After several minutes, Ryu was lying on the ground, staring up at the sky, trying to catch his breath. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his shirt was soaked. The clear blue sky above him contrasted sharply with the exhaustion weighing down his body.
"Stop lazing around already!" shouted a sharp, commanding voice.
Ryu squinted and turned his head slightly. Standing in front of him with her arms crossed and an unmistakably annoyed expression was Yuki. Her piercing crimson eyes glared at him with disapproval.
"Break time is over."
Ryu let out a resigned sigh.
"Yeah, I know..." he muttered as he slowly got to his feet. He brushed the dirt off his clothes and stretched his arms lazily. "So, what's next?"
Yuki gave a sly smile, as if she'd been waiting for that exact question.
"Next, you're going to keep throwing punches… and then, you're going to hit that tree over there," she said, pointing toward a sturdy-looking trunk nearby.
Ryu blinked in disbelief.
"A tree? Seriously?"
"Dead serious," she replied without hesitation, locking eyes with him. "Now get started. And don't you dare hold back."
Ryu gulped as he looked toward the unfortunate tree. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't end well… for the tree or for him.
Ryu approached the tree with some hesitation. He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and gave the trunk a light punch.
Thump!
"Harder," Yuki ordered coldly, not even blinking.
"Alright..." Ryu muttered.
He gritted his teeth and hit it again, this time with a bit more force. Then again. And again. Little by little, he started to find a rhythm, increasing the intensity of each strike.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"Tsk..." Ryu clicked his tongue, suddenly stopping and shaking his hand with a pained grimace. "That really hurts..."
"Pathetic," Yuki said, crossing her arms and looking at him with disdain. "You can't even hit a tree."
"But it really hurts!" Ryu protested, frowning. "How do you expect me to keep hitting it if I'm going to break my hand?"
"All I hear are excuses," she replied, her tone laced with arrogance. "You humans are incredibly weak."
"And what did you expect?" he snapped. "That I'd be strong out of nowhere? I don't even know how to fight!"
Yuki let out a long, annoyed sigh and looked at him like he was a total disappointment.
"I just hoped you'd at least know how to train... but you're not even good for that."
"Let's continue later..." Ryu said, rubbing his hand as he glanced at the tree. The pain in his knuckles still lingered.
Yuki let out an exasperated sigh, her eyes fixed on him with a look of disappointment.
"Fine... but I expect you to do better next time," she replied, clearly unsatisfied with his performance.
Ryu nodded quickly, eager to escape the training that clearly wasn't going well.
"I will. By the way," he added, giving her a hopeful look, "do you know a good place to eat? I'm starving."
Yuki stared at him in silence for a moment, as if weighing his request. Then, her expression softened slightly, and her annoyed frown faded.
"Now that you mention it, I'm a little hungry too," she said thoughtfully. "We could go to a tavern in the kingdom. They have pretty decent food."
Ryu smiled, relieved by the shift in conversation.
"Then let's go," he said, standing up quickly.
The two of them began walking away from the training grounds, the afternoon light slowly fading as the thought of a good meal lifted Ryu's spirits.
Ryu rubbed his sore hand, still annoyed by the pain in his knuckles. He glanced sideways at Yuki, who was still watching him with those intimidating crimson eyes.
"Let's continue later," he finally said, letting his arms fall with exhaustion.
Yuki sighed, a hint of resignation in her expression.
"Fine... but I expect you to do better next time."
"I will, I promise," Ryu replied with a forced smile. Then, his stomach growled loudly, breaking the tense atmosphere. "By the way… do you know a good place to eat? I'm starving."
Yuki blinked and placed a hand on her stomach, as if she had just remembered.
"Now that you mention it, I'm a little hungry too. We could head to a nearby kingdom… maybe there's a decent tavern there."
Ryu nodded quickly, now more energized.
"Then let's go!"
Without wasting any more time, the two of them started walking, leaving the battered tree behind. Training could wait… but hunger couldn't.
As they walked along the tree-lined path, Ryu kept shaking his hands, which still stung from the training.
