CHAPTER 70
"Maybe now you'll learn—"
But suddenly—
Sihyun lunged forward, gripping Vanyul's wrist with both hands, his eyes glowing violently red.
"Enough!"
A blinding surge of cursed energy exploded between them as Sihyun released his stored power—
CRACK!
Vanyul howled in agony.
Sihyun ripped his arm clean off, blood and light bursting into the air.
The battlefield froze.
Yuhyun gasped.
Dohyun and Taejin took a step forward instinctively—but before they could react—
Vanyul's scream turned into a snarl.
"You—!"
He raised his remaining hand and with a vicious wave, sent a shockwave of raw force at Sihyun—
BOOM!
Sihyun was blasted across the palace ground, slamming down hard on his back.
The air was knocked from his lungs, and a painful cry tore from his throat.
"SIHYUN!!"
Yuhyun shouted, running forward.
But Vanyul, still bleeding and furious, turned sharply—
With a sweep of his hand, he sent Dohyun and Taejin flying, smashing through wooden carts and stone walls.
Before Yuhyun could react,
Vanyul vanished—then reappeared behind him like a shadow.
"Don't move,"
he whispered darkly, his voice rough with pain.
His hand, glowing with volatile magic, pressed against Yuhyun's throat, crackling with power.
Yuhyun froze, breathing hard.
His eyes flickered to Sihyun, sprawled motionless in the distance…
Then to Muwon, groaning in pain but reaching toward his sword with his unbroken arm.
"Let him go,"
Yuhyun said shakily.
"You don't need to hurt anyone else—"
Vanyul pressed his hand harder, magic biting into skin.
"You think I care?"
he said coldly, eyes shadowed.
"You took him from me. All of you."
The air grew colder, sharper. The flames from the destroyed palace building reflected in Vanyul's glowing eyes as he stood surrounded by pain, betrayal—and the shattered remains of what he once loved.
Sihyun coughed, blood staining his lips as he writhed on the ground, every movement agony.
His limbs trembled, but still—he forced himself up. His body screamed, but his heart was louder.
"Vanyul—please…"
His voice was hoarse, broken.
"Let Yuhyun go… let the prince go. You can do anything to me… just… don't hurt them."
Vanyul turned his head slowly, a bitter smile curling on his lips.
"Them?"
His eyes glowed like molten embers.
"You still choose them?"
He leaned closer to Yuhyun, tightening his grip.
"They'll be your end, Sihyun. Just like they were the end of your people."
Sihyun staggered forward, arms limp at his sides.
He was barely standing, barely breathing.
But his eyes—red and glowing—locked with Vanyul's.
"If you want me… you can have me."
He took another painful step.
"Just let them go. Let them live. I'll go with you. We'll leave this kingdom—just the two of us."
Yuhyun shook his head fiercely.
"Sihyun—no! That's what he wants!"
But before he could say more—
"Silence."
Vanyul's fingers dug into Yuhyun's throat, magic flaring.
A hiss escaped Yuhyun's lips as he winced, held helpless.
Vanyul's eyes locked onto Sihyun again.
His voice lowered, dark and wounded.
"And how am I supposed to trust you, Sihyun?"
He took a step forward, dragging Yuhyun slightly.
"You stand there… covered in blood, trembling like a dying leaf… but you still wear his scent. The prince's mark. You kissed him, didn't you?"
Sihyun's jaw clenched.
He didn't deny it.
"How do I know you're not lying again? Just another ploy to stall me—like the others did."
The flames behind him crackled louder.
The palace was burning. The kingdom trembling.
"I loved you,"
Vanyul whispered, his voice cracking just for a second.
"But maybe that was my first mistake."
Sihyun's lips trembled, blood still on them as he spoke softly through the pain.
"If you want to trust me, Vanyul… then let's seal it with a kiss."
Yuhyun's eyes widened in horror.
"No—Sihyun, please! Don't do this!"
His voice cracked as he struggled to rise, broken, desperate.
Muwon, even while writhing in pain with his shattered arm, heard every word.
"Sihyun—don't,"
he pleaded, voice raw.
"You don't need to do this. Don't give yourself to him."
But Sihyun turned to them both, eyes sorrowful but steady.
"I'm sorry… this is the only way."
Vanyul's breath hitched, disbelief flickering through his gaze.
He stared at Sihyun, then—smiled darkly.
"You always knew how to surprise me…"
With a wave of his hand, he flung Yuhyun across the battlefield—but Sihyun's magic caught Yuhyun midair, cradling him with gold-tinged light and lowering him safely to the ground.
Vanyul watched carefully, eyes narrowing.
"Still protecting him? Even now?"
His suspicion boiled beneath his skin. Without warning—he thrust Sihyun back with magic, slamming him against a tree with a painful grunt.
Before Sihyun could recover, Vanyul appeared right in front of him.
"Let's see how far you're willing to go."
And then—he kissed him.
It was rough, possessive, filled with years of pain and obsession.
Sihyun, breathing heavily, slowly kissed him back—eyes fluttering shut, tears slipping free.
He felt Vanyul's trembling hand cup his face, as though this moment meant everything to him.
Muwon's heart shattered.
He lay there, powerless, watching the person he loved in the arms of the enemy.
His chest rose and fell in agony, lips parting but no words forming.
Yuhyun cried silently, unable to look, clutching his arm and whispering,
"Sihyun…"
Dohyun and Taejin exchanged glances, tense, weapons in hand—but frozen.
And in that moment—everything paused.
The burning palace. The screams. The falling ash.
Just two souls, tangled in pain and power, at the heart of it all.
As Vanyul kissed him, Sihyun moved his trembling hand to Vanyul's chest.
His fingers glowed faintly—a magic seal forming between them, hidden beneath the heat of the kiss.
It was a spell he'd learned in secret. A forbidden, rotting curse that only a Demon Sorcerer could survive long enough to use.
The magic slithered into Vanyul unnoticed… at first.
But just as Sihyun deepened the kiss, Vanyul's eyes flew open.
He pulled back abruptly, staring into Sihyun's bleeding, bruised face.
"...Sihyun?"
he said softly, voice cracking with disbelief.
Sihyun curved a sad smile.
"Didn't think you'd notice that soon…"