My heart thundered like a war drum, each beat echoing in my ears as though heralding my own doom.
My palms were slick with sweat, my breaths shallow and ragged, and yet... I did not stop. Could not stop.
I kept moving forward—step by trembling step. The thought of turning back now was nothing but a cruel joke, a betrayal to everything I had endured, to everyone who had fought and bled to bring me this far.
If I faltered here, if I let my resolve shatter, then every sacrifice would have been in vain.
I cannot let them down. Not now. Not ever.
"Are you ready?"
The voice beside me was smooth yet sharp, like the edge of a blade, and it tore through my haze of fear.
I turned my head, and there he was—Valth, the crimson-haired devil himself.
His scarred hand already rested on the towering, ancient doors before us, as though he'd done this a thousand times before.
His molten eyes met mine for a heartbeat, and for some reason, they seemed to burn brighter in that moment.
I drew in the deepest breath my lungs would allow, filling myself with what little courage still lingered in my veins. Then, finally, I nodded.
"Yeah. Let's end this."
A wicked grin split his lips, and without another word, Valth pressed his palms against the great doors.
The stone groaned in protest, dust rained from the ancient carvings, and a terrible chill spilled into the air as the passage to fate creaked open.
What lay beyond was... a throne room fit for the gods themselves.
The chamber stretched endlessly, vaulted ceilings vanishing into shadow. Pale marble gleamed under a cold light, while light banners fluttered soundlessly against unseen winds.
And at its heart—at the very center of that oppressive grandeur—stood the throne.
It was a monument to power, white and gold, its twisted spires stabbing skyward like jagged fangs.
And before that throne...
A figure stood.
Straight. Still. Regal in his quiet menace.
Valth and I began our slow approach, each step echoing like gunshots in the cavernous silence.
My stomach churned with each meter we closed, the weight of his gaze already burning into me though his back was still turned.
And then—finally—he spoke.
His voice was velvet laced with venom.
"So. You've chosen to stand with him, have you, Valth?"
Valth stopped, just a few paces from him, and let out a low, dangerous chuckle.
"I only stood with you as long as it amused me... your highness," he said, his grin glinting like a wolf's in moonlight.
My heart stopped.
The man turned then, slowly, deliberately—like the turning of the world itself—and his eyes found us, pinning me where I stood.
Those eyes.
Cold. Ancient. Merciless.
And in that instant, I knew: there was no turning back.
He stood before me, towering like a marble statue of a god—easily two meters tall, clad in a pristine white suit that seemed to drink in the faint light of the throne room.
His long, snowy white hair cascaded over his shoulders, shimmering like spun silver.
And then his eyes—light blue, glacial, infinite—met mine.
My emerald gaze, full of defiance and terror, was swallowed whole by that frozen ocean.
He looked no older than thirty, but everything about him screamed of something ancient, something unfathomable.
"I've been waiting for you, Arche."
His voice was soft. Too soft. A silk thread wound tight around my neck, pulling, strangling, sending a wave of suffocating pressure crashing down on me.
My chest tightened. My lungs refused to fill. My heart thrashed wildly, beating against my ribs as if trying to escape my own body.
I can't breathe.
I couldn't stand.
I fell to my knees, as though the weight of his mere presence alone had crushed my will to resist. My hands trembled against the polished floor.
"What... the hell is this...?" The words slipped out of my mouth in a hoarse whisper, barely audible.
Every instinct inside me screamed danger. That I could die in the next second—from anywhere, from anything.
His power was everywhere at once. My body shook violently, my vision blurred with tears I didn't even realize I was holding back.
I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. But my legs betrayed me, quivering uselessly as the cold of his presence seeped into my very bones.
And then—he smiled.
I dared to look up at him, and that smile carved itself into my mind like a brand.
A smile without warmth, without mercy, curling on his lips as if to say: you're nothing.
Was he mocking me? Did he find me amusing? Or was I so insignificant that even my humiliation was a joke to him?
"Oh?" His words cut through me like a blade of ice. "You seem to respect your enemy a great deal, hm?"
Cold. Detached. Contemptuous.
The mocking lilt in his tone was unmistakable now. My cheeks burned with shame as I realized he was taunting me for kneeling, for breaking so easily.
I felt... small.
Smaller than I'd ever felt.
Like a pitiful insect crushed under his boot.
There was no chance. Not against him. No way to win. I was going to die here, on my knees.
Should I just give up?
But... why?
Why should I give up now?
No.
No—I've come too far.
But why did just standing in front of him make me feel so weak?
