A searing scream echoes through the air.
The kind of scream that would compel anyone who hears it to rush to help its source.
But I respond with a cold, detached voice.
“[Flame].”
The flames ignite, engulfing the surroundings in a blinding blaze of light.
“It hurts! Stop! Please stop!”
A voice cries out from within the inferno.
“[Thunderbolt].”
Crackle! A sharp, electric sound bursts out, accompanied by a flash of light.
This time, there’s no scream. Only a faint tremor reverberates through my hand.
As the light dissipates, Kairen’s form becomes visible once more.
She is in a pitiful state. Her skin is scorched, her eyes are unfocused, and tears stream uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Her limbs are trembling violently, her entire body spasming as though she is having a seizure. She looks as if she could die at any moment.
It’s no surprise, considering what she has endured so far—being burned, electrocuted, and having her body repeatedly broken.
From the moment I captured her, I have inflicted this cycle upon her without pause.
It was not a complex process. First, I used fire magic to burn her body. Then, I followed it with lightning magic to electrocute her. Finally, I used my mana to shatter her internal circuits.
Whenever it seemed she was on the brink of death, I healed her just enough to keep her alive.
The purpose of this relentless torment is singular: to make Kairen suffer.
I have been inflicting what is known as the most excruciating pain a person can endure.
“[Heal].”
Seeing her convulsing as though she might die, I cast a healing spell to mend her injuries.
As her wounds partially close, she manages to speak in a strained, broken voice.
“Pl… Please… spare me… I was wrong…”
Her fearful eyes meet mine, a stark contrast to the defiant glare she once wielded.
But I’m not done.
Her pleas for mercy will not stop me. This process will end only when Kairen breaks completely, begging me to end her life.
As I prepare to invoke another spell, a voice interrupts from behind.
“Don’t you think that’s enough? She looks like she might actually die.”
I turn toward the voice.
“Who are you?”
Standing there is a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Kairen.
Kairin.
Kairen’s twin sister.
I had assumed she wasn’t in Viln, given her absence until now.
“What do you want?”
“Well, obviously, I’m here to save my sister!”
Kairin replies with a nonchalant tone, as a massive fireball forms behind her and hurtles toward where Reina is.
“Pathetic.”
With a simple wave of my hand, I dispel the fireball before it reaches its target.
“Ah… I figured that wouldn’t work.”
“Are you here to die as well?”
“No way! Pain is not my thing. I’m all about peace, you know?”
She shakes her head dramatically, spreading her arms wide as if to emphasize her innocence.
“I just came here to talk. You see, my dear sister is in a bit of a bind, and I thought maybe we could settle this… peacefully? Love and peace, you get it?
Oh, and what’s with the formal tone? You didn’t speak like this before. Trying out a new image? I must say, it suits you better.”
“Get to the point.”
“Let my sister go.”
I silently raise my hand, lightning crackling at my fingertips.
“Ah, come on! Don’t be like that! Can’t you just let this slide? Sure, my sister’s pranks were a bit much, but—”
“Do you think this is a joke?”
My cold tone cuts through her playful demeanor, making her flinch.
“No, no! I’m serious! Look, I’d honestly rather just ignore this whole mess, but she’s my only family. I can’t stand the thought of her dying, you know? Please, just let her go. Pretty please?”
Her voice takes on the trademark sultry lilt of a succubus, her body language oozing charm.
Then, as if struck by inspiration, she claps her hands.
“How about this? I promise not to tell Lilia about your whereabouts!”
Not telling Lilia…
That’s a tempting offer.
“It’s a pretty good deal, isn’t it? If she finds out, she’ll be a nightmare to deal with, even here in human territory.”
Her point is valid. If Lilia learns where I am, chaos will undoubtedly follow.
I loosen my grip on Kairen’s neck and let her fall to the ground. Kairin’s face lights up.
“Thank you! I promise I won’t—”
But before she can finish, I place my hand on Kairen’s head.
“[Flame].”
A bright light erupts, and Kairen’s screams pierce the air once more.
“[Amplify].”
The flames intensify, growing fiercer and hotter. Her screams grow louder.
When the screams finally cease, I extinguish the flames.
All that remains is a charred, unrecognizable figure.
I turn to Kairin with a smile.
“Oops. Looks like what you wanted is gone.”
“Oh well,” she says, her tone icy. “I suppose this means I get to inherit all her power.”
Her face hardens as mine curls into a sinister grin.
Kairin stares at me coldly before speaking softly.
“I’ve seen your dreams.”
“…What?”
“Everyone’s always wondered why you hate the Sixth Duke so much. You’ve always harbored an unusual grudge against him.
But now I understand.”
“Shut up.”
She ignores me, her voice growing sharper.
