“Now,” Uther closed his book, a faint smile tugging his lips. “Shall we judge yours?”

The landscape around them shifted, and in a breath, they were transported into an enchanting world seemingly pulled straight from the pages of a fairytale. Towering, vibrant trees loomed overhead, and oversized mushrooms in shades of emerald and violet dotted the landscape. The air was thick with an ethereal glow, and tiny lights drifted lazily through the mist, casting a surreal luminescence over everything.

“This is…” Aurelia whispered, barely finding her voice as she took in the sight.

She only had heard of it in theory. The land of the fairies; a mythical place that only a chosen few can enter. Multiple gates exist across the continent but only the ones knowing the right incantations can enter it.

Of course, the man blessed by them would be able to summon their domain.

Andreas on the other hand was only further irritated by this. “W-Where the hell are we? Aurelia, report!”

“Y-Yes, my lord!” the blonde-haired mage quickly regained her composure by clearing her throat. “Ahem. This place is a copy of the realm of the fairies, correct?”

She looked at Uther with a raised eyebrow, hoping to get it right.

“Correct.” Uther nodded approvingly. “I am impressed, Miss Dragonos. This is not the true fairy realm but merely a reflection of it. Here, your actions will be judged, and as per the rules of the fairy realm, it will determine whether you are worthy of facing judgment or escape.”

Andreas scoffed, his grin widening as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his shortsword. “No fairy tricks or flower-filled illusions are going to scare me!” he yelled, charging forward.

Uther remained unmoved, watching Andreas with calm amusement. “The fairies’ judgment isn’t tied to what you’d call human logic. What we might see as a sin, they may not.”

With a simple snap of his fingers, Uther stopped Andreas cold. Vines shot up from the ground, twisting quickly around Andreas’s legs and pulling tight as they grew.

“Also, I didn’t mention that in this domain, I have full control,” Uther said, a hint of a chuckle in his voice.

Andreas thrashed against the vines, trying to slash them with his shortsword, but they only grew thicker. His face turned red with rage. “You bastard! Come and fight me like a man!”

“Resistance is futile here,” Aurelia added, slowly untying the vines from Uther’s legs. “Please stop thrashing around and remain calm, my lord.”

She then faced Uther with a smile. “We agree to be judged by the fairies. But I demand a fair trial.”

Uther inclined his head. “It would’ve been even if you didn’t ask for it,” he chuckled. “Well then, appear! O king of the fairies!”

As he spoke, the landscape moved slightly, and from between the towering trees and oversized mushrooms, a human-sized shadow began to appear. It floated just above the ground, and its wings produced a bit of dust with each beat.

Suddenly, the figure spoke in a regal yet refined tone, echoing the charm of a princely figure. “You who have summoned judgment, step forward and state your sins.”

Andreas snorted and pointed at the floating shadow. “Ah! None! I did nothing wrong! Now get me out of here!”

“M-My lord! You can’t say that or else—”

“Good. You have been judged,” the voice replied, laced with a dismissive tone and a weary sigh. Uther’s brow furrowed at the abruptness of the decree.

“That’s it? Without wanting to indiscrete, O king, isn’t that a bit quick?”

The fairy king’s eyes opened for the first time, revealing a striking shade of gold that seemed to glare at Uther with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine. “You dare question my actions, Uther?”

“No, I merely—” Uther began, but the king silenced him with an imperious wave of his hand.

“There is nothing to be said. The man before you is free of sins. There is no falsehood within his heart. Now begone.”

Aurelia looked at the fairy in disbelief, her shoulders slumped in utter defeat. “W-Wait… It can’t be…”

“Gyahaha! That’s right little insect! I’m the boss, and no one can stop me!” Andreas laughed heartily while pointing at the fairy king.

But the fairy merely smiled, revealing pristine white teeth in the shadows. “I am but a mere insect, yes. But I would rather be one than a soon-to-be-dead man.”

With that, the fairy king snapped his fingers, and the enchanted domain that Uther had created began to dissolve slowly, the vibrant colors and magical features fading away. Uther looked around in confusion, the familiar hallway materializing around them as if the forest had never existed.

“One last warning, Uther. Do not recreate my domain ever again,” the fairy king warned, his voice echoing as he began to fade from view.

As the last remnants of materialized mana vanished, the trio found themselves back in the mundane corridor of the castle. Andreas still wore a smug grin, but it faltered as he heard lightning strike the ground near them.

“Damn, when did it start raining?” Andreas muttered to himself, casting a glance out the window.

But it wasn’t raining—not where he was looking. The glass remained dry and unmarked, while outside, the sky roiled with dark clouds, and sheets of rain cascaded down, drenching the ground and sending ripples across puddles that quickly formed.

Aurelia frowned, her brow furrowing with concern. “It’s strange… The storm seems to be localized. It shouldn’t be this intense just outside the castle walls.”

Every other window was wet with rain while the only one where they stood wasn’t. Uther’s expression turned serious as he looked at the window and then at Morgann who was still standing at the other end of the hallway.

“This is not natural… This is…” Uther muttered, a chill racing down his spine, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

Suddenly, the air crackled with tension, and a voice boomed down the corridor. “GET DOWN!” The voice of Darian Galterr echoed, the metallic clank of his boots reverberating against the long stone walls.

Before they could react, Darian lunged forward, facing his shield toward the ceiling. The three of them instinctively dropped to one knee, seeing how this giant of a man was scared and tense.

That’s when it happened. A strike of lightning, far more potent than a natural one landed on the roof above them. A loud crash resonated through the castle, piercing their eardrums as tiles and stone exploded in a volley.

“Barrier!” Aurelia shouted in urgency, her staff raised around her and Andreas.

Darian arrived just in time to grab Uther and shield him from the falling debris.

A giant hole opened in the ceiling, and, as soon as the explosion stopped, all of their individual screamed at them to move.

Amidst the debris, dust and broken tiles falling down from the ceiling, a single metallic voice rang out.

“Soul Burst”

The sound tolled like a death knell, reverberating ominously as a flashing light appeared behind them, the air thick with a palpable od that made Darian’s head pound in pain.

Gritting his teeth, the shield-bearer positioned himself between this new foe and his friends, determination burning in his eyes.

Suddenly, a single beam of energy shot forth, striking his shield with an intensity that sent a shockwave through him. Darian felt the impact reverberate through his bones, nearly knocking him off his feet.

As he braced against the force, the beam deviated from its original trajectory, splitting into multiple smaller beams that ricocheted wildly off the walls. Each beam tore into the stone, disintegrating supports and turning solid rock into dust.

