Xyenn’s eyes fluttered open, his heart pounding as he tried to make sense of where he was. The last thing he remembered was being torn apart by Death, his body savaged by that monstrous scythe. But now…

He blinked, staring up at a dark pink sky, swirling with ominous clouds and strange shapes. His breath hitched as he saw massive torture devices—medieval racks, spiked wheels, and iron maidens—floating in the sky like twisted constellations. Despite their grotesque presence, they were oddly juxtaposed with children's toys scattered across the landscape: wooden horses, spinning tops, and crude dolls, all worn and innocent, lying abandoned in the dirt.

But then he realized something far worse. His eyes widened in panic as he looked down at himself.

He was completely naked.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Xyenn screeched, his hands flying to cover himself as he scrambled to his feet. His face flushed a deep red as he frantically looked around. "Where am I?! Why am I—Why am I naked?!"

‘I’m getting tossed all over the place, first I’m here, then I’m there, this is getting annoying. Was that all a dream before? Am I finally going crazy?”

He spun in place, his mind racing, trying to process the bizarre scene around him. His heart pounded in his chest, and he muttered under his breath, "I should’ve just jumped to my death sooner. Anything would’ve been better than getting possessed by some crazy draconic woman!"

‘I was too trusting. Now did I get tricked?’

Suddenly, a loud snort of laughter echoed behind him.

Xyenn whipped around, his eyes widening even more in confusion.

There, standing a few feet away, was Yuuna. But she looked… different. Instead of her usual chaotic, blood-soaked appearance, she was dressed like some kind of scholar—an academy uniform, complete with a long, dark coat, a white undershirt, and a fancy brooch at her collar. Her long black hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, and she was wearing glasses—glasses that somehow made her look even more ridiculous. She wasn’t even trying to look serious, as her cocky grin and slouching posture gave her away immediately.

“Oh ho ho!” Yuuna cackled, adjusting her glasses in an exaggerated, overly dramatic way. “Look at you! Flailing around like a headless chicken!”

Xyenn’s jaw dropped. "Wha—Where have you dragged me too? Why am I naked?!" he spluttered, his face burning with embarrassment. He covered himself as best he could, unsure whether to be more confused or horrified.

Yuuna snorted again, waving her hand dismissively. "I like what I see, that’s why you’re naked. And I’m not disappointed. And oh, come onnnn. You’re in our mind! It’s not like it really matters, does it? Clothes are just a formality here!" She grinned even wider, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Besides, I gotta say, you’re not looking too bad for a guy who’s about to get shredded into little pieces!”

“What do you mean…?”

As if on cue, a literal comic book-like thought bubble appeared in the air. This one showed Death, still standing over Xyenn’s real body, his scythe gleaming as he swung it with cold precision.

SLASH!

Death’s voice, calm and mocking, echoed through the bubble. “You really thought you could stand against me? Pathetic mortal. Every cut I make is a reminder of how utterly weak you are. Can’t even fight back. Seems fear has taken over. I am a god.”

Xyenn’s eye twitched as he watched his real body get sliced open again. SLASH! There went another chunk of his shoulder. SLASH! Now his leg.

Xyenn groaned, feeling the phantom pain. "Why is he kicking our ass?! You brought me here, and he’s tearing us apart?! We’re defenseless!”

“Haha! Yeah! But it’s okay, we won’t go out that easy. We still got time.”

“No way..”

‘She’s insane…’

Yuuna cleared her throat , popping the bubble with a flick of her finger as if it were nothing more than an annoying fly. She struck a dramatic pose, one foot up on a low rock, her hand raised as if she were about to give the most important lecture of her life. "Ahem!" she cleared her throat loudly. "Welcome, Xyenn, to your very first lesson in Draconic Contracting 101!" Her voice boomed with mock authority, but the wild gleam in her eyes never faded. "Today, I’ll be teaching you how to use my power, because if you don’t, well…" She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "You’ll probably explode! Hehehe! It’ll be difficult on your first time using it. No matter how compatible you are.”

“But we’re getting our ass kicked right now!”

“Aww it’s not too bad.”

Xyenn’s face turned even paler than before. "And did you say, Explode?”

"Yup!" Yuuna said with a massive grin, her voice brimming with excitement. "Spontaneous combustion! BOOM! You’ll be all over the place, like a popped balloon full of guts!" She mimed an explosion with her hands, making little ‘kaboom’ noises as if it were the most hilarious thing she’d ever heard.

