Seo Jiwoo
Panic gripped at my insides as I felt the intent growing in strength the more we approached in its direction, I felt other energy signatures masked in the bigger one, engaged in a battle against the demon who had arrived here, as we veered closer, flying at top speed.
The wind whipped against my face as Mordian surged forward, his sleek form cutting through the sky with practiced grace. The stinging chill of the wind couldn’t distract me from the suffocating aura ahead, the air twisting as if pulled to hard. The closer we got, the more suffocating the air felt, leaving each breath forceful and dragged. The south-western expanse, once teeming with life, was now cloaked in an oppressive veil of dread. Even from this distance, I felt it seep into my bones as vividly, as if that individual was standing right in front of me.
Mordian...this doesn’t look good!! I sent, my thoughts brushing against his.
His silence was answer enough, and the frown over his face added more to the severity of the situation. Even he, usually so composed, felt the tension rise in the air. Through the connection of our mind, I sensed his unease, a rare moment where his usual confidence faltered, and I could feel that Mordian had realised that the demonic energy encompassing the land wasn't simple.
Days had passed since the last skirmish we participated in. The demons had retreated, almost all of them, leaving behind scattered spies and captives, with some of their technology left behind, through which we also salvaged another compass. But the calm after the storm had lulled us into a fragile sense of progress and ease. But this? This felt like a storm brewed in silence.
Why now? The question burned in my mind. Of all times, why did a demon descend upon the orcen lands now? And not just any demon—something monstrous enough to shroud an entire region with its aura.
My mind raced on the implication, knowing fully well that all of the mana distortion devices were active since the past few days, only deactivated for certain tasks, but even that time was as minimal as possible. Then it meant that the demon had came here through an obscured region which was out of range from the distortion devices and travelled this far.
As we got closer, I activated Mind’s Eye, The world shifted into clarity as the colours darkened. Streams of motes shimmered into my vision like threads in a grand tapestry. Three strong signatures were locked in battle with the demon who had appeared, just from the burning life-forces I saw in the distance, they fought the demon, but even with the three of them present, they were still struggling.
It didn’t take much to identify them: Lance, Lyressa, and Thargrim. Their auras burned brightly, but they were dimming under the sheer weight of the demonic energy crushing the battlefield. Like motes burning in a heavy storm.
The bottom part of my stomach fell, as I saw the auras of Lance, Lyressa, and Thargrim flicker as they struggled against the intruder, I fastened my pace, pushing beyond my top speed.
Then to my absolute surprise, there was a burst of demonic energy in the air, a vibration and resonance so wild and converged, that it left a shockwave in its wake—a shockwave that ripped through the land, shaking the ground beneath us, and making the air boom and tremors to run wildly.
The shockwave tore through the air, nearly sending me and Mordian spiralling. I focused mana to protect myself from the shockwaves that bounced us back, as we immediately resisted against the force and lunged forward.
The ability seemed similar to what Ankewelt had used against me, but on a whole other level of power. It was terrifying.
‘Mordian, they’re barely holding on.’ I sent, the weight of it pressing on my chest, as I witnessed Thargrim's presence dim like a tiny flame about to be extinguished
My bond remained silent, unable to get an answer from him, but he appeared wary.
Just by the intensity of its presence, I knew the demon outclassed them several stages in rank. It’s aura eclipsed theirs like a black sun blotting out the sky. Their presence merely like a ripple produced in the vast ocean.
I gritted my teeth and saw the other two mana signatures flicker and die down. My heart plummeted. They were alive, but barely. Their energies sputtered like dying embers, fragile and unstable.
Without a word, Mordian surged ahead, his figure tearing through the air as his speed doubled. I struggled to keep pace, the gap between us widening slightly.
As we descended, the carnage came into view. Lance, Lyressa, and Thargrim—lying unconscious on the ground, blood pooling around them. They lay crumpled on the ground, motionless, their bodies battered and broken near the enemy. My breath hitched as my gaze snapped to the figure looming over them.
The intruder—a demoness.
She stood over them, her small frame exuding an unnatural stillness, somehow radiating more danger than any towering beast I’d ever faced. She was petite, eerily doll-like, with alabaster skin and a cascade of silvery hair that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, reflecting hues of amethyst.
