God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Cain's eyes scanned the area in front of him quickly.

'There were no sides here. All of them seemed to be headed the same way, and as a result, there could only be disaster.'

Cain didn't think he had exceptional luck, but for so many creatures to catch on so quickly could only mean that the route to wherever they were headed was going to be rather crowded.

Or maybe not, considering that most of the creatures here were already dead...

It was simply outstanding.

Cain dashed forward and cut at the neck of a creature with four arms and two heads.

The creature brought its iron club up to protect itself, but the weapon was the immediately bent out of shape.

With another heavy cut forward, Cain swung down. The creature fell to the ground, clutching at the bloody stump on its neck whilst it screamed like a banshee. It tried to get up, glaring at Cain viciously with the eyes on its other head.

Cain's gaze was cold as he swung down again,

"Too noisy."

The creature fell and this time, did not get up.

Roselle was rushing in behind him as well, tearing through the scant numbers of whatever creatures were left.

Sensing the commotion, Viola, the {Darkfire Imp}, snapped her head toward the new arrivals. Her slitted pupils constricted as she watched Cain and Roselle carve through the remaining creatures like a searing hot knife through flesh.

Her lips curled into a cruel grin. "More playthings, huh?"

With a dark chuckle, the violet flames coiling around her body pulsed like a heartbeat, licking at the air as if eager to consume flesh.

She kicked off the ground and her tiny frame turned into a blur as she vanished into the smoke, reappearing just a few meters away from Cain.

"Hey, handsome," She purred, her voice dripping with mockery. "You've got quite the sword arm. How 'bout you try swinging that at me?"

Cain's grip tightened around his sword. He didn't respond. Instead, he turned slightly, angling himself toward her while keeping the Light Guardian and the girl it protected within his field of view.

'Normally, a confrontation of this manner should be avoided. Waiting for one of them to kill each other would have been ideal.'

He frowned as he stared into the eyes of the girl behind the Guardian of Light.

But something deep within him told him he should urgently step in and do something, anything.

As long as she wasn't killed by this impish creature. He tore his eyes away from her then turned to face his opponent.

The battle was still raging, but Cain's instincts screamed to him that this imp was a real threat.

She wielded two daggers made from the fangs if some unknown abomination. They were covered in devilish runes that screamed of their terrible nature.

Not only that, but the way she moved, the manner in which she had rained down hell upon the body of the Light Guardian, it was too fast, too erratic...

'And that damn flame...'

Cain had no idea what it was, but he was certain of one thing, and that was making sure those flames didn't come near him. He could still hear the dying throws of the {Treant} as its wooden body turned into charcoal and crumbled.

Roselle slid up beside him, breathing heavily, the two rapiers in her hands slick with blackened crimson. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

She didn't spare Cain a glance as she muttered,

"That one's trouble."

Cain nodded. "She sure is."

Viola's grin widened, her tail flicking behind her.

"Ooooh, I like the way you look at me, human."

A look of realization appeared on her face, as she turned back to the girl behind the Guardian of Light,

"Could they be your friends? Did you call for help?" The {Darkfire Imp} said.

Her voice was playful, but the sheer malice bleeding through her tone sent an unpleasant chill down Cain's spine.

The girl replied coldly,

"I have never seen them before in my life. And I don't need them to kill you."

Her eyes widened and an enormous magic circle appeared behind her. It spat a stream of light onto the body of the Light Guardian.

The body of the behemoth groaned as it stretchrd and became larger, completely overshadowing everything in the battlefield.

Stretching her hand out, multiple smaller magic circles appeared around her. She gave Cain a brief glance and said,

"If you want to help, I won't tell you not to. Just don't get in the way."

With that, she clenched her fist.

The Light Guardian barreled forward towards the {Darkfire Imp}, leaving behind a trail of light that scorched everything, living and not, into oblivion.

Viola sneered,

"Making it bigger won't do much, will it?"

Then, without warning, she spat another stream of {Darkfire} straight at it.

