"Don't move."
A cold, deep voice echoed through the air.
Everyone froze.
Even the forest seemed to stop breathing.
A single footstep sounded behind them.
Then another.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
The knights slowly turned their heads—
The footsteps suddenly accelerated.
Before anyone could react—
A chain shot forward.
At its end, a grotesque ball of dark, liquid-like mass twisted and pulsed… a single purple eye staring from its center.
It struck.
One of the knights didn't even see it coming.
The impact sent him flying across the clearing, his body slamming violently into a massive rock. A sickening crack echoed as he dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Silence followed.
The chain dragged slowly back… scraping across the earth.
Everyone stared at the fallen knight.
Blood spread across the ground.
"…He's dead," one of them whispered.
"No…" Rein's voice trembled.
Fear gripped them all.
Leo clenched his fists.
Rage burned through his chest—
He moved.
Too late.
A knee slammed into his back out of nowhere.
The impact was so fast, so precise, no one even saw the attacker move.
Leo's body jerked forward.
Blood burst from his mouth as time seemed to slow.
The creature fell from his shoulder.
Rein's eyes widened in horror.
Leo was sent flying—his body crashing into the massive tree near Ember Falls, the trunk nearly splitting from the force.
Dust filled the air.
Then… silence.
As it settled—
A figure stood there.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Long white hair flowed down his back, untouched by the wind. A dark purple aura flickered around him like a living shadow. In his hand, the chain weapon coiled and shifted… the eye blinking slowly.
"Filthy beings."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Rein couldn't move.
Her body refused to respond.
The remaining knights charged, shouting as they swung their swords.
The man didn't move.
He raised one arm—
Clang.
He blocked the blades with his bare arm.
"…Impossible," one knight whispered.
Before they could react—
He struck.
A single punch drove straight through one knight's chest.
The other roared in anger, attacking wildly—slashes, thrusts, desperation—
The attacker endured it.
Then grabbed him by the throat.
Lifted him.
And crushed the life out of him.
Rein watched everything.
Frozen.
Helpless.
The man turned toward her slowly.
A faint smile curled on his lips.
"Hello… dear."
Rein's breath caught in her throat.
But instead of attacking her—
He stepped past her.
Picked up the creature.
Studied it.
"…Tch. Useless."
He tossed it into the water.
Thunder rumbled.
Rain began to fall.
Cold droplets hit the ground.
Hit Leo's face.
His eyes snapped open.
"…What… happened…?"
His vision blurred—but he saw it.
Rein.
On her knees.
Shaking.
Crying.
And the man… standing there.
Watching.
Leo's hand tightened.
He forced himself up, ignoring the pain tearing through his body.
"Damn you…"
He stepped forward—
Then launched himself across the water.
Landing in front of him.
The man's smirk widened.
"There you are."
Leo drew his sword and attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Angry.
Steel clashed.
He moved with speed—slashing, striking, forcing the man back. For a brief moment—
He landed hits.
Cuts.
Real damage.
The man's eyes gleamed with interest.
"…Impressive."
Then—
"Abyssal Point."
The eye on the chain opened wide.
Darkness surged.
A monstrous force erupted from it—shapeless, violent—slamming into Leo.
The impact tore through him.
He was thrown back, his body skidding across the ground.
Before he could recover—
The chain lashed out.
Again.
And again.
Striking him.
Binding him.
Dragging him like prey.
Leo couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Pain consumed everything.
Rein watched—
Terrified.
But something in her snapped.
"No… I can't just watch…"
She stood.
Gathered what little strength she had left.
Flames ignited in her hand.
She fired.
The attack struck the man—forcing him to shift slightly.
His attention turned.
The chains loosened.
Leo collapsed to the ground.
The attacker walked toward Rein.
Unbothered.
She kept firing.
Fire.
Wind.
Earth.
Water.
Vines surged from the ground, trying to bind him.
The attacks hit.
They slowed him.
But barely.
"My Sundane Force…" she gasped, trembling. "…it's not enough…"
He raised his weapon.
Rein clenched her teeth—
And used the last of her strength.
The water beneath them froze—
Sharp ice spikes erupted upward.
They pierced into his back.
For the first time—
He reacted.
"…Clever."
Rein collapsed.
Exhausted.
The attacker pulled the spikes from his body, unfazed.
He raised his weapon again.
Ready to end it.
Then—
Leo moved.
He lunged forward and tackled him away.
They crashed into the ground.
Leo didn't hesitate.
He drove his blade forward—
Straight into the man's chest.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
The man laughed.
His left eye—scarred and twisted—glowed a deep purple.
Power surged.
Leo's grip broke instantly.
The man grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air.
"…You're strong," he said calmly. "For a human."
Leo struggled.
But his strength was gone.
A faint glow—
Light began to rise within him—
Then—
He was slammed into the ground.
The impact shattered the earth beneath them.
The light vanished before it could fully emerge.
"…Tough," the man muttered.
Leo lay there.
Broken.
Bleeding.
Barely conscious.
Rein lay nearby.
Unmoving.
The attacker glanced around.
Then grabbed Leo by the leg—
And hurled him.
Leo's body tore through the massive tree, splitting it apart completely. The ancient trunk collapsed, crashing into the ground with a thunderous roar.
The beautiful scenery of Ember Falls… ruined.
Silence followed.
Rain fell harder.
Leo lay unconscious beside the stone where he was born.
Rein lay still near the water.
The creature drifted lifelessly.
The knights… unmoving.
The man stood alone.
Untouched.
Victorious.
He looked over them… and smiled.
"I am here… to deliver a message."
His voice echoed through the storm.
"I am here to destroy this land."
"I am here to end everything."
Lightning flashed.
His shadow stretched across the ruins.
"I am the savior of this world."
He raised his head slightly.
"My name…"
A pause.
"Kharous Raine."