Arnik's body screamed in pain. His nerves were on fire. His lungs felt crushed. Blood blurred his vision.
I must… fight…
I must… KEEP GOING!!
Satsujin's form began to flicker—his outline twisting, sinking into shadow like smoke curling into the void.
"No… YOU DON'T!!!"
Arnik forced himself up, muscles tearing as he sprinted forward. Every step cracked the ground beneath him. His grip tightened. He roared with everything left in him and swung—SLASH!
But all he cut was shadow.
It vanished.
"Dammit…" Arnik muttered, collapsing to one knee.
"What do we do, COMMANDER?!"
Riku turned his head, face hard. More soldiers and mages rushed to him from the rubble—some limping, others still bleeding, but alive.
"You can't really let him get away?" someone shouted.
"We have no choice." Riku's voice rose sharply.
Above, engines roared as the smoke began to clear.
Coalition warships broke through the haze—sleek, angular carriers marked with Mercury's emblems. The first cracked the pavement beneath it as it landed, steam hissing from its underbelly. From its hatch stepped Vayne, coat pristine despite the ash-stained air. Takashima followed behind, arms crossed, eyes scanning the devastation. Miu came tumbling after, bruised and dirtied but still grinning, wiping grime off her cheek.
Andrew met them midway. "What's the damage?" he asked, voice flat.
"Not good," Takashima replied, adjusting his glasses. "Over fifty Demon Users confirmed active across the planet's surface."
He surveyed the ruins and exhaled sharply. "To put it in perspective… it takes three hundred trained mages to bring down just one. They're not just attacking—they're targeting key points: communication towers, reactors, command centers. It's surgical."
Andrew's eyes narrowed. "So they're already five steps ahead."
Riku stepped forward, brushing dust from his coat. "Their next target… will be District 1. That's where they'll go for the heart."
Miu's smirk vanished in an instant.
Takashima nodded. "They'll be expecting a counterattack. We'll give them one."
Riku turned to the gathered forces, his voice rising above the wreckage and wind.
"All squads—stabilize the planet! Evacuate civilians. Clear rubble. Restore comms. Heal the wounded. Push back every last Demon User that's still breathing!"
"RIGHT!!!" the soldiers and mages echoed in unison.
Aika dropped to her knees beside Arnik, hands already glowing with green light. Her lips trembled as she leaned over his broken body.
"Dummy… you shouldn't have done that," she whispered, tears falling freely now.
The healing magic surged fast, fueled by panic and emotion. Arnik winced, then gasped as warmth returned to his limbs. His vision cleared. The pain faded. He blinked up at her.
"…Sorry for making you worry, Aika," he muttered weakly.
Then, with a small breath, he smiled.
"Just… try to be more careful. You're our leader, right?"
Her hands shook harder, but she nodded, sniffling. "…Right."
Arnik stood, shaky but upright. His body trembled. His armor was scorched. But there was fire in his eyes.
Boots scraped nearby.
Kaelani stepped through smoke and blood, eyeing Arnik with no emotion.
"You able to walk?"
"…I can manage."
"Good," he scoffed, turning on his heel. "Then get your ass moving. You're coming with me."
Before he could step off, Aika suddenly rushed in front of Arnik, arms wide.
"No! He's not ready!" she cried out. "We just fought a monster—he can't keep pushing like this!"
Kaelani's brow twitched. His hand clamped onto her wrist. "You seriously a soldier? You've got a pair of balls for a woman—"
A cold hand grabbed his.
Arnik.
His grip crushed Kaelani's wrist.
Their eyes locked.
"…Tch. Fine."
Kaelani pulled his hand back.
Arnik turned to Aika, placing both hands on her shoulders.
"I'll be alright," he said softly. "Aika… save as many as you can. Please."
She hesitated—then nodded and stepped back.
Another ship descended behind them. The hatch hissed.
Arnik and Kaelani climbed the ramp and vanished inside.
"YOU DONE WITH YOUR HUSBAND NOW?!" Kai shouted across the field, his voice cracking like a whip.
Aika blinked, red-faced. "O-Oh—shut up! You're one to talk!"
From the rubble, Rose came skipping up, tail flicking, brushing soot off her clothes.
"Rose! You're alright?" Aika gasped.
"I sure am!" she grinned. "Demi-Cats are tougher than we look!"
