CHAPTER 45 – Blood, Rage, and Rebirth
"Spi..."
muttered Bill, just before—
SPLURT!!
A grotesque arm burst from beneath, impaling him through the chest. Blood sprayed, splattering across Astrid's stunned face. She turned slowly, eyes wide, staring at Bill as he knelt, slumping forward.
SLURRT!!
The limb retracted with a slick sound, vanishing back underground like a summoned beast returning to its lair.
"B...Bill?" Spike finally gasped.
She bolted forward, catching him just before he fell. "Bill—Bill, stay with me!" she pleaded as tears formed in her eyes.
"Bill..." her voice cracked as she stared at the gaping hole in his torso.
"Oh no—I'm going to help!" Joel exclaimed, but Raymond held her back.
"You can't regrow something that isn't there," he said grimly, locking eyes with her.
"Wha...I—I..." Joel stammered, helpless.
"He wasn't passed out..." Kaido muttered, glancing toward where Jack lay, while Frank just stood frozen, watching Spike cradle Bill.
"Bill... Bill... Bill..." Spike could only whisper, holding him closer.
"Spi... I... I'm sorry..." Bill choked out, his life flashing before his eyes—their childhood in the streets, her defending him from bullies, her stealing food for them when they had nothing...
Then—silence.
His eyes turned cold, lifeless. The spark had faded.
"Bill...don't say that, okay...?" Spike sobbed. "SOMEBODY HELP! ANYONE!!" she screamed.
Frank just stood there, breath hitching, a cold frown forming.
No... he thought.
Somebo—
"Spike!" Astrid called gently, pulling her attention.
Spike looked over, dazed.
"Bill's gone..." Astrid added, trying to sit up.
"No... no..." Spike whispered, clinging to his lifeless body.
"Huh...? Bill's...dead...?" Frank muttered, staring down at the bloody handprint on the floor.
Then—he locked eyes with Jack.
The "unconscious" man grinned at him with unholy satisfaction.
Frank's eyes flared with pure rage.
"Ohhh?" Jack mocked internally. "Don't tell me you're gonn—"
SLIIISH!!!
Jack's right arm flew off in a clean sweep. It hit the ground with a thud.
"SCRRRREEEAARRRGHHHH!!!!!!"
A piercing scream followed as Jack fell back, grabbing the stump.
"ARRRGHH!! MY ARM!!!" he screamed, writhing.
Suddenly, the twisted arms from beneath lunged again.
SLIIIT! SLIIITCH! SLIIITCH!!
Frank, blinded by fury, cut through them with precision.
"Gah! Frank's gonna kill him!" Elias shouted.
"Hey—stay put! Medics are coming!" Nick ordered.
"No..." Tayla muttered, her voice low.
"He's blinded by rage," Laura added solemnly.
"Wait! Wait! WAIT!!!" Jack begged, shielding himself. "You can't kill me—it's against your regula—"
"SHUT UP!!!" Frank roared.
Suddenly—his entire body flared with a golden aura.
"What the—why's his mana output gold!?" Augustus blurted out.
"Don't ask me! Even I haven't seen this before," Raymond responded, shocked.
"I WILL KILL YOU!!!" Frank declared.
THOOOOOM!!!
The punch that landed smashed Jack's face in, shaking the ground.
THOOM! POW! POW!!!
Frank's fists were soaked in blood. He didn't stop.
"You shouldn't have killed him! WHY DID YOU!! HE DID NOTHING WROOONG!!!" Frank howled.
He raised his sword, preparing the final strike—
Grrgh! Suddenly, his body froze.
"That's enough!" Augustus's voice rang out.
"Enough? Weren't you the one who murdered Vance cultists to lure Jack out?" Kaido challenged with a sharp look.
"Tch..." Augustus scoffed, walking toward Frank.
Frank gasped, trying to break free. "Stop it, Frank," Augustus warned.
But Frank still stared at Jack's broken form. "You shouldn't have stopped me," he hissed.
