Chapter Sixty-Two: Violet in the Dark Night

The colossal body of the Serpent of the Wind moved with terrifying agility; its tail whipped toward me like a bolt of lightning. I teleported away, narrowly evading the crushing blow, and reappeared at its side, driving my scythe deep into its massive form. Yet the wound I inflicted was negligible compared to its vast body, and even that minor gash began to heal almost instantly.

With a hiss that reverberated through the air, the Serpent of the Wind expressed its pain, letting out a roar so thunderous that I realized for the first time how loud a serpent could truly be. As it howled, the scales on its body bristled upward, each one standing on edge like a blade. In the next instant, countless scales shot outward in every direction, a lethal storm of razors.

“Dodge!” Even the six other Judges, locked in combat with Ang in the distance, dared not face this onslaught. Abandoning Ang, they scattered, desperately evading the barrage of flying scales.

I had no way to escape the oncoming storm. All I could do was whirl my scythe, mustering every ounce of strength to defend myself. Shadows of the scythe encircled me, forming a protective sphere. The metallic clash of blade against scale rang out ceaselessly, and with each impact, my arms grew numb and sore, until I could barely keep hold of my weapon.

At last, the storm of scales subsided, revealing the devastation around me. The ground was carved with crisscrossing ravines; not a single stone remained, nor any trace of grass or plant— even the earth itself had been sheared away.

The five surviving Judges, shaken, returned from a distance, glancing warily at the scene. The fourth Judge, the Puppeteer, looked on with clear apprehension.

As for me, who had been closest to the Serpent, I too survived its assault, though my body was now covered with fresh wounds, blood streaming from countless gashes. Even my head and heart, which I had tried to protect, were not spared; my face was scored with seven or eight deep cuts, and a scale had nearly pierced my heart, slashing diagonally across my chest, barely missing its mark. I forced all the blood in my body to compress around my heart, staving off unconsciousness from blood loss.

“Princess Liliana, you have no strength left to fight. Surrender now,” urged the Duke of Wind, standing atop the serpent’s head.

I forced a weak smile. “Did I not say? I will struggle with all I have.” My magic was nearly spent; as he said, I truly had no more power to resist. But could I simply surrender and be taken away? No, I could not. Though I loathed to admit it, my heart still held a shadow— a trace of lingering attachment, a warmth I could not forget, left by the second human to ever enter my heart.

“Then I have no choice but to take you by force,” the Duke replied, seeing my unyielding expression. He ordered, “Serpent of the Wind, devour her.”

Was there no escape left? As the serpent’s massive maw loomed over me, black as a starless void, I found myself too drained— in body and spirit— to dodge. Was I truly to resort to that measure? I thought bitterly, staring into the abyss.

Yes, I still possessed my final life-saving power, the one I had kept in reserve all this time. But I had never wished to touch it— a force I would rather die than awaken.

I bit my lip, paralyzed by indecision.

“Young Lady!” Ang, seeing my predicament, cried out in desperation, but the five remaining Judges held him back, making any aid impossible.

Just as I was on the verge of giving up, a sudden change occurred.

A crimson light, like a meteor streaking across the night, shot in from nowhere. In an instant, it pierced the Serpent of the Wind’s head, nailing it to the earth just as it was about to devour me— a long spear, forged from congealed blood.

“What?” The Duke of Wind, nearly struck by the spear himself, swept his furious gaze around. “Who dares interfere in my affairs?”

“Duke of Wind, your audacity knows no bounds. How dare you harm Princess Liliana?” A voice, trembling with anger, echoed in everyone’s ears. At the sound of it, the Duke’s face blanched. The other Judges, too, showed open terror.

With the voice came the rhythmic pounding of hooves, drawing closer with each heartbeat, striking fear into every soul present.

Moments later, the clear whinny of a horse rang out. Before us stood a splendid warhorse, its body shrouded in purple hellfire— a pure-blooded Nightmare.

Yet astride this majestic steed was not a fearsome warrior, but a seemingly delicate woman. Her petite figure was in stark contrast to the grandeur of the Nightmare, but in that instant, every breath was held, every gaze fixed upon her.

Her long purple hair streamed behind her shoulders; in her hand, a dark golden knight’s lance. She was clad in blood-red armor from head to toe. Her cold eyes swept over the gathering, and all who met her gaze felt an involuntary chill run down their spines.

I stared, momentarily stunned.

“Blood Knight, what is your intention?” the Duke of Wind demanded, regaining his composure.

“How dare you ask? Harm Liliana, and you deserve death. Anyone who hurts her is my enemy. Since you dared to wound her, prepare to die,” the woman replied, her voice cold and unyielding. Then, dismounting from the Nightmare, she approached me. “Xuelan Meryl Bruch greets Princess Liliana. Forgive my late arrival, Your Highness.” The Blood Knight knelt on one knee before me.

“Xuelan,” I murmured, my voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

“Yes, Princess Liliana. Xuelan Meryl, Captain of the Guard to the First Princess of the Blood Clan, reporting for duty. Your Highness, I have returned. To have allowed you to suffer such injury is my failing.” Xuelan bowed her head low, her tone laden with guilt.

“Xuelan… I never thought I’d see you again. It’s been nearly three hundred years, hasn’t it?” I closed my eyes, memories flooding back— the days when I first met Xuelan. Then, I was but a child, less than ten years old. My mother was still alive, and my father smiled every day. She, with her regal violet hair, was brought to me by my father as both guard and companion.

Back then, I felt nothing for anyone, cold and indifferent to all. Yet she never left my side, undeterred by my chill. Even after my mother died and my nature changed, she remained unwaveringly loyal. If there is anyone in this world I could call a friend, it would be Xuelan. Later, I sealed my bloodline and returned with my father to the ancestral castle, while Xuelan left to pursue strength, roaming far and wide. We parted ways and never met again.

When I next heard of her, she was already famed as the youngest Duke in all the Blood Clan, known as the Violet of the Night— I, the Tulip of the Night; Liliel, the Red Rose of the Night. Unlike Liliel and me, born to noble lines, Xuelan had been just an ordinary member of House Bruch, one of the Thirteen Clans. Her achievements were entirely her own.

After becoming a Duke, she vanished again, and we had no further contact. Now I realize she became a Judge.

“Blood Knight, stand aside. Do not obstruct me. I must take Princess Liliana back— it is for her own good,” the Duke of Wind said, his anger mounting.

“Hmph. I care nothing for your intentions. To harm Liliana is to court death. Anyone who hurts her is my enemy. Since you wounded her, be ready to die.” Xuelan’s voice was icy, leaving no room for compromise.

“Bah! Don’t think I fear you. I have coveted the position of Second Judge for a long time. The top three Judges have never clashed— let us see why you stand above me.” The Serpent of the Wind, restored to full power, glared at Xuelan, awaiting only the Duke’s command to attack.

“I have no interest in fighting you. You are too weak,” Xuelan said coolly, causing the Duke to grit his teeth in rage.

Ignoring his fury, she turned and called out, “First Judge, Duke of Swords, how much longer do you intend to spectate? Should you not reveal yourself?”

A peal of laughter resounded from afar, yet it rang as clear as if beside us. “Ha! So I’ve been discovered. As expected of the Blood Knight, Second Judge— the famed Tulip of the Night, truly deserving of the title.”

“What? That lunatic is here?” The Duke of Wind’s voice was tinged with shock.

“Hmph. Even if it’s you, I will not retreat. So long as I stand, no one will harm Liliana.” Xuelan spoke calmly, standing steadfast before me, her resolve unshakable.