They stepped beyond the kingdom gates, scanned the darkness, then turned left—
heading straight toward the distant hill where six figures waited.
When they finally reached the hill, everyone stopped a few feet away.
And there she stood.
Reia the Beast.
Her long black and white hair swayed in the wind, her white and black cloak rippling behind her. A black fanged blade hung loosely in her hand, gleaming under the night sky.
"Hello, Eiden. It has been a long time. A very long time," she said with a low chuckle.
Five of her daughters stood with her.
Tria stood to Reia's right, short black hair framing her face, a black robe draped over her shoulders.
Yiara stood to Reia's left, short white hair, a white robe, and a spear gripped firmly in her hand.
Niyra stood on Reia's right as well, long white hair flowing behind her, a white robe and a silver sword at her side.
Mira stood to the left, long black hair cascading down her back, a black robe and a long black sword in hand.
Hira stood to the right, short black and white hair, a black and white robe, and dual blades resting in her hands.
All five stood with absolute confidence.
All five bore devil horns.
All five had long, slim tails ending in sharp spade points.
They looked like a family born from nightmares — and they were waiting for Eiden.
It was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of grass in the wind.
The sky still glowed a deep orange.
"Where is Lalira?" Eiden said, his voice low and demanding. He needed the answer.
Reia smirked. "Do not worry. She is on her way right now to demolish your little clan," she said with a smile.
Eiden did not react. His expression stayed calm, almost bored.
"I see… then your daughter will die a quick death," he replied.
Reia raised an eyebrow. "And you are confident anyone in your clan can kill my daughter? Ha. You are a fool."
"I never said they would be the ones to handle her," Eiden said. "Someone far more powerful than her will."
Reia's eyes sharpened.
Her heartbeat quickened.
The idea of her daughter dying to someone stronger than her… it struck fear deep in her chest.
"I see then… well, let us begin," she said as she and her daughters channeled black aura into their blades.
"I like this one with the dual blades," Morvath said, unsheathing both of his own.
"Be careful, Hira," Reia warned. "He is the fourth most powerful of the Seven Great Sages. Do not underestimate him. Do not take your eyes off him. And whatever you do, do not let his blades touch you. They are infused with lethal poison."
"Of course, Mother," Hira said.
"But I do not understand, Tcil… why did you come?" Reia asked.
"I would not let them fight an uneven battle," Tcil said simply.
"I see…" Reia murmured.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Cold.
Unbroken.
The air itself seemed to hold its breath.
"Hey, if he is considered the fourth most powerful, then who is the third?" Selyndra asked.
"That would be Vaelus. Speaking of which… where is he?" Reia asked.
"That is none of your business," Morvath snapped.
Reia ignored him and looked back at Eiden.
"But Eiden, you still have not told me who you have in that village that is supposedly going to kill my daughter."
"That does not matter," Eiden said. "What matters is that we start this fight."
"Hmph. And you are confident your team will win?" Reia asked.
"I am certain we will win," Eiden replied. "In fact, the only ones dying tonight will be you and your daughters."
Reia smirked. "Hira, you are on Morvath."
Eiden stepped forward.
"And the rest of the matchups are as follows."
He pointed to each of his allies one by one.
"Seraphaine, you take Mira.
Iris, you take Niyra.
Selyndra, you take Yiara.
Tcil, you take Tria."
Reia's daughters tightened their grips on their weapons.
Eiden continued.
"All of you will separate. Fight away from here. Only Reia stays with me."
Reia chuckled. "Trying to isolate me?"
"No," Eiden said calmly. "I am preventing your daughters from dying in your crossfire."
Silence fell.
Then the ground cracked beneath them as each pair split off in different directions, heading toward their own battlegrounds.
Only Eiden and Reia remained, standing face to face as the wind howled between them.