Previously~
Vincent vanished in an instant.
Count Duskrane turned his gaze toward Ed and Alex.
"Let's continue this talk in the training grounds."
He strode toward the platform, his presence commanding.
Alex and Ed exchanged nervous glances. They turned to Henry for help, but he only smirked, pulling out a small box of popcorn from a magic circle.
The real nightmare was about to begin.
Location – Training Grounds, Duskrane CountyDate – 25th, Month of Zephyris, XXXX
Edward swallowed nervously, his throat dry. In desperation, he blurted out—
"Father-in-law, have you seen the kids?"
"Yeah, how about we talk after seeing the kids?" Alexander's hopeful eyes gleamed.
Count Duskrane raised his sword. "No need. Henry brought them long before you arrived."
Their last hope shattered. They turned to Henry with a glare, but he only grinned, tossing another handful of salted popcorn into his mouth.
"I like it salted," he smirked, as if that had been the question.
"Come on, how long will you make an old man wait?" Count Duskrane's voice carried the faintest embers of impatience.
Alexander and Edward exchanged glances. Slowly, reluctantly, they unsheathed their weapons—Alexander's Lunar Sword and Edward's Void Spear.
Then, suddenly, a flicker of mischief lit up Alexander's face.
"Father-in-law, it's not good for your health to spar with both of us at your age." He patted Edward's shoulder. "Ed here would love to go first."
Edward's eyes widened in betrayal. 'This bastard—how dare you throw me under the carriage!'
He dramatically raised a hand. "Alexander, please don't hold back! I know how much you love Father-in-law. You should go first."
Alexander gaped at him in disbelief.
"Father, they're stalling for time," Henry said casually, tossing another kernel into his mouth.
Both men turned to Henry with the deadliest side-eye. Henry, unfazed, simply added more salt to his popcorn.
BOOM!
In an instant, Count Duskrane lunged forward, closing the distance with a single explosive step. His greatsword cleaved through the air.
FWIP!CRASH!
The impact shattered the stone beneath them, sending debris flying. Henry flicked his fingers, opening a magic circle. The fragments vanished—then reappeared through a larger magic square, hurtling straight toward Edward and Alexander.
BOOM! CRASH!
Both men dodged, but in that moment—
CLANG!
The Count's greatsword met Alexander's Lunar Sword, forcing them apart.
"Ed!" Alexander shrieked.
STAB!
Edward's spear shot toward the Count's back—but met only air.
"Cowardly." A cold voice whispered behind him.
CLASH!
Edward barely managed to parry as the Count reappeared, his strikes relentless.
Alexander lunged in from behind—only for the Count to flick his greatsword effortlessly, knocking him off balance.
Edward seized the opportunity, lunging forward with a spinning slash.
SWISH!
The Count sidestepped, and Edward's spear carved through the platform instead, splitting the stone.
Alexander exhaled sharply, feeling a slight burn in his legs. He glanced at Edward.
Across from them, the Count flexed his fingers. His hands trembled—just slightly.
'Age has caught up with me…'
And yet, a smile played on his lips.
Alexander narrowed his eyes. He moved, leaving afterimages behind.
WHOOSH!
A blur of Alexanders lunged toward the Count.
BANG!
Alexander's sword was intercepted—not by the Count, but by a chunk of debris wielded by Henry.
"Isn't that cheating?" Alexander asked.
Edward felt something ignite in his chest. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Alexander's shoulder.
A grin stretched across his face, sweat dripping down his forehead. "Bring it on."
"Okay. Rules are the same—no aura, no mana. Pure physical attacks." Henry cracked his knuckles.
"Works for me." Edward stepped back, rolling his shoulders.
Alexander eyed Henry. "You're not using a weapon?"
Henry smirked and pulled out a pair of purple gloves with black outlines—barely distinguishable from leather gloves, save for the enchantments woven into them.
"I only need these."
"Alright, round two—" Henry motioned downward. "Start."
BATTLE – ROUND TWO
BOOM! CLANG!
Alexander's blade met Henry's fist. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Alexander swung diagonally—only for Henry to gently parry it aside. In the next instant, Henry was inside his guard.
Alexander's instincts screamed. He raised an arm—
Henry smirked. At the last second, his upward-moving fist suddenly reversed direction.
THUD!
An elbow slammed into Alexander's ribs.
Alexander gasped, staggering back, his breath catching as if he'd hit an invisible wall.
Henry didn't waste the opening. Twisting his hip, he launched a cross toward Alexander's face.
