Luis stared at Kotei, his eyes wide and locked in place.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Slowly, he glanced at his daughter, who rested quietly in his arms.
Around them, the soldiers dropped to their knees the moment the baron arrived.
"…He feels different."
"…Stronger."
A chill ran through one of the soldiers, making his body tremble uncontrollably.
Kotei, with his blue hair and cold gaze, let out a light, almost casual laugh.
The ground beneath his feet was still covered in ash. The faint smell of something burned lingered in the air.
Luis couldn't look away.
It wasn't just fear—
It felt like standing before something far above him.
Like a king.
No… something even greater.
A soft golden aura surrounded Kotei.
Beautiful… yet suffocating.
Most of the humans lowered their heads, trembling under its presence.
Only Luis and Noa remained standing, staring at him.
Kotei smiled.
As if he had found something… interesting.
He began walking toward the ship.
With every step he took, the pressure increased.
The soldiers' breathing grew heavier.
Their vision blurred.
Their bodies trembled even more.
When he stepped onto the ship, he raised his hand slightly and smiled.
"Hello."
"O-hello…" Luis replied, forcing a smile as sweat slid down his face.
Kotei's gaze shifted toward the child beside him.
"Hello, human child," he said calmly. "You seem… sad. Tell me why."
Noa said nothing.
His eyes were empty.
As if nothing in the world could change how he felt.
Kotei nodded slightly.
"I see. Your silence is enough."
He turned to the soldiers.
"Bring the relatives of these two to my mansion."
"Yes, sir!"
In an instant, the soldiers moved.
Their weapon hilts transformed into elemental blades, shimmering with mana.
They lifted Mary's stretcher.
Luis followed, still holding Kyrai.
Noa walked silently behind them.
When they arrived at the mansion, Mary was immediately taken to the healers.
Luis tried to follow—
But Kotei stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"No. You're coming with me."
Luis hesitated… then nodded.
Soon after, a servant gently took Kyrai from his arms and carried her to the infirmary.
They entered a large training hall.
Sunlight poured in through the open structure, illuminating the vast space filled with dense mana.
Kotei turned to them.
"From today onward…" he said calmly,
"…you are my disciples."
Luis froze.
Noa's expression, however, shifted slightly.
There was a spark.
Luis frowned.
"How…?" he asked. "I'm human. I can't even use basic magic… not even healing."
Kotei laughed.
"Who said I only teach magic?"
He placed a hand on the back of his neck, smiling.
"I will teach you swordsmanship."
Luis' eyes lit up.
He clenched his fist and dropped to one knee.
"Yes… Master."
But inside—
I'll endure this.
I'll gain his trust.
And when the time comes…
I'll have my revenge.
Kotei then looked at Noa.
"And you? Do you accept?"
Noa trembled slightly.
Memories flooded his mind—
His parents.
Their sacrifice.
Tears fell.
"I… I want to be strong," he said, voice shaking.
"…strong enough to protect the people I love."
Kotei nodded.
"I can make that happen."
He placed a hand on the boy's head.
"From today on… you are my disciple."
He leaned closer.
"What is your name?"
"Noa."
Kotei smiled.
"From now on… you will be called Hikari Noa."
Noa's eyes widened.
Then, without hesitation, he hugged him.
"Good," Kotei said.
"Let's begin."
Elsewhere…
In the dead forest—
The Nameless King opened his eyes.
Pain spread across his entire body.
Branches pierced through his limbs and back.
Slowly, he moved.
Pulling himself free.
A low groan escaped his lips.
He tried to stand—
But failed.
So he used his sword as support.
Step by step, he tried to move forward.
Toward the King of Death.
But his body trembled.
His mind… hesitated.
He looked at his shaking hand.
Then ahead.
Nothing but gray.
Lifeless.
Empty.
"…Why?"
His teeth clenched.
His eyes trembled.
"My peace… was right there."
"So why… am I afraid?"
Rain began to fall.
Cold drops touched his wounds.
His body refused to move forward.
He collapsed into the mud.
Dirty water soaked his clothes.
His body trembled as he sat there—
Alone.
Frustrated.
After a long moment…
He stood again.
But this time—
He walked in the opposite direction.
The rain grew heavier.
Darkness surrounded him.
His wounds burned.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
"I've always won…"
Memories flooded his mind.
"No matter how strong they were…"
Then—
That defeat.
"…But this time…"
His grip tightened around the sword.
"…I lost."
His strength faded.
The cold reached his bones.
His vision blurred.
He fell.
Mud splashed around him.
Breathing became difficult.
The smell of wet earth filled his lungs.
"…Is this where I find peace?"
A bitter thought.
Then—
Footsteps.
Two of them.
His eyes widened.
"So… this is how I die…"
He tried to move.
But his body didn't respond.
A light appeared before him.
Blinding.
He couldn't see their faces.
Only silhouettes—
A man.
A woman.
His strength faded completely.
Darkness consumed his vision.
Elsewhere—
Rain fell softly over the battlefield.
Poul sat on a fallen tree, listening to the sound of water touching the earth.
Days had passed since they departed.
"We killed them all…"
He looked at his hand.
Clean.
"…but it's still stained."
"I did it for revenge," he thought.
"And I don't regret it…"
He paused.
"…but I regret what it's turning me into."
The clouds parted slightly.
Sunlight touched the rain.
A beautiful sight.
"…And yet, I'll keep spilling blood."
Back at camp, soldiers prepared to move again.
The sounds of nature filled the area.
A soldier approached him.
"Captain Poul… what drives you?"
Poul paused.
He sighed.
"…To protect humanity," he answered.
"And to make sure none of you die for it."
The soldier smiled, inspired.
…A lie.
They marched again.
Memories of home filled his mind.
His heart tightened.
By nightfall, they set up camp once more.
Under a quiet sky, illuminated by firelight—
Peace, before chaos.
At the top of a small hill, beneath a tree—
Poul sat alone.
Eyes closed.
Listening to the wind.
"…How long will this last?"
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The moonlight touched his face.
"…Something is coming."
He laughed softly.
"Maybe I'm just tired…"
He closed his eyes.
And slept.
Then—
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Poul… please don't go…"
His eyes snapped open.
Sweat covered his body.
His heart pounded.
A new day had begun.