"Hey, Yuki," he said in a nearly pleading tone, "could you use your healing magic to fix my hands?"
"No," she replied flatly, without hesitation.
Ryu frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because you're a crybaby," she said coldly, her crimson eyes locking onto him. "You didn't even hit the damn tree properly."
"I did!" Ryu protested, holding up his sore hands as proof. "Why do you think they hurt?"
Yuki scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
"They don't hurt. You barely touched it. You didn't even hit it with full force."
"If I had, I would've broken my hands! And that would've hurt a lot more!"
Yuki sighed and turned her gaze away, as if she were dealing with a child.
"...Crybaby."
Ryu shot her a sideways glance, clearly annoyed.
"I heard that."
Yuki completely ignored him, not even bothering to respond, and simply kept walking with her eyes fixed ahead. Ryu, still a bit annoyed, sighed under his breath and followed her silently.
After several minutes of walking along dirt paths and through trees, they finally reached a hill. From the top, they could see a majestic walled city in the distance. Its towers shimmered in the sunlight, and flags fluttered atop the high walls.
"We finally made it to the Kingdom of... whatever it's called!" Ryu exclaimed with relief and excitement.
"It's called Camelot," Yuki said dryly, glancing back at him. "It's the Kingdom of Camelot, you idiot."
Ryu's eyes widened in shock.
"The kingdom of the legendary King Arthur? So the legend was true?! Wait, why is his kingdom here? Shouldn't it be in my world?"
"How should I know?" Yuki replied, clearly uninterested. "It's not like I know everything about this world."
Ryu scratched his head, clearly intrigued but also excited by the discovery.
"Well… then we'll just have to find out!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say..." Yuki muttered sarcastically, making no effort to hide her indifference.
Ryu, ignoring her comment, smiled with excitement and began walking down the hill toward the Kingdom of Camelot. His steps were steady, driven by both curiosity and hunger, his eyes fixed on the towering city walls ahead.
Yuki watched him for a moment, sighed as if emotionally drained, and finally started following at a calm pace. Though she didn't say it out loud, a faint spark of interest flickered in her crimson eyes.
And so, the two youths set off on the path leading to the legendary Kingdom of Camelot, unaware that their arrival would mark the beginning of something far greater than a simple search for food.
Ryu looked around, scanning the narrow streets of the kingdom as they walked toward the center of the city. The crowd passed by them, and the stone buildings gave the impression of being much older than he had imagined.
"I don't see any tavern around here," Ryu said, scratching his head, a little confused.
Yuki glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her gaze full of disdain.
"Yeah, you're an idiot... There, there's a tavern!" she said, pointing toward a wooden building with a hanging sign that depicted a wine cup.
Ryu squinted his eyes, looking in the direction Yuki had pointed. Finally, he spotted the tavern, a little farther down the street.
"I guess I didn't pay much attention to the place," he admitted, a little embarrassed.
Yuki gave him a tired look, as if she were already used to his distracted comments.
"I can see that," she replied with a sigh.
Ryu shrugged, not bothering much with the conversation.
"Well, enough talking. Let's go eat!"
Ryu observed the buildings of the kingdom with curiosity as they walked through the streets. His eyes scanned each structure, noting the differences from what he knew in his own world.
"This world doesn't have buildings like my world," he commented, surprised by the differences.
Yuki, walking beside him with a bored expression, quickly responded.
"Because it's different from your world. I already told you that."
Ryu nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. Then, he stopped for a moment, deep in thought.
"Yeah, I know..." he said softly before looking at Yuki. "By the way, Yuki, if I'm going to live in this world, I'd like to know everything about it. So I want you to tell me everything you know about this world."
Yuki glanced at him, noticing the seriousness in his tone. She sighed and finally spoke.
"Alright, but I'll just tell you the basics. This world is made up of five kingdoms: the Kingdom of Dragons, Varkania; the Kingdom of Elves, Thalveria; the Kingdom of Giants, Vornheim; the Kingdom of Humans, Solandis; and the Kingdom of Demons, Umbrahel."
