The four clones took their positions at the mountain's four corners, forming a deadly perimeter around Lilith's glowing cocoon. Together, they stood guard — silent, unwavering — as the unending waves of berserk beasts crashed against them.
And thus began the Bloodshade of the Weeping Willow Mountain, a night where crimson rain fell endlessly, no matter how many monsters perished.
---
Sunny dashed forward, his dagger gleaming with cold light, ready to pierce through the neck of a shadow leopard —
When a horrifying scream split the air.
He turned just in time to see one of his clones being torn apart — piece by piece — by something fast, invisible, and merciless.
"Damn it!"
A violent gust followed as a massive claw slammed into Sunny's chest, hurling him into the ground with bone-cracking force. Dust exploded around him. Pain tore through every nerve. His left arm hung limp — broken, useless, numb.
But there was no time to mourn pain.
Gritting his teeth, Sunny rose slowly, blood trickling from his lips. His crimson eyes burned with rage as he bit the inside of his mouth, tasting iron.
In perfect synchrony, his remaining clones mirrored his motion. Together, they leapt high into the air, shouting in unison as summoning sigils flared beneath their feet. Each pressed a dagger into their thumb — blood dripping to the trembling ground.
The mountain shuddered.
A deep rumble echoed — ancient, monstrous. Then, with a deafening croak, a colossal silver-ranked frog erupted from the depths, its tongue whipping outward like a blade of death.
Hundreds of beasts were crushed or swallowed whole in a single motion.
Sunny exhaled in exhaustion, collapsing to one knee as the air reeked of blood and burnt ozone. He had fought for days without rest, his body nearly spent. This — the summoned beast — was his last resort. A creature he had purchased through the Dark Web's Black Auction, bound by a forbidden soul chain.
Beasts like this didn't need contracts. They obeyed because their very souls were shackled by dark sorcery — loyal until death, even if it destroyed them.
Cruel, yes — but effective.
---
Supporting himself weakly, Sunny staggered toward Lilith's cocoon. The once-blinding light had condensed into a radiant holy spirit stone, glowing softly beside her.
He rested his back against the pupa and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, the mountain was a graveyard. Corpses blanketed the ground, piled like waves in a crimson sea.
The silver frog stood amidst the carnage — wounded, battered, but still fighting. Its entire body was marked with cuts, ichor dripping from gaping wounds, yet it roared in defiance, obeying its master's will one last time.
Sunny's gaze softened. Even bound souls deserve mercy.
Standing straight, he brushed the dust from his clothes, eyes fixed on the trembling cocoon. "Looks like she's nearing the end of her evolution," he murmured.
As if responding to his words, the beasts below howled wildly, turning feral. They hurled themselves at the mountain in a final frenzy.
The frog croaked — a sound that split the air — and unleashed its fury once more. The ground split open, shockwaves rippling outward, crushing the advancing beasts into mist.
Then, the pupa shattered.
---
From within the explosion of divine light emerged Lilith, her body levitating gracefully above the ground. Six ethereal wings unfolded behind her, each feather glowing with sacred brilliance.
Her hair flowed like silk in a celestial breeze; her skin gleamed pale and perfect — as if sculpted from moonlight itself. The air around her distorted, reality bending under her divine pressure.
Then, a colossal illusory angel appeared behind her — one with fourteen radiant wings stretching across the heavens. The sight was overwhelming, its holiness suffocating. Even the mightiest beasts trembled and bowed before its majesty.
For a fleeting heartbeat, the world fell silent. Then, the vision faded — leaving behind only Lilith, eyes closed, suspended in the golden air.
When she opened her eyes, an invisible pulse of divine light rippled outward. Beasts within miles collapsed instantly — lifeless, their corrupted souls purified into ash.
"Master…"
Her voice was soft, trembling — both divine and heartbreakingly human.
Before Sunny could respond, she vanished from midair and reappeared in his arms, clinging tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Sunny held her close, his hand stroking her hair gently. "It's okay," he whispered. "You're safe now."
"Mas… Master," she tried to speak, but her words broke with emotion.
"Shh," Sunny murmured, tightening his embrace. "You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad you returned to me."
Lilith's tears glimmered like liquid diamonds. "Lilith doesn't know how to thank Master… it hurts to see what you went through while I was still evolving."
Sunny only smiled faintly in response.
They stayed like that for a long moment — two souls, bound not by contract but by something deeper, something unspoken.
---
"Master," Lilith whispered suddenly, her tone shifting, "I sense powerful auras approaching. Fast."
Sunny's expression hardened. He looked out toward the horizon — nothing yet. But if Lilith said so, it was truth.
"Time to call it a day," he said calmly.
Turning toward the frog, he met its weary gaze. "You are hereby free."
A dark whirlpool formed above the creature. The sound of chains snapping echoed across the mountain. The frog let out a deep, relieved croak and bowed one final time before leaping into the sky, vanishing beyond the clouds.
Sunny took a deep breath and turned to Lilith. "Let's go."
A golden dimensional key appeared in his hand as a whirlpool of light spiraled around them.
He twisted the key.
With a soft click, both Sunny and Lilith vanished — leaving behind a mountain drenched in blood and moonlight.
---
Moments later, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky.
A man on a colossal demonic bird descended, his eyes wide in disbelief. Behind him, dozens more figures — each mounted upon their own terrifying summons — stared at the devastation below.
"What in the name of hell happened here?" one of them shouted, his voice trembling.
Corrupted auras flared across the mountainside as others gathered, both righteous and corrupt factions converging on the same spot.
And when their eyes met — holiness and corruption — a single truth settled among them.
War was inevitable.
The heavens trembled as both sides roared and charged, the clash of spells and blades igniting the night sky.