From the real world, Death’s voice echoed again, still calm, still monotone. “You are nothing but a vessel… a fragile shell. I’ll peel that shell away, piece by piece. Why can’t you fight? Are you fearful, perhaps? No wonder you aren’t moving.”

SLASH!

Death’s voice continued to echo through the bubble, cold and mocking. “You’re already broken. Each cut brings you closer to the end. How does it feel, knowing you’ll never amount to anything?”

Xyenn’s face drained of color, his eyes wide with shock. "WHAT THE HELL?! HE’S KILLING ME! WE NEED TO GO BACK! NOW! Just wait until I go out there again!”

‘Damn bastard, I’ll end him..rubbing it in my face.’

Yuuna waved him off, rolling her eyes. "Pfft, relax, would ya? It’s just a flesh wound. We’re tough! You’ll be fiiine." She stretched her arms lazily, yawning. "Why do you think I picked you?"

Xyenn looked at her, bewildered. "Picked me? What do you mean—"

"Oh, right! I never explained," Yuuna interrupted, her grin widening. "You’re weak. Like, really weak. Born powerless. That’s why you can handle this. Most people would’ve exploded the moment I entered their body. But you? Nah, you’ve spent your whole life being a nobody. It made your body pliable, perfect for handling my chaotic energy!" She cackled, clearly proud of her explanation. "It’s like you’re a blank canvas, ready for me to turn into a masterpiece."

Xyenn blinked, his mouth hanging open. "So… me being… weak was an advantage.”

"Yup!" Yuuna said with a sharp nod, her glasses sliding down her nose slightly. "Your body was just empty enough to handle the awesomeness that is me! You’re lucky, you know. Most people would’ve been paste already."

From the bubble, Death’s voice once again pierced through, deliberate and unhurried. “You should thank me, mortal. I’m giving you the mercy of a slow death. Not many get to experience that. At least you’re fearful enough to let me do it, thank you.”

SLASH!

Xyenn groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is insane…he actually thinks I’m scared. I can’t go out like that..that bastard. He’s so dead. Super dead. He thinks he’s so cool, doesn’t he? Thinks he winning?”

Yuuna laughed, slapping him on the back—hard enough to nearly knock him over. "Haha! This rage of yours will definitely help you beat him. Now, let’s go over the juicy stuff.”

Without warning, Xyenn felt a burning sensation in his sides. His eyes widened as he looked down and saw two more arms sprouting from his torso, each one holding a wickedly sharp reddish-black scythe. The scythes pulsed with a dark pink glow, crackling with chaotic energy. Before he could even react, another pair of arms grew out, now wielding four scythes in total.

Yuuna grinned smugly, her fang poking out from the corner of her mouth. "Pretty cool, huh? You can grow extra arms and wield multiple scythes at once! These bad boys can slice through anything—flesh, stone, even the souls of your enemies!" She swung an imaginary scythe in the air, making a whooshing noise with her mouth. "SWOOSH! You’ll be tearing people apart in no time!"

Xyenn stared at his new arms, his brain struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. "This… is actually kinda awesome…"

Yuuna snapped her fingers, and Xyenn’s wings suddenly wrapped around his body, cocooning him in leathery black and red. The wings began to spin, faster and faster, until Xyenn became a whirling drill of red, pink, and black flames. The heat radiating off him was intense, and he could feel the destructive energy coursing through him.

"Oh yeah!" Yuuna cheered, pumping her fist. "You can fly, obviously, but this is where it gets really fun. You wrap yourself up in your wings, spin like a drill, and burn through anything in your path! It’s like being a flaming tornado of death! You’ll be all like, ZOOOOOM!" She zipped around him excitedly, mimicking the sound of a drill.

Xyenn blinked, still spinning as the flames crackled around him. "This is… actually kinda incredible…"

‘Crazy, how just a few minutes ago I was screaming at the gods for power. And here I am with it. I doubt they heard me, but this girl right here heard me. I hope she isn’t actually doing this out of pity. Then I wouldn’t want the power anymore, but I can’t say I hate this, because right now, I’m loving it.’

Yuuna snapped her fingers again, and the draconic eye on Xyenn’s forehead glowed brightly. Suddenly, more eyes appeared all over his body—on his chest, arms, legs, even his back. Each eye pulsed with Yuuna’s chaotic energy, glowing with an eerie reddish-pink light.