Ryu listened attentively, absorbing the information, but a question popped into his mind.
"I suggest you never go to any of those kingdoms, especially Umbrahel," Yuki warned in a serious tone.
Ryu looked at her, confused, but nodded in silence.
"Got it. But... what about the Kingdom of Camelot?"
Yuki looked at him again, as if deciding whether it was worth explaining.
"The Kingdom of Camelot is inside the Kingdom of Solandis."
Ryu nodded, now understanding the situation better.
"I see…"
As soon as they stepped into the tavern, the aroma of freshly cooked food hit Ryu, making his eyes light up with excitement. The place had a cozy atmosphere, with worn wooden tables and chairs, and oil lamps hanging from the ceiling casting a warm glow.
They both sat down at a table near the window.
"Finally, we're here," Ryu said with a sigh of relief.
"That's right," Yuki replied calmly, crossing her arms.
Ryu looked around with curiosity.
"This place really does look like a proper tavern… even the table is made of wood. By the way, what are you going to order?"
"A steak," Yuki answered without hesitation.
"I'll get two steaks," Ryu said, grinning hungrily.
Yuki raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"And how are you going to pay for them?"
Ryu froze for a second.
"Well… with money… Ah, right! I don't think the money from my world works here. Yuki, could you lend me a little money?"
"Don't even think about it. I'm not giving you a single coin, so starve if you must," she said coldly, looking away.
"Come on, don't be so mean," Ryu begged, forcing a smile.
"No. Letting you live in my house is already more than enough."
"But it's just a little money… I promise I'll pay you back!"
Yuki sighed, visibly annoyed.
"Fine. But if you don't pay me back, you'll work really hard to make up for it."
Ryu took the coins from her hand with a smile.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely pay you back."
Ryu raised his hand enthusiastically, calling for attention.
"Hey, waiter! Come here!"
A middle-aged man wearing a grease-stained apron quickly approached their table with a polite smile.
"Yes, sir. What can I get for you?"
"I'd like to order three steaks. Here," Ryu said, handing him the silver coins Yuki had lent him.
The waiter took the coins and gave them a quick glance before slipping them into his pocket.
"Understood. Anything else, sir?"
"No, that'll be all," Ryu replied, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin.
"Very well. I'll bring your food shortly," the waiter said with a small bow before heading off toward the kitchen.
As soon as the waiter walked away, Yuki turned to Ryu with a look of absolute disbelief.
"Did you give him all the money I gave you?"
"Yes," Ryu replied without much thought, as if it wasn't a big deal.
Yuki sighed and brought a hand to her forehead.
"I figured… you're an idiot."
"It was just a few silver coins," Ryu said with a shrug.
"Those coins were all the money I had!" Yuki snapped, clearly exasperated.
Ryu went quiet for a moment before realizing something.
"Oh… so we're out of money, huh?"
"Exactly," Yuki said, glaring daggers at him.
"So, what are we going to do?" Ryu asked, looking worried.
"We?" Yuki crossed her arms. "You mean what are you going to do—because this is all your fault. You'll have to find a job or something to earn that money back."
"Alright… I'll look for a job," Ryu replied with a shrug. "But after we eat."
Yuki sighed heavily.
"Fine…"
Just then, the waiter returned with a large tray. He placed one steak in front of Yuki and two in front of Ryu.
"Enjoy your meal," he said kindly before walking away.
"Thanks," Ryu said with a smile.
"Yeah, thanks or whatever…" Yuki muttered as she began to eat.
While cutting his meat, Ryu glanced at the waiter, who happened to be passing by again.
"Hey, waiter," Ryu called out. "By any chance… do you know where I could earn a lot of money?"
The man paused, thinking for a moment.
"Well, I've heard some rumors… Apparently, there's a huge reward for capturing someone named Vorath Kraal. He's been attacking the kingdom lately… and the worst part is, no one's been able to catch him."
"Then I'll capture him," Ryu declared confidently, sitting up straighter.