Why did my resolve, my strength, my pride—everything—feel so fragile?
Then... if I've already fallen to my knees, there's only one thing left to do.
Stand.
Stand up again.
Even if I didn't know anymore what was up or what was down, even if my mind was spinning and my soul was cracking, I couldn't stay like this.
As the chaos in my head threatened to consume me whole—
A heavy smack landed against my back.
I gasped as the sudden, sharp pain jolted me out of my spiral.
My eyes shot to the side.
Valth.
It was his hand, resting firmly against me after the hard pat. His crimson hair framed his sharp grin, and his amber eyes burned into mine—not with pity, but with fire.
A fire that told me: Get up. You're stronger than this.
That look alone... was enough to stop the shaking in my legs.
I felt... pathetic.
The thought gnawed at me as I forced my shaking legs to straighten. My knees wobbled, my breaths came sharp and uneven, but still—I stood.
Inch by painful inch, I raised my head and stared into the perfect figure before me.
He was flawless. Impossibly flawless.
And yet, my chest still burned with something between anger and shame.
"...Sorry," I muttered, barely above a whisper.
Valth let out a low chuckle beside me. "It's okay," he said, his tone carrying a strange warmth that didn't match the icy air around us.
"Everyone's like that the first time. But don't worry... you'll get used to it."
His amber eyes slid toward mine, glinting with quiet confidence. "Adapting is one of your talents, after all."
And then, the perfect man before us—white suit pristine, hair like fallen snow, eyes like frozen skies—tilted his head and placed both hands behind his back. A smile played on his lips, sharp and unreadable.
"Well, if you two are finished with your little teacher-student pep talk..." His voice was silken, cold as glass, and yet oddly amused.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly."
He took one step forward, and the sound of his shoes against the marble floor rang like a gavel.
"I am the boss of this organization," he declared, his piercing gaze never leaving mine. "And I'm sure you already know my name, Arche."
My fists tightened around my blades as my lips finally formed the name I'd dreaded and hunted in equal measure.
"...Death."
It came out hoarse, almost disbelieving.
Because standing there... he didn't look terrifying at all. Not the way I'd imagined. Not the monster I'd expected.
He was... beautiful.
Death's eyes gleamed as though he could hear my every thought. And then-he confirmed it.
"I know what you're thinking, Arche," he said softly. "I am the embodiment of what those who've given up on life imagine Death to be."
His smile widened, dark and cruel in its perfection.
"Beautiful. Perfect. Better than this cruel, broken world."
For a moment, the weight of his words threatened to crush me all over again. But this time... this time I found something else.
I understood.
Oh, I see.
I let out a long breath, rolling my shoulders back.
The trembling in my legs began to ease as resolve filled the hollow space in my chest.
Without another word, I slid my twin blades from their sheaths, the metal whispering promises of defiance as it kissed the air.
My stance lowered, steady now, my green eyes locked on him like daggers.
"No wonder..." I muttered, lips curling into a thin grin. "...I was surprised."
Then I raised one blade and pointed its gleaming tip straight at his heart.
"Because..." My voice sharpened to a growl. "...I'm not one of them."
Death's smile deepened, faint amusement flashing in his icy eyes.
"Oh?" he murmured. "So eager to attack already?"
Valth snorted behind me, dropping into his stance as well.
"Well," he said, cracking his neck with a sharp pop. "He did say 'I'll kill Death' before walking through those doors."
Valth's grin turned savage, his voice low and ready. "And you know what? I can't wait either."
Death chuckled then, low and chilling, the sound curling through the air like smoke.
"Very well," he said, extending his arms, welcoming what was to come. "If that's what you want..."
And then—Valth and I moved in unison, our voices rising as one.
"Its—"
And then, louder, our roars merging into the vaulted chamber:
"—SHOWTIME!"
I ashed forward, blades flashing, and swung with all my might—but Death... he didn't even flinch.
With nothing but a slight tilt of his head, he avoided my strike as though he had seen it coming years in advance.
I roared in frustration, unleashing a relentless flurry of slashes, each faster and more vicious than the last, but he weaved between them effortlessly, as if mocking my every move.
And then—he vanished.
Before I could even catch my breath, Death was already behind me.
My blood froze, my body locked in place, paralyzed by his killing intent. His hand reached out for my back like a grim shadow ready to claim me—
—when suddenly, Valth came crashing in like a meteor, his boot screaming through the air and smashing toward Death's face.
But even that was caught. Death's hand rose lazily, stopping Valth's devastating kick as if it were nothing but a child's tantrum.
"Arche!" Valth barked, his voice sharp like lightning tearing through a storm.