Kai rolled his eyes. "Right…" he muttered, smirking.
"Glad you're alright would've been nice, jerk!"
"Enough flirting!" Riku snapped, cutting between them. "We've got a planet to save!"
Everyone snapped to attention.
"Stabilize Mercury. Secure every district. Purge every last Demon User from this planet. NOW!!"
"RIGHT!!"
A wave of magic and motion followed.
Just then, someone shouted, "Wait! Where's Markus?!"
"He's out cold," came the reply.
"Oh… right."
Riku walked over to Markus's slumped form and kicked him square in the ribs.
"GAAHH—!"
"Get up. You're coming with me."
Markus groaned, sitting up slowly. "Satsujin escaped…"
"Yeah," Riku replied. "And thanks to your power… we know who he really is."
Markus swatted Riku's hand away and pushed himself up on his own, silent.
Above them—the sky roared.
Hundreds of ships streaked across the clouds, Mercury's full military force arriving in synchronized flight.
Their formation cut across the burning skies.
A second chance had arrived.
"MOVE OUT!!" Riku roared.
"RIGHT!!!" the call echoed across the ruins.
The counteroffensive had begun.
Two Weeks Later – Mercury, District 1
The sky above District 1 shimmered like glass, refracting sunlight into pale blue streaks. A dome of thick mana wrapped the entire capital—an indestructible barrier, humming with layered spells, tech arrays, and Kai's own genius.
Coalition banners waved from every rooftop. Surveillance ships buzzed overhead like flies, keeping eyes on every inch of the surface. The Mercury Orbital Defense Force had proven itself, hammering back every assault attempt. For now… they were holding.
But the enemy hadn't retreated. They had burrowed in.
Across the scorched surface of Mercury, demon users vanished into crevices and tunnels, disappearing from radar and sensor. Like phantoms, they struck quickly, then vanished again—leaving destruction behind.
And yet, in the heart of it all—District 1 stood proud…Training Grounds…
Arnik's boots skidded through the sand-coated tiles of the open rooftop arena, high above the capital streets. Kaelani's punch had landed hard against his guard, rattling his arms to the bone.
"Again," Kaelani snapped, his stance unshaken. "Don't let your balance slip just because it hurts."
Arnik exhaled sharply, ignoring the pain twisting through his ribs. His breathing slowed, controlled. He stepped forward—fist clenched.
Their next exchange was fierce. Arnik's left jab flew—parried. Kaelani countered with a low kick—Arnik twisted, blocked, swung an elbow—missed.
The rooftop rang with the clash of fists and grit.
"This is really what the great power of the Spirit can do?" Kaelani's voice rang like a challenge. "You hit like three mutants stacked together—if you're lucky. Your power's nothing special!"
Arnik said nothing.
He just moved.
Ducking low, he surged forward with a flurry of strikes—fist, knee, elbow, another fist. Each one blocked, redirected, answered with punishing force. But Arnik didn't yield.
In the shadowed corner of the rooftop, Lumis watched in silence.
His white gloves folded neatly behind his back, posture as refined as always. But his eyes—sharp and quiet—followed every movement.
Arnik doesn't quite know how strong he is…
He's the only one who can defeat Lionel.
But until he figures out what he's truly fighting for…
He'll never unleash it.
And still—under the burning sky of Mercury, atop the shimmering capital city—
Arnik kept fighting, he conjured his blade in a flash of light, the energy pulsing in his grip. But before he could swing—
CRACK!
Kaelani's fist slammed into his jaw. The blade dispersed instantly, flickering into particles as Arnik stumbled back, nearly collapsing onto one knee.
Kaelani didn't ease up. He stepped forward, voice sharp. "You lose focus too fast."
Arnik spat to the side, blood mixing with dust. His jaw throbbed, but his eyes burned hotter than ever.
He didn't answer.
He stood up again.
And he came back swinging.BAMM!
Kaelani's fist cracked into Arnik's jaw with brutal force. The boy's body flew backward, crashing against the hardened ground and kicking up a wave of dust. His conjured blade shattered into blue sparks, fading before it even touched the dirt.
Kaelani stood over him, arms crossed.
"Focus," he muttered. "You lose it too easily."
Arnik coughed, blood touching his lip. He struggled upright, wiping his mouth with the back of his glove.
