The throne room had become a graveyard.
Broken pillars lay scattered across the floor. Deep cracks crawled through the black stone like wounds upon the castle itself. Purple-black tendrils slithered across the walls and ceiling, pulsing faintly with corrupted Aether.
At the center of it all stood Renn.
Golden mist drifted around his body like cold smoke. His eyes glowed with a radiant gold that no longer carried warmth.
No hesitation. No compassion. No humanity. Only obedience.
The thin black threads beneath his skin pulsed rhythmically, connected to Veyr's will.
Shin'en Kugutsu.
The forbidden puppetry art of the Black Petals. The art that transformed people into living weapons. And now— the weapon was Renn.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The throne room exploded. A golden blur vanished from the center of the battlefield. Garrick barely had time to raise his arms.
CRASH—!!!
The kick struck his chest like a falling mountain. The giant assassin felt his ribs crack instantly. His body flew backward.
One pillar shattered.
Then another.
Then another.
The entire wall behind him collapsed from the impact. Dust erupted everywhere.
Garrick finally crashed into the rubble. Blood dripped from his mouth.
"...Damn."
Even someone as durable as him could barely survive a direct hit.
Meanwhile—
Renn was already moving again. Golden mist trailed behind him. A streak of light. A weapon seeking its next target.
Lyra.
Her eyes widened. Too fast that she couldn't react. Couldn't draw her blade. Couldn't even think.
Renn appeared before her.
The golden dagger slowly reflected inside her terrified eyes.
Death.
The distance between the blade and her throat continued shrinking. Closer and closer. Then—
A shadow stepped between them.
SHHHK—!!!
Blood sprayed across the battlefield. Time seemed to stop. The dagger never reached Lyra. Instead—
Cedric stood before her.
His left arm fell onto the floor. The severed limb rolled across the stone before finally coming to a stop.
Silence.
Then blood poured endlessly from the wound.
Lyra froze. Her pupils trembled.
"No..."
Cedric staggered. His face turned pale. Yet somehow, he remained standing.
"...Still breathing."
His voice came out strained. Weak, but calm. Then his knees gave out. He collapsed onto one knee. Lyra rushed forward immediately.
"Boss!"
Tears flooded her eyes. Her hands shook while desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Boss! Stay with me!"
Cedric forced a weak smile. "... I'm glad you're ok..."
He was losing too much blood.
Above them— laughter echoed throughout the throne room.
Deep.
Cruel.
Mocking.
Veyr sat upon his throne, watching the scene unfold.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter bounced off the walls. The tendrils behind him twisted like living serpents. His eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Look at yourselves." He slowly stood. Purple-black Aether seeped from his body.
"The mighty Royal Knights."
His gaze shifted toward Cedric. "The traitor."
Toward Garrick. "The foul beast."
Toward Lyra. "The witch."
Then finally—
Toward Renn, his puppet. His masterpiece. A smile stretched across Veyr's face.
"Why should I kill you myself?" His arms spread wide. "When your greatest hope can do it for me?"
The words struck harder than any attack. Because they were true. Every wound. Every broken bone. Every drop of blood spilled today—
Had come from Renn.
Not Veyr.
Taren clenched his spear until his knuckles turned white. "Shut up."
His breathing had become ragged. Heavy. His body was exhausted. But he refused to fall.
Lio stood beside him. Blood stained his shoulder.
Kael's sword arm trembled from overuse.
Everyone was reaching their limits. Yet Renn remained unstoppable. Because he wasn't holding back anymore. There was nobody left inside him to hesitate.
Nobody left to care.
Nobody left to stop him.
---
Far away..... Somewhere beyond consciousness. Somewhere beyond pain.
Seris opened her eyes.
She stood inside an endless white world. No throne room. No chains. No blood. No screams.
Only silence.
A gentle breeze moved through the emptiness. Then— a voice. Soft. Warm. Familiar.
"Seris..."
Her entire body froze. The voice came again.
"Seris..."
"...Seris..."
She slowly turned. And Series saw her, standing beneath a sky of light. Smiling.
Serene.