Onyx horns curved from the sides of her head like a goat, giving her a more demonic feel. Her face was pale and featureless, yet her eyes—those blood-red eyes—were empty and cold in a way that made my skin crawl. Her robe fluttered around her, almost like a victory banner, somehow making her terrifying presence even more intimidating.
I froze, a chill ran through me as my entire body tensed up, my instincts screaming danger. A cold sweat prickled my skin, as I gulped hard.
Her gaze locked onto mine. My mana worked, spells forming in my palms as a cascade of lightning surged around, fog spiralling the air.
Her eyes reminded me of the demon king himself, though they held a chilling contrast—an emptiness that wasn’t born of rage or power but of something far darker—twisted.
‘Mordian, this is bad, she’s a crimson-eyed.’ I sent, feeling the weight of her presence pressing down on me. I clenched my jaw in frustration. I’ve only felt power like this from three demons in my past life. If I had to guess, she’s one of those Seraphims, her demonic energy reminded me of the demon who had killed Han in my past life, his aura had felt far more oppressive and terrifying than hers, but at a similar level.
‘Be careful, Jiwoo,’ his voice echoed in my mind, like a silent warning, tinged with rare apprehension. 'This isn’t a simple demon. Her strength…it’s comparable to a Transcendent.'
‘Even if we fight her together, we barely have a chance at winning,’ I said in a rushed tone, his eyes moving from her to the three lying on the ground, pooled over their own fresh blood.
Mordian’s expression darkened, his golden eyes cold, as he glanced at our fallen allies. ‘It’s a possibility.’ He admitted reluctantly.
As if sensing our thoughts, the demoness tilted her head slightly, her pale lips curling into a sadistic smirk as she moved a step and kicked Lance straight in his abdomen, the elf didn’t even scream or grunt as he rolled and crashed near me, his form still, no movement visible from him except his ragged and shallow breathing. Her voice broke the silence, soft yet carrying a razor-sharp edge.
“I must admit,” she began, her tone mockingly gracious and dark, “I thought I’d have to scour every corner of this forsaken world to find you two—leaving no stone unturned. But fortune, it seems, has favoured me today.” Her smirk widened, and she bowed slightly, lifting the hem of her robe in a mock display of respect as her eyes never left me nor Mordian.
“I am Amanises, a Seraphim of Lord Agares, and the one who will take your heads as trophies for my lord as compensation for the damage you two have brought to his efforts. You’ve saved me quite a bit of trouble actually.” She said with an incline of her head, as if looking at us like easy prey.
“Killing a dragon—the last heir to the Astrionyx clan—after such a long time might has well buy me the recognition to be the next dragon slayer; Ashmedai has had that position for far too long, am I right, Lord Mordian Astrionyx? You must remember who Ashmedai is, correct?” Her smile darkened, something sinister and predatory lurking in it. “Oh my, my apologies, how could you forget the man who killed your parents right in front of your eyes, who dragged your father’s severed head and killed your mother, Sylvie.” Her chuckle rose in the air, allowing a crack to form inside my bond which I felt through our connection, Mordian on the verge of losing his composure.
I felt Mordian’s fury spike through our bond, his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike, his eyes so dark and cold, which I'd never seen him make before. Her mockery grated on every fibre of his and my being, but I forced myself to remain calm.
‘Mordian,’ I sent, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at me, ‘we’re not winning this fight head-on. Even if you suppress the curse, your strength will only reach Integration stage for a short time. I’ve only just recently advanced to the Mystic stage. Together, we’re no match for her. Not as we are. Fighting her would be suicidal, yet we have no choice but to.’
‘She’s already taken down Lance and the others, we might’ve had a chance together with them, but it’s impossible with just the two of us.’
Mordian’s gaze flicked to me, then to our fallen allies, as he tried to compose himself from the demoness's previous mockery. He nodded reluctantly. ‘We need to change locations, fighting here would put the others in danger.’
We both knew it wasn’t a perfect plan. It wasn’t even a good one. But it was all we had right now, and something like a plan wouldn’t even work against a Seraph who had reached the transcendence stage.
This level of power was the pinnacle, the epitome of all life-force, that only the smallest fraction of a majority could hope to reach without killing themselves along the way.
‘Alright, I'll distract her, and follow along. It seems she is more interested in you than me.’ I sent in a rush, feeling my pulse stutter as my mana burst and a veil of intent fought against hers.
