The sun rose high in the sky, casting a gentle light over Zenith Village.
The Dilhaze party and the Heroes party returned to the Hayagashi residence, their bodies exhausted, and their hearts heavy with the battle's aftermath.
Inside the house, Reyna paced anxiously, her hands trembling.
Lay stood nearby, his arms crossed, trying to remain calm.
Phae, quiet as ever, placed a hand gently on Reyna's shoulder.
> "They'll be fine," Phae said softly.
Then—a knock.
Reyna flinched, then rushed toward the door.
She threw it open—"What happened?!"
Her eyes widened as she saw Lucas and Raizo carrying Efil, unconscious and pale.
The others trailed behind silently, their clothes stained with dirt and blood.
They carefully laid Efil on the bed.
Phae immediately began checking her pulse, casting healing magic to stabilize her further.
> "She's safe," Phae finally said.
Lucas let out a breath of relief.
> "Thank you, Phae…"
The house grew quiet. Everyone took a seat, tension weighing them down like iron.
Lay sat at the center of the room, eyes sharp.
> "Tell me… What happened out there?"
Lucas rested his elbows on his knees, exhaling.
> "After we defeated the three salamanders… a cloaked man appeared. He was Keith, one of the Demon Generals."
Reyna gasped softly. Phae lowered her head.
> "We tried to fight him… but he was too strong," Lucas continued. "He toyed with us… And then—"
He paused.
> "The Demon Lord Zarvohk appeared."
The room fell silent.
> "He was terrifying," Lucas said. "His mana crushed the air. One snap of his fingers nearly killed Efil."
Reyna covered her mouth. Lay's fists clenched.
But then… Lucas turned his gaze toward Raizo.
> "Before Zarvohk arrived, Keith—he said something strange. He… sensed something in Raizo. A terrifying power."
Everyone's gaze slowly shifted to Raizo.
Raizo, sitting with his arms on his knees, froze.
Reyna's voice trembled.
> "Raizo… is there something you haven't told us yet?"
Lay's voice followed, firmer but calm.
> "Please, son. If you're hiding something… tell us now."
Raizo looked down.
His mind spiraled.
> "Could it be…?"
He remembered the moment he chose Gluttony at the edge of death, lying on the cold asphalt of his old world.
He remembered the anime he loved—the protagonist who devoured abilities and overcame all odds.
It had felt cool. Powerful. Special.
But now?
That same ability…
Had drawn the attention of a demon general.
> "Could Gluttony be what he meant? Is that why he looked at me that way?"
> "What if it's not just a skill… but something more?"
His fingers trembled slightly. A pit formed in his stomach.
Silvia stepped forward, sensing the shift in his expression.
> "Raizo… is something wrong?"
Fenra stood beside her. "You're scaring us… Please, just tell us."
Raizo forced a small smile.
> "...It's nothing."
Lay and Reyna exchanged a glance—worried, but understanding. They didn't press further.
> "Alright," Lay said softly. "But if something changes… tell us."
Raizo nodded, standing up slowly.
> "Mom, Dad… I'm going to my room for a bit."
Reyna tried to smile. "Okay, sweetheart."
As he walked away, Silvia and Fenra stared after him, unease growing in their chests.
Raizo closed the door behind him.
The room was dim, the sunlight filtering through old curtains. Dust floated in the beams of light.
He approached the small mirror by the wall. Looked at himself.
One crimson red eye.
One brown.
> "A terrifying power…?"
His voice was quiet.
He looked at his sword.
Sword that had absorbed stats from monsters.
Hands that had devoured magic, like Poison, Fire, and Lightning.
> "Gluttony… it felt right when I picked it. Back then, it was just an ability from an anime."
He sat on the edge of the bed, gripping his knees.
> "But this is real. These people… my parents, Fenra, Silvia—they're real."
He remembered Efil's unconscious body.
The way Zarvohk's magic crushed the world around him.
> "And now demons are after me? Because of Gluttony?"
A shadow passed over his heart.
> "If I had known… would I have picked another power?"
He chuckled bitterly to himself.
> "Too late now."
He looked back into the mirror.
> "So be it. If this is what I have… then I'll use it. But I'll use it my way. Not like the demons."
He stood.
He clenched his fist, his eyes flashing—crimson and brown.
> "Gluttony may be cursed… but I'll forge it into my strength."