After getting the potion, we started heading back to town with our new teammate, Klen.
With Chill's help… and everyone's support… we had defeated the witch.
Maybe…
I had really become stronger.
But the moment we reached the town—
Something felt wrong.
The air was heavy.
Too heavy.
The sky had turned dark… almost unnatural.
Many houses were destroyed.
People were injured.
Some were screaming.
"…What happened here?" Katty whispered.
I didn't reply.
I just ran.
Toward Taina's house.
My heart was pounding.
My body felt cold.
Something… was very wrong.
We reached the house.
Empty.
No one inside.
We searched every room.
Nothing.
"They're not here," Rin said. "What the hell is happening in this town?"
Chill's voice echoed softly in my mind.
"…Kai. Something terrible is here."
Suddenly—
"RUN!!"
People screamed as they rushed past us.
"He'll kill everyone!"
We followed the crowd…
Until we reached the center of the town.
And then—
We saw him.
An eight-foot-tall man stood in the middle of the street.
Red, glowing eyes.
Pitch-black face.
Heavy iron armor like a dark knight.
In one hand—
A sword… dripping with blood.
In the other—
A human head.
Around him…
Bodies.
Ten… maybe fifteen.
All dead.
My body froze.
Then—
His eyes locked onto me.
"So… you are the Spirit User."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Terrifying.
"I am Zerath," he said.
"One of the Demon King's commanders."
The air grew even heavier.
"A few days ago… we received news."
"A human… without a trait… using spirit magic without limit."
His gaze sharpened.
"So tell me…"
"Are you that human?"
Before I could answer—
"YOU BASTARD!"
Rin rushed forward.
Too fast.
Too reckless.
CLANG!
In a single motion—
Zerath broke Rin's sword.
And slashed him.
"RIN!!" Katty screamed.
She cast her magic instantly—
Fire and healing mixed together.
But—
It did nothing.
Zerath didn't even move.
"…I forgot to mention," he said calmly.
"Simple magic doesn't work on me."
Klen tried to step forward—
But suddenly—
He fell to his knees.
"…I can't move…!"
Zerath glanced at him.
"My aura," he said.
"The weak become weaker in my presence."
Then his eyes returned to me.
"These people are boring."
"I want to see your power… Spirit User."
I clenched my fists.
There was no escape.
No choice.
"Katty… heal Rin."
"Chill…"
"We're doing this."
"ICE FANG!"
Multiple ice spears shot toward Zerath—
But—
He didn't move.
"…So this is your power."
"ICE EXPLOSION!"
Water formed in the air—
Then instantly froze—
And exploded toward him.
For a moment…
Smoke covered everything.
"…Did it work?" I whispered.
"…Interesting."
The smoke cleared.
Zerath stood there.
Untouched.
"That was something different."
"But not enough."
"Chill… we're not done!"
"ICE WIND BLAST!"
Massive waves of ice rushed toward him—
"Gravity."
Everything—
Dropped.
The ice shattered instantly.
"Ice Create Magic… SWORDS!"
Dozens of ice blades formed—
And rushed toward him—
"Reverse."
The blades turned.
Back toward me.
"ICE BARRIER!"
I barely blocked it.
My body trembled.
Zerath raised his hand.
"Now… let me show you."
"What true power is."
"GRAVITY PRESSURE."
CRASH.
We all fell to the ground.
I couldn't move.
Not even a finger.
"…So," Zerath said quietly,
"You can use spirit magic endlessly."
"But power… is not everything."
His voice echoed in my ears.
"You are incomplete."
"You need to evolve."
My vision blurred.
"You disappointed me."
"I will leave… for now."
He turned away.
"It seems… I have been summoned."
He stopped for a moment.
"Next time…"
"I will kill you."
Darkness.
When I opened my eyes—
I was lying on a bed.
A hospital.
Ken was sitting beside me.
"You're awake," he said.
"…Rin? Katty? Klen?"
"They're alive," he replied. "Injured… but safe."
Relief washed over me.
"The Demon Commander attacked the town," Ken continued.
"I took Taina and hid in a safe place."
"…He killed many people."
My fists tightened.
"…I couldn't even touch him."
Ken looked at me seriously.
"You still fought him."
"That is not something many can do."
Chill appeared beside me.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Of course," she said. "I'm a spirit."
"…But because of you, I feel a little weak."
"…Sorry."
"Relax," she smiled. "But next time…"
"We train."
"We evolve."
"Evolve?" I asked.
"What does that mean?"
"Sorry to interrupt."
Ken raised his hand.
"…Did you bring the cure?"
We went to Ken's house.
I gave him the potion.
"This is what the witch gave me."
"She said it will break the curse."
Ken's eyes filled with hope.
We gave the potion to Taina.
Moments passed.
Nothing.
Then—
She moved.
Her eyes slowly opened.
"…She's awake," I whispered.
At that exact moment—
I lost my balance.
And accidentally—
…kissed her.
My brain froze.
I quickly stepped back.
"I—I'm sorry! I didn't mean—"
SLAP!
"…Idiot."
Rin entered.
"Kai, why is your face red?"
"…Nothing."
"I'm fine."
Ken hugged his daughter tightly.
Tears streamed down his face.
A week passed.
We rested.
Recovered.
Healed.
Everyone was back to normal.
Even…
Taina.
Well…
Almost normal.
"Why are you hugging me again…?"
"Because you saved me."
"…That doesn't mean you need to cling to me all the time."
Things were… awkward at first.
After that incident.
But now—
It was… manageable.
We visited Ken again.
"Mr. Ken," I said.
"We're planning to leave the town."
"We need to train."
Ken's expression turned serious.
"…You can't."
The room fell silent.
"There is a disaster coming."