Chapter 170: Providence
Blake's daring words brought about silence for several seconds, the two women contemplating their options and then,
"boom"
To a bit of Lena's expectation and Blake's surprise, Hannah shot towards Blake, her eyes a calm ocean which promised drowning.
With Mei secured over his shoulder, Blake immediately shot to the side, looking to dodge Hannah, but she unfurled her wings and with a flap changed direction and set herself on course for Blake.
Narrowing his eyes, just as Blake's legs touched the ground he left it once his figure shooting backwards as he retreated from Hannah.
Though Blake's movements were good, not a single second being wasted, Hannah rapidly gained ground on him and after 15 seconds, he began fighting her off while still retreating.
With a blood katana in hand, Blake clashed blades with Hannah who had taken to the air completely.
Like some angel of death, she soared after Blake with determination, each strike from her blade filled with strength and backed by her momentum.
Soon Blake was retreating no longer because he wanted to but because Hannah's strikes were forcing him backwards.
Frowning at the position he had landed himself in, Blake had his katana turn into a blood spear and with a furrowed brow had it light up on fire, not hesitating for a second to throw it forward, right at Hannah.
Seeing the danger, Hannah moved to flap her wings and avoid the projectile but,
'fear aura'
Hannah suddenly found herself freezing in the sky for some second and by the time she regained control of her body, she could only pump mana into her blade, cause it to light up with power and then slash at the spear.
Hannah had a fully determined look on her face as she hit the weapon, but then when rather than be completely destroyed the spear shattered into pieces of blood that flew towards her, her instincts stirred in warning and with a cry within she used one of her trump cards.
When Blake had thrown the spear he had expected Hannah to stop it. His plan was to get his blood on the woman and use a blood curse, but then just as the particles from the destroyed spear were about to fall on her, she disappeared and a feeling of danger came from the air behind him.
Though Blake didn't see it, he could feel Hannah's aura appear behind him. The speed and suddenness of her arrival temporarily took him off guard, but then just before his body ran into her sword, getting stabbed from the back, he disabled Hannah.
'pride aura'
With a blast of his pride aura, this a stun technique far more potent than fear aura, Hannha froze in place and though she succeeded in running her blade through Blake, his retreating figure slammed into her.
Blake had seen what Hannah could do if she stabbed her blade into someone during her fight with the sovereign demon and he didn't want to take the risk that she could similarly render him immobile.
Hannah stuck to Blake as his momentum carried them backwards and then when his feet touched the ground and he put on the brakes, he reached backwards and grabbed the woman, pulling her still frozen figure off his back and slamming her on the ground.
Blake's brutal actions jolted Hannah's body back into action, but when she kicked her feet off the ground and stood back on her feet a foot fell from the sky and landed on her slamming her back to the ground.
Hannah's figure smashed into the floor, breaking the earth as it seemed to want to get buried.
A small tremble ran across the ground, and Hannha could not help but need a second to breathe and regain herself.
The need for a single breath turned to a need for several breaths. When Hannah was finally able to push herself up and get on all fours a foot landed on her back and she found her hand and legs straining under the weight that had been placed on her.
Hannah coughed out a spurt of blade and then with red veiny eyes, she looked to the side and stared at Blake who was blankly looking down at her.
"Have you considered my proposal or do I need to go the extra mile?"
Hannah's hand trembled as she struggled to hold up the weight Blake's foot exerted on her. Explore new worlds at mvl
Although Blake had used just a single hand, the strength of his throw had been very hard and damaging, causing pain throughout her body and rattling her bones to the point she thought they would break.
"Threats. Is that all you demons can do?" Hannah asked another spurt of blood coming down her lips.
"I can see the flames of anger burning in your eyes the desire to wield unimaginable strength. I can grant you that, Lena herself can attest to it." Blake said.
"I don't want your power, I want to kill you, you took everything from me," Hannah spoke with venom and Blake nodded his head at this.
"Are speaking from a position of justice or vengeance."
"It doesn't matter when it concerns a despicable being like you."
"Say the woman who wanted to make use of my talents for her gains," Blake said and before Hannah could retort, he exerted a bit more strength on his right leg and had her lying down flat on the ground, her body pinned to it.
Pain and hatred flashed through Hannah's eyes, more blood licking from her mouth but then she heard the sound of clothes being ripped.
With panic, Hannah turned and looked to her left, her eye widening in horror when she saw Blake tear apart the little garment that had been used to cover up her daughter.
"Blake don't you dare, leave my daughter alone" Hannah started, a bit of relief coming to her when Lena moved beside Blake and grabbed his hand which was groping Mei's bare breasts.
"Blake" Lena called but he only threw a glance at her.
"She has bits of bruising on her, it seems I'm not the first one here. Don't tell me Ezriel got first dibs" Blake asked drawing up a conclusion.
Holding Mei's body up with just his left hand, with ease Blake overcame Lena's hold and took his hands further down her body only stopping, when Lena's grip on him strengthened, her aura leaking out.
"Blake" Lena called narrowing her gaze at him. Don't be impulsive."
Knowing how stubborn Blake was especially to force, Lena used the soft approach to get to him, but somebody was not happy with her attempts.
"We had a deal, why haven't you killed him yet."
"The deal was that you would wait for me to bring your children to you, not you coming to us," Lena said the frustration she felt clear in her tone.
"Whatever you want with her, forget it, she's mine."
"If you take her then you forfeit the essence" Lena said with a teasing smirk.
Blake paused at this weighing the options he had on hand and looking at Lena suspiciously. Lena's willingness to give up Hannah made it seem like the essence was far more valuable, but Blake knew better.
"I'll take her"
The smile on Lena's lips persisted but her face hardened and the next second Blake was surprised to hear a voice in his head.
"What do you know about her."
The question was clearly from Lena and her questioning eyes backed up Blake's deduction.
"What are you talking about."
"Don't play stupid with me Blake, I at least deserve this much, given how much you are jeopardizing my plans. Let them know you are not just a horny idiot."
"I know she has providence"
Blake figured that of the secrets he had gleamed of Lena this would be the least shocking, but when Lena's eyes widened like saucers, he knew that he was wrong.
Blake watched Lena regain her composure and stare at him from head to toe.
"Do you know how to steal providence?" Lena asked but the blank look on Blake's face answered for him.
"It can be stolen"
"Yes. I initially planned to use her as a sort of soldier, but since you're being stubborn, I might as well help you get it."
"If I steal her providence, what happens to her? Will she become ordinary?"
"No. Stealing providence does not mean that you take away her merits, it instead means that you tap into it, gaining whatever advantage it bestows alongside her."
"Surely there are cons to this."
"Yes, there is, carrying providence comes with its own weight and well seeing as you are stealing it, 80% of the burden would be carried by you.
"That sounds troublesome. Is there another way."
"Yes"
Blake listened to Lena for some second and then he looked down to Hannah who looked lost at what was going on since Blake and Lena had totally gone silent.
"Why are you telling me this, I just supposedly ruined your plans."