Kael stood frozen inside his office.
His hand trembled slightly.
A red system window blinked violently in front of him.
[WARNING]
[Bonded Ally: Ren]
[HP Status: 35%... 30%... 27%...]
[Location: City Gym]
The numbers kept dropping.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kael's pupils shrank.
"I placed a Safety Ward on him…"
His voice turned cold.
"Someone is torturing him."
The air around him darkened.
Without another word—
Kael rushed toward the door.
The hallway blurred as he moved.
Then—
Elara stepped in front of him.
"Kael."
Her voice sharp.
"Where are you going? The meeting isn't finished—"
Kael stopped.
Slowly turned.
His eyes—
Glowing.
Dark.
Dangerous.
Even Elara flinched.
"Move."
His voice low.
"Or I'll forget we're partners."
The temperature dropped.
For the first time—
Elara felt genuine danger.
Kael didn't wait.
He turned—
And smashed through the window.
CRASH.
Glass shattered.
He jumped.
From the 20th floor.
Elara rushed forward.
"Has he gone insane?!"
Outside—
Kael fell through the air.
Wind roared around him.
Mid-air—
Shadow Cloak activated.
Daggers equipped.
His eyes burned with rage.
"If Ren gets even one more scratch…"
His voice whispered.
"...I'll burn this entire city."
The ground rushed closer.
Kael vanished into shadows.
Moving faster than ever.
The locker room was dark.
Only a broken ceiling light flickered weakly.
Sparks fell from exposed wires.
The air smelled of blood.
Ren lay on the floor.
His clothes soaked red.
His arm bent unnaturally.
His breathing weak.
Painful.
Each breath sounded like it might be his last.
Nearby—
Vikram sat casually on a bench.
Scrolling through Ren's phone.
His face calm.
Almost bored.
"Password kya hai…"
He muttered.
"Mote."
Ren coughed.
Blood spilled from his lips.
"I… won't… tell…"
Vikram's eyes narrowed.
Without warning—
He stepped forward.
CRUNCH.
He pressed his foot on Ren's broken arm.
Ren screamed.
"AAAAHHHH!"
The sound echoed across the empty gym.
Vikram crouched down.
Grabbed Ren's hair.
Lifted his head.
"Dekh…"
His voice calm.
"Your friend isn't coming."
"He's using you."
"Tell me who he is…"
"I'll let you go."
Ren's swollen eye barely opened.
He spat blood.
Straight onto Vikram's face.
"He…"
Ren whispered weakly.
"...is my brother."
"And…"
His breathing trembled.
"...he's your end."
Vikram's expression twisted.
Anger surged.
"Enough."
His hand transformed.
Claws extended.
Sharp.
Deadly.
"Die."
He aimed directly at Ren's chest.
The killing blow descended.
Then—
BOOOOM.
The wall exploded.
Concrete shattered.
Dust filled the room.
Two daggers flew through the smoke.
SWISH
SWISH
Vikram jumped backward.
The daggers embedded into the floor.
Silence.
Then—
A figure emerged.
Kael.
Standing inside the broken wall.
Dark aura surrounding him.
Not calm.
Not composed.
This—
Was rage.
Pure rage.
Kael's eyes fell on Ren.
Broken.
Bleeding.
Barely breathing.
"Ren…"
His voice cracked slightly.
Something dangerous filled the air.
Vikram laughed.
"So…"
"You finally came."
His smile widened.
"The unknown hunter…"
"It's you."
Kael began walking forward slowly.
Each step heavy.
"I planned to humiliate you…"
His voice low.
"And leave it at that."
He stopped.
His eyes burned.
"But you crossed the line."
Kael vanished.
VWOOM.
The fight…
Had begun.
The air inside the locker room turned heavy.
Dust slowly settled around Kael.
Broken concrete scattered across the floor.
Sparks flickered from torn wires.
The smell of blood…
Was overwhelming.
Kael's eyes locked onto Ren.
His body froze for a moment.
Ren lay on the floor.
Unconscious.
Blood pooled beneath him.
His arm twisted unnaturally.
Bruises covered his face.
His breathing—
Weak.
Barely there.
Something inside Kael snapped.
Not anger.
Not rage.
Something colder.
Something far more dangerous.
Killing intent.
The temperature seemed to drop.
Even Vikram noticed.
"...Oh?"
Vikram smirked.
"So you finally showed up."
He wiped the blood from his cheek.
"You took your time."
Kael didn't answer.
He slowly stepped forward.
