The second female lead Dual Cultivates

"Are you worried? Don't you trust your friends?" Maria turned toward Samuel at her side with an annoyed expression on her face. She did not appreciate being spoken to in such a way, even when the other was trying to be nice to her.

"It's not about trust. I trust them with my life but not their own. This is a suicide mission and they belittle me by thinking that I would not notice" Maria had conflicting thoughts about what Nao and Suna had planned.

"Then, shouldn't you stop them from doing something this foolish?" Samuel asked as he ran behind Maria. The man was still timid but had a much broader mindset than before. He looked content but worried as well.

Maria felt guilty when she thought back to the kid they had left behind to face Rucci alone but she could also tell that he was not dead. None of the two they had left behind were dead.

"You talk like I have the power or the right to stop them. I knew this was a possible outcome for me to have but I just wished and wished that it would not happen. Looks like it is no longer an option" even Maria knew she was putting up a tough front in front of the man.

All she wanted to do was break down into sobs and clutch at Nao and Suna in desperation. She wanted to beg them not to do this but she also knew she could not do that.

Maria had always been someone who valued freedom of choice above all. Even her mistakes were things she could not regret. So how could she stop the other team from making their own decisions?

"Well, but still. Aren't you all companions? Won't it hurt you and Oiii? Don't cry now. P-Please calms down" Samuel sounded nervous as he tried calming Maria down. But whatever he said, the tears would just not stop falling down Maria's face.

Now that her wounds had been pricked fresh, Maria found herself not being able to stop her sobs. They wrecked her body and made her vision blurry. There was a distinctive presence of heat inside her as well and it was only a matter of time before Maria would be over in her head.

Samuel had one of his hands awkwardly on Maria's head as he tried to calm her down. And it somewhat did help her feel better since it was a human touch. But she was still nothing close to feeling alright.

"D-Don't have time for it. L-Lets go" Maria dislodged herself away from the comforting hand on her head. It was painful to feel like this when they were all on a suicide mission.

Maria felt the hesitant glance being aimed at her by Samuel. It felt too familiar and Maria could not help but feel uncomfortable at the attention. This felt different from how Nao and Suna looked at her. Had anyone ever looked at her like that?

Maria was not sure and that was why she felt a glare being aimed by her at Samuel.

"W-what did I do now? You even glare like Daniel sometimes and I can't help it alright? Look at you like a sister I never had" the man cried out in alarm and Maria felt her eyes soften.

"Don't forget that we were strangers all but yesterday. We were also the ones that dragged you into this mess and put your brother in danger. Are you sure you want to trust us?" Maria asked and she wanted to hit herself instantly.

What kind of idiot asked this kind of question in such a complex situation? She should not have asked such a question to Samuel.

"It doesn't matter to me that we were strangers. You took a risk I should have taken a long time ago and I knew the risk of doing this. Deep inside, I knew the time to come here was near but I just lacked courage. Of course, Daniel knew that" Samuel explained and Maria felt things click.

She had found it odd that Samuel had not tried anything overly physical in trying to escape. It also explained the younger brother's lack of hostile nature.

"You do know Daniel is a demon, right? He's not your brother" Maria reminded, now curious about the type of response she would get.

"Of course. But that doesn't change the fact that we're brothers for me. Do you see Noa and Suna differently because she's a demon?" Maria felt herself fall quiet at the question.

The situation was not the same for them as it had been for the pair of brothers. Maria had never known human versions of Suna or Nao so there was no comparison for her. She had only known them as demons and this was it.

"As for the first part. Ever since I've known Daniel, he's been a demon. The villagers except the chief were afraid at his birth since he had been blessed to be the next head. To die protecting this place is a reality he accepted and I'm ready to accompany him along" Maria took a few seconds to digest it all but it did make sense to her in the end.

A guardian deity being reincarnated at the time of birth was not an uncommon practice to see. Especially in the more outskirts parts of the place. This place especially made sense since it had the node.

But that also meant-

"Your brother is ready to sacrifice himself for the cause. We need to stop him and tell him where there is no need to do that. Nao said we have an alternative to the sacrifice" Maria reminded and felt Samuel turn away from her. Maria spied a paper clutched in Samuel's hand tightly and she remembered it as something Nao had handed to Samuel at the last second.

She had tried to peek over Samuel's head when he had read it but she had been successfully distracted by Suna back then. And now it did not seem like the right time to ask what the note said.

"Alright, we're here. I can see them fighting still but we need to get to the node" the node was still warped in Maria's chains and was relatively safe. But it would be difficult to get to them in the middle of the ongoing battle.

Both - Rocci and Daniel were strong but there was clear favoritism showing up this late. Daniel's younger body would collapse due to the fatigue which made this plan a time game.

They needed to carry out the node before that happens or interfere to create a diversion for retreat. But it was difficult to watch the struggle Daniel was going through.