His cry jolted me awake. I spun around, blades ready, and lunged to pierce Death's heart—
—but he merely stepped back, calmly, almost casually, retreating into the darkness with a faint smirk curling on his lips.
I raised my hand, signaling. Valth understood instantly, charging forward again with blazing fury, throwing a bone-shattering punch straight for Death's gut.
But again—Death's hand caught it. The wooden floor groaned and splintered beneath them from the sheer force of Valth's strike, but Death didn't budge.
From behind, I pounced, crossing both my blades and thrusting for his spine.
But with a single fluid step to the side, Death twisted around, and my blades buried themselves uselessly into the floorboards, sending up a spray of splinters.
"Not bad," Death murmured, his voice like ice over steel.
"You've trained him well, Valth." His crimson eyes glowed faintly, his tone almost... amused.
My fists clenched tight around my hilts, knuckles white with rage and frustration.
"Oh? Don't worry," he sneered, tilting his head. "I won't take your precious weapons. I'm not that cruel."
With a growl, I yanked my blades free, the screech of steel against wood ringing like a battle cry. I straightened, never taking my eyes off him.
"Valth," I called, my voice low but commanding.
We leapt back at the same moment, landing side by side in perfect sync.
As Death's gaze followed us with quiet curiosity, I slipped a shimmering teleport gem into Valth's palm.
His eyes flicked to mine, and in that instant of silence he understood. He gave me a sharp nod.
I charged first, my boots thudding hard against the wooden floor, the boards creaking and groaning under my speed.
Death's light blue eyes glimmered with curiosity, as though intrigued by whatever scheme I thought I could pull off this time.
With a roar, I slashed an X-shaped arc into the air with my twin blades, crossing them like shimmering fangs.
As always, Death dodged with infuriating ease, his body gliding just beyond my reach.
My teeth clenched, frustration boiling in my chest as I locked eyes with him, my fury burning hotter with every breath.
I leapt to his side, closing the gap in a heartbeat—then hurled one of my blades straight at him like a comet.
Death casually stepped back, his posture annoyingly calm, his smirk mocking.
"If you keep swinging with anger like that," he drawled lazily, "you'll never win."
But he never saw what came next.
From the shadows on his other side, Valth's hand shot out, snatching my thrown blade mid-air.
His grip tightened on the hilt, his red eyes flashing with determination.
In perfect sync, without even needing words, we both crushed the teleport gem between our fingers.
A blinding flash. The scent of splintering wood.
We reappeared right in front of Death.
For the first time, his eyes widened—just slightly—caught off guard.
We didn't waste the moment.
With full force, both of us slashed at him at once. Steel met flesh with a sickening, wet hiss as blood sprayed into the air, warm drops speckling our cheeks and dripping onto the battered wooden floor.
Death stumbled back a step, the boards creaking under his heels.
And then... he smiled.
"Ah," he murmured, his voice low and amused. "So that was your plan. Impressive. Truly... surprising."
I stood there, panting, barely able to believe what I'd just done—that I had finally drawn his blood.
Valth clapped a hand on my shoulder, his usual stoic expression breaking into the faintest smirk.
"Don't get too excited yet," he said flatly, his voice calm but laced with warning. "We're not even halfway through this fight."
And just like that, my fleeting triumph was replaced by a chilling realization.
Valth shot forward like a bullet, charging at Death before I could even react.
My eyes widened as his feet hammered the wooden floor with lightning speed, each step a thunderclap in the silent hall.
He unleashed a furious storm of punches from every angle imaginable, his blade flashing like a viper in his hand as he stabbed, thrust, and slashed without mercy—aiming for every vital point he could see.
One of his strikes collided with Death's arm, a sound like steel on steel ringing out as Death blocked it effortlessly.
Snarling, Valth thrust his blade straight for Death's face—but Death merely leaned back, his eyes cold, letting the strike cut through empty air.
Valth didn't stop-he swung his blade in a deadly arc, aiming to take Death's head clean off.
But Death crouched low at the last possible instant, evading the edge by a hair's breadth.
Still, Valth pressed on, hammering his fist into Death with the ferocity of a wild beast, his breath heavy, his eyes burning.
But then—in a sudden, blinding flash—Death surged upward from his crouch and drove his foot square into Valth's face, sending him staggering backward.
Before Valth could recover, Death leapt into the air and delivered a crushing kick straight into his gut, the impact reverberating through the entire hall.
I darted forward and caught Valth just before he could collapse completely.
My arms locked around him as he struggled to stand, and I hissed into his ear, "Hey—what the hell are you trying to pull?"
