Nero rose from the rubble, dust falling from his battered form. His red eyes gleamed with irritation as he glared at Guinevere.

"Tch… I knew it." He spat on the ground, rolling his shoulders. "Asmodina was too weak to handle you, Elf."

His grin widened, filled with malice.

"Your magic annoys me. I must get rid of you first!"

With explosive speed, Nero charged—

His wheel-blade dagger spun in his grip, dark energy crackling around it.

But—

CLANG!

A flash of steel intercepted him.

Artreus stepped into his path, sword raised.

Their weapons clashed in a deadly arc, sparks flying as they pressed against one another.

Their eyes locked.

Nero's snarl deepened.

"Move, brat!"

Artreus gritted his teeth, pushing back.

"Not happening!"

Their blades screeched as they clashed again and again, neither giving an inch.

Then—

BOOM!

A barrage of mana blasts shot toward Nero.

Guinevere stood at a distance, her hands glowing with magical energy.

Nero's eyes flickered, catching the incoming attack.

With a sharp hiss, he flipped backward, dodging the incoming blasts.

He landed—but his moment of relief was short-lived.

SWOOSH!

Ethereal swords materialized in the air around him.

Guinevere flicked her fingers.

The swords sharpened, humming with power.

Then—they launched.

SHHHING!

A deadly storm of blades descended on Nero.

His grin vanished.

He spun his wheel-blade dagger, intercepting the attacks.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Each strike sent waves of sparks flying as he parried every single attack.

Then—his golden eyes burned with fury.

He growled, his dark aura flaring.

"Enough of this!!"

Nero roared, his voice shaking the battlefield.

A violent storm of dark aura erupted from his body, swirling like a vortex of destruction.

His golden eyes gleamed with unholy rage.

"Blood Demon Magic—DEATH SPIKE!!"

He stomped the ground.

CRACK!

A wave of jagged spikes burst from the earth, tearing through the battlefield like a tidal wave of death.

Artreus and Guinevere dodged to the side, their reflexes barely keeping up.

But—

"AHH—!"

A single spike grazed Guinevere's leg, throwing her off balance.

She stumbled, collapsing to one knee.

Nero's eyes locked onto her instantly.

A twisted grin spread across his face.

"Got you."

Before Artreus could react—Nero moved.

A black blur surged past Artreus like a shadow, faster than lightning.

Artreus' eyes widened in shock.

"No—!"

Guinevere lifted her hand, magic surging—

But before she could cast—

A clawed hand seized her throat.

With brutal force—

SLAM!

Guinevere's back hit the ground hard, dust exploding around her.

She choked, gasping for air.

Nero loomed over her, his fangs gleaming in the dim light.

His dagger pulsed with dark energy, inches from her chest.

"This is the end, Princess…"

Her vision blurred.

She tried to raise her hand—

But her mana flickered weakly.

She was trapped.

"NO!!"

A blinding surge of lightning crackled through the air.

Artreus moved—faster than ever before.

CRACK!

In a blur of speed, he tackled Nero mid-air, launching them both toward the ruins.

BOOOOOM!

The wall exploded on impact, debris scattering across the battlefield.

Dust swirled, blocking their vision.

Artreus landed in a crouch, panting, his sword still sparking with electricity.

He turned to Guinevere, urgency in his voice.

"Princess… are you alright?"

Guinevere coughed, struggling to sit up.

Her throat burned from the impact.

Her violet eyes met his.

"No… I'm not."

Before they could react—

Nero's snarl tore through the dust.

"THIS ENDS NOW!!"

His dark aura erupted once more, his dagger gleaming as he lunged toward them.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a thick smokescreen exploded across the battlefield, covering everything in dense fog.

Nero skidded to a halt, his golden eyes flickering with confusion.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Tch—?!"

Then—

CRACK!

A whip lashed out from the mist, striking Nero in the chest and forcing him backward.

Artreus snapped his head around, heart pounding.

"Princess?! Where are you?!"

