The purple lightning flared, cutting through the abyssal darkness.
For a single fraction of a second, the blinding flash revealed six towering figures standing inside the bedroom. Six Demon Lords had invaded the estate. Their suffocating auras pressed down like crushing weights, making the floorboards groan beneath them.
One of the Demon Lords stepped forward. His crimson eyes glowed in the dark, and a cold smirk spread across his demonic face.
"So," he said, his voice echoing like grinding stones. "You are the one who killed an immortal."
Kael tilted his head slightly. "Yeah—"
"I wasn't asking," the Demon Lord interrupted, his tone dropping into a deadly threat. "I was stating a fact."
Before Kael could reply, five of the dark figures flickered. Without making a sound, they vanished into thin air, leaving only the speaker behind. The spatial domain settled around them, focusing all of its terrifying pressure into a single duel.
Kael kept his gaze locked on the remaining enemy. He reached down to his ankles, drawing two dark, sleek daggers from his sheaths. The blades hummed with faint death energy.
"What's your name?" Kael asked calmly.
The Demon Lord narrowed his eyes. "Dusk Crimson. One of the six Demon Lords."
Suddenly, a familiar, smooth voice echoed directly inside Kael's mind.
Nyxara: "Watch yourself, Kael. He is one of the most powerful demons in existence. Though, of course, he is still far beneath me."
Kael paused, reacting internally.
Kael: 'Wait... back when I fought you for the first time, you could have easily killed me?'
A soft, amused hum echoed in his mind. It was a clear, silent confirmation.
Kael gulped, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine. There are way too many things I need to ask all of you later...
Kael turned his head slightly toward Sara, who was standing right behind him. "Sara, can you return inside my mind for now?"
Sara looked at him and gave a gentle nod.
A brilliant, warm light erupted from her body. Her physical form dissolved into floating particles of radiant golden dust. The glowing light swirled gracefully through the room before flowing straight into Kael, entering his mind.
With Sara safe, Kael sprinted forward, his blades flashing in the dim light.
Nyxara: "Watch out, Kael! He is much faster than you right now!"
Suddenly, a sharp crimson blade thrust straight toward Kael's chest. Kael reacted on pure instinct, leaning back violently to dodge the sharp tip by a hair's breadth.
He spun around quickly, but Dusk was already standing behind him, entirely unbothered.
Inside Kael's mind, Sara's soft voice echoed.
Sara: "In ancient tales, a speedster like you was called Arnfastr. But his dark domain is boosting his velocity far beyond natural limits."
Kael gritted his teeth, his eyes tracking the faint ripples in the air. 'Is there any key to breaking his speed?'
Sara: "There is a technique, but it is extremely hard to execute."
Dusk blurred again, rushing straight toward him. Kael kicked off the ground and sprinted backward, creating distance.
"Why are you trying so hard to run from me?" Dusk mocked.
As Dusk stepped forward, the surrounding darkness expanded rapidly. The bedroom stretched endlessly, turning into an abyss of crushing dark mana.
Sara: "I found another route!"
Kael smirked internally. 'Tell me.'
Sara: "You can create an Infinity Room to overwrite his domain and lock his movement!"
After hearing Sara's quick explanation, Kael came to a sudden halt.
Dusk stopped a few paces away, folding his arms with a sneer. "So, you are finally accepting that you will die by my hands?"
Kael slowly raised his head. A dark, confident smile spread across his face. "Not quite, Dusk. I'm just about to make you vanish."
A blinding white light erupted from Kael's body. The dark abyss cracked like brittle glass. Within a second, a vast, luminous room expanded outward, completely destroying Dusk's shadow domain.
In the brilliant light, Dusk's true demonic form was clearly exposed.
Kael tilted his head slightly to the right, scanning his enemy. "So... you actually look like this."
Dusk clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. Who cares what I look like? My speed will still be enough to kill you!"
Kael didn't argue. He took a deep breath and whispered softly.
"[Soul Conversion]"
In just a few seconds, Kael's body transformed. A single dark horn grew from his forehead, and a glowing halo appeared above his head. From his back, two massive wings—one pure white and one pitch black—unfolded with terrifying majesty.
Kael sprinted forward like a streak of lightning.
Dusk reacted instantly. He moved past Kael in a fraction of a millisecond, intending to strike him from behind.
However, as Dusk passed him, Kael simply smirked. "Done."
The daggers at Kael's ankles dissolved into light. He raised his right hand into the glowing air, and a brilliant white sword materialized in his grip.
Kael swung the blade and yelled into the vast light, "Redemption!"
Absolute spatial pressure slammed down.
Dusk froze mid-stride. The dark Demon Lord stood completely paralyzed in the bright room, stiff and helpless, looking just like a lifeless body hanging from an invisible rope.
Dusk stared at Kael with wide, bloodshot eyes, his voice trembling as he choked out a faint whisper. "Is he... really the wielder of Redemption?"
Before the thought could fully form in the Demon Lord's mind, Kael moved.
At an unbelievable speed, Kael closed the distance in an instant. He spun on his heel and delivered a devastating kick straight into Dusk's chest.
The impact echoed through the luminous room like a thunderclap. Dusk went flying through the air, crashing hard onto the glowing floor several meters away.
Dusk skidded across the ground, coughing up a mouthful of dark, demonic blood. He slowly pushed himself up, a dark and unhinged laugh escaping his throat.
"Hahaha... Do you really think my power is just speed?" Dusk sneered, his voice rising into mad laughter.
Kael stood tall, the white blade of Redemption gleaming beside him. A calm, knowing smirk played on his lips.
"Your power isn't speed," Kael said softly. "It's swiftness."
Dusk's laughter cut off instantly. He took a slow step back, his entire body going rigid. The wild expression on his face faded, replaced by eyes that turned completely cold and lifeless.
He stood in dead silence, staring at Kael with pure, focused killing intent.
Inside Kael's mind, Nyxara's dark and commanding voice rang out once again.
Nyxara: "Kael, stop playing around. Use my weapon—the Death Scythe."
Kael didn't hesitate. He slightly bent his knees, dropping his center of gravity as he thrust his hand out to the side.
Buzz—!
Two crimson magic circles instantly generated in the air beside his arm, spinning with ominous dark runes. With a sharp exhale, Kael plunged his hand straight into the glowing center of the red circles.