CLANG!
Alexander barely blocked in time.
With a grunt, he lunged, stabbing toward Henry's chest.
Henry dodged—
Alexander smirked, twisting mid-motion, launching a spinning kick.
SKID!
Henry blocked—but the sheer impact sent him sliding across the platform.
On the other side, Edward and the Count exchanged relentless blows.
Suddenly—
FWIP!
Edward threw his spear.
The Count parried it—
BAM! BAM!
—but in the brief moment it obscured his vision, Edward struck three times:
A hit to the throat. A strike to the solar plexus. A final gut punch.
The Count staggered; his breathing heavy.
Both men locked eyes.
They understood.
Without hesitation, they yanked off their coats, brooches, and accessories. Now, only pants and half-buttoned shirts remained.
Alexander saw the change.
He exhaled. 'What am I afraid of? I'm not weak.'
Shedding his coat, he tightened his ponytail. Then, he picked up his sword.
His blade met Henry's punch.
BAM!
A shockwave tore through the air.
They didn't notice the castle walls shaking, the trees breaking.
They didn't see the ground itself fracturing—
Until a magic circle erupted between them. A pillar of ice shot up, blocking both of them. Similarly, a wall of stone appeared between Henry and Alexander.
The men turned to see the ladies of the house staring at them, arms crossed, annoyance lingering clearly on their faces.
The Countess moved first. She walked up to the Count and stretched his ear.
"Ouch!... Olivia, it hurts," the Count protested.
"Hoh… so it hurts now? Did it not hurt when you were fighting like a mad bull, Thomas?" Olivia pinched his ear even harder.
The Count wasn't suffering alone. Sophie strode toward Alexander and stared at him furiously.
'I'm scared. I'm weak.' Alexander's thoughts betrayed his earlier determination.
Sophie bonked his head.
"Are you a warmonger? Why do you fight at every little chance?" she asked angrily.
"I… I did not sta—" He looked at his father-in-law. "I am sorry." Alexander's face drooped.
Sophie turned her back. "Don't do it next time."
A smile appeared on Alexander's face.
Amelia lightly placed her hand on the ice pillar, dissolving her magic.
She didn't say anything to Edward, nor did she go to him. Edward noticed the pout on his wife's face. He slowly walked toward her, buttoning his shirt.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, Edward apologized.
"I'm sorry for troubling you."
Amelia turned toward him.
"Sorry for what?"
Edward smiled, caressing her shoulder-length hair.
"I'm sorry for making my cute wife worry, and I'm sorry for behaving that way with Father-in-law."
"It isn't your fault." Amelia ran her hand through his thin, trimmed beard.
"Okay," Edward replied softly.
Henry couldn't look Orianne in the eyes. He frantically avoided making any eye contact.
Orianne disabled the stone wall and walked toward him. She whispered softly in his ear:
"You're sleeping on the couch for a week."
Henry fell to his knees. He felt like his world had shattered. He stretched his hand toward Orianne, who walked away from him.
Edward and Alexander saw the scene unfold.
"Serves you right!" they muttered with satisfied smiles.
"Now, boys—line up," Olivia ordered.
With a snap, green light enveloped their wounds, healing them.
"Now for the damage," Olivia said, looking around. "How will you reimburse this?"
WHAM!
A thunderbird descended, its plumage glowing with an ethereal blue hue, as though woven from the very essence of storms. Raindrops danced upon its wings but never soaked them, repelled by the electric energy that pulsed from its body like a living storm cloud.
"Let me help, Grandma." Vincent descended from the bird. He patted it softly. "Sparky 01, thanks for the ride!"
The bird cooed before stretching its wings and disappearing into the vast sky, thunderbolts still flashing where it had stood.
"Now." Vincent lightly stomped on the platform. A circle emerged from beneath, white runes glowing. The circle didn't merely glow—it bent reality itself. Symbols floated weightlessly in the air, shifting positions as if rejecting the laws of physics. Space distorted around it, stretching and folding in on itself, while the distant echoes of past and future murmured through the ever-shifting runes.
Bits of the stage slowly returned to their rightful places. The castle walls repaired themselves.
But the trees and gardens remained in ruins.
"Auntie Sophie, I need your help."
Sophie opened her palm. A magic square pulsating with emerald energy appeared. Suddenly, the trees and gardens healed, growing back to their former glory.
A few moments later~
All the men—from Thomas to Vincent—knelt in front of the ladies, their heads down.
"Now—"
Olivia began the interrogation.