Blood and Ashes

Lady Marianne's hand glowed red, producing sharp daggers… She lunged at them, aiming to slice the neck of the chain-wielder, but a short girl appeared, with a hammer symbol drawn on her scarf.

She struck Lady Marianne on her side, sending her crashing into the stairs leading to the upper floor. A person leaning against the wall of the house spoke, a sword without a hilt drawn on his scarf.

"It seems like another group of weaklings."

As he finished his sentence, Faithless stood beside him… He swung his sword to cut off his head, but a figure appeared from above—he had a spider drawn on his scarf.

He grabbed Faithless's shoulder like a spider and threw him directly toward the chimney… but Faithless opened his palm and released a powerful wave that destroyed the front façade of the house.

None of them were harmed, thanks to the scarf bearing the spider emblem… The chain-wielder spoke in a harsh tone:

"What a destructive force you possess, boy."

Lady Marianne launched bloody knives at them, but the hammer girl shattered them all.

"You… your damned hammer is making my blood boil." Marianne stood up, speaking in a sharp tone.

Resting the hammer on her shoulder, she replied with a mocking tone:

"Then why don't you try breaking it? Hahaha."

Faithless turned to Lady Marianne and asked calmly:

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. What do you say you take care of Mr. Hiltless and his spider friend, and I'll handle these two filthy ones." Marianne spoke as she wiped blood from her face.

Faithless nodded and dashed toward them, but the hiltless sword wielder blocked his strike. A fierce exchange of blows followed.

Their clash grew intense, and the hiltless one said in an admiring tone:

"You're quite the skilled swordsman. Unfortunately, this place will be your grave."

"Why rush things? I don't die anyway," Faithless replied sarcastically.

He swung his blade and whispered to himself:

"Archimedes."

An illusory blade appeared, making it difficult for the hiltless one to discern the real one.

"What? What is this technique?"

Faithless slashed with force, creating a deep wound across the man's chest. But the spider-emblemed one approached swiftly, grabbed Faithless by the leg, and smashed him into the ground, pinning him down with great strength.

The hiltless one moved to stab Faithless, but he raised his hand and unleashed a golden wave that pushed them both back.

Faithless stood up, clutching his neck, speaking in a sharp tone:

"You cowards…"

He slammed his sword into the ground and continued:

"I'll send you both to the depths of Hades."

Meanwhile, Lady Marianne was battling the chain-wielder and the hammer girl… The hammer girl swung fiercely, but Marianne blocked her strikes.

The other tried to wrap a chain around her neck, but she bent back and launched sharp knives that struck his leg.

"You filthy wench."

The hammer girl jumped and landed a strong blow, but Marianne moved like a drop of blood, grabbed her neck, and slammed her hard to the ground.

The chain-wielder appeared behind her and restrained her tightly, paralyzing her movements. The hammer girl lunged again, but Marianne evaded the strike, threw dust in her face—

Then pulled out a sharp bloody knife and slashed the chain-wielder's throat… She grabbed the hammer girl's hair and slammed her face repeatedly until her face was shattered and blood splattered across Marianne's own.

"She was annoying with that damned hammer." Marianne wiped the blood from her face and looked toward Faithless.

"Need any help?"

"No. They're just two little kittens. I can handle them." Faithless replied sarcastically.

Faithless was tightening the pressure on them. The hiltless one was already slowed by the deep wound on his chest.

Faithless raised his sword to decapitate him, but the spider-emblemed one grabbed him with both legs and arms. The hiltless one seized the opportunity to stab Faithless—

But he bent forward, causing him to stab his own ally instead…

"You bastard!" the hiltless one shouted angrily.

Faithless unleashed a golden wave that pierced his chest, causing him to fall immediately… Faithless was panting as he returned to normal.

Lady Marianne approached him, seemingly puzzled by something.

"Faithless, didn't you notice something?"

"No, what is it?"

"There were five of them, but only four showed up." Marianne placed a finger on her chin, thinking.

"You're right… one of them must be hiding—" He didn't finish the sentence before remembering the two girls. He looked directly toward the tree and saw them standing there, with a man behind them holding a spear to their necks.

The girls were trembling and crying in fear. The spear-wielding man spoke mockingly:

"You two are quite strong. No one has dared enter this area in ten years."

He continued in the same tone:

"And you brought along an old victim. I had killed her parents, but she and her sister managed to escape."

"So these bastards are responsible for killing Lulia and Lily's family." Faithless said in a hard tone.

"Why don't you drop your sword, brave boy, for the sake of these two girls?" the man said as he pressed the blade of the spear to their throats. The girls were terrified.

Faithless dropped his sword, but tried to unleash a golden wave… however, the man anticipated this and launched his spear, which pierced Faithless's chest and slammed him into the chimney.

"Hahahahaha! What a weakling. Dropped in one strike." The spear man laughed mockingly… while the girls stood in shock, tears slowly falling from their eyes. Only Lady Marianne stared calmly at the house.

The man continued laughing until he sensed an overwhelming aura—like being struck by a giant hammer… Marianne smiled as the man looked toward the house.

He saw Faithless emerging from it, clutching his neck, with the spear still lodged in his chest… The girls were caught between joy and shock.

"How can he still be alive after that strike?" That was the only question in their minds.

Faithless spoke in a cold, heavy, and mysterious tone:

"There are two mysteries that once called me 'Two-Faced'. At the time, I didn't understand what they meant… but now I do."

He continued in the same tone, his eyes glowing gold:

"So tell me, spear man… with which face do you wish to meet your death?"