“Get back!” Darian’s deep voice shouted, trying to protect Uther and Morgann as debris rained down around them. He felt the vibrations of the castle's structure shuddering beneath the onslaught, feeling the floor beneath him give up from the sheer destruction happening.

Once it was finished, Darian glanced behind him with a heavy breath. “Is anyone hurt?” he called out, scanning the group.

“I’m fine!” Uther replied as he brushed off the dust from his long mantle and book.

“What just happened?” Andreas asked, coughing up smoke and dust as he strained his eyes against the lingering gray cloud.

Morgann stood back in shock, her breath catching in her throat. A death ray had almost grazed her, and debris had tumbled down around her. By some miracle, the maids nearby had managed to find refuge, huddling together in a corner, wide-eyed and trembling.

Just then, a single metallic sound echoed through the corridor—the unmistakable sound of a footstep on the solid floor. The atmosphere thickened with tension as a heavy presence approached, and then something exhaled, the sound muffled as if it were trapped in a metal casing.

“What was that?” Uther whispered, his heart racing as he turned toward the source of the sound.

Darian stiffened, raising his shield defensively. “Stay close!” he commanded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the darkened end of the hallway. The air cracked with lightning, static electricity running around the shadowy figure.

As it loomed closer, the outlines of an armored figure became discernible. The gleam of brilliant gold metal, tarnished by soot and dust, caught the dim light. A massive sword inscribed with ancient runes hung at its side, the symbols shifting and shimmering as if alive. The helmet was adorned with two backward horns, giving it a menacing, otherworldly appearance, while a pale blue light emitted from the visor, casting an eerie glow on its surroundings.

The giant of gold towered over them, taller than Darian, and moved forward with a deliberate, unwavering stride, surrounded by crackling lightning. Its presence felt like a storm ready to be unleashed, a warrior that could not be stopped no matter what.

The first thing Uther though of upon witnessing such a monster was: An impenetrable wall and an unstoppable force at the same time.

Aurelia’s face went pale, and she clutched her staff with trembling hands. “W-Why now…” she whispered, her breath shaky as her gaze remained fixed on the towering figure before them.

Andreas stood next to her and gave her a slight pat on the shoulder. “Is that him?” he said in a low voice, sizing his opponent.

The armored figure paused, its glowing visor scanning the group. The tension was palpable, a suffocating force that urged them to react, yet none of them dared to move.

“What do you want?” Darian shouted, his voice unwavering, though his stomach churned with dread. He had faced powerful foes before—the king of mages, even Wrimbo himself—but this figure was something else entirely. Every fiber in his being warned him that this enemy was beyond anything they had ever encountered.

The figure inclined its head slightly, the gesture eerily slow, and the metallic voice rang out with a chilling resonance. “I am Kaeris. And I am here to claim your heads, Queen of Sora… Emperor.”

Aurelia’s grip on her staff tightened until her knuckles were white, and Andreas’s jaw clenched, his defiant spirit undimmed even in the face of certain danger. Uther’s pulse raced, his mind scrambling to grasp the nature of the threat before them. But Kaeris’s presence alone felt like an impenetrable barrier, as if he carried with him an aura of inevitable doom.

Darian steeled himself, raising his large shield. “Then, you shall die here, demon king!”

Everyone had heard of his name at least once. When Wrimbo committed the irreparable, everyone knew humanity would have to deal with him at some point.

The demon king in an invincible armor, the one who almost wiped out humanity three hundred years ago but was ultimately sealed inside the Tree of Creation.

No one—not even the mightiest hero, Luvon—had been able to truly vanquish him. Instead, he had been contained, locked away with ancient magic that was never meant to break.

Until now.

The armored demon took another step forward, its sword crackling with lightning in an ominous brilliance.

Darian charged first, tackling head-on the threat. The lightning almost burned his beard but he raised his smaller shield in defense, blocking the swing Kaeris. The longsword clashed against it, making Darian’s biceps strain under the weight.

The collision sent a deafening shockwave down the corridor, but Darian gritted his teeth, his gaze unwavering. “You’re not getting past me,” he growled, refusing to budge even an inch.

“Drakin arma!” Aurelia shouted, pointing her staff at her lord’s sword. Soon, his shortsword was imbued with raw mana, with the same strength the dragons use to strike their enemies.

With a single leap, Andreas jumped above Darian’s head and poised his sword upwards. “Wind coating!” Using his mana for the first time in this battle, he coated his sword with another layer of sharp wind, like the edge of a chainsaw circling around its edge. Then, using the momentum of his leap and the strength in his arms, he swung his sword down, hitting the helmet of Kaeris head-on.

“All of that for nothing,” Kaeris’s words echoed as his head didn’t even budge. With his free left hand, he simply swatted away Andreas, who came crashing against a wall. With his right hand, he spun the sword slightly and kicked Darian’s shield with enough force to make him stumble backward.

Then, he extended his hand which was soon surrounded by particles of light gathering in the middle of his palm.

“Heaven’s fall!”

The light gathered in a dense, pulsating orb, as if he held a miniature sun, radiating a heat so intense that it scorched the air around him.

“Sylph!” Uther shouted in reply, holding his book tightly.

The next instant, a thunderous crash echoed throughout the city as Kaeris’s attack discharged, obliterating everything in its path. The hallway was engulfed in a massive blast, and the south aisle of the castle was reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye. A colossal hole opened in the castle’s side, the entire area disintegrated into dust as the shockwave blasted outward. Stonework shattered, ancient supports crumbled, and the once-mighty fortress trembled beneath the force of the attack.

Thankfully, Uther had finished casting his spell just in time, transporting everyone to the next aisle with the wind fairies.

But once he noticed everyone was safe, his heart sank as he looked at Aurelia. The normally steadfast mage lay crumpled on the ground, her staff fallen beside her as she trembled uncontrollably, an empty, haunted look in her eyes. She clutched her arms, rocking slightly, her breaths coming in shallow, fearful gasps.

“Aurelia,” Uther said gently, kneeling down and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re safe… We’re safe. Just breathe.”

Andreas, bruised and bleeding but still defiant, stood up. “Come on stop being a chicken, Aurelia! Get up and get those spells coming!”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and unfocused. “It’s… Kaeris,” she whispered, almost as if saying the name alone could summon another attack. “How can we stand against something like that?”

“We’re still there,” Darian interjected, his gaze going from one end to the other of the hallway. “Besides, you’re the Emperor’s mage. You knew what you were stepping into.”

Suddenly, a slight sound focused them towards the demolished aisle. From the shadowy end of the rubble-strewn corridor, Kaeris advanced, his sword still humming with residual energy. His gaze locked onto them, that same unyielding, glowing light in his visor.

