The villainess shall be mine

All it took was a few words coming from the mouth of the one who was at the top of the Empire.

"...Adam Von Kepalta is a very dangerous individual. It pains me to say this, but he has betrayed the Empire, and I can't tolerate such a thing in times like this where we need to work together based on trust and respect. As such, the Raizel family and every people to him will be immediately executed if they don't cooperate. As for Adam Von Kepalta, the Guardians will take care of him and will show the world what happens to the traitors. It will be a warning for those who are complotting in the shadow. This is a royal decree and will take effect immediately."

Blanca was frozen in place, unable to process what was happening. Adam acted bizarrely, then a public announcement had somehow revealed everything that Adam has been plotting followed. His face was shown on the big screen and he looked like he had lost his mind.

"It's her! She is with him!"

​ Shortly after the announcement, some people also took notice of Blanca's presence and tried to apprehend her.

Blanca didn't let herself get caught easily and began to move. However, she everything was more and more confusing when she looked around her.

"Cristal! Where are you? What's going on?" Blanca tried to escape from the pursuers but there were too many of them. She wanted Cristal's help as she rushed at Adam with the intention to punch him in the face and ask him to pull it together.

She used her ultimate card in order to optimize their chance of getting out of this mess. She believed that Adam would be able to do something about it once he gathered his spirit, or so she hoped because if that wasn't the case, everything would be for naught. And Blanca couldn't accept that.

How can someone like Adam fall into such a trap? Did she really overestimate his ability? She couldn't tell, but the first thing she needed to do was to escape.

However, before she could manage to get closer to Adam, a huge explosion occurred.

Boom!

"Get away from my daughter!"

An enraged voice followed the explosion. It was so intimidating that the people present there felt that it was not good to stay close to the arena where the duel between Adam and Farah took place.

The one who slammed his fist on the ground was none other than Farah's father, Derige. However, all of the five other Guardians present there stood behind him.

"Adam!" Blanca shouted as the shockwave from the attack propelled her backward.

Derige didn't use his gift intentionally because his daughter was there, but his physical strength was on a different level, even greater than Ruedeus's.

"Are you alright?" Derige asked, looking at his daughter.

"I am fine," Farah replied, looking like she wasn't really pleased by her father"s intervention.

Blanca used this gap to dash forward toward Adam who was lying on the ground after being hit by the shockwave created by Derige's attack. A crimson armor covered her whole body and various crimson weapon floated around her. She was in full battle mode.

"Who is that woman?" One of the Guardians said. She was a petite woman who is often mistaken for a child. However, she has known as the Kaya the Destroyer for a reason.

Along with her, Marina the Sorcerer, Cristoph the Mage, Nuiia the Illusionist, and Gerrard.

"She is one of his accomplices. Isn't it obvious?" Cristoph said mockingly. "The reward for killing this kid is quite something. I wonder what's the real reason. Well, whatever, gotta finish the job," he added.

"Hey, who gave you the permission to take this Job for yourself?" Kaya asked menacingly.

Looking at them, Marina just shook her head desperately, while Nuiia just looked distant, lost in her thoughts. As for Gerrard, his eyes were fixated on the screen of the device that he held in his hand.

"What? Are you saying that this guy won't be handled unless we work together? That's cute, but I am more than enough. I don't want to waste any more time, you see. And the best way to make sure that everything will be done quickly is to do it by myself," Cristoph said.

"Anh? Are you trying me?" Kaya asked menacingly.

However, before anyone could say anything, Derige said something. "He is mine."

The strongest said that Adam was his prey, and the other Guardians were surprised by Derige's tone and the way he acted. However, they all thought that this was an opportunity to see Derige's real power.

"What about the woman?" Kaya asked.

"If she gets in the way, she will regret her choice," Derige said.

Kaya didn't say anything anymore and just showed her palms to show that she wouldn't interfere.

Nonetheless, Derige's actions were just pure hypocrisy and somehow he took what Adam did to Farah personally. In addition to the announcement, he was sure that Adam was evil and a manipulator.

"Woman! Surrender now, and I will spare your life," Derige said with a very authoritative tone.

Blanca and Adam were surrounded and even though Nuiia looked like she was dreaming, her gift gave her the ability to create invisible walls all around the arena.

Blanca didn't say anything and just looked at Derige fearlessly. She noticed that Adam had somehow lost consciousness, and if she ran away and left him behind, her chance of surviving would increase.

Nonetheless, something prevented her from taking this rational decision. Before, fulfilling her duties was the most important thing for her, and she didn't hesitate to leave her friends behind to accomplish them. Then, the incident involving her sister occurred, shaking her beliefs.

Adam promised that he would help her find her sister, but he was now lying on the ground at the mercy of the people that he said he had the upper hand on.

Blanca was more than confused after talking to that mysterious being, and now everything became incomprehensible all of sudden. Cristal was gone and Adam acted almost as if he was a child who lost his parents.

"As you wish," Derige said, looking at Blanca who was standing in front of Adam.

After that, every time Derige took a step forward the ground melted and turned into lava. He turned into a walking volcano and everything that came in contact with him turned into ashes.