He smirked weakly, blood trickling down his lip, and growled back through gritted teeth.
"Nothing. I just... wanted to see if I could take him myself."
With that, he shoved off of me, forcing himself to stand tall again, his fists still trembling with rage and defiance.
"I just wanted to look cool before you stole the spotlight, Arche," Valth said with a wicked grin, his voice dripping with defiance.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. "You're an idiot, you know that?"
"Yeah, yeah—just watch closely, Arche," he shot back, his tone suddenly serious.
I knew exactly what he meant—he wanted me to memorize Death's movements, to study him through Valth's reckless dance with danger.
Before I could reply, Valth charged in again, a whirlwind of fury and fists.
But this time Death caught his arm mid-swing, his grip like iron, and with terrifying ease, he hoisted Valth into the air and slammed him into the floor with a bone-rattling crash.
The boards splintered beneath him.
But Valth wasn't done. Not by a long shot.
With a guttural roar, he sprang back to his feet, his hands shooting out to clamp around Death's throat in a chokehold so tight even Death's calm expression cracked for just a split second.
Valth's knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip, then—with a feral growl-he drove his blade deep into Death's gut and hurled him aside like a broken doll.
I stood frozen for a moment, stunned.
Valth... he didn't even flinch. Not an ounce of fear in him.
If that was how he was going to play it... then there was no way in hell I was going to let myself be outshone.
Valth stalked toward Death, who was sprawled on the floor, and raised his blade to finish it.
But Death rolled smoothly out of the way, sprang to his feet, and casually dusted off his pristine suit as though nothing had happened.
That was my cue.
I bolted forward, blade flashing, and thrust straight for his heart-but Death's hand shot out, catching my wrist effortlessly.
With a sinister smirk, he twisted my arm, and the momentum of my own attack drove my blade harmlessly into the wall behind him.
Snarling, I wrenched him sideways by his collar, slamming him into the ground—but in one fluid, terrifying motion, he slipped free, darted behind me, and with brutal precision lifted me clean off the ground before hurling me backward like a sack of sand.
My skull cracked against the floor with a sickening thud.
We both collapsed—but Death was the first to rise, standing tall and unscathed, while I lay gasping, tasting blood, my vision swimming.
He looked down at me, calm and unhurried.
Valth lunged at Death with blinding speed, slashing at him over and over in a relentless flurry.
Yet Death... didn't even break a sweat. He simply stepped back, step after step, effortlessly evading every deadly arc of Valth's blade.
But then—Valth made his move.
He swung upward in a vicious strike... but at the peak of his motion, he let go.
The blade flew from his hand, spinning through the air before clattering uselessly to the floor.
Death's eyes flickered with the faintest glint of mockery.
But it was a feint.
In an instant, Valth dropped low, sweeping Death's legs out from under him with a brutal strike to his knee.
Death stumbled, his balance ripped away, and he collapsed to the floor in a graceless, heavy thud.
That was my moment.
I sprinted forward, heart hammering like a war drum, and used Valth's crouched back as a springboard.
My boots dug into his back as I launched myself into the air, my blade raised high and aimed squarely at Death's chest.
The sound came sharp and final—
SCHLUNK!
My blade sank deep into his chest, right where his heart should be. I felt it.
The faintest shudder through the hilt as steel pierced flesh and something vital beneath.
His body froze, unmoving, as I yanked my blade free, slick with his blood.
For one breathless second, the room fell silent.
Then—chaos.
Valth's hand shot out, grabbing me by the collar and dragging me down behind the throne just as the air around Death erupted in a violent surge of energy, blinding light and deafening roar.
The throne shielded us, barely holding back the blast that would have incinerated us where we stood.
"Get out."
The words fell from Death's lips like shards of black ice-cold, absolute, and impossible to defy.
Without a word, Valth and I stepped out behind the throne, the air outside chilling and heavy as we crossed the threshold.
But then... we saw him.
And he was no longer the same.
My stomach sank as my eyes climbed up his towering frame. His long, snow-white hair now seemed to glow faintly, rippling with some otherworldly wind.
His icy blue eyes burned brighter, sharper, almost inhuman. And then there were the... other parts.
Scales.
Thin, glimmering scales like polished sapphire crept across his arms and jawline, catching the faint light and scattering it in an eerie shimmer.
His once-pristine suit was gone, replaced by garments of white silk and silver thread that clung to him like ancient regalia. But most striking of all...
The antlers.
Two elegant, sprawling antlers-like a stag's, but far more imposing-jutted from his head, dark against the pale glow of his hair.