Mordian steadied himself, as we felt a mana signatures zoom closer from behind us, and soon Huŕum joined us. The orc looked down at the ally mages, and frowned in disbelief as his gazes caught sight of Amanises.
"Oh, a new addition,” she scoffed, tone heavy with mockery. “Doesn’t matter even if you bring hundreds, the outcome would remain unchanged. So, I present you with a choice: quietly submit and come along with me, or die a painful death, with all of them—in the end, your deaths are inevitable."
We let several seconds pass on, the breeze carried a heavy sense of dread, as Amanises narrowed her eyes and grunted, her brows knitted tightly into a frown. “I don’t have all day. Make your choice now, dragon? human?”
“Huŕum, bring the three back, and call for reinforcements right away.” I ordered, as Huŕum took Lance and straightened his limp body, blood running down his face.
“We have already informed the others ally races, and the reinforcements are on their way on foot, they will reach in a few more minutes.” Huŕum answered and I stepped forward as I took flight, Mordian beside me.
But this battle couldn't be won, no matter the amount of reinforcements, because the opponent was a transcendent, she couldn’t be easily defeated, even if all of us fought her together, that’s just how much of a terror her rank of power held.
Amanises followed us, two bat like wings protruded out of her back and she took flight, coming to eye level with us.
A quiet breeze whisked past us, and just at that moment, I vanished from my spot, leaving a charge of lightning in my wake, as I withdrew my sword from the inventory, Amanises, caught off guard, tried to turn to look behind, as I steadied my body and performed the second movement of the crescent moon style; Horizon’s Edge.
Without any delay, the sword released from the grasp of the sheath, my muscles bulged from the sheer effort, the air trembled and groaned under the weight of the swing, the space between us warped slightly, creating a visible shockwave as the force struck Amanises, her demonic energy worked as she tried to evade, but too late.
My eyes followed her, as she focused all her demonic energy around her torso, protecting her core and body, as the air trembled and both of her hands severed, her robe fluttered and got sliced from several places, as a cascade of blood spilled in the air.
Mordian readied to follow up on my surprise attack, launching several projectiles at once, his fingers moved with tactical grace, as if manipulating them like a marrionatist, striking Amanises, as she screamed, her body tanking blow after blow as I fired spell after spell of every element—except fire—at her, feeling my reserves drain fast—mana rotation working.
But I felt uneasy, and nervous, feeling like this wasn’t enough, like a futile attempt at an attack.
Then just as I launched a wind spell, I felt the mana stir, and saw the demonic energy churning, a resonance running along the peripheral area.
My eyes widened knowing what was coming, as I warned Mordian and activated leap, escaping into the paths, but I couldn’t find a safe location, outside the range of her attack, so instead I ushered close to Mordian, the demonic energy appeared frenzied, the entire region covered in a thick veil of her oppressive aura, she broke free of Mordian’s previous attack, and just then the air bursted with a tight screech, like it was twisted to hard.
The space wrapped on itself, as if collapsing and I held Mordian and plummeted as the force of her attack struck me right in my back, our plummeting speed increased several folds, as I conjured the relic armour and we both hit the ground, mana reinforced me and the armour and cushioned our fall significantly, but the damage done was still there.
Both of us were struck by the aftereffects of her attack, my body bolted with a searing pain as something cut through my cheek, blood, fresh and warm running down my face as Mordian stood, balancing my body, as the cut stitched itself, the relic armour unaffected, not even a scratch visible.
The debris settled, the demonic energy returning to how it used to be, as the distortion around the mana stopped, the elements appeared normal now through the observant lens of Mind’s Eye.
Then, Amanises came into my vision, her form descending slowly, as I saw her face twisted with a scowl, gruesome wounds and holes apparent on her body, both her arms severed through which blood spilled down.
But all of that returned to how she used to be a few minutes ago, her arms regenerated, all the wounds stitched, her sneer deepening.
“You will regret doing that,” she exclaimed, her apathetic voice sending a chill down my spine. Her eyes looked curious as she gazed at the armour which draped me. “That is an interesting relic. I’ll be sure to rip it piece-by-piece from your body once I'm done with you.”
Just then, the demonic energy moved, and Amanises prepared to attack, hundreds of projectiles created from the crimson particles, as I saw a black mist forming around her fingers, before it instantly vanished, it was through Mind’s Eye that I was able to witness it—like an illusion undone.
