Chapter 615: Let’s Play A Game

Carmela and Joy realized very quickly that Cassius hadn’t been exaggerating when he told them to keep up.

The moment they began sprinting through the dark forest, it felt as if the world itself blurred around them.

Cassius moved ahead like a phantom—effortless, silent, and impossibly fast and no matter how much they pushed themselves, they could barely keep his silhouette in sight.

Carmela grit her teeth, her body glowing faintly red as the veins beneath her skin pulsed with vampiric energy. The forest floor cracked beneath her feet with every step.

She was burning through her blood essence faster than she ever had before, her muscles screaming in protest, yet Cassius remained a distant shadow.

Joy, too, was struggling.

A soft golden radiance shimmered around her, her divine energy flaring as she sprinted at full force.

The light grew brighter, her speed increasing—yet Cassius was still effortlessly ahead, darting through trees as if gravity and friction didn’t apply to him.

After several exhausting minutes, they both realized something humiliating.

They weren’t catching up.

They were losing ground.

Finally, Cassius glanced back and with a faintly haughty smirk, he slowed down. Instantly, his pace matched theirs, allowing them to draw closer until they were running side by side again.

But that only made it worse.

Both women were proud, powerful warriors—Carmela, a vampire who had survived decades, and Joy, a saintess whose name inspired both fear and reverence.

To be pitied, to have someone slow down for them was a sting to their pride that made their blood boil.

“He slowed down.” Carmela scowled. “He actually slowed down for us.”

Joy’s expression was equally sour. “I noticed.”

Cassius chuckled, pretending not to see their glare.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’d rather have company than arrive alone.”

They both huffed but said nothing. And after a solid hour of running, the forest began to thin out.

The smell of damp earth gave way to something older—stone, decay, and faint traces of smoke.

Cassius raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

They crouched low behind a dense line of bushes, their eyes focusing on the sight ahead.

Before them lay a massive clearing, and at its center stood the remains of an ancient castle—half-collapsed, draped in vines, and cracked by time.

Its towers leaned, its gates were rusted, and yet…light flickered within.

The castle, once proud and majestic, now served as the den of something much darker.

Dozens of small camps had been set up inside and outside the ruins.

Bonfires burned, tents sprawled across the overgrown courtyard, and men were scattered about—drinking, laughing, some keeping watch with lazy eyes.

Carmela squinted, whispering softly. “Who are these people? Why are they here?”

Joy narrowed her eyes, her hand subconsciously tightening around her weapon.

“Why…do I feel something familiar about them?”

She glanced at Cassius, her tone lowering.

“It’s strange. It’s as if there’s some connection between us…like we share the same kind of energy.”

Cassius gave Joy a knowing gaze.

“That’s because you are connected. In fact…” He said, gesturing toward the encampment. “…you could even call them your colleagues.”

Joy blinked, clearly offended. “My what?”

Carmela arched an eyebrow, staring at him.

“Colleagues? You’re joking, right?”

Cassius shook his head.

“No, it’s not a joke. Meet…” He gestured with mock ceremony “…the Mourners.”

Joy frowned. “The Mourners?”

Cassius nodded, leaning closer.

“An old sect of priests and clerics. Ex-priests, to be precise. Once holy men devoted to the Goddess. But…” He smirked. “…like most things that begin with good intentions, they fell.”

He looked back toward the castle, his voice lowering.

“Each one of them used to serve in the holy orders—healers, confessors, purifiers. But after years of abusing their power—extortion, manipulation, taking advantage of the weak they were expelled. Stripped of their titles and cast out.”

“Yet instead of repenting…”

He gestured toward the glowing tents.

“…they banded together.”

Joy’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You mean they still use the Goddess’s name to deceive people?”

Cassius nodded.

“Precisely. They’ve turned their holy gifts into tools of sin. Now they travel across the land, pretending to heal, pretending to serve.”

“They go where plagues spread, claiming to ’purify the sick.’ But all they do is rob, extort, and kill. They poison those they can’t control, take their belongings, and vanish before anyone notices.”

Carmela’s lips curled in disgust. “Parasites.”

