The impaler, an enormous ice spear that froze everything in its patch was stopped by the mass of perfect silk-like darkness, which Zoemi's murky shadow couldn't even compare to.

"YOU!

"

"…?!

"

The sight of the silk-like darkness Zoemi couldn't stop the roar that forced its way out of his throat and the shadow armor expanded all on its own, once again covering his head and face with the beastly helmet.

"Ah. I see it is safe to assume this isn't your doing, right, kid?

"

The pale-blue-haired man gulped down his saliva, staring in disbelief at how white frosts and ice covers the surroundings of the gigantic ice spear, proving that the spell itself was working properly…

…and yet the barrier protecting the running brown-haired capture target was not affected by it at all…

What was even more insulting, was that the silky darkness wasn't even swallowing the ice spell that should have boasted the highest piercing capabilities, exceeding even the basic form of the darkness blade.

"Sir Galamroze, how many transcended darkness magicians do you know?

"

Zoemi gritted his teeth, calming down a little bit after his initial reaction of a bloodcurdling roar, and casually asked the feared murderer even using a proper title to address him.

"None in person, there was the Banemors of course but I was just a kid myself back when I met them, not to mention that they were shadow magicians and are all long dead. No matter – that little piece of ** will escape, can you do the funky stuff with the shadows again and get him here, or ** up his other limbs so he wouldn't be able to crawl away at least?

"

The man shook his head, dismissing the question, and asked in a hasty voice – for him, killing the heir to the most hatred Derizno family was the most important thing.

The revenge was the sole reason for his existence at that point.

Unlike how he was portrayed in the game that Zoemi played, in this world Ludier Galamroze's reputation was ruined because of the misinformation spread by the Derizno family with the backing from the royal palace, twisting the truth from Ludier being the apostle of just revenge form having his loved ones assassinated because of the political power struggle and greed of the Deriznos, right into a crazy maniac who took pleasure in taking lives of anyone who crossed his path – which was blatantly untrue.

Well, the transcended ice magician did enjoy killing his targets, but at least they were all directly connected with either Derizno family or the murder of his family – he definitely didn't kill anyone innocent.

Actually, Xoenith was supposed to be his first innocent victim that was supposed to teach Xeonith's father the taste of his own medicine – or rather that was the plan until Zoemi showed up with his own revenge.

"Believe it or not, that piece of filth is right there, the barrier ended up encasing him in the darkness, so there is no worry about him escaping as long as it is there.

"

Zoemi spoke in a calm voice, making the man raise his brow in confusion.

"It caught him? So what, it's not defending him? Is the person responsible for this spell on our side or not?

"

The pale-blue-haired man frowned and clenched his fists, surprisingly enough not questioning how come the black-haired boy can tell what is happening behind the solid wall of darkness.

"It's one of the Ghosts of Bellcephora, how am I supposed to know what a **ing traitor is thinking?

"

"!!!

"

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and his armor became even more beastly and fearsome all on its own.

"You are kidding me, that's impossible! The Ghosts are…!

"

"Oh dear, you really are as cautious as commander expected. What joy, he usually tends to overestimate our future allies and they don't end up well, poor souls… what's even more shocking is that you are severely underestimated in terms of strength.

"

"?!?!?!

"

The pale-blue-haired man shook his head, taken aback, but before he could finish his sentence a motherly voice resounded from the perfect silk-like darkness and a jovial looking round woman stepped out from it as if it was just some thick fog and not a barrier that continuously prevented a gigantic ice spear from flying forward and killing the brown-haired capture target.

"Sweetie, release that spell already, I don't have a business with you.

"

"…wha…?!

"

The jet-black-haired woman waved her hand dismissively and smiled at the pale-blue-haired man, making him go wide-eyed.

"…

"

Zoemi didn't call out to the jovial woman but in response to her words towards Ludier, three additional ice blades sprouted out from the boy's shadow-armor-clad hand, making it look like the massive clawed paw of a feral beast.

"Now, now, dear. You don't have anything to worry about. I am no enemy, there might be some bad aftertaste after meeting our commander, but even he is a great man after you get to know him.

"

It was easy for her to say that, and because of her non-threatening looks and a friendly smile, anyone would be swayed into lowering their defenses…

"…

"

Which is exactly why the spot where Zomei's head should be hidden under the demonic helmet turned into a nightmarish beastly jaw filled to the brim with fangs made out of darkness, ice, fire, and even light.

"Oh dear, oh dear. Young man, you seem to be a friend of this boy. Could you convince him that I am not a threat? My name is Raseriat, but everyone calls me aunty…

"

*STAB*

"!!!

"

Even the wanted murderer was taken aback when a beam of murky light shot out from Zoemi's mostly normal-looking hand and tore into the round woman's eye.

