The Duke's Passion

863 He was there all along

Samael had lost count of how many battles he had taken part in and emerged victorious. Although he couldn't remember every single one of them, Samael didn't have any recollection of being overwhelmed by his opponent.

Samael was a confident man. He might've humbled himself by avoiding unnecessary

confrontation because he knew he would never lose.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It had always been that way. The reason Samael attracted people like Fabian and Rufus; individuals who were just as confident in their skills as him. That was why this battle felt new to him. Samael never had such a powerful opponent.

This was the first.

BOOGSH!

"Ugh!" Samacl felt paralyzed within the cracks of the concrete. Blood spurted out of his mouth as he coughed, wincing at the striking pain in his stomach.

"Wahahaha! Is this what a chosen was like?"

The demon beat him up to a pulp and Samael had to grit his teeth listening to the demon's ridiculing laughter.

"Oh, how the Grimsbanne had fallen!" continued the demon. His laughter had a tinge of mockery and dismay. "The Grimsbanne used to shine in glory, bathing in the marvelous light of strength, power, and respect! Never have I imagined the chosen seed of pride would be this pathetic."

The demon's grin stretched broader, spreading its gigantic arms wide open. He was unfazed by the falling debris, cyes on the tiny Samael stuck between the broken concrete.

"What a shame..." the demon's voice echoed, sending a chill down Samael's spine. "... that brave woman, Ameria, lost to our bet."

"Ugh..." Samael clenched his teeth, gazing up at the demon up above. Blood smeared on his fangs, balling his hands into tight fists. Regardless of the pain within his body, he forced himself to sit up. Yet, with incredible difficulty.

"You..." Samael breathed out heavily, looking heavenward as he managed to sit up. "... know my mother?"

"Ameria visited me a couple of times when I was held captive under the royal palace of the La Crox" The demon's smile didn't leave its face even when talking. "What a lovely woman... but a foolish one at that. Even so, I wouldn't mind resurrecting her so that she would witness herself how I slaughtered her beloved son."

Samael's heart thudded, eyes burning with anger. "I don't know your connection with my mother and at this point, I am no longer surprised by such revelations. He dragged himself up, wincing upon feeling a striking pain in his lungs.

Samael could count how many internal injuries he had incurred from the demon's merciless attacks. However, that didn't stop him from standing back up again.

"But one thing is clear to me; you gave me more reason I need to end your existence." Samael huffed, looking at the demon fiercely. "First was to protect my family from the atrocious intention your existence carries, and second... to keep my mother rest in peace."

"Hah! Do you think Ameria is resting? How naive!" the demon laughed and laughed before he continued, "We, the Grimsbanne, were born with one condition. That is to go straight to hell, Pride. Entering an eternal slumber doesn't mean we will finally rest from the curse of time, but rather, locking ourselves to suffer the consequences of the past all alone"

"What?"

The demon snickered. 'I know you are foolish. However, I didn't anticipate you to be this ridiculous. How are you so oblivious to the fate of the Grimsbanne? Was it because the previous ones before you were so afraid to share that information, in fear more of us would choose to sacrifice our form than enter eternal slumber?"

"That must be!" The demon nodded in agreement with his own theory. "After all, the only person who knew about this but still chose to perish was Ameria."

"She... didn't die.' Samael's voice shook, speaking through his gritted teeth. "She was murdered. What do you know?"

"Haha! You are truly silly, Pride. I was imprisoned underneath the royal palace. Though I am incapacitated, I can hear everything. You and the entire La Crox had made those years worthwhile." The demon laughed once again, giving Samael hints that he had been there since the beginning.

The demon had heard everything. Samael could understand that hearing things was sometimes enough. After all, Samael had been listening to Lilou from the time she was born. He might've not seen her or her situation, but somehow, listening to her gave him a vague idea of what was going on in her life.

It was the same with this demon.

No matter how harsh this may sound, Samael used to think of Lilou as a great source of entertainment. Thinking this demon had treated the entire La Crox clan as his entertainment left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

How insulting.

"I would've enjoyed it even more, but this Moriarty bastard took me away while everyone was so busy fighting!" There was a little bit of disappointment in the demon's voice. "What were you doing back then? Right. I think that was the time your brother, Stefan, beheaded you right in front of your wife"

"Silence!" Samael shouted his lungs out, enduring the pain that struck him at the same time. His eyes burned even wilder, heart racing in anger. "How dare you... speak of those events..." Samael trailed off, realizing it was futile. To him, those times had brought him unimaginable emotional pain. After all, Samael had to fight his siblings to death, tainting his hands with their blood. He didn't do that with a smile on his face, nor did he ever celebrate his win.

Yet, this demon spoke of it as if it was simply a part of a play where he missed its ending. "There isn't any redeeming quality Quentin Moriarty has. However, I'll probably thank him for taking you away from that place!" Samacl spat out the blood to the side, keeping his eyes on his invincible opponent. "At the very least, I don't need to clean up your picces in the Capital of the Heart's Kingdom - Catharsis!"

As soon as Samael called forth his sword, Catharsis, he leaped from the ground to launch continuous attacks against his enemy.