Chapter 10: The Price of Protection
A broken silence covered the battlefield.
Iera stood alone.
Barely.
His body had already begun to wither—skin tightening against bone, his form shrinking as if centuries were devouring him in seconds.
Yet—
He raised his hand.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Silver energy gathered at his fingertips.
Wild.
Unstable.
Burning his very life away.
"Life… Extinction."
The air froze.
For a brief moment—
Even time seemed to hesitate.
Then—
"Shoot."
The energy erupted.
A beam of pure silver tore through space itself—
Faster than light—
And struck Rox directly.
The impact swallowed everything.
Sound disappeared.
Light collapsed inward.
When the dust finally settled—
A massive crater remained.
Endless.
Silent.
Empty.
Rox—
was gone.
Without a trace.
Iera's arm fell.
His body followed.
He collapsed onto the ground, barely breathing.
A faint, broken smile appeared on his face.
"Heh…"
"I… protected them…"
Far away—
Medical units rushed in.
Twras.
Ren.
Ursula.
All were carried away, barely alive.
Rex stood still.
Watching the empty crater.
Then—
his expression twisted.
"You… killed my brother."
He stepped toward Iera.
Slowly.
Raising his leg—
ready to crush him.
"Stop."
The voice alone froze him.
Anthres.
Sitting calmly upon his throne in the sky.
"Do not dishonor a warrior," he said.
"Especially one who gave his life for others."
Rex lowered his leg immediately.
"…Understood, Lord Anthres."
He glanced at Iera once more.
"That technique…"
"It consumes all life energy."
"A suicide attack."
A pause.
"He was already dead the moment he used it."
Rex turned toward the kingdom.
"I'll finish the rest—"
"Wait."
Anthres stopped him again.
"There's no need."
His gaze shifted forward.
"The Demon King… is coming."
At that exact moment—
Reality cracked.
The destroyed dimension collapsed completely—
And Yura's group returned.
The palace.
Gone.
The battlefield.
Before them.
Yura didn't hesitate.
The moment his feet touched the ground—
He moved.
Straight toward Iera.
He dropped to his knees beside him.
"Iera…"
His voice was low.
Controlled.
"Kya tum mujhe sun pa rahe ho…?"
Iera's eyes trembled.
Slowly—
they opened.
Barely.
"L… Lord Yura…"
A weak smile formed.
"Aap… aa gaye…"
Blood slipped from his lips.
"Maine… apna kaam… pura kar diya…"
"Aapne kaha tha… sabko protect karna…"
"Maine… kar diya…"
His breathing faded.
"Ab… aage…"
"Aap sambhal lijiye…"
His eyes closed.
Silence.
Yura didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
"Iera…?"
No response.
Behind him—
Yuri fell to her knees.
Tears streamed down her face.
"…No…"
Zack looked away, clenching his fists.
Riyu lowered his head.
Yura slowly placed Iera's body down.
Gently.
Carefully.
As if even now—
he didn't want to hurt him.
"Stay calm," Yura said quietly.
His voice—
unnaturally steady.
"This isn't the time to break."
He stood up.
"You all… take care of his body."
Then his eyes shifted—
cold.
Sharp.
"Riyu. Zack."
"Get ready."
"The fight isn't over yet."
Inside—
something broke.
I'm sorry… Iera…
I couldn't save you…
But I swear—
No one else will die.
A silent vow.
High above—
Anthres watched.
"Tch…"
"Touching."
Then his voice echoed—
"Prepare yourselves."
"Rex."
"And you too… Rox."
Rex frowned.
"Rox…?"
"That attack should've erased him completely."
A voice answered.
Casual.
Amused.
"Yeah… it should have."
Space distorted.
Rox appeared.
Completely unharmed.
Rex's eyes widened.
"How—?!"
Rox stretched lazily.
"I couldn't even react to that attack," he admitted.
"It would've killed me for sure."
He smirked.
"But Lord Anthres saved me."
"A substitute took my place."
Anthres leaned back on his throne.
"I simply adjusted fate a little."
Rex exhaled.
"Tch… figures."
Rox grinned.
"Now then… round two?"
Below—
Yura stood still.
Head lowered.
"Everyone… prepare yourselves."
The air changed.
Rox moved first.
A sword of energy formed in his hand—
And he slashed toward Riyu.
CLANG—
Riyu blocked it instantly with his katana.
The impact shook the ground—
But he didn't move.
At the same time—
Yura lifted his head.
His eyes—
were no longer calm.
"Orcas…"
The air trembled.
"First Form."
His voice dropped.
And for the first time—
true killing intent spread across the battlefield.
End of Chapter 10