The air between them grew heavy.
Two powerful auras clashed in the middle of the wasteland.
On one side stood Karn the Hunter, the warrior sent by Demon Lord Valthor.
On the other stood Rai, the F-Rank Demon King Vessel.
Neither moved.
Not yet.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
From the walls, Grik whispered,
"Why aren't they attacking?"
Ruun answered quietly,
"They're measuring each other."
Lucian grinned.
"Whoever moves first… explodes the fight."
---
Karn stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
"You carry the Demon King Vessel…"
His yellow eyes sharpened.
"…but I still don't see the king."
Then he disappeared.
BOOM
The ground shattered as Karn rushed forward at terrifying speed.
His blade sliced through the air.
SLASH!
Rai activated Shadow Step.
FLASH.
The blade cut through empty space.
But Karn had expected that.
He spun instantly.
His armored fist shot toward Rai's head.
THUD
Rai blocked.
The impact shook his entire arm.
Karn was incredibly strong.
Rai slid back across the dirt.
Karn didn't chase.
He simply watched.
"Good reflexes."
Rai tilted his head slightly.
Then he moved.
Shadow Step.
FLASH.
He appeared beside Karn.
His fist struck the demon's ribs.
CRACK
The armor dented.
Karn grunted but didn't fall.
Instead he grabbed Rai's arm.
"Got you."
He swung Rai like a weapon.
BOOM
Rai smashed into the ground.
The earth cracked beneath him.
The demons watching gasped.
Grik shouted,
"Boss!"
But Rai had already rolled away.
Karn's sword stabbed into the ground where Rai had been lying.
CRUNCH
Stone shattered.
Lucian whistled.
"That guy's no joke."
---
Rai stood again.
Dust covered his coat.
His chest slowly healed thanks to Minor Regeneration.
Karn noticed immediately.
"…Regeneration."
His eyes gleamed.
"You're full of surprises."
Rai looked calm.
But inside…
The vessel stirred.
A dark voice whispered deep in his mind.
LET ME OUT.
A wave of dark power surged through his body.
His eyes flickered crimson for a second.
Then returned to normal.
Karn saw it.
And smiled.
"There it is."
"That's the monster I came to see."
---
Karn raised his sword.
Dark energy wrapped around the blade.
"Let's raise the stakes."
He slammed the sword into the ground.
BOOOOOOM
Black spikes of energy erupted from the earth.
Rai jumped backward with Shadow Step.
The spikes chased him across the battlefield.
Exploding dirt and rock everywhere.
The settlement walls shook.
Ruun stared in disbelief.
"That attack…!"
Lucian laughed excitedly.
"Yeah! This is a real fight!"
---
Rai stopped retreating.
His Dark Dominion expanded fully.
The invisible pressure slammed across the battlefield.
The ground cracked.
Even Karn's knees bent slightly.
"…Impressive."
But Karn pushed forward anyway.
He charged again.
This time Rai moved too.
Both fighters rushed toward each other.
Two blurs of motion.
Their attacks collided.
BOOOOOOM
A shockwave exploded outward.
Dust blasted across the wasteland.
The settlement walls trembled.
For a moment…
No one could see anything.
Then the dust slowly cleared.
Both warriors stood in the center.
Blood dripped from Karn's arm.
And a small cut appeared on Rai's cheek.
Both of them smiled.
The real battle had finally begun.
---
Far away in the Iron Citadel…
Demon Lord Valthor watched the fight through his magic sphere.
His grin slowly widened.
"Yes…"
"Show me more."
"Show me the power of the vessel."
Because if Rai survived this battle…
His rank wouldn't be the only thing that would evolve.
Something far darker inside him…
Was waking up.