MTLNOVEL Chapter 66: I love you
The training field had long abandoned its name—this was no place for training anymore. It was a slaughterhouse carved into the earth.
The sky above was smothered in black clouds, thick and low, casting a grim shadow over the land. The air was heavy with the stench of blood, so dense it clung to the back of the throat, sickly sweet and metallic. Every breath was a struggle against nausea.
The ground, once firm and dry, was now soaked—dark red mud formed where blood mixed with dirt. Severed limbs lay scattered like fallen leaves, twitching with the last remnants of ether. Crushed helmets. Shattered blades. Burnt flags.
Entrails looped around broken spears, and bones jutted out from charred corpses like twisted white roots.
Dragons and men lay together in death—massive reptilian bodies with their wings torn and their scales pierced by jagged weapons. Some had their throats slashed open, others were missing half their skulls. The humans didn't fare better—bodies piled atop one another in grotesque mounds, eyes wide in death, mouths frozen mid-scream.
And at the very top of the highest pile, like a queen on a throne of carnage, sat a woman with crimson hair.
She wore no armor, yet not a single scratch marred her flawless skin. Humans and dragons alike had dared to step into her land—and now their broken, bloodied remains laid beneath her feet. A 'spar,' they had called it.
She leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting up toward the dark sky.
Despite being drenched in blood, there was no mistaking her beauty. Fierce and unyielding, she was the kind of woman whose charm only grew stronger with each battle, each passing year. Time hadn't dulled her; it had refined her into something far more dangerous—more alluring and more savage.
Just a few steps below, a maid stood frozen, her boots wet with blood. She had urgent news, yet even with all her training, she hesitated. One didn't simply approach a beast in human skin—especially not when she looked so displeased.
Still, the message she carried might brighten her lady's mood. She gathered her courage and stepped forward.
"My lady," she called gently.
The red-haired woman leapt down in an instant. In a blink, she was standing before her, eyes sharp, lips curled into the ghost of a smile.
"Tell me, Gracia," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "What news do you bring?"
The maid bowed slightly before speaking. "The heir was ambushed, my lady. A group of hunters betrayed him… left him to die before a massive mutt."
The redhead's eyes narrowed, not with concern, but anticipation.
"Tell me," she whispered, "he slaughtered them?"
Gracia let out a quiet sigh—her lady's faith in a boy she'd never even met was blind… and yet, absolutely justified.
"He did," the maid said. "He tore the mutt apart… and then he hunted down every last traitor. His growth was staggering. His draconic side—" she paused "—it stayed out for long. The hunger, the rage… it was primal. Raw."
The woman's breath caught. Her arms wrapped around herself, as if holding in something that threatened to spill over.
Hades had finally let go.
The thought of him losing control… of giving in to the hunt, the blood, the instinct—was ecstasy. It sent a shiver down her spine.
She smiled, crimson lips parting slightly.
"My wild little flame…" she whispered, her eyes gleaming. "You're finally waking up."
The maid added, "He is heading towards the Samran city as the Sage directed."
The lady's eyes turned cold at those words, "Samaran…huh. He would surely find more about himself there."
The maid asked, "Is there a problem with that, my lady?"
The redhead heaved an exasperated sigh, "It's nothing…just keep an eye on him." With her gaze hardening she added, "I don't want my child to dwell deep into his origin. I shall be the one who will tell him what he actually is."
The maid bowed, "As you command, my lady."
Hades's past was very complicated and something that might devastate him if not handled carefully. That's why the lady was worried about him visiting Samaran City.
After all, that place was once the home of a Primordial Dragon.
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"Mm…" Luna let out a soft groan as her body stirred awake.
Her lashes fluttered open, the blurry world around her slowly sharpening into focus. The first thing her eyes landed on was a familiar figure.
It was Hades.
He was leaning back in a chair near the bed, fast asleep. His chest rose and fell with quiet, steady breaths. Peaceful. Unbothered. Somehow, even while resting, he looked strong—like danger tucked under calm skin.
She pushed herself up from the bed, wincing slightly at the stiffness in her muscles. A glance at the window told her it was still night—dark sky, faint moonlight.
'We didn't miss our trip… right?'
Her heart thumped with unease. If they'd overslept, the entire quest might go to waste. That couldn't happen—not after everything they'd gone through.
Her gaze drifted back to Hades. Still asleep.
She exhaled softly and tiptoed toward the table. Her throat was parched—dry like a desert. Not wanting to wake him, she moved carefully, pouring herself a glass of water.
The cool liquid slid down her throat like a balm.
And then, as she lowered the cup, something caught her attention.
Across the room, the mirror reflected her face.
She froze.
Her breath hitched.
Slowly, she stepped closer, staring into the glass.
Her fingers lifted—touched her cheek.
No scars.
Not a single trace of the marks that had once carved pain into her skin. The reminders of battles, of shame, of everything she'd once hated about herself… gone.
"The potion worked fine, no?"
Suddenly came the voice.
Luna hurriedly turned and found Hades approaching her.
Her shoulders slumped, eyes turned moist as she was hugged by him.
"How are you now?" He gently asked, rubbing her back.
Luna asked back in a whisper, "I…became a nuisance, no? Crying for my face when I should have been helping you."
Hades shook his head, "You never became a nuisance for me, Luna. You just showed me the part of you which you were desperately hiding from the world. And I am happy that I got to see that side of yours."
Luna slowly raised her face and looked into his eyes.
Utter honesty and relief.
She pressed her head against his chest before asking, "How can you tolerate this crybaby me?"
Hades wrapped his hand around her back before relaying, "Because I love you, Luna."
*Jolt*
She shivered at those words and looked up at him wide eyed.
Hades smiled in response before taking a light sip of her lips and relaying again, "I love you, Luna. Please never abandon me."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.