Uther rose, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple, yet his eyes were resolute. “We need to seal him again. After what you two did, it’s clear that no attack can penetrate his armor.”

“Can’t we take it off him?” Darian asked, his gaze unflinching as he focused on the armored menace before them.

“No,” the mage shook his head. “At least I don’t think so. From what I’ve gathered, it’s an armor made by the dragon gods themselves. You would think they thought of everything, don’t you?”

“Can you seal him, ass face?” Andreas asked rudely while pointing his sword at Kaeris.

“I have a spell that can do it,” Uther replied, ignoring his insult. “You will need to distract him for a while though. It takes some time to prepare.”

Darian tightened his grip on his shield, steeling himself for the imminent confrontation. “How much time do you need?”

“Not long,” Uther said, flipping through his grimoire, his heart racing. “But we won’t have that long if we don’t act quickly. Besides…”

He glanced behind him, noticing Morgann way far back, on the ground, shaking slightly in fear.

She’s doing well for someone powerless, he thought. I’m proud of her.

“Okay, let’s go!” Andreas shouted, charging straight at Kaeris.

“Wait!” Darian yelled, but it was too late. Andreas sprinted forward, his sword raised high, the wind swirling around him in a furious dance.

Kaeris turned, his visor locking onto the approaching warrior. “Raigeki!” he boomed, raising his sword coated in lightning in a swift, fluid motion.

Darian groaned in frustration as he rushed to intercept, his heart pounding. With a powerful kick, he jumped just in time to raise his small shield against Kaeris’s devastating swing, the impact sending tremors through his body.

Andreas lunged forward, shouting, “Take this!” as he swung his sword down with all his might. The blade met Kaeris’s armor with a resounding clang, but the strike barely left a mark. Kaeris staggered back slightly, surprised by the audacity of the attack, but his armor absorbed most of the impact without faltering.

But this small reprieve was soon interrupted by the sound of exploding windows behind them.

Everyone looked back in surprise as they saw a green-skinned flying demon arrive straight from outside, landing right near a petrified Morgann.

“Hello miss! And bye…” Korver smiled wickedly, the blades sticking out of his arms glinting as he swung down on the princess.

“Morgann!” Uther shouted, instinctively leaping toward her as panic surged through him.

But she was too far away. Away from his protection and away from everything.

Just as the blade descended, a figure dashed out of the stairway, a blur of motion unnoticed by Korver. In a swift glide, the jacket-wearing figure swooped down and scooped Morgann up, just in time to evade the deadly arc of the blade that sliced the floor where she had stood only a moment ago.

“Huh?” Morgann whispered in shock as she saw the familiar face of Luka, fear etched into his eyes as he grabbed her tightly.

“Shit, why am I doing this…” Luka gritted his teeth while spinning his head toward the flying demon. “You okay Morgann?!”

Still trembling, she nodded. “I… I’m fine!”

Meanwhile, Korver spun around, meeting his leader’s gaze. “Guess I managed to find you, boss. I shall take care of the princess!” he said, licking the dust on his blade with a deranged glee.

Kaeris’s visor glimmered ominously as he looked at Korver. “Do not underestimate them. They may be weak, but they still pose a threat. Finish this quickly.”

“Understood!” Korver snarled, his voice dripping with malice as he lunged at Luka, blades poised to strike.

Luka tightened his grip on Morgann and sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of air as the blades whistled past him. Instinctively, he pulled Morgann behind him as he turned to face the demon.

“Run, Morgann!” he urged, his heart pounding in his chest.

Without hesitating, Morgann spun forward and began to run at full speed. But Korver was quick. Unfolding his wings, he soared into the air with a single powerful beat, hovering above Luka with surprising speed.

“Shi—!” Luka exclaimed, glancing upward just in time to see the demon diving toward the fleeing princess.

“SAKI KICK!!” Out the same window the demon came from, the succubus poured all of her strength into her legs, kicking the demon mid-air and straight into the brick wall.

Pushing himself off the ground, fury and confusion etched across his green, scaly face, he spat, “How the fuck are you still alive? You’ll pay for that!” He lunged at Saki, his blades glinting menacingly as they sailed through the air, and the two of them tumbled outside, locked in a fierce struggle.

Luka turned to Morgann, panic flooding his veins. “We need to get out of here!” he urged, but Morgann hesitated, her eyes wide as she watched the others facing Kaeris.

“Morgann, move!” Uther shouted from behind, the urgency in his voice snapping her back to reality. She nodded, her determination rekindled and sprinted toward the nearest corridor, Luka right behind her.

Meanwhile, the demon king loomed large over Darian and Andreas, their swords clashing against his armor with a cacophony of sound that echoed through the castle. Each swing from Kaeris sent shockwaves through the air, the sheer weight of his strikes exhausting both warriors. Darian's muscles strained as he blocked another blow, his shield rattling violently against the force.

“Keep pressing him! We can’t let him regain his momentum!” Darian shouted, his voice strained but determined.

Aurelia shouted behind them, having regained her composure. “Drakin barst!” Multiple blasts of raw mana hit head-on Kaeris, exploding on impact.

Kaeris staggered for a moment, his visor momentarily obscured by the blinding light.

“Now!” Darian seized the opportunity, launching himself forward with renewed vigor. With the blunt edge of his small shield, he aimed a powerful strike at the visor of Kaeris’s helmet, hoping to reach the demon's eyes. Unfortunately, the shield collided with the helmet, producing a resounding clang, but the blow failed to penetrate the impenetrable armor.

“Damn it!” Darian grunted, stumbling back from the impact. He glanced at Andreas, who stood behind the enemy, striking relentlessly against the armor like a blacksmith hammering on an anvil.

“Why am I not even scratching him?” Andreas shouted in frustration, watching as his blade began to bend slightly with each failed strike. “It’s like hitting a wall!”

“Maybe we can wear him down!” Darian suggested, his voice strained. “If we keep attacking—”

Kaeris straightened, shaking off the smoke from Aurelia’s spell with a wave of his hand. “Many tried before you. You’re nothing special.” Then, with a swift movement, he caught the blade of Andreas and stopped it in its tracks.

Then, with a swift movement, he caught the blade of Andreas mid-swing, stopping it in its tracks. The force of Kaeris’s grip sent a shiver down Andreas’s spine, and he felt a jolt of panic as he struggled against the demon’s overwhelming strength.

“Let go!” Andreas yelled, exerting every ounce of energy into breaking free, but Kaeris merely tightened his grip, the armor creaking ominously.

