Blood Against Blood

Chapter 13: Blood Against Blood

The moonlight bathed the forest in a pale, eerie glow.

Lysendra stepped forward, her silver eyes filled with resolve as she faced her uncle.

"Uncle Risgao," she said, her voice firm but shaken, "You've done enough evil. It's time someone stopped you."

Risgao smirked cruelly. "Oh? So, you've finally awakened your Moon Goddess powers. Just like your mother, Sarina… who is now dead."

Lysendra's hands tightened into fists. "She gave her life for the village. And I'll follow her path."

Raising her hands to the sky, she shouted:

"Moon's Wrath!"

A silver light exploded around her as she shot upward, disappearing into the clouds. When she returned, she was transformed. Her hair had turned white with frosty crystal tips, her eyes glowed like frozen moons, and two divine pelesis—twin short blades—formed in her hands. Her robes shimmered like ice under moonlight.

Risgao narrowed his eyes. "So you've truly become like her. But you'll never defeat me."

With a dark laugh, Risgao turned and ran—heading toward the jungle.

Lysendra took flight and followed swiftly, her icy aura trailing behind her.

Once deep in the jungle, Risgao raised his hand. "Come, my beasts. Feast on your enemy!"

Suddenly, giant serpents, spiders, ants, and eagles emerged from the shadows. They hissed and growled, their monstrous forms moving in sync with Risgao's will.

Lysendra's eyes widened. "You've been controlling these creatures? You're the one who's been attacking our village?"

Risgao laughed. "Yes. For the past two months, I've tried to kill Cairo with these beasts. But he kept surviving. Let's see how long you last."

He climbed onto a giant eagle, flying high above.

Lysendra whispered, "This won't be enough to stop me, Uncle."

As a serpent lunged from behind and a giant invisible spider crept toward her from the front, she flipped into the air, dodging both. In one swift motion, she threw her pelesis into their eyes. The blades returned to her hands as the spider turned visible and collapsed.

Above her, Risgao shot icy flames from his sword.

She spun midair, dodging, and then sent her blades spinning like disks. They multiplied in the air, crashing into the monsters below. The creatures froze instantly, turned into statues of ice.

Even Risgao's eagle froze mid-flight, shattering into pieces as he fell from the sky.

He hit the ground hard, groaning. "You've grown strong… but I still have more."

He began forming ice steps in the air, quickly running up them toward her. When he reached her, he launched a flurry of punches.

Lysendra blocked and dodged each one, slicing him with her pelesis whenever she could.

But then Risgao's fingers sharpened into claws of hardened ice, and he struck her in the stomach.

Lysendra gasped—he was draining her Moon energy.

She staggered, her strength fading.

Risgao grinned. "With your power in me, I'll become a god!"

Just then—an arrow flew through the air and struck Risgao's leg.

He roared in pain, releasing Lysendra.

Cairo stood below with a bow in hand.

"I'm not letting her fight alone!" he shouted.

Risgao's eyes burned. "You annoying brat—!"

He jumped toward Cairo, preparing to kill him, but another pelesis flew through the air.

This time—it struck his head.

His head separated from his body and fell to the ground.

Lysendra landed beside Cairo. "I think… he's finally gone."

Cairo looked around cautiously. "I hope so."

But suddenly, the severed head turned toward them and began speaking.

"You fools," Risgao sneered. "Did you think it would be that easy? My head is the source of all my Moon energy. As long as it lives—I live."

His eyes flashed, and a beam of ice erupted, freezing the ground below.

Lysendra grabbed Cairo and flew high above, dodging the blast.

As they hovered midair, another beam surged toward them.

Lysendra whispered coldly, "Time to end this."

She flew straight down, smashing into Risgao's head with her full force.

His head shattered into crystal shards.

Silence fell.

They landed gently on the forest floor.

Cairo placed his hand on Lysendra's shoulder. "We did it… We stopped him."

Lysendra looked away. "You shouldn't have come. It was too dangerous."

He smiled faintly. "If I hadn't, you might not have made it."

Just then, a massive demonic insect flew toward them, trying to strike.

Without blinking, Lysendra formed a long ice spike and drove it straight through its eye.

The beast dropped.

She didn't even flinch.

"Let's go," she said softly. "More might be coming."

She lifted Cairo and flew back to the village.

---

Meanwhile, deep within the Crimson Zone…

Tatsuo and Elira stepped through the glowing portal. The realm was vast—empty, cold, and silent.

Tatsuo looked around. "This place feels… lifeless. Where's Nineshin?"

Elira shook her head. "I don't know, but something's here."

Suddenly, a stone pillar appeared before them. Words glowed on its surface:

"To reach the prisoner, you must complete the Crimson Orders."

Tatsuo frowned. "So it's a trial."

Just then, a child with glowing red eyes stepped forward silently—and attacked.

Tatsuo blocked the blow, confused. "Who are you?"

The child said nothing and kept attacking.

Realizing it was no use, Tatsuo fought back and, after a short battle, drove his blade through the boy's head.

The boy disappeared into dust.

Another figure emerged—tall, divine, glowing with both Sun and Moon energy.

The moment he raised his hand, Elira's skin began to burn, her form melting slightly.

"Elira!" Tatsuo shouted and quickly used his Moon powers to shield her.

"That must be Nineshin," he said. "He holds both powers… but we'll stop him."

Elira stood beside him, trembling but determined.

"Yes. Together, we're stronger than anything."

—

End of Chapter 13: Blood Against Blood