Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Chapter 719 Words (Part 1)

The barbarians' eyes, once full of determination, now reflected fear and an understanding of the magnitude of the challenge they faced.

The leader of the barbarians, Garuk, bowed his head for a moment, his hands clenching the handle of the huge axe attached to his belt.

"So, these creatures are that powerful?" his voice was grave, but contained a trace of uncertainty. "Even for us barbarians, facing something on the level of an Evolved is an almost impossible task."

Blood Lily nodded, her red eyes looking even more intense in the darkness. "Yes, Garuk. And that's why we need to work together. We can't afford to underestimate our enemies."

Kaizen looked at the barbarians with a softer countenance. "We understand how formidable you are as creature hunters, but this is different. These creatures aren't just strong, they're intelligent and strategic, they're demons. They won't attack impulsively; they'll wait for us, study our movements and find our weaknesses, then make their moves..." Kaizen said, looking at the city, and then thought: 'Besides, I still need five levels to reach level 200 and then I'll be able to fight one of them.

One of the younger barbarians, a young man with battle scars adorning his face, swallowed. "So what are we supposed to do? How can we fight something so powerful?"

"Don't worry about it. We'll decide in a few minutes, and before dawn it will all be over." Bloody Lily said, looking up at the moon taking its place at the highest point in the sky, marking the middle of the night. They only had a few more hours until the contract was completed and the souls of the people of Mibothen were taken forever.

"Come on, there's a meeting waiting for us." Kaizen said to the Bloody Lily, taking her palm and levitating it again. "And you barbarians, follow the path you've taken so far, I want you on the front line with me."

Their eyes lit up when Kaizen said this, because hearing it directly from someone like Kaizen was special for anyone.

"Yes, sir!" They said with their eyes shining with excitement.

Night fell like a dark cloak over the land, and Kaizen and Lily began to fly back to camp. The night wind cut through the air as they moved quickly, but even at the speed of their flight, tension weighed on their shoulders and this was highlighted by the silence. Blood Lily's expression, normally confident and firm, was now marked by a shadow of uncertainty. His red eyes, which used to shine with determination, now reflected a mixture of worry and doubt.

Kaizen, sensing this in her gaze, decided to stop at the top of a hill halfway back to the camp. The two of them landed softly on the ground, and Kaizen looked into Bloody Lily's eyes, trying to understand what was troubling her.

"Why did we stop here?" Bloody Lily asked, her voice laden with confusion as she watched Kaizen doubtfully.

Kaizen held her gaze for a moment before sighing deeply. "I saw something in your eyes when I first saw you, Emma, and ever since then your eyes are the part of your body that catches my eye the most. Normally, they show an almost unshakeable certainty, but now a shadow of doubt. You're a strong and determined leader, but even leaders need moments to vent their worries."

Bloody Lily hesitated for a moment, her red eyes meeting Kaizen's. She looked away for a few seconds. She looked away for a few seconds, but then, finally, she let her guard down, letting the vulnerability that was hidden beneath her imperturbable façade shine through.

"I'm just... afraid, Klaus..." she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "This is a battle like no other we've ever faced. These demons are an unknown threat, and I don't know if our strategies will be enough to beat them. What if we fail? What if we lose everything?"

Kaizen placed a gentle hand on Bloody Lily's shoulder, offering him a reassuring smile. "Fear is a natural emotion. Even the bravest people feel fear in the face of the unknown. But it's the fear of losing something that keeps us going, even when we think we don't have a drop of courage left. I knew I couldn't beat Zylok, but what other choice did I have? In the end, everything worked out for me and I bet it will for you, after all, if everything goes wrong, we'll still have each other."

Blood Lily looked at Kaizen, her gaze meeting his. For a moment, silence dominated everything, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind. Her heart was beating as hard as ever and Kaizen's words made her whole body start to warm up. Finally, she smiled, her lips curving gently as the wind played with her red hair. She felt the comforting warmth of Kaizen's hand on her shoulder, like a beacon in a storm.

"Thank you, Klaus. Your words mean a lot to me."

Kaizen didn't reply with words, instead he slowly moved closer, as if drawn by an invisible magnet. His eyes met hers, and in his gaze was her answer. Bloody Lily felt her heart racing as Kaizen approached, her breathing becoming irregular. She knew it was about to happen, but whenever she saw Kaizen so close, it was impossible for her not to get a little nervous.

Finally, their lips touched gently, like the petals of a blossoming flower. The kiss was sweet, and the Bloody Lily held him around her arms tenderly, as if she wanted to protect him in the same way he protected her and also thank him for his support.

…

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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