Kaelani didn't let up.
"Honestly… I feel sorry for you." His voice was flat, expression unreadable. "You've got the bones of something great. But right now? Your power means nothing."
Arnik didn't answer.
Kaelani continued, stepping closer. "You think you're the strongest mutant? Even if you got strong enough, you still wouldn't outclass a beast like Satsujin. That thing kills gods for sport."
Arnik's fingers twitched. His breath came low. Shaky.
His thoughts spiraled.
Why…?
He had improved. His control was better. His reflexes sharper. His instincts honed. He was no longer the boy who trembled under pressure. He had survived Earth's fall… fought through Mars… defended Mercury.
So why did it feel like he was still standing in place?
What am I missing…?
He clenched his jaw.
Not just for friends…
Not just for revenge…
Something more…
But the answer refused to come.
He stood again, blade slowly forming in his hand—unstable, flickering at the edges.
Kaelani raised an eyebrow, waiting for more. But Arnik didn't speak.
He just got back into stance.
Above, in the tower overlooking the training field, Lumis exhaled quietly, arms behind his back.
His silver eyes narrowed.
"…Let's hope he figures it out soon."
The hum of the city below was distant. From the highest floor of Mercury's central tower, all of District 1 looked small—shields flickering gently across its skyline, ships dancing like insects under the sun's harsh light.
Markus stood quietly in the war room. Ash still clung to his boots. Blood—his own or someone else's—cracked along his knuckles.
Andrew sat alone at the edge of the room, arms folded, one leg crossed over the other. His coat was draped across the back of the chair. Steam curled from a mug beside him, untouched.
"…Markus," he said, voice low. "Sit down."
He obeyed.
"I brought you here for two reasons," Andrew said, staring out the glass wall. "First… thank you. You exposed Satsujin."
He ran a hand through his silver hair, clearly still trying to process it.
"I've met monsters. Hundreds of them. I've stood face to face with Lionel. And I always sensed something—bloodlust, deceit, hunger, pride. Satsujin… gave me nothing."
His fist clenched against the desk. "Even Lionel couldn't do that. That's terrifying."
Markus's voice cracked through the silence, bitter. "Then how come I could see it… just by looking at him?"
Andrew met his eyes. He wasn't surprised. "It must be the Blood Wolf Art. That ability of yours… it's ancient. Forbidden. Not even I understand all of its workings. But your father… he did."
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk.
"Your father was a warrior so skilled, the Council tried to erase every record of his existence. Not because he was evil. But because he was uncontrollable. He refused to bow."
Markus looked down at his hands. His veins were still darkened slightly, tainted by the bloodline's lingering effects.
Andrew narrowed his eyes. "Tell me… what were you feeling back there, when Satsujin's illusion shattered?"
Markus took a breath, but it caught in his throat.
"…Pain," he muttered. "Unbearable pain. But more than that…"
He stared into the reflection on the glass wall.
"I felt sad. A deep… ancient kind of sadness. Like something was mourning inside me. A voice was screaming in my head—over and over. I couldn't shut it out. It didn't feel like mine, but it wasn't a curse either. It's hard to explain, but…"
He looked up, eyes glowing faintly red.
"I think something's inside me."
Andrew didn't respond immediately. He folded his hands slowly.
"I see."
He tapped the desk once.
"Markus… how long can you hold your transformation?"
"Five minutes. Maybe. Before I start losing focus."
"Then make it ten," Andrew said coldly. "No—twenty. You need to master it. Because that thing inside you—Lionel feared it. That's why he went after your family. He didn't fear you. He feared what your blood would awaken."
Markus's breath hitched. He looked away.
"You've always felt cursed. Hated your power. But your bloodline… it was made to kill demons."
Andrew stood now, walking across the room. A black portal shimmered into being beside him—silent, stable.
"And now," he said, reaching into the rift, "for the real reason I brought you here."
He pulled something from the portal—wrapped in cloth, bound with chains. He placed it on the table with a heavy thud.
It was long. Metal. Locked.
"A weapon," Andrew said, brushing dust from the case. "Your father forged it. Alone. With his own blood and fire. He entrusted it to me before he died… and told me to never open it. Unless you lived long enough to become stronger than him."
Markus felt his body stiffen.
