Chapter 375: Injured
In the space of a moment that seemed to stretch far longer than it actually did, Aira jerked her head around to look at whatever had made Clay panic—only to gasp herself, with no time to react.
The beast Zyren had been fighting was huge, so of course the first thought of everyone there had been that it would find it difficult to move around. But even Zyren was stunned to see it suddenly disappear—almost like it had sunk into the ground—only to reappear right behind him.
Zyren instantly reacted, moving to protect himself, only to be stunned when instead of attacking him directly, the beast concentrated on killing Aira instead. It knew that Zyren was smart and strong, and the only way to make him trip up was to incense him into utter anger.
But even then, Zyren wasn’t worried. He moved just as fast, deflecting all the tentacles as quickly as he could, ignoring the ones he couldn’t fully avoid. He didn’t look back as he missed them, realizing that if he was going to kill the beast, then he needed to focus all his attention on it.
Aria can heal herself and others! he thought to himself. She’ll be fine.
The tentacle was fast—so fast that by the time it arrived, Aira knew that all she could do was move in a way that would make her come out of it less injured. She ground her teeth together as she watched the tentacles swipe at all three of them at once.
She was even more surprised to see that it was aimed at Clay and Vivian as well—almost like the beast had heard the words Clay had spoken and was infuriated by them. It was enough to make Aira almost breathe a sigh of relief as she watched it fling them to the side like rag dolls.
Only to gasp the next moment as another tentacle came towards her, the sharpened edge aimed directly at her heart.
She moved.
But she knew she wasn’t going to make it.
A sharp, searing pain exploded in her chest.
Lord Lythari appeared beside her in that very moment, the sword in her hand moving in a swift arc as she cleaved the tentacle into bits. The beast instantly pulled it back, howling in pain, wondering how a lord like her could have cut through it.
Only to howl louder in rage when it realized that the tentacle itself was still intact.
Lord Lythari had simply stepped forward and forced the beast into a dream for the barest second—just enough to save Aira before she was fully punctured through by the entire tentacle.
But using her blood power so successfully on such a massive beast came at a cost.
Blood began to pour out of Lord Lythari’s nose and mouth as she stumbled back, her face turning pale.
Lord Drehk and Lord Noctare had also arrived, neither of them choosing to act. They weren’t sure their powers would work.
Lord Noctare, in particular, knew that attempting what Lord Lythari had just done would have permanent effects on him—effects far beyond what he could ever recover from. His mind might even shatter completely, reducing him to a fool.
It was a risk he wasn’t willing to take for the king’s human pet.
Still, he was shocked to see Aira bleeding so heavily, trying to stem the blood that had drenched the upper part of her shoulder and chest. It was where the tentacle had burrowed a hole through before Lord Lythari leaped in and helped.
Aira was in pain—but even more shocking was the injury itself. It was worse than she initially thought, though not life-threatening. She tore a piece of her gown and pressed it tightly against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding herself.
No one else moved to help her.
They all looked at her with confused and bewildered expressions.
Aira could heal.
They didn’t understand why she wasn’t doing exactly that.
Still, she wasn’t the only injured one. Lord Lythari continued to bleed as Zyren battled the beast relentlessly, ensuring that no tentacles slipped past him—and that the beast itself didn’t get any closer.
Savira, the vampires’ oldest healer, was called.
She arrived swiftly with her leather bags, not taking more than a few glances at the monstrous creature before looking away with a bored expression, as if she’d seen worse.
"...So that’s what’s causing all that ruckus? I was taking a nap," she yawned, completely unworried.
She glanced at Lord Lythari without much concern, passing her a potion vial. Lythari swallowed it wordlessly, her bleeding gradually slowing.
But when Savira’s gaze landed on Aira, there was much greater concern in her eyes.
Aira stared at her expectantly, thinking she would be handed a potion as well.
Instead, Savira shook her head.
She ordered for the human healers to be called before finally speaking to Aira.
"The bond made your body stronger, but you’re still human. Any potion I give you would have adverse effects on your body—and the baby’s."
Aira slowly nodded to show she understood.
So I truly am on my own, she thought as she pressed the cloth harder against her wound.
It was already fortunate that the tentacle hadn’t pierced her heart. Moreover, her body was stronger than before. Apart from the blood loss, she knew she would survive.
Her gaze lifted to Zyren.
He was still fighting.
And she was vastly concerned.
The beast was unlike any she had ever seen. It was clear that Zyren wasn’t having an easy time with it. If he were, he would have already killed it.
What made it even clearer how dangerous the beast truly was was Zyren’s complete and utter focus. He had abandoned all else.
He wasn’t speaking.
He wasn’t taunting.
He was simply fighting.
It wasn’t an easy battle.
The ground shook with every collision. Scales cracked. Tentacles snapped only to regenerate seconds later. Zyren tore through them with brutal precision, but they kept coming—faster, stronger.
It continued like that until suddenly Zyren opened his mouth and let out a roar that sent fear through every single one of them.
The sound was deep. Primal. Commanding.
It froze even the lords in place.
"Leave this area! Leave this area as soon as possible!" he ordered, his voice carrying across the courtyard.
No one dared question him.
And just before charging again, he shouted in a voice just as loud—
"Bring me green fire!"
