Conan gnashed his teeth, picking up his speed, and swinging his sword towards Abel. The latter was using a whiplash made of blood. All Abel had been doing was flicking his fingers to block Conan's attack whilst laughing excitedly.
Along with Abel's echoing laughter, as if he was having the time of his life, were the piercing noises of the red whiplash and the blades of Conan's sword. Everyone, although capable, could hardly follow Conan and Abel's movements.
It was as though the two of them were skipping time and spaces, disappearing from an area only to reappear at the other end of the great hall. The only indicator that there was a fight was the clashing of auras and the red sparks flashing before their eyes.
The witches kept chanting under their breath while the vampires, who would sometimes block lost attacks or shock waves, couldn't drop their guard. Despite keeping their guards up, they couldn't help but be amazed at the art of the duel unfolding right before their eyes.
Abel was amazing as he was. Everyone already knew that. Right now, the witches would sometimes help Conan, targeting Abel's chains, since putting a curse on an already cursed being such as Abel was ineffective. And yet, Abel had forced the witches to wonder if they were even helping.
Abel was unbothered at all!
Aside from the emperor, what truly amazed everyone was Conan. Most of them had heard about the vicious right-hand man of the emperor. The man, who had turned away from his royalty duties to become someone else's follower.
But not many of them had witnessed Conan ever holding his sword. In fact, not a single one of them had felt Conan ever pulling an aura. So this was new for everyone. They heard rumors, and Isaiah, who was most in contact with the night council, had always warned them about Conan.
They gave it the benefit of the doubt, but now that they were witnessing how Conan matched Abel, they could only watch, slacked jaw.
Still… one fact remained.
Abel was still playing. The sound of his sinister waves of laughter echoing across the great hall was the proof.
"What a monster," a member of the night council mumbled, only to hold his breath when Abel suddenly appeared right before his eyes. His eyes dilated, seeing a pair of bright red and black eyes sizing him up without blinking.
"You — your Ma —"
Boogsh!
Abel jumped back when Conan flew down with his sword's sharp tip aiming down. Conan's sword pierced through the floor, landing in between Abel and the member of the night council.
"Get a grip!" yelled Conan through his gritted teeth, snapping the member of the night council back to the current lapse.
"Uh…"
"Tch! Useless!" Conan bellowed in irritation, pulling up his sword, and standing straight. His back was facing the night council, facing Abel squarely. "The next time you lowered your guards, I'm not saving your head."
"Ye — yes. Apologies."
Conan clicked his tongue once again, eyes glinting at Abel. The latter had stood in the middle of the great hall, grinning from ear to ear until his bloody teeth were visible. There was still fresh blood stuck in between Abel's teeth; a sight that would turn anyone's stomach.
"Conan, Conan, Conan." Abel clapped playfully, gazing at Conan, and then those standing behind him. "Why are you siding with them, my dearest? Aren't we friends?"
Conan's jaw tightened before he yelled. "Damn you, Isaiah! I will kill you once you step foot inside this place!"
"Haha! Oh, dear!" Abel laughed.
"It's his fault," Conan growled, gnashing his teeth. He gripped his sword, eyes bloodshot. "If he's here, I wouldn't have to do all this! Why do you hate me so much I can't even get a day's rest?!"
Conan complained at the top of his lungs. "I already do the paperwork! And now, I even have to fight! I hate you!"
"How sweet." Abel burst out in laughter, bringing a ton of question marks into everyone's speech bubble.
Was Conan sure to complain right now?
"Damn it!" Conan ground his teeth, glaring daggers at Abel. He didn't know what time it was or how long they still have before the coven ends. But what he knew was that Abel wasn't getting any better.
"Good lord!" he huffed, recomposing himself by shaking his head once. "I will surely ask Lady Aries to punish you —"
"Will she, though?" Conan's breath hitched because, in a blink of an eye, Abel just appeared right in front of him. More than the fright of dying, Conan was horrified at the scary sight of his emperor.
Clang!
Despite being caught off guard, Conan was able to block Abel's attack — thanks to his fast reflexes. His sword rattled against Abel's sharp nails.
"I will tell Lady Aries you bullied me," Conan grumbled through his gritted teeth, sounding like childish banter. But Conan had to keep reminding Abel about Aries until the former could get a grip. "I hope she leaves you."
Abel's smile faded, cocking his head to the side. "Did you just… curse me?"
"I simply wished her happiness. Obviously, she wouldn't attain that with you."
"Hah…" Abel let out a dry laugh, staring at Conan in silence. To everyone's surprise, he let Conan's sword go, while Conan held it still between them.
"Your Majesty, I know you want to end the coven once and for all. However, you didn't tell me your only way to do that is to allow your demon to take charge," Conan continued under his breath, but his voice, although quiet, it was firm. "I am disappointed in you."
Abel blinked ever so slowly, taking a step back, eyes on Conan. Without a word, he turned on his heel, walking away. Some of them looked at each other, while others continued on chanting indistinct language much faster.
"Was he conceding?" someone whispered behind Conan, but Conan's expression was far away from relief.
"Distance yourself," Conan instructed solemnly, keeping his eyes on Abel. "He is not conceding. He was angry."
His eyes glinted, and they soon understood what Conan meant. Abel stopped right next to Firion's body, picking up the dead's sword.
The side of his lips curled up into an amused smirk, fixing his eyes at Conan. "My dearest vassal, you… had been an excellent company until now. I guess it's time for you to rest… forever."
As soon as those words slipped past Abel's lips, he disappeared from his vantage point. The next thing everyone heard was the heavy clash of metals erupting in the air.
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