“For a chosen hero… is this all your generation is capable of?” Kaeris’s voice resonated through his helmet, devoid of mockery, instead carrying a weight of sadness and melancholy. “Your ring is of no use with no one around you,” he added, his tone chilling. With a swift twist of his wrist, he forced Andreas to drop his sword.

As Andreas stumbled backward, trying to regain his balance, Kaeris, without missing a beat, straightened the blade he had caught and slashed toward him with a fluid motion. The gleaming edge cut through the air, a deadly arc aimed at Andreas’s cheek.

But just as the blade was about to make contact, a powerful shockwave erupted from behind. Kaeris was suddenly sent careening backward, his body colliding with the stone walls of the castle.

“Sorry, I’m late!” Jason shouted as he charged onto the battlefield, his fists glowing with raw energy. He had arrived just in time, delivering a punishing blow to Kaeris that sent the demon flying straight out of the castle and plummeting down the two floors into the courtyard below.

Andreas blinked in shock, momentarily stunned. “What the—?”

“Captain!” Darian shouted, a smirk breaking across his face for the first time. Uther mirrored the expression, relief flooding his features as he prepared his spell.

“THAT’S the captain of the knights?” Aurelia exclaimed, her mouth agape. “Holy shit, we never stood a chance!”

“Stay focused!” Jason shouted with authority, sensing the demon coming back.

And he was right. With a leap, he reached the top with ease, landing heavily on the top floor. Its golden armor now slightly wet from the rain glowed ominously from the blue light emitted by his visor.

“You shall perish—!” Kaeris growled, lunging forward toward Jason, slicing down with his blade.

In a desperate act, Jason caught the blade with his bare hands, holding it tightly between his palms. Still, he struggled to maintain his grip as Kaeris exerted his overwhelming strength. The raw force sent vibrations up Jason's arms, threatening to force him to yield.

Darian and Andreas seized the moment, dashing forward in unison while being powered by Aurelia. With fierce determination, they struck the demon king simultaneously on his chest, hoping to destabilize him and break the momentum of his attack.

Kaeris roared in frustration, twisting the blade to shake Jason off while pushing back against Darian and Andreas.

“Get off me, you pests!” the demon roared, his visor shining even brighter with his anger.

“Get back, now!” Uther shouted, holding his book in his hand.

At his command, Jason twisted his body to let go of the blade and roll away from the demon. Darian and Andreas retreated.

At Uther's command, Jason twisted his body, releasing the blade and rolling away from the demon. Darian and Andreas quickly retreated, creating space as they regrouped.

“Now, Uther!” Jason shouted, scrambling to his feet.

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With a deep breath, Uther stared down Kaeris with fierce eyes, his book’s pages fluttering with impressive speed. “Grand magic: activate!” he called out.

Kaeris stood up and raised his head in surprise upon hearing his words.

“Fata Sigillum!” Uther intoned, his voice ringing with power. A surge of energy erupted from his outstretched hands, coalescing into a shimmering sigil that illuminated the room with a brilliant light. The air crackled around them as ethereal symbols began to swirl and dance, weaving together in an intricate pattern that glowed with fairy magic.

Kaeris narrowed his eyes, recognizing the threat too late. The sigil burst forth, shooting toward him like a bolt of lightning, wrapping around him in a binding light. The chains of magic coiled tightly, pulling him down as he struggled against the enchantment.

As soon as he was ensnared, a rip in the fabric of space opened, revealing a stark white void within. The chains pulled Kaeris inexorably toward the gaping hole, his armored form straining against the force, but the bindings were too strong.

“Raaaaghhh!” Kaeris roared, his voice filled with rage as he thrashed and writhed. But the more he fought, the tighter the chains seemed to grip him, drawing him closer to the void.

After one final roar, his body was swallowed whole by the void, and the tear reformed itself as if nothing was there to begin with.

A heavy silence fell over the castle as Uther stumbled down in exhaustion. Aurelia stood in awe, breathless from the intensity of the moment. “That was incredible, sir Faeborne,” she called out, her gaze still fixated on the spot where Kaeris had vanished just seconds before.

Uther took a moment to catch his breath, leaning heavily against the wall for support. “It was a team effort,” he replied, trying to mask his fatigue with a smile. “I couldn't have done it without all of you.”

Darian stepped forward, a big smile splattered on his face. “That’s my Uther! Always coming up with incredible spells!”

Jason brushing off his clothes, added. “Right. It was truly something else. Nothing can escape from it, right?”

“Nothing,” Uther nodded. “It is a subspace created by the fairy king.”

Andreas picked up his bent sword, still processing the event. “Damn, I couldn’t even put a scratch on him.”

It was clear the battle had taken a toll on the Emperor, seeing how useless he was against the threat he was destined to fight.

“Now your duty is over, Emperor,” Uther announced. “You have no need to invade Sora anymore. Am I wrong?”

“But the princess…” Andreas muttered, looking down.

The three knights sighed in unison, before deciding to rest a little. They had been through a lot after all.

----------------------------------------

“This way Morgann!” Luka shouted as he ran down the stairs. The princess tried her best to keep up, even with her heels.

“I–I’m trying!” Morgan gasped as she pushed herself to move. The tremors in the castle didn’t stop, and her mind wandered to the two knights who were defending her against this golden armored demon.

She felt powerless. All this time she kept biting her lips in frustration from being unable to act, like always.

The adrenaline coursing through her veins mixed with anxiety, heightening her awareness of the danger surrounding them. What if something happens to them? What if they need me? she thought, her heart racing as she fought against the feeling of helplessness.

Luka glanced back, noticing the distress on her face. “You can’t do anything! Just run!”

But when he said that, she stopped right in her tracks, stumbling forward in exhaustion. The words had cut deep, far deeper since it was he who said it. Her legs felt heavy, and she fought to catch her breath.

“Don’t tell me that!” Morgann shouted back, her voice trembling. “I know I can’t do anything! I know already!”

Luka halted, his expression hardening in anger. “And you’re just going to stay here and die? Come on, I’ll pick you up and—”

“Don’t touch me!” she swatted his helping hand away, glaring at him.

For a moment, silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant sounds of chaos echoing through the castle. Morgann’s chest heaved as she struggled to control her emotions.

“Why couldn’t you help my father last time…” she whispered, the hurt seeping into her voice. “I don’t get it. You’re the last person I want to see die because of me and you still help me.”

“I seriously don’t give a damn right now,” Luka replied in a cold tone. “You’re the one who brought me here, so don’t play like it’s my fault.”

“I didn’t ask you to fight for me!” Morgann shot back with tears in her eyes.

