The Dreamer's POV

"H-how…?"

Shock riveted Oswald as he stared at the man standing in front of him, the smoke clearing to reveal burn marks etched into his skin.

For a moment, he allowed himself the hope that he had won, that his lightning had at least heavily injured the enemy.

But the hope was fleeting, shattering like fragile glass as the marks began to disappear, vanishing right before his eyes.

"No...," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling remnants of his spell. "What are you...?"

Was this person even human?!

Before he could react, the man was upon him, closing the distance with a speed that made his heart hammer in his chest.

His hands were like vices, gripping onto Oswald's aged face, and the Mage could feel something akin to a vacuum sucking away at his energy, draining him.

'T-this is…!' He tried to move, tried to fight back, but his body refused to respond, frozen in the grip of the man's relentless hold.

The world seemed to slow down as the realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

This was it, his end.

His body felt weak, the energy sapped from him at an alarming rate. His vision swam as he struggled to stay conscious, the edges of his sight darkening.

"I'm... sorry..." He murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he struggled to look towards the Duke, Duchess, and their children.

The sight of their horrified faces was the last thing he saw before darkness claimed him.

'Drius… Luke... I failed…'

His body fell limp, the world fading away as the last vestiges of his life ebbed away.

His heart ached with regret, his last thoughts filled with the family he had failed to protect. His vision blurred, darkened, and then there was nothing but a deep and unending silence.

Thus, the last embers of his life were snuffed out.

*********

"Tch. Annoying old man. After all of that, only two Level Ups? Worthless…"

Levi Davis stood tall amidst the aftermath of his fight with the now-lifeless Oswald, an expression of annoyance marring his otherwise handsome face.

He scoffed at the old man's dead body, a mocking sneer tugging at his lips.

"Weak," he grumbled, glancing at his System Status Screen. "You weren't even worth the effort, old man."

The thin, lifeless body of Oswald was but a stark reminder of how frail his enemy had been.

He studied the fallen man, his gaze lingering on the nonexistent marks on his skin where Oswald's lightning spell had struck him.

They were all gone now, his skin returning to its original state, but the memory of pain was still vivid in his mind.

"I mean, really?" He taunted the corpse, even though he knew the old man wasn't alive to hear his words. "Did you honestly think your lightning would finish me?"

When the world came to an end on Earth, the Role assigned to him by the System was [The Leech], a word that perfectly described his abilities.

A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his lips as his gaze met his Exclusive Skills, <Life Drain> and <Life Storage>.

With these, he had the ability to suck the life out of others and store them within himself. It was a perfect system, almost too good to be true.

He could stockpile as many as 9 Lives.

"Three lives down because of that damn lightning," he muttered, the annoyance in his tone evident.

"But at least I gained one. Seven lives left."

He glanced back at Oswald's body, a frown tugging on his lips as he regretted not killing the guards after taking care of the old man.

'At least that way I would be able to absorb strong Life Forces…'

The stronger a person was, the stronger their Life Forces would be. Levi could at least admit that the old man he just absorbed possessed the most Life Force out of any Native he had absorbed.

'I guess that counts for something…'

As for a way to replenish his lost lives, Levi's gaze settled in the direction where the Duke and his family stood, trembling.

Anticipation gleamed in his eyes, his blood humming with excitement. Licking his lips, he took in their despair and approached them.

"You lot aren't guards, but… I suppose you'll do."

**********

Seraphina Lyma stood frozen, her legs feeling as if they were rooted to the ground, as the world around her descended into chaos and horror.

The sight of Oswald Bertrud and the guards lying lifeless on the ground, their bodies ravaged and brutalized, caused a pit to form in her stomach.

'A-ah… ahhh…'

She was terrified, her heart pounding in her chest, her body shaking with uncontainable fear.

She could feel the cold, clammy sweat drenching her skin, and her undergarments dampening with the sheer terror that gripped her.

Her family was huddled close, their wide, terrified eyes mirroring her own.

The barrier that Oswald had cast in his final moments was their only protection, a thin shield against the predator that stalked outside.

~KRAKAKAKA!~

They all shared a collective gasp as the barrier shattered under a powerful slash of the man's blade, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.

Her father, brave and noble Duke Damien, tried to plead for their lives, his voice trembling with fear and desperation.

"P-please… I'll do anything. You can have everything. P-please just spare them. Spare my wife and children..." he begged, but his words were met with a merciless slash.

~SWISH!~

The world seemed to stop as her father fell, his life snuffed out in an instant.

"Arghhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Screams of terror ripped from Seraphina's throat, echoing the cries of her sisters.

Their mother, beautiful and gentle Duchess Annalise, collapsed next to her husband's lifeless form, her tears pouring like a torrent.

But even her despair couldn't soften the killer's heart. With a swift move, he ended the Duchess's life, leaving the girls orphaned in an instant.

"Run! All of you, quickly! Go!" Their oldest sister, always the strong and protective one, screamed at them to run.

But her words were cut off as her life was brutally ended.

Seraphina felt her knees buckle as she watched in horror as her sister's body shriveled into a lifeless husk, the man's dark power sucking the life from her.

One by one, her sisters fell, their lives taken mercilessly, their cries of terror echoing in Seraphina's ears.

'N-no… no… no….'

The reality of what was happening was too much to bear, her body giving away to the terror, a warm wetness spreading down her legs.

She was alone now, her family brutally slaughtered before her.

Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision.

In her despair, she thought of Luke, the knight who had saved her before. Her white knight… the man strong enough to protect her and her family.

If it was Luke, surely he had something to bring her family back.

Certainly, he had some sort of Potion or Elixir or Magic to make the impossible possible and change all of this.

Definitely, he had more than enough power to stop this man and save everyone.

Yes… if it was Luke… Luke could do anything!

An image of his strong and comforting presence filled her mind, and she clung to it like a lifeline.

'Luke…' She thought, her mind screaming for him to save her. 'Luke, please... save me.'

Seraphina didn't want to die. She didn't want her parents to die. She didn't want her siblings to die. She didn't want her guards to die.

She… she didn't want anyone to die!

'L-Luke, please… please sa—'

She felt her body being raised by the man, and all her strength started to fade rapidly. Her vision blurred as she remembered the kiss she shared with Luke in the garden… how warm he made her heart feel.

She recollected his kind words and charming smile.

Right now, none of those were here with her. Instead of Luke, she found herself staring at the devilish grin of the man who took everything from her.

'L-Luke…'

Even then… even in her final moments, she never stopped believing.

'... You'll save us… won't you?'

Seraphina never stopped hopping.

'Luke…'

Unfortunately for her, she was wrong.

The name she called upon so fervently did not even belong to the man she hoped for. The image she had in her mind was not the true look of her savior.

None of it was real. None of it was true.

And perhaps worst of all, the man called Luke… or rather, Mikey… he was still a far distance from the Capital.

He couldn't help her. No one could.

Right there and then, as she suffered silently, feeling the last flicker of life die within her, she would not obtain the comfort she sought.

But Seraphina was oblivious to all of these.

She closed her eyes for the last time still believing in the nonexistent aid of a nonexistent person.

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[A/N]

This is a heartbreaking chapter. It saddens me to see everyone go away like this.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!