Veyr didn't think. He moved.
In two swift strides he was between Ellie and the Crimson King, blades like cold fire in his fists. "Rhen!" he roared. "Get Ellie out of here — NOW!"
Rhen's hand was already lifting, the glyph on his forearm pulsing bright — but as he tried to activate his shield, the light flickered abruptly… and died. The air itself seemed to tear his power apart.
"…what?"
The Blood Monarch only smiled. A slow pull at the corners of his mouth — brutal, proud, almost curious. "You truly believe such toys would work on me?"
Veyr reacted with a strike. The right blade hit the creature's chest, deep, clean — too clean. The flesh gave way as if it was soft… yet no blood leaked out. No pain. Only a faint twitch.
"How fascinating," the Blood Monarch murmured.
His hand shot out, seized Veyr by the arm, lifted him like a child — then punched him once. The fist slammed into Veyr's stomach so fast Ellie barely blinked. For a horrible heartbeat it seemed his body might burst through the other side.
The air shot from his lungs. Then he was hurled — once, into the ground, against stone, then again, as though the thing was trying to break him apart. Sand and rock tore at his skin before he was launched far, far off into the distance like a discarded toy.
"VEYR!" Ellie screamed, but her voice scattered in the wind.
The Blood Monarch was already turning back toward her. "Core bearer…"
With a single sweep, his claw slashed past — but this time it hit. A deep wound opened along her side. Ellie gasped, staggered, and dropped to her knees — still conscious but glassy-eyed, her fingers trembling around the little stone in her hand.
"Ellie!" Rhen shot forward, glyph blazing. Silver Vitra ripped through his legs, propelling him like an explosion across the sand. At the last moment he snatched her up in both arms and lifted her from the ground —
— but he didn't get far.
The monarch barely lifted his leg. One casual kick launched Rhen and Ellie like rubble through the air. Rhen twisted mid-motion, shielding her with his body as they slammed into a boulder. The rock cracked, bones protested — but Ellie was cradled safely in his grip.
"It's all right," he wheezed, blood running down his lips. "I won't drop you."
Ellie's consciousness flickered, her breathing shallow — but she clutched his jacket, eyes searching desperately for Veyr somewhere in the swirling dust.
Slowly, the Blood Monarch lifted his head again. Dust trickled down his shoulder. No hurry. No rage.
Only regal, vicious curiosity.
He stepped closer, his shadow falling over them. His eyes fixed directly on Ellie.
"You…" he said softly. "...are worth it."
...Dust crumbled from Rhen's back where the stone had split. He coughed blood, tucked Ellie carefully into a crevice of rock — then rose again.
Slow. Unsteady. But awake.
The Blood Monarch turned his head — surprised that the man had risen again.
Rhen wiped his chin with the back of his hand. "You know… I really don't like losing in front of an audience."
He took one step. Then another. The glyph on his arm spun with light — no shield this time, but raw power. His legs launched forward — Vitra-charged, leaving a silver skid across the sand.
His fist crashed into the monarch's stomach, actually driving the beast back. Without waiting he leapt up — uppercut to the chin. Spiraled in the same motion — roundhouse kick to the right side of the skull.
The monarch stumbled back several paces, sand swirling beneath his feet.
Ellie, half-conscious, saw it through a haze — and for a moment truly believed Rhen had felled the titan.
But slowly, the Blood Monarch straightened. Laughing. Silently.
Rhen narrowed his eyes, spat blood onto the ground — and reached behind his belt. A slender, unremarkable staff, dark brown, straight, arm-length — it looked like any stick… until Vitra ignited within it : silver lines crawling to life like living glyphs.
"Fine. Serious it is."
Rhen attacked. This time claws met hardened steel — the staff blocked, redirected. Every strike rumbled through the earth. They moved fast — the monarch like a wrathful demon, Rhen like a snapping blade. Ellie saw only blurs.
A slash tore Rhen's coat — but he rotated in, swung, spun the staff like a lance and drove it with full Vitra force into the creature's shoulder.
Bone and meat split.
"RRAAAGH—!" The Blood Monarch staggered back.
Rhen pressed in, stepped under the guard, poured everything into one final blow — the glyph on his arm screaming silver — the staff shot forward like a guillotine —
— and severed the entire arm.
A sick, wet sound. Dark crimson fluid fountained like lava. The severed limb fell hard into the sand and steamed.
The Blood Monarch stared at the stump. Disbelief. Shock. Rage bit into his face.
"My… arm," he whispered — and for the first time his voice trembled not with mockery, but with real fury.
Rhen breathed raggedly, bringing his staff back into guard position — the glyph blazing brighter than ever.
Ellie, lying some distance away, vision smeared, saw only the monarch slowly lift his head — eyes locking onto her — and that terrible smile curling back into place.