“You’re the one who asked me to help Kanami!” Luka screamed at her, his eyes burning in fury before lowering into a threatening whisper. “Ever since you summoned me, my life has been nothing but hell. I don’t give a shit about you, I don’t give a shit about anyone, and now I’m in this mess because you can’t fucking run!”

Morgann stared at him, her silence thick and weighted as his words hung in the air. Luka’s jaw clenched, and he could feel his anger beginning to ebb, replaced by an uncomfortable heaviness.

“Then why did you save me twice?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as she searched his face, looking for something—anything—that could explain it.

Luka’s expression softened, caught off guard by her question. For a moment, he opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated, his anger faltering under her gaze. He looked away, unable to meet her eyes, clenching his fists at his sides. The truth lay on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it, even to himself.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice subdued. “I just… Because I’m an idiot who is too nice for his own good. That’s it.” He paused, his voice breaking slightly. “I just…”

Morgann held his gaze for a moment longer, her expression unreadable. A small part of her, though, began to understand him a bit better. “With the way you snapped at me, I don’t think you’re nice,” she said softly, a faint hint of a smile breaking through her exhaustion.

Luka scoffed, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he might smile back, but he quickly looked away. “You’re one annoying princess, you know that?”

“I’ve been told…”

He started walking again, slower this time, allowing her to keep pace beside him.

They walked in silence, the tension between them softened but still lingering. But soon she broke it. “You’re all hurt. There is blood on your jacket,” she noticed.

“I killed Julius,” Luka admitted, his eyes locked forward.

She looked at him, searching for any sign of emotion, but he remained unreadable. “So… Uncle is…”

He took a shaky breath. “I don’t know what happened to him, but he is probably not in good shape.”

Morgann looked down, sorrow etched on her face. Still, they walked forward.

Suddenly, a final tremor echoed through the castle, followed by a distant, guttural roar—and then utter silence fell over the place.

Luka froze, his ears straining to catch any sound. Could they have won?

He glanced down at his arm, where the mark of his contract with Saki glowed faintly. It was still bright, pulsing slightly as if alive, and he felt a small surge of relief. Whatever Saki was doing with that flying demon, she was okay—for now.

But something in his heart, a sinking feeling which made him uneasy remained. He saw a glimpse of that armored guy back when he saved Morgann. Whoever it was, he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“Everything is silent,” Morgann remarked.

“Yeah…” Luka nodded, his eyes still looking at the mark on his arm.

Something’s off.

A name kept repeating in his head for some reason ever since he saw that golden armor.

Ilys. Why that name? No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t find the reason.

Something’s off.

For the flicker of a second, he saw the image of his master. It was as if his subconscious was trying to tell him something through the senses he just obtained with the use of magic.

“Control,” he whispered instinctively in an attempt to strain his senses even further.

Luka was one to trust his instincts more than anything. While a lot of times he wasn’t listening to it, this time he felt it was important. A hunch, a flicker of doubt, anything right now was crucial in his survival.

He heard a voice in his head. Run away.

Luka’s fists clenched, his entire body going rigid as he processed the words in his mind. His master’s warning—Run away—echoed like an unbreakable loop, filling him with a bone-chilling dread.

Then, without warning, a strange gust swept past him, a surge of air that sent a shiver down his spine. He barely registered the goblin’s unmistakable voice reverberating through the walls, carrying a single, ominous command:

“Scramble.”

In an instant, the world shifted. He blinked, and everything around him had changed. The stone corridor he’d been standing in had vanished, replaced by the narrow, dimly lit confines of a storage room. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with barrels and supplies. He was disoriented, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. His heart raced, the realization dawning on him slowly.

He’d been transported—scrambled—and judging by his surroundings, he was nowhere near Morgann anymore.

The first theory that came to his mind was that everyone’s position was switched with someone else, as he saw the remnants of a person hiding here: a makeshift barricade against the door.

A tremor then reverberated throughout the castle, and then.

A bone-chilling scream.

“Get out of my way!” he shouted, reinforcing his fists with magic and slamming them into the barricade. The wood splintered and shattered under his blow, clearing his path as he broke into a sprint. He had no idea who’d been moved where, but he knew one thing: he had to reach the last floor.

Pushing his legs to the limit, Luka charged through the winding halls, leaping over fallen debris and barely dodging rubble from the walls. The silence that had once felt suffocating was now punctuated by faint, desperate cries and muffled echoes from all around him.

----------------------------------------

“Now, we should probably get back to Morgann,” Uther proposed after having rested enough.

“You’re right, we should.” Darian nodded, picking up the shield he had put down for comfort.

“Scramble”

Immediately, everyone shifted places. For a second, Uther found himself in the middle of the corridor while Darian stood against the wall. Aurelia had switched with Jason, putting herself next to her lord who hadn’t switched.

“What the—” Uther whispered in panic, not understanding what happened.

That’s when he spotted Morgann, a look of confusion etched on her face as she stood at the top of the floor. She glanced around, disoriented and searching for familiar faces in the chaos.

“Morgann!” Uther called out, his voice filled with urgency. “Are you alright?”

She turned to him, eyes wide with fear. “What just happened? Where is Luka?”

Everyone looked at her expectantly, except for Jason, who remained eerily still. An oppressive tension filled the air, amplified by the moment the “Scramble” had activated, leaving a lingering sense of foreboding that made his body twitch.

The Emperor had switched with no one. Or had he? And Darian, where was he…?

Andreas had moved slightly forward, where…

Jason’s eyes widened as a realization struck him, and he instinctively reached out to Uther. “No—”

But it was too late. The fabric of space warped once more, a sudden rift appearing as a sharp sword cut through the air, stabbing deep into Uther’s back.

A gasp escaped his lips, pain lancing through him as he staggered forward, instinctively reaching for the hilt of the blade protruding from his body. As he turned, his eyes met the gleaming helmet of the golden-armored figure.

Blood seeped from Uther’s wound, pooling around his feet as the blade cut through his insides, until it reached the other side, impaling him completely. He felt the warmth of life draining away, each heartbeat echoing like a distant drum.

“Stop…!” Morgann’s voice shattered the stillness, panic lacing her tone as she saw her friend getting torn to pieces by Kaeris’s blade.

In the heat of the moment, Jason rushed toward them, desperation fueling his every step. “Uther!” he yelled, but before he could reach him, the rift shattered, exposing Kaeris’s body completely.

“The seal… Why…” Uther gasped, unable to comprehend what happened, his vision blurring.

Kaeris leaned closer, the blade twisting mercilessly within Uther’s body, a soft muffled sigh escaping his lips. “This mere seal couldn’t even hope to contain me,” he explained.