"This sword," Andrew continued, "is bound to your blood. If anyone else touches it—any part of it—they'll begin to rot. You are the only one who can wield it."
He stepped back. "Go on. Open it."
Markus moved slowly, step by step, drawn forward by instinct. His fingers traced the rusted chain, unhooking the ancient clasps.
The lid creaked open.
His breath caught in his throat.
Inside…
A pitch-black katana.
Its blade shimmered like obsidian but pulsed faintly with veins of red. It wasn't smooth—it was jagged, serrated. Built for mutilation, not elegance. The hilt resembled a beast's open mouth, its fangs forming the guard. The air around it bent faintly, as if gravity itself recoiled.
And yet—it called to him.
Without hesitation, Markus reached out and grasped it.
The moment his skin touched the handle—
His eyes widened.
FLASH.
Visions. Hundreds of them.
A child, sobbing, clutching the cold corpses of his parents. His hands—bloody, trembling—pressed against their lifeless faces.
Demon corpses lay scattered around. Burnt. Ripped apart. Not by weapons… but by claws.
Then—an older figure.
In a forge. Alone. Shirtless, scarred, hair wild. He hammered metal over and over. Blood splattered the walls. He cut his own palms and poured it into the molten steel.
He wasn't forging a weapon.
He was sealing his soul.
The blade hissed with every strike. Its aura screamed with hatred. Not blind rage—but focused, directed hatred. Every swing was precise. Every drop of blood intentional.
"I WILL KILL THEM ALL," the voice echoed—his father's voice, or maybe his own.
"I WILL SLAUGHTER EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM."
The vision shattered.
Markus stumbled back, gasping for breath.
Andrew hadn't moved.
"…Well?" he asked.
Markus looked at the blade in his hand. It pulsed faintly in response, like a heartbeat.
"…This sword… it's full of sorrow. So much rage. So much hate."
His voice was steady now.
"But it feels like… it was meant to be mine."
He looked up.
"It feels like… a part of me I didn't know was missing."Andrew didn't move. His eyes stayed locked on the storm rolling in over Mercury's skyline. Fire and ash blurred the clouds into a boiling crimson.
"Then wield it well," he muttered, arms crossed behind his back. "That blade… it's more than just a weapon."
Markus stared at it—the black katana resting against his shoulder. It pulsed faintly, as if it breathed with him. Its weight was right. Familiar. Like it belonged there from the beginning.
He turned toward the door, ready to leave.
But he stopped.
"…You're Arnik's father."
Andrew's eyes narrowed, but he didn't turn. Just stood there—silent.
Markus's voice didn't waver. "You should make amends. He resents you. I can tell."
The air between them grew colder.
Markus took a step, letting his words hang. "If you don't do it soon… you'll lose your chance."
Still no answer.
Only thunder outside.
Markus gave one final glance—then walked away, his footsteps fading into the metal halls of HQ.
Behind him, Andrew finally exhaled… and closed his eyes.
"…I know."
The hum of mana still lingered across the floor.
Thin lines of burned circuits traced every clash that had happened here.
This wasn't a place for rest.
And certainly not for weakness.
It was a battlefield in disguise, hidden beneath the Coalition's headquarters—deep where no light from the ruined sky could reach.
And in this space, Rose and Kai moved like they had something to prove.
Rose's boots skidded back as she caught herself mid-roll, her yari swinging around to block the next blow.
Kai's weapon shimmered again, the form shifting between a blade and a spear as if the air itself bent to his will.
"Come on, Rose," he said, voice calm, a faint grin pulling at his lips. "You used to be faster than that."
Her tail snapped to the side, ears flicking forward as she charged.
"Don't underestimate me!" she yelled, striking low and wide—
—but Kai ducked, twisting his blade into a crescent form that caught her weapon and flipped it back.
She barely recovered before a sweep hit her legs and sent her crashing to the floor with a loud thud that echoed through the chamber.
Kai stood over her, his chest rising and falling slow, steady, like this was just a warm-up.
"You've fallen behind," he muttered without malice, but it still stung.
Rose stayed still for a second, staring up at him, before reaching out and grabbing his wrist.
"I know…" she said softly. "That pregnancy took a toll… I've lost ground, but I'll catch up."
Kai looked down at her with a narrowed gaze, the light from the ceiling reflecting off his blade.
