Dahlia raised her hands, intending to calm her brother, though even she had little hope of stopping him. Shirei's violet eyes settled on the girl while Marina thought about what to do.
"Get away!" the blonde shouted. "Go now!"
Lorenzo tightened his grip on his strange tool. "Marina, what's going on?"
Ien's daughter turned to look at her brother, then fixed her gaze on the peculiar weapon he had masterfully forged: the multi-tool. It appeared as a massive hammer, with a hammered steel head and several grooves along the handle for better grip. However, what truly made it extraordinary was a central red casing embedded in the upper part of the handle. It didn't seem to be just a decorative element—inside, anything could be hidden: technological devices, screwdrivers, keys, even other weapons.
With the multi-tool in his hands, Marina thought her brother would be ready to face any situation that came his way.
Or rather, all except this one.
Once her surprise at the weapon faded, the girl responded.
"Lore, are you insane?! Stay back!"
"I've realized the worst possible scenario…" Dahlia said, gritting her teeth in frustration. "A major incident… Shirei…"
"Everyone, out! Now!"
Francesca was the last to reach them as the remaining Blendbreeds moved further away.
"Can someone explain what we're supposed to do?"
Marina looked at her, tense. "Stay back, it's better if you all stay out of this!"
"Aena… Is Aena here?"
Shirei moved and, with a lightning-fast motion, slipped past Marina and grabbed her in an iron grip.
He had seized her by the neck and lifted her off the ground effortlessly.
The Blendbreed was stunned by his near-perfect precision. She tried to wriggle free from his grasp. In another situation, being this close to him would have made her blush, but she suspected that would never happen. She even tried to fight back, but she was completely immobilized.
What the hell!?
"Where is she?" the boy demanded, pinning her arm and pressing the Blade of Discord against her throat.
"I-I don't… I… Shirei…!"
"Shirei, stop!"
Dahlia stepped between them and used all her strength to push her brother away. Cragar's son merely loosened his grip and took a few steps back. Marina gasped for air, coughing several times.
She was terrified.
Shirei lowered his gaze to the black-haired girl, not recognizing her, and blinked.
"What do you want?" he asked, his tone eerily calm.
"You need to calm down!"
"I am. I'm calm."
Marina still held her throat. Hollow…
Without a hint of expression, Shirei moved his arm and hurled the Blade of Discord. The weapon flew at high speed, grazing Dahlia's face and leaving a small cut on her cheek.
Cragar's daughter froze, as did the other Blendbreeds. Marina grabbed Dahlia's arm and pulled her behind her.
What stood before them was not the boy she had come to know over the past few days.
If they hesitated, they might end up paying dearly for it.
Dahlia closed her eyes, and a twitch ran through her cheekbone.
"Everything okay?"
The Blendbreed didn't have time to answer before something caught the entire group's attention.
Behind them, the shadows twisted, dancing in a sinister vortex that seemed to consume the very space around it. From that swirling darkness, a rift tore open, releasing a piercing hiss. Through the gaping hole of blackness, a creature emerged—so magnificent and terrifying that it struck raw fear into the hearts of all the Blendbreeds still nearby.
Clad in dull black armor, the being radiated an aura of power and malice. Its skin glowed with a spectral violet hue, revealing its true nature. An impenetrable helmet concealed its face, allowing no one to see beyond its lips. Two magnificent wings, like those of a corrupted angel, spread menacingly from its shoulder blades, cutting through the void.
It gripped the very blade Shirei had just thrown, but in its right hand, the weapon took on a more sinister and deadly glow.
Lorenzo and Francesca turned to see the scene—and recoiled.
"Holy gods, Fate really wants to test me today…"
Dahlia wanted to punch herself.
"So, what do we do?" Lorenzo asked, trying not to tremble.
Marina slammed her wrists together, activating the transformation mechanism of her weapons. Within seconds, she was holding two long, gleaming metal daggers.
Fortunately, she had retrieved them after their visit to the lab—otherwise, she would have been unarmed at that moment. The daggers had been a gift from the divine Aena herself and, though she had never had the chance to use them against a Blendbreed, she suspected they carried their own magic, tied to the power of love.
"Don't get in my way," Shirei said. "I have no interest in harming you."
"Charlatans are never welcome, brother. I ask you to return to your full senses," Dahlia countered, pulling one of the daggers from her best friend's hand.
Francesca stepped closer to Ien's daughter. "Marina, what can we do?"
"It's better if you stay out of this… for your own safety…"
"I have to protect myself… f-from Shirei?" Lorenzo asked, fear evident in his voice.
Marina grimaced, a sad expression crossing her face. "I think so."
