Love wields a power like no other.
In the hands of the true and mutual, it carves a path through darkness.
But when unreturned, that power turns inward—the fiercest would of all is jealousy—a bitter storm that rages within, festering in the heart that beats alone. It clouded the mind from the ability to see the truth.
Lucivar knew from the start that Darwin's hostility towards him was different.
It didn't co from safety's sake.
As a man who had once loved and betrayed, he knew blindness doesn't only affect the eyes.
Bianca's betrayal was still unpleasantly fresh in his mind as if it happened yesterday.
He knew what love and care could do to a man.
From a simple observation, he knew Darwin's hostility ca from jealousy.
'Just as I decided to do after that incident, I should've avoided Leandra the most' He thought.
Lucivar was already fird to keep a distance from Leandra.
A beautiful woman and also a nosy one like Leandra would attract endless trouble.
Even a simple walk through a new town, made the group, the center of attraction because of her, and that alone showed how much attention Leandra was pulling. Not to ntion, Lucivar even got an experint target because of her.
Because of her, he decided to use the guard as a test experint.
One that he regretted doing solely because Leandra caught him in the act.
She now has a reason to keep an eye on him.
However, that should not be a problem now with his fake antiques of a new relationship.
anwhile, Darwin looked at Lucivar, completely frozen.
He was struck by the revelation, crashing over him like a tidal wave.
How could he have been so blind? The pieces fell into place, each one a dagger of realization stabbing at his pride. He had been an utter fool to think that Lucivar, was courting Leandra. It should've been obvious to him but he was blinded by the flas of jealousy.
From the very start, Lucivar had no genuine interest in her.
Leandra was a beauty, one that could sway even the most disciplined of n.
Of course, that naturally took effect the first ti Lucivar laid his eyes on her.
But that brief infatuation had vanished the mont Leandra tried to kill him.
From then on—Lucivar had been cold toward her, never acknowledging her presence, never even sparing her a glance while he greeted the others daily. Darwin should have known that sothing was amiss when Lucivar suddenly beca friendly with Leandra.
Jealousy has clouded his judgnt, a jealousy born from Leandra's attraction to Lucivar.
And now, here he was, wounded and cornered, the price of his folly.
Despite his mistake as he shouldn't have taunted Lucivar from the start, knowing well that he was an Angel Hybrid who had a tendency to lose control—he wasn't going to die here. He bit down on his lower lip so hard it bled, glaring at Lucivar with a fury that set his blood ablaze.
Even though he made the wrong move, losing to Lucivar would be a scar to his pride.
He was the strongest in the family, his end should be more dignified than this.
Lucivar noticed the change, raising an eyebrow in a mild surprise.
Bam!
Before he could react, Darwin lunged, headbutting Lucivar square in the nose.
His nose bled instantly as the blow staggered Lucivar backward.
Seizing the mont—Darwin grabbed Lucivar by the leg and with a roar of raw power—lifted him off the ground as if he were weightless. With a primal snarl, Darwin swung Lucivar ahead—slamming him into the ground, the impact driving the air from Lucivar's lungs.
As an Albino Werewolf Hybrid and also an Acolyte-rank Hybrid, his strength was enormous.
Being slamd like this, Lucivar felt his back almost broke.
Had Darwin been in full strength there was no doubt Lucivar would go down from this alone.
But Lucivar smiled faintly through the pain.
'I guess I should've expected this much, he's the strongest out of all of us,' He pondered.
Landing a swift kick to Darwin's chin, he freed his foot and rolled back.
Squatting ters away, he wiped the trickle of blood from his nose and readied to battle.
He planned on using the Astral Snow Leopard to weaken Darwin.
In the end, however, he would be the one landing the finishing blow, he wanted it to be him.
Or at least, that is what he was hoping to achieve, and now is the ti.
'I used one strand of Loki's ether on the slash earlier, I still have four more to go' Lucivar was really curious—as to how effective the strands from the Greedy Grasp ability were. He could not try it out before, but now he has the perfect training partner.
Darwin was a perfect target he could try this on.
Not only was Darwin the strongest, but he was also angered so his combat ability lessened.
'I don't need to be afraid of him' Lucivar mused as he rose to his feet.
"Raarggh!!"
Ignoring the scar on his stomach that was still bleeding, Darwin rushed ahead.
His feet stomped the snow heavily as closed the gap between them.
Pulling back his arm, charging for a punch, Lucivar also rushed ahead and did the sa thing—suppressing his fear of a direct clash, with Darwin. Goden ether flowed into his right arm in a smooth manner before a tinge of green rushed inside, causing it to beco chaotic.
Lucivar used one strand to et Darwin's punch head-on.
Bam!!
