While Fayum continued to cut down demons across the battlefield, his blade moving with precision and deadly force, a far more dangerous presence observed him from a distance.
High above the chaos, standing atop a broken structure, a massive demon watched in silence. His body was enormous, his skin rough and thick, and his face resembled that of a grotesque pig. In his hand rested a giant axe, heavy and stained with blood. A slow grin stretched across his face as his eyes followed Fayum's every movement.
A demon with a single horn approached and knelt before him.
"General Karzo… the child has been found, but—"
Karzo's voice came out deep and heavy, carrying an oppressive weight.
"But?"
The demon lowered his head further. "We cannot proceed. That human… he is blocking the way."
Karzo's grin widened slightly as he glanced toward Fayum.
"The child…" he muttered. "Lord Vond will be pleased to see him."
He lifted his axe and rested it on his shoulder.
"Go. Bring the child to me."
The demon hesitated. "General Karzo… we cannot go ahead. He is blocking the path."
For a brief moment, silence lingered.
Then Karzo stepped forward.
"…Leave him to me."
His grin stretched wider.
"I will take care of that tiny human myself."
Inside the Yakizo household, Yalin knelt quietly, her hands clasped together as she prayed for her husband's safety. Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, yet filled with desperation.
"…Please… come back safely."
As she finished, she turned her head slightly.
Nork stood nearby, his small body trembling, his eyes filled with fear.
"Mom… are the demons going to kill us all?"
Yalin immediately pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly.
"No," she said gently. "Don't worry."
She covered his ears as the distant sounds of screaming and demonic roars echoed through the city.
"Your father is the strongest in this city. Those demons are no match for him."
Her voice remained calm, but her heart trembled.
"He will protect us all… and come back soon."
Deep inside, however, a strange unease grew stronger. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she held onto her belief.
He will come back.
Back on the battlefield, Fayum stood surrounded by the bodies of fallen demons. His breathing had grown heavier, yet his grip on his sword remained steady.
"Come at once," he muttered. "I'll kill you all faster that way."
The demons suddenly stopped.
A strange silence spread across the battlefield.
Then, slowly, they began to part, forming a clear path.
Fayum narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead.
A massive figure approached, each step cracking the ground beneath it. The pressure it emitted was overwhelming, suffocating.
Fayum felt it instantly.
Astral energy… far beyond his own.
The demon stopped before him.
"Are you their lord?" Fayum asked.
The demon let out a low laugh.
"No."
He rested the axe on his shoulder.
"I am General Karzo."
His gaze locked onto Fayum.
"And you are?"
"…Fayum Yakizo."
Karzo smiled.
"Such a nice name… for a dead man."
The surrounding demons burst into laughter.
Fayum grinned.
"So the ugly pig can see the future?"
The laughter stopped.
Karzo's smile vanished.
"Stay back," he ordered coldly. "He is mine."
Fayum chuckled. "Oh? Sounds romantic."
Karzo moved first.
The giant axe swung down with terrifying force. Fayum dodged the strike, but the sheer power behind it sent him sliding backward.
He steadied himself, his expression turning serious.
S-rank…
Karzo stepped forward, calm and confident.
"Now do you understand the gap between us?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Kneel, and I will grant you a painless death."
Fayum spat onto the ground.
"Keep dreaming, ugly."
He surged forward.
"Doom Slasher!"
His blade flashed toward Karzo, but the demon blocked it effortlessly. The impact echoed loudly, yet Karzo remained unmoved.
He laughed.
"So weak."
Fayum's grip tightened.
He understood now.
He couldn't win.
But that didn't matter.
If I die… I'll take you with me.
Astral energy burst out from his body, wild and intense. His sword began to glow, turning into a radiant crimson blade.
"Whispering Astral Manifestation…"
The air trembled.
"Crimson Blade of Chaos."
Fayum exhaled slowly.
"Shall we begin?"
Karzo smirked.
"Let's."
Their clash shattered everything around them.
Karzo's axe descended again and again, each strike carrying immense destructive force. Fayum dodged and countered with precision, his blade moving faster, sharper.
He struck—
Karzo shifted, but not completely.
A cut appeared on his shoulder.
Small.
But real.
Karzo glanced at it and smirked.
"…Impressive."
Their weapons collided once more, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Roads cracked, houses shattered, and debris flew in every direction.
Fayum attacked relentlessly, pouring all his strength into each strike.
Karzo blocked them all.
"Come on," Karzo laughed. "Use everything you have if you want to survive!"
With a roar, he swung his axe.
"Axe of Despair!"
The impact slammed into Fayum's blade and sent him crashing into a house. He hit the ground hard, blood spilling from his mouth and nose.
Karzo approached slowly.
"Already dying?"
Fayum forced himself to stand.
Pain surged through his body, but his thoughts remained fixed.
Yalin.
Nork.
"I'm not… going down easily."
He gathered every last bit of Astral energy within him. The surroundings began to glow red as power surged violently into his sword.
"Excalibur of Death!"
He swung.
A massive wave of destruction erupted outward, engulfing everything in crimson light. Demons were torn apart, buildings collapsed, and the ground itself split under the force.
When it ended, silence remained.
Dust filled the air.
Fayum stood there, barely able to breathe.
Bodies lay scattered—burned, cut in half, completely destroyed.
For a moment, he thought it was over.
Then—
A laugh echoed through the dust.
Karzo stepped forward.
Half his body was burned. Half his face was gone, exposing bone.
Yet he was still alive.
"You're strong… for an A-rank."
Fayum's heart sank.
His Astral energy was gone.
Completely empty.
Karzo raised his axe.
"You will be remembered… warrior."
The blade fell.
As darkness consumed Fayum, his lips moved faintly.
"…Yalin…"
At that same moment, inside the house, Yalin froze.
Her breath stopped.
"…No…"
Tears streamed down her face.
Nork looked up at her, worried. "Mom?"
She forced herself to remain calm.
"It's nothing."
Her hands trembled as she cast a spell, gently putting Nork to sleep. She lifted him into her arms and walked toward the door.
Her face was pale.
Silent.
She stepped outside, heading toward the forest.
She needed to hide.
But suddenly—
A shadow appeared before her.
Karzo stood there.
Burned. Broken. Smiling.
"Beautiful lady…" he said slowly.
"May I take your child?"
Yalin's eyes filled with rage.
"You killed my husband… didn't you?"
Karzo tilted his head.
"Oh… I see. That warrior was your husband?"
The sky suddenly roared.
Lightning crackled around Yalin as Astral energy surged violently from her body.
Her gentle expression was gone.
Only rage remained.
Karzo's grin widened.
"…So not only the husband, but the wife is also an A-rank mage."
He chuckled darkly.
"Now that's a dangerous family."