"When I chant in the ancient draconic tongue," Yuuna said, her voice taking on a mock-serious tone, "these eyes will make your halo expand, and then, boom! Seven fireballs—red, black, and pink, all swirling with super chaotic energy—will form around you. I’ll take control of your body, and we’ll do this super cool ancient draconic dance!" She jumped up, twirling in the air, making exaggerated dance moves. "And then, BAM! BAM! BAM! We’ll shoot the fireballs one by one, obliterating anything in sight!"

Xyenn’s mouth hung open, mesmerized by the sheer power he was being given. "That’s… that’s incredible…"

Yuuna puffed out her chest, grinning ear to ear. "Damn right it is!"

Another thought bubble appeared, showing Death still hacking away at Xyenn’s body, pieces of flesh and blood flying everywhere. "You’re making this too easy," Death said, his voice as cold and emotionless as ever. "I expected more from a draconic vessel. Useless battle fiend. Can’t even move.

Xyenn’s eye twitched again, smiling like a psycho, "Why is he still mocking me…? Let me at him…”

Yuuna cackled, her laughter echoing across the pink sky. "Because you’re getting your ass handed to you, that’s why! Hahaha!”

Before Xyenn could react, Yuuna dashed forward and kissed him square on the lips, pulling away with a cocky smile. "Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance."

Xyenn was left flustered, his mind reeling from both the kiss and everything that had just been dumped on him.

Yuuna, as if nothing had happened, suddenly snapped back into her mock-professor mode, adjusting her glasses dramatically. "Now, let’s talk about draconic contracts."

She cleared her throat, striking a ridiculous pose, one hand on her chin, the other gesturing grandly. "Draconic pacts with humans are super special. They resonate with your heart, soul, and bloodline. It’s not just some deal where I give you power. No, no, no! It’s way cooler than that!" She pointed a finger at him dramatically, her grin never fading. "Our souls are, like, intertwined* now! Your heart beats with draconic magic, and your blood’s been infused with mine. That’s why you can handle all this awesome power!"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

She started pacing again, her hands waving wildly as she spoke. "But here’s the kicker! If you break the contract, your heart stops! POOF! You’re dead! It’s a bond that’s deeper than life and death! Eternal.” She sensually grabbed the side of his face, saying, “You’re mine..”

Xyenn gulped, feeling the weight of her words. "Yours?"

Yuuna smirked, crossing her arms as she tilted her head. "Yup. You’re stuck with me forever, darling. But trust me, you’ll want to keep me around. I’m the best partner you’ll ever have. Strong, beautiful, and smart. What more could you want?"

Xyenn, still overwhelmed and flustered, could only nod slowly. "Yeah… I think I’m starting to realize that…"

Yuuna burst out laughing, throwing her head back with wild abandon. "Hahahaha! Damn right! Now let’s go out there and—.”!

Xyenn stood up, shaking Yuuna, “Take me to him, now!”

“Whatever you want, I’ll give you, darling.”

‘That..was kind of hot. No, why am I thinking like this?! She’s luring me with her demonic witchcraft..! I’m now some lewd horndog. What if she can read my thoughts? Since we’re technically ONE? I’m doomed. She’ll probably think I’m some creep. Wait, she’d be the creep for making me naked! Haha! Then whatever I think of her is justified.

Now, back in the battle, Xyenn was back.

Xyenn grinned wildly as his four arms snapped into action, each wielding a dark, reddish-black scythe. As if reading his mind, Yuuna's eye flared on his chest, glowing with chaotic energy. With a sudden burst of power, Xyenn shot upward like a bullet, wings snapping open as he flipped mid-air, bringing all four scythes down in a cross-pattern aimed at Death’s head and torso.

“Oh? The fiend fights back? You sure are a tough one—.”

“Shut up!” Xyenn exclaimed. “I’m gonna kill you.”

“You can’t kill Death. I am what your kind feeds, and the draconic deities fear, I am a god.”

“Okay, you’re going overboard now.”

Yuuna exclaimed, “Kick his ass, Xyenn! Also, don’t go overboard since this is your first fight!”

“Yeah yeah.” Xyenn replied.

Yuuna thought, ‘He’s never tasted a hint of power, so he’ll have trouble using my skills—.’

Death, showing no hesitation, disappeared in a blur just as the scythes whistled through the space where his body had been. Xyenn's blades struck the ground, pulverizing the stone beneath him in a shower of debris. No time to pause—Xyenn whirled around, only to find Death already behind him, scythe arcing toward his neck.

