CHAPTER 331: WHEN BLOOD TURNS AGAINST BLOOD [2]

FWOOSH!

A violent green glow erupted from the stump of Brandon’s severed arm, swirling in jagged, lightning-like arcs.

His veins lit up beneath his skin as raw ether surged violently.

The bloody stump began to warp as flesh coiled together, muscle fibers braided, and pale skin stretched taut over forming bone.

Florence’s eyes widened, trembling tears spilling down her cheeks ’I-it’s... growing back?’

Henriette’s lips parted faintly, as a shadow of dread flickered through her expression. "Regeneration...?"

Brandon lifted his gaze from his rapidly forming hand, silver fire flickering faintly across his eyes.

"...Dhayun Noona."

And with a final crackling burst of ether, his left arm was whole again.

The blood that had drenched the marble floor hissed, vanishing into faint embers of green light.

Kiera’s cold blue eyes narrowed into a razor-thin line. "Tch."

She didn’t wait.

*swoosh* The marble beneath her shattered as she pushed off with explosive force.

Her body blurred, leaving a trail of sapphire ether sparks in her path.

She darted across the space between them, moving so fast that Florence could barely register her movements.

But Brandon had been waiting.

The moment Kiera closed in, his newly formed arm ignited in silver flames and he swung.

BOOOOOM!

His punch cut through the air with a thunderous shockwave, slamming directly toward Kiera’s chest.

’SHIT!’ Her eyes widened and she instinctively crossed her forearms before her chest in an X shape and ether crackled into a dense crystalline shield across her skin.

CRAAAASH!!!

The impact landed.

Kiera’s heels gouged two furrows through the marble as the sheer force blasted her backward.

Her blonde hair whipped around her face as sparks scattered at her feet.

She skidded across the staircase until she slammed into one of the marble railings, shattering it to rubble.

Florence gasped and raised her hand to cover her lips ’Kael... since when...’

Brandon stood with his fist still extended and silver fire trailed upward from his knuckles, his chest rising and falling as he steadied himself.

Kiera straightened from the rubble, her forearms scorched faintly from the heat of his flames.

She lowered her arms and flexed her fingers once, testing the lingering sting.

Henriette’s cane slammed once more against the marble, "Kiera. Stop playing. Tear him apart."

Florence stepped forward despite the cane blocking her path, "Mother, stop this! He’ll die!"

But neither Brandon nor Kiera heard her anymore.

For both of them, the world had shrunk down to the space between their bodies

Kiera leaned forward, her body shimmering with sapphire light.

Brandon rolled his shoulders, silver fire flickering around his fists.

Kiera’s body flickered, and dark blue ether exploded off her body like shards of broken glass.

She dashed forward, her foot slamming into the marble and splintering it beneath her step.

Brandon matched her pace as silver fire burst along his fists.

And then-

CRAAAASH!

Their fists collided, and the shockwave shattered nearby windows and rattled the gates of the mansion.

Air warped violently, and Florence had to shield her face from the searing wind.

Kiera spun low and raised her foot upward in a vicious arc, but Brandon blocked with his forearm-

THWACK!

-but the sheer force drove him back a step, his boots grinding against broken marble.

Before he could recover, she slammed her fist into his gut.

WHUMP!

Brandon’s body doubled slightly and blood sprayed from his mouth as his lungs emptied in a ragged cough.

"Kh-!"

His left hand ignited in silver fire, and he swung upward in a brutal hook.

SMASH!

His fist connected with her jaw.

However, a dark blue crystalline mask of ether flickered across her face at the last instant.

One of her skills... which automatically crystallizes ether across her body to shield her.

Brandon’s punch connected with the crystalline ether.

CRRKKKK!

The crystalline layer shattered outright into glittering fragments.

The force of the blow sent Kiera’s head snapping back, twisting her body as she staggered sideways.

Dust and shards of ether clattered across the ground.

She dragged the back of her hand across her lips and her breath was visible in the cold morning air.

A smear of blood stained her knuckles "...Impressive,"

Brandon spat blood onto the floor and wiped his chin with his thumb.

*swoosh* Kiera lunged again, her body flickering in and out of focus as crystalline ether coated her limbs.

She threw a straight punch and Brandon met it with his own fist.

BOOOOM!

The collision shook the staircase and the marble steps shattered beneath their feet.

The blast of energy flared outward, rattling the gates so violently they nearly tore free from their hinges.

*flick* Kiera kneed upward, but Brandon twisted, catching it with his elbow, then answered with a low kick that swept across her shin.

She absorbed it, twisting her hips, then pivoted and slammed a palm strike into his shoulder.

CRACK!

He stumbled half a step, but he instantly countered and punched straight into her ribs.

THUD!

"Urgh-" Kiera’s body lurched sideways, but she caught herself mid-fall, twisting into a spin and driving her heel straight toward his temple.

WHAM!

The kick connected, snapping his head to the side.

Blood flew from his lips; however, he grabbed her collar and pulled her forward before slamming his forehead into hers.

CRACK!

Their skulls collided, sparks and ether flying between them.

"Ghuk-"

Both staggered back two steps, with their chests heaving and blood dripping from fresh cuts.

Florence screamed and stepped forward "STOP IT!! BOTH OF YOU!!"

But before she could go any further-

THUNK.

The cold steel tip of Henriette’s cane pressed firmly against her chest, halting her momentum.

"Stay where you are." The sheer weight of her presence bore down on Florence as if she were still a child, cowed under her mother’s gaze.

"...Mother, please." Florence’s voice wavered, but she did not step back. "Listen to me."

Henriette’s eyes narrowed to slits. "You will not talk back. You will not move. This is not your place. Obey me, Florence."

It was the same tone.

The same command Florence had heard her entire life.

The voice that had molded her, broken her, stripped her of choices.

Florence’s hands trembled... but then, slowly, she lifted one hand and wrapped her fingers around the shaft of the cane.

The wood was cold, polished smooth from decades of use.

For a moment, she could almost hear the echoes of her childhood- that same cane striking the floor in judgment or striking her in punishment.

Her grip tightened.

And she pushed it away from her chest.

Henriette’s eyes widened faintly, "Florence... Do not make me repeat myself. Remove your hand."

Florence’s breath was ragged, but something in her gaze was different now.

The weight that had always bent her spine and forced her to bow her head was still there but...

"No," Florence whispered.

Henriette blinked in surprise "What?"

A sharp yellow glint passed through Florence’s eyes "No, Mother. Not this time."

The cane trembled faintly between them as Florence held her ground.

"You’ve silenced me all my life. You took Kiera from me and called it wisdom. You would take Eira too... and now you dare strike me, shame me, and try to take Brandon from me again."

Tears welled in her eyes, but her voice only grew louder.

Henriette clenched her teeth in anger "You dare defy me? You dare-"

"YES, I DARE!!"

Florence cut her off, as the yellow glint in her eyes flashed brighter, and for a second the aura of Florence’s ether pulsed outward, swirling like golden threads caught in the wind.

She shoved the cane fully aside and stepped closer to her mother, "No more, Mother."