Chapter 209 : Serea's Origins

Serea's Origins

"Your mouth is stubborn, but your body is pretty honest, huh."

Serea said this as Lilith gritted her teeth, wanting to turn away, but a gush of fresh blood had already welled up on her back.

"Ugh!"

A sharp, searing pain made Lilith cry out.

"Don't move, I'm helping you draw out the corrupted blood. It'll only ease things a little, but it's better than leaving it untreated."

As Serea spoke, beads of black blood seeped from the wound and gathered in her palm. Once the black blood stopped flowing, Serea used her Bloodthirst ability to help heal the wound.

"It's all taken care of, but the curse mark is still there. Until it's removed, don't use holy light power again, or the corruption will just spread further."

Serea said, while Lilith panted from the pain.

"Tha...thank you."

Lilith turned her head to speak, then immediately looked away again.

"It's so rare to hear you say 'thank you' to me."

Serea teased, and then noticed there was a huge corroded gap on the back of Lilith's armor.

"Here, take this, but remember to return it."

As she spoke, Serea tossed over a cloak—it was the cloak from blood elf Stalker armor.

Taking the cloak, lilith paused in confusion...

"Why..."

"Why what?"

"I've always been cold to you, did those things, and was even your enemy today. Why are you still helping me?"

"Huh?"

Taken aback by the question, Serea looked puzzled. She recalled Serea's memories: originally, she had a very good relationship with Lilith, but one day, lilith's temperament dramatically changed. She became cold to Serea and even hostile toward her.

Serea never understood the reason. Lilith had just suddenly changed, and after their father announced Serea as the first heir to the throne, an enraged Lilith left Otto Kingdom and joined the Holy See. When Serea tried to stop her, she was stabbed in the shoulder.

That scar remained to this day, a lasting sign of the rift between the sisters...

"I'm helping you only because we now share a common enemy..."

After speaking, Serea gave Lilith—who looked just like herself—a significant glance.

She understood well that the true Serea always hoped to reconcile with Lilith. Even saving Lilith just now was a reflex of her body.

"And also, perhaps this body still considers you an older sister."

"This body...?"

Lilith didn't understand the implication, but being able to see Serea alive was truly wonderful...

Serea didn't notice Lilith's look of relief; she glanced at the deep violet barrier. Their vision was blocked, so she had no way of knowing what was happening with Leklis and the others outside.

"Let's see if we can destroy it from inside."

"Leave it to me, I can..."

"You want to use holy light to break the barrier? It's not that I doubt you, but our enemy is prepared for this. The curse mark is still there—do you think you can still muster the power you once prided yourself on?"

Serea's words made Lilith lower her head in shame as the curse mark burned.

Clang!

Clark's stone spear struck the barrier, causing a crack to appear—but with a surge of magic, it soon repaired itself.

"Looks like we'll have to get rid of the undead mages outside if we want to break this barrier."

Serea said, reaching out to touch the barrier—its icy, cursed feel crushed their hopes of breaking through.

Lilith felt a pang of guilt at this.

She was never meant to come on this mission, but after hearing word of Serea's 'death', she wanted to return and pay her respects. The mission was just an excuse to leave the Church. She hadn't expected the secret mission to be leaked by the traitor Astor, leading the Church of Death to discover her as the Holy Maiden.

In the end, she even dragged Serea into being trapped here with her...

Sensing Lilith's dejection, Serea added,

"Don't worry. Those guys outside can only be arrogant for now."

"Hm?"

"You'll see soon enough. But before that, maybe we can catch up—like, talk about why you suddenly changed all those years ago, and why you left Otto Kingdom."

"Father never told you?"

"So there's something about father, huh? All I know is that I'm an adopted daughter, not the true princess of Otto Kingdom. That's all."

Serea spoke. The real Serea had found this out while reading her foster father Gibusk's diary. It clearly stated that Serea wasn't Gibusk's second daughter, but an adopted child—and her real father was...

Claudio Otto Bloodstorm!

He was the brother whom Gibusk had sent to the gallows, lilith's uncle.

But what puzzled Serea was: why did an adopted daughter look exactly like Lilith? Could it be that Lilith was...

"So, you already know."

"I came across it by accident. So, is it just because I'm not your real sister?"

Faced with the question, lilith fell silent, unsure whether to answer.

"Don't want to say?"

Serea was curious, but since Lilith wouldn't say...

"We can talk about it after we get out."

"After we get out, huh? Fine then. By now, they should be almost here..."

Serea said as, deep in the jungle, a team was hurrying toward their direction—the six lead Skeletons' eyes burning with strange soul fire.

Outside the barrier, sensing the holy knights inside frantically attacking the shield, the undead mages of the Church of Death had no choice but to keep channeling magic into it.

"What a persistent bunch. Luckily, we command this new power."

Quells said as he brought out a Nether Crystal and gave a soft laugh, glancing at Astor.

"Of course, your contribution was essential."

"I'm just doing my duty, bishop."

Astor flattered. As time passed, the resistance inside the barrier grew feebler.

Splat!

A careless Holy Knight had his shoulder shredded by a Ghoul's claws. In desperation, he retaliated and purified the Ghoul, but even more Ghouls surged toward them.

"Captain!"

"Don't worry about me—form up and defend!"

The gravely injured Holy Knight had no time to heal, raising his shield to hold the line. By now, six of their number had fallen; the rest were all wounded.

At this rate, they wouldn't last much longer. Realizing this, manshir glanced over at Leklis' group. They were still safe thanks to undead guards, but it was only a matter of time before they fell too. So—

"Hey, Death God, you've been betrayed by them, haven't you?"

"......"

"Then let's join forces, since we share a common enemy."

(To be continued)