Mordian took that moment and supressed his curse, as I felt his strength returning, his aura increasing several folds, as the air stirred and I felt all the mana in the atmosphere whirl around us as if sucked into a vortex, he too conjured hundreds of projectiles as they both launched their attacks at once.
The air rippled and bended under the assault of their attack as we maneuvered against the flow of her spear or saber shaped weapons made of demon energy, as she did the same.
My brows knitted as I felt my mind blur for a moment as I soared through the air, feeling my mind getting clouded, my sword held in my hand as I shook my head to concentrate as I used leap and appeared above Amanises.
She didn’t notice as fast, as I saw all of the water particles freeze, a mist spiralling through the air, as I released Absolute Zero, witnessing her evading figure get caught in the cage of ice, her body struggling to escape, but just as her arms and feet were caught in a thick layer of frost, I hesitated for a second, my breathing quickened as the fog in my mind returned, my thoughts hitched, as if being threaded along by some invisible force.
I got ready to conjure frost-fire, my arms trembled just as the flame took breath, I blinked my eyes and for a heartbeat I thought I saw the flames of destruction through them.
My breathing turned heavy, as my sword loosened from my grip, my mind turned more blurry, a suffocating fog began to shroud my head, its effects more evident.
‘Jiwoo, snap out of it.’ Mordian’s voice broke me out of my stupor, as I saw Amanises had already freed herself from the cage of ice and lunged in my direction, her intent shook the air, as I instinctively brought my hand up, her arm infused with demonic energy struck the blade of my sword, as I strengthened my grip and reinforced more mana, but it was too late, her strike prevailed and the blade succumbed under the fierce strength of her jab, snapped and broken, as I went crashing down, the relic armour absorbed and dispersed the shockwave of her attack.
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I straightened, as I saw Mordian engaged in hand-to-hand combat against the seraphim, his precise movements did pose a challenge for her in the beginning, but she adapted quickly and countered, her higher stage complimenting her lack of essential skills.
But through simple observation I saw Mordian’s movements grow weary, the curse around his heart tightened like a vice as he scowled, striking Amanises in her rips, and she returned the attack, her slender arm ripped Mordian’s skin down to his abdomen.
His body hurtled through the air, and with a roundhouse, Amanises went plummeting to the ground, her body struck the ground as a cloud of dust and debris rose.
I dropped the handle of my sword, the blade wasted, as I focused on the battle.
Mordian plummeted and Amanises rose to her feet, demonic energy coalesced in her right palm, the air crackled as a small dot like beam surged, my eyes widened, feeling the amount of corrupted energy encompassing the small dot.
The distance was too much to cover in one stride or leap, so I reached within me and released Acausality, the world around me lost colour and everything drained to an inverted hollow, Amanises and Mordain frozen in spot, as I blitzed toward them, searching for Mordian’s presence and allowed him entry into the static world as we shifted, and then I released the skill as the burden become unbearable.
Amanises launched her attack, as we caught ourselves and I saw the dot touch the empty air, expanding, then there was a collapse in space, a rift opening in the air, a suffocating void, like the space had collapsed.
Amanises snapped her head in our direction, dumbfounded by our change in position so suddenly. Unaware that time had stopped entirely.
‘We can’t go on like this forever. Even if we tire her down, she is still stronger than us, but it feels like something is off. She is not fighting properly, as if she has something up her sleeve—still waiting for something.’ Mordian warned, as I rose to my feet, my mana worked and I conjured a lightning spell.
‘Alright, I'll be careful.’ I returned.
‘Jiwoo, whatever is happening in your head, let it go and focus on the battle. I know you hesitated just then, but don’t let that memory hinder you right now.’
I fell silent on Mordian’s words. I couldn’t answer him. I knew that I had hesitated when conjuring frost-fire—trying to push those memories down the deepest pit of my heart.
I clenched my hand as I saw Amanises turning to face us, her eyes looked annoyed and bored.
“Enough fooling around. I’ve had enough of you two. I went easy on you for the sake of preserving your corpses, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I just need your damn heads.” Amanises barked, her doll-like face looked more horrendous and cruel as she looked at me.
All of the scarce demonic energy in the atmosphere whirled, the mana wheezed as if fighting a silent battle for dominance, as a distortion rang through the air, the resonance of her intent pulsed like a wild tsunami, as we prepared.
