My vision unblurred as everything became clear again. Just what does he want? What are his motives? I didn't have time to think. Slowly raising my head, I glanced ahead and saw Rhyver across the dusty battlefield.
"So, you made your choice…"
His voice echoed, his eyes glowing with that same predatory red. I could feel his intrigue, his thirst, his readiness for battle, but I didn't fear it. My muscles tensed with energy as I straightened up.
"I will never accept such power, Rhyver…"
I replied, placing my hand over my chest. As much as I despised the ancient magic, I couldn't do anything but work with it… or him… or whatever it was.
"It's not me who chose this. But I have no choice but to fight with the weapon I wish I never had."
My blood boiled with determination and newfound strength. My feet pressed into the ground, crushing it as I took my stance. Rhyver stood silent for a moment before cracking his usual smirk, the one that always sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"You are a very ungrateful brat," he said, raising a finger and pointing it toward me.
"Being blessed with such power is an honor that even the previous Demon Kings failed to achieve. With that power, you could conquer the entire Ignathian continent!"
He paused, studying me carefully before chuckling.
"Deny it, and it will fight back. Because in the end, you cannot say no to Lucif."
I listened to his prideful words, but to me they were meaningless. I never wanted to be tied to the royal family. Still, I was curious, curious about his claim and what he knew of Lucif Magic. The thought of learning more about this power lingered in my mind. But most importantly… just how much did he really know? I lowered my gaze slightly.
"You act like you know everything. It hurts to say this, but there is more to this power than just 'what I can achieve.'"
My tone was calm, yet resolute.
"The price I was forced to pay for having this magic, the burden I carried for being half-blooded, the suffering I endured all these years…"
Crimson energy flared violently around me, wrapping my entire body in its aura. Rhyver's expression hardened.
"My denial of this power does not come from stubbornness. I refuse it because I want to prove I don't need it to defeat you!"
As my words rang out, the aura erupted outward in all directions. The wave passed Rhyver, who remained silent. His furrowed eyes locked on me, his expression serious, though I sensed intrigue beneath it, as if he was trying to understand why I would refuse a power he revered. Suddenly, he closed his eyes, smiled, and bowed his head low enough to hide his wolf-like face. Though calm, I stayed ready as the air around him shifted.
"You are really something else, aren't you?" he asked, finally looking up again.
"Whether you use that power or not… I don't care."
His words caught me off guard. The man who had been pushing me to embrace Lucif Magic suddenly didn't care? Impossible.
"There is only one thing I care about."
He paused, letting the silence hang heavy between us.
"And that is a final fight I can enjoy to my fullest."
The red aura reformed around him, his hand folding into a fist.
"I don't care what you use, how you use it, or when you use it. In the end, I want to know how it feels to face another predator at my level. As long as you give it your all in this fight."
The atmosphere grew heavier as both our powers flared. My body sensed the danger, but fear did not take me. I focused entirely, ready to strike. Rhyver spread his arms wide as his aura exploded with killing intent.
"Come as a predator and show me what you are capable of, KAJIN!"
The moment my name left his mouth, I launched myself forward. My eyes burned with determination, and in a flash I was right in front of him. Pulling my arm back, I drove a powerful blow into his cheek. Time seemed to slow, everything frozen, yet with my fist still pressed against his face, Rhyver turned his head back toward me with a smirk. My eyes widened in shock. He tanked it. He was tougher than I thought.
"If you're so tough…" I muttered.
"…then tank this!"
Grabbing Rhyver, I held him in place and swung my leg, slamming it into his head. His eyes flashed with panic, but he couldn't stop it. My kick connected, launching him through the air. Rhyver groaned in pain as he flew, but before he could recover I was already above him. Raising my leg, I aimed for a crushing down-kick. Rhyver, though surprised, reacted quickly and dodged.
Tch… It won't be that easy.
My kick struck the ground instead, shattering it into spiderweb cracks. The force was extraordinary. As much as I hated to admit it, even without drawing on its full power, the physical boost from Lucif Magic was ridiculous. But before I could think further, Rhyver appeared above me, his massive hands locked together. He slammed them down with monstrous force.
"Shit—!"
I raised my arms to block, but the impact shattered the ground beneath me. The surroundings seemed to sink inward from the force. He truly was a monster. An attack like that would have shattered every bone in my body, if not for this cursed power.
"Aghh… fuck it!"
Pushing back with all my strength, I threw his hands away and kicked at his legs, breaking his balance. I followed up with a powerful punch to his side, sending him flying. But before I could press the attack, he vanished and reappeared behind me.
"—What?!"
His tail struck, knocking me off balance. In that instant, Rhyver hammered me with a brutal punch, slamming me into the ground hard enough to make me bounce. Then, with a vicious kick to my stomach, he launched me high into the sky.
He grinned, pointing his fingers at me.
"I hope you're fast in the air."
I tried to stabilize myself midair, but panic gripped me as thousands of sharp aura projectiles appeared, all streaking toward me.
"Great…" I muttered to myself.