Zeliker dodges another of Itsven's attacks that become faster and stronger. Itsven also was letting out dangerous killing intent. Zeliker didn't show any fear. He knows he might die if he was slower. So, he increased his speed which he thought he had done to his limit.
Their fight and movement were blurring until there was no image of their physical body anymore. But, their clashes destroyed the area more and more, creating a big pit and small earthquake.
Reuris and his friends swallowed because their eyes can no longer keep up with the two royal demons. Fear and hopelessness were shown in their expression. As for Flare, he narrowed his eyes while glowing in focus towards the battle.
He notices the disturbance among the Weety soldiers but he doesn't want to miss this chance to see Zeliker in action. This battle was very important to him and them.
"I must hurry and capture them all." Silvert had been using his dimension ability more and more.
He let out some pants and gazed at Luuya and ten more soldiers who were dangerously glaring at him. He didn't hide himself anymore and grinned at them.
"Who are you?! State your name!" One of the soldiers growled.
He was angry because he lost his close companion while keeping high attention on their surroundings. Who could have imagined that Silvert would be able to enter their shield and take away more soldiers while they were hesitating to attack him?
They were hesitating because Silvert appeared near Luuya and was the whole target if they fired their attack. Because of this, Silvert managed to grab some of them a second after he appeared.
"Me? I thought you would recognise me since I always stay beside my prince. Do I need to say for you to remember?" Silvert replied with a cheeky attitude.
His playful words enrage them. Luuya too was angry but he knew who Silvert was right away.
"Silvert! How can a general like you so loyal to the Flink Kingdom dare betray his own clan?!" He shouted.
"Huh? Are you mistaken? I am only loyal to my prince. I have never acknowledged anyone other than him." Silvert declared his side.
Everyone was shocked to hear it. In particular, the dimensional ability user in front of them wasn't loyal to Nekruis but instead to his son. And as they know, among the royal demon children, Zeliker's ability was the weakest and he was also one of the youngest royal demons.
And some only glimpse a few abilities he had that were mediocre. To think Silvert, who should be stronger than Zeliker, would follow such a prince, they, of course, felt unbelievable. And in this battle, they believe Itsven would win.
Silvert frowned. He knows what they were thinking. But he won't betray Zeliker for power or ranks. He would rather be ordered by Zeliker or stay as a servant forever. After all, gratitude overcomes the desire to monopolise the power he learns from Zeliker. Without Zeliker, he would have been dead long ago.
'These demons know nothing of him!'
Silvert felt he had wasted a lot of time and was more worried about Zeliker's circumstances. So, he created a wide dome to eat the entire soldiers left.
Luuya, who noticed such an attack, quickly flashed away. Some soldiers also dashed away but when they stopped somewhere another portal ate them, leaving only Luuya left.
Silvert was amazed that someone managed to escape his attack. He thought the Weety soldiers were all weak. So, he felt excited to see Luuya's ability to evade.
"Are you only good at running away?" He asked while appearing in front of Luuya.
He was surprised that Luuya had kept a small blade by his side and once the latter saw him, he dashed to kill. Silvert summoned out his gloves with sharp long claws and clashed with Luuya's weapon. The calm in Luuya's eyes made Silvert realise he had met a very cautious demon.
'Heh! He's interesting! Oh? He seems to be a general demon too.'
Silvert saw the emblem on Luuya's left chest, showing his rank.
'No wonder he's able to escape my dimension. Let's see how far he can go then.'
While Silvert was fighting Luuya, on Zeliker's side, the latter finally let out small pants.
'I can't go on. His stamina is more than mine. Think, Zeliker!'
Zeliker's energy was getting depleted little by little. He knew he was going to be at a disadvantage soon. And Itsven doesn't let a single weakness be seen. It was like Itsven had no weakness at all even after his shield was destroyed.
'Should I… Use that…?'
He suddenly remembered something which might allow him to get some upper hand but…
'If I open it, it will be hard to close it again later. And I might accidentally kill Itsven… Not just him but Silvert and other people watching us too…'
"You're getting distracted." A whisper shocked him before a hit to his left cheek knocked him to the ground.
This slight opening from his mistake allowed Itsven to charge at it. Zeliker watches Itsven's hand, wanting to chop his head next. He grits his teeth. If he didn't use it, he might die.