CLANG!

Xyenn barely managed to block with two of his scythes, sparks flying as metal clashed. The force of Death’s strike was incredible, sending Xyenn skidding backward across the platform. His feet dug into the stone, grinding it to dust as he came to a halt, grinning through the blood leaking from his mouth.

In response, Xyenn’s extra arms whipped forward in a blur, scythes clashing with Death’s scythe in rapid, vicious exchanges. Each blow was aimed to kill—head, throat, heart—Xyenn’s strikes came from all directions, but Death evaded and parried each one with supernatural grace, his movements eerily fluid.

Yuuna was shocked within Xyenn. How the hell was he using her skills so well on the first try?

Death blurred again, his skeletal form splitting into three separate figures for a moment before recombining just as Xyenn’s scythes came crashing down. The confusion gave Death an opening, and with a lightning-fast twist, his scythe slashed upward, aiming for Xyenn’s midsection.

But Xyenn, anticipating the strike, vaulted into the air, flipping backward with his wings flaring out in a flash of black and red flames. He twisted mid-flight, his tail lashing out like a whip, catching Death across the jaw with a loud crack. The blow sent Death staggering, but before Xyenn could press his advantage, Death spun low, sweeping Xyenn’s legs out from under him with a fluid, almost dance-like motion.

Xyenn crashed to the ground, but immediately rolled, avoiding Death’s follow-up strike by mere inches. The scythe’s blade embedded itself in the stone where his head had been, splitting the platform in two.

“You are fairly skilled, boy. But death waits on no one—.”

BASH!

Xyenn rammed his knee in his face, sending him flying.

Xyenn walked forward, chuckling, “You were whipping me up pretty good before, thought you were winning. That kinda pissed me off.”

“Tch. You’re gullible. Making a contract with a demonic dragon deity. One is withholding the salvation of the draconic gods the people worship in your world.”

“Does it look like I care? They abandoned me, I was beaten up over and over by those with magic tricks, embedded with draconic mana. It pisses me off just thinking about it.”

Not giving Death a moment to breathe, Xyenn rocketed into the sky, eyes gleaming with draconic fire. His wings flared wide, covered in black and pink flames, and he dove like a comet, spinning rapidly with his scythes extended outward, creating a deadly vortex of spinning blades.

Death stood his ground, his scythe held horizontally in front of him. But at the last second, Xyenn twisted mid-flight, his body veering to the side, and in a flash of movement, he extended three arms to slash at Death’s back while one arm lashed out toward Death’s throat.

Death spun on his heel, narrowly ducking the throat strike, but Xyenn’s other scythes struck true, ripping through Death’s skeletal body in a spray of black, ethereal blood. The impact sent Death stumbling forward, but he pivoted sharply, eyes glowing with cold fury.

With a low, guttural hiss, Death lifted his free hand, and the air around them seemed to darken as tendrils of pure darkness erupted from the ground, shooting toward Xyenn like vipers. Xyenn snarled and dodged with inhuman speed, his wings flaring as he twisted and contorted his body to avoid the grasping shadows.

But Death anticipated his movements. With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils changed direction mid-air, catching Xyenn by the ankle and yanking him down toward the ground. The moment Xyenn’s body hit the stone, Death was on him, his scythe raised high to deliver a killing blow.

Xyenn rolled, his wings snapping around him like a cocoon, blocking the scythe’s downward strike. The blade slammed into his wings, sending shockwaves through his body, but the flames that ignited along his wings burned hot enough to force Death to pull back.

Xyenn tore free of the tendrils with a snarl, his wings snapping open as black and red flames cascaded around him. Yuuna’s alien chant echoed through the battlefield, and Xyenn’s halo expanded, crackling with power. Seven swirling fireballs formed around him, spinning faster and faster before launching out one by one, each one aimed directly at Death.

Death dodged the first two fireballs with ease, his body flickering like a ghost. But Xyenn was already moving, using the fireballs as cover to launch himself forward, his body spinning into a deadly drill formation, the flames around him roaring with intensity.

Death raised his scythe in defense, but the drill form was too fast, too powerful. Xyenn slammed into him, the impact sending both of them crashing through the platform and into the abyss below.

As they plummeted through the air, Xyenn’s scythes spun wildly, aiming for Death’s exposed back. Death, even in freefall, moved with uncanny grace, twisting his body to avoid the strikes while simultaneously slashing upward with his own scythe.