A familiar voice answered.

"I'm right here!"

A figure emerged through the haze.

Behind them stood Ken.

Guinevere's eyes widened in shock.

"Sir Ken?!"

Artreus' gaze hardened.

"You again?!"

Ken ignored his reaction, his expression serious.

"There's no time—we must escape now!"

His hand lifted, mana crackling in the air.

A glowing portal began to form behind them, shimmering with magical energy.

But—

WHOOSH!

The smokescreen began to clear.

Nero stood at a distance, his red eyes glowing through the mist.

His lips curled into a murderous grin.

"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM ME!!"

His dagger pulsed with dark magic, preparing to strike again.

Ken narrowed his eyes.

"Guinevere—protect us while I complete the teleportation!"

Guinevere thrust her hands forward, magic flaring at her fingertips.

"Protection Barrier!"

A shimmering dome of mana expanded around them, sealing them inside a protective fortress.

CLANG!

Nero struck the barrier with his wheel-blade dagger, the impact echoing like a war drum.

He grinned, his golden eyes wild with hunger.

"Tch… hiding behind magic again?"

He slashed again.

CLANG!

The barrier pulsed, flickering slightly.

CLANG! CLANG!

Each strike sent ripples of dark energy crackling against the shield.

Then—Nero's dagger pulsed.

Dark magic coiled around the blade, twisting into a wicked aura.

"Chaos Rend!"

With one powerful strike, his dagger slashed through the air—

BOOOOM!

The barrier shook violently, the sheer force cracking the ground beneath them.

But—it held.

Guinevere winced, her arms trembling from the strain.

"You cannot escape from me, brat!" Nero snarled, his expression turning savage. "Not this time!"

He pressed his blade against the barrier, dark energy consuming the edges.

The protection shield flickered again, its resistance fading.

Inside the barrier, Artreus slowly stood.

His blue eyes burned as he locked onto Nero.

He stepped forward, facing the archdemon through the barrier.

His voice was steady. Cold.

"This isn't over."

Nero's grin widened, his dagger still grinding against the shield.

Artreus tightened his grip on his sword.

"Next time I see you, monster—"

His breath was steady. His resolve unwavering.

"You better be ready."

His blue eyes burned like lightning.

"Because I will kill you. I will tear you apart."

Nero paused—then threw his head back, laughing.

"Hahahaha! Let's see about that, brat!"

His golden eyes locked onto Artreus one last time, burning with unholy fire.

His voice dripped with malice, a promise of endless bloodshed.

"Remember my name, little lamb."

His presence seemed to darken the very air around them.

"I am the Archdemon of Chaos—Nero!!"

His grin stretched wider, filled with twisted delight, fangs gleaming.

"And I'll never forget you."

His dark aura surged, a suffocating force pressing upon the battlefield.

The very ground quivered beneath his wrath.

His voice roared through the night.

"It's between us… TO THE DEATH!"

His golden eyes burned brighter.

"I'LL COME TO FIND YOU!!"

Behind them, Ken raised his hands, the teleportation portal glowing brighter.

The shimmering pathway flickered, forming into a swirling vortex of magic.

The spell reached its peak.

Then—WHOOSH!

A blinding light engulfed them.

Nero snarled, lunging forward—

But it was too late.

In a flash, Artreus, Guinevere, and Ken were gone.

The glowing portal shattered into nothingness.

The battlefield fell silent.

Nero stood still, the wind whipping around him.

"Tch… Run all you want, little lamb."

He spun his dagger once before sliding it back into its sheath.

"Next time, you won't be so lucky."

His golden eyes flickered.

A Moment of Rest

The fire crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the quiet clearing.

The smell of fresh earth and burning wood mixed with the faint traces of blood and exhaustion still lingering from their battle.

Guinevere knelt beside Artreus, carefully wrapping a bandage around his torso.

"Ow! That hurts, Princess!" Artreus flinched, his muscles tensing.

Guinevere rolled her eyes.

"Hold still! Don't be such a baby."