The boy closed his eyes, then lifted his right foot and took a simple step forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground again, the floor darkened, a pitch-black stain spreading slowly outward, tainting the entire arena. The ring on his index finger gleamed with royal violet light, perfectly synchronized with the ominous aura emanating from Cragar's son.
Shirei was doing something—Marina was sure of it—and whatever it was, it wasn't good.
Lorenzo took a deep breath. "Francesca, get out of here."
"You're insane if you think I'm just going to walk away and let you play hero."
Dahlia started cursing. "Damn it, damn it, damn it…"
"Shirei… Shirei!" Marina shouted.
"What?" the boy responded.
"What's happening? Why are you… like this?"
Before Shirei could answer, Salix interrupted and stepped toward Cragar's son.
"Now I recognize you," he said with an amused smile.
Marina turned to the stranger, trying to persuade him. "Hey! You! We need to stop him here—we can't risk Aena finding him like this! Please, step back!"
"Step back?" Salix glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and burst into laughter. "You should be wondering if Aena will survive when she finds him like this."
Ien's daughter was shaken—he couldn't be serious.
Shirei looked at the dark Blendbreed. "Salvaterra."
The boy grimaced. "No, not that. You know I hate the surname they gave me."
Dahlia also stepped closer, though she kept her attention on the mysterious spectral angel Shirei had summoned. "You two know each other?"
"You could say that," confirmed the supposed Blendbreed with silver eyes before turning to Cragar's son. "Listen, we don't have much time before Aena gets here—we need to hurry."
"I'm not going with you. I have to kill her."
Marina didn't know what else to do except stall for time.
Even though there were four of them—five, counting the mysterious Blendbreed—she had a strange feeling that they wouldn't be able to stop both Shirei and that strange creature. The boy seemed completely unhinged, far from being controlled as Dahlia had suggested. The point of no return was near, and he was rushing past it.
She didn't want it to end like this, but their only hope was the divine lady of love.
But that could also mean you'll be… Please, Shirei, come back to us.
"You're wrong," Salix countered. "All you'll do is draw the gods' attention and doom yourself to certain death. You got lucky once—don't tempt Fate again."
Marina followed the conversation as if it were the most important lesson of her life.
You got lucky once…
She lingered on the Blendbreed speaking with Shirei.
She had never seen him at Otherworld's Lilies Park, which was highly unusual. Blendbreedswere usually brought to Otherworld at thirteen—the age when their powers first began to manifest. But the Blendbreed standing before them was no novice. If her reasoning was correct, his identity was becoming clearer.
An infiltrator… she thought. Where is he from? Is he from the Daffodils Academy? Is he here to take Shirei back there?
She turned to her companions, immediately noticing Francesca's terrified expression and Lorenzo's growing concern.
But those emotions weren't directed at Shirei.
They were afraid of the other Blendbreed.
He was the son of Tefine.
While Marina was lost in thought, Shirei continued speaking.
"What alternative do you propose?"
The Blendbreeds listened in silence, trying to figure out who these two really were.
"The boss wants to see you. You're the last piece needed to declare war on Highworld."
"I won't let the gods manipulate me again."
Marina had no words.
Her little perfect world was cracking, slowly breaking apart as these new, mysterious pieces of information embedded themselves in her mind like needles.
Declare war to the Highworld? Being manipulated by the gods? Who are these two?
"Then you leave me no choice."
A rosy mist manifested around Tefine's son as he plunged his arms into it. When every wisp of dreamlike particles had dissipated, Salix was gripping a long chain, its dangling end tipped with a double-edged blade of dark metal.
Marina wanted to stop them, but she had no idea what to do.
Suddenly, from the pitch-black pool covering the ground around Shirei, two spectral harpies emerged. Their wings beat with an ominous rhythm as they screeched menacingly. The boy raised his hands, and with a decisive motion, the harpies were drawn toward him as if a black hole were pulling them into a stream of darkness. Their ghostly forms shifted, transforming into two daggers shimmering with eerie energy.
Marina watched in disbelief, her face painted with shock.
She was stunned by this display of Shirei's hidden powers—abilities he revealed with disarming ease. She had invited Cragar's son there, intending to trick him into unveiling the hidden depths of his strength. But perhaps she had ignored the fact that she wasn't ready.
At that moment, it was clear: Shirei operated on an entirely different plane, a level beyond Ien's daughter's comprehension. His power cast a new light on the true extent of a Forbidden Heir'sabilities.
"Venorias, keep them from following me," the Blendbreed commanded his angelic soldier. "And you, Salvaterra—after I defeat you, send my regards to Rakion and tell him to leave me alone."
