Theron's eyes widened in horror as he caught Aurelia's body.
The two knights, their armor glowing with holy mana, lunged at Ivan in a desperate attempt to protect their Queen.
Theron dropped to his knees, cradling Aurelia close. Her eyes were vacant, fixed on the ceiling, lifeless.
His hand trembled as he reached for her face.
"A-Aur... Aurelia..." he choked out, barely able to speak.
Blood dripped from his clenched fist, the pain meaningless against the chaos inside him. Gritting his teeth, he gently closed her eyes, then laid her down beside him.
Then, slowly, he stood. His gaze locked onto Ivan.
Ivan had already killed both knights—one of them decapitated.
Smiling triumphantly, he licked the blood from his fingers.
"You look awfully upset, King Galewyn.
Did I break your little toy?" Ivan sneered.
"My apologies.
I didn't realize she was so fragile.
Honestly, I didn't expect her to shatter so easily."
His red eyes glowed as they met Theron's. The king's face was now stone—cold and unreadable.
Then came the shift.
Theron's body began to emit waves of holy mana.
His golden, metallic eyes lit up with divine rage. Step by step, he advanced toward Ivan.
But Ivan kept talking, casually, like none of it mattered.
"You know, King Theron... maybe You know if you'd been there when I arrived or if you'd actually done something the moment you saw us—if you hadn't just stood there—she might still be alive."
He tilted his head mockingly.
"Yes, I killed her. But you watched.So i suppose we all play our part in how she died didn't we.
So it wouldn't be fair to put all the blame on me now, would it?"
A pause.
Tell you what why don't I do you a favor and send you to join her
"Tell you what. why don't I do you a favor and make it right. I'll send you to join her."
He raised a hand, and blood-red spears formed in the air, hovering like fangs around a serpent's mouth.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "I'll make sure it's quick and doesn't hurt."
The spears flew toward Theron—
—but a shimmering golden barrier appeared around him, stopping them mid-air. The spears shattered on contact.
Theron bent down slowly, picking up the sword of one of the fallen knights. The barrier faded. The spears were gone.
Then came another wave of energy—his holy mana flared, blindingly intense.
In an instant, he vanished.
And reappeared right in front of Ivan.
His golden eyes gleamed with raw fury.
He swung the sword down with deadly force.
CLANG!
Ivan blocked it—barely—with a crimson blade forged with his blood magic.
"I will kill you... if it's the last thing I do," Theron growled.
Ivan's smile didn't falter.
"Then you'd better try harder," he hissed, his tone venomous. "Because I won't give you the chance. And when I'm done with you... your son will be next. I'll send him to join his parents—for a sweet little family reunion."
Theron's aura surged again, brighter and heavier than ever.
Then they moved—both of them—blades flashing at inhuman speed.
Each clash of their swords sent shockwaves through the room.
In seconds, the entire chamber was in ruins.