The cheers of the crowd had barely faded when the air around the training grounds trembled. A deep, unnatural chill swept through the field, slicing through the warmth of the sun like a blade.
Then—BOOM.
A black aura erupted in the center of the arena, heavy and suffocating. The once-bright sky dimmed instantly as shadows crawled across the ground like living things. Soldiers gasped, clutching their throats, struggling to breathe. One by one, they dropped to their knees. Even the mighty King Ariston staggered under the crushing weight.
But two figures remained standing tall, untouched.
Kairo. Leonhart.
King Ariston and several of the kingdom's strongest generals also fought to stay upright, their faces twisted with effort.
The mysterious figure stepped out of the darkness, cloaked in swirling black mist. Its laughter was jagged and cruel, echoing like broken glass across the field.
"Hahhh… finally. I have found them. My perfect test subjects. I have been searching for you for so many years… finally."
The figure's eyes locked onto Kairo, burning with pure malice.
"Especially you, Kairo. You little brat… you defied me once, but now you cannot escape. I will make you suffer until you beg for death."
The aura thickened, crushing the ground and cracking stone beneath it. Soldiers collapsed, coughing violently, their bodies trembling. Even the strongest knights clutched their swords in vain, unable to move.
Then King Ariston roared and surged forward. In a blur of motion, his blade sliced through the air, cutting the mysterious figure's head cleanly into two parts.
The figure staggered back, shocked. Its headless body stood frozen for a split second before the two halves slowly reformed. It stared at the King with wide, disbelieving eyes.
He is much stronger than I anticipated… the figure realized. There are more threats here — his friends, the generals…
Kairo noticed the other nobles' fathers — Leonhart's included — rushing forward to attack the figure, while several generals urgently moved citizens to safety.
Then something shocking happened.
The world seemed to stop.
Time itself appeared frozen. The wind ceased. The shouts of the crowd hung silently in the air. Everything except Kairo and Leonhart became motionless.
Only the two boys remained standing, their expressions fierce, their bodies somehow resisting the overwhelming pressure of the black aura.
Leonhart gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face.
"Kairo… who is this monster?"
Kairo's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.
This aura… it's the same as my dreams. The figure from my contract.
The figure's twisted smile widened, revealing jagged teeth beneath the hood.
"Good. Very good. Both of you… are different. The rest of these insects break under my presence, yet you stand firm. That makes you worthy. Worthy of torture. Worthy of being shaped into monsters."
With a blink of an eye, it raised its clawed hand. Shadows writhed around its fingers like serpents.
"I'll take you both… and break you piece by piece."
The crowd's panicked voices echoed faintly, as if coming from far away:
"Your Highness—!" "Stay away from him—!"
But the black aura surged forward like a tidal wave, ready to consume Kairo and Leonhart whole.
Kairo's heart pounded violently in his chest. The familiar terror from his nightmares flooded back, yet beneath it burned something new — a cold, unyielding resolve.
This was no longer just a dream.
The real nightmare had stepped into the light.
And it was staring directly at them.
The black aura coiled like a living storm, thick and oppressive. The figure's gaze shifted from Kairo to the King of Harmony. Its presence loomed over the monarch, who — despite his immense strength — could barely steady his breath.
"Strongest king, is it? Hmph…" The figure's voice dripped with malice and amusement. "I would have been dead if I was really here. And it seems you have noticed it. If you kill me right now, my spell will activate and attack the other citizens. I know I could not defeat you with strength… but with morals? My, my… that kid who taught me is truly a genius after all."
The King's eyes burned with fury. He clenched his massive fists until the knuckles cracked.
"Ahh, damn it… I would have attacked him. Whoever is guiding him is way too smart. How did he know my hidden trick before I could strike? More importantly… I have lost my precious son and my friend's son. I am so useless. I wish I could overpower him with my intelligence too…"
Before the King could finish, the Duke stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. His voice was steady despite the tension.
"No, you are not useless. It is someone beyond genius. So don't worry. Right now, have faith in our sons. They are the lions of this land. They will survive… even if they have to suffer."
Then a note appeared out of thin air, floating down slowly.