"Then you'll need to work twice as hard for that mistake."
She let out a weak breath, half-laugh, half-growl.
"Yeah, yeah. Always the encouraging type."
She pulled herself up with a grunt, wiped her forehead, and took up her stance again.
The yari glowed faintly now, her hands sore but still willing.
Kai's blade reshaped into a long staff as he twirled it once behind his back.
"You ready?" he asked, his tone playful now.
"Ready enough," she answered. "Don't go easy."
Their weapons clashed again.
After hours of sparring, their movements finally slowed.
Their bodies were too sore to keep going.
The mana in the chamber dimmed, and both of them dropped—side by side, gasping for air on the cracked floor, their sweat mixing into the scars left by their training.
"That was good," Kai muttered, staring at the ceiling, his arm resting loosely beside hers.
"Yeah," Rose replied in a breath, her voice low. "It was…"
She turned her head slightly, her eyes shifting toward him.
Her hand inched closer to his—
Fingers brushing over his knuckles gently, wanting more than just the fight.
But the moment she made contact, he pulled away.
Sharp.
Like her touch had burned.
He looked away, jaw clenched.
Still… she didn't stop.
Her hand moved again—
This time grasping his resting wrist, firmer, deliberate.
"Rose—" he said, starting to pull back, but his voice cracked slightly.
And that was the only window she needed.
She leaned in, heart pounding through her ribs—
—and kissed him.Kai pushed her back and said rather loudly,
"NO ROSE! Stop!"
"K-Kai…" Rose's voice cracked, her ears drooping low, her tail limp behind her. She looked so small in that moment, so unlike the fiery warrior she always tried to be.
"Sorry… I… I just don't know how I feel still… about… everything…"
He stood up, his shadow falling over her, his tone tightening like a blade pulled taut.
"I just don't know… if I love you…"
Rose's heart twisted at the words. It was as if all the strength she had left was ripped out of her chest.
…What do I expect…? I… I can't force him to love me… but…
Her breathing hitched as she grabbed onto his hand, fingers clutching desperately. Tears spilled freely down her face, staining her cheeks as she looked up at him with eyes that only begged for warmth.
"Why can't you love me, idiot…? KAI, please…"
But he wrenched away, standing again, anger boiling through his voice as he shoved her back harder.
"Rose! Stop! You're being so annoying! Just STOP!!!"
She froze where she stood, her body trembling, vision blurred by tears.
"…Kai…" she whispered, her voice breaking like glass.
Then, without another word, she turned and ran.
"Rose, wait—!" he shouted after her, but his voice only echoed into the empty hall.
She was gone.
She had left the training hall behind.
Kai remained rooted in place, fists clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breath came ragged, chest heavy with frustration.
…I don't understand her. At all…
He shut his eyes for a moment, trying to force the image of her tear-streaked face out of his head, but it only burned deeper into his memory.
…Come to think of it… I don't know Rose at all. Not really. Her past… her family… what she's gone through to get here… nothing. I don't know…
The silence of the hall pressed in on him, louder than the clash of their weapons ever had. And for the first time in a long while—Kai felt utterly lost.
Kai made his way to Aika's dorm.
She was a bit on edge, sensing the tension even before he knocked.
Knock, knock.
"…Aika… can we talk?"
Aika opened the door, her eyes widening slightly.
"Kai?"
"Can we talk…? I need… help. It's about Rose."
Aika's eyes widened further. Without hesitation, she pulled him inside and locked the door behind them.
"What about Rose?"
Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair before sinking into the chair by her desk. His shoulders sagged like the weight of his thoughts was crushing him.
"I… I don't really know. She's been… so clingy. I just don't understand… this is not like her at all…"
Aika sat down on her bed, folding her hands in her lap.
"She loves you. But you already know that…"
Kai looked away, staring at the floor, voice low.
"Why? I really don't understand why she does…"
Aika muttered under her breath, almost too quiet to hear.
"…Idiot…"
Then her gaze lifted back to him. "Why did you come here, Kai?"
"I want to know… more about her."
"You should ask her yourself," Aika replied gently.
"I would… but… you know Rose. She's difficult…" Kai says as he let out a sigh.
Aika studied him for a long moment, then let out a small sigh.
"…Alright, Kai. I'll tell you everything I know about Rose."