The waiter raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to catch him?"
"Yes," Ryu replied without hesitation.
"Well… good luck with that. You'll need it if you even hope to get near him."
With that, the waiter walked away.
Yuki, having already finished her own steak, had helped herself to one of Ryu's.
"Hey… where's my food?" Ryu asked, noticing he only had one steak left.
"I don't know. It must've disappeared," Yuki said casually, looking the other way.
Ryu stared at her, suspicious.
"You ate it, didn't you? Liar."
"How dare you call me a liar, you filthy human!" Yuki snapped back.
"You ate it. Don't even try to deny it."
Yuki sighed, giving up the act.
"So what if I did?"
"Then you're going to help me catch that Vorath Kraal guy," Ryu said with a smug grin.
Yuki let out another sigh, clearly not thrilled.
"Fine. I'll help you… but only because I want that reward."
"Deal," Ryu said, satisfied.
After finishing their meal—or at least what was left of it—they stepped out of the tavern and found themselves once again on the bustling streets of Camelot.
"So, how exactly are we supposed to find that Vorak guy… or whatever his name is?" Ryu asked, crossing his arms as he walked beside Yuki.
"With information," Yuki replied firmly. "We need to investigate everything we can about him. Only then can we capture him and claim the reward."
Ryu grinned and nodded.
"Great idea."
Ryu and Yuki had spent several hours wandering through the kingdom of Camelot, asking merchants, villagers, and even a few guards for any leads on Vorath Kraal. But the information was scarce, and the rumors too vague to be useful.
Ryu dropped heavily onto the edge of a fountain in the center of the main plaza, letting out a tired sigh.
"This is harder than I thought…" he muttered, staring at the water with a frustrated look.
Yuki crossed her arms, looking down at him with clear disapproval.
"It'd be easier if you actually helped," she said bluntly.
"I did help! I looked for info on Vorak and didn't find anything," Ryu protested, still getting the name wrong.
"It's Vorath, not Vorak. And keep looking anyway," she snapped, turning on her heel and starting to walk away.
Ryu sighed again in defeat.
"Alright, alright…" he grumbled, standing up and reluctantly following his companion.
Ryu walked slowly, glancing around with a bored expression while Yuki continued investigating, looking for anyone who might have information about Vorath Kraal.
"This is so boring…" Ryu muttered, scratching the back of his neck as he walked behind her.
Yuki didn't bother responding and kept moving forward, her gaze fixed on the people passing by.
"Stop complaining and keep looking for information," she ordered without even glancing at him.
"And for what? He's probably not even going to show up," Ryu said, crossing his arms with a dismissive expression.
Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the air, and right next to Ryu, a fireball crashed to the ground with a deafening roar, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.
Yuki quickly turned around, her expression shifting from indifference to alertness.
"Looks like he's already here," she said coldly, as if she had been expecting it.
Ryu stepped back quickly from the explosion, his heart racing. He stared at the fireball with wide eyes.
"That was close…" he thought, sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
"Yeah… seems like it," Yuki said, scanning the area for the source of the attack.
From the rooftop of a house, a man clad in dark armor descended slowly to the ground. His presence was overwhelming, ominous, and several demons began to appear around him, as if responding to his will.
—Humans, kneel before the power of the great Vorath Kraal! —the man shouted in a thunderous voice—. I have come to this place with the purpose of conquering this kingdom. So if anyone dares to interfere with my plans… they will die.
Ryu watched him closely, a mix of surprise and excitement on his face.
—That guy... he looks strong, —he muttered.
Yuki, arms crossed, looked at him with disdain.
—He just seems like a loudmouth to me.
—Then let's defeat him and claim the reward, —Ryu said with a confident smile.
—Sounds good to me, —Yuki replied with an arrogant smirk as they both began walking toward Vorath.
Vorath Kraal noticed their approach and raised an eyebrow.
—Well, well... looks like someone wants to challenge my power.
Ryu stepped forward, pointing directly at him.
—That's right. We're standing against you, and we're going to take you down!
