Veldenar was burning.
Smoke curled from the shattered tower, and chaos erupted in the streets as frightened civilians fled and soldiers scrambled to regain order. But none of that mattered to Renji Akatsuki—his eyes were locked on the castle's west wing.
"Elira! Celis! Where's your father?!"
"The west tower!"
Elira answered, urgency sharp in her voice.
"Fourth floor—just below the war chamber!"
Celis shouted, clutching the edge of the carriage window,
"There's no way the normal stairs survived that explosion!"
Renji clenched his jaw. There wasn't time to hesitate.
He turned to the two princesses, eyes focused and unwavering.
"Then we're making our own path. Hold onto me."
Elira didn't question it. She took his hand instantly, trusting his instinct.
Celis blinked, flustered, then slowly reached out. Her fingers brushed against his palm before tightening slightly.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea."
Renji smirked.
"Relax. Emergency hand-holding only."
Celis's face flushed scarlet.
"Y-You don't have to say it like that!"
Elira raised an eyebrow.
"You two are unbelievable—even now."
Renji exhaled.
"Shadow Step."
Darkness coiled around them like smoke as they vanished—appearing in the castle courtyard, where flames roared and debris rained from above.
Gasps erupted from the guards still standing.
"They just… teleported?!"
"I think they just...disappeared?!"
Renji didn't slow down.
"Shadow Step!"
In a blur, they jumped again—this time to the third floor of the burning tower.
The walls groaned under the pressure, ash swirling in the air.
Celis tightened her grip.
"…Warm,"
she whispered, barely audible over the chaos.
"Even in this hell… it's warm when I'm with him."
"One more jump."
Renji's voice was low, resolute.
"Shadow Step!"
They reappeared in the hallway of the west tower, just outside the king's chamber. Smoke poured from the broken ceiling, and fire crackled at the edges of the corridor.
At the end of the hall—
A squad of royal knights stood guard, bloodied and gasping, their formation tight.
Between them stood a proud figure—King Aerion Elzenir, battered but unbowed, blood trickling from a cut above his brow.
"Father!"
Elira and Celis gasped in unison.
The king turned to them in shock.
"Elira?! Celis?! What are you doing here—it's not safe!"
Renji stepped forward, sword already drawn.
"We're here to make sure you stay alive."
But before the king could respond—
A cold, familiar voice slithered through the smoke.
"Well, well… I was wondering when you'd show up."
Descending through the crumbling ceiling was Varuk—the 8th strongest demon of the Demon Lord's Elite Guard. His long silver hair drifted behind him, eyes glowing with sadistic calm.
"Ohh you're early..! I thought you'll be late."
"That's impressive!"
His hand pulsed with mana, and a massive black magic circle formed in the air.
Elira's eyes widened.
"That's—he's casting a forbidden-level spell!"
"Everyone, protect the king!"
a knight shouted.
Celis froze, trembling.
"No… he's really going to kill him!"
Varuk smirked.
"Time to remove the last obstacle in this pathetic kingdom."
He unleashed the spell—a spiraling sphere of dark magic that roared through the hall like a meteor.
But before it could strike—
[Shadow Step!]
Renji vanished.
"What—?!"
BOOOOM—!!
A burst of force rippled through the tower as Renji appeared mid-air, his sword clashing with the incoming magic, dispersing it in a wave of sparks and darkness.
Ash and embers scattered in every direction.
As the smoke cleared, Renji stood in front of the king—his sword lowered, eyes locked on the demon.
Varuk's smirk twitched.
Elira whispered in awe,
"…He blocked it. He actually blocked it."
Celis clutched her chest, her heart pounding.
"…He didn't even hesitate."
Renji stepped forward slowly.
His voice was quiet. Cold. Focused.
And pointed his sword to Varuk.
"Hey.. Hey...your opponent is here!"
"Not him..!"
"Come and fight with me.."