I leaned toward Valth, my voice no louder than a hiss.
"...Hey. You didn't tell me anything about this."
Valth only shrugged, his lips twitching at the corners. "I... also know very little about this," he muttered back.
Death caught us staring, of course. His smile was arrogant now, dripping with cruel amusement as he spread his clawed fingers.
"Congratulations," he purred, his voice laced with venom and pride alike, "on killing me. Once."
"I underestimated you," he continued, his fangs glinting as he spoke. "That was my fault."
And then his smile widened—razor-sharp, predatory.
"So now... I suppose it's only fair that I get serious."
"...Why," I asked aloud, unable to stop myself, "did you grow deer antlers?"
My lips curled into a smirk despite myself. "Pft... don't tell me..." I snorted softly, "...you're a deer man?"
Valth snickered beside me, his grin growing wider.
"Heheheh..." he whispered, barely holding back a laugh. "That would be... so ridiculous."
We both giggled under our breath, the absurdity of it cutting through the fear for just a moment.
But Death only tilted his head, his smile unfaltering, his voice low and dangerous.
"Too bad," he said, his words like a blade sliding through my ribs.
"Your poor little guess..." He stepped forward, the faint clang of metal following him like a symphony of knives. "...was wrong."
He raised his chin, his inhuman eyes locking onto mine, as his antlers gleamed like obsidian spears.
"I," he declared, with the calm certainty of a god addressing mortals, "am a dragon."
I froze.
"...Huh?"
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
A dragon?
I blinked, staring at him as my mind scrambled to make sense of it.
He didn't look like a dragon. Not the way I'd been taught. Where were the wings? The tail? The hulking scales and the smoke?
Ah...
I glanced at Valth, who raised an eyebrow at me.
"...Different species, huh?" I murmured, mostly to myself.
Valth's lips quirked into a faint smirk as he echoed the word, still half in disbelief.
"...Dragon?"
Death's gaze softened then, ever so slightly. He regarded the two of us with something akin to faint amusement before finally letting out a long, resigned sigh.
"...I suppose," he said at last, his voice low and oddly patient, "I owe you an explanation."
He gazed down at the world from above, high above the clouds that blanketed the cities steeped in sin.
A cold wind swept past him, carrying with it the scent of iron and the dust of unending wars below.
His eyes, as calm as a frozen lake, watched the tiny humans busy destroying one another.
In his homeland, behavior like that only led to one consequence: punishment. There, there was no place for the weak, the arrogant, or the greedy.
That land was perfect... until perfection became nothing but a cage of boredom.
For thousands of years, he lived in that flawless monotony. He had already wandered every cavern, every peak, every valley of the dragon's realm.
There were no more secrets to uncover, no more challenges to face.
Until at last, he discovered a way out—a small fracture, an ancient portal tucked away in the rocks.
Humans... the first time he laid eyes on them, he felt a spark of awe. They were fragile, yet daring.
Small, yet capable of creating things he had never seen before.
But that awe quickly turned to disgust when he saw their true nature. Greedy. Cruel. Hypocritical.
He knew this world could be better. More worthy of existence. But not with them... not as they are now.
That was why he needed time. And power. More lives than just one.
He tried potions, spells, even ancient tricks passed down from his ancestors, but none of it worked on him.
All of it was effective only on humans, not on what he was.
Until he finally remembered an old legend: a dragon like him could gain three lives... if he was willing to bear the sin.
And so, he did.
He weakened his entire kind with forbidden magic, then slaughtered every scaled creature who had ever called him brother.
One by one they fell under his claws and fangs, their blood soaking the sacred ground. Even the strongest among them finally broke.
When it was over, he felt his body change. Those new lives filled him... but they also sealed away the power he once knew.
He could feel his true form writhing beneath his human flesh, but still, he could not return to it. Those wings refused to open.
And now he wanders again. Gathering those he deems worthy.
Those who could become the foundation of the new world. A world no longer drowned in sin like this one.
He chose the name Death, for he knew it was the one thing humans feared most.
He walks slowly, his steps heavy with the weight of millennia, yet his eyes remain fixed forward.
At the end of the path, a new world awaits—one that only he, and the chosen few, deserve to inhabit.
Hearing Death's explanation, Valth and I were shocked. "Wait, so the more you kill, the stronger you get?"
"Yes, I am twice as strong as before, and if I am killed again, I will be ten times stronger," Death replied in a cold tone.
I, who was confused and surprised, turned to Valth, "We're cooked, aren't we?"
