Chapter 14

...⚠ Warning:...

...This chapter contains scenes of injury, destructions and distress. Reader discretion is advised....

...— Arcllumen...

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...𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍...

...𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙰𝙱𝚈𝚂𝚂: 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚁 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙿𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁 𝚅𝙸𝙸𝙸...

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ⁷• ᶜʳᵉᵈⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᴾⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗ•

...꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭...

Wait… that line sounds familiar. Yuri’s thoughts flickered briefly, but he dismissed them with a shrug. “Eh, whatever.”

“Really?” Chugar muttered, disbelief etched on her face. “The Hexed’s Hexarch? The one from a thousand years ago?” She scoffed, arms crossed. “If Junaia were here, she’d probably say he looks like a clown.”

She paused, eyeing Yuri up and down before adding with a chuckle, “But a handsome one.”

Arclreign remained silent, her dark gaze fixed on the unfolding scene. She observed everything, calculating, as if anticipating the next move.

_____

Yuri’s deep, alluring voice echoed across the rooftop. “Where are the people?!”

Then his tone shifted, voice dripping with amusement. “The women…?”

A sudden ringtone shattered the tense air. Chugar flinched, fumbling for her phone. “Shit.”

The sound caught everyone's attention—including Yuri’s.

His smirk widened as his gaze locked onto the two women before him. One had an air of sweetness, while the other… the other exuded something far more intriguing. Something unreadable.

“Ha-ha…” A low, short chuckle rumbled from his throat as he eyed them like a predator.

Then—

“!”

Yuri froze mid-step, his manic grin faltering. Something was trying to restrain his thoughts, something clawing at his mind. His pupils dilated, flickering between lucidity and chaos.

_____

From a safe distance, Chugar whispered to Arclreign. “It’s the lab department. I have to go.”

Arclreign nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll handle things here.”

Chugar gave her a grateful look. “Thanks, sis.” She turned and sprinted off, urgency in her steps.

The moment Chugar disappeared, Yuri began murmuring to himself. His voice was low, almost inaudible, but unsettling. Arclreign couldn’t make out his words, but the way he clutched his own throat, fingers tightening as if strangling himself, sent a ripple of unease through the air.

The transformation had begun.

His already lean physique shifted—muscles subtly refining, his frame becoming more imposing. His presence thickened, turning suffocating. His smile never wavered, but his eyes gleamed with something far beyond humanity.

Yet, Arclreign did not move.

His sharp gaze locked onto her, searching, waiting. He tilted his head, intrigued.

“Look at that,” he murmured, voice dropping into a dark whisper. “A lady who doesn’t tremble…”

Her dark eyes remained steady. Blank, yet soft.

Yuri's breath hitched. A flash of memory struck him.

...°❀⋆.ೃ࿔.*:･･:*.ೃ࿔.⋆❀°°❀⋆.ೃ࿔.*:･･:*.ೃ࿔.⋆❀°...

Centuries ago.

Women fled at the mere mention of his name.

"It’s the Hexarch! Hide! Hide!"

Their screams, their panicked gasps—it was intoxicating. He relished their fear. It was a symphony, an orchestra of terror.

Except for one.

A woman who did not run. Who did not waver.