—So get ready, Vorath, because today… you're going to die, —Yuki added coldly, her crimson eyes gleaming.
Vorath Kraal burst into laughter, as if the very thought of losing amused him.
—Defeat me? Don't make me laugh! You're just mere humans… Kneel, and maybe I'll spare your lives.
But as he looked at them, his thoughts began to wander.
That girl… her mana… it's not normal. It feels like a demon's… No, not just any demon, but a very powerful one…
And that boy… his mana is strange. It's not human… nor from any other being I've ever encountered. What are these two…?
—You're wrong, —Yuki said, staring at Vorath—. I'm not a human. I'm a demon, and one of the most powerful that exists.
Ryu stepped forward, determined.
—And I'm Ryu Tatzuki, and I'm going to defeat you.
Vorath Kraal frowned, confused.
—So, if you're a demon, as I thought… but that boy is a human. Why would a demon be helping a human?
Ryu, without losing composure, confidently answered.
—Isn't it obvious? We're friends, that's why she helps me.
Yuki looked at Vorath with a cold expression.
—You're wrong. —Yuki took a step forward, her voice full of authority—. I'm only helping him because I want to become the queen of the demons, and to achieve that, I need a very powerful subject. This human is perfect. He has the powers of a demon, so in the future, he will be very useful. Besides, he's easy to manipulate.
Vorath stood in silence for a moment, processing what Yuki had said. His face transformed into a mix of astonishment and distrust.
—Did you say… demon powers? That's impossible. A human cannot have the powers of a demon inside them.
In his mind, Vorath thought with alarm: So that's why his mana is so strange. It's the mana of both a human and a demon. But… how is that possible?
Yuki smiled, confident.
—That's what I thought too. But after seeing it, I realized it is possible. That's why I'm helping him. —Yuki turned to Ryu—. You can talk now, Ryu.
Ryu nodded, grateful for the chance to explain.
—Thanks. —He stared at Yuki and then at Vorath—. So, you want to be the queen of the demons? Are you using me for your own benefit?
Yuki shot him an indifferent look.
—Let's call it a mutual benefit. I become the queen of the demons, and you become strong, learning to use your powers. Everyone happy and content.
Ryu frowned, but the idea didn't seem too bad.
—Mutual benefit, huh? That sounds fine. But I don't want you lying to me or using me like your lab rat. Understood?
Yuki scoffed.
—Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.
Vorath, furious at Yuki's words, stepped forward, challenging her.
—So you're using that human to become the queen of the demons. Well, I'm sorry, but you won't be the queen of the demons, and that human will come with me. If there is a human with the powers of a demon, they could be very useful to me.
Yuki glared at him with disdain.
—I won't let you take him. Even though I can't stand you.
Ryu looked at Yuki, surprised by her response.
—Yuki…
Yuki, without turning to look at Ryu, replied curtly.
—What did you say? That I shouldn't lie?
Ryu sighed, exasperated.
—Just don't lie about important things.
Yuki looked at him for a moment, as if deciding whether to accept it or not. Finally, she nodded.
—Fine.
Then she focused her attention back on Vorath.
—As I was saying, you can't take him. He's mine, and if you want him, you'll have to defeat me.
Vorath roared in fury.
—Then I'll kill you.
With a single gesture, Vorath ordered his demons to attack. The demons rushed toward Ryu, but Yuki and Vorath engaged in a direct battle, beginning a fierce clash. Both demonstrated overwhelming strength, their attacks filled with power and rage. The sounds of combat echoed throughout the kingdom as the two fought to the death, and Vorath's demons faced off with Ryu, who had to do everything possible to defend himself and stay standing.
The people of the kingdom had hidden themselves in fear as King Arthur arrived on the battlefield with all the Knights of the Round Table.
Ryu stepped back from the demons.
"I can't do anything to them, they're too strong, and I can't even use magic," he thought to himself, turning around to look at King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
"I can't believe it, it's really them… Yuki, they came to help us."
Yuki, still fighting against Vorath, responded arrogantly.
