Chapter 47: Perpetrators Of Linley's Death
["Evangeline Aurora Von Solstice," the Death Envoy muttered, his voice low and filled with finality.]
[The pages shimmered with dark energy, and the Grim Reaper's manifestation loomed behind the Death Envoy, its skeletal hand reaching out toward Evangeline.]
[In that critical moment, Evangeline's body radiated with an ethereal light, her Winter Goddess Divine Clothing glowing as it summoned a protective barrier of ice around her.]
[The Grim Reaper's skeletal hand slammed into the barrier, but instead of shattering it, the hand began to freeze, the intense cold seeping into the very essence of death.]
["You think you can kill me that easily?" Evangeline's voice rang out, cold and defiant. "You've underestimated the power of the Goddess of Winter."]
[However, despite her bravado, the deadly curse took its toll. Evangeline's barrier managed to fend off the killing blow, but not without a cost. She gasped as a wave of searing pain tore through her body, and her vision blurred.]
[Blood spilled from her lips as she coughed violently, her body trembling under the strain. Bloody tears began to drip from her eyes, her once-steely resolve momentarily wavering.]
[The skeletal hand of the Grim Reaper shattered into icy fragments, but Evangeline fell to one knee, her breath ragged, her body wracked with pain.]
[She could feel the cold of her own power turning against her, biting into her flesh like a thousand frozen blades.]
[The Death Envoy's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Impossible…!" he gasped.]
[Despite the curse taking hold, Evangeline had survived, but it was clear she was severely weakened.]
[Evangeline glared at the two old men, blood still dripping from her mouth. "I'm not dead yet," she spat, her voice filled with raw determination. "You'll have to try harder than that to kill me."]
[The Death Envoy's expression twisted in pain as he suddenly clutched his chest. The Grim Reaper manifestation behind him reappeared, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.]
["No… no, not me!" the Death Envoy wheezed, fear creeping into his voice.]
[But the Grim Reaper's skeletal hand didn't hesitate. It reached forward, not for Evangeline, but for the Death Envoy himself.]
[A horrified gasp escaped the Truth Keeper as he watched his comrade fall to his knees, the life draining from the Death Envoy's eyes. "This… this wasn't supposed to happen!"]
[The Grim Reaper's hand closed around the Death Envoy's throat, and with a swift, merciless motion, it squeezed the last breath from his body. The Death Envoy crumpled to the ground, lifeless.]
[As his corpse hit the ground, thirteen avatar crystals and three celestial crystals spilled out from the folds of his robes, glittering ominously in the pale light.]
[The Truth Keeper stared at his fallen friend in stunned silence, disbelief etched on his wrinkled face. "Old fool… you should have known the price of playing with death," he muttered bitterly.]
[His gaze then shifted to the crystals lying on the ground, the only remnants of his comrade. His eyes narrowed with a mix of greed and vengeance as he reached out to claim the celestial crystals.]
["You've taken my friend from me, Evangeline," the Truth Keeper growled, his voice low and menacing. "But I'll take your life in return… and with these crystals, I'll make sure you never come back."]
[The Truth Keeper's hand inched closer to the celestial crystals, his intent clear. He would use them to empower himself, to avenge the Death Envoy, and to destroy Evangeline once and for all.]
[Knowing she was near death's door, Evangeline asked through gritted teeth, "Did you kill the Phantom Reaper?"]
[The Truth Keeper picked up the celestial and avatar crystals, but didn't absorb them just yet—he knew it would take time, and right now, he wanted to savor the moment.]
[When he heard Evangeline's question, a twisted grin crept across his face. He decided to answer, if only to further mock her. "I didn't kill the Phantom Reaper, no. That honor belongs to the Death Envoy. But I assisted, of course."]
[His tone was condescending as he continued, "My Book of Truth foresaw the Phantom Reaper's future—he would've killed both me and the Death Envoy eventually. Naturally, I couldn't let that happen. So, I gave Death Envoy the information he needed to strike first."]
[The Truth Keeper's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Do you want to know something funny? The Phantom Reaper was using an alias, and it took a ridiculous amount of my energy just to see through it. If you'd attacked us after his death, when we were weakest, you could've easily killed both of us, even without any celestial crystals."]
[He paused, letting that sink in before delivering the final blow. His voice dripped with mockery as he sneered, "But instead of seeking revenge immediately, you held a funeral. A funeral, for your dead fiancé. How touching... and utterly stupid."]
[The Truth Keeper chuckled cruelly, clearly reveling in Evangeline's despair. "You could've ended us both right then, but you were too blinded by grief. What a pathetic waste."]
[Evangeline's body trembled with rage as she listened to the Truth Keeper's taunts. Her vision blurred with tears of frustration and anger, but beneath that, a fierce resolve burned within her.]
[The mocking laughter of the Truth Keeper echoed in her ears, but Evangeline forced herself to focus. 'Linley... I won't let your death be in vain. If I have to die here, I'll take him with me.']
[She wiped the blood from her mouth and pushed herself to her feet, her legs barely supporting her weakened body. But there was no hesitation in her heart.]
[In her mind, one final plan formed—a desperate, suicidal gamble. She would freeze time itself and strike down the Truth Keeper while he was unaware.]
[Evangeline knew this would be her last act. Her body was already on the brink of collapse, and using such a powerful ability would drain what little remained of her life force.]
[But for Linley, for the revenge she craved, it was worth it!]