Rakion? Marina's mind screamed.
Salix nodded. "As you wish, Calm Sovereign," he replied before launching his attack.
Shirei caught Tefine's son's chain before it could strike him.
Immediately, shadows swirled violently around the two Blendbreeds.
Before the blonde girl could react, they had already vanished—along with the layer of darkness that had covered the ground.
A loud crash echoed through the air. Marina turned toward the source of the sound and saw smoke rising from the rooftop of a house.
Did they end up there? she asked herself, already taking a few steps forward.
She had to reach them.
But before she could move any further, the angelic creature Shirei had summoned blocked her path.
Right, she swallowed.
First, she had to deal with Venorias—Cragar's son had called it that.
The dark angel advanced, pointing the Blade of Discord at her.
Alright, she told herself.
Marina locked eyes with the creature as the world around her began to lose its color.
Soon, her vision was reduced to black and white. Every object around her lost its three-dimensionality, becoming nothing more than a mass of glowing lines outlining their simple dimensions.
Numbers of all kinds flickered in and out of existence, while every living organism revealed its true nature before her eyes.
This was the power of Ien's children—Analytical Sight.
Through it, one could unveil the essence of all things, perceiving details imperceptible to the naked eye.
Marina focused on Venorias, hoping to extract any useful information.
Red for monsters, blue for Blendbreeds and mortals, green for creatures… she mentally recapped.
However, every thought became futile when she saw a violet aura replacing the angel's body.
Purple!?
She had never seen an aura of that color before.
The only exceptions to the rule have been…
She shook her head; this was no time for useless thinking.
She focused again on Venorias and raised her dagger—the only way to learn more was to face him. The angel wasted no time and lunged at her. Marina blocked the strike, causing their blades to clash with a sharp ring. The impact pushed her back a few steps; her opponent's strength was clearly greater than hers.
She observed Venorias once more, trying to locate his vital point. Normally, in this state, she could will herself to see the anatomical structures of living beings, but the angel was different.
The creature, standing there as if awaiting her move, was devoid of any thought. It seemed empty—just a shadow of something that had once been alive.
Marina didn't want to admit it, but the more time passed, the more fear crept into her. It wasn't the thought of being defeated that scared her, but her total inability to act.
She had no idea how to solve the problem, and that was known as the greatest terror a child of Ien could ever face.
Dahlia let out a cry and summoned skeletons from the ground, which had cracked open earlier. They were Blendbreeds, their remains still wrapped in tattered, ragged fragments of clothing. Their eyes, now hollow sockets, had been ignited by an eerie green flame that danced with an aura of malice around their bare bones. Each skeleton clutched a weapon in its bony hands—rust-crusted swords, cracked shields. Despite their lifeless nature, they seemed to retain some kind of determination, ready to defend whoever dared approach their summoner.
Marina counted five in total. They closed in around Dahlia, shielding her, while the girl positioned herself between the Blendbreeds and the creature.
"Stay back," said the daughter of Cragar. "This doesn't concern you—it's my fault alone."
"I doubt that," Marina remarked, thinking of Shirei.
The skeletons charged into battle like furies, but Marina feared they wouldn't be a match for the creature. Her best friend could summon as many undead as she wanted, but they were nothing compared to the winged soldier.
Proving that very thought, Venorias spun rapidly on himself and severed one of the summons right below the ribcage.
"If you get me close enough, I can electrocute him with the multi-tool's taser," Lorenzo said. "It wouldn't stop him forever, but it could make him vulnerable for a few seconds."
Marina grimaced. She seriously doubted the plan would work, but they had no better options.
"Alright, I'll help you."
The angel soared into the sky. Dahlia glanced around, searching for an idea, while a second wave of skeletons poured out from the cracks in the ground. Francesca tried to concentrate all her strength into creating a fireball large enough to destroy the creature's wings.
Venorias dove-dived toward them, his green blade aimed at Lorenzo's chest. The son of Ien rolled just in time, flipping away from the point of impact. Slowly, he shifted his multi-tool into a battle hammer and decided to approach the enemy from behind.
Francesca saw Venorias rise again and hurled her fiery sphere, but the creature simply nullified it with a powerful flap of his angelic wings.
Before Lorenzo could strike, the spectral shadow stretched out his open hand toward him. The blond boy staggered back, fearing a sudden attack, but the tip of his hammer began to glow.
"What's happening?!" he shouted, panicked.
The metal sparked and started corroding rapidly before melting as if it were honey. His eyes widened in shock as he watched his creation reduced to nothing.
