carefully as possible. The enemies always came with the violence of numbers. If they fought, they would chip away at the enemy's strength, but ultimately the ones who would be defeated would be them.
And the enemies' reduced strength would quickly recover before long. The limbs, not the head, could be replaced at any time. The structure didn't allow for proper fighting from the start. That's why they had no choice but to always move in hit-and-run tactics.
In such extreme situations, the reason the Blood Brotherhood hadn't been caught until now was largely due to Krollakia's help. Her crisis detection ability transmitted through her scales was close to predicting the future.
The stronger the danger became, the stronger the frequency and intensity of her scales' trembling. That's how Krollakia had saved the brotherhood from countless dangers.
That's why the Blood Brotherhood never took Krollakia's warnings lightly. The warnings she conveyed were real.
"This way."
Krollakia turned direction and veered to one side and Malina followed behind her without question.
Corrupted beings that had been waiting beyond rushed at them, but when Malina stepped forward, they all became finely chopped pieces of meat.
After slicing through the corrupted beings, Malina didn't retrieve her shadow sword but threw it backward. Some of the corrupted beings chasing from behind were hit by the sword and fell. But even more corrupted beings ran over the corpses.
"This time, left!"
As soon as Krollakia turned left, a giant corrupted being stood blocking the path. Senaka stared at that corrupted being. Not just staring, but glaring so intensely that she furrowed her brow.
-Crackle crackle crackle.
The massive corrupted being froze solid and hardened in place. Krollakia and Malina quickly slipped through between its legs.
-Crash!
Krollakia swung her tail and struck the leg of the corrupted being that had become an ice statue. The frozen corpse shattered into pieces. Cold debris like an avalanche blocked the path. This bought them time once again.
"Hmm."
Receiving reports from assassins in the shadows, Sabrina frowned. It was good that she had tracked Malina's location and pursued her, but the chase wasn't as easy as expected.
Just when she thought she had driven them into a trap, they would suddenly change direction. Somehow they found the safest places like ghosts. As if they knew this side's plans and were mocking them.
"This is getting annoying."
Sabrina muttered, then gritted her teeth at the throbbing pain. When she brought her hand to her left face, she felt a stinging pain and bumpy texture.
Instead of the smooth skin that should have returned with her regained prime youth, her face had become crushed and pus-flowing from burns.
'Damn it. All because of that bastard!'
Sabrina thought of Osian. The wounds touched by his flames wouldn't regenerate. Even transcendent regenerative power was useless before the power of the Sun Ring. Even now she could feel that heat on her skin.
The left side of her face, half of it was burned, and her left eye had disappeared, consumed by the Sun Ring’s flames. It was the exact same spot where she had been wounded by Malina. A wound that had somehow regenerated, yet a more serious scar was carved in the exact same place.
'Malina. You'll have to become my outlet for anger.'
Just then, a mental wave arrived from Cardinal Zaxilos.
Sabrina, who at first wondered what he was talking about, soon listened to his story and smiled wickedly from the shadows.
"If it's that, I'll gladly use it."
As she ran, Krollakia felt the trembling of her scales gradually subside.
"It seems we've somehow shaken them off. But we still can't let our guard down. Dangerous elements still remain."
"Can we at least catch our breath then?"
"That would be nice, but..."
Krollakia trailed off and her eyes suddenly widened.
"What is it, Krollakia? What's wrong?"
Sensing something strange, Malina asked and Krollakia spoke in a troubled voice.
"Don't be surprised and listen carefully. Right now, we're surrounded. And by very dangerous ones at that."
Krollakia showed her forearm. Beautiful gem-like scales were trembling rapidly. Like a dragonfly's wing beats.
"...Safe places?"
Krollakia surveyed all the wide-open passages. But no matter where she looked, the danger her scales warned of didn't diminish. In other words, there was no way to escape.
From beyond the darkness of the long corridor, yellow rings of fire could be seen swaying as they approached. What revealed itself with staggering steps were red angels. There were more than one or two of them covered in blood from head to toe.
"Ugh."
Krollakia let out a groan. The danger warning she'd been feeling was because of those things. As soon as she saw them, the scales all over her body began trembling. Not long after the red angels revealed themselves, corrupted beings began appearing one after another.
"...Is this as far as we go?"
Just as Krollakia was thinking this, Senaka hit the back of her head repeatedly.
"Ow! No, why in this situation?"
When Krollakia turned around asking why, Senaka raised her finger and pointed to one side. It was a large, writhing wall.
