Dust slowly settled across the battlefield.
Rai and Karn the Hunter stood several meters apart.
Both breathing steadily.
Both wounded.
But neither looked close to losing.
Blood dripped from Karn's arm.
Rai wiped the thin line of blood from his cheek.
From the settlement wall, Lucian grinned.
"Now this is getting interesting."
Grik looked worried.
"That hunter is still standing…"
Ruun whispered quietly,
"…and so is Rai."
---
Karn rolled his shoulder.
His yellow eyes glowed with excitement.
"You're stronger than I expected."
He lifted his massive sword again.
"But you're still holding back."
Rai didn't answer.
Because Karn was right.
Deep inside him…
Something was moving.
The Demon King Vessel.
A dark presence stirred inside Rai's chest.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
LET ME OUT.
The voice was cold.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Rai clenched his fist.
"No."
The voice laughed softly.
YOU CANNOT WIN WITHOUT ME.
Karn tilted his head slightly.
"You're distracted."
Then he vanished.
BOOM
Karn rushed forward faster than before.
His blade swung downward with terrifying force.
Rai reacted instantly.
Shadow Step.
FLASH.
He reappeared behind Karn.
But Karn had predicted it.
His armored elbow smashed backward.
THUD
The impact sent Rai sliding across the ground.
Karn rushed after him.
Sword raised.
"Fight properly!"
His blade descended again.
SLASH!
Rai blocked with both arms.
The impact shook the ground.
Pain shot through his body.
Karn leaned forward.
"You can't defeat a hunter while holding back."
Rai's eyes flickered again.
Crimson light flashed inside them.
The voice returned.
USE ME.
I WILL DESTROY HIM.
Rai's breathing slowed.
The pressure around him changed.
The air became colder.
Darker.
Karn stepped back slightly.
"…There it is."
The vessel was reacting.
---
The system suddenly appeared before Rai.
---
SYSTEM WARNING
Demon King Vessel Resonance Detected
Power Surge Imminent
Control Required
---
Rai's hand trembled slightly.
Dark energy began leaking from his body.
Lucian leaned forward on the wall.
"Oh…"
Grik swallowed nervously.
"What's happening to him?"
Ruun stared carefully.
"The vessel…"
"…is waking up."
---
The ground beneath Rai cracked.
Black energy spiraled around him like smoke.
His eyes slowly turned deep crimson.
The pressure of Dark Dominion doubled instantly.
Karn's grin widened.
"Yes."
"That's the power I came to see."
He raised his sword again.
"Come then."
"Show me the monster inside you."
Rai slowly lifted his head.
His voice was calm.
But deeper.
Darker.
"You asked for it."
Then he vanished.
Not with Shadow Step.
Something faster.
Something violent.
BOOM
The ground exploded as Rai appeared directly in front of Karn.
His fist crashed forward.
Karn barely raised his sword in time.
CRACK!
The impact shattered the ground beneath them.
Karn was pushed back several meters.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Power increased."
Rai moved again instantly.
Punch.
Kick.
Strike.
Each attack faster than before.
Each hit stronger.
Karn blocked several blows—
But one slipped through.
CRUNCH
Rai's fist slammed into Karn's chest armor.
The metal cracked.
Karn flew backward across the battlefield.
He landed hard…
But slowly stood again.
Instead of fear…
His smile grew wider.
"Yes."
"Yes!"
"This is exactly what I wanted!"
Far away in the Iron Citadel…
Demon Lord Valthor leaned forward on his throne.
His red eyes gleamed.
"The vessel…"
"…has begun awakening."
Back on the battlefield…
Rai stood surrounded by swirling black energy.
His crimson eyes glowed in the fading sunlight.
The monster inside him had finally begun to emerge.
And Karn the Hunter…
Had just forced it awake.