The Light Guardian swatted its hand, blowing the flames away.

Viola clicked her tongue then leapt backwards,

Cain and Roselle exchanged glances.

There was not much to be said between them.

The energy around him exploded beneath his feet and propelled him forward like hypersonic bullet.

The {Darkfire Imp} turned towards him, a wicked grin on her face,

"I'll get to you later, handsome."

Then, she spat the violet flames at him.

Cain reacted instantly, raising his free hand. Metal elemental mana erupted from his palm like a blossoming flower, forming a jagged shield just in time to absorb the brunt of the flames. The force of the impact still sent him skidding back a few steps, his boots carving deep grooves into the blood-soaked ground.

Roselle wasn't idle either. She rolled to the side, dodging the fire entirely before dashing forward and stabbing one of her rapiers at Viola's smirking face.

The imp tilted her head just enough for the blade to graze her cheek. A thin line of black blood welled up, and Viola's expression shifted—first to surprise, then to something much darker.

"Ohhh, I felt that," she whispered.

Then she was gone.

Cain barely had time to register her disappearance before she reappeared right in front of him, a clawed hand crackling with dark energy swinging toward his throat.

He twisted his body, barely avoiding the strike, and brought his sword up in a vicious counter.

The imp clicked her tongue and vanished again.

Cain cursed under his breath. "Fast little shit."

Roselle was already moving, her eyes scanning for any sign of their enemy.

The imp was fast. Very fast. Almost fast enough to evade his gaze.

Almost...

Cain exhaled sharply. Then he disappeared as well.

BANG!

Viola's eyes widened as she stared into Cain's eyes from behind the sparks created by their weapons grinding against one another.

A grin appeared on her face, only this one was a bit different,

"Interesting! How interesting!"

The turned into a whirlwind of afterimages and, in less than a moment, appeared behind him, stabbing for a gap in his armor.

Her breathing quickened and her expression turned strange,

"Bleed for me~"

Cain grimaced as he felt the tip of the blade puncture through his armor. Fortunately for him, he had been quick to react and had layered his body with sheets of metal enough to absorb the force behind the stab.

Dropping his sword to the ground, he reached behind him and grabbed the imp firmly.

Then, he flipped her over, smashing her body into the ground.

He tried to land another blow, but she had crawled up his body like an insect, stabbing her daggers at his throat with a deranged grin on her face.

BANG!

The Light Guardian swatted them both into the ground.

Cain couldn't help but see stars for a few moments.

"What... the hell?!"

Far away, the stranger girl's eyes widened the magic circles behind her widened even more, and hundreds of arrows of light shot out, all homing in on the {Darkfire Imp}.

The imp got off the ground and turned into a shadow, moving haphazardly to either dodge or deflect the arrows of light.

Cain stood up slowly and glared at the girl that had nearly killed him.

Her expression turned a bit guilty,

"You were in the way. The only way I could have gotten her was by using you."

Cain's expression turned dark,

'This freaking...'

His eyes were tinged with crimson.

Roselle tapped his shoulder,

"Calm down."

A second later, they leapt back as a stream of violet flames poured in their direction.

Despite being pressed by the endless onslaught of light arrows and the Light Guardian, Viola didn't seem to break a sweat.

Instead, it seemed as though she was enjoying herself thoroughly, not yet in the mood to bring things to an end.

Cain grimaced, then turned to the other girl.

His mood was still soured, but he forced his displeasure down.

"What is your name?"

The girl frowned and her beautiful eyes narrowed,

"How is that any of your concern?"

Cain snorted, "If you want my help, you'll do as I say. Believe it or not, you can't beat her by yourself. And I don't care enough not to leave you for dead."

The girl grit her teeth, and her glare intensified,

"If you don't what to help me, then why are still here?!"

Cain answered coldly,

"Because I want to be here. Now tell me your damn name!"

The girl went silent, wearing a slight grimace as though she was contemplating whether or not to tell this strange person anything.

Eventually, she gave in with a light sigh,

"Call me Susan."