In the Demon Realm, dark clouds gathered above the obsidian palace.
News had arrived.
The fall of the Grail Knights.
Then… the death of Kmeba.
The coincidence was too precise.
Someone was moving.
Seated upon his throne, the Demon King rested his chin on his fist, eyes narrowing.
"…Interesting."
The four demon generals stood silently below.
"Shennel. Summon her."
Moments later—
A girl stepped into the throne room.
Silver-black hair, calm eyes, overwhelming presence.
"Hello, Father."
The Demon King looked down at her.
"You've heard the news?"
"Yes," she replied. "I was going to request permission to deal with the one who killed Kmeba. She was valuable to the army."
The Demon King scoffed.
"Kmeba was irrelevant. Her stupidity led to her death."
The room fell silent.
"I'm talking about the Grail Knights."
Shennel's eyes sharpened.
"…What about them?"
"They're gone."
Even the generals stiffened.
The Fire Tyrant stepped forward and reported.
"Their power signatures… have vanished completely. All five."
Shennel's expression darkened.
"So someone killed them…"
"Yes," the Demon King said. "And I want you to find out who."
She bowed slightly.
"I understand."
"Go to Kumandell."
Her eyes lifted.
"…The land that strengthens warriors."
"Exactly."
And so she departed.
But fate had already begun moving.
At the same time—
Kros had left the Kushan Empire.
To sharpen his sword.
To refine his perception.
And Kumandell… was the perfect place.
The forest of Kumandell was dense, ancient, and filled with monsters.
Shennel walked calmly through it.
A group of beasts surrounded her, mistaking her for a helpless girl.
She didn't even stop.
Without lifting a finger—
They collapsed.
Erased.
"…Pathetic."
She continued forward.
Eventually, she reached the highlands.
There—
Ten warriors of darkness appeared.
Guardians of the upper region.
They sensed her abnormal presence.
And attacked.
Shennel could have ended them instantly.
But instead, she held back.
Testing them.
Measuring their strength.
However—
She wasn't at full power.
Only thirty percent.
The battle dragged on.
The ten warriors began pushing her back.
Far away—
Kros sat in meditation.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
Sharpening his senses.
Wind.
Leaves.
Footsteps.
Then—
His perception caught it.
A battle.
Ten presences.
Against one.
A girl.
"…Trouble."
His eyes opened.
And in the next instant—
He vanished.
The battlefield erupted.
A blur cut through the warriors.
One fell.
Then another.
Then another.
Kros moved like lightning.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Within seconds—
All ten were dead.
Silence returned.
Kros turned.
"…Are you alright?"
Shennel stepped back immediately.
Her aura exploded.
She gathered what little strength she had left.
This man was dangerous.
He killed them effortlessly.
She prepared to attack.
Kros slowly lowered his sword.
"…Relax."
He removed his mask.
"Endolin."
The armor shifted.
His face was revealed.
A human.
Her fury only grew.
A human?
Her aura surged even more.
Thirty percent power shook the ground.
Kros sighed softly.
Then—
He disappeared.
And reappeared in front of her.
Before she could react—
He hugged her.
Shennel froze.
Completely.
"You don't have to strain yourself," he said quietly.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Her aura shattered instantly.
Her mind went blank.
A man…
hugged her?
Her face turned bright red.
Her body stiffened.
She didn't even realize she had stopped breathing.
"…You can let go now," she said quietly.
"…Oh."
Kros stepped back.
"Sorry. You looked like you were forcing yourself."
She looked away.
"…I wasn't."
Silence followed.
Then—
"…Why did you save me?"
Kros shrugged.
"You looked like you needed help."
"That's all?"
"Yeah."
She stared at him.
This man…
No fear.
No hostility.
No hesitation.
Just… kindness.
"…You're strange."
"I get that a lot."
She turned away.
"…I'm not weak, you know."
"I know."
"…I could have handled them."
"I know."
"…I didn't need saving."
"I know."
She looked back at him.
"…Then why help me?"
Kros smiled.
"…Because you were alone."
Her heart skipped.
For a moment…
She didn't know what to say.
"…Idiot."
But her voice was softer now.
And somewhere deep inside—
Something unfamiliar had begun.