With a sudden, brutal motion, Kaeris unsheathed the blade from Uther’s wound, a sickening sound echoing through the air, before sending his body crashing against the wall with a backhand swipe. Uther hit the stone with a thud, pain radiating through him as he crumpled to the ground, his body refusing to respond.

Darkness threatened to engulf him, the edges of his consciousness fading like the last rays of sunlight at dusk. Morgann’s terrified scream echoed in his ears, and for a moment, saw a multitude of fairies, surrounding him in their light.

“One down,” Kaeris’s voice echoed mercilessly before looking backward at Andreas and Aurelia, who were frozen in shock at the unfolding carnage.

Jason stood back up from the explosion of the space rift, before lunging forward once more.

“Get away from him!” Jason shouted, the fire in his voice resonating with his fists. But as soon as he reached Kaeris, he heard him mutter a few words.

“Shrinking ground.”

Before Jason could process the spell, Kaeris took a step forward and, in an instant, reappeared directly in front of Aurelia, who was desperately charging a spell to heal Uther. The transition was so instantaneous that no one had time to react. Kaeris’s blade came down without mercy, slicing through the air with a lethal grace.

A sickening thud echoed through the hallway as Aurelia’s head flew from her shoulders, cleanly severed by Kaeris's blade. It landed with a gruesome thud on the ground, blood pooling around her lifeless body, leaving the remaining people in a state of horror.

“Two down,” Kaeris continued, his voice devoid of any empathy, like a machine set on accomplishing its mission.

Andreas stared at the bloody corpse of his friend, feeling a surge of overwhelming emotions. Tears started cornering his eyes before he pulled his sword up and screamed in a desperate rage.

“YOU BASTARD!!!!”

However, Kaeris simply dodged to the side, unbothered by the stream of emotions of the man. His movements were effortless, almost casual, as he struck down the man with his blade, cutting him in half in an instant.

“Three down.”

Jason felt a surge of adrenaline course through him, phishing past his shock and grief. With one look at Morgann, he dashed forward, charging his fist with the maximum amount of mana he could.

But Kaeris saw it coming. With an impossible agility, he ducked under Jason’s punch, leaving Jason gasping in shock at the sheer speed of the armored demon. In one fluid motion, Kaeris slashed upward, a deep gash appearing across Jason’s chest, sending pain shooting through him. Before Jason could react, Kaeris delivered a brutal counter with his left hand, striking him squarely in the gut and knocking the wind out of him.

Jason’s body crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Four down.” Kaeris proclaimed coldly, surveying the scene with detached satisfaction. The echoes of the battle faded, leaving Morgann standing alone, her heart pounding in her chest as dread filled the air around her. She was surrounded by the lifeless bodies of her friends, the reality of the situation hitting her like a sledgehammer.

No, it was a nightmare. Everyone was dead; it couldn’t be real, right? The weight of grief crushed her, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to hold back her emotions. All of this violence, all of this death—she was now but a broken doll falling to the ground in misery as the liberator approached.

She dropped to her knees, overwhelmed by despair, feeling utterly helpless against the terror unfolding before her.

“Why…?” Morgann choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why…?” she repeated, unable to form words anymore.

Kaeris stopped, looking down at her with an expression that was both calculating and indifferent. “Because you are but a blight on this world,” he replied simply. “Blame the one who brought you humans here in the first place.”

He raised his bloody sword, poised to deliver the final blow, ready to take her head.

In her final moments, as dread washed over her like a tide, she could only manage to utter one word, a name that held only hope to her.

“Wrimbo…”

“FUCK IT ALL!” Luka screamed at the top of his lungs, springing towards her at full speed. In one swift motion, he grabbed Morgann, repeating the exact scenario from before, pulling her out of harm’s way just as Kaeris’s sword swung down.

The blade clanged against the stone floor where Morgann had stood just moments ago, sending sparks flying. Luka, heart racing, held her tightly, shielding her from the imminent danger. “Fuck, fuck!” he cursed endlessly as he looked around, seeing the bodies of people way stronger than him scattered everywhere.

“Oh?” Kaeris’s voice rose in surprise, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone as he observed the audacity of the young man.

Ignoring the taunt, Luka dashed away at full speed, holding Morgann in a princess carry. As they reached a window, it blasted open with a sudden force, and Korver appeared, cornering him immediately. The razor-sharp edge of his arm blade swung down, but Luka ducked low, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike.

“Where the hell is Saki?” he screamed, panic lacing his voice as his heart raced like a drum in his chest.

“Why do you care?” Korver shot back, a smirk playing on his lips. “She is a succubus; you’re just a human.”

With a surge of adrenaline, Luka shifted his weight, pivoting to create distance between them. In a split second, he pulled out a talisman from his jacket and hurled it at the winged demon. The talisman ignited mid-air, exploding on impact and creating a brilliant ball of flame that lit up the dim room.

However, Korver merely swatted the explosion away with a casual flick of his wrist, the flames dissipating as if they were nothing more than an annoying insect.

Luka’s face went pale, and dread flooded through him, the kind he had never experienced before. If it wasn’t for his training in control, he would have screamed in terror and collapsed right there.

Still, the weight of the shocked Morgann in his arms anchored him, providing a sense of purpose and focus. He had two talismans left, and he needed to make them count. Without hesitation, he used the first one, quickly sticking it onto Morgann’s shoulder.

“This will send you to safety!” he said urgently. It wasn’t a teleportation spell anchored somewhere else, but it would be enough to create a buffer between her and the immediate danger.

With a touch, he activated the talisman. With another flick of his wrist, he sent another talisman flying outside the window.

It was the highest floor in the castle, a fall this high would certainly kill her.

Still, he believed in her.

“SAKI!” he screamed at the top of his lungs as the talisman activated, teleporting Morgann back to the other one outside the window, leaving Korver and Kaeris in shock.

“YOU IDIOT!” a familiar voice echoed from outside the window, followed by the frantic flapping of wings and the startled scream of Morgann. Luka couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. He knew Saki would send her to safety.

Now, it was a matter of his own survival. With the immediate threat of losing Morgann temporarily alleviated Luka turned his attention back to Korver and Kaeris, who stood there momentarily stunned.

He watched Uther, Jason, and two other unknown figures sprawled on the ground, utterly defeated.

Yeah, surviving, right… Luka thought, feeling a tinge of sadness in his heart. Only a miracle would save him.

I can’t die yet.

Kaeris’s voice shattered the silence. “After her, Korver.”