Valth nodded, scratching the back of his head with a troubled look. "And if we manage to kill him one more time, he becomes ten times stronger?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Shouldn't it be three? Since when does arithmetic bend to the whims of monsters?" I muttered, more to myself than to him.
He huffed a laugh that sounded entirely too tired. "Don't ask me. Math and apocalypse-tier dragons don't mix."
"Anyway, put that aside," I pressed, my voice tightening. "Any ideas on how we're supposed to defeat him? He's a dragon that's lived for over four thousand years, you know?"
Valth's shoulders slumped as he sighed. "There's no trick to it. We just… keep attacking."
We charged straight at Death, blades flashing as the air crackled with tension.
But just as we closed in, Valth suddenly yanked me back, leaping away from Death's looming figure.
"What the hell are you—?!" I started to snap at him, but he didn't answer.
He just kept pulling me, retreating as Death advanced, each step like a drumbeat of doom echoing through the hall.
I tore myself free of his grip, fury burning in my chest.
"Hey! If we keep backing off like cowards, we'll never beat him!" I shouted. "If you're scared, then just stay out of my way!"
Without waiting for a response, I snatched my blade from his hand, twin weapons now gleaming in my fists.
Gritting my teeth, I charged forward alone, feet pounding against the cold floor.
I struck first—a vicious downward slash, then a blinding upward arc, my blades nothing but silver streaks of light.
But Death danced around every blow, his movements impossibly calm, his eyes cold and unflinching.
I kept slashing, faster and faster, desperate to break through his defense.
But I didn't notice the wall at my back until it was too late—I'd cornered myself.
And then he moved.
Death's fist shot forward like a cannonball. At the last instant, I twisted my head aside, and his punch smashed clean through the wall behind me, reducing it to rubble with a deafening crash.
"Oh shit—!" I scrambled backward, retreating to where Valth stood, his arms crossed, wearing that damn mocking grin of his.
"Told you not to just rush him like an idiot," Valth said lazily, his tone infuriatingly calm. "He's got strength you can't even imagine."
I glared at him, my chest heaving. "You didn't bother telling me that part, did you?!" I barked, my voice cracking with anger.
I exchanged a sharp glance with Valth—a silent signal. Then I bolted forward, my boots pounding against the floor as I hurled one of my blades straight at Death's face.
It should've been a perfect strike.
But with infuriating ease, Death tilted his head aside, and the blade sailed harmlessly past him, embedding itself deep into the wall behind.
I didn't stop.
With a snarl, I closed in, slashing furiously with my remaining blade. Steel hissed through the air, and finally—finally—I felt the tip bite into his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
A satisfied grin spread across my face. But Death... didn't even flinch. Not a flicker of pain. His eyes stayed as cold and emotionless as ever.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Arche," Death said flatly, his voice colder than ice.
I growled and went low, swinging for his knee—but Death was faster. His foot came down like a hammer, pinning my blade to the floor with a metallic clang.
My eyes went wide just as he lashed out, sending me sprawling onto my back, gasping.
"You really thought the same trick would work on me?" Death asked, his tone laced with mockery.
"Worth a shot," I shot back through gritted teeth.
And then—from behind—Valth came tearing into view, yanking my other blade free from the wall.
He used my back as his stepping stone, planting his boot between my shoulder blades as he leapt over me.
"Ugh—dammit, was that really necessary?!" I cursed under my breath, glaring up at him.
Valth swung at Death's face with a roar—but Death caught the blade midair with his bare hand.
The steel bit into his palm, and finally, finally, blood dripped from his fingers.
Valth sneered, glancing at the crimson staining Death's flawless skin.
"All that... just to scratch your hand?" he muttered, almost disappointed.
He wrenched the blade free and swung again, this time aiming for Death's gut.
Death was forced to retreat a step, and my blade clattered free from under his boot.
"Hey—watch it, damn you!" I shouted, still pinned under Valth's boot as he pressed forward. "Get off me already!"
"Oh? A talking doormat, that's new" Valth mocked, I then tried to slash his leg and he immediately jumped down. "What a creepy doormat"
I got up and brushed off the back of my robe, "You—" Before I could protest, Valth's expression turned serious.
"Arche, we can't waste any more time," he said, even though he had been the one playing around.
I sighed in annoyance, but I agreed with him, "Valth" I then whispered to him, telling him the plan.
Hearing that Valth was shocked, "What the heck?! Are you trying to kill me?!" He said.
"Don't worry, you won't die," I replied, "I won't let you die either, there are still many things I need to ask you however."