"Great. Tell them to help you, I can handle this on my own."
Ryu nodded, then shouted to the knights.
"Hey, you guys! Come help me!"
King Arthur, hearing this, responded firmly.
"Go help him, I'll go after the leader."
"Yes, sir!" all the knights responded in unison.
The Knights of the Round Table, with their shining swords, approached the demons attacking Ryu and easily defeated them with swift, precise strikes. Each swing of their swords seemed to cut through the air, and in no time, the demons were wiped out.
Ryu, grateful, spoke up.
"I appreciate it. If you hadn't helped, I would've been dead."
Lancelot, one of the knights, nodded with a slight smile.
"Don't mention it. Now, let's go help King Arthur."
Ryu nodded in relief and began walking alongside the knights.
"Understood."
Meanwhile, Yuki was still fighting fiercely against Vorath, her powers colliding with his in explosive waves of energy. Just then, King Arthur appeared beside her, his presence commanding.
"I've come to help you," he said with a firm voice.
Yuki paused for a moment and looked at the king, frowning.
"And who are you?"
Arthur, remaining composed, smiled slightly.
"I am Arthur Pendragon."
Yuki frowned as she saw Arturo Pendragón by her side. Her gaze was defiant, as always.
—Better leave, Arturo Pendragon. I don't need your help. I can defeat him on my own —she said firmly, pointing her fiery gaze at Vorath.
King Arturo, maintaining his composure, looked at Yuki with a slight smile.
—I can see that, but if you keep going like this, you'll be defeated, and the Kingdom of Camelot will be destroyed —he replied seriously, pointing to Vorath, who remained firm before them, ready to continue the fight.
Yuki, after hearing his words, paused for a moment. She knew Arturo was right. Although her powers were vast, the threat was far greater than she had calculated. Finally, she let out a sigh.
—Fine... You can help me, but only this time —she conceded, turning slightly to avoid showing more weakness than she already had.
Arturo nodded, showing no sign of irritation or pride, simply prepared to do whatever was necessary.
—I agree —he responded, drawing his sword with skill. The metal glinted under the sunlight that fell upon the battlefield.
Both charged at Vorath at the same time, attacking with precision and strength. Yuki unleashed a storm of demonic flames around her, while Arturo wielded his sword, which shone with a golden light, blocking and deflecting Vorath's attacks. The battle quickly intensified, with all three combatants moving swiftly, the air charged with energy.
Vorath Kraal, seeing himself surrounded, growled in fury.
—So these are your allies, demon...! You won't stop me! —he shouted, raising his hand to summon more demons in a desperate attempt to gain an advantage.
But Yuki and Arturo didn't relent. Yuki concentrated her energy, her demonic magic making the air around them dense and hot, while Arturo pressed forward with unyielding determination.
Ryu and the Knights of the Round Table arrived at the battlefield just in time, running towards Yuki and King Arthur.
Lancelot, leading the knights, called out as he approached:
—King Arthur, we've come to help!
King Arthur didn't take his eyes off Vorath as he nodded.
—Don't worry, everything is under control —he said, his tone steady and confident.
Lancelot hesitated but spoke again.
—But, sire…
King Arthur turned to him, his expression resolute.
—I said, don't worry. I'll be fine.
Lancelot hesitated for a moment before bowing his head.
—As you wish, sire.
Ryu stood there, stunned. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
—I never thought I'd see King Arthur fighting a demon with the help of one —he said, still processing the situation.
Lancelot looked at Ryu, confused.
—Wait… did you say, "with the help of one?"
Ryu nodded, his gaze never leaving the battle.
—Yes, that's exactly what I said.
Lancelot's eyes widened as realization hit him.
—So that girl fighting over there… she's a demon?
Ryu sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.
—Yeah, she is. And I've got demon powers too.
Lancelot's face grew pale, and he turned to King Arthur.
—Sire! That girl is a demon!
King Arthur's expression didn't change. He had already suspected something, but hearing it confirmed didn't change his resolve.