"Why are you suddenly pointing at a wall...? Don't tell me, you want us to break through this way?"
-Nod.
"Ha, damn it. How does that make sense right now..."
As soon as she thought about breaking through the wall, the trembling of her scales subsided.
"......"
Krollakia exchanged glances with Malina. Malina also nodded in understanding. Words weren't necessary. They were siblings who had shared joys and sorrows for many years.
Senaka glared at the wall. Toward the frozen wall, Krollakia and Malina swung their tail and weapon respectively. The whip-like tail swung at supersonic speed, struck and broke the frozen wall. And the shadow blade tore through the exposed flesh inside.
Senaka froze the inside of the exposed flesh wall again and again.
Repeating the process of freezing and breaking, they gradually burrowed into the wall.
-Screech!
Since Sabrina wasn't one to just watch this happen, she urgently gave orders to the corrupted beings.
The army of corrupted beings rushed over but even though Malina and Krollakia knew this they never looked back.
If they delayed even a little, they would die. How long did they break through the wall like this? Just before the corrupted beings reached them, they barely managed to break through to the other side.
"Finally escaped! Huh?"
Krollakia's eyes widened as she saw the people beyond the wall.
"Brother Delford? And the others are..."
Basilio was there, and Osian too. But the rest were completely unfamiliar faces. Regardless, they looked at the newly joined Malina's group, saw the army of corrupted beings beyond, and let out sighs rather than anything else.
"Whatever the case, we have no choice but to fight."
When Osian muttered this, Basilio replied in an awkward voice.
"At least those dangerous ones aren't here."
The figures of red angels could be seen beyond the army of corrupted beings and Basilio quickly corrected his words.
"There aren't many of them."
"...Well, whatever. At least the situation is better than before."
When Osian stepped forward, Martinez also stood beside him following suit. Delford, who had tended to his injuries, did the same.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to rest?"
"I appreciate your concern, but as you can see, I have a pretty sturdy body. My head is ringing a bit, but it's not to the extent that I need care. It doesn't suit my temperament to just watch when everyone is fighting."
Well, if that's what he wanted, there was no need to stop him.
"I can't just sit still either."
Atilla, the older sister among the slithering sisters, also stepped forward. She clashed her two fists together with a bang and smiled boldly, baring her shark teeth.
Malina, who had joined the group, looked at the people lined up in a row and naturally positioned herself tactfully next to Delford. Since everyone seemed ready to fight, she couldn't just stay still either.
-Thud thud.
"Damn, why are you hitting me again! Ah, I got it, so stop!"
Senaka hit Krollakia's head with her hand repeatedly. Krollakia clicked her tongue, put Senaka down, then naturally joined the battle line.
"This can't be. The Blood Brotherhood..."
Plimene couldn't continue her words as she looked at the three newly joined members of the Blood Brotherhood. Above all, right next to her was Senaka, who was of Snow Clan origin.
Though she looked like a cute child and doll on the outside, she must never be underestimated. She was the possessor of a terrifying ability that could freeze anything she looked at. It would be entirely possible for her to shatter this side to pieces without them being able to resist.
That's why Maia also glared at Senaka from beside Plimene. She openly displayed wariness in case she might do something suspicious.
Regardless, Senaka stared at the assembled group with an expressionless face. Next to her were Atilla and Cthulatlap as well.
[An interesting combination has been completed. Who would have thought such fellows would gather in one place.]
Cthulatlap looked at Malina with an intrigued gaze. He had felt a similar energy from Martinez, but Malina also possessed a similar power.
That is, a power that worked as an opposing force against outer beings.
But the power they used, their inclinations, and their affiliations were all different. The reason such people could gather in one place and move together was because there was someone who served as their focal point: Osian.
The impudent human who dared to kill his followers and inflict serious wounds on his avatar. But he couldn't help but acknowledge the power, ability, and achievements he possessed.
He was the one who ended an era. And that was the mythical age filled with gods and giants, dragons and monsters.
Who could have even imagined that it would be a human, not anyone else, who would end the legendary and mythical age?
Ossian had achieved such a great feat. No, even the word "achievement" was insufficient.
'Though the person himself seems completely unaware of it.'
As a human, he should have ascended, yet he had appeared in this world again. Those who ascend should become the planet's barrier against external enemies according to the world's laws. At least that's how it was within Cthulatlap's knowledge.
'Is there something I don't know?'
His gaze turned toward Osian's back. Hoping that in this fight, he might discover something he had missed.
"......"
Senaka silently stared at such a Cthulatlap. As if she had discovered an interesting doll.