CLANG! CLANG!

The blades collided again and again, each strike sending sparks flying through the dark void they were falling into. Xyenn snarled, slashing with all four scythes at once, aiming to slice Death into pieces. But Death vanished mid-fall, reappearing directly above Xyenn, his scythe descending in a deadly arc.

Xyenn barely had time to react, twisting his body in mid-air to avoid a fatal strike—but not without cost. The blade carved through his shoulder, severing one of his scythes from his arm in a spray of blood.

Xyenn smiled, his voice his own mixed in with a draconic dark echo, “That felt good..”

Xyenn howled in rage as they hit the ground below with bone-crushing force. The impact shattered the stone beneath them, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the platform. Despite the pain, Xyenn rolled to his feet, his wings spreading wide as blood dripped down his body.

Death was already standing, his scythe at the ready, eyes glowing faintly. Without a word, he lunged forward, his scythe swinging in a wide, deadly arc. Xyenn ducked low, avoiding the strike, and countered with a vicious uppercut from one of his remaining scythes.

The blade caught Death across the jaw, snapping his head back with a sickening crack. Black blood sprayed into the air, but Death didn’t stop. He spun on his heel, bringing his scythe down in a brutal overhead strike aimed at Xyenn’s skull.

‘This brat.. He’s able to fight like this as a first time vessel?! He’s never even touched power before, he shouldn’t even be able to use it this well..has Yuuna finally found the perfect vessel..?’

Xyenn, grinning through the blood that dripped from his mouth, brought his tail around, aiming for Death’s legs. The tail, covered in jagged scales, whipped through the air with blinding speed. Death leaped into the air to avoid the strike, but Xyenn was ready.

With a sudden burst of movement, Xyenn vaulted upward, his wings propelling him into the air alongside Death. He swung his scythes in rapid succession, each strike aimed at Death’s chest and throat. Death blocked two strikes, but the third scythe caught him across the ribs, slicing deep into his skeletal form.

Black blood poured from the wound, but Death retaliated instantly, his scythe spinning in a wide arc. Xyenn twisted in mid-air to avoid the fatal blow, but the blade still caught him across the abdomen, tearing through skin and muscle.

Death’s eyes flared with an eerie light as he raised his scythe. The blade seemed to extend, growing longer and sharper as Death slashed downward with terrifying speed. Xyenn crossed his scythes in front of him, blocking the strike, but the force of the blow sent him crashing through the stone platform below.

Yuuna said, “Xyenn…don’t overdo it..please…don’t want you exploding..”

She thought, ‘He’s not listening, he’s completely lost it! Have I killed yet another? For my own survival..? What is wrong with me…?’

As Xyenn closed the distance, his eyes locked onto Death's scythe, watching for the next strike. Yuuna’s eye flared again, and with a chant, his halo expanded, the energy swirling around him like a storm. His body surged with power as the seven fireballs formed once more, spinning faster and faster until they became a blur of destructive energy.

This time, Xyenn didn’t hold back. He launched all seven fireballs toward Death in rapid succession, each one exploding on impact, forcing Death to dodge with supernatural precision. But Xyenn was already there, his scythes spinning in a deadly whirlwind.

Xyenn screamed in rage, saying with a dark echo in his tone, “I cannot be beat..I won’t lose..”

Death parried the first strike, but Xyenn’s tail whipped around, catching him across the chest and sending him crashing into the ground. Before Death could recover, Xyenn was on him, his scythes descending in a brutal flurry of blows aimed at Death’s head and throat.

Death said, “You’re already losing yourself in your own rage, merged with Yuna’s madness. She’ll have you killed like the others she used to help her survive. Because I’m reality…she’s scared of me.”

With a guttural snarl, Death raised his scythe, catching Xyenn’s blades just inches from his throat. The two locked eyes, their weapons grinding against each other as they pushed forward, each trying to overpower the other. Blood dripped from Xyenn’s mouth, but he grinned through the pain, his eyes blazing with chaotic energy.

Death’s skeletal face remained impassive, but there was a flicker of something—determination, or perhaps desperation—in his eyes. With a sudden burst of strength, Death twisted his scythe, knocking Xyenn’s blades aside and slashing upward in a vicious arc.

The blade caught Xyenn across the chest, tearing through his scales and muscle. Blood sprayed into the air, but Xyenn didn’t falter. With a roar, he slammed both of his fists into Death’s chest, sending the reaper flying backward.

