‘Your eyes! So, you’re also a true immune one… mother!’
‘So that’s what they call it. Interesting. You still hate me, don’t you?’
‘You’re the reason Father died!’
‘He died because he was weak.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8KoEkD44X
But when I look at these women—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxCCmDo3LM
I only see strength.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDWZVhGlxq
You! You’re a priest, aren’t you?’
‘Yes!’
‘Are you loyal enough to die for them?’
‘I became High Priest because my belief was the strongest.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInBAWarYOX
I will never betray my people!’
‘Then you’ll die, lady.’
The shadow beneath the mother moved—slithering toward Suriel.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpEaAQZSOm
As it approached, Suriel stepped back—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DOE54Tx1n
but froze when Jessie and Larah appeared behind her.
‘This is a test,’ Suriel proclaimed.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqGtvN5Quk
‘My faith is being tested—and I shall pass it.’
The shadow merged with her own.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs4FJYyaNS
Her body went rigid.
‘You can finish her off, ladies,’ the mother said, calmly taking a seat on a stone.
Jessie and Larah closed in.
Just as they reached striking distance—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmN9NvaUEA
the ground shook.
The source was Suriel.
Despite the invisible force restraining her, she managed to move—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyF6kpvxac
a single, powerful leap launched her toward the mother, who still hadn’t moved.
Just as Suriel’s fist was about to land—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy5oA2lruZ
Sark’s bullets forced her to retreat.
‘What would you have done if I hadn’t stepped in, Mother?’
‘That wouldn’t have happened.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZXxE4BIHC
And even if it had, one fist wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.’
Now, Suriel stood at the center.
Her army was dead.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX6bDz6zEs
The enemy had surrounded her.
They opened fire.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZgiGu3eLr
Jessie unleashed flames.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsI38Sha4A
Larah fired energy blades.
Yet Suriel refused to bow.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fhSGfY1Su
Refused to fall.
Finally, the mother joined the battle.
She stretched out her hand toward Suriel—palm open.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dv6OcZBJ9
Then she closed her hand.
The shadow beneath Suriel erupted—forming spikes that pierced her body.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVrAaCWQ5h
The light in her eyes faded for good.
Yet she remained standing.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTftKE3gzVC
She died with a smile on her face.
‘Now that she’s taken care of—follow me,’ the mother ordered.
‘Why should we?’ Sark asked.
‘I have a guest you might want to see.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDTobZpS6i
I think his name was Dean.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sKPNlKcbJ
He told me some very interesting things.’
‘Then bring him to us instead,’ Larah snapped.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9AQlkUEu0
‘We don’t have time! We must press on and destroy the enemy—’
‘And destroy your own body in the process?’ the mother interrupted.
‘You must be Larah. Dean told me beautiful things about you.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsaTmZ9fD5
But I don’t see it.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbf9NrKN9P
Your heart is corrupted. Your soul, tainted.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHwurcSBnw
You can still return, Larah—if you wish.’
‘Return from where?’
‘From the darkness, my child.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMeqsm03mh
Well, it’s up to you whether you follow me or not.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpoybkrj3J
I don’t really care.’
And with that, the mother turned and walked away.
Sark shrugged—and followed.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR2gA6qTaJ
The soldiers did the same.
Jessie glanced toward the White House—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjE0pGr9L6
then at Larah.
‘Let’s go—for now.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWRUTadhb7
We won’t stay long, and we need to rest.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWa6q5dRj5q
You know I’ve got business there too, so I get how you feel.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWC3quSJDS
But... I was about to become something.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5vycekGg2
That axe was consuming me.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BG7GFmfqt
Luckily, I didn’t turn when the ghoul bit me.’
‘So you want me to get bitten by a ghoul?’
‘No—of course not! That’d be crazy.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVcoLoAORk
Just... don’t let it get to the point where you’d even consider something like that.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuFcqcDcHH
When we arrive, put the sword away. Far from you.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFCOr4PV7P
Maybe then your mind will clear.’
Jessie walked on.
Larah looked down at her weapon.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dZqMcBf1r
She slid it back into its sheath—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XUtCa8gSW
and followed.
In the Forest
Nicole now faced the commander.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVTmrEmlwZ
He stood still.
There was no time to waste.
Nicole launched herself at him.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvejZ0vpG1
As she closed in, she used her blood to create a double.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqQSU8qLq
Both wielded blood-forged scythes and slashed at the commander.
One strike.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHfJD9ekt6
Then another.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzckhwu5jVz
And another.
Nicole quickly realized—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh8XGD6ZHi
he wasn’t fighting back.
He was already covered in deep wounds.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiITZz92gBw
Severe wounds.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZRvF1wy8i
And they weren’t healing.
His form shifted.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL4DONDgAa
He became human again.
Just as he was about to collapse, Nicole rushed forward and caught him.
‘I got you, Nootra! I got you!’
She lowered him gently to the ground, holding him steady.
The commander finally spoke:
‘When I killed Dracule… and wounded you…80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafaa7pSJMg
The only reason I didn’t finish you—or the others—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg92oUFX0bD
was because you were there among them.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLr1EOhNPk
I went to hunt the fleeing ghouls, hoping it would satisfy the hunger…80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonQ9ruWpGm
But it wasn’t enough.
And when I came back—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlDerVwjY9
and saw the corpses…80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIrsMeaNNL
and you…
I knew the hard choice you must’ve made.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWs3zcgeKs
I’m sorry, Nicole.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfc1cCxp1M
For hurting you.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFZ1DUkCns
For forcing you to kill them.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNzjCmyPei
I failed you all. I—’
‘Ssh… it’s okay.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGhpHzMweG
Please—don’t speak.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG9BU2FR7x
It’ll only hasten your death…80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM10tY0nqM
and I need every moment we have left.’
Nicole leaned in—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Yb5WiDmR
and kissed the commander.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGEcT3l3oc
然後按「加至主畫面」