64. Sweet
In the heart of the dark city stood a majestic, ancient castle, defiantly resisting the erosion of time. Ironically named Bright Castle, it was shrouded in darkness, as black and somber as the midnight sea.
The city, likely the capital of a long-lost civilization, held more than just the imposing Bright Castle. Scattered throughout were numerous other landmarks—none as towering, yet some structures rose above the rest, making them visible even from afar.
And I was currently standing atop one of those buildings. It wasn't particularly large, nor was it small—just the right size, with a flat surface that suited my needs perfectly.
Bright Castle loomed as the tallest structure in the city, but it was heavily guarded. This rooftop, though not as high, was completely exposed and unprotected.
On each corner of the building, torches burned with steady flames, while a bonfire crackled at the center—giving the impression that some kind of ritual had either just taken place or was about to begin.
It wasn't a ritual—yet, in a way, it was.
On this dark night, when the 'despicable' sun was nowhere to be seen, I waited…
As expected, just as I had predicted, I didn't have to wait long. Like a firefly flickering in a shadowed forest, I stood out too much in this place—far too conspicuous. One glance from a passerby, and they'd likely think I'd lost my mind.
But sadly, it wasn't just a harmless firefly.
You don't realize it yet, but you're the moth—drawn to the flame, bewitched by its glow.
I could sense the flying creature circling above, lurking just out of sight. It was waiting for the right moment to dive down and claim its feast.
According to what I'd heard from both the citizens of the dark city and from Cassie, that thing was a Monster—a creature with two cores and slightly better than beast. It wasn't mindless; it was calculating, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Just like me.
Two white flames ignited on the thread fingers of my left hand—anchoring the line in place. Then, with my other hand, I pinched the center and pulled back, just like drawing an arrow against a bowstring.
A slender, elongated flame took shape—an arrow forged from tension and heat, pulsing with compressed power, ready to be unleashed.
I aimed it at the sky, a silent gesture that said: I'm waiting for you.
It didn't take long before the awaited moment arrived. I don't know what that creature was thinking—but it dove. Straight toward me, the lone beacon of light in the middle of the darkness.
In the end, it was still just a beast.
First came its raven-like beak and claws, piercing into my field of vision—followed swiftly by its grotesque, massive body, now fully revealed for all to see.
It plunged down at terrifying speed. Others might have been snatched away before even realizing what was happening.
But I had been waiting for this.
Even in this pitch-black sky, I could see everything with perfect clarity.
I smirked at the approaching menace.
"Checkmate," I muttered, releasing my right hand.
The arrow-like white flame shot forward and struck the raven-like creature right in the forehead—
Or so I thought.
"Whoaa!" I shouted, leaping to the side just as its claw nearly swept me off the rooftop.
Instead of launching, the flame had simply dropped, still dangling uselessly from the threads on my left hand.
It hadn't fired at all!
Of course—it's a flame, not a rubber band!
'The Demon-like Judge of Fire questions your intentions.'
'The Demon-like Judge of Fire is speechless at your actions.'
Ughh, shut up! I just wanted to try it once—it looked cool, okay?
I could imitate the shape, but I didn't really understand the concept behind it.
"...Besides, letting it die that easily would be far too merciful," I muttered, my eyes fixed on the flying Spire Messenger, which remained suspended in midair, silently observing my actions.
"Kukuku… Hahaha."
"I'm not sure if you're the one who stole my left arm or not… but honestly, you all look the same to me anyway."
"So for now… let's make sure you stop looking down on me."
A javelin woven from threads formed in my right hand, glistening with a thin coat of liquid.
Without hesitation, I hurled it—aiming to pierce straight through.
It shifted to the right with ease, then fixed its gaze on me again—mocking, as if to say my efforts were pointless.
"Haha," I smiled, my lips trembling slightly. "I see, I see. Then try this."
I pulled on the threads I had laid out on the ground earlier. Controlling many threads at once was impossible for me right now, but if I built something like a ballista beforehand, I just needed to release the stored tension.
From all around the building, javelins shot out simultaneously, piercing the air like deadly rain.
"I chose this battlefield, you dogsh*t!"
Of course, I couldn't predict exactly where the creature would appear or how high it would hover. That's why I aimed fairly high—most of the javelins sailed harmlessly over it, with only a few striking its body. It descended slightly, skillfully avoiding the majority of the attack.
Just as it prepared to mock me again, it suddenly realized something was clinging to its body.
Every javelin was tethered by a thread, forming a tangled web of lines descending from above, draping over the creature like a net.
I couldn't pull all the threads at once, so dragging it down was impossible.
But…
Bust!
Flames erupted from my feet, propelling me swiftly into the air. Of course, I flung some threads behind me as I ascended, hoping to disrupt the creature—but aiming while climbing, without the power of my legs, was difficult.
I missed—but that was fine.
The creature flinched, startled to see me soaring in its domain. But I wasn't trying to crash down on it from the ground.
I soared above the creature. The Spire Messenger tried to follow, but the threads I'd woven across the sky around us held it back momentarily. Cutting through my threads was easy for the creature—but it still cost it precious time.
I secured the high ground, hovering directly above the beast. I looked down at it and smirked.
"Time to taste some dust." I predicted its fate.
Then, my pupils split into four distinct parts—and…
It was as if an invisible hammer had struck the creature's body, driving it forcefully downward. The Spire Messenger plummeted from the sky at terrifying speed.
Booom!
It crashed into the city's floor, leaving a deep crater in its wake and some kind of force kept pressuring it from above.
Wasting no time, I dove after it, hurling a splash of liquid from above while simultaneously forming another javelin…
Thrust.
I drove the javelin deep into its body, trying to pin it down. Then I did the same to its forelegs, rear legs, shoulders, back, and wings.
Normally, the Spire Messenger could break free from my threads with ease, but this time, it was drenched in paralytic poison.
"Kehehe, feeling sluggish?" I taunted, my face inches from its beak.
It tried to bite me—but it was too slow. Soon enough, it became difficult for it to even move.
"Can't move, huh? KWAHAHAHA!" I gripped the raven's head, locking eyes with the Spire Messenger. The condescending look was gone, or maybe it's just my imagination.
"Try harder next time—if you even have the strength for that, hahahaha."
A longstaff materialized in my hand, quickly followed by a crescent-shaped white flame—my signature scythe.
"Let's start with the wings, shall we?" I smiled as I approached the creature's black wings, humming softly.
"Mhm~ hm~ This is a science class about frog anatomy."
It was time to dissect it, part by agonizing part, while it was still alive.
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I'm sorry for the delay in uploading today due to some RL issues.