—Just as I thought —King Arthur muttered under his breath.
Without warning, King Arthur raised his hand, and a powerful magic circle appeared above him. With a swift motion, he sent a blast of magical energy straight at Yuki, hitting her square in the chest. The impact knocked her unconscious, sending her crashing to the ground.
Ryu froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
—What... what did you do!? —he shouted, rushing toward Yuki.
King Arthur stood there, looking down at her with a grim expression.
—She may be a demon, but this is for the greater good. She is too dangerous —he said coldly.
Ryu shouted desperately as he saw Yuki fall unconscious.
—No, Yuki! —he yelled, running toward her.
But before he could reach her, King Arthur raised his sword, ready to finish what he had started.
—Die, demon! —the king exclaimed, his voice full of determination.
Without thinking, Ryu threw himself at him, his body full of adrenaline. But before he could reach him, a flash of magical light struck him directly, knocking him unconscious. Lancelot had cast the spell with precision, preventing Ryu from interfering any further.
King Arthur looked at the scene with a mix of surprise and disdain.
—A human protecting a demon... that's very strange, —he murmured, staring at him.
Lancelot approached him, worried.
—No, sir. That boy is not human, he has the powers of a demon.
King Arthur frowned upon hearing the revelation.
—That's why his mana is so strange... —he said quietly, as if he had suspected it. —Lancelot, take the boy and his friend to the castle. We need to ask them some questions.
Before Lancelot could respond, a strong presence interrupted their conversation. Vorath Kraal, the demon leader, appeared in front of them, wielding his weapon and exuding palpable anger.
Vorath let out a battle cry and lunged at King Arthur, who barely had time to dodge his opponent's attack.
—This human won't stop me! —roared Vorath, raising his sword.
King Arthur, without hesitation, responded with a powerful magic spell, creating a wave of energy that struck Vorath. However, Vorath managed to react just in time, opening a demonic portal just before the spell hit him.
—We'll meet again soon, humans! —shouted Vorath, his figure vanishing into the portal, leaving behind a heavy air of threat.
King Arthur stood, watching the portal for a moment, his face serious and tense.
—This isn't over, but for now we must focus on the ones we have here. Lancelot, take them to the castle.
"Yes, my lord," Lancelot said firmly.
Obeying the king's command, the Knights of the Round Table picked up Ryu and Yuki, both unconscious, and carried them toward Camelot Castle. Meanwhile, in a distant and dark place, a demonic portal opened in the middle of a shadowy hall.
Vorath Kraal emerged from the portal, panting and wounded, in front of a massive throne carved from obsidian. The room was shrouded in thick mist, and an oppressive aura weighed down the air.
"My lord..." Vorath muttered, bowing his head.
A deep voice echoed from the throne, like thunder shaking the very ground.
"Kneel."
An invisible force crushed Vorath to the floor, forcing him to submit.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord... I failed my mission... because of some demons..."
"You failed? And you blame demons? Then die."
Dark energy began to gather around the throne, preparing to annihilate him. Desperate, Vorath shouted:
"Wait, my lord! I swear I have valuable information for you!"
There was a tense silence. Then the voice responded, now tinged with curiosity.
"I'm listening."
"A demon girl... and a human with the powers of a demon... They're the ones who stopped me."
"A demon girl and a human with the powers of a demon?" the voice repeated, disbelieving. "That's impossible."
"It's not, my lord. I saw it with my own eyes. I was close to capturing them, but King Arthur and the knights of Camelot stopped me. I had no choice but to retreat."
Another long silence filled the hall. Then the voice burst with restrained fury.
"That cursed Arthur... and his knights! Listen closely, Vorath: I want you to capture that human with demon powers. He may prove very useful... But if you fail again..."
The pressure in the air grew heavier and heavier.
"...I will show you no mercy."
Vorath swallowed hard, trembling.
"Understood, my lord."
Immediately, the demon opened a new portal and vanished within it. The chamber fell silent. Atop the throne, only a dark silhouette remained seated, staring into the void with eyes burning like hellfire.