But Amanises’s body picked speed as she covered the distance between us in an instant, Mordian ready for her assault, launched his fists at her and I followed along with the lightning spell weaved as we fought against the seraphim, her body gracefully evaded Mordian’s strikes, but her petite figure was caught by the charge of static regardless of her nimble movements.
With the surge of her intent, the cage of lightning dispersed.
Mordian conjured several translucent barriers, trying to trap her in, as Amanises struggled and I began to weave another spell I'd been working on related to the earth particles.
But the demonic energy twisted, and I felt the space around us groan, the entire area became subject to some skill she still hadn’t used, and suddenly Mordian’s face twisted, as I saw the demonic energy encompassing heart darken as the corrupt energy began to spread to areas around his heart.
But it wasn’t just him, I too felt it, my breathing turned shallow as I felt like an unbearable weight had been placed over me.
I felt the scales of the relic armour groan under the command of the element, the upper and more exposed scales began to vanish and crack as I felt the simmering sensation reach my skin.
I panicked on the sight, as the barriers crumbled and Amanises escaped effortlessly, her arms burning with the dark aura of the crimson particles.
Mordian stumbled forward, his knees buckled as his face paled, his hand reached for his chest, the unbearable pain travelled to me through our link.
Whatever Amanises had done, had stimulated some side-effect of the curse.
She approached and I threw a barrage of jabs and kicks, she countered effortlessly, her petite form swayed like the wind, as she struck my abdomen with all the demonic energy coalesced in one spot. Her hand shattered some of the scales as her nails barely grazed my skin.
But she released another wave of her demonic energy, the scales of the relic armour succumbed to the corrupted energy, as they corroded and her hand dug deeper into my skin.
“It looks like you both severely underestimated me. Just because you landed a few of your attacks, you thought you had a chance of victory against me.” Amanises chuckled, her tone dry and oppressive. “Yet, I'm considered the weakest seraphim so far—where did all that strength go when you defeat an entire battlegroup, human. You’re lacking, compared to how Lord Agares described you to be—I assumed you would at least be a true threat, but perhaps my assumptions were quite off.”
We fought against the soaring intent, I struggled in her grasp, and Mordian tried to rise to his feet, but the curse made him unable to.
I gritted my teeth, all of my mana surged, the entire area began to distort, ice enveloped everything as frost-fire burst forth, unleashing a cascade of white flames which caught up to Amanises’s arms. I twisted my body and struck her, she countered but I twisted again and my foot connected to her chest, my arm striking her cracked arms as they shattered and I created some distance between us.
Amanises's smile widened into a playful grin as her arms regenerated. “I might have had a harder time if you two had fought me with the three from before, but they were just so eager to get killed so I couldn’t wait any longer as a good sport.”
“What can a cursed dragon, and a war-broken human do together?” She purred, more as a statement than a question.
We didn’t reply, as I got ready for her attack. Her extraordinary speed made it hard for me to follow along each of her movements, she closed the distance instantly, a wave of corrupted energy struck me, as I felt the relic armour tank the strike, and several of its scales began to corrode like acid had been thrown on it, but it recovered.
Amanises brow rose in surprise, over the recovery of the armour and myself.
"You have a similar ability like us—you can regenerate the damage inflicted over you." She mused.
Mordian tried to suppress his curse again, but against the oppression, after what Amanises had done with the demonic energy, for some reason the curse encompassing his heart appeared frenzied, like it had went out of control, spreading through and around the areas near his heart, and I saw his veins bulge up to his neck.
Then suddenly, my grip on reality slipped as I tried to steady my breathing. Something felt...wrong.
The air itself seemed to shift, heavier with each breath, pressing down on my chest. My thoughts—it was like they weren’t my own anymore, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. My mind a blur, the fog from before thicker.
My breathing felt abnormal, as if each breath painful and masked by some oppression I couldn’t put my finger on.
The air shimmered around me, not like heat, but like a mirage, distorting reality. My vision blurred, and I blinked furiously to clear it—but it seemed too surreal.
"What’s wrong, feeling light-headed?” Amanises asked, her voice turning more dark, like an echo travelling through a tunnel.
I tried to focus on her, but her figure appeared blurred and distorted, as if an illusion.
