Elijah stood over Palmer’s broken form, his crimson eyes cold and unyielding. “You’re soft, Elias,” he sneered, tossing his brother’s body to the ground like a discarded puppet. “I’ve spent centuries undergoing strict training with the devil herself, surpassing every weakness, every limit, just for this moment. All while you’ve been playing house with your bonds and puppets.”Palmer coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he struggled to speak. “...oth of y..you...” His voice was barely a whisper, but Elijah crouched down to listen, his expression unreadable.“What?” Elijah asked, his tone sharp.“I waited... for the bo..th of you...” Palmer rasped, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and regret.Elijah’s jaw tightened, his scar pulsing with a faint crimson glow. “But the first thing you did after seeing me was to try to stake me. You broke our promise and created a pact with the very species that sought to annihilate us.”“But... Old man said to protect humans,” Palmer managed, h

The voices of people could be heard cheering in a building that seemed to exist outside the world's gaze. The interior was vast, with a capacity for over a thousand people, its tiers rising high above the main floor. Every seat, from the topmost balcony to the ground level, offered a clear view of the spectacle below. It was an auction house, but not the kind that dealt in ordinary treasures. Here, notorious billionaires from across the globe gathered to bid on slaves and artifacts that defied the laws of nature.Seated in a private box on the upper floor was the owner of the auction, Leonardo Jordan. The man who had sent mercenaries after Damien after the young Montgomery raided his auction. A smug smile played on his lips as he watched the bids climb higher and higher. The artifacts on display—ethereal relics that seemed to hum with latent power—were fetching prices that would make even the wealthiest tycoons balk."My bank account is getting heavier yet again tonight," Jordan said

Valen's breath slowed.Palmer felt like he lost an emotion with every heartbeat.Flashes of their past flooded his mind—him and Valen grinning as they fought together. Their first meeting, their promise to protect what mattered. It all played in his head like a cruel, inescapable illusion. And beneath it all, he could hear it—Valen’s heartbeat, once steady, now fading.Palmer lay motionless.Sarah’s cry shattered the silence, raw and broken, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face.Kael, Ivy, and Kole stood frozen. They didn’t even register the presence of death breathing down their necks.Lilith’s amused voice cut through the heavy air. “Ah, ah… He actually did it.” She pouted playfully. She cocked her head, lips curling in amusement as she glanced at the trio. “But still… you guys have guts. Turning your backs to me like that.”They didn’t answer. They didn’t even acknowledge her.Their gazes were locked on Valen.Palmer turned back toward him too, his fingers twitching a

"Last born, find a way to free Elijah. Kael, Ivy, Kole, buy me some time… That horn is a problem. I’ll have to break it," Valen commanded, his voice sharp with urgency."Don't order me around. I'm only assisting," Lilith retorted, her tone laced with defiance. "After this, it'll be your turn.""That's for later. Right now, you can't afford to hold back that power. Look who we're up against."Lilith huffed, a hint of rudeness in her expression, as if she expected him to have already noticed. ThenWith a sudden focus, her long hair shimmered, transforming into pure silver. A surge of immense power erupted from her, and a third eye opened on her forehead, intricate patterns radiating across her skin from its center.Kael, Kole, and Ivy gasped, finally understanding the true extent of her abilities. She had been holding back, toying with them."That's more like it," Valen acknowledged, a grim satisfaction in his voice.Together, they lunged towards Palmer, who still held the struggling E

"How are you able to wield that blade though? That thing felt like it was eating my soul away," Valen asked, narrowing his eyes at Fenris.Fenris glanced at the crackling lightning blade as if it were an everyday tool. "Mm, who knows? Probably 'cause he shared some power with me?" he shrugged, casual as ever."Ohoo… If that's the case, lemme try holding it again." Valen reached out, and Fenris, with a curious glance, handed him the blade. Surprisingly, it had no adverse effect. There was no reaction. No searing pain."I see.""It seems pretty normal now. Why the sudden change? That thing was ripping my hand more than I could regenerate when I held it," Lilith observed, her brow furrowed in confusion.Valen gave a lazy grin. "If this idiot can do it, I’m not letting him outdo me.""Hoi!" Fenris barked, clearly offended."He said it himself, we're containing part of his essence also," Valen explained. "I can feel his energy surging through my body now, and fortunately, I can tap from i