Valth's eyes went wide for half a beat, then he chuckled. "Alright—my grandson."
"Don't call me that." I jabbed the tip of my blade at his neck, annoyed.
Valth raised both hands like a surrendering puppy. "Noted. Grandson avoidance activated."
Valth let out a long, heavy breath—a sound that carried both exhaustion and grim determination.
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he charged straight at Death.
But the moment he stood before him... he froze.
Death didn't hesitate. He unleashed a brutal flurry of punches, hammering Valth with such force that his body was sent flying into the air like a ragdoll.
But I was already moving.
I caught his leg midair, swinging him in a wide arc before hurling my blade upward into the sky.
As Valth twisted in my grip, his hand shot out, catching the spinning blade just as his momentum carried him hurtling back toward Death.
Death's eyes narrowed in the briefest flash of surprise at the reckless, improvised tactic.
Valth slammed the two ends of the blade together into one deadly point, his eyes locked on Death's chest.
Death crossed his arms into an X, bracing to block. But Valth only grinned—a feral, defiant grin.
With a savage twist of his wrists, Valth split Death's arms apart, steel tearing through flesh with a spray of blood.
Death's expression cracked, shock flickering across his face as his severed forearms fell uselessly to the floor.
The moment Valth landed on his feet, he immediately vaulted backward, chest heaving, eyes blazing.
I didn't waste a second—sliding a healing potion across the floor toward him as he staggered, clutching his side.
He snatched it up with a nod, still panting, but grinning all the same.
Then, without a word, he hurled both blades toward Death in a deadly arc.
"Your turn!" he barked.
I bolted forward, catching both hilts mid-run, one in each hand, feeling their familiar weight settle into my grip.
Death didn't even have time to react.
With a roar, I drove both blades forward, the twin points sinking deep into his chest—piercing flesh, bone, and heart.
His eyes widened, his body jerking as the steel found its mark.
I grinned, satisfied, and shoved the blades even deeper before wrenching them free with a slick, wet sound.
With one final leap, I landed clear, blades in hand, watching Death's body waver where he stood—crimson blooming across his chest.
The two of us dove behind the shattered remains of the throne just in time—another blinding surge of power ripped through the air, a deafening roar of energy that tore the throne itself into splinters of marble and gold.
And then—
A laugh.
A terrible, ecstatic laugh that chilled my very bones.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS POWER!"
The voice rattled through the cavernous room like a storm breaking free of the earth.
"IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE FELT THIS!"
My heart stopped as his voice rose to a scream, sharp and triumphant.
"I'M TEN TIMES STRONGER THAN BEFORE!"
The sound alone made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, my chest tight with a cold, primal terror.
Zack and I risked a glance over the rubble—just enough to see him.
Death was no longer bound to the ground.
He floated now, suspended in the air, his antlers ablaze with faint, ghostly light, scales glittering like a thousand weapons, his eyes burning with something far beyond human.
And when those eyes landed on us—just a glance, nothing more—my legs gave out.
I collapsed to my knees, gasping.
"W-what is this pressure?!" The words tore from my throat as my arms trembled under my own weight.
Even Valth, always the calm one, was hunched over, his hands braced on the floor as his body shook.
It felt as though an enormous dragon stood before us—a predator so vast and terrible it could swallow me whole in a single breath.
My skin prickled with goosebumps; cold sweat rolled down my temple.
"Arche..." Valth's voice was strained, barely a whisper, but still there. "Hang... in there..."
But even he... even he was struggling to stand.
Then Death moved, raising one elegant hand.
And the metal in the room seemed to come alive—liquid silver slithered along the floor, then surged toward Valth, wrapping around his arms and legs like serpents of steel.
Before I could react, the metal dragged him forward, hauling him into the air until he hung before Death, bound and helpless.
Yet even then... even then, Valth still managed a crooked grin.
"Hey, Death," he said hoarsely, his eyes steady.
Death regarded him in silence for a long, suffocating moment. Then he spoke, his voice low but sharp enough to cut glass.
"You..."
His tone darkened with each word.
"You were the first person I recruited. The first human I ever... trusted."
I could see it in his eyes now-not just fury, but something colder. Something that hurt.
"And yet... you betrayed me. You helped that boy to kill me."
His fingers curled slightly, and the metal around Valth tightened with a groan of strain.
"You knew. You knew that I despise evil. That I despise what humanity does—stealing, robbing, abusing, destroying, corrupting, waging war... betraying."
Each word was a dagger.
His lips twisted into something bitter.
"I already hated this endless fight."
His voice cracked—just barely—as his burning gaze stayed fixed on Valth's.