The figure spread its arms wide. The black aura formed spiraling pillars around Kairo and Leonhart. The boys stood motionless, locked in place by the suffocating energy.
"I will take them," the figure declared, its grin widening into a cruel sneer. "When they turn eighteen, I shall return them. By then, they will not be children of light and hope… They will be monsters forged by my hand."
Gasps and cries erupted from the knights. The Queen shrieked Kairo's name in terror. Soldiers tried in vain to rise, their bodies still crushed under the weight of the aura.
The figure's aura pulsed again, silencing the entire field.
"Consider this a gift, oh King. While I mold your precious heirs, I will keep your kingdom safe. No enemy shall invade. No beast shall dare cross your borders. You will have peace…" It leaned closer, its whisper like venom. "…but at a price."
With that, the black aura surged forward and swallowed Kairo and Leonhart whole.
The last thing Kairo saw was his father's outstretched hand and his mother's tear-filled eyes.
Then—VWOOSH.
The three of them vanished into the darkened forest.
The training field grew deathly quiet, suffocating without the boys' presence. The King fell to his knees, his fists pounding the earth with raw grief.
"Kairo… Leonhart…" he whispered, his powerful voice breaking for the first time. "Forgive me… I could not protect you."
The Queen collapsed beside him, sobbing uncontrollably as she clutched his arm. The generals and nobles stood frozen, their faces pale with shock and helplessness.
In that single moment, the kingdom felt the devastating weight of its loss — not just of a prince and a duke's son, but of two children who carried the hopes of the future.
Far away, in the depths of the cursed forest, the mysterious figure's cold laughter echoed once more, marking the beginning of Kairo and Leonhart's long, brutal torment.
The sun continued to shine above the field, but for the people of the Land of Harmony, the light suddenly felt much colder.
The training field lay in ruins. Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the ragged, labored breaths of those still struggling to recover from the crushing weight of the black aura.
But the silence did not last.
Soon, raw cries of grief filled the air.
Ayaka, the maid's daughter, stumbled forward, her eyes overflowing with tears.
"Kairo… no… you can't leave us like this!"
She fell to her knees, clutching desperately at the ground where he had stood just moments ago. Her shoulders shook violently as painful sobs tore from her throat, echoing across the devastated field.
Beside her, Liana — the noble daughter — covered her mouth with trembling hands. Her usual composure shattered completely.
"He… he promised… he promised he would return to us… and we would have a campfire and play tag…" Her voice cracked, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. "Why did it have to be him…?"
Across the field, a young girl — Leonhart's childhood friend Mita — pushed through the knights trying to hold her back. Her voice broke as she screamed,
"Leonhart!! Please come back! Don't leave me!"
Her tears fell like rain as she clung desperately to the empty space where he had once stood.
The three girls cried together, their grief raw and unrestrained, their sobs echoing louder than the stunned silence of the soldiers.
Hina, Mika, Daichi, Renji, and Akio were also crying for their friends.
"Nooo, Kairo-sama!" Hina wailed.
"Why did it have to be him? He was so nice… he doesn't deserve that…" Mika sobbed.
"Damn him… I hate him! But that guy was way too strong… we couldn't do anything…" Daichi muttered, voice thick with frustration and sorrow.
"Man… I would kill him! Cut his head off and throw it from the mountain! I'll kill him!" Renji shouted angrily, tears streaming down his face.
"Nooo… my friends… Kairo, Leonhart… please return… I want to play more games with you… it was so fun…" Akio cried, his usual energy gone.
The King watched the scene with clenched fists, his broad chest heavy with a storm of anger and guilt. His powerful frame trembled slightly as he struggled to hold himself together.
Beside him, the Queen wept openly, clutching little Aria tightly in her arms. The young princess looked around in confusion, sensing the heavy sorrow but too young to fully understand.
In that moment, the entire kingdom felt the devastating weight of its loss — not just of a prince and a duke's son, but of two beloved children who carried the hopes and dreams of the future.
And far away, in the depths of the cursed forest, the mysterious figure's cold, mocking laughter echoed through the trees.
It was the beginning of Kairo and Leonhart's long, brutal torment.
The sun continued to shine above the ruined training field, but for the people of the Land of Harmony, its light had never felt so cold and empty.