Artreus grumbled, crossing his arms.

"Why don't you take care of yourself? You have bruises too."

Guinevere paused for a moment, then smiled softly.

"It's my job to take care of my little knight. It's also my responsibility."

Artreus scowled.

"Don't treat me like some kind of little kid."

Guinevere tilted her head, smirking.

"Then stop acting like one."

Artreus huffed but said nothing.

After finishing the bandages, Guinevere raised her hand, her fingertips glowing faintly.

A soft, warm light spread across his back, the gentle pulse of mana seeping into his wounds.

Artreus shivered slightly, a strange warmth enveloping him.

"There," Guinevere said. "This will take a while—I'm not a healer mage. It's just basic magic I learned."

Artreus stared at the fire, his face slightly flushed.

He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact.

"I feel... warm," he muttered. "It's probably your mana or something…"

Guinevere chuckled.

Before she could reply—

"Okay, you two!"

Ken's voice broke the moment.

He stood over the bubbling pot, stirring it carefully.

"Dinner is almost ready."

Artreus leaned forward, eyeing the bubbling pot with curiosity.

"What's that? I've never seen that food before."

Beside him, Guinevere peered over the fire, her violet eyes widening.

"Whoa! It looks delicious!"

Ken stirred the dish, the savory aroma rising with the steam.

He grinned.

"It's a Filipino dish called Adobong Manok."

Artreus raised an eyebrow.

"Adobong… Manok?"

Ken nodded.

"Manok means chicken. It's well known in my country—probably some other countries know about it too."

Guinevere tilted her head, intrigued. "What makes it special?"

Ken chuckled, lifting the wooden spoon as he explained.

"It's a quintessential Filipino braised chicken dish. First, the chicken is marinated and stewed in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. The result? A rich, flavorful, and slightly tangy dish that pairs well with rice."

Artreus sniffed the air again, his stomach rumbling slightly.

"It… actually smells really good."

Ken laughed. "The word 'adobo' actually comes from the Spanish word 'adobar,' which means to marinate or pickle. The Spanish gave it that name when they colonized the Philippines, but the dish itself was already being cooked by Filipinos long before that."

Guinevere nodded, her curiosity growing. "So it's a dish with history."

Ken smirked. "And flavor."

He scooped some onto wooden plates, handing them over.

"Try it."

Artreus hesitated for a moment, then took a bite.

His eyes widened.

"Whoa—this is actually good!"

Guinevere lifted a spoonful to her lips, taking a careful bite.

Her expression turned thoughtful.

Then—she pressed a palm against her face, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

A satisfied smile.

"HMMM… It's… good! So rich. The vinegar balances the soy sauce perfectly. And the garlic enhances the flavor."

Ken grinned proudly. "See? Told you."

Artreus grinned as well, quickly taking another bite.

"Guess Filipino food isn't bad after all."

Ken chuckled and handed him another plate.

"You want some rice with that?"

Artreus blinked, looking at the fluffy white grains.

"Rice?"

Ken smirked. "Trust me, it's better with rice."

Artreus shrugged, taking the plate.

"Alright, let's see if you're right."

Guinevere looked at Ken, her expression softening.

"Thanks for saving us earlier," she said sincerely. "We could have died if you hadn’t been there…"

Ken waved a hand dismissively, leaning back against a nearby tree.

"Nah… don’t mention it."

Artreus tilted his head while eating, his mouth still full.

"Yeah… buwt sewriously, where did you leawrn that magic trick? That glowwing thwing that tranwsported us here?"

Guinevere raised an eyebrow.

"Swallow your food before talking."

Artreus gulped it down quickly, clearing his throat.

"I mean—where did you learn that glowing thing that transported us here?"

Guinevere shifted slightly, adjusting her cloak.

"That was teleportation magic," she explained. "It requires a magic rune—a Rune of Teleportation—which serves as an anchor point for the spell."

Artreus raised an eyebrow.

"So… it’s not something you can just cast freely?"

