A dazzling light exploded from within my soul space, enveloping my entire form.
My soul body expanded, its outlines solidifying—no longer a fragile shadow.
CRANG!
The chains binding my right leg fell away.
And in that instant, a new wave of power surged through me.
In the real world, my body was enveloped in the same light—pure yet terrifying.
The light penetrated the walls of the house, pierced the roof, and radiated across the village like a giant torch in the middle of the night.
Zereth and the demons immediately noticed the burst of energy.
They rushed toward my house, their steps heavy but swift.
At the door, they found Rena standing upright, her hand on her sword hilt, her aura pulsing, ready to slaughter anyone who approached.
Zereth stared at her intently.
"What is that light?" he asked.
Rena didn't turn around, her eyes still scanning the surroundings.
"I don't know, but my duty is clear—to hinder anyone who tries to harm My Lord."
From behind, Nana and Selena remained on guard, their gazes filled with suspicion.
Just moments ago, they had even dueled with this woman.
"Why is this woman here?" Selena asked coldly.
"She's our enemy," Nana added, her voice sharp.
Zereth stepped forward, blocking the two of them.
"That woman has received power from our Lord. She's now the Hero of the Demons."
Selena stared wide-eyed, her face unreadable.
"A hero, you say?"
Nana and Selena fell silent, shocked.
In their lifetimes, neither had heard of a hero born from demons.
Suddenly, the sky above the village darkened. Dark clouds rolled in rapidly, and lightning began to strike with a deafening roar.
Zereth and the demons immediately went on alert, their auras soaring.
"What's happening? This is too abnormal," Zereth muttered, his eyes staring warily at the sky.
A flash of light appeared—bright, blinding.
Then, CRACK!—a giant bolt of lightning fell straight down, heading straight for the house I was in.
Rena watched, her pupils constricting.
Without hesitation, she summoned dark magic to her hands, forming a pair of gleaming black swords.
With a single kick, she shot into the air, blocking the lightning strike.
Her swords spun wildly, forming a vortex of dark aura.
[SPINNING SLASH]
The vortex struck the lightning bolt directly in midair.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the village, white and black flashes mingling in the sky.
But there was no time to breathe—a second bolt of lightning struck, attempting to break through the defenses and strike the house.
Selena leaped into the air, breaking through the swirling smoke of the first explosion.
Her weapon had changed—her battle axe had now evolved into a black halberd engraved with runes.
With a war cry, she thrust the weapon straight into the core of the second bolt.
[DIVE IMPACT]
The tip of the halberd and the lightning core collided.
BOOOOOOM!
A second explosion rocked the village, light and darkness consuming each other in the air, leaving a shockwave that made the ground tremble.
—
Back inside my soul space.
I felt something, a new power flowing freely within my body.
Moon magic—once a poison to demons—was now within my reach without pain.
A faint smile formed on my lips.
"Finally… this magic no longer affects me," I said softly.
From a distance, Celes's soul slowly approached, her aura gentle but her eyes sharp.
"Niel, your power now surpasses that of a hero," she said.
She stopped right in front of me, looking straight into my eyes.
"Tell me, would you like to be a hero once more?" she asked.
I fell silent.
My mind drifted back to the days when I was a hero—the cheers of victory, the smell of blood on the battlefield, and the stabbing betrayals.
I stared deeply into Celes's soul, then shook my head slowly.
"I can't go back to being a hero; that's not where I truly belong," I said flatly.
Celes's gaze dimmed, sadness evident in her eyes.
Slowly, she raised her hand, placing its warm palm on my cheek.
Light magic began to flow from her palm, seeping into my body, bringing a gentle sensation I'd almost forgotten.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you fell, Niel," her voice trembled, yet remained gentle.
"But I'll always love you."
Her body began to fade, shards of light escaping her form.
Before she vanished completely, a single tear fell from her eye—
Her last light merged with my body, leaving behind a strength that felt warm yet heavy, like a promise I must bear.
I fell silent.
"Is this the right path?" I thought, staring at the emptiness that had replaced her figure.
The light that had enveloped my soul slowly faded, leaving behind a much more solid—more real—form.
I stared at him for a moment, then turned, walking toward the exit of the soul chamber.
Before I completely left, I glanced back at the spot where Celes's soul had disappeared, just for a moment, then returned to reality.
My eyes opened.
Everything felt different.
My body was now filled with a torrent of power, every wound that had torn through my flesh had vanished as if it had never existed. My breathing was steady, too steady.
I stood up, my steps firmly toward the door. As I exited, the sight that greeted me was chaos.
Rena, Zereth, Selena, and Nana—all battered. Blood stained the ground, their dark magic was still raging, a sign of having just fought to the death.
My brows furrowed.
"Who attacked you?" I asked, my voice low but sharp.
Zereth immediately stepped forward, his knees touching the ground, his head bowed respectfully.
"We do not know, My Lord," he replied gravely. "Suddenly, a bolt of lightning of incredible power struck directly at the house where you were."
I looked up at the sky and realized the remnants of the gods' magic still lingered there, glinting like a mockery.
My anger immediately boiled over. A dark aura surged wildly, mixing with the moonlight swirling around my body, creating a vortex of power that choked the air.
"You gods still dare to harass me," I muttered, my voice thick with hatred.
I stepped away from my troops. Each step made the ground tremble.
My wings spread wide, their shadow covering part of the village. The mask on my face began to burn with a holy aura—the remnants of Celes' power—mixing with my darkness, creating a threatening fusion.
I took a stance. I took a deep breath.
"Noa, prepare."
"Yes, My Lord," the gauntlet's voice trembled, as if feeling this surge of anger.
I gathered three elements at once—darkness, light, and the moon—into my right hand. The magic was unstable, pulsing like an exploding heart, ready to unleash destruction.
I raised my hand and swung it skyward, straight at the source of the gods' magic.
[ANNIHILATOR]
[BOOST]
The power doubled. The magic took the form of a giant punch that pierced the air, striking the point of light in the sky.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A tremendous explosion shook the world. The shockwave toppled village houses, the ground split open, and the air trembled with screams of destruction.
"Zereth," I called softly.
"Yes, My Lord," he replied, stepping from the shadows behind me.
I turned, glancing at him briefly before walking steadily toward the training field he had prepared.
"Let's begin training," I said, my voice even but full of intensity.
Zereth smiled faintly, following my lead.
"We have been waiting for that order My Lord."