Her distorted figure walked past me, and I didn’t even realize her presence, as if she had become a ghost. And I felt Mordian’s pain soar through my mind which was clouded.
Before I even realized it, my mind felt tethered, like something intangible had taken hold. I couldn’t see it, couldn’t fight it, but I felt it—a creeping presence, subtle at first, then all-encompassing. It was as if invisible hands were pulling at my thoughts, threading through my memories.
By the time I noticed, it was too late. One by one, they latched onto my mind, slipping past every wall I thought I had. My shoulders trembled as my body crashed down, and I dropped to the ground, catching myself with trembling hands.
'What...What the hell is this?' I tried to mutter, though my voice barely sounded like my own.
The edges of my vision blurred, and a fog rolled in, not around me, but inside me. My limbs felt heavy, like they weren’t even mine anymore, my body turning to stone. I staggered, my knees buckling as a wave of dizziness washed over me.
What’s happening, why was this happening? Was this Amanises’s doing, when did she cast this spell, or was it taking hold of me from the start of the fight when I first felt dizzy and my mind blurred?
My breathing quickened as I fought against it. I tried to stand, but my body felt heavy, like a puppet with its strings cut.
I heard a shout calling from inside me, a roar which tried to tear the walls which encompassed my mind.
Then, another voice echoed, soft and serpentine, curling around my thoughts. “What is it that you fear most, I wonder?”
The sensation felt like threads attaching themselves to every thought I possessed. The threads dug deeper. I tried to fight, tried to push them out, but they wormed their way into my head. Memories surfaced unbidden, jagged fragments of pain I had buried long ago. I tried to fight against the flow, but all my memories, thoughts appeared like an open book—then I realised that through the use of destruction, my mind had already weakened to the point that the demoness was able to invade it.
It felt like an excuse, but I just couldn’t fight against the melodious whisper she spoke. They felt soothing, almost too peaceful—like a lullaby.
But then from the depths of my consciousness, I felt a firm voice nudge me back to reality. I reached for it, like light at the end of a tunnel and found Mordian there, his struggling figure appeared in my mind as he fought against Amanises, but he was being overpowered, the curse taking its toll over him, as he was thrashed around like a rag-doll.
Though battered and wounded, his concern for me seemed more than he had for himself.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Get...out of—my head..." I sputtered, each word said through sheer will and instinct.
My words faltered as the fog tightened its grip. My thoughts felt slower, my will slipping. Her voice felt too vivid, as if a part of me, every sound, every detail crafted to perfection. My hands trembled as I looked down, and my breath hitched at the sight—my hands were soaked in blood.
“No,” I whispered again, weaker this time.
"What is your biggest fear?" She asked, and I trembled, my mind giving way to one of my most feared memories I had kept buried.
Then just at that moment, when I opened my eyes to look at Amanises, to fight against her, I saw someone different, my eyes widened in horror and fear, I felt my mouth quivering, my breathing heaved, my heart tightening.
He stood there...his snow-white hair fluttered in the quiet breeze, his arms steady by his sides and eyes just as abhorrent and cold as I'd witnessed in my past.
Agares...he!!
And then suddenly, I felt something strike me from the side. Pain...not some fabrication of the illusions Amanises has showed me, but real pain, as I snapped my head and saw Mordian lying nearby, supporting his body with one elbow and using his projectiles with the other.
Amanises stood near him, watching him and tilting her head to me with a cruel smirk—Mordian's attacks useless against her—, as if finding thrill in our desperation.
'Get a hold of yourself, Jiwoo,' he shouted in my mind, and I felt the invisible threads snapping as my thoughts returned to me.
I clawed at my head, trying to force the fog away, but it only grew thicker, seeping into every crevice of my mind. My limbs went limp, my thoughts unravelling, my will slipping away again. I was nothing but a marionette now, dancing to the rhythm of someone else’s design.
Somewhere deep inside, I felt Amanises’s presence, her foul amusement echoing through my mind as it sifted through my memories. It didn’t dig deep, just enough to graze the edges of my pain, enough to hurt without mercy, to weaken me.
“Your mind is…deliciously fragile,” this time her voice purred from the outside. “So many regrets, so many failures. Do you even want to fight back? You must be tired already, why don't you give up now—you have done more than enough. It will save you from the suffering later.”
"Do you not want to?" She questioned again.