The world vanished from Seris' thoughts. Her legs moved before she realized it. Running. Faster and faster until she reached her.
"...Serene..."
Her voice broke. Years of grief surged upward. Years of regret. Years of loneliness. She embraced her immediately. As if afraid she would disappear. As if afraid she would lose her again.
"Don't leave me..."
Tears poured down her face.
"Please..."
Serene gently held her. The same warmth. The same comfort. The same person she had lost.
Then Serene pointed behind them and smiled.
"Look."
Seris turned and saw them...
Renn.
Taren.
Lio.
Kael.
Every person who accepted her. Every person who reached out their hand despite her darkness.
People who never treated her like a weapon.
People who never asked her to become perfect.
People who gave her something she never thought she'd have.
A family.
Serene smiled. "They're here for you."
Then she reached into the light. A silver pendant appeared in her palm. One Seris remembered well. One from her childhood.
Serene placed it gently into her hand.
"I will always be by your side."
The warmth spread throughout Seris' body. For the first time in years, the emptiness disappeared. Then Serene stepped backward.
The white world began breaking apart. Cracks spread through the sky.
"Protect them with your life.."
The light shattered. And Seris opened her eyes. ---
Reality returned. And so did hell.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
Kael crashed across the floor. His sword slipped from his hand. His body screamed in pain. Still— he forced himself up.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Because they couldn't stop. Not while Renn was still trapped.
Lio blocked another strike.
CLANG—!!!
The impact shattered the floor beneath his feet. Blood spilled from his lips. His arms nearly gave out, yet he remained standing.
Taren moved beside him. His spear spun desperately. Protecting Lyra. Protecting Cedric. Protecting everyone.
The battlefield had become survival.
Then— Golden Aether surged. Renn raised his dagger. The atmosphere changed instantly. Everyone felt it.
The pressure.
The danger.
The certainty of death.
Veyr smiled. "Oh?"
Golden particles condensed around Renn. Taren's face turned pale.
"...Please, wake up Renn. We're begging you."
Lio immediately understood. The attack that shattered the elites. The one that crushed entire battlefields.
Renn lowered his stance. Golden Aether gathered around the dagger. Brighter and brighter.
"Aether Art..."
The throne room trembled.
"Piercing Collapse."
BOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!
Golden destruction erupted forward. A killing blow. Straight toward them. There was no escape. No time to move or react..
Then — A silver blur appeared.
SHHHKKK—!!!
The attack stopped. Golden light scattered across the room. The battlefield froze. Standing before the attack was —
Seris.
Her silver hair flowed behind her. Bruises covered her body. Cuts lined her arms. Yet she stood firm.
Awake and fully alive.
Her rapier blocked the attack completely. Golden particles drifted around her. Veyr's smile vanished.
"...What?"
The purple strings attached to Seris had disappeared. Completely.
For the first time—
She stood on her own. Seris slowly lowered her rapier. Then looked toward Veyr. Not with fear. Not with obedience. But with resolve. A faint silver glow appeared beneath her feet.
"Veil Art: Phantom Step."
Silence filled the throne room. Taren stared. "...Seris."
Kael laughed weakly. "...Took you long enough..."
Lio smiled faintly. "...Welcome back."
Even Garrick grinned from beneath the rubble. Lyra cried harder. Cedric simply stared, relieved.
At the center of it all— Renn remained motionless. Golden eyes still empty. Still controlled.
Seris looked at him. The one who came to save her. The one currently destroying himself for her sake. Her grip tightened around her rapier.
Then she stepped forward.
Toward Renn.
Toward Veyr.
Veyr watched her in silence. Then a faint smile crept across his face. "...You're becoming a pain in the neck, Moonveil."
Seris stopped only for a moment. Slowly, she raised her rapier, its silver blade reflecting the dim purple light of the throne room.
"...Moonveil?" She let out a quiet breath.
"No."
Her silver eyes met Veyr's without fear.
"My name is Seris. Seris Valenne."
The name echoed through the silent throne room. Her grip tightened around her rapier.
"And today, I'm here to end you, Veyr."
The air grew heavy. Behind Seris, Renn slowly rose once more.
Veyr's smile disappeared.