“I saw it—the pain, the loss of those who were like family to you. And who would’ve thought your master was none other than Ruina Nobless, the one who disappeared without a trace?”
“I said shut up!”
“And here, you use the name Ruina and call the princess Reina. It’s almost sweet, really.”
“Enough!”
Her smile grows wider, and I draw my blade, muttering a single word.
“[Accelerate].”
In a flash, I charge toward her, my blade aimed at her neck.
But then—
But then—
A blinding light flares between us, and I’m forced to halt my charge. My blade stops mere inches from Kairin’s neck.
When the light fades, a barrier of shimmering energy stands between us, crackling with raw power.
Kairin steps back, her playful smirk returning as if she hadn’t just been a breath away from death.
“Whoa, that was close!” she says, mockingly wiping imaginary sweat from her brow. “You’re fast, I’ll give you that. But you really should think before you act, Helra.”
My grip on my sword tightens as anger bubbles within me.
“Drop the barrier,” I demand, my voice low and dangerous.
Kairin tilts her head, her smirk never faltering.
“And let you slice me up? No thanks. Besides, you might want to reconsider this whole ‘kill me now’ plan. After all…” She pauses, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.
“…I know things about you. Things that even you might not fully remember.”
The words hit me like a blow to the chest.
“What are you talking about?” I snarl, stepping closer to the barrier.
Kairin’s expression softens—almost pitying, if I didn’t know better.
“Let’s just say… your connection to Ruina isn’t as straightforward as you think,” she says cryptically. “And the Sixth Duke? Oh, there’s more to your hatred than just what you remember.”
“Stop speaking in riddles!”
“Oh, I will,” Kairin replies, her smirk widening again. “But not now. This game is getting too interesting. And besides…”
She snaps her fingers, and a sudden wave of force knocks me back.
“I’d rather you come to me for answers when you’re truly desperate. Won’t that be more fun?”
Before I can recover, her form begins to shimmer and fade, as though she’s slipping through reality itself.
“Until next time, Helra,” she says, her voice echoing eerily as she vanishes.
I slam my fist into the ground, furious at myself for letting her escape.
The weight of her words lingers in my mind, twisting and turning like a dagger.
What does she know about me? About Ruina?
And why did her mention of the Sixth Duke make my blood boil more than usual?
I rise to my feet, shaking off the rage and confusion clouding my thoughts.
There’s no time to dwell on Kairin’s cryptic remarks now. Reina is safe, and I’ve dealt with Kairen.
But this isn’t over.
Kairin knows something—something important.
And I’ll make sure to uncover it, no matter the cost.
The moon—shining brilliantly in the artificial night sky above—is the source of the enchantment.
“Attack the moon,” I repeat firmly, pointing upward.
Bliss stares at me, her face contorted in confusion. “The moon? Are you certain? That doesn’t make any sense!”
“It doesn’t have to make sense,” I reply coldly. “This entire sky is part of the enchantment. The moon is the key. Destroy it, and we end this nightmare.”
Olivia’s face lights up as she processes my words. “It explains everything. The fluctuations in mana… the irregularities in the flow—they all converge on the moon!”
“Exactly,” I nod. “Now, we need to concentrate our attacks there. It’s the only way to save Reina.”
Bliss hesitates, biting her lip. “But what if you’re wrong? What if we destroy it and nothing happens? Reina’s condition is critical!”
“I’m not wrong,” I say, my voice resolute. “Do you have a better idea?”
Bliss falters, then shakes her head. “No… I trust you.”
I glance at Olivia. “Prepare your strongest magic. We’re going to need everything we’ve got.”
She nods, her hands already glowing as she begins to weave a powerful spell.
As the magic circles around Olivia grow larger and more intricate, I step forward, drawing my sword.
“Everyone, focus your attacks on the moon. We only have one chance at this.”
Bliss raises her staff, adding her own magic to the effort. A golden radiance surrounds her, her determination clear despite her earlier hesitation.
The air around us hums with energy as we ready ourselves.
And then, I give the command.
“Now! Attack the moon!”
A barrage of magic and energy hurtles toward the celestial body. Explosions of light and power crash against its surface, shaking the very fabric of the illusion.
Cracks begin to form, spreading like a web across the moon’s surface.
“It’s working!” Olivia shouts, her voice filled with hope.
The cracks widen, and shards of light begin to fall, like pieces of a shattered mirror. The sky flickers and wavers, the enchantment unraveling.
But just as victory seems within reach, an ominous voice echoes through the air.
“Fools.”
The moon’s light intensifies, flooding the area with blinding brilliance. A dark figure emerges from the cracks, their form radiating malevolence.
“You’ve come far, but this game is not over yet,” the figure says, their voice dripping with contempt.
I grip my sword tighter, my gaze locked on the figure.
“Everyone, stay focused. We end this here.”
The final battle has begun.
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