The Forbidden Wing trembled like it was alive.
The Shadow Master advanced slowly, shadows dripping from its body like liquid night.Kael stood in front of Aria—bleeding, shaking, breath ragged—yet refusing to move aside.
Aria was still half-conscious in his arms, her head resting against his chest.
Her mark glowed faintly.Her heartbeat was weak.
Kael's voice broke as he whispered:
"Aria… stay with me. Please."
But her eyes stayed closed.
Kael's heart cracked.
The Shadow Master tilted its head.
"Your human girl is fading. Hand her over. Save yourself."
Kael's grip tightened around Aria.
"I told you before…"His voice lowered into a deadly growl."She belongs to no one."
The Shadow Master lifted a hand of pure darkness.
"Then die with her."
It lunged.
Kael didn't dodge.
He didn't run.
He whispered one last warning—
"…You forced me."
And everything changed.
The Forbidden Power
Black flames erupted from Kael's body—not red, not crimson, but pitch black, darker than the shadows themselves.
The ground split open.Wind roared.The Forbidden Wing screamed as if warning the realm.
Aria's eyes fluttered open weakly.
She saw it.
She saw him.
Kael… transformed.
His hair whipped around him like fire.His eyes glowed with gold streaks inside the red, like molten metal.Dark wings of shadow burst from his back—smoke, fire, and raw energy.
Aria whispered faintly:
"Kael… your flames… they're… black…"
Kael didn't look at her.
His voice was lower. Rough.Not just a prince.
A demon king in the making.
"I told you," he said,"I would only use this power if I had no choice."
The Shadow Master staggered back.
"Forbidden Flame… You dare unleash it?!"
Kael stepped forward, aura shaking the entire Wing.
"You touched what is mine."
His voice wasn't a voice anymore.It was thunder.
"You threatened what fate gave me."
The Shadow Master struck again—its shadow blade slicing forward—
—but Kael caught it with his bare hand.
And crushed it.
The Shadow Master shrieked and leapt back.
"Impossible—! That power was sealed!"
Kael's flames exploded—
A black inferno shot across the hall, swallowing the assassin in a wave of burning darkness.
Aria covered her ears as the creature screamed.
Kael's voice shook the air:
"You will NOT… take her."
With one final blast, Kael shattered the Shadow Master into ash.
Silence fell.
A deadly silence.
Kael's black flames still burned around him… violently.
Uncontrolled.
Dangerous.
Aria lifted her hand weakly.
"Kael… stop… you'll destroy yourself…"
He turned sharply—eyes glowing like a monster born from fire and grief.
"Aria—?"
His aura intensified.
Aria felt the heat in her bones.
Kael clenched his fists.
"No… No, no—Aria, don't come closer."
But she stumbled forward anyway.
"Kael… your flames… they're hurting you…"
His aura flickered—he was losing control.
"Stay back!" he roared."I don't want to hurt you!"
Aria ignored him, tears falling.
"You won't hurt me."
She reached out—
Kael stepped back violently, shaking his head.
"Aria, I'm begging you… don't touch me right now. I can't control this flame. It kills anything it touches."
Aria smiled weakly.
"But it won't kill me."
Her mark glowed brighter, reacting to him.
Kael froze.
"…What?"
Aria took another step.Her legs gave out—she fell—
Kael caught her instantly.
Their skin touched.
And instead of burning—Kael's black flames calmed.
Dimmed.
Wrapped around them like warm smoke.
Kael stared at her, breath shaking.
"You… neutralized it."
Aria leaned her forehead against his chest.
"Because I trust you."
Kael's entire body trembled.
His flames receded completely.
He collapsed to his knees, still holding her tight—as if he had almost lost the only thing keeping him sane.
Aria whispered, "Kael… I'm safe."
He buried his face in her hair.
And for the first time since she met him—
The Demon Prince's shoulders shook.
He was crying.