In the previous chapters, we witnessed Ronald's bitter struggle with his inner demon, where his strength nearly waned and he teetered on the edge of darkness. A mysterious girl, Sarda, appeared, bringing with her a glimmer of new hope; she intervened to offer support and restore his balance against the looming dangers. But red eyes in the shadows watch closely, carrying a message of an impending conflict, as the moments draw ever closer to a great explosion.
Aona ran swiftly, as fast as she could, glancing back to see a horde of short-statures demons chasing her. Panting, she snarled,
"Damn it, this is not your time!"
The first short demon snarled,
"You won't escape us."
The second added,
" you want to kill our master…"
The third hissed,
"We'll drink your blood and eat your heart."
Aona, showing them her middle finger in contempt, spat,
"Damn you all… go screw yourselves!"
Then she leapt onto a tree like a monkey, jumping from branch to branch until she reached the house. She jumped onto the inn's balcony and entered, only to be shocked to find Ronald in the midst of lovemaking. She climbed up, then gently descended with the lustful Nira.
Sarda silently crept towards them, pulling a small sword from beneath the blanket as she spoke to Ronald while they were making love:
"Are you enjoying this?"
Ronald, in the height of passion, replied,
"Yes, I've never felt this way in my life."
Sarda smiled slyly and said,
"Because it's the last feeling you'll ever have."
She tried to stab his heart, but suddenly Ronald opened his eyes, finding Sarda's head resting on his chest as he looked around, shocked and unconcerned about who was naked, when he saw aona smiling and teasing,
"You have nice toys. Maybe one day I'll check them out."
Ronald, trying to cover himself, asked,
"Who are you and what do you want?"
Aona said,
"Go wash up and put on your clothes, we need to talk."
A few minutes later, Aona sat on the bed, playing with her smooth hair that the wind moved like a brush in a painter's hand. She looked at Ronald with eyes holding many secrets.
Aona:
"Ronald, you're not just a savior… you're also a sacrificial lamb to bring forth the Dark Lord."
She coldly lifted Sarda's severed head, as if speaking to a doll.
Aona:
"You were searching for his heart and blood, weren't you? They're the key to opening the eight Crimson Sun Gates."
Then she carelessly threw the head out the window.
Aona:
"But you failed… and I'll stand against the Baba Raga organization until God takes my soul."
She sighed with clear annoyance.
Aona:
"Where is he? It seems he hasn't bathed for centuries!"
From the dark corner, Ronald emerged with heavy steps.
Ronald:
"Forgive my delay… perhaps I have a demon in my mind, but I bathe daily."
The demon's voice emerged from within him:
"Kill her! Then make love to her corpse!"
Ronald:
"Shut up! I'm not in the mood to talk to you."
Aona thought he meant her, and her anger ignited.
Aona:
"Did you tell me to shut up, you wretched human?!"
Ronald:
"No, I wasn't talking to you… but if you call me wretched again, I'll drink your blood!"
The demon laughed inside him:
"Yes! Like that! I'm proud of you!"
Ronald ignored the demon's voice and looked seriously at Aona.
Ronald:
"What did you mean by me being a sacrificial lamb? And what are the eight Crimson Sun Gates?"
Aona approached him, her emerald eyes burning with a strange passionate fire.
Aona:
"Everything will become clear soon. But now…"
she gently touched his cheek
"you need to know that the Baba Raga organization won't stop chasing you. Your blood is their key to immortality."
The demon inside him suddenly fell silent, as if the word "immortality" had struck him with terror.
Ronald:
"Why did you stop joking? Is something frightening you?"
Aona whispered:
"Even demons fear Baba Raga… and that's what should frighten you."
At that moment, they heard bells ringing from afar… death bells calling Ronald's name.
Aona:
"They've found us! We must leave now!"
She firmly grabbed Ronald's hand, while he tried to understand the curse of fate that had made him the key to the world's destiny.
Aona launched forward, running like clouds in an overcast sky, her legs touching the ground with gentle yet powerful steps, each stride leaving behind a trail of mystery and destiny. She kicked the door in front of her with a force that defied the laws of physics, shattering it into a thousand pieces like broken dream glass.
She entered without blinking her emerald eyes, witnessing an intimate scene between a man and a woman. Yet she ignored it all, as if it were mere illusion in the path of her destiny. She dragged Ronald behind her with an iron grip, while he glanced at them saying:
Ronald:
"Peace be upon you, lovers… I wish you a happy night!"
The Demon:
"Don't you dare repeat that greeting! Every greeting of peace is a bullet in the chest of our destiny!"
Ronald:
"I'm free in my words and actions… and to hell with you! Since when did you become a guardian of morals?"
Aona turned to him with a sharp look:
"The freedom you speak of is what brought you to this fate!"
Then Aona leaped from the balcony like a night bird, with Ronald following behind. Aona landed on her feet with the grace of a wild cat, while Ronald fell face-first with force:
Ronald:
"Damn! This hurts more than your words, my demon!"
The Demon:
"She's more violent than me… I see in her soul goodness like a river, but strength like a hurricane!"
Ronald (trying to stand on his feet, blood filling his mouth):
"What did you mean by your words? Since when do you care about my future?"
The Demon:
"Listen, my dear friend… If you're only looking for sex and pleasure, and riding the first train to hell, then she doesn't suit you. But if you're looking for one wife to share your life with, to share your dreams and nightmares, then die and go to hell together… she's the best for you, and you won't find her equal!"
Ronald:
"You have too much free time in your life! And you, demon, speak like a father choosing a bride for his son! And why is hell always at the end of every sentence?"
The Demon:
"Because we know the truth you're running from! We are older than you, and we know our end is in hell, and we've accepted it. But you… weak humans, worse than us, yet you deny that your end is the lowest depths of the fire!"
Ronald:
"To hell with you! I won't speak to you again… this time I swear!"
Aona launched running with him again through the forest, the shadows of trees touching their cheeks like the fingers of fate:
Aona:
"Ronald! Try to match my pace and hurry! And ignore everything he tells you… he's planting doubt in your heart!"
Ronald (running behind her, breathless):
"See? Even Aona hates you… wait! How did I know her name? I never told her mine!"
The Demon:
"You're welcome… no thanks needed for my duty! I know more about her than you know about yourself!"
Then he laughed loudly in Ronald's mind, a laugh filled with euphoria and triumph, until unbearable pain appeared on Ronald's features…
Aona turned to him, her eyes gleaming in the darkness:
"I hear his voice rising in your head… don't surrender! He wants to make you a copy of Jiria!"
Ronald:
"And how do you know about Jiria? Who are you really?"
Aona:
"Too many questions… but for now, run! Or we'll answer them in hell!"
As they plunged deeper into the forest darkness, the death bells began ringing again, but this time they echoed with a different sound… one that heralded the arrival of something even more terrifying…