“And that’s not all.” Cassius’s tone darkened. “They also visit battlefields after wars, claiming to help the wounded. But they drug the injured, slit their throats, and steal whatever they can. Some even lure orphans under the guise of ’guidance’…and, well.”

He trailed off, his voice cold.

“I’m sure you can imagine the rest.”

Joy’s entire expression shifted. Her golden aura flickered violently, and her voice trembled with fury.

“They use the Goddess’s name…to commit atrocities.”

Carmela’s eyes gleamed red, her fangs slightly visible.

“They deserve death. Every last one of them.”

“Good.” Cassius smiled faintly, pleased. “Then I take it you’re both motivated.”

Joy clenched her fists. “What’s the plan?”

Carmela nodded in agreement. “Yes. How are we going to approach this?”

But to their surprise, Cassius blinked at them innocently.

“Plan?” He tilted his head. “Why do we need a plan?”

“Huh?”

“Think about it.” Cassius said, gesturing at the camp. “You’re both among the strongest people in this entire continent. Do we really need to strategize against a bunch of drunken, half-broken priests?”

Carmela tilted her head, and then grinning slowly she nodded. “You know what? You’re right.”

Joy thought about it for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“Normally I prefer to strategize. But tonight…”

She removes her cloak, the golden light of her aura pulsing brighter.

“…I’d rather keep every kill for myself.”

“Now that’s the spirit.” Cassius said approvingly.

Both women readied themselves, their eyes burning with anticipation. But before they could leap from the bushes, Cassius raised a hand.

“Hold up.” He said. “Before we begin, how about…we decide on a game and make it more interesting?”

Joy frowned suspiciously. “What kind of game?”

“The fun kind.” Cassius said smoothly. “A simple contest—whoever takes the most lives wins.”

While Joy and Carmela were caught off guard by the statement, Cassius casually went on like he was talking about making a chore more fun.

“I mean, come on. Don’t tell me you don’t find it boring just…going around killing people all the time. It gets repetitive, doesn’t it? Slaughter, blood, screams, silence. Then the same thing again.”

“Honestly, I’m tired of it. It’s just too dull when there’s no challenge.”

“But now that I’ve got company tonight—” His gaze flicked between Joy and Carmela. “—I thought, why not make it interesting? A little competition.”

“A competition in the sense that you two on one team, me on the other. We storm in, kill everyone and when the dust settles, we count. Whoever racks up the higher number wins.”

He gave a casual shrug. “And since I’m sure none of us are pathetic enough to lie about it, we’ll just be honest at the end. Easy.”

Both women stared at him in disbelief.

Under any other circumstances, they would have been disgusted by such an idea.

They were killers, yes—but not sadists.

They killed for justice, for vengeance, for purpose.

Not for sport.

But this was different.

Cassius wasn’t suggesting random killing.

He was talking about exterminating the guilty.

And in that twisted way, it…didn’t sound wrong.

Joy exhaled slowly.

“That’s…fine with me.” She said at last, voice cold but steady. “Even if I don’t have an advantage against you in a straight duel…”

Her eyes narrowed like blades.

“…when it comes to killing criminals quickly, I can manage.”

Carmela gave a low hum of agreement.

But then Joy’s expression hardened slightly.

“Though, one thing doesn’t make sense. Why are we on the same team and you’re on another? Shouldn’t it be every person for themselves?”

“Exactly.” Carmela chimed in, her voice dripping with irritation. “Are you implying you can take on both of us at once and still win? That’s absurd.”

Cassius chuckled. “Oh, no, not absurd. Its just fair.”

“Fair?” Joy repeated incredulously.

He nodded, smirk widening. “Yeah. If I split you two up, neither of you would stand a chance. This way, at least you have each other for moral support.”

That was the final straw.

Joy’s jaw tightened, a twitch appearing under her eye. Her tone turned sweet but dangerous.

“Oh? Fair, you say? That’s adorable. Let’s see how ’fair’ it looks when you’re the one eating your own words.”

Cassius waved a dismissive hand.

“Sure, sure. Talk all you want. You’ll need it. In fact…” He tilted his head, pretending to think “…I’ll even give you a head start.”