Korver’s wings flared, ready to take him out the window, but before he could lift off, something latched onto his ankle, pulling him back just enough to break his focus. He looked down in irritation, only to see Jason, bloodied but defiant, gripping his ankle with all his remaining strength.

“You—" Korver spat, enraged. "Get off me, you piece of—"

But Luka didn’t waste the moment. With Korver distracted, he lunged forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

“Control…” With one step, he exhaled, concentrating all his mana.

While Luka had low mana, his output had no limit thanks to his control magic.

“Svelto…”

He knows how much it is dangerous, yet…

“Six!”

He gathered the od existing around the place, surrounded his right fist with it and punched as soon as he felt his arm ‘exploding’ from the strain.

His fist tore through the air, leaving a faint trail of glowing mana in its wake, and collided with Korver’s side. A shockwave erupted from the impact, the concentrated od bursting outward like a contained explosion. The blow sent Korver reeling, his muscles and bones breaking under the immense force as he was thrown across the room, crashing against the stone wall with a sickening crunch.

Luka stumbled back, his teeth clenching so hard into his gums that blood seeped out from it, his arm throbbing with white-hot pain, feeling like it might have been torn apart from the inside. But he managed to keep himself upright, breaths ragged as he forced himself to focus.

Kaeris, observing the scene with an unreadable expression, remained motionless. The eerie stillness he exuded was somehow more terrifying than any aggressive stance; his presence alone radiated a pressure that threatened to crush any sliver of hope Luka clung to. Kaeris’s gaze flicked briefly to Korver, now struggling on the floor, battered and broken, before returning to Luka with a faint glint of interest.

“One of her disciples,” Kaeris murmured, his voice coming out smooth and filled with nostalgia.

Luka’s heart pounded as Kaeris’s words settled in the air, tinged with a disturbing nostalgia. Her disciple—the words sent a shiver down his spine. “You know Daji?” he asked.

Kaeris raised his sword, which crackled with a vibrant, volatile energy. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split through the darkened sky outside, drawn directly to the blade as if summoned by Kaeris’s sheer will. The flash illuminated the room, casting sharp, terrifying shadows around Kaeris’s figure.

Luka, feeling the raw, oppressive energy radiate off Kaeris, tightened his grip, even though his arm throbbed unbearably.

He had one shot. A talisman he had left back at the Tree of Creation in case he was late to his master’s lessons.

If he managed to send him there, then that would buy enough time for him to run.

Kaeris took another step forward, his sword a storm of flickering energy that illuminated his armor. “Show me what you’ve got, disciple.”

With a slash of his sword, lightning was shot from it, which Luka avoided quickly by ducking right below the blast. The energy tore through the hallway in half, creating a thick smoke.

“Shrinking ground,” Kaeris muttered, and in an instant found himself near Luka to punch him.

The impact hit Luka like a hammer, sending him hurtling backward, his ribs compressing under the brutal force. Agony tore through his torso, stealing his breath as he slammed into the stone floor, skidding to a halt against the wall. Every nerve screamed in protest, yet he forced himself to move, gripping the ground to steady himself as he staggered back to his feet.

One chance, he reminded himself. His vision blurred, but he fought to focus. He reached for the talisman in his pocket and hid it in his sleeve against his wrist.

Kaeris approached once more, his sword sparkling again.

Luka tightened his fist and dashed forward, his eyes never leaving Kaeris.

Like a blur, the armored demon found himself near him, his sword poised to slash horizontally.

Luka’s instincts took over and he didn’t even try to dodge. Instead, he held his hand toward Kaeris, the talisman stuck to his palm.

The demon’s eyes widened and in a brief moment, stopped in its tracks.

Smack.

The talisman stuck to the armor, and Luka ignited its inscription instantly.

The talisman flared brightly as the symbols glowed along its surface. In a violent pulse, the magic took hold, enveloping Kaeris in a blinding light.

But just as the spell’s energy took hold, Kaeris’s lips moved, a quick, almost inaudible incantation slipping from his mouth. His hand shot forward, iron-gripping Luka’s wrist with shocking speed and strength.

Luka’s heart pounded, dread filling him as he realized Kaeris’s plan. The talisman’s spell was designed to transport one person or object to another location—a one-way ticket out of this nightmare. But with Kaeris holding onto him, the magic began to twist, flickering with instability as it tried to resolve the two conflicting presences.

“No,” Luka gasped, struggling against Kaeris’s grip, but his battered body couldn’t muster the strength to break free. Kaeris’s eyes glinted, a cruel satisfaction gleaming within them as the magic built to a climax, now binding them both.

A final surge of light filled the room, and in an instant, they were gone.

In the next, they were rolling backward below the great Tree of Creation, the od surrounding it attacking Luka all over.

That was it. His last chance and he blew it.

He rose to his feet with a pale face, feeling a sinking feeling holding his heart. Kaeris rose to his feet casually, lightning striking his blade from the sky once more.

Mom… Dad…

Luka’s thoughts were in shambles. The only thing he could think of was the hot lightning burning his body to ash, the warm taste of blood in his mouth as he was slashed to ribbons.

There was no way to win against this monster. He was just an ordinary man after all.

Who told him he could play hero?

No one. He foolishly sent himself to his death while his master had told him to stay safe.

How dumb. He truly deserved this end. His life was nothing but a series of failures, each more pronounced than the last, with no intention of rising again from the ashes of his mistakes.

Still, I can’t die.

I already tried once. I’m just too afraid to die. Even if there is nothing left for me, I can’t give up.

I hate it. Even in my last moments, I am stubbornly attached to my meaningless life.

This world, this place, I don’t hate it.

I hate myself more than anything. Because everything wrong in this world is because of me.

Luka rose to his feet, his body feeling numb and heavy. The flickering light from the lightning flashed across his face, casting shadows that danced like specters around him.

He could feel his enemy’s presence looming, the oppressive energy radiating from the armored demon, but something shifted within him.

The last words Kaeris said to Morgann. The fact that they should blame the one who brought them here.

He understood it.

Somehow, just from hearing about it, his mind already understood what his enemy felt.

This world wasn’t a place for humans but for demons, monsters, outcasts. Abominations from all horizons that couldn’t fit within his world.

But if that was truly his meaning to his end, then it was simply something he couldn’t acknowledge.

I can’t die.

A grin flashed on his face as he used a reinforced nail to cut a wound on his arm.

I won’t die.

He was just a fool trying to go home and now there he was… caught in the perfect scenario.

Let’s do this.

“Control… zone.”

I don’t need fear or any other emotions.

Since I hate myself, I don’t need me.

All I need is one path to victory.

