The Duke's Passion

That day, Samael claimed the throne. That was also the day of a promise only the two of them knew. Rufus gave his all to follow his king's command. Samael was correct with his warnings at the madness he had to walk into. The further he delved in, the darker and scarier it became. 

Rufus' trail had never become bloodier than ever as he took part in every war and stood at the kingdoms who opposed the new emperor. In the first war, his name was like a bell that only faintly rings when heard. The second one, his name, sounded louder. Third, fourth, until Rufus had lost count at how many kingdoms he marched on the front line to burn, to ruin, to seize. 

He didn't realize until kingdoms would automatically raise a white flag, with just the thought of Rufus marching to their place himself. Rufus, the military general, also known as the emperor's hellhound, had become a hero to the people, but also a nightmare to those opposing kingdoms. 

He had done all that all for the sake of just one person. 

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Rufus collapsed on his knees, looking down as blood dripped down from him. He had done his best until now, took countless lives without batting an eye, and gritting his teeth every time the pang of guilt attack him. He didn't regret anything, though.

"Ah... a miracle," Zero voiced out, standing behind Rufus but not facing him. Their backs were facing each other, standing a few meters apart. One was kneeling on his knees, while the other one was standing leisurely. 

The only similarity in their situation was the land they were standing on pooled with blood. 

Zero looked up at the darkfield and smiled weakly. "Rufus... meaning, Red. Why are you named like that?" 

Rufus didn't answer, as he was barely breathing. His fight with Zero was intense, as the man didn't also hold back. It was a miracle he wasn't losing his consciousness.

"Haha... well, I guess that is the mystery I will have to think about and will keep me busy." Zero nodded weakly, looking up. "Oy, Rufus... you better use my name and use all the compliments you can think of once you spread my name alongside yours."

"By now, I'm certain you already know how to rile up the people's emotions, right? The Military General Rufus Barrett, a person who is a mere human, ended the tyranny of the great king of the spade kingdom, the renowned genius vampire who, unfortunately, succumbed to madness."

Zero chuckled in ridicule as he closed his eyes. "Add something like... the man who never drops on his back even until the end."

Thud!

Rufus gripped his sword handle as his support when he heard Zero collapse. He looked back only to see Zero fall — face first.

"The man, who is, in the very end, arrogant," he muttered with a weak chuckle, feeling his lungs constrict. "But sure... I will surely add something like 'the man who never fell on his back even until the end.'"

Rufus coughed out blood as his fight with Zero lasted longer. The latter was surely powerful and until now, Rufus didn't know how he beat such a monstrous person. 

"Captain!" 

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice and raised his gaze at the source. There, he saw Ramin rushing to him. He heaved a sigh of relief, vision zooming in and out as he was on the verge of losing consciousness. Fortunately, Ramin was quick enough to catch him, holding Rufus' shoulder to still him. 

"Captain!" Ramin scanned Rufus, making his grip tighten. He had never seen Rufus inflict such wounds; not to mention the deep wound in Rufus' eyes.

"His Majesty?" asked Rufus, along with his ragged breathing. "Have you seen him?"

"Yes. Dominique is with him, so I already came to check on you." Ramin shifted his eyes towards Zero's body. 

"He was a tough one," Rufus humored as he clutched his chest. "I thought I will die."

"You are not allowed to die, Captain. The emperor's order." Ramin sighed as he assisted Rufus in getting him out of here. He held Rufus's arms and draped it across his shoulder, carrying the weight of his captain. Ramin then wrapped his arm around Rufus' waist as he stood up.

Rufus chuckled as he felt so weak, letting Ramin support him to stand. As they turned around, his eyes landed on Zero's figure.

"What a man," he muttered with a weak smile. "I wonder if he is disappointed in dying in the hand of a human?"

"I'm sure he didn't." Ramin glanced at him and chuckled faintly. "Fighting you will make even a pureblood feel honored to die in your hands."

"You think so highly of me." 

Ramin chuckled once again, dragging Rufus away. "I am just speaking the truth, Captain. You are, after all, an incredible man to fight with."

Rufus just glanced at Ramin and shook his head weakly. Even when he wanted to argue, he thought of using his remaining energy to rest. He was too exhausted to fight, and he didn't plan to die in here as well. 

As Ramin dragged him, Rufus looked up and saw the dark field surrounding the south. His eyes instantly narrowed as his brows furrowed.

"Ra, did His Majesty end Stefan?" he asked, making Ramin pause to look at him.

"Yes. Stefan died and Zero too. We'll surely clean things up now since --"

"No," Rufus muttered, which made Ramin knit his brows. "Why is the darkfield still there?" he asked while staring at the darkfield. 

"What do you mean? That is so no one will escape..." Ramin trailed off as his eyes slowly dilated. Not just him, but Rufus also froze as soon as he felt the surge of power that forced the two of them onto their knees.

"What... is... His Majesty...?" Ramin felt his chest tighten while clutching it. 

For Ramin, this was an unfamiliar power, but for Rufus, he had felt this before. This surge of power that no one, even its source, could control... this force that he had felt from centuries ago. 

"His Majesty..." Rufus breathed out as he looked up. "... it's not over yet."

Because this power was what Samael unleashed before he entered his long slumber. 

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Novel Fact:

Did you know? Each kingdom mentioned in TDP represents the four french suits of a standard 52-card deck?