Ashryn smiled faintly as he whispered,
"Dry Requiem."
Orimo and Varo froze.
Their movements halted instantly as something invisible tore through their bodies. Blood. Water. Life itself—ripped away in seconds. Their skin dried, cracked, turning ashen as their veins screamed in agony.
Their minds crashed.
Before them stood the horrific figure of Ashryn Witherfall—unmoving, inevitable.
They couldn't speak.
They couldn't move.
Ashryn turned his back.
"You will die soon," he muttered, his voice dangerously deep, almost bored.
His long black dusty coat fluttered behind him like a flag of death, threads crawling across his face, neck, and arms. His ash-gray skin reflected the burning sun as he walked away—leaving silence behind.
---
Suddenly—
A speaker crackled to life.
"News! News!"
Princess Amelia froze.
She turned toward the sound, her lips trembling into a smile. Her eyes filled with joy, with hope.
"They did it…" she whispered.
Tears welled up. "They kept their promise."
The speaker continued.
"Varo Kuzan — Commander of Sand.
And Demon Boy — Orimo Kuzan."
Amelia ran toward the palace, clutching her chest.
"Thank you… thank you so much, Varo… Orimo…" she cried.
"All I have to do now is—"
She stretched her arm toward the palace.
"—stop the rebellion."
But then—
The voice cracked.
"Has… been… defeated."
Amelia's world shattered.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. The joy was ripped away in an instant. She collapsed to her knees, sand scattering beneath her.
"…They're dead?"
She screamed—
"What is this nonsense?!
Varo would NEVER lose to scum like you!!"
---
King Rexar lay in the sand, blood soaking his white beard. The sounds of soldiers and civilians clashing echoed around him.
His eyes widened.
"…Is that true?" he muttered.
The light in his eyes faded.
"Orimo…"
Tears streamed down his face.
"Is this it for us… Orimo?" he gasped.
"Please… don't die. Show us the way."
His hands trembled as he covered his face, crying harder.
"You promised me… you promised you'd take down Ashryn."
"Don't die without defeating him."
His body shook. He could no longer stand.
---
{Flashback}
Orimo stood with his back to the king, preparing to leave.
Before stepping away, he spoke—
"I will take down Ashryn. Until then, save as many lives as you can."
"I promise you—Ashryn will lose."
King Rexar smiled softly.
"I'm counting on you."
"I thought you were a demon… but you're such a pure man, it makes me want to cry."