Marina had to think fast. The one who had summoned the creature was Shirei—a son of Cragar—so in theory, another child of the god of the dead could cancel the summoning. The key to stopping the angel was Dahlia. But the girl was completely pale and struggling to stay on her feet—summoning the skeletons had drained her entirely.
From the arena entrance, a large group of armored students approached, drawn by the obvious commotion. Marina silently thanked the gods and rushed to support her best friend.
"Keep him busy!" the daughter of Ien ordered the newly arrived Blendbreeds.
Venorias struck at the newcomers like a bolt of lightning when, suddenly, Francesca managed to hit him with a fireball that exploded against one of his wings. The being jolted and crashed to the ground.
This was their opening—they could defeat him.
A creature with a white pelt charged forward and leaped into the air before their eyes. Marina caught only a glimpse of who it was—Mr. D'Agostini.
The man, transformed by his curse into an Erchitu, landed heavily on Venorias with a thunderous impact, causing the ground to collapse. The Blendbreeds quickly backed away as the man gored the soldier, burying his head deep into the spectral creature's body.
After a few minutes, Lyceum D'Agostini rose again. Each breath he exhaled came out as a small cloud of mist.
All the Blendbreeds began to applaud but kept their distance. Marina grimaced slightly and observed the man through her eyes. His aura clearly displayed an immense amount of anger, making him hostile, yet there was also a trace of control within him.
"Wait—" Dahlia hurried to say before the inevitable happened.
Venorias spun the Blade of Discord, striking against Lyceum's metal horns and hurling him several meters away. The angel rose again, completely unharmed—every wound he had sustained had already healed.
The daughter of Cragar tried to approach to confront him but fell to her knees.
"Dahlia!" Marina shouted, rushing to support her best friend.
"I'm fine, I'm just… a little tired."
Lyceum lunged back into the fight with a long howl as the Blendbreeds struggled to keep the creature at bay. Marina didn't know what to do—if Venorias could heal infinitely, then they had no hope of getting rid of him.
Salix and Shirei would keep fighting until Aena arrived, and then she would decide what to do. They had to act now—find a way to cancel the summoning of the angelic creature.
"What's troubling you?" Dahlia asked.
"The angel," Marina murmured. "If Shirei summoned him, then you should be able to make him disappear."
The daughter of Cragar leaned against her friend and began to hum a cheerful melody.
"What are you—" the blonde stopped mid-sentence as she saw a small greenish mist leave her friend's lips before being inhaled back through her nose.
"I think I can do it," Dahlia said weakly, "but I need to be closer."
"Okay," the Blendbreed nodded. "I'll help you."
After a few seconds, the daughter of Cragar stood up with renewed strength. Marina stared at her in astonishment, but she was too focused on defeating the creature to ask what she had done.
Dahlia pushed through the Blendbreeds and sprinted toward Venorias. The blonde followed close behind, reaching Lyceum with her dagger drawn. The angel seemed to notice them, but the fireballs launched by the children of Corgi distracted him.
The daughter of Ien advanced, positioning herself beside Mr. D'Agostini, while Dahlia managed to get within striking distance of the shadow-soldier, successfully flanking him.
Venorias moved forward with his blade raised. Marina took a deep breath and plunged into the fight alongside the park's headmaster. She barely had time to strike before she was taken out of the battle.
Everything happened too fast.
Her vision blurred—a sign of exhaustion—and her powers deactivated on their own. The Blendbreed slowed down, only to be overtaken by Lyceum, who, heedless of the danger, charged toward Venorias with his head lowered.
The angel flipped through the air, preparing to bring the Blade of Discord down on the exposed back of the Erchitu. In that instant, Marina's body moved on its own, and she threw herself in the way.
Venorias reacted by slowing his attack with a push of his wings, but he still ended up slashing her entire forearm.
The daughter of Ien did everything she could to ignore the pain, but a sudden sharp sting forced her to her knees. She clenched her teeth—that suffering wasn't natural. The blade had to be infused with magic.
The battle against the angel raged on. The children of Corgi hurled fireballs, the children of Sidal fought alongside Lyceum.
Venorias defended himself effortlessly from the attacks, and those that did land had no lasting effect due to his instant regeneration.
Marina wanted to try standing up, but the pain only kept growing stronger.
That was when Dahlia sprang into action, leaping forward and grabbing onto the winged creature's neck.
The daughter of Cragar clung tightly to the soldier, but before she could even attempt to send him back to where he had come from, he simply vanished into thin air.
Everyone froze, caught off guard—then they felt it.
A power so immense that, for a brief moment, it erased Marina's pain entirely.
The daughter of Ien trembled with fear and turned to look in the direction of her home.
Aena was furious.