Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System-Chapter 28: “…Kael?”

The earth trembled again. And then—

Crack!

A spear of sharpened earth burst from the ground.

It shot forward with breakneck speed—faster than thought, faster than breath.

Straight at Mira.

Sera's eyes widened. "MIRA!"

Mira turned her head slightly, unaware of the impending threat. But even if she did, it was already too late to avoid the strike.

The spike pierced through her chest, spurting out blood like jet streams.

Time shattered and the world seemed to slow down as everyone fell silent.

The crackling in the air vanished and the wind died down.

Everyone watched in shock—the royals hiding behind the tree, Sera frozen mid-motion in disbelief, Dorian with wide eyes, and even the remaining followers at his side.

The spike had gone clean through her chest with no visible obstruction.

Mira's body jerked and her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in shock more than pain.

Then, slowly, her hands dropped to her sides. Blood pooled beneath her knees as It trickled down the spike which was the only thing keeping her stable in the kneeling position.

She didn't cry out, nor break down from fear of death. She just blinked—once. As if still registering what had happened.

"N-n-no... NO!! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Sera screamed.

She couldn't hear herself nor comprehend the thought of losing her sister. She didn't even feel the pain in her ribs as she stumbled forward, barely noticing the tears streaking down her face.

"MIRA! WHY?! WHYYYYYY—AAAGHHHHHHH!"

Mira struggled to turn her head and barely made it. A small smile twitched on her lips.

"Run," she mouthed.

And then she slumped forward—falling off the spike like a ragdoll, hitting the dirt with a dull thud.

"Please—NO! AAAAAAHHHHH—H-HAAAH—AAGGHHHHH!" Sera fell to her knees beside her, hands shaking.

She grabbed Mira's face and lifted it gently. Her tears dripped down onto her face like heavy raindrops on a still pond, like liquid grief staining a pale canvas.

Her skin was still warm, and her eyes were half-lidded, battling against eternal sleep. She was still breathing, but it was faint. So faint like a lit candle in the void.

"Mira! Don't go. Stay with me."

No answer.

Sera's hands pressed against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. But it wasn't stopping. She looked up with wild bloodshot eyes, toward the Earth Mage.

He hadn't moved since the attack. He just stood there with a blank expression.

Dorian's voice broke through the stillness, low and dangerous. His noble aura made those around him tremble in fear.

"...Who gave that order?" he questioned.

No one answered. Evelyne also didn't move. Dorian's gaze snapped to her immediately.

She let loose the trademark pitiful and innocent teary-eyed face. "She was a threat, Young Master."

"I didn't say to kill her," Dorian said, his voice ice-cold. "I said she had potential...she was useful to me!"

"And now she's broken." Evelyne stepped forward, wiping her tears. "You said it yourself—untamed power. You want a Knight Guard who might fry you and your men in your sleep?"

Dorian didn't answer right away. He turned, pacing back toward the edge of the clearing with his hands behind his back.

His eyes settled on Mira's still form. He didn't like losing valuable pieces. But the moment was gone and the board had changed.

"...Clean it up," he said coldly. "Retrieve the royals. Bring the archer to me."

He didn't look back.

Behind him, Sera wept silently whilst holding onto the last heat of Mira's body like it could bring her back.

The guards moved without a word. Three of them broke off and circled the tree where the royals cowered, dragging them out one by one.

Their protests were weak—fear had broken them long before the fight ended. They didn't fight back as ropes were tied around their wrists and magic seals were branded across their forearms.

The rest turned toward Sera.

She hadn't moved.

Her arms were still wrapped tightly around Mira's limp form, blood soaking through her leathers and dripping onto the ground beneath her. Tears painted her dirt-smeared face. Her eyes stared ahead blankly, fixed on nothing and everything at the same time.

One of the guards stepped closer. He hesitated for a moment, shifting uneasily. He looked down at the two women—at the broken one still holding onto the dying one.

"Get up," he said roughly, his voice low.

Sera didn't respond.

The guard glanced back. Another gave him a nod.

He reached out again, a bit gentler this time. "I said get—"

"LEAVE US ALONE!" Sera screamed, clutching Mira tighter. "She's still breathing! She's still—" Her voice cracked into sobs. "She's still alive..."

The guard swallowed hard, and for a second, his hand lingered in the air, but then it dropped.

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He took a breath, annoyed. "We don't have time for this."

Sera still didn't respond.

He stepped forward—and slapped her across the face.

SMACK!

The sound echoed.

Sera's head snapped to the side. Blood welled at her lip and from her nose. But she didn't cry out. She didn't even look at him. She simply lowered her head and clung tighter to Mira.

Like if she stayed still long enough, death would take them both.

The guard growled. "Get up, bitch."

Still no response. Sera didn't flinch or blink. She lay still as if waiting—wishing—for him to strike again.

His hand rose, fingers curling for another blow. But then—it stopped.

Something gripped his wrist hard mid-swing.

His eyes darted sideways to see a man—no, a youth, standing beside him.

He stood tall and unfathomably quiet. His grip was like steel.

The guard tried to pull away, but the hand wouldn't budge. Panic started to creep into his chest.

'How did he get here?' He thought, his heart hammering.

He hadn't heard a step. Not even a sound.

He looked up.

The figure was about six feet tall with a lean and athletic frame. A long tattered black coat fluttered slightly in the breeze. Midnight-black hair fell just above his shoulders in tousled layers, framing sharp features that were both noble and lethal.

But it was the eyes that froze him. They were dark silver and eerily calm. And beneath that silver, a faint red glow flickered like fire behind tinted glass.

They weren't just calm—they were unreadable. The kind of eyes that had seen death and never blinked.

The guard's mouth opened. "W-who—"

CRACK!

His sentence ended with a sickening pop as the stranger twisted his wrist backward. The bone snapped, loud and sharp.

"AAAGHHHHHHHHH!!" The guard screamed and crumpled, clutching his mangled arm.

The others froze.

Sera blinked slowly, looking dazed. Her vision swam—but when she looked up, her blurry gaze pictured him.

"...Kael?" she whispered, unsure.