Guinevere shook her head.

"No. It takes an immense amount of mana, even with the rune assisting the process. Without proper preparation, it could be extremely dangerous."

Ken reached into his pouch and pulled out a small, glowing stone etched with intricate markings.

"Here," he said, holding it up to the firelight.

The rune shimmered with faint magical energy, pulsing softly like a heartbeat.

"I actually bought five of these from a traveling merchant a while back."

Artreus leaned closer, eyeing the rune curiously.

"Huh… so this is what saved us?"

Ken nodded.

"Yep. Pretty handy, right? Cost me a fortune, but in situations like this, totally worth it."

He set the rune down and stretched, then added, "And to answer your question, Princess—yes, it does cost me a lot of mana. Good thing I had this."

He reached into his pack and pulled out a small glass flask, filled with a strange, glowing liquid.

Guinevere frowned.

"Mana flask?"

Ken grinned.

"There’s a lot of things you don’t know, Princess." He leaned forward, spinning the flask in his hand. "I’m a traveler—travelers always collect things from wars, ruins, and places most people wouldn’t dare step into."

Guinevere narrowed her eyes. "Where did you get this?"

Ken smirked.

"From a dead witch."

Artreus froze mid-bite. "Wait—what?"

Ken chuckled.

"Yeah, I found this on a battlefield. At first, I thought it was just alcohol, maybe some weird potion."

He held the flask up, letting the firelight reflect against its shimmering liquid.

"But when I took a small sip…"

His expression turned momentarily serious.

"Something… changed. My body felt strange. Almost like I was glowing from the inside."

Guinevere leaned forward. "So it’s not just a normal mana potion?"

Ken grinned. "Nope. It’s something different. Something rare."

Artreus stared at the flask, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"And you drank it without knowing what it was?"

Ken laughed. "Well, I lived, didn’t I?"

Artreus leaned back, eyeing Ken suspiciously.

"You’re weird…" He stabbed a piece of chicken with his fork, chewing thoughtfully. "But even though you cooked us a nice dinner, I still don’t trust you."

Ken grinned, unbothered.

"Hahaha, really? And here I thought I was winning you over."

Artreus narrowed his eyes, studying Ken’s face.

Something about him felt oddly familiar…

He tilted his head, mumbling.

"Hmm… I feel like I know you from somewhere…" He squinted. "Weird traveler."

Ken chuckled, shaking his head.

"Hah! You don’t wanna know, kid."

Artreus huffed.

"Oh, come on…"

Before he could press further, his gaze drifted to the food in front of him.

Then—a memory clicked.

His expression shifted.

He looked up at Guinevere, suddenly serious.

"Speaking of dinner… Princess, how’s the old lady and Sophia? Are they safe?"

Guinevere paused, setting down her plate.

She nodded slowly.

"Well… they’re safe. I think."

Artreus stiffened. "What do you mean?"

Guinevere sighed, brushing her silver hair behind her ear.

"After we left you with that monster, we encountered a group of knights. They were evacuating the townspeople, leading them to safety."

Artreus listened intently, his grip on his fork tightening.

"So they’re with the knights?"

Guinevere nodded slowly, her expression distant.

"Yes. When I saw them in safe hands, I… I looked back at you."

Her violet eyes reflected the flickering fire.

"I saw you facing that monster alone."

She paused, swallowing hard.

"I saw you… almost get killed."

Artreus stiffened.

Guinevere lowered her gaze, her hands clasping together tightly.

"And I won’t let that happen to you."

Her voice softened, almost hesitant.

"I just… I just couldn’t leave you there, Artreus."

The crackling flames filled the silence between them.

Artreus blinked, caught off guard.

He opened his mouth to say something—but no words came out.

His fingers curled slightly, gripping his knee.

Guinevere stared into the fire, her silver hair glowing under its light.

Artreus felt something stir in his chest—something unfamiliar.

Something he didn’t know how to deal with.

He looked away, pretending it didn’t affect him.