Upon their punches connecting, the snowflakes around them were pushed away.
Despite pouring his all into that punch, Lucivar was still blown back from the collision.
'He's strong... It feels like the bones in my right arm were breaking,' Lucivar gritted his teeth— surprised by the force of Darwin's punch, that blew him back. 'I used one strand and I am still overwheld. One more clash like that and I'm sure my arm would be broken!'
On the other hand, Darwin was also experiencing the sa shock inside his head.
'W- What...? I should've punched through him—but I was stopped? My punch could only push him back a little? I'm an Acolyte Hybrid and he is barely a Neophyte Hybrid!' Darwin looked at Lucivar with shock in his eyes.
He expected more from the punch but the result was shocking.
Averting his gaze back ahead, Lucivar saw Darwin's shocked expression and smirked.
Even though he lost the clash, the power from his punch was definitely surprising.
It could be seen through Darwin's face, dripping with disbelief.
Darwin coughed up a mouthful of blood—frustration gnawing at him as he struggled to keep himself upright, from overexerting himself. The weight of his predicant was crushing—his thoughts were chaotic but his focus snapped to the side when he heard a deafening roar.
A roar that was unmistakable—the Astral Snow Leopard was near, far too near.
Instinctively, his eyes widened in fear.
But that mont of distraction was all Lucivar needed.
Capitalizing on Darwin's foolish action, he closed the distance in an instant, his movents were not perfect as he slipped because of the snow but got the job done. Gripping his own dagger tightly, Lucivar poured every last drop of his remaining ether into the blade.
Shing!!
Its edge glowed golden under his ether's influence.
Lucivar didn't stop there, he drew upon two strands of Loki's ether, feeling the rush of power flood through him. The dagger thrumd with energy, as he drove it upward, in an uppercut, the blade slicing through Darwin's protective ether like it was nothing.
Feeling a burning sensation in his chest, Darwin gasped in horror.
He witnessed the dagger pierced his chest.
Blood sprayed from his mouth, and his body was flung back, landing near a tree behind.
Darwin slumped to the ground, his lifeblood pooling in the snow beneath him, staining it red.
On the other hand—Lucivar, watched the scene. with a cold smile—his plan, was working too smoothly. Now he knew two strands of Loki's ether had boosted his power by at least twenty percent from using one strand, more than enough to overpower the wounded Darwin.
Naturally, if Darwin had been at full strength, he would've lost badly.
But at this mont, two strands were sufficient to finish him off.
It was also at that mont did the Astral Snow Leopard erged from the bushes.
Compared to before, it was more nacing, probably due to a couple of scratches it endured from fighting Darwin earlier. Lucivar made eye contact with the massive cat and smirked, "I'm not going to take your food big kitty, I'm a good guy"
Upon hearing this, the Astral Snow Leopard growled at him.
Nevertheless, it wasn't coming close as Lucivar's scent was extrely bad for it.
Lucivar raised both of his hands and slowly backed away from Darwin.
On the other hand, Darwin, gargling at his own blood glared at Lucivar, "Co- Co back!"
"Kill ! Fin- Finish off!" He added, there was a hint of fear in his voice.
He would rather be killed instantly than be eaten alive by the Astral Snow Leopard.
But this made Lucivar's smirk spread wider as he turned around to leave.
From the back—Darwin shouted at him, desperately asking him to finish him off, but Lucivar ignored him completely and vanished into the bushes, 'I still need to go back to where I was or else Leandra would be suspicious'
"Raargghkk!!"
Growl!
Lucivar walked away with calmness despite Darwin's tortured voice behind him.
He didn't feel any kind of remorse, this was the path he had chosen.
"Oh, and also..." Lucivar raised his hand when Darwin's scream turned into silence.
Just then, sothing radiant pierced through the air, and landed right on his palm, it was the golden sphere he gained, "So that's how it is... Darwin had no intention to kill , at least not until earlier, when he realized I trapped him. But even if he harbored no intention to kill —I could still gain this gold sphere through my desire to kill others"
Unlike the ones he gained earlier, killing Darwin was different.
Lucivar planned to kill him, the mont he threatened him, and that sparked the familiar dark trail of energy, but this one ca from him and connected to Darwin instead of the other way around, and he was still able to gain the gold sphere.
It seed no matter which way or another, if a killing intent was involved, he could use it.
Pivoting his attention to the gold sphere, Lucivar's eyes sparkled.
"Hoh... It's even bigger than before—does that an I'm rewarded more, for desiring to kill others? Must be if one of the statues inside of belonged to Loki," Lucivar muttered, but then he noticed sothing odd in the gold sphere. "It was tinged with Loki's energy?"
"This is getting interesting..." Lucivar grinned, clutching the orb tightly.
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