Return of the Legendary Runesmith

Adrian had been waiting for Abraham to show up. It made sense — the man worshipped the Fallen God, and whatever lay in that coffin was the kind of thing an Acolyte wouldn't let be destroyed.

"Everyone's far too eager to fight," Abraham said, sliding out from the shadows and leaning lazily against the wall. He stood closer to the coffin than anyone else, but Adrian knew there was no way Abraham could simply teleport it away.

Ariana's voice cut through cool and flat. "You always crawl toward trouble even though you know you're going to get your ass kicked." She sounded bored, not surprised.

Abraham laughed softly. "You're an interesting woman. Every time I see you, I feel more…drawn to you." Ariana visibly cringed.

He turned to Armodius. "Looks like you've reached the end of your rope, friend."

Armodius bristled. "Why are you here?" His tone made it clear he and Abraham weren't friends.

The green-haired Acolyte smiled as he turned to look at Adrian. "I mean no harm. I'm only here for the specimen. Give it to me and I'll leave quietly. If you want, I can even help you take this man down."

Dark vines shot out and wrapped around Armodius's ankles. He blasted a string of spells, but the vines held fast.

Adrian let out a low sigh. "You really don't learn, do you? Always coming to me with a proposal."

Abraham chuckled, calm as ever. "I prefer to solve things without needless violence."

Adrian shook his head, taking out his revolver, "Well, my answer remains the same as the last time."

Thunder cracked beside him as a figure shot toward Abraham.

A wild grin spread across his face as he suddenly leapt back, levitating into the air.

Annabelle missed her mark, but her formless sword whipped forward, coiling tight around his ankle.

RUMBLE

Lightning exploded, burning his leg.

The Acolyte snarled, twisting his fist—and the blade began to move under his control.

Annabelle's eyes narrowed. Her weapon was obeying someone else?

"Then you can keep it." She let go and lunged straight at him.

Abraham snapped his fingers with a growl, sending vines lashing toward Bella.

They caught her feet just as she closed the distance.

But before the vines could drag her back, his focus shattered—broken by a heavy mace swinging for his skull.

"Tch." He ducked under it, only for Ariana to smirk and yank the weapon back up just as his head lifted.

DHAK

The mace smashed into the side of his head, sending him reeling in the air.

Annabelle slashed through the vines with her wavy blade and leapt straight at Abraham.

"Enough!" the Acolyte roared, his voice booming with power. The force hurled Annabelle back to the ground with a pained grunt.

Abraham glared at the two women. "Now… you've got me warmed up."

Back on the surface, Ruby charged at Armodius, daggers clenched tight in her hands.

Armodius crossed his arms, his short staff pulsing with mana.

But before he could unleash his hex, darkness swallowed him whole.

"This bitch," he spat, eyes darting, but the black void showed him nothing.

He shut his eyes, focusing instead on her mana presence. A smirk tugged at his lips.

Flipping his staff, he stabbed forward.

SQUELCH

"Khuk!" The weapon skewered straight through the redhead's neck.

"You overestimated yourself, girl," Armodius growled, a cruel snarl on his face—only for it to fade with the vanishing clone he had struck.

STAB

"Eiik!" He shrieked as something hot and sharp drove deep into his side.

Ruby muttered, "Were you saying something?"

The man's wince twisted into a grin. "Yeah… be careful where you step."

The ground beneath Ruby flared.

"Shit—!" She sprang back, but the blast still caught her, scorching her arm and face as it hurled her across the floor.

She hit hard, rolled, then pushed herself up without hesitation.

The man pressed a hand to his bleeding side, crimson soaking through his clothes.

Muttering under his breath, he sealed the wound and lifted his gaze back to her.

"What happened to all that vigor? Out of tricks already?" His voice carried no pain, his calm chant a chilling display of skill.

Ruby grunted, pulling a shard of tile free from her stomach before wiping blood from her lips.

Armodius raised his staff, ready to finish it—then froze. Something felt wrong.

She didn't try to dodge. She didn't move at all. She just stood there, oddly calm… almost relaxed.

Slowly she lifted the dagger that had pierced him. A grin spread across her face.

"You know the best part about using these beauties?" she said. "They make sure I get the blood of my prey."

Armodius narrowed his eyes, lips moving without pause in chant—until his body froze.

A heavy hand rested on his shoulder.

A big, rugged hand.

He knew this touch.

His voice faltered, the spell collapsing mid-chant. His heartbeat thundered in his chest as a deep voice cut through the silence:

"You are as disappointing as ever."

Armodius's legs shook. His eyes widened in horror.

Slowly, the man behind him forced him to turn, his strength irresistible. Armodius felt like a helpless child, powerless before this presence.

His gaze lifted—and the moment their eyes met, his knees buckled.

"F-Father…"

"How could you fail me like this, Armodius? Was your mother's death not enough to drive you? Or have you sworn yourself to nothing but shaming my name and soiling our bloodline?"

Tears welled in the grown man's eyes. His shoulders slumped as he cried out,

"But I am trying! Why won't you see it? Why are you always like this?!"

All at once, the defenses he had built his entire life crumbled. The man he had fought so desperately to impress, to earn even a shred of praise from, was the same man who now crushed him without mercy.

All his life, he had never once seen pride in his father's eyes. Not even at the end. On his deathbed, his father had refused his touch—saying he didn't deserve to be a part of the last rites.

Ruby stood in the corner, watching it all unfold—his memories, his pain, his broken past.

For a fleeting moment, pity stirred in her chest.

That was the curse of her power. Once she saw the deepest scars of someone's life, even her enemies, she couldn't help but feel the weight of their suffering.

But then she remembered. The horrors this Acolyte had unleashed. The twisted intent he carried toward Adrian.

Her grip tightened on the dagger. Mercy vanished.

With a swift motion, she cut him down in a clean, decisive slash.

"I hope you repent in your afterlife."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Both Light and Darkness are extremely dangerous elements. And that's what makes Ruby one of the most fearsome foes.