"You're at a disadvantage," Amator says, stepping forward and tightening his fists.

  "Thanks for your concern. But we know how to take care of ourselves perfectly well," Kata says, shaking her whip. It wraps itself in golden lights and extends.

  Aurora rushes at great speed and begins to fight Amator with her daggers.

  Kata directs her attacks at Ragnar and Lilu. Enlil moves and shoots arrows at her, but she deflects the arrows with her whip without looking.

  I indicate to Mukasa to support Ragnar and Lilu, while I take care of supporting Amator. However, Aurora attacks me with incredible strength and speed making me back away. Aurora then manages to hit Amator and bites him, breaking through his skin and causing streams of blood to flow.

  In response, I attack her, but it feels like her senses sharpened, and she dodges me with supernatural agility and speed, moving like some kind of monster.

  She lunges at me and stabs one of her daggers into my shoulder, but I use the space to prepare my strike. But, I hesitate and move aside.

  Amator and I breathe heavily.

  "And to think that Aurora would be one of the first to be able to injure my skin this way," Amator says next to me holding his shoulder with rivers of blood.

  "It's just speculation, but I think she becomes stronger as she consumes more flesh. I felt her improve as soon as she ate your flesh."

  "Yes, I heard that Aurora absorbs the muscle memory of those she consumes. But Aurora rarely uses her Herencia. So I thought it was just rumors. If she consumed the Adamantita warriors, it would explain why she's so strong now."

  I see the situation of the others, and they are also having difficulties. Ragnar blocks the attacks, but not all of them. Lilu tries to use her Herencia against her, but Kata must know about it so she manages to avoid it by not breathing and staying out of range. The whip is fast, and Kata seems to have an Herencia that allows her to anticipate Enlil's shots.

  Aurora approaches us in the blink of an eye. However, just before reaching us, someone falls above her and knocks her out completely.

  I recognize him as Roac, the boy who had attacked me quite some time ago in the wolf forest. With his black hair, dark eyelids, and his legs artifact resembling bird claws restraining Aurora.

  I expect he will attack, but then he grabs Aurora's unconscious body, jumps a great distance, and disappears.

  "Wait!"

  Amator grabs my shoulder.

  "It's no use. Roac is too fast. You'll never catch him. But trust me, he would never harm Aurora."

  I bite my lip in frustration, but then I hear Ragnar's cry of pain. Kata manages to inflict several deep cuts and finally lands one that brings him down to the ground unable to stand. Kata gets distracted when she realizes she's alone. Mukasa lunges at her and manages to land a blow.

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  We surround her, and Kata makes a motion with her wrist, and the whip shines and turns into multiple whips that seem to move on their own. Kata appears to want to take Ragnar hostage, but then Kirru's father stands up and grabs her whip.

  "Now!"

  When I hear that, I run towards Kata and send her flying with a blow. She and Kirru's father fall unconscious.

  Ragnar tries to stand up but fails due to his injuries. I don’t want to leave him alone like this, so I instruct Lilu to help him and bring him back to Jasmine. Lilu’s Herencia can be a great asset, but Eru knows about it, and right now she is the only one who would not have a problem going and helping Ragnar.

  "Go with Jasmine to heal your wounds, that is the fastest way you can recover and come back," I tell him.

  He tries to get up again with all his might, but he fails. Kata managed to cut him deep and with precision his articulations. Even with his great pain tolerance and great resistance, he will not be able to stand. He sighs and nods. Lilu helps him stand up.

  “Don’t have too much fun without me, viejo”

  I smile and nod, and immediately Amator, Enlil, Mukasa, and I head to the top of the throne.

  Upon arrival, we find Astu covered in bullet wounds all over her body. Rivers of blood dripping from her. However, her smile is still strong as she clenches her spear.

  Lord Eru with his gun in his left hand and his sword in his right. He's not completely unscathed either. Several cuts from Astu's spear are scattered across his body.

  "That's why I hate the Adamantita," Eru frowns. "They're like cockroaches."

  Lord Eru notices our presence. But by then, we already have him surrounded.

  "I don't know how you managed to resist Altum's oath. I'm impressed. Of all those I've used the oath on, you're the first to resist it."

  I clench my fist. My anger grows at the sight of his smug smile.

  "I won't let you continue doing this! People aren't someone you can use!"

  "Don't let him provoke you, Altair.” Enlil grabs my shoulder. “My father always does that to gain the upper hand. You'll be the one to lose if you let yourself be manipulated by him."

  Eru changes his gaze to Mukasa.

  "But what do we have here? You're Emru's daughter, aren't you? You have the same beauty. I wonder if you'll make the same face when I shoot you."

  "I'll kill you, you damned bastard!"

  Mukasa lets out a scream and runs towards Lord Eru. He smiles and easily dodges the fury and hits her. Mukasa falls to the ground unconscious, and Eru aims his gun at her.

  We all stop. Eru puts his foot on Mukasa's head.

  "This is too easy. Now It would be enough to demand some deal or condition so I don’t end your subordinate."

  I tense my face in fury.

  "But I don't need to resort to those weak methods. Because I, Lord Eru," his smile spreads until shadows form all over his face, "am the strongest."

  Lord Eru puts his finger on the trigger, and as soon as we see this, we run towards him. But just as we're close enough, golden lines emerge from Lord Eru's mark, spreading until they envelop his right eye.

  We attack, but he dodges us and manages to strike Enlil, severely injuring him with precise and quick movements. He tries to do the same with me, but Amator steps in front of me, receiving the attacks of the sword that pierces his skin. Both Amator and Enlil fall to the ground.

  Lord Eru resumes his posture and licks his blood-covered sword.

  "Now, only you remain, my dear little rabbit."