“A…what?” Joy said in wonder, as couldn’t believe the extent of how much he was underestimating her.

“A head start.” He said, ignoring her furious gaze. “You can begin first, and I’ll come by later. You’ll need the advantage after all.”

He then winked—and vanished into the trees.

Hearing this, both women were trembling from sheer annoyance before Joy took a deep breath, exhaling through her nose.

“He really knows how to make me want to hit him.”

Carmela cracked her knuckles, eyes glowing faintly red.

“Let’s make him regret that smug mouth.”

With that, they both started walking toward the clearing, determination burning in their eyes.

In the distance, one of the guards stationed near the edge of the ruined courtyard noticed movement.

He squinted through the darkness—and froze when he saw two silhouettes approaching.

Two women.

One was tall and graceful, her steps silent but confident, crimson eyes glowing faintly even in the dim torchlight.

The other, was actually a nun, a sister of the Church in complete white.

The guard’s lips curled into a lecherous grin.

“Heh…what’s this? Two lost beauties in the middle of the woods?”

He lowered his weapon slightly, eyes narrowing in amusement.

He didn’t even think to call for backup—why would he?

They were just women. Pretty ones at that.

He was already imagining dragging them inside to ’entertain’ himself.

But—

His grin faltered.

Because suddenly…

They weren’t in front of him anymore.

They were beside him.

Walking past him.

His confusion spiked.

“H—”

He tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

His hand rose instinctively to his throat.

Warm.

Wet.

He looked down.

Blood coated his fingers.

His eyes widened.

He turned slowly—

And the world tilted.

Because his head…

Was no longer properly attached.

Then gravity finished the sentence.

His head rolled into the dirt.

Carmela didn’t even look back.

She wiped the blood off her dagger calmly, drawing her second blade with effortless grace.

Joy, beside her, manifested her massive axe in a burst of golden light.

They shared one glance.

Joy’s voice was icy.

“I’ll take the left.”

Carmela’s was darker.

“I’ll take the right.”

And then—

They moved.

A flash.

A blur.

And the camp exploded into screams.

“Intruders!”

“WHO ARE YOU?!”

“AH—!”

“AHHHHHH!!”

“What are you—AARGH!”

Men stumbled out of their tents, only to be met with steel and blood.

Carmela moved like a ghost, her body a blur of red and black. Her daggers flashed faster than the eye could follow, slicing through throats, tendons, and arteries with surgical precision.

Limbs flew, blood painted the walls, and screams filled the night.

Joy, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of destruction.

Her golden aura blazed brighter with every swing of her axe.

A single swing cleaved through three men at once, their bodies collapsing before they could even realize they were dead.

Those who survived scrambled to defend themselves, shouting desperately.

“Holy light! Use holy magic!”

“Attack! Cut them down!”

But when the first volley of rays struck Joy—nothing happened. The radiance broke apart against her like waves crashing against a cliff.

“What—what’s happening?!” One of them screamed. “Why isn’t my spell working?!”

“Because…” Joy’s cold look sent chills down their spines. “…the Goddess has long abandoned sinners like you.”

Her axe came down, and his body split in two.

Meanwhile, Carmela was weaving through the chaos, her speed unmatched.

To the enemy’s eyes, she was a blur—appearing and disappearing between flashes of crimson light.

The only evidence of her passing was the trail of bodies left behind.

“Where is she?! I can’t see her!” Someone shouted frantically.

“Light! Use a light spell!”

One of the ex-priests chanted desperately.

“Holy illumination!”

A burst of golden light filled the area—revealing Carmela standing right in front of him, her lips curved into a chilling smile.

He barely had time to gasp before her daggers plunged into his chest again and again, each thrust faster than the last until he dropped lifelessly to the ground.

And just like that—

The Mourners, those corrupted priests, those filth hiding in the forest…

Were slaughtered.

One by one.

Their castle grounds drenched in crimson.

Their screams swallowed by the night.

Joy and Carmela moved like reapers.

And despite themselves—

Despite the horror—

Despite the blood—

They truly looked like they were having the time of their lives.

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