The battlefield was in ruins.
Flames devoured what remained of the city. Buildings crumbled. Screams echoed faintly in the distance.
Lucan stood in the middle of it all.
Bloodied. Breathing hard.
Lyra stood just behind him.
And then—
A presence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Familiar.
Lucan's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…He's here."
A dark ripple formed in the air ahead of them.
And from it—
Renji stepped out.
Calm.
Smiling.
Untouched by the chaos around him.
Lucan immediately stepped forward, placing himself in front of Lyra.
"Stay behind me."
His voice was low.
Protective.
Renji tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Well… look at you."
They clashed.
Lucan moved first—fast, aggressive. His blades cut through the air with precision.
Renji blocked effortlessly.
A punch.
A kick.
A spin.
Lucan pressed him hard—but Renji didn't move.
Didn't struggle.
Didn't even try.
After a few exchanges, Renji stepped back slightly.
"You've gotten stronger."
Lucan didn't respond.
"You trained a lot after our last fight… didn't you?"
Lucan's grip tightened.
Renji smiled wider.
"But still… not enough."
They circled each other slowly.
Then Renji spoke again.
Casual.
Almost bored.
"You ever wonder why I do this?"
Lucan's eyes narrowed.
Renji continued.
"I don't hate humans."
"I don't care about demons ruling the world."
"I don't care about war."
A pause.
Then—
"I just… enjoy killing."
Silence.
Lyra froze behind Lucan.
Renji's smile twisted slightly.
"When I was a child… I killed my parents."
Lucan's eyes widened slightly.
"No one blamed me. They said demons did it."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"But it was me."
He looked up at the burning sky.
"There's a thrill… in watching humans die."
"Fear. Desperation. That final moment…"
His eyes dropped back to Lucan.
"It's better than anything."
Lucan's voice came out cold.
"You're sick."
Renji shrugged.
"Maybe."
Another pause.
Then—
A shift in the air.
Lucan felt it instantly.
Another presence.
And then—
She appeared.
Seraphine.
Standing silently behind them.
Emotionless.
Renji glanced at her.
"Oh… you're here."
"…You must've finished your task."
A short pause.
"Did you kill her?"
Seraphine answered without emotion.
"Yes."
Lucan frowned slightly.
"…Kill who?"
Renji's smile widened.
"Your friend."
A beat.
"Reika."
Everything stopped.
Lyra's eyes widened in shock.
"…No…"
Lucan's heart dropped.
Then—
Rage.
Pure.
Violent.
Exploded inside him.
He rushed Renji.
Faster.
Harder.
Wilder.
His attacks lost form—driven by anger.
And that was the mistake.
Behind him—
Seraphine moved.
Lyra reacted instantly, raising her guard.
Their clash began.
Lucan didn't see it.
Didn't hear it.
Didn't care.
Renji blocked every strike.
Effortlessly.
Then—
He grabbed Lucan.
By the throat.
And slammed him to the ground.
Hard.
The air left Lucan's lungs.
Renji lifted him again.
"…You're distracted."
Then—
He forced Lucan's head to the side.
"Watch."
Lucan struggled.
But couldn't break free.
His eyes locked onto Lyra.
She was fighting.
Desperately.
Blocking.
Dodging.
But—
She was losing.
"NO—!"
Lucan roared.
Renji tightened his grip.
Lyra staggered.
Blood running down her arm.
She looked at Lucan.
And smiled.
Soft.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
And then—
Seraphine moved.
A single strike.
Straight through her chest.
Silence.
Time froze.
Lyra's body trembled.
Her lips parted slightly.
Still smiling.
Then—
She fell.
Lifeless.
"…No…"
Renji released him.
Lucan hit the ground—
And ran.
Straight to her.
He dropped beside her body.
"Lyra…?"
His hands shook.
"No… no no no…"
"Wake up…"
"Please… wake up…"
Nothing.
No response.
No warmth.
No life.
His vision blurred.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
"…Not again…"
Flashbacks.
Lucan.
Elias.
Now—
Reika.
Lyra.
"…Why…"
"…Why does this keep happening…"
"…Why can't I protect anyone…"
Something inside him broke.
He stood up slowly.
Turned.
And attacked.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Desperate.
He landed hits.
But they meant nothing.
Renji smiled.
Seraphine joined in.
And together—
They crushed him.
Blow after blow.
Lucan was thrown across buildings.
Smashed into walls.
Dragged across the ground.
Blood everywhere.
His body gave out.
He collapsed.
Barely breathing.
"…I'm… weak…"
"…All that training…"
"…For what…"
Another hit sent him flying into a broken building.
He landed hard.
Coughing blood.
His vision fading.
Then—
Silence.
Darkness creeping in.
And within it—
He felt it.
That power.
That presence.
The same one…
From that day.
The shadows.
They responded.
For the first time—
He understood them.
Accepted them.
Controlled them.
His wounds…
Started healing.
Seraphine rushed forward.
Trying to finish it.
But—
A shadow appeared.
It caught her arm.
Crushed it.
Snapped her weapon in half.
She jumped back instantly.
Lucan stood up.
Slowly.
Calmly.
A pentagram formed—
In his left eye.
His aura changed.
Completely.
He raised his hand.
His dual swords—
Shot through the air—
Landing perfectly in his grip.
Silence.
He looked at Seraphine.
Then—
He vanished.
A flash.
Her head—
Fell.
Clean.
Instant.
Her body dropped.
Renji's smile widened.
"…So this is it."
The real fight—
Had just begun.