Chapter 39: FAMILIAR HAS UNLEASHED 5% OF THEIR BLOOD AURA
While Minato and Amelia were in the air, flying above the city’s landscape, the view below them showed the full scale of the damage Portal 3 was causing in Hokkaido. Smoke was rising from several destroyed buildings, and the streets were filled with emergency vehicles and flashing ambulance lights.
But what caught Minato’s attention was the mountain area in the distance... the location of Portal 3. The entire area around it was glowing green and black. Large cracks spread across the mountain’s surface, and parts of the nearby residential district had already collapsed. The energy coming from the active portal was massive, so strong that even from the sky, Minato could feel the pressure against his skin.
He focused his eyes and saw figures moving near the base of the mountain. His sight locked onto a familiar one... the petite elf girl. She was standing near the glowing portal, her silver hair tied in a short braid was moving from the excessive energy. But this time, she wasn’t alone.
Three male figures stood with her. Their appearances were different... one tall with black armor, one with long yellow hair, and the third wearing a black cloak that covered his face.
The elf seemed to be giving them directions. She pointed toward the portal several times while speaking to them. The one in black armor nodded and walked into the portal freely, disappearing completely, then reappearing seconds later from another side of it as if nothing had happened.
Minato narrowed his eyes. "She’s controlling the flow of the portal," he muttered.
Amelia flew beside him, noticing where he was looking. "She’s building an invasion path," she said.
Minato didn’t reply. He stopped flapping his wings, allowing himself to drop quickly through the air. Amelia followed behind but stayed slightly higher in case he needed backup.
As he descended, the wind grew louder in his ears. The ground got closer, and the elf finally noticed him.
When Minato landed, the ground cracked beneath his feet. Dust rose into the atmosphere. His wings folded behind him, blood still dripping from the edges.
The elf turned her head, raising one eyebrow. Then she smiled lightly. "So, you survived... and you destroyed the portal core." She crossed her arms, her tone half playful, half mocking. "Good. I was starting to think you were all talk."
The three male figures standing near her turned their attention toward Minato, their eyes focused on him. The aura around them changed immediately... heavier, thicker, filled with pressure.
Amelia landed beside Minato, readying her blood sword instantly. "Minato, be on guard. Those three aren’t humans," she said to him.
The elf tilted her head slightly, her smile not fading. "Huh. Of course they’re not." She pointed at them.
Amelia took one step forward, her eyes locked on the elf. "You made a mistake coming here."
She laughed softly, her pointed ears twitching. "No. I made a deal... now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a gateway to open."
Minato clenched his fists, the blood around his hands beginning to move again. "I’m going to kill you, painfully, and when you beg me to stop, I won’t... not until I can see your bones."
"Awwn... I would’ve loved to play." The elf lowered her hands, her smile fading completely. She took a few slow steps backward toward Portal 3, the dark green light reflecting off her silver hair. "Like I said... I have a gateway to open."
"I’ll leave the rest to them," she said softly, pointing at the three male figures, her tone a bit cold but with a pinch of mockery. She looked directly at Amelia, her eyes glowing bright blue. "Come on then, blood bug... show me why your kind was feared."
As she spoke, she raised her right hand and waved casually, almost mockingly, before stepping into Portal 3.
The green aura swallowed her completely, and she disappeared without another word.
Minato summoned his blood axe, the weapon forming and hardening instantly in his hand. He took a step forward, but before he could swing, Amelia moved in front of him, raising her arm to stop him.
Her face was completely different... her eyes were watery, her jaw tense. It was the first time he had ever seen her angry, and it was clear the elf’s recent words were the reason.
Without taking her eyes off the three men, she said firmly, "Step back, Minato."
Her tone was enough to take control. Minato knew she wasn’t asking... she was warning. He took a few steps backward, tightening his grip on his weapon.
Then, the ground beneath Amelia cracked wide open. The atmosphere shifted.
A massive surge of red energy burst out of her body. It wasn’t a flare... it was an explosion of pure blood aura that spread in every direction.
The glow was strong enough to match the light coming from Portal 3. The pressure hit Minato like a wall.
=====================
[DING]
[FAMILIAR HAS UNLEASHED 5% OF THEIR BLOOD AURA]
====================
The moment the system notification appeared, Minato transformed his axe into a blood shield and raised it in front of him. Even behind the shield, he could feel the sting of her aura tearing across his skin... thin cuts forming on his arms and face from the raw energy.
The sound was deafening, like metal chainsaw scraping against stone. The ground kept shaking, and the air became hot and heavy.
Then, within seconds, the pressure stopped.
Minato slowly lowered his blood shield. The air was filled with dust and smoke. He blinked through the smoke, trying to adjust his sight.
When the dust settled, he saw Amelia standing in the same spot. The red aura around her faded slowly.
The three men who had been standing near the portal were now lying on the ground, lifeless. Their skin was pale, their veins dark, and their eyes wide open. There was no blood anywhere... their bodies looked completely drained of it all.
Amelia then turned toward Minato. Her angry expression softened the moment she saw him. Without hesitation, she ran over to him.
She grabbed his shoulders, scanning his body for injuries. Her eyes stopped at a small cut across his cheek... still healing, but clearly caused by the force of her aura. She reached up and touched it gently with her fingertips, her voice low and shaky.
"Minato... I’m sorry," she said, her tone trembling. "I completely lost control of my emotions... and I hurt you."
Minato smiled a little bit, brushing it off. "It’s okay, Amelia. It’s just a scratch."
She frowned and shook her head sideways. "This is why I don’t like using my powers around you."
He reached out and placed both hands on her cheeks, pressing them together lightly so her lips puckered. "I’m fine. Promise."
Her eyes searched his, still unsure if he was telling the truth. "Really?" she asked softly.
"Really," he repeated.
She asked again, "Really?"