The air trembled.
Everything slowed.
Sound faded.
The battlefield—burning, chaotic, filled with screams—suddenly felt distant.
Because in that moment…
Only two beings existed.
Kael.
And the demon.
---
"…Show me."
The demon's voice echoed, low and excited.
Dark energy swirled violently around it, tearing apart the ground beneath its feet.
---
Kael stood still.
His breathing slowed.
His heartbeat—
Loud.
Heavy.
Controlled.
---
"…Come out…"
His voice was quieter this time.
Not desperate.
Not forced.
---
Calling.
---
The glow answered.
---
It rose from his chest again.
Dark-blue.
Deeper than before.
More stable.
More real.
---
Aurora's eyes widened slightly.
"…It's different this time…"
---
Rex frowned.
"…Yeah… way different…"
---
Lyra took a step forward.
"…Kael…"
But she stopped.
Because something told her—
This moment wasn't one she could interrupt.
---
The glow spread down Kael's arm.
Slowly.
Like liquid energy wrapping around him.
---
The demon smiled wider.
"…Yes…"
"…That's it…"
---
Kael raised his hand.
His eyes—
Glowing.
Not just blue anymore.
But mixed with something darker.
Something ancient.
---
"…You're mine."
The voice echoed again.
But this time—
Kael didn't resist it.
---
"…No…"
He whispered.
---
"I'm not yours."
---
The energy surged violently.
---
BOOOOOOM
---
A shockwave exploded outward.
Destroying everything nearby.
---
When the dust cleared—
Kael stood there.
---
And in his hand—
---
A blade.
---
Dark.
Sharp.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
---
Not flickering.
Not fading.
---
Real.
---
Rex's eyes widened.
"…He actually did it…"
---
Aurora didn't speak.
But her gaze sharpened.
---
Lyra's heart pounded.
"…Kael…"
---
The demon stared.
For the first time—
Its smile faded slightly.
---
"…So this is it…"
---
Kael looked at the blade.
His grip tightened.
---
"…Yeah…"
---
The weapon pulsed.
As if alive.
---
"…Let's finish this."
---
The demon moved first.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Deadlier.
---
Kael didn't dodge.
---
He stepped forward.
---
The two collided.
---
CLANG
---
The impact shattered the ground beneath them.
---
Energy exploded outward.
Darkness clashing with something deeper.
---
Kael pushed back.
Hard.
---
The demon's eyes widened slightly.
"…You've grown…"
---
Kael didn't respond.
---
He attacked again.
---
Faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
---
Each strike carried weight.
Power.
Intent.
---
The demon blocked—
But barely.
---
"…Interesting…"
---
It countered.
A massive wave of dark energy surged forward.
---
Kael raised the blade.
---
SLASH
---
The energy split.
Cleanly.
---
Rex let out a low whistle.
"…Okay… that's insane…"
---
Aurora's voice was calm.
"…That weapon…"
"…It cuts energy itself."
---
The demon stepped back.
Now serious.
---
"…You're no longer just potential…"
---
"…You're becoming a threat."
---
Kael took a step forward.
---
"…Good."
---
The ground cracked beneath him.
---
The blade glowed brighter.
---
But then—
---
A sudden pulse.
---
Kael froze for a split second.
---
"…Not yet…"
The voice echoed again.
---
His grip weakened slightly.
---
The demon noticed instantly.
---
"…There it is…"
---
It attacked.
---
Fast.
Brutal.
---
Kael barely blocked.
The impact sent him sliding back.
---
"…Your body can't handle it yet," the demon said.
---
Kael's breathing became heavier.
---
"…Then I'll force it to."
---
The glow surged again.
Unstable.
Violent.
---
Aurora stepped forward slightly.
"…He's pushing too far…"
---
Lyra clenched her fists.
"…Kael, stop—"
---
Too late.
---
Kael charged.
---
The blade flared.
---
He swung.
---
The demon blocked—
---
But this time—
---
The blade cut through.
---
Clean.
---
A deep wound appeared across the demon's chest.
---
Silence.
---
The demon looked down.
---
Then laughed.
---
"…Yes…"
---
"…This is what I wanted."
---
Its energy exploded.
---
Stronger than before.
---
The entire area shook.
---
Kael staggered.
---
"…Damn it…"
---
His vision blurred.
---
The blade flickered slightly.
---
"…I can't… lose it…"
---
The demon raised its hand.
---
"To end this."
---
A massive attack formed.
Dark.
Overwhelming.
---
Kael tried to move—
---
But his body didn't respond.
---
"…Move…"
---
Nothing.
---
"…MOVE—"
---
Then—
---
A flash of light.
---
Lyra appeared in front of him.
---
"Not happening."
---
Her spear clashed against the attack.
---
Aurora's ice reinforced it.
---
Rex's lightning exploded from the side.
---
Together—
They blocked it.
---
For a moment.
---
Then—
BOOOOM
---
The explosion sent everyone flying.
---
Kael hit the ground hard.
---
The blade vanished.
---
"…No…"
---
His body refused to move.
---
The demon stepped forward.
Injured—
But smiling.
---
"…You're not ready."
---
Kael's vision faded.
---
"…I know…"
---
But his eyes didn't close.
---
"…But I will be."
---
Far above—
The sky trembled again.
---
A new presence descended.
---
Heavier.
More overwhelming.
---
Even the demon froze.
---
"…A god…?" Rex whispered.
---
Orion appeared instantly.
---
"…Everyone, fall back!"
---
Kael lay there.
Barely conscious.
---
But even then—
---
He smiled.
---
Because for the first time—
---
He had truly held it.
---
And next time—
---
He wouldn't let go.