I saw Agares, Amanises, the demon who had killed Master, the demon who had killed Han, they all stood in front of me, their cruel faces still fresh in my memory.
I gritted my teeth, clinging to the faint ember of defiance that still burned within me. My vision flickered, the illusions twisting and curling.
Think, dammit. Fight. Focus on something real, anything.
But what was real anymore? The threads tightened, and I felt myself slipping further, closer to that abyss.
The voice echoed again, dark and velvety, wrapping around my mind like a noose. “Regret is such a sweet emotion, isn’t it? So much pain. So much failure.”
“What makes you think you wouldn’t fail this time?”
I tried to push it away, to fight, but the more I struggled, the deeper it sank. Memories I had buried long ago rose to the surface, sharp and jagged, stimulated by Amanises’s spell and control, appearing more unforgiving and twisted.
The voice chuckled. “Oh, you’re breaking so beautifully."
I dropped to my knees again, my body limp, my mind fogged. Everything blurred into a suffocating haze. My will—the part of me that knew this wasn’t real—was flickering, dimming like a candle in the wind.
“Get out of my head,” I growled once more as a final desperate attempt to shake loose her hold over my mind, but the words sounded distant, almost as if someone else had said them.
The fog deepened. My thoughts unravelled, leaving me hollow, exposed, vulnerable. And then, as if my very soul was being pulled apart, the voice whispered again: “Soon, you’ll be nothing. Just a hollow shell. Isn’t that what you’ve always been? All your memories will be subject to me."
And for the first time since regressing, I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to claw my way back.
I was just so...tired.
Mordian’s distant voice dimmed and then fully vanished, as I felt stranded in the storm of my own agony.
Slowly a hand slid over my back, it was cold, like a snake wrapping around me.
Should I just give up? I thought, the words felt logical, but somewhere deep inside me, the will to not do it was still burning amply.
I had no options left, all the spell I had, I'd thrown everything at her, and my efforts seemed futile, like throwing pebbles in a storm.
But just then, a distant voice surged from with me, as a final attempt to retain my sanity, I reached within and searched and immediately found the origin of that voice—that presence.
The power burned silently, formless, like a shadow which didn’t have a form, waiting for me to call for it. And just from a glance I knew it was Ruler’s Authority, but it felt odd, as if there was something different about it, some change I lacked to notice due to my lack of insight.
I had no more options. Was this that everything came to?
Just a few hours ago, I had begged Mordian to stop me if I ever thought of going out of control by using this power, and now I had no choice but to rely on it once more.
But if I used the flame of destruction, I could kill her, I could stop the Seraph, not even she would be able to fight against those merciless flames. I could save Mordian and end a powerful enemy all at once.
And as if to remove the shadows of doubt in my mind, Ruler’s Authority responded through a dim pulse, its silent voice echoed softly in my ears.
I removed the shackles, feeling my thoughts drift as the world around me spun, feeling the hold of Amanises’s spell dwindle, the threads snapped and pushed away as my mind fell deeper into the clutches of this power.
But this time around, it felt completely different, I didn’t feel the sensation of my thoughts turning numb or mind clearing with an abnormal sense of stoicism and rationality, it was something beyond, something far more sinister and powerful, a presence I knew and had felt several times when using the skill but finding it distant and alien after feeling it again.
I seem to see myself being replaced by a stranger, bit by bit, I turn cold and terrifying.
I felt a hand grab me by my hair, a whisper echoing in my ears as my mind completely slipped, and I felt my consciousness drift.
“What do you fear?”
***
Mordian Astrionyx
My ribs felt weak, each shallow breath slicing through me like a blade. The blow I’d taken from Amanises still reverberated through my chest, leaving me staggering to my knees.
Around me, the battlefield churned—reinforcements yet to arrive, their signatures distant but close. But my focus was elsewhere. My eyes locked on her.
The female seraphim stood amidst the chaos. Her crimson eyes glowed, devoid of light yet burning with a hatred that felt almost eternal. Her blood-smeared robes lending her an eerie air of innocence corrupted.
In her grip was Jiwoo.
She had him by his long locks, her slender fingers twisting cruelly as she forced his head back. Blood streaked his face, trailing from his temple to his jawline, dripping onto the ground like tears. My bond—my companion—struggled in her grasp, his strength faltering against the oppressive aura she unleashed. It spread like a storm, demonic energy radiating with such force that even the strongest warriors would quail. I could feel it, an invisible weight pressing on my chest, suffocating me.
