A few moments later, the alley was a blood-soaked graveyard.
Blanchette stood tall amidst the carnage, holding the limp body of one of the werewolf city guards by his collar. His face was barely recognizable, crushed and oozing blood that dripped onto the cracked cobblestone below. Another guard lay a few feet away, limbs twisted grotesquely, blood pooled around his shattered body. Only one remained alive, barely. He trembled, sword in hand, eyes wide with pure terror.
With glowing blue eyes, Blanchette released the dead guard. The body hit the ground with a sickening thud. Her footsteps echoed ominously as she approached the final guard. His grip loosened, and the sword clattered to the floor. He fell backward, scrambling like a cornered animal.
Blanchette crouched before him, her gaze unwavering, her blue eyes burning like twin flames. The city guard's face was drenched in sweat, his breath shallow and erratic.
"Where is Sawyl?" she asked coldly, picking up the fallen sword and pressing it gently to his neck.
The cold metal kissed his skin, and a trickle of blood ran from a small cut as he flinched.
"You mean… Sawyl Xeno?" the guard stammered. "I-I can't give information about him. If he finds out, he'll kill me..."
The sword pressed tighter. The threat of death made his voice crack.
"He's usually at a pub. The Werewolf Cave. Just two streets north of here. Big sign out front. Hard to miss. He's a big guy… alpha werewolf…"
Blanchette withdrew the sword. The guard exhaled in trembling relief.
"But I told you everythi..."
Slash.
His words ended in a gurgle. Blanchette moved with brutal efficiency, severing his hands first, then his head. Blood sprayed against the brick walls in gruesome arcs. The severed head rolled away and came to a stop beside the others.
She dropped the bloodied sword without a glance and strode out of the alleyway. Merlin was waiting at the entrance, her face tight with restrained emotion.
"You didn't have to kill the last guy," she said quietly.
"Yes, I did," Blanchette replied flatly, her eyes still glowing blue. "He would've alerted the others."
Merlin sighed as they walked together through the darkening streets. (Damn, Joshua… you really know how to pick them.)
They arrived at a rowdy, dimly lit establishment with a large wooden sign that read The Werewolf Cave. Blanchette moved to enter, but Merlin held her back.
"Wait. I've got a plan. Let's get to that rooftop first," she said, pointing upward.
Moments later, the two crouched atop the roof, peering down at the pub.
"We wait until he steps outside and heads into an alleyway," Merlin explained. "Then I'll cast a barrier using one of my awakened mutations. It'll trap him. No escape."
"I don't need gimmicks to beat him," Blanchette growled, her eyes still glowing.
"And I'm not letting you die tonight," Merlin said, firm. "Joshua won't forgive me. The barrier is for you too. I'll pull you out if it gets bad."
Blanchette didn't respond. But her silence was answer enough.
Merlin sat cross-legged and began meditating. Her body lifted gently into the air as her eyes began to glow purple. She entered the Pure Noble Witches' Domain, an ethereal realm of shadowy figures and glowing violet eyes.
"Hey, family from the past," she called out. "Anyone here specialize in strong barrier magic?"
A small figure stepped forward, purple-haired, childlike, yet her aura was anything but innocent.
"Hi. My name is Blaze," she said brightly. "I'm the strongest barrier mage here."
Merlin blinked. "You're a kid."
"I still have better barriers than anyone else," Blaze said, shrugging.
"Fine. I need your power."
"It'll only last twenty-four hours. And it'll cost you one year of your lifespan."
Merlin hesitated. The weight of the price hit her. But then, she remembered Joshua lying motionless in bed, covered in bandages… her own tears… the dread of him never waking.
Her jaw tightened. "I accept."
"Kneel."
She knelt before her. Blaze reached out and touched her forehead. Her eyes glowed bright purple. Merlin's eyes flared in response. She emerged from the domain, now glowing with power, determined and ready.
Just then, Blanchette stiffened. She had spotted him.
"There he is," she whispered.
They followed from above as Sawyl Xeno, a towering alpha werewolf with a cocky gait, left the pub and strolled down the street. After a few turns, he stepped into a quiet alley.
"Now's your chance," Merlin said.
Blanchette donned her knuckle busters, then dropped silently from the rooftop into the alleyway, landing directly in front of Sawyl. Her glowing blue eyes pierced the shadows. She removed her hood, revealing her long red hair and the unrelenting fury in her expression.
Sawyl raised a brow. "A Pure Noble?" he said, laughing. "What a surprise. But I don't plan on becoming immortal today."
He tried to walk past her.
Crack!
Blanchette's heavy punch shot toward his head. Sawyl blocked it at the last second, but the sheer force launched him backward across the alley.
He skidded to a halt, blood trailing from his forearms where the knuckle busters tore into him.
(She's fast… and strong. Damn knuckle weapons.) Sawyl cursed silently, reaching for his sword, only to remember he had left it at home.
(Great. Today of all days.)
With no other choice, he dropped into a tight Muay Thai stance. His own eyes flared blue.
Above, Merlin raised her hands and activated the barrier. A shimmering dome sealed the alley.
Sawyl noticed instantly. He turned, slammed his fist into the barrier, and recoiled as blood spurted from his knuckles. No escape.
His eyes narrowed. "A witch too, huh? A pure noble one. Thought your kind died in the war."
He looked up at Merlin on the rooftop.
"Why the barrier?" he smirked. "So no one can interrupt our little moment?"
"No," Blanchette said, stepping into her MMA stance. "It's so you can't run when I'm about to kill you. Like the bitch you are."
Sawyl stared, then grinned.
"Hah! I like you," he said. "You remind me of a warrior I once knew."
His expression hardened as his stance lowered.
"But that warrior died screaming."
And with a roar, their battle began.