William let out a soft sigh. His dark brown eyes, like unexplored soil, opened slowly.
Before him, tendrils of the cursed vine swept through the air, hissing like hungry snakes as they headed toward him with demonic speed and cruelty.
But William's steps remained calm.
He moved sideways, one step at a time, as if dancing in a field of death. His movements were so calm and graceful that each incoming attack merely cast a shadow. That calm wasn't mere arrogance. It reflected something far more terrifying.
Velmire gritted his teeth. His anger began to boil.
As if in a show of fury, he raised his hand and summoned a high-level spell.
Balls of intense purple energy appeared out of thin air and shot toward William without hesitation.
William jumped once, twice, dodging like a shadow that knows where the bullet will go before it is fired.
Then, he opened his palm.
Silver butterflies emerged from it.
Dozens. Hundreds. They shot into the air, shimmering with an eerie, graceful silver light.
Like tiny falling stars, they darted and twinkled, then...
exploding.
The purple orbs shattered.
The tendrils chasing William were cut down one by one, as if mortal objects before a heavenly blade.
Velmire stared at the scene, her eyes wide.
"Who are you?" she hissed. "You use Sentinel magic, yet you've gone undetected. Have you been hiding your true identity this whole time?"
William smiled a small, arrogant smile. It pierced her more than any attack could.
He didn't answer directly; he just lifted his chin slightly.
"I told you, you're quite bold in your presence, Velmire," he said casually, as if they were having a conversation over tea.
Velmire's reaction was instant.
Her face flushed with anger. Her eyes blazed.
"Don't say my name with that foul mouth, human!"
She slammed her staff to the ground.
A crack appeared, and this time, the vines emerged not in dozens but in hundreds. They tangled together, vying for control.
William didn't stand still.
He planted his left foot firmly on the ground, using it as a springboard to propel himself high into the air and bypass the brutal attack with a sharp leap.
His silver butterfly rose with it, swirling around his body like a whirlpool of misplaced holy light.
Velmire briefly lost his bearings.
When he realized that William had surpassed him, a cold chill stung his cheek.
She froze.
Then she touched his face.
Blood dripped slowly.
The cut was thin and barely visible, but to an arrogant demon like Velmire, it was a grave insult.
His eyes widened and his lips trembled.
"How dare you injure this beautiful face of mine!"
A roar of rage echoed. Velmire's body shot into the air as she plunged into battle.
She flew wildly and brutally, hurling purple orbs like a rain of curses one after another.
The tendrils on the ground continued to move, trying to enclose William from below while Velmire bombarded him from above.
But the silver butterflies danced faster.
One by one, they detonated energy spheres, incinerating the tendrils.
The path to Velmire was now wide open.
William seized the moment.
In one swift motion, he charged forward like an undeflected bullet.
His black boot rose, aiming directly at Velmire's body.
Braaakk!
Velmire blocked the kick with his long, metal-tipped staff. The impact was powerful, creating a shockwave that sent leaves flying through the church garden.
Velmire grinned cruelly.
William kicked hard, his black boot clashing with Velmire's long staff. The impact echoed through the ravaged garden with a metallic clink. However, this was only the beginning. William didn't give Velmire any space.
He moved again.
His body disappeared in a flash of red—a swift, almost imperceptible movement like an autumn breeze dancing through leaves. His maple-red garments seemed to disguise him in an impossible-to-follow battle dance.
Velmire gritted his teeth. She fired more purple energy balls, but the teenager disappeared, reappeared, and vanished again. Each time she tried to lock onto the attack, his silver butterflies broke the trajectory of her magic.
"Damned little thing!" Velmire roared, panic creeping into the edges of his rage.
He didn't realize when his body began to be pushed back by subtle but deadly blows. William wasn't just attacking; he was dancing on the battlefield, and every one of his moves seemed designed to humble his opponent.
Velmire's body was thrown once more. She swung her staff to defend herself when William appeared, standing just an inch from her face. His dark brown eyes, full of mystery, stared straight into the demoness'.
A silver butterfly rested quietly on his fingertip. Its wings fluttered softly, almost beautifully.
Velmire stared at it for a moment, confused. The small creature had simply landed on her stomach, on the white fabric of her regalia. There was no explosion. There was no pressure.
Then everything exploded.
The butterfly shattered in a flash of silver light, creating a small blast wave that sent Velmire flying backward. She crashed hard to the ground, her trembling hands cracking the surface beneath her.
Velmire coughed violently, blood pouring from her mouth. She forced herself to her feet and leaned on her long staff, but her body began to shake. Silver butterflies had silently attached themselves to her shoulders, arms, and even the skirt of her dress.
They began to explode one by one.
Her shrill screams pierced the air.
Cuts appeared all over her body. Her dress was torn. Her skin was cut deeply. She staggered, nearly falling. Her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and fear.
"Who are you... really?" she hissed, breathing heavily. "Your silver butterfly...it's the same magic! When I attacked someone in the nun's room, it was you, wasn't it? You're the owner of that mana aura! Who are you?!"
William stared at her coldly, but his eyes remained composed. He slowly stepped closer. Each step was like a death sentence to Velmire.
"Velmire," he said in a low, firm voice. "How many humans have you eaten? You stole Lady Anastasia's face and abused her for your own amusement."
Velmire grimaced, but still managed to snort.
"That's none of your business," she spat. "Caroline summoned me. That woman is full of hatred. Full of revenge. I like humans like that. They give me form. They give me strength. I embody her anger. I am a shadow of the one she hates most...Anastasia Roselle."
She glared at William.
"So, I'll ask again: Who are you, really?"
William didn't answer immediately.
A silver butterfly landed on his shoulder and remained still. Its wings fluttered slowly. Moonlight reflected off the tiny creature. William stared at Velmire with eyes as cold as the merciless night.