Kaeris shot his arm up, a small sun forming in his hand. But it’s nothing.

“Heaven’s fall!” Kaeris shouted, a beam of light striking down towards where Luka stood. Instant death, instantaneous attack.

“Absolute barrier,” Luka threw his last talisman in the air, shielding himself from the impact. In the meantime, he pulled out blank talismans. Talismans without mana imbued in them and without inscriptions.

He felt the force of the attack rattle through the barrier, but he was still standing, still alive.

Without hesitation, he pressed the cut on his arm to create drops of blood and traced letters with it.

Three talismans. This was more than enough.

He looked forward, and as soon as the impact stopped, he dashed forward, holding both of his blood-written talismans in his hand.

“Od Control,” he whispered.

There were more than enough mana in the air to supply his talismans. There was no need to listen to his master.

If there was energy available, no matter how unstable it was, he would stabilize and use it.

The first talisman clutched in his fingers activated, creating a copy of the second one.

He then used both of them at the same time, creating two more copies of them.

Each talismans copied the next one, though they lost a bit of their power each time.

But that wasn’t an issue. With the od around him, there was more than enough to restore them.

Kaeris swung his sword, lighting slicing through the ground like a giant scythe ready to cut him down.

Luka jumped, straining his muscles to the maximum using a Svelto spell. He flew above the blast and was only shocked slightly by some remnant static.

His four talismans copied once more, creating four more.

Now, this was more than enough.

He landed in a spin right in front of his target. Kaeris used shrinking ground to close the distance, but Luka predicted it.

After all, this was all this idiot could do.

Luka’s talismans shone all at the same time, and then he threw them all except one in the air. Kaeris was momentarily distracted but swung his sword nonetheless.

In that instant, the jacket boy vanished, leaving Kaeris confused for a moment.

“That’s right, teleport—” Kaeris raised his head, only to see Luka grab a talisman mid-air and stick it on Kaeris.

“Even with it, you can’t send me far!” Kaeris snickered, swinging his sword in the air where Luka stood. But once more, he vanished, finding himself on the ground right below him.

Swiftly, he stuck a second talisman on his greaves. Kaeris didn’t understand where he was getting at. No matter how many times he put a talisman on him, the spell wouldn’t teleport him as far as the other talismans were.

But Luka kept going, over and over. Dodging each attack from Kaeris with a stern face he pushed his body to its limits, sticking talismans on him.

Now that he knew how he moved, and what attacks he could use, it was easy to predict him

Kaeris’s frustration grew with every talisman that latched onto him, each one pulsing with a faint glow, signaling the spells taking root in his armor. “What are you trying to accomplish?” he growled, his patience thinning as he swung again, narrowly missing Luka by inches.

Luka knew how close to death he was each time, but he felt detached. If he failed, it was simply game over, and he couldn’t afford that. So, he did everything in his power to survive, even by breaking his own body.

The eighth talisman found itself stuck in his armor before a surge of lightning enveloped the liberator, pushing Luka to gain some distance.

“Enough of this!” Kaeris roared, his frustration boiling over. He raised his sword in the air, ready to catch the lightning once more.

But his movement stopped as soon as he saw Luka’s face, his sword raised mid-air.

It was a look of terror, one that betrayed his last hope. For a flicker of a second, Kaeris realized he made a mistake.

Too late. The lightning struck his blade, or rather, the talisman hovering above his head. Like a lightning rod, the talisman attracted the lightning to itself.

With a relieved sigh, Luka joined his two hands.

“Thank god you overly rely on your cheat abilities…” he said in a mocking tone. His palms touched until he looked at Kaeris with a stern face.

“Grand magic…”

“What? Grand magic?” Kaeris shouted in shock. He couldn’t believe it. This weak man, capable of this?

This magic had no name, and while teleportation was typically a difficult feat, Luka had grown accustomed to it through his master’s teachings. However, there was one form of teleportation still beyond his grasp—one that was shrouded in complexity and high costs in mana. A random teleportation, an unpredictable one.

Luka focused, the energy around him shifting as he drew upon the thick od in the air.

“You think you can kill me with a spell?” Kaeris asked, almost wanting to see where this goes.

“No,” Luka replied, his voice low and resolute. “I’m not trying to kill you. I’m trying to survive.”

And every second living, is a victory.

He pushed himself further, feeling the veins in his eyes pop like a balloon, clouding his sight. He felt his legs drained of energy, incapable of lifting him up anymore. He felt his head buzz and fry like static, the od frying every synapse in his brain.

Even so, he called its name. “Warp.”

Kaeris moved, but it was too late. The talismans embedded in his armor flared to life, resonating with Luka's voice as the spell took hold. The air crackled, vibrant energy arcing between them like a live wire. Kaeris’s eyes widened, realization dawning too late.

In a blinding flash, the crater surrounding the tree erupted with light. The talismans pulsed with intensity, channeling all the mana Luka had received from the lightning.

It was truly unfair. This creature in front of him had the reserves to at least cast a dozen spells like these, and yet, Luka had to work hard to even achieve one.

However, it was all worth it if it meant surviving. The fabric of reality tore apart, cracks could be seen in the space around the demon.

And then, just like that, there was nothing left of him. The blinding light swallowed him whole, transporting him somewhere in this world, far away from there.

Luka stood alone in the aftermath, gasping for breath as he could feel his consciousness leaving his body.

A faint smile tugged his lips as he crumbled to the ground, his body broken and battered.

“Luka!” A voice echoed in his ears as his consciousness faded away.

But it was all worth it.

He managed to survive another day…

He could now see the light again.

----------------------------------------

Kaeris stood alone on the familiar black beach of The Ark, home of his kind. The air was thick with the scent of salt and the distant sound of crashing waves echoed like whispers from the past. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the dark sands, the sky a swirling tapestry of crimson and gold.

For a moment, he felt disoriented, as if the world he had just left behind was a fading dream. The sensation of defeat lingered in the back of his mind, gnawing at him like a persistent itch. He had been so close to claiming victory over that weak human—so close to crushing the last remnants of resistance in this realm.

But now, here he was, far from the battlefield, and that human was still alive. However, he didn’t feel anger. He had failed to kill the princess of that forsaken kingdom, but he had found something far more interesting.

“Luka…” he murmured, the name rolling off his tongue with amusement. That human was her disciple. After all this time, she decided to take another one, he thought.

He slowly took his helmet. His blonde hair fluttered against the wind, feeling the cool air of the sea brushing off his skin for the first time in years.

His blue eyes stared at the horizon, nostalgia flooding his mind.

Somehow, those memories of training with his mother still remained.

But he had to push through, no matter what.