The battlefield was bathed in a crimson haze, the ground shattered and scorched from the relentless clash between Xyenn and Death. Blood dripped from Xyenn’s body, his breath ragged, his muscles trembling under the immense strain of Yuuna’s power coursing through him. His transformation was faltering, the once vibrant flames of black, pink, and red that coated his wings were now flickering, threatening to extinguish. His extra arms had already retracted, leaving his body battered and bloodied, but his eyes… they gleamed with a wild, frenzied determination.

‘Xyenn…’

KATHOOM!

With a deafening blast, Yuuna’s presence exploded from Xyenn’s body, her form manifesting in front of him—ethereal, draconian, her eyes wide with shock and frustration. She hovered in the air, her draconic features pulsing with energy, her voice trembling with both concern and anger.

Yuuna exclaimed, her voice echoing in the ruined battlefield, “I told you Don’t push so hard! This is still your first time using my power! You’re going to kill yourself! Don’t overdo it—!"

Death chuckled, “What is it, Yuuna? Finally feeling guilty for all the powerless fools you’ve led to their death?”

Xyenn stood there, hunched over, his body drenched in blood—his blood, Death’s blood—it was hard to tell anymore. His wings drooped, the flames dimming, and the glow from his eyes flickered like a dying ember. His chest heaved with labored breaths, but he didn’t move. He only stood there, panting heavily, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles had turned white beneath the blood.

Yuuna’s voice grew more frantic. "What do you think you’re doing?!" Her draconic eyes narrowed, scanning his body, watching his frail form struggle to remain standing. "You’re going to burn out! You’ll die! Just please give up..

Xyenn finally, slowly, lifted his head, his eyes locking onto Yuuna’s. His gaze was intense, almost manic, but behind it, there was something deeper—something darker. His voice, though hoarse, was steady.

"I… I know," Xyenn rasped through ragged breaths. "But you don’t understand. My whole life… I was powerless. I was nothing. A nobody in a world filled with gods, mages, and monsters. I had nothing. And now…" His breathing hitched, his face twisted into a grimace of pain, but also of desire. "Now that I’ve tasted power… I can’t go back. I won’t! I’ll never lose again. Never..”

Yuuna’s eyes widened in horror, her voice softening. "You’re insane," she whispered, her ethereal form flickering as if unsure whether to remain or retreat. "No one… no one who’s made a contract with me has ever pushed this far. They always ran when they realized what they were becoming. They cried, begged for mercy, or died trying to escape. But you… Xyenn… you’re—"

“Insane? Maybe. But I know what the hell it’s like to want to actually live, and not die. Even when everything in the world is crashing on top of you and you feel useless. I’ll make sure you don’t die.”

Her cheeks flushed, a subtle pink hue creeping across her ethereal face. Her thoughts raced, her mind flashing back to the countless souls that had sought her power, only to crumble under the weight of it. They always ran.** But Xyenn… Xyenn kept fighting, kept pushing, even when his body was on the verge of breaking.

"You’re different."

As Yuuna’s gaze remained locked on Xyenn, a memory surged within her mind. The world of Kyrrin, a massive, celestial body floating amidst the vast expanse of the cosmos. Surrounding it, countless Draconic deities circled like titanic celestial beings, their long, sinuous forms glowing with divine energy. They were the guardians, the creators, the very essence of the world’s balance.

In their midst, The First Dragon hovered, his voice booming across the cosmos. "Every deity, no matter their nature—light or dark, creation or destruction—plays a role in maintaining the balance of the world. None are without purpose, no matter how fearsome they may seem."

His eyes, ancient and wise, scanned the gathering of deities. "But remember this: Deities cannot fall in love with humans. No matter the bond, no matter the power shared… it is forbidden."

The battlefield trembled as Death, having recovered from the chaos, now stood back to his full height. His skeletal form was battered, black blood oozing from the deep gashes that Xyenn had inflicted during their previous exchanges. His eyes, glowing with an eerie light, locked onto Xyenn with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.

"You’re a fool," Death said, his voice cold, echoing like the wind through a graveyard. "Power blinds you. It consumes you. And you will burn out like all the others before you."

Xyenn didn’t respond with words. He didn’t need to. Instead, he surged forward, his wings snapping wide as he soared across the battlefield with blinding speed. His fists, now bare, crackled with the remnants of Yuuna’s draconic energy. No more scythes. No more weapons.

