Ch-181 old church

[At the Park — Midnight]

Victor stood at the edge of the old church's crumbling iron gates. The full moon hung low in the dark sky, casting pale silver light over the graveyard surrounding the decaying structure. The rusted gate creaked faintly as the wind whispered through the dead grass.

Ruby stood beside him, her red eyes glowing faintly beneath the moonlight.

"Creepy," Ruby murmured, her tone laced with faint amusement. "You sure you're ready for this?"

Victor's gaze remained cold. "I don't care about ready. I care about finding Leona."

Ruby's smile sharpened faintly. "Alright then."

Victor pushed open the iron gate. The rusted metal groaned under the pressure as the path ahead revealed itself. Cracked stone steps led toward the dark entrance of the church.

"No turning back now." Ruby's red eyes glinted.

Victor's eyes darkened. "I wasn't planning on it."

They stepped inside.

The interior of the church was dark and hollow. Stained glass windows lined the walls, their fractured patterns barely illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through the cracks. Dust and broken pews littered the stone floor.

Victor's breath slowed as he stepped forward. His crimson gaze narrowed.

"Who's there?"

A cold breeze swept through the church. The torches lining the stone walls flared to life with ghostly blue flames.

"Welcome."

A low, distorted voice echoed through the chamber.

Victor's jaw tightened.

A figure emerged from the shadows near the altar.

Tall. Cloaked in dark crimson robes. A silver mask concealed their face, but the oppressive pressure in the air marked them as anything but human.

"You're the one who sent the message?" Victor's gaze sharpened.

"Indeed." The figure's voice was calm and measured. "You wish to find Leona and Violet, yes?"

Victor's gaze darkened. "Where are they?"

The masked figure chuckled softly. "Alive… for now."

Victor's breath sharpened.

"What do you want?"

The figure's silver mask glinted faintly beneath the torchlight. "Your potential."

Victor's eyes narrowed. "What the hell does that mean?"

"A human… standing at the edge of a world far greater than you realize." The masked figure's tone sharpened. "You stand at a crossroads. If you wish to save her—"

The blue flames on the torches darkened. A pressure filled the air.

"—you will need to prove yourself."

Victor's gaze sharpened dangerously. "Enough talking."

Ruby's red eyes glinted faintly as Victor's aura flared.

"Heh." The masked figure's tone turned cold. "As you wish."

The pressure in the air twisted violently. The blue flames erupted into black smoke. The stone beneath Victor's feet trembled.

The figure raised their hand.

A dark circle ignited beneath Victor's feet.

"Let's see if you're worthy."

Victor's eyes flashed.

Suddenly—

A shadow lunged from the darkness.

Victor's reflexes kicked in—he sidestepped instinctively, narrowly avoiding the strike as claws scraped against the stone where he had stood a second earlier.

"Tch—!"

Victor's crimson eyes sharpened as the shadow moved again.

It was a humanoid figure, shrouded in dark mist. Its eyes glowed with pale violet light as it moved unnaturally fast, its limbs contorting as it lunged toward him again.

Victor's instincts sharpened.

Fast—

Victor ducked beneath the strike and twisted his body, driving his elbow into the creature's ribs.

Crack!

The creature stumbled back, hissing.

Victor's breath sharpened as his crimson gaze flashed.

"You're not human."

The masked figure's calm voice echoed through the chamber.

"And neither are they."

Suddenly—

Two more shadows emerged from the darkness. Their pale violet eyes flickered menacingly beneath the ghostly blue light.

"Three against one?" Ruby's tone was playful as she stepped forward beside Victor. "That's hardly fair."

Victor's gaze darkened. "Stay back."

Ruby's smile widened. "Relax. I'm not here to babysit."

Victor's crimson eyes sharpened as the creatures lunged forward.

Victor moved—

He ducked beneath the first strike, twisting his body and driving his knee into the creature's jaw. The impact sent it flying back against the stone wall with a sickening crunch.

The second creature closed in—

Victor sidestepped, catching its arm and twisting violently. The creature shrieked as its limb snapped backward. Victor drove his foot into the creature's chest, sending it crashing into the floor.

The third shadow lunged—

Victor's crimson eyes darkened. His instincts sharpened. He turned—

But the creature's claws were already descending toward his chest.

"Victor—!"

Suddenly—

A flash of red light erupted beside him.

Ruby's crimson aura surged as her hand shot out.

Snap!

Ruby caught the creature's wrist, her red eyes glinting dangerously.

"Oops." Ruby's smile sharpened. "Too slow."

Ruby's hand twisted. The creature screamed as crimson energy erupted through its body.

Boom!

The creature's body shattered into mist.

Victor's gaze sharpened as Ruby's red aura pulsed dangerously.

"You're not normal, either." Victor's voice darkened.

Ruby's red eyes glowed faintly.

"Took you long enough to figure that out."

The masked figure's voice echoed once more.

"Impressive."

Victor's gaze sharpened.

"Enough games."

The masked figure raised their hand—

Suddenly—

The stone beneath Victor's feet began to shift.

A dark crimson circle ignited beneath him.

"Let's see how far you're willing to go."

Victor's gaze darkened.

"Bring it on."

---

[At the Void]

Violet's crimson eyes flashed dangerously as the weight of the contract burned beneath her skin.

Leona's golden aura flared violently.

Ah Ming's golden-crimson gaze sharpened as the void trembled beneath their feet.

"Not bad." Ah Ming's smile widened faintly.

Violet's breath steadied as her chains rattled against the pressure.

"We're not done yet."

Ah Ming's golden-crimson eyes glowed.

"You survived the second trial."

Leona's breath sharpened.

"What's next?"

Ah Ming's smile sharpened.

"We see if you're strong enough to protect him."

Violet's crimson eyes narrowed.

"Protect who?"

Ah Ming's gaze darkened.

"Victor."

Violet's breath hitched.

Leona's golden aura crackled faintly.

Ah Ming's golden-crimson gaze sharpened.

"Because if he fails…"

Ah Ming's voice darkened.

"—he won't survive."