Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 222. Wicked I (Patreon)

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 222. Wicked I

The scene unfolded in a nightmarish tableau. Ilex, driven by malice and a twisted sense of triumph, callously discarded Angel's weakened form, flinging him to the cold, unforgiving stone floor. His face looked pale, his breathing getting weaker, and more blood flowing from his mouth.

Meanwhile, a group of men seized Rose, their grasp tight and unyielding. She fought against their restraining hold with all her might. Her voice reverberated through the hall, a symphony of anguish and defiance that echoed off the walls.

"Let me go!" Rose's screams filled the air, her words laced with a desperate plea. Her struggle against the men who held her captive was fueled by a potent cocktail of love, fear, and an indomitable will to protect the one she cherished. Every fiber of her yearned to break free, to rush to Angel's side and offer solace in his darkest hour.

Angel tried to summon every ounce of strength within him, his body trembling with the effort. His once commanding presence now wavered, his spirit flickering like a fading flame. The pallor of his face spoke volumes, a reflection of the toll the battle had taken on his weary form. Each ragged breath he drew seemed to sap what little vitality remained, his body becoming a vessel for his diminishing life force.

Despite the pain coursing through his veins, Angel's unwavering gaze locked onto Ilex. The prince stood before him, a malevolent smile playing at the corners of his lips. The sinister glint in Ilex's eyes betrayed his delight in witnessing Angel's descent into vulnerability. Mockery dripped from his words, aimed at breaking the spirit of a once-mighty king.

"The strongest king of Andromeda Continent finally collapsed because of a woman," Ilex taunted, his voice dripping with venomous satisfaction. "How pathetic! You should have known that once you fall in love, she becomes your greatest weakness."

With labored breaths, Angel managed to summon the strength to retort, his voice a mere whisper but filled with a resolute determination.

"Ilex," Angel's words carried a weight that belied his weakened state. "Love is not weakness; it is our strength. It is what separates us from the darkness that engulfs your heart."

"Silence! Hold him!" Ilex's command echoed through the hall, its chilling authority silencing any murmurs that dared to persist. Like puppets on strings, several of Ilex's swordsmen obediently encircled Angel, restraining his once-mighty limbs with ruthless efficiency. The scene was reminiscent of a dark theater play, with Angel as the unwilling protagonist caught in the throes of a cruel plot.

Despite the throbbing pain in his body and the torment coursing through his soul, Angel mustered a defiant glare at Ilex. The prince's intentions were clear – to inflict further suffering upon his nemesis, to break him not just physically but also emotionally. Ilex's malevolence knew no bounds, and his eyes glinted with a sadistic pleasure in witnessing the fall of a hero.

A cruel smile danced upon Ilex's lips as he taunted Angel, his voice dripping with derision. "Angel, I didn't see you carrying your sword today. I thought your precious blade was broken, but it seems now I know the truth."

As Ilex stepped on Angel's right hand, the king winced, the pain shooting through his arm like a bolt of lightning. He bit down on his lip, suppressing the urge to cry out in agony, determined not to grant Ilex the satisfaction of witnessing his torment.

"You see," Ilex continued, "Your hand is so badly injured that you can't wield a sword at all. A true king would be equipped with a weapon, but you..." He chuckled darkly. "You are no longer fit to rule, are you?"

Angel fought to maintain composure amidst the onslaught of pain and humiliation.

As Ilex's mocking laughter echoed, Rose's voice pierced through the air, her screams a testament to her unwavering loyalty and love for Angel. Her struggles against her captors were relentless, a testament to the fierceness of her spirit. "Stop it! He can't fight anymore! Why are you still torturing him?!" she cried, her words imbued with a fiery determination.

Ilex turned his gaze towards Rose, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Ah, the princess speaks. How touching," he sneered.