Zeliker closed his eyes and opened them. He no longer sees Itsven but another place with a dark and cruel atmosphere. Killing intent was everywhere and the place shuddered at every breath he released. Far in front, a gate with thick red chains covering it was banging crazily from the other side.
A roar of something enormous made a slight thump in his heart. It's not fear but nervousness trying to make him change his mind.
'I wonder if other demons have this other side of themselves… Or is it only me who had this change? I am unable to forget… This murderous power, awakened by me… Heh, I even killed my teacher and… mother too…'
Zeliker's eyes turn into sadness and anguish when he remembers his mother. At that time, he was only four years old. His father sent a teacher to teach him how to use his power and weapons. But, the teacher was arrogant, a liar and cruel.
Behind his family, Noqhei pushed him into a deep pit he created with his illusions, forcing him to get killed multiple times in it. It doesn't matter if you would be revived but as four years old, killing and being killed was something a child shouldn't go through. It was too late for Zeliker's parents to stop after he awakened as a mindless killing demon.
Alinda, his mother, was killed because she couldn't allow him to die in Nekruis' hand, who thought the only way to stop their child was by killing him.
"Why didn't father kill me? It was his chance after seeing mother die in my hands… He only sealed this power deep inside me and abandoned me in another building a little far from the main palace. And he thought I wouldn't remember such an accident but actually, I did when I was six… All that was because of constant nightmares every night…"
"Father didn't tell anyone about who killed my mother. I don't know why he would hide me. Wouldn't it be better if I was known as the killer instead of somebody? I don't understand him… Erm, it’s not the time to think of the past. I must get this ability under my control.”
Zeliker makes his nails elongated into sharp claws. Then, he slashes at the chains. The chains broke with his simple attack and a huge boom sounded in the place, destroying everything in it.
‘I hope I can control this power…’
That was his last thought when it turned into a desire to kill.
Outside, Itsven's attack almost came upon Zeliker’s neck. Flare and his friends were horrified that Zeliker might lose his life but they were unable to do anything since they were far away from Itsven.
However, a second later, Itsven and them didn’t know what happened to Zeliker because the latter disappeared. Itsven was astonished and then realised his body was slammed hard on the ground while someone hit him from the back.
“You…?!”
Itsven managed to turn his head back and saw Zeliker who did it but he shuddered at the deathly cold gaze in Zeliker’s eyes. Then, suffocation can be felt in the area. Silvert and Luuya immediately stopped their battle after their body felt an enormous pressure.
The pressure creates lots of fear in their heart. When they look over, they realise the pressure comes from Zeliker stepping a foot on Itsven's back while his body has released a black auras.
“Cough!”
“Shiruna! Liyuna!” Reuris, Hetero and Aiga shouted the girls name when both of them vomit out some blood from their lips and fell to the ground in pain.
The three of them including Flare also felt the pain on their chest but managed to hold on. It was because the feeling of suffocation gathered outside of their body like something was grabbing them in a tight clutch.
“Get them far away, Hetero!” Reuris ordered.
“Got it!” Hetero carried the girls on his side and run away toward the direction of Marlom City.
“Flare, fall back! It’s too dangerous for you to be near!” Aiga called out.
Flare understood Aiga’s meaning but his body refused to move. It was like a huge weight of fear was holding him in place. Moreover, his eyes couldn’t move from seeing Zeliker shrouded in the darkness auras.
“Your Highness!” Luuya was frightened to see Itsven’s condition.
He flashes to attack Zeliker but his action deteriorates when he was near and then falls to the ground, breathing hard. He couldn’t get near because the suffocation and pressure was too much for him. Blood slowly trickled from his lips too.
“Your… Highness…” Luuya was scared for his prince’s life.
He watched Zeliker lift his leg on Itsven's back and then step again. It looked slow and harmless but Itsven screamed in pain when the backbone was snapped and crushed by it. Mouthfuls of blood coughed out of Itsven. Even Reuris and Aiga from far away could hear the crush of the bones like it was just beside them. Their body trembles in fear.
“Zeliker, what happened to you…?” Flare and Silvert thought silently.
They were worried because Zeliker never showed this side of him before.
Zeliker looked mindless at Itsven. Not seeing Itsven dying yet, he went to step on Itsven legs next. Another snap sounded and Itsven screamed once more. This scream finally snaps Silvert out of his daze toward Zeliker.
‘I must stop him! He can’t kill Itsven or he would be very remorseful toward himself!’