"But being betrayed by the first one I trusted—"
He drew a sharp breath, and for the first time, his composure faltered just enough to show what lay beneath the perfect mask.
"—That," he hissed, "is something I still cannot bring myself to believe."
Death's hand tightened slightly, and the coils of metal gleamed with deadly intent.
"Tell me—" His voice fell to a whisper now, more dangerous than a scream.
"—Valtherion. Why? Why did you choose to betray me?"
Even with the sound of his own bones cracking under the crushing pressure of the liquid metal, Valth grinned.
That same damned grin he always wore when the odds were hopeless.
"Easy," he rasped, voice strained but steady. "Because what you did was wrong."
His golden eyes blazed with defiance as he added, "There's no other reason."
Death tilted his head, his perfect face devoid of even a flicker of pity.
"...Is that so?" His voice was like ice over steel.
"Then you must die."
The metal in his hand shifted, elongating into a cruel, gleaming spear.
"No—DON'T!"
The scream tore from my lungs before I even realized, but my body refused to move.
My legs quivered uselessly, locked in place. I was shaking, panicked, terrified.
But Death didn't even glance my way.
"Goodbye, Valtherion."
The spear of molten silver shot forward in a flash of light.
And pierced through Valth's chest.
The sound—the sickening, wet crunch of metal tearing through flesh and bone—froze my heart solid.
Valth's breath hitched, his body trembling as he turned his head toward me.
That grin... was still there.
His lips moved, forming words I could not hear, but I read them clearly nonetheless.
"Defeat him, Arche. I know you can... because you..."
"...are my proud... and beloved grandson."
My eyes went wide.
The world seemed to stop.
The bonds of liquid metal that held him loosened, as though even Death himself was caught off guard by the weight of those words.
Valth's body fell, plunging toward the ground.
And something inside me snapped.
"VALTH—!"
I threw my dual blades back into their sheaths and launched forward, my entire body screaming in protest.
I caught him.
The heat of his blood soaked into my hands, my chest, as I cradled him against me and ran—ran with everything I had.
I stumbled behind cover and dropped to my knees, tearing a healing potion from my belt and pressing it to his lips.
"Drink... damn it, Valth, drink—" My voice cracked as I forced the bitter liquid into his slack mouth.
"There's still time! Valth! Wake up! You hear me?! I know you can still wake up... you always get back up..."
But then...
I saw it.
The gaping hole where his heart should have been.
And the light in his eyes... already gone.
Valtherion had fallen.
The weight of it crushed me in an instant.
"No..." My hands trembled as they pressed against his wound, as if sheer willpower alone could stop the inevitable.
"Damn it..."
The word escaped as a guttural snarl, and then—
"DAMN IT!"
I threw my head back and roared my rage into the emptiness, my voice cracking, raw, my throat burning.
I lowered his body gently to the cold marble floor, my fingers unwilling to let go of him even as the last warmth faded from his skin.
Then, with trembling hands, I reached for the heavy curtain hanging nearby.
I yanked it down, the fabric tearing under my grip.
With my blade, I sliced through it and draped it over Valth's still form, covering him from the cruel, watchful eyes of the world.
My throat tightened as the words caught in it, but I forced them out anyway, my voice breaking.
"...I'm sorry, Valth," I whispered, my hands clutching the cloth over his chest. "I told you... I told you I wouldn't let you die but..."
I couldn't finish.
I gasped for breath, my hands still shaking, my vision blurring.
How could I possibly kill Death alone?
Especially now—when he was ten times stronger than before?
The weight of it crushed me, smothering my chest in panic and fear.
I turned, unwilling but unable to resist the pull of his presence.
There he stood-or rather, floated-like a nightmare given form.
Death.
The figure that stared back at me now was no longer human in any sense of the word.
He hovered in midair, bare-chested, his sculpted frame pale as marble, faintly tinted with the icy blue of something dead and ancient.
His deer antlers still crowned his head like a dark coronet, but now... now a long, sinuous snake tail coiled behind him, swaying lazily, glinting faintly under the light.
His fingers ended in claws-long, silvered, sharp enough to rend steel.
Every inch of him radiated malice and divinity all at once, an abomination both beautiful and terrifying.
Just the sight of him made my knees weak, my chest heave, my heart threaten to give out.
And then... he spoke.
His voice was calm, quiet even-but it slithered through the air, filling every corner of the throne room.
"The curtain rises now… witness the real show, Arche the Fool Hero."
His lips curved into a cruel smile, his icy eyes locking onto mine.
"It's showtime."