Each footstep echoed heavily.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"I was planning…"
Kael spoke quietly.
"...to leave you alive."
His voice sounded hollow.
Emotionless.
"But you made a mistake."
Vikram tilted his head.
"And what's that?"
Kael stopped.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"You touched…"
A faint black aura began leaking from his body.
"...my family."
Silence.
Then—
Kael disappeared.
VWOOM.
The sound cracked through the room.
Vikram's instincts screamed.
Too late.
SMASH.
Kael's fist slammed into Vikram's face.
The impact shook the entire locker room.
Vikram's body flew across the room.
Lockers exploded as he crashed through them.
Metal bent.
Concrete cracked.
Vikram slammed into the wall.
The wall shattered.
He dropped to one knee.
Blood dripping from his lips.
"...What the hell…"
He wiped his mouth.
That punch—
Wasn't E-Rank.
Not even close.
Kael stood silently.
His breathing steady.
But his aura…
Violent.
Vikram slowly stood.
His body began changing.
Black veins spread across his skin.
His eyes turned darker.
Claws extended.
Demon form activated.
"I'm not human anymore."
Vikram growled.
"I ate the Black Heart."
His aura surged.
Dark energy filled the room.
Vikram lunged.
Fast.
Claws aimed for Kael's throat.
CLANG.
Kael blocked using Naga daggers.
Sparks exploded.
The impact pushed Kael back.
Vikram attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Punch.
Kick.
Claw.
The locker room turned into chaos.
Metal shattered.
Walls cracked.
Floor broke beneath them.
Kael dodged narrowly.
Vikram's claw grazed his shoulder.
Blood dripped.
Kael countered instantly.
He stabbed.
STAB.
The dagger pierced Vikram's shoulder.
Vikram roared.
But—
He grabbed Kael's throat.
Lifted him.
Then slammed him into the wall.
BOOM.
Kael coughed.
His breathing tightened.
Vikram grinned.
"See?"
"I'm stronger."
Kael smiled.
A cold smile.
"You're not strong…"
He whispered.
"You're just…"
Golden threads appeared around Vikram's arms.
"...a beast."
[Karma Weaver — Binding Threads]
Invisible threads tightened.
Vikram's movement stopped.
His arms restrained.
Kael broke free.
He jumped.
Spun mid-air.
STAB.
Both daggers pierced Vikram's shoulder.
Blood splattered.
Vikram roared.
Then—
SNAP.
He broke the threads.
Demonic strength.
He kicked Kael.
Kael slid backward.
His boots scraping the floor.
Kael steadied himself.
His eyes narrowed.
"This isn't good…"
He thought.
"The demon heart…"
"He's already reaching A-Rank."
Ren coughed behind him.
Weak.
Broken.
System alert appeared.
[Bonded Ally Critical]
[Death in 30 seconds]
Kael froze.
His eyes shifted.
Ren.
Then—
Vikram smirked.
"You noticed."
He stepped back.
"What now?"
He spread his arms.
"Kill me…"
"Or save him."
Kael clenched his fist.
This was deliberate.
Vikram stepped backward.
"If you chase me…"
"He dies."
"If you save him…"
"I escape."
He smiled.
"Choose… Architect."
Silence filled the room.
Kael closed his eyes.
For a moment—
He stopped breathing.
Then—
He put away his daggers.
"You win."
Vikram laughed.
"Smart choice."
He smashed through the wall.
Escaped.
His voice echoed.
"Next time…"
"I'll kill everyone you love!"
Silence returned.
Kael immediately rushed toward Ren.
He pulled out a glowing bottle.
[Elixir of Life — S Rank]
Extremely rare.
Extremely expensive.
He poured it into Ren's mouth.
Light spread across Ren's body.
Bones healed.
Wounds closed.
Breathing stabilized.
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
"Bhai…"
He whispered weakly.
"He escaped…"
Kael placed a hand on his head.
"You saved me."
His voice calm.
But his eyes burned.
Footsteps approached.
Elara entered.
Medical team behind her.
She stopped.
Saw the destruction.
Saw the blood.
"Kael…"
"What happened?"
Kael stood slowly.
His hands covered in blood.
"Vikram."
He spoke quietly.
"He's a demon now."
Elara's eyes widened.
Kael turned toward her.
"I want a guild war."
Silence.
"That's illegal."
Elara replied.
Kael looked at her.
Cold.
"Then change the rules."
His killing intent filled the room.
"Because now…"
"...this is war."
Chapter 12 End.