The air was thick with tension as Mary and Lela turned toward the source of the disturbance. Shadows twisted and writhed in the distance, creeping along the edges of the training ground. The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
Loosie's expression hardened. "It seems they found us."
Mary gripped Saber of Mist, her instincts sharpening. "Who?"
Loosie turned to them, her usual playful demeanor replaced by cold seriousness. "The Hunters of the Forgotten. They're a group that exterminates those who exist outside Heaven's and Hell's judgment."
Lela's brow furrowed. "And that includes us?"
Loosie nodded. "You both survived Heaven's trial but remain tainted by Hell. That makes you an
anomaly—something neither side fully controls."
Mary exhaled. "And they don't like that."
"Exactly." Loosie unsheathed a dagger. "They're not just any opponents. They hunt beings like
you specifically. That means they know how to counter vampires, warriors, and divine gifts."
The shadows in the distance suddenly coalesced into three figures, each wearing dark, form-fitting armor adorned with silver runes. Their faces were hidden behind black masks, only their glowing blue eyes visible.
One of them stepped forward, his voice deep and emotionless. "Mary Innocent. Lela Innocent. You exist beyond the natural order. You must be erased."
Mary smirked, lowering her stance. "You can try."
The lead hunter didn't hesitate. He flicked his wrist, and silver chains shot out from the ground, aimed directly at Mary and Lela.
The First Clash
Lela reacted first, leaping back and spinning Gáe Bolg, slicing through the incoming chains. Sparks flew as metal clashed against starsteel.
Mary wasn't as lucky—the chains wrapped around her wrist before she could react. The moment they touched her skin, a sharp, burning pain coursed through her body.
"Anti-vampire magic," she hissed, gritting her teeth.
The second hunter moved in, his sword gleaming with divine energy. He slashed downward, aiming to sever Mary's arm entirely.
But Mary's instincts had already sharpened from her previous battle. She twisted her body mid-air, using the chain's pull to swing herself away. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she activated Mist Blade.
Three simultaneous slashes erupted from her saber, closing in on her opponent from different angles.
The hunter's eyes flickered as he barely managed to dodge the first two—but the third strike landed, cutting across his chest. He staggered back, a hiss escaping his lips.
Lela, meanwhile, faced off against the lead hunter. He wielded a long spear similar to hers, but his movements were rigid, calculated—cold.
Lela smirked. "You think you can beat me with a spear?"
The hunter didn't respond. He lunged forward, his spear glowing with divine magic. Lela countered immediately, meeting his strike head-on. The clash sent shockwaves through the ground. He's fast—but predictable.
Lela suddenly shifted her grip and activated Angel Bolt. Her spear crackled with divine lightning as she feinted left before twisting her weapon to strike from below.
The hunter reacted too late. The electrified tip of Gáe Bolg tore through his shoulder, sending volts of divine energy through his body. He stumbled back, his movements less precise now.
Loosie, meanwhile, darted between the third hunter's attacks, her dagger flashing with dark energy. She wasn't as strong as Mary or Lela, but she was fast—too fast for her opponent to keep up.
"You guys aren't so scary," she taunted before slicing her blade across the hunter's leg.
The three hunters regrouped, assessing the situation. The lead hunter's wound sizzled as divine energy attempted to heal it.
He exhaled. "We underestimated you."
Mary rolled her shoulders. "You did."
"That will not happen again."
Suddenly, the hunters activated something—their runes flared, and their bodies pulsed with a dark, unnatural energy.
Loosie's eyes widened. "Oh, crap."
Lela frowned. "What?"
"They're using Fallen Ascendance—a forbidden technique that lets them burn their own souls for more power."
Mary tightened her grip on Saber of Mist. "So now they're stronger… but at a cost?"
Loosie nodded. "They'll fight until they die. They won't stop unless we kill them first."
The hunters' auras grew darker, their eyes burning with a sinister glow. The air around them became suffocating, their presence alone pressing down like an invisible weight.
Lela twirled Gáe Bolg and took a battle stance. "Fine by me."
Mary grinned, stepping forward. "Let's finish this."
The True Battle Begins
The hunters lunged forward, faster than before, their weapons leaving trails of dark energy. Mary and Lela charged to meet them, the air crackling with power. This was no longer just a fight for survival—this was a battle to prove their place in the world. And they refused to lose.