The curse burned, my mana in jeopardy as I spat blood, lying on one knee. My vision blurred. My feet trembled, my body unsteady as the curse tightened its relentless grip on my heart.
The pain shot through me like a dagger, dragging a pained gasp from my throat. Mana flickered and died within me, the suppression unrelenting, leaving me helpless. All I could do was watch as the seraphim bent closer to Jiwoo, her smirk cruel and her words cutting through the air like a blade.
“What do you fear?” She asked, her voice sweet, mocking, venomous. “Open your mind to me. Show me your deepest, darkest secrets.”
Jiwoo’s wail cut through the air, weak, desperate, his body sagging under the weight of her presence. He thrashed against her grip, but it was no use. She was breaking him. I could feel it through our connection, his mind unravelling like shattered glass. Each strike of her presence was a hammer against a mirror, and I felt the pieces slipping further away.
His thoughts scrambled, chaotic and fragmented. And through the haze of his crumbling mind, her voice filtered through it; my voice no longer heard.
I tried to suppress the curse again, to force my mana to respond, but my body rebelled, the strain too much for me to bear so soon. My knees buckled again, finding my face frowning.
Perhaps we had underestimated Amanises, her control and prowess, we knew nothing about. Even with all our combined strength, the odds of victory were near zero.
But then…everything stilled.
The battlefield fell silent, an oppressive, unnatural quiet. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, the sound deafening in the absence of all else. A new aura spread across the field, one unlike anything I’d ever felt before. It was suffocating, ancient, and primal.
My body froze as dread crawled up my spine. This wasn’t Jiwoo’s power—not the familiar presence when he released Ruler’s Authority.
This was something else entirely. Something far darker and horrendous.
Jiwoo’s lavender eyes snapped open, and the aura surged. It radiated from him, oppressive and terrible, like the presence of a higher entity. My knees gave out entirely. Even though the pressure wasn’t directed at me, it was unbearable—even worse than what Amanises had released.
The seraphim stumbled back, her grip on Jiwoo loosening as her eyes widened in abject terror. A shriek tore from her quivering lips, raw and unrestrained. Her body trembled, and for the first time, I saw fear etched into her face.
Jiwoo rose to his feet—no, not Jiwoo...not anymore—slow and deliberate, his movements unnatural, but graceful and powerful. His gaze bore into Amanises, and she let out a shriek, her body trembling. She waved her hands like a cornered animal, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t stop him.
She wept openly, tears streaking her once-imperious face. Her screams filled the air, but Jiwoo remained unmoved.
“STOP!!! Stay back, I said stay back. You Monster!!! Ahh, stay back,” she wailed, launching a blind weapon made of demonic energy, rough and crude.
But even before she could launch it, Jiwoo waved his hand and the weapon dismantled, leaving only the dispersed energy.
I found her actions questioning and almost confusing. Just what had happened in that spilt second that had changed the flow of this battle?
When Jiwoo spoke, it wasn’t his voice that reverberated.
The words came from somewhere deeper, older—a masculine voice that carried the weight of the ages. “It’s still too early for you to learn of my fears, child.”
Lightning sparked at his fingertips, brilliant and iridescent, and with a single motion, it shot forward. The bolt struck the seraphim’s chest, piercing through her core in an instant. She didn’t even have time to resist. Her body collapsed, lifeless, the oppressive storm of her presence vanishing as quickly as it had come, replaced by the new one which Jiwoo released.
And just like that, Jiwoo had killed a Seraph as effortlessly as brushing away a fly.
I struggled to my feet, my legs shaking beneath me. My whole body ached, but my eyes remained on Jiwoo—or the being that now wore his face. This wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. Just by the look on his face, I knew this was not Jiwoo. I was sure.
His lavender eyes glowed with a quality of iridescent, the intensity that wasn’t his own, and the playful smirk that curled his lips felt alien. Wrong. He turned to me, his gaze piercing, and my breath caught.
A shiver ran down my spine as he tilted his head, his expression unreadable, as if studying me for a moment. Then he spoke, his words cutting through the eerie silence.
“Heh, I almost mistook you for Mordain, your ancestor,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “The resemblance is…uncanny, Mordian."