The Shadow Master moved like a collapsing night sky—fast, silent, all-consuming.
Kael reacted instantly.
A wall of crimson fire erupted around him, the flames spiraling like living serpents.The entire corridor glowed red.
Aria pressed against the wall, heart pounding so loud she couldn't hear her own breaths.
BOOM—!!
The Shadow Master's strike hit Kael's flame wall.Black and red collided, sending shockwaves through the Forbidden Wing.
Stone cracked.Ceilings trembled.Shadows screamed.
Kael roared, pushing the attack back with raw power.
The Shadow Master slid backward—feet not touching the ground—before it vanished entirely.
Aria gasped. "Kael—where did it go?!"
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Behind me."
He spun—
Too late.
Shadow claws slashed across his chest.
Kael stumbled, blood dripping down his armor.
"KAEL!" Aria screamed.
He steadied himself, wiping the blood with his thumb.
"It's nothing."
But Aria saw the pain flash in his eyes.
The Shadow Master reappeared in front of them, silent and hollow.It raised its hand again…
And this time—it aimed at Aria.
Kael's eyes widened in terror.
"NO!"
He threw himself in front of her just as a spear of pure darkness shot forward—
—but before it reached him—
Aria's mark exploded with blazing red light.
BOOOOOM!!
A dome of energy burst out of her body, throwing Kael backward and slamming the Shadow Master into the opposite wall.
The entire Forbidden Wing shook.
Aria collapsed to her knees, panting, her skin glowing.
Kael stumbled toward her, eyes shocked and terrified.
"Aria… you—your power—"
"I-I didn't mean to! Kael, I didn't—"
Her breath stuttered.The world spun around her.
Kael caught her before she fell.
His hands trembled as he held her face.
"You used raw Blood Mark energy," he whispered."You could have killed yourself."
Aria choked, "I wasn't trying to use anything— I just didn't want it to hurt you…"
Kael froze.
His grip softened.
His voice dropped to something breakable.
"You were protecting me?"
Aria stared at him, tears welling.
"Yes."
For a moment—the assassins, the Shadow Master, the danger—all of it faded.
Kael leaned his forehead against hers.
His voice was barely a breath.
"Aria… don't ever risk yourself for me. I can't—"His jaw trembled."I can't lose you."
Aria swallowed hard.His closeness… his fear… it hit something deep inside her.
But their moment shattered as the Shadow Master pushed itself out of the cracked wall.
It stood straighter now.Stronger.
Aria's eyes widened.
"Kael— it's absorbing my power!"
Black veins burned across its body where Aria's energy hit.
Kael's voice sharpened.
"It's evolving. Your mark awakened it."
The Shadow Master stretched its arm, shadows dripping off it like liquid night.
"Prince Kael," it growled,"the girl is not meant for you. She belongs to the council… or to the void."
Kael stepped in front of Aria again, flames exploding from his back like wings.
"She belongs to NO ONE."
The Shadow Master lunged—faster than before.
Kael caught the blow, but the impact lifted him off his feet and smashed him into a pillar.
Aria screamed, "KAEL!"
He staggered up, coughing blood.
His flames flickered.
He was weakening.
Aria felt something break inside her at the sight.
"…Stop hurting him."Her voice trembled, stronger than before."STOP."
Her mark blazed brighter than ever—
And then her body collapsed.
Kael caught her mid-fall, eyes widening in horror.
"Aria—AR—"
But the Shadow Master struck again.
Kael reacted too slow this time.
The blow hit his back—forcing him to shield Aria with his own body.
Blood spilled down his lips.
He glared at the Shadow Master, fury shaking through him.
"You want her…?"He lifted her gently, cradling her unconscious form."Then you will have to kill me first."
The Shadow Master stepped forward.
"That," it whispered,"is already decided."
The corridor darkened.Shadows closed in.
Kael held Aria against his chest—bleeding, shaking, but refusing to let her go.
His flames turned black.
A forbidden power awakened in him—one even Ezren feared.
And the Shadow Master realized too late—
The Demon Prince's true strengthwas awakened by one thing only:
Fear of losing the girl fate bound to him.