Augustus froze. Frank's eyes gleamed gold—but behind them was pure killing intent.
"What's with that look...?" Augustus thought.
"He doesn't deserve to live..." Spike growled beside Astrid.
"What?! Spike, no—" Astrid said.
"Look after Bill," Spike whispered, standing up slowly.
Soldiers began helping the wounded. White Knights regrouped.
"Nick!" Scott shouted, walking in with Andrea and Piko, along with mage knights and La Jaran troops.
"Was wondering what happened to you all," Nick said with a half-smile.
"Whoa...what happened here?" Scott asked, staring at the chaos.
"Something crazy," Andrea added. "You missed one hell of a mess."
"Yeah—and that mess over there? That's Frank, right?" Scott pointed.
"Really? That's your reaction?" Andrea scoffed.
"You can't kill him. The mission was to subdue and rescue. We've got bigger worries," Augustus said flatly.
"You killed Bill." Spike's voice cut through the air.
Augustus turned—
THWIP!
She was already beside Jack, scythe in hand.
But—SLAM!—a force locked her mid-swing.
"Grrrr...If you don't let me kill him," Spike growled, staring at Augustus, "I'll kill you."
Frank knew she meant it.
"You Vance followers are over. No more killing." Augustus replied coldly, turning away.
"Cuff them—Jack and Frank Onclave." he ordered.
"You have no right!" Tayla shouted, about to charge.
"Tayla!" Laura barked. Tayla paused.
"Don't disobey a general." Laura said seriously.
"Tch..." Tayla muttered. "General, my ass. Cuffing Frank like he's a threat...he's the victim!"
"Frank Onclave is a threat," Augustus said. "The council will decide in two days."
Spike and Frank stood cuffed.
"I...I'm so sor—"
"Don't." Spike cut him off. "It's not your fault. Bill liked you...so you did nothing wrong."
Frank stared at her, broken.
"It's my fault—for not killing Jack when I had the chance," she said.
Looking at him again, she added, "I will kill him. Maybe not now. Maybe not tomorrow. But I promise...I will."
Frank opened his mouth. "There's something he wanted you to kn—"
SHUUUK!
"Grrrh!!!"
Frank gasped, a dagger in his ribs.
"Jack!" Spike cried.
"What?! HOW?!" Augustus barked.
"Guuuuh...what the...?" Frank groaned, staring at the blade embedded in his side.
The inscription on the handle read:
"Leonardo Vance 01"
The crimson gem faded to ash.
"Hehe...ritual complete..." Jack whispered.
BBBRRRRUUUUDDDGGGEEE!!!
A surge of mana burst out—like a nuclear wave.
Spike was flung back. Debris filled the air.
Silence.
Then—
"Koff... koff..." Tayla gasped.
Raymond squinted through the haze.
"No..." Elias muttered.
"Wha—what's going on?!" Scott asked.
---
Inside Frank's mind...
"Ahh! Where am I?!" Frank yelled in the black void.
"Hello, Leon..."
A voice echoed.
He recognized it.
"Who's there?!" he demanded, turning.
A figure emerged.
A humanoid...identical to him.
Same hair. Same scar.
But different...
Black veins on the neck. Pale skin. Eyes pitch black with golden pupils.
"Well, Leon—or should I say, Frank—it's time...for me to take over," the voice said, stretching his hand.
"Wait! What is this!? How do you know that name!?" Frank shouted.
"That...is for next time...if there ever is one," the double grinned.
Frank was shoved into darkness.
"Finally..." the entity said.
"It's Lord Vance's time."
---
Back in reality—
"Frank?" Raymond called.
The dust cleared. Frank's body stood.
But something was wrong.
"What...?" Tayla gasped.
"My lord...I did it..." Jack muttered, barely conscious.
The figure raised his head. Black eyes scanned the room.
"Hmm...not bad," Vance said, grinning.
"What the hell...? That's not Frank..." Laura whispered, drawing her sword.