"What in the world…?!

"

Well honestly, the sudden attack wasn't actually the reason for Ludier's reaction – it was what happened to Raseriat.

The attack did successfully gauged out her eye, but it failed to reach any further into the woman's head…

…because right underneath it, jet-black, silky darkness was boiling over as if it composed the woman's body instead of flesh and blood…

"Did you calm down now, sweetie?

"

…and the woman herself didn't even flinch or react even remotely as a normal living being should do after receiving such damage.

"What the ** is going on?!

"

Ludier gasped, rubbing his eyes as if that was supposed to help anything – being under the early effects of mana depletion wasn't making the situation any easier either.

"Dear, how about it, I will give you that earth boy to do whatever you like, and you will help me out talk some sense into this child?

"

"…!

"

Raseriat spoke in a pleading voice while making a sad expression making Ludier flinch.

On one hand, he really wanted to kill Xeonith – it was an essential part of his revenge plan, actually.

…but at the same time, he felt that something was off about the jovial woman in front of him – and it wasn't the missing eye or the darkness uncovered by the wound.

"…when the Ghosts of Bellcephora betrayed their king, Raseriat was asked with taking out the slightly weaker knights and bodyguards from the royal retinue but she didn't just pick them up from the servants, maids, and squires from which many were still very young, and killed them all… She's a bitter, vile piece of thrash that never cured her victim complex although she learned to mask it with the facade of friendliness and joviality… Even amongst the bunch of filthy traitors, she is the one who should be watched out for the most as she will not forgive anyone who even looks in her direction the wrong way even if they are clueless innocent children…

"

"!!!!

"

"…

"

The beastly head of Zoemi's armor tilted and a hate-filled voice of the boy came out of it making Ludier flinch while The round woman's expression seemed to be frozen slid on her face.

"…you talk as if you were there… no one told you not to spread LIES about others, child…?

"

Raseriat spoke barely opening her mouth as she was clenching her teeth so hard that it was a wonder that they didn't crack and break.

"But I saw it… I remember it clearly… How could I forget that? You filthy ruthless ball of lard!

"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BALL OF LARD, YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT?!

"

Zoemi spoke sounding as if he was barely keeping it together on the verge of losing his mind from pure unadulterated hatred and aggression and ended up pointing his clawed hand at Raseriat – and caused the round woman to go straight into a frenzy as she suddenly became engulfed in silky jet-black darkness and the moment's later she revealed herself with a pair of enormous black wings spriting out of her back.

"I was given a free hand at handling you, and you have splendidly **ed your chances for survival, you stinking **ty brat! Who needs a new member anyway?! Most of the ones we already have should have been executed hundreds of years ago!

"

A single flap raised her high into the sky from where she glared down at the shadow-clad boy and spat at him in disgust.

"Well… I know for sure that I am not helping her out. Kid, what's the plan?

"

Ludier scoffed and asked, optimistic probably only because the mana depletion was clouding his judgment.

"Stay out of this, and try to survive – it would be great if you could find a way to kill Xeonith as soon as possible too or she might try to get him away from us just to mess us up. Despite her violent nature, she is not good with combat… I actually don't understand why she didn't call for the others, but I will not question a blessing. If it's her, I actually have a chance of winning.

"

Zoemi took a step back and whispered cautiously without looking away from the furious woman who seemed to be waiting for something.

"Alright… so… how the ** you know all of that?!

"

Ludier breathed out and growled, gritting his teeth.

"I'm Zoemi, the original personality, I took over because there is a hostile Ghost right in front of me.

"

The beastly shadow warrior shrugged his shoulders, making the beastly jaw twist in a morbid grin.

"Am I supposed to understand anything of what you just said…?

"

The pale-blue-haired man shook his head and asked in complete confusion.

"I don't care if you get it or not, it is what it is. And that filth will die.

"

The beastly warrior declared, lowering his body as if he was getting ready to jump in the air to reach the flying woman.

"WHY ARE YOU NOT BEGGING ME FOR MERCY, YOU LOWLY SCUM?! I AM RASERIAT OF THE GHOSTS OF BELLCEPHORA!

"

"…?!

"

The formerly jovial woman roared at the two below, revealing that not only her body was particularly large, but her self-importance too.

"…you hear that? Lovely, isn't she? Let me tell you an interesting fact. Ghosts of Bellcephora didn't betray the kingdom because of the discrimination against the darkness magicians they faced in their lives. It was the other way around. Because of how vile and repugnant most of the Ghosts of Bellcephora members were, everyone else started discriminating against the darkness magicians instead.

"

The shadow-clad boy revealed and…

"!!!

"

Actually jumped up right at the winged woman, with enough force to push Ludier back!