Just raw, brutal combat.

Xyenn’s fist* slammed into Death’s chest with the force of a cannon, the impact shattering bone and sending a shockwave through the air. Death staggered but retaliated immediately, swinging his massive scythe in a wide arc aimed at Xyenn’s throat.

But Xyenn was faster.

He ducked low, his body twisting with impossible agility as he dodged the blade, then countered by driving his knee into Death’s ribs. The sound of cracking bone echoed across the battlefield as Death grunted, but before he could recover, Xyenn was already moving.

With a wild roar, Xyenn spun, his leg lashing out in a brutal roundhouse kick that connected with Death’s skull, sending the reaper careening through the air. Death landed hard, skidding across the ground, but he was quick to rise, his scythe at the ready.

Death moved with ethereal grace, his form flickering as he **dashed forward**, his scythe slashing in a deadly arc aimed at Xyenn’s midsection. Xyenn raised his arm to block, but the blade bit deep into his forearm, **blood spraying** into the air.

Xyenn didn’t flinch.

Instead, he grabbed the scythe with his bare hand, blood dripping from between his fingers as he yanked Death forward. With a savage snarl, Xyenn brought his other fist crashing into Death’s face, shattering bone and sending black blood splattering across the ground.

Death hissed in pain, but retaliated with a brutal upward slash, tearing his scythe free and slicing across Xyenn’s chest. The wound was deep, blood pouring from the gash, but Xyenn didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

Yuuna watched, saying, “No way..”

With a twisted snarl, Death swung his scythe in a wide, overhead arc, the blade aimed to cleave Xyenn’s skull in two. The air itself seemed to scream as the scythe descended.

But Xyenn did the unthinkable.

He caught the scythe with his teeth.

CRACK!

The blade shattered in his mouth, shards of metal flying in all directions as Xyenn bit clean through the weapon with his sharp teeth, which was still sharp even though his dragon form was dwindling and dissolving slowly. Death’s eyes widened in shock, the cold mask of indifference cracking as he stumbled back, his weapon reduced to broken fragments.

"You—" Death gasped, but before he could finish, Xyenn moved.

Xyenn’s hand shot out, grabbing a jagged piece of the shattered scythe that had fallen to the ground. Without hesitation, and with a sinister smile, he stabbed the blade into Death’s stomach, twisting it viciously as black blood poured from the wound.

Death gasped, his skeletal hands grasping at Xyenn’s wrist, but Xyenn only grinned. His eyes were wide, wild, and glowing with a terrifying pure white light. His smile was feral—not of joy, but of pure, unadulterated bloodlust.

With a savage laugh, Xyenn dragged the embedded blade upward, slicing through Death’s chest in a brutal, gory display. Flesh, bone, and blood ripped apart as Xyenn carved a bloody line up Death’s torso, splitting him open from stomach to throat.

The sound of tearing flesh filled the air as Xyenn reached Death’s neck, then, with a final, brutal twist, he ripped the blade free, black blood spraying across the battlefield in torrents.

Death staggered, his body torn and broken, but Xyenn wasn’t done. As the remaining shards of the shattered scythe fell around them, Xyenn caught the pieces mid-air, holding them between his fingers like makeshift knives.

And then, with a manic grin still plastered on his face, he struck.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Xyenn’s hands moved in a blur, every shard of the scythe slicing through Death’s body with terrifying precision. Blood sprayed in every direction as Xyenn carved through Death’s form, each strike more brutal than the last. He slashed through bone, muscle, and sinew, his hands drenched in black blood, his eyes glowing white with fury.

Death’s body convulsed with each strike, his form crumbling under the relentless assault. And finally, with one last, savage slice, Xyenn drove the final shard into Death’s chest, impaling him through the heart.

Death fell to his knees, his body broken, bleeding out onto the shattered ground.

-

As Xyenn stood over Death’s broken, bleeding form, Yuuna watched, her heart racing in her chest.

‘He didn’t run. He didn’t cry or beg for mercy…’

Instead, he had embraced it. He had fought with everything he had, even when his body was falling apart. And as she looked at him—covered in blood, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, his eyes still burning with that wild, unyielding determination—she couldn’t help but feel something stir within her.

Her cheeks flushed again, and for the first time in her long, immortal life, she felt… something she wasn’t supposed to feel.

Xyenn was different.

And she couldn’t look away.