502 Unrecognizable* (1/2)

”Alicia, are you okay?” Abi said as she approached her. Worry etched on her face as she gently squeezed Alicia's hand. ”What did you see in Zeres' memories?”

”Abigail.” Alicia took a deep breath as if to calm herself. However, before she could say a word, Zeres moved. The curse was already lifted, shocking Alicia. He's supposed to stay immobile for a day!

Disbelief could only color Alicia's face. It seemed spells and curses only work on Zeres for a very short time. Or was he able to break such a powerful spell so quickly on his own will?

As if someone had pressed the play button, Zeres continued groaning. The blackened portion of his fingers that halted when the spell activated continued, spreading fast from his hands up to his forearms.

”Zeres!” Both Abi and Alicia called his name. But the man didn't react.

Alex, who was silently watching a few steps away from them, emitted a dangerous and suffocating aura - the exact same aura currently oozing out from Zeres. Alex's red eyes that were peering through the strands of his jet black hair like a pair of blood moons slowly turned gold again. He looked like he was at the edge as his gaze was 100% focused on Zeres, as if Alex knew full well what was happening to Zeres.

An agonizing scream broke the deep silence in the forest. And at that same moment, Alexander had already taken Abi and Alicia, and he landed along with them few meters away from Zeres. Alexander was too fast that Abi and Alicia felt like a lightning had blown them away.

When they looked at Zeres again, Abi and Alicia's lips could only part in shocked surprise. Zeres had stopped groaning in pain. He was standing there and didn't seem in pain anymore. But his appearance was almost unrecognizable. His skin had turned black, and they could see scales on his shoulders. The only thing that remained the same was his silver-white hair and his golden eyes. What was going on? Why did he look like he had turned into a black dragon in a man's form?

Slowly, his gaze fell on them. His eyes had turned so vividly golden, like suns burning intensely in the dark. The sight of him had made Abi and Alicia immobile. Alicia was utterly shocked, but Zeres' appearance at that moment had reminded Abi of Lexus, and her eyes welled. She suddenly missed that majestic dragon that had been her past self's only company for years.

Abi had the urge to hug him, so she took a step forward. However, Alex blocked her way, and Alicia grabbed her hand, both stopping her.

”Don't Abigail,” Alicia said as she shook her head.

”But Alicia, we can't just leave him like that. I need to do something.”

”He's right, Abigail. I don't think you can do anything to –”

Before Alicia could even complete her sentence, creatures in a black cloak materialized across them. They stood a few meters behind Zeres. And they're presence immediately disrupted the extreme danger Zeres' was emitting. It almost as if they just put on an invisible collar on Zeres, preventing him from attacking.

Alicia narrowed her eyes. She could tell who these creatures were. They were the witches who came with Dinah to Zeres' castle. If Zeres weren't in this state right now, Alicia wouldn't even hesitate to attack those witches and bring them to their knees.