Chapter 20: Confrontation of the Red Witch

The dim torchlight of the fortress corridor flickered as a soft click echoed against the stone walls—long metal nails tapping lazily against the cold surface.

A woman stood before Kaiser, draped in an elegant red dress that seemed to shift unnaturally as if alive. Her eyes, a deep crimson, shimmered with eerie amusement, and her lips curled into a slow smirk.

Her presence radiated something sinister, something ancient.

She tilted her head slightly, observing him with quiet intrigue.

"My, my... what do we have here?"

Kaiser tightened his grip on his daggers, his body tensing. He had fought before—had taken lives, had survived—but this woman felt… different.

She wasn't just strong. She was something else entirely.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

The woman's smirk widened, her voice smooth as silk.

"Oh, a proper introduction? I suppose that's fair."

She lifted her clawed hand, tapping her nails together.

"I am Carmela Vermillion, an operative of Ignareth."

She let the words sink in for a moment before continuing.

"It's rare for me to have conversations with my prey, but I'm in a generous mood. You may ask me a few questions."

She took a slow step forward.

"Not that it matters. You're dead anyway."

Kaiser's eyes narrowed.

"And why is that?"

Carmela let out a soft chuckle, raising her long, sharpened nails.

"Because part of my job is not to leave witnesses breathing."

She lunged.

The Red Witch Strikes

Kaiser barely had time to react—Carmela moved like a phantom, her form blurring as she closed the distance.

His instincts screamed at him, and he threw himself backward, dodging just as her clawed hand slashed through the air where his throat had been.

He crashed against the stone wall, his breath hitching.

Damn… she's fast.

Lifting his head, he froze.

Behind Carmela, a twisted, ghastly figure flickered—a monstrous red witch, its hollow eyes and jagged grin etched in pure malice.

It was her entity.

She had reached Level 3 Quas Blood.

A slow, creepy smirk stretched across Carmela's lips.

"What's the matter, boy? Never danced with a witch before?"

The Ghastly Whisper – Alzalel's Warning

Kaiser gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging.

Alzalel's voice slithered into his mind, sharp and amused.

"This might be your first real battle against a Quas Blood."

Kaiser exhaled sharply.

"I know you'll help me, Alzalel."

A low chuckle echoed through his thoughts.

"Then let's give her a proper greeting."

Alzalel's glowing cyan eyes flickered with wicked glee.

Kaiser lunged forward.

A Battle of Shadows and Blood

Kaiser vanished—Phantom Step activating in a blur of mist and speed.

Carmela clicked her tongue, her chains snapping outward, slicing through the air where Kaiser had been.

Kaiser reappeared behind her, daggers flashing.

He struck.

But Carmela twisted unnaturally, her body bending at an impossible angle, avoiding the lethal blow.

Her nails slashed forward.

Kaiser barely managed to twist away, but a thin cut sliced across his shoulder, burning unnaturally.

She was toying with him.

"You're quite agile," Carmela mused, licking a bit of blood from her claw. "But I've danced with shadows before."

Kaiser huffed, rolling his shoulders.

"Then let's see if you can keep up."

The two clashed again.

The Battle of Titans – Elric vs. Dante Viel

Elsewhere, the battlefield trembled as two warriors collided in a flurry of raw power and speed.

Elric, his body partially fused with Nessie, swung his flail, sending shockwaves of water through the battlefield.

Dante Viel flickered in and out of existence, his spear cutting through time itself.

Every strike, every move, was a clash between strength and precision.

Dante grinned, wiping blood from his lip.

"You're something else, Elric. But let's see how long you last."

Then, his body flickered.

Time Manipulation—activated.

The world slowed, and before Elric could blink, Dante was already behind him.

Pain exploded across Elric's side as the spear grazed his ribs.

Elric grunted but twisted, countering with a crushing swing.

Dante barely flickered away, but there was something wrong.

His breath hitched. His movements were slightly slower.

His stamina was running thin.

Henry Guhn – Securing the Port

Meanwhile, Henry and his warriors secured the port, raising the resistance's makeshift flag.

Gregory stood beside Roland's still body, silent.

Henry approached him.

Gregory looked up, his face unreadable.

"He wanted us to win his war."

Henry nodded.

"Then we will."

Bjorn – The Lost Berserker

Far from the battlefield, Bjorn trudged through unfamiliar terrain, axes still in his grip.

The sounds of war faded in the distance.

He glanced around.

"Where the hell am I?"

Carmela's Curse – Kaiser's Arm is Weakened

The fight continued in the fortress.

Carmela was relentless, her attacks impossibly fluid.

Kaiser flickered, using Phantom Step to barely evade, but the strain was taking its toll.

Then—it happened.

Carmela moved faster than expected, her long, razor-sharp nails grazing his left forearm.

Instantly, a sickly violet hue spread across his skin.

His arm went limp—useless.

His dagger clattered to the floor.

A cold laugh escaped Carmela's lips.

"Oops."

Carmela's Intentions – The Girl They're Both Searching For

Kaiser staggered back, his left arm dead weight.

Carmela slowly stalked forward, her smirk widening.

"Oh, poor thing. You're in such a pitiful state."

She tilted her head, pretending to be apologetic.

"I wouldn't have wasted time with you if I wasn't looking for something… or rather, someone."

Kaiser's eyes sharpened.

"Someone?"

Carmela's expression darkened slightly.

"Dante promised me a girl. A special one."

She ran a claw along her chain, her tone mocking.

"But then, some lowlife resistance fighters decided to put up a funny little fight."

Kaiser's mind raced.

A girl?

His